Speakers at the CARAS Cymru Conference. The natural optimism of farmer, entrepreneur and charity worker, Llŷr Jones, shone through in an otherwise sobering CARAS Cymru Conference held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells. Navigating the Global Economic Landscape and its implications for future land use and food production in Wales was the conference theme. Llŷr, who farms in Cerrigydrudion, told the gathering of elite Welsh farmers and agriculturalists that he looks for opportunity in any challenge. These include establishing a hydro plant and installing ground source heat pumps, as well as selecting white egg producing hens for efficiency and maximizing yield. He explained that a ‘light bulb’ moment came in 2013 when he realised that without Single Farm Payment, his farm was losing money. The farm was now, after a lot of time, work and thought, resilient and providing a future for his family. “When you get new policies and new rules coming in, I find they are just challenges that you have to overcome,” he said. Examples of his adjustments include rearing 140 calves on a Cost of Production contract, after his feed bill increased by £30,000 a month after Ukraine was invaded. State of the art technology means he receives a text if one is unwell before there are any obvious signs. He also changed to white hens because they produce 500 eggs a year, compared to a brown hen’s 340 eggs, increasing the flock’s egg production by three and a half million eggs. The move reduced the carbon footprint as the inputs are the same. The Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) posed a new challenge and Llŷr found he could overcome the problem by building a taller poultry shed. This helped to reduce the amount of muck produced and the height meant heat could be drawn off from the hens to the muck pile, so evaporating the water and halving the amount of muck to be removed. Two lorry loads of muck are sent to a farm in Cambridge each month. The cost of returning the straw works out at £95 to £100 a tonne for barley straw, a saving as the market price is around £130. The scene had been set by Dr Calvin Jones, professor of economics at Cardiff Business School. He began by saying the only certainty was uncertainty. The cost of inputs under the Trump administration was likely to be more of a challenge to Welsh farmers in a potentially tariff oriented world than international demand for Welsh food. He predicted a refocusing on what we can do in our country. Politicians in Cardiff Bay were much more focused on local resources, circularity and sustainability. It’s about optimizing, for instance, land use. Rory Hutchings, agricultural lawyer and partner at HCR Law, told of his concerns that land being used for natural capital could