The Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies (CARAS) Cymru annual conference delivered a rousing plea to the Welsh Government to ensure that the Sustainable Farming Scheme safeguards the next generation.
 
Seeing the Wood from the Trees delivered an analysis of the Welsh Government’s proposals, including the 10% planting of trees requirement.

The conference, held at the Royal Welsh Showground, took up Welsh Government director of rural affairs, Gian Marco Currado’s request for feedback on the scheme.
 
CARAS Cymru vice chair, Mansel Raymond, summed up the mood by stressing that the Sustainable Farming Scheme is critical for the future of Welsh agriculture. He said young people needed to be encouraged to grow food that is in world demand.

It was important not to curtail what Welsh farmers have done over the years. Income foregone was not an option when the scheme is demanding that farmers do more.

“There seems, all of a sudden, to be a massive disconnect between the farming fraternity and our masters,” said Mr Raymond. “That is something we have to change. This industry cannot afford to fall.

“If we lose production, if we lose that mass, the whole fabric of the industry will be lost and we’ll have to start from the bottom. The future of food production in Wales is important.”

The conference was chaired by past Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) president and former NFU Cymru president, John R. Davies who said: “The key things we’ve got to do as a nation are to protect and feed ourselves.

“As farmers there is food production running through each and every one of us. It’s an absolutely crucial time for the future of Welsh agriculture and I’m incredibly pleased to have the panel we have here today.

“We’ve always been keen on having policy made in Wales, for Wales by Wales.”

Dr Nick Fenwick, formerly FUW head of policy, suggested there was an array of solutions to climate change, rather than a blanket 10% tree cover target. Around 30% of Welsh emissions come from energy production, about double the footprint for agriculture. It is estimated that, over the next 25 years, the amount of energy needed in Wales would increase five-fold.
 
He stressed that farming is part of the solution, as the biggest contributor to green energy production which reduces agriculture’s carbon footprint. He illustrated his point by explaining that a 330 meters square area of solar panels would reduce carbon emissions by the same amount as a hectare of trees, as would a 10 kw water turbine or a 15 kw wind turbine.
 
Dr Fenwick urged: “Basically, solar panels are between 30 and 50 times more effective per unit area than tree planting in terms of reducing carbon emissions.
 
“So we have something that could complement tree planting, negate the need for tree planting on valuable farm land and form part of a far bigger equation, whereby we’re reducing Wales’s carbon footprint. But we’re not doing it by an arbitrary 10% tree cover target, resulting in vast areas of agricultural land.
 
“Nor should we start plastering Wales with solar panels. Basically, you’re talking about maybe the roof of a couple of farm sheds having the same impact as two or three hectares of trees.”

NFU Cymru deputy president, Abi Reader, warned of the catastrophic changes the scheme could bring to farming businesses. Referring to the ADAS Impact Report, she added: “You have 5,000 jobs that will be lost. We’ve got our 122,000 grazing livestock that are going to be removed from Wales if we have 100% uptake under the scheme.

“So, over 5,000 jobs coupled with the loss of nearly £200 million of farm incomes throughout Wales. What is that going to do Welsh agriculture, what will that do to our communities?”

Mr Currado and Bangor University senior lecturer in environmental management, Dr Prysor Williams each delivered their perspective on sustainable farming and the new scheme proposals.

Mr Currado said the Welsh Government was committed to the whole farm approach and looking for a collaborative approach to the Sustainable Farm Scheme consultation. He encouraged farmers to feed in their views and offer alternative solutions.

An exhibition inspired by woollen fishermen’s sweaters made in the Netherlands a century ago arrives in Mid Wales on February 10 when it opens at Meirion Mill in Dinas Mawddwy, near Machynlleth.
 
The Erfskip Exhibition will feature wool and associated crafts from Wales, Shetland, the Hebrides, the Aran Islands and elsewhere, archive film and visual arts, young people’s workshop productions, photographs and more.
 
Between February 10 and March 24, the exhibition will be centred on Meirion Mill and Ysgol Bro Idris, Dolgellau, with elements also taking place in Cemaes, Trawsfynydd, Aberystwyth and Caersws.
 
This exhibition story begins in a small coastal village called Moddergat, in the north of Frŷslan, Netherlands. A fishing and farming community began to research and then to re-create the woollen fishermen’s garments that used to be made there a century ago. 
 
Farmers bred the sheep and sheared them, others carded, dyed and spun the wool and many people became involved in the knitting.
 
Old photographs and written records were dug up and, in a few years, a successful small community business was developing, making and selling warm, beautiful and natural jumpers modelled on those the Moddergat fisherman set out to sea in more than a century ago.
 
Excited by what they’d achieved, the community then created an exhibition, demonstrating and contextualising the work. It was so popular that it was decided to take exhibition on tour to other shepherd communities, firstly to Wales and then on to other farming and fishing cultures across Western Europe. 
 
It has already been to Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides, to Shetland Woollen Week and to the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. It’s an exhibition with a difference – in at least three ways. 
 
Firstlyl, it’s growing as it goes - wherever it stops, each community adds in elements from its own culture and experiences, so everybody can enjoy and learn from the achievements of others. 
 
Secondly, wherever it goes, the hosts use it as a focus for their own interests and concerns, building events, discussions and workshops around it. 
 
Lastly, it’s making this journey fuelled only by enthusiasm, energy and excitement. The organisers haven’t asked for a penny of public money to finance its travel, its display costs or anything else.
 
A Mid Wales visitor attraction, Meirion Mill specialises in a range of products, from clothing to soft furnishings and home wares.
 
The business is a member of MWT Cymru, an organisation that represents around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.

Hospitality businesses across Wales are losing sales and customers if they don’t use Welsh food and drink products on their menu.
 
That’s the wake-up call from Arwyn Watkins, OBE, president of the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), an organisation representing chefs and butchers across Wales.
 
He highlights market research undertaken by the Welsh Government Food and Drink Insight Programme, which has been exploring the attitudes of customers towards Welshness since 2017.
 
“The pivotal question asked is: Does Welshness matter? The answer is a resounding ‘yes’,” Mr Watkins told the Welsh International Culinary Championships Awards Dinner at the International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales), Newport.
 
“Latest research for 2023 speaks volumes about the value of our heritage in every dish we serve. The preference for dishes made with Welsh ingredients rose from eight in 10 in 2017 to an astounding nine in 10 last year.
 
“This is not just a trend; it’s a call for authenticity and quality that only Welsh ingredients can provide. However, a concerning gap has emerged - only two thirds of businesses recognise the significance of offering Welsh food and drink.
 
“This disconnect between what businesses think their guests want and what they actually want is a wake-up call. We must bridge this gap, for Welsh food and drink is far more important than many businesses realise.
 
“More than half our guests would like more local or Welsh items on the menu and four in 10 would willingly pay a premium for dishes with Welsh ingredients. This isn’t just an opportunity; it’s a golden ticket for us to showcase our Welsh produce whilst maximising our revenues.”
 
The research also revealed that six in 10 visitors were more likely to visit a venue with Welsh products on the menu, with a quarter admitting that an absence of these options was a deterrent. Nine in 10 believed that venues should promote their use of Welsh food and drink.
 
“This is a stark reminder that we’re not embracing Welshness and we’re not just missing an opportunity, we’re losing customers,” he stressed.
 
“Welshness matters. It’s not just a badge of identity, it’s a powerful catalyst for sales and profit. Let us be proud of our heritage, embrace Welshness in our culinary creations and proudly promote this in every dish we serve.
 
“In doing so, we not only pay homage to our rich culture, but also pave the way for a thriving, prosperous future in the Welsh culinary scene.”
 
View the research results at https://businesswales.gov.wales/foodanddrink/welsh-food-drink-performance/value-welshness

Talented Mid Wales chef Sam Everton has chalked off a bucket list wish by becoming the new Junior Chef of Wales.
 
Sam, 25, a lecturer at Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan and part-time junior sous chef at Y Seler, Aberaeron, said he felt “honoured” to receive the dragon trophy after competing against seven other young Welsh chefs in the final.
 
The final was held at the successful Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC), organised by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) over three days at the International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales), Newport.
 
After receiving the trophy and a gold medal from Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths at the awards dinner last night (Wednesday), Sam said: “I knew I did well in the final but I never imagined I was going to win.
 
“What an honour to represent Wales again to show that I am the best in my field. All the hard work and training has paid off. Winning this competition was in my bucket list and it’s a huge achievement.”
 
Sam, whose commis chef was one of his students, Tyler Richardson from Y Seler, has previously competed for Wales and the UK in WorldSkills competitions around the world.
 
He plans to compete for the National Chef of Wales next year, as he bids to become the first chef to win the two titles in consecutive years since Danny Burke.
 
In the final, Sam cooked a starter of potato salad comprising laverbread gnocchi, infused root vegetables, Caerphilly cheese, toasted turnip top and watercress veloute.

His main course was a celebration of Welsh Beef with locally sourced sirloin, braised beef cheek, textures of mushroom and onion and truffled beef reduction.
 
Sam will now compete in the semi-final of the Craft Guild of Chefs’ 2024 UK Young National Chef of the Year competition. He will also be invited to attend the Worldchefs Congress and Expo to be held at ICC Wales in May, 2026. He also won a set of engraved Friedr Dick competition knives and £100 of Churchill products.
 
Runner-up and silver medallist was Ged Jones, chef de partie at Carden Park Hotel, near Chester who lives in Connahs Quay, in his first competition.
 
Other silver medallists were Katie Duffy, chef at The Halfway, Llanelli; Rhys Yorath, chef de partie at Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol; Dylan Evans, commis chef at Henrock, Windermere and Rosie Koffer, chef de partie at Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen, Llanidloes.
 
Bronze medallists were Aizel Reyes, commis chef at The Celtic Collection, Newport and Abbie Williams, a learner at Coleg y Cymoedd’s Nantgarw Campus.
 
The junior chefs had three hours to cook a creative, two course dinner for six people, with a starter suitable for a vegetarian diet and a main course using two different cuts of GI Welsh Beef. A minimum of four Welsh GI products had to be used in the dishes. 
 
CAW vice president and judging panel chairman Colin Gray congratulated all the finalists. “They are the future of our industry and are all winners in our eyes for having the courage to compete,” he said.
 
Headline sponsors of the WICC are the Welsh Government, Castell Howell, Hybu Cig Cymru/ Meat Promotion Wales, ICC Wales, Cambrian Training Company, Kentaur, Churchill, MCS Technical Products, Roller Grill, Radnor Hills, Dick Knifes, Cygnet Gin, Capital Cuisine, City & Guilds, Compass Cymru and Ecolab.

Tickets are still available for a performance by Sinfonia Cymru violinist Ezo Sarici and Turkish pianist Deniz Cengiz at Gregynog Hall at Tregynon, near Newtown on Thursday night (January 18).
 
Gregynog Hall bills the concert as an “absolute treat to banish the winter blues”.
 
Ezo, who started music aged four at the Royal Academy of Music ‘First String Experience’ programme, fell in love with the famous Music Room at Gregynog when she performed there with Sinfonia Cymru last year.
 
She studied at Junior Guildhall before attending the Yehudi Menuhin School. She has performed in concert halls including The Royal Festival Hall, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.
 
This time Enzo returns to Gregynog with internationally acclaimed pianist Deniz who also began her musical education at the age of four in Istanbul, Turkey.
 
The performance starts at 7pm and the duo’s repertoire will include Brahms Sonatas, Piazzolla and Gershwin. View a brief film of one of their performances at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS17IPuEDq4 .
 
Tickets cost £15, with free admission for under 18s and students, and can be booked by calling the Gregynog Hall on 01686 650224, emailing [email protected] or popping into the coffee shop.
 
Gregynog Hall is one of Wales’ leading country estates and former home of art collectors and public benefactors Gwendoline and Margaret Davies who were passionate about music.
 
They converted a billiard room into the Music Room and formed a choir, mainly from estate employees and their families. From 1932 to 1938, an Annual Festival of Music and Poetry was held at Gregynog Hall, conducted by such musical luminaries as Sir Henry Walford Davies and Sir Adrian Boult.
 
Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Holst and George Bernard Shaw were amongst the list of other distinguished guests who visited.
 
The Davies sisters together created one of the most important private collections of art in Britain and donated 260 works to the National Museum Wales, where it has become a national treasure.
 
The collection includes works by French Impressionists and post-Impressionists Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Pissarro, Sisley and Berthe Morisot. Some pictures, a lot of furniture and many books owned by the sisters still remain at Gregynog.

The Royal Welsh Show could lose more than £1 million if the Welsh Government shortens the school summer holiday in Wales by one week.
 
That’s the stark warning from the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) which is strongly opposed to a new plan to amend school term dates in Wales.
 
The RWAS is urging the public to respond to the Welsh Government’s consultation before the February 12 deadline at https://www.gov.wales/structure-school-year .
 
Under the proposal, schools would be open during the Royal Welsh Show, which traditionally takes place during the first week of children’s summer break.
 
The RWAS has raised the issue with Minister for Education, Jeremy Miles MS, and is collating evidence to support its objection.
 
The show, one of Wales’ major cultural festivals, is a highlight for many families and young people across Wales. Almost 250,000 people visit the largest agricultural event of its kind in Europe.
 
The show pumps more than £40 million into the rural economy and visitors spend around £10 million over the four days.
 
The RWAS says it’s not against the principle of modifying the school year but urges the Welsh Government to reconsider the dates. It wants to ensure that the show is always held during the school summer holiday.
  
“We are extremely concerned about the impact these changes will have, including taking away the ability for young people, families, teachers and school staff to attend the show, which represents a large proportion of our visitors,” said a spokesman.
 
“Thousands of children compete at the Royal Welsh Show each year, in both young farmer competitions and young handler and junior classes. The proposed change would remove the opportunity for them to compete at the show and to learn and showcase their skills.
 
“Preliminary calculations show that the change would lead to a loss of income in excess of £1 million from reduced gate sales, membership and camping revenue. The changes would also lead to reduced attendance, affecting the trade for our exhibitors and catering vendors, not to mention the wider economic impact on the several businesses who benefit from the event both regionally and nationally.”
 
The RWAS is also concerned the change would impact families, volunteers, the Welsh language and culture and the show’s park and ride service which uses school buses out of term time.

A man with experience of developing and delivering ambitious plans has been appointed chief executive of the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.
 
Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, who takes up his new role in the spring, succeeds Professor Pedr ap Llwyd, who has announced his retirement after five years in the role.
 
He was previously director of Welsh language, Welsh culture and external relations at Aberystwyth University and was responsible for the New Life for the Old College project on behalf of university. This current project will transform the Grade 1 listed building into a cultural and creative centre.
 
Having extensive experience of higher education, the Welsh language and culture, Rhodri was chairman of Mudiad Meithrin’s board of directors for six years and a member of the Welsh Language Partnership Council for 10 years.
 
Educated in South Ceredigion, he achieved a degree in History and Welsh History at Aberystwyth University along with a Diploma in Librarianship before completing a Master's Degree and Doctorate at Cardiff University.
 
“The National Library of Wales is undoubtedly one of the nation's leading institutions and it is a huge privilege to be appointed chief executive,” he said. “I am really looking forward to working with the library's staff, trustees and partners and to promoting its mission among the people of Wales and beyond.
 
“Yes, there are challenges to be tackled, the most obvious of which is the financial crunch that affects everyone. But there are also opportunities in promoting our culture in all its rich diversity and in taking the library's incredible expertise and resources to new areas and audiences.”
 
Ashok Ahir, the library’s president, said: “We are proud to appoint Rhodri Llwyd Morgan in this key role and are very much looking forward as a board to working together to continue shaping the library for the future.
 
“He is an individual who understands the library and its national and international importance and is experienced in high-level leadership in a number of areas. His experience as a leader will show the way to our dedicated staff in a period of change for our institution and for the sector.”

Plans to introduce a statutory registration and licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation in Wales have been announced by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Dawn Bowden today (Tuesday, January 9) with legislation expected to be introduced to the Senedd before the end of the year.
​
In a statement from Welsh Government:

The registration and licensing scheme is intended to deliver a register of visitor accommodation types and to enable providers to demonstrate compliance with safety and quality requirements.

It is intended to enhance the visitor experience and visitor safety expectations in Wales by ensuring anyone who lets out visitor accommodation meets a relevant set of standards.

This follows a public consultation, extensive engagement with the sector, as well as a recently published survey that found 89% of visitors considered it important the accommodation they stay in is operating safely.

Many parts of the world have already adopted licensing, certification or registration schemes across their visitor accommodation sectors and the Welsh Government has been considering best practice to design one that is simple and easy to use for accommodation providers in Wales.

Across the UK, Northern Ireland has had a certification scheme established for all visitor accommodation since 1992, with Scotland having recently introduced a licensing scheme for short term lets. The UK Government is also pursuing a registration approach for short term lets.

In Wales, the first phase will be a statutory registration scheme for all accommodation providers, which will – for the first time – provide a register on the broad range of visitor accommodation available across the country and will include details on who is operating in the sector, where they are operating, and how they are operating.

Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Dawn Bowden said:
“Tourism makes an important contribution to the Welsh economy and to Welsh life so this information will be crucial in helping us better understand the sector, as well as helping to inform future policy decisions at a local and national level.

“The visitor economy is changing rapidly, and while the growth of online booking platforms has brought many benefits, there are concerns around compliance with existing requirements and the impact of short-term lets on housing stock and our communities.

“I’d like to thank businesses across the visitor economy for the enormous resilience they’ve shown through the unprecedented challenges of recent years. The input from the sector, visitors and communities has been invaluable to our work so far. We will continue this engagement as we develop the scheme.”

Once a registration scheme is fully established, the intention is to follow with a licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation. This will initially focus on confirming compliance with safety requirements visitor accommodation providers should already be meeting, before looking at introducing quality standards at a later stage.

The Welsh Government’s Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru commits to a statutory licensing scheme for holiday lets as part of a package of measures to address the negative impact second homes and short-term holiday lets can have on the availability and affordability of housing for local people in communities.

Designated Member Siân Gwenllian said:

 “Our plans for a statutory registration and licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation in Wales will help ensure the safety of visitors and seek to enhance the visitor experience.

“The plans will also create a more sustainable tourism offer – delivered in line with the needs and concerns of communities, particularly around housing. 

“This will result in strengthened controls on residential properties operating as short-term holiday lets, leading to greater fair play for all.”

Whilst there are several other trees of this species growing in selected gardens in the UK, a “coning” is a very rare experience.
 
The exciting discovery was made just before Christmas when the huge tree was undergoing routine maintenance by Herefordshire based tree surgeons, Abortech.
 
“We are absolutely thrilled and very excited about this event,” said Austyn Hallworth, head of marketing and public relations for Hergest Croft Gardens.
 
“This discovery is so horticulturally important and crucial for its survival outside of North America that we have sent seeds to specific centres throughout the UK and Europe in an effort to propagate and cultivate for the future.
 
“The seeds were harvested by Abortech who scaled the tree using ropes. It was only when they reached the top that they realised the fir had coned.
 
“The original Abies Bracteata at Hergest Croft Gardens was planted in Park Wood in the 1930s and was scaled by Dick Banks in the 1960s when he entered the cones in a Royal Horticultural Society competition and won a gold medal.
 
“Sadly, this tree has since died but the three remaining examples are its children, as they were seedlings taken from it.”
 
Hergest Croft Gardens has been owned by five generations of the Banks family who have planted exotic trees and gardened there. The estate has more than 130 ‘Champion Trees’, 5,000 rare trees, plants and shrubs together with National Collections of Maples, Birches and Zelkovas.
 
A popular Welsh Marches tourist attraction, Hergest Croft Gardens is described as "one of the finest collections of trees and shrubs in the British Isles". It has six distinct areas - Hergest Croft, the Azalea Garden, the Maple Grove, the Kitchen Garden, the Park and Park Wood.
 
The estate also has the third tallest trees in Great Britain - a Douglas Fir standing at 200 feet and more than 160 years old.
 
The tree register is a charity which collates and records a database of notable trees throughout the UK and Ireland and has the largest database in the world.
 
Hergest Croft Gardens is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent company representing more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, the Welsh Marches, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.

Corris Railway Society members hope that readers will vote for them via www.steamrailway.co.uk/read/hra-awards before the closing date of January 8.
 
The railway has produced a 3- page booklet, illustrated throughout in colour, telling the story of the Falcon locomotive from start to completion. The book costs £3 and can be purchased from the online shop at  www.corris.co.uk .
 
Public service trains on Corris Railway resume at Easter but the volunteer workforce will be busy with maintenance and restoration work ahead of the new season.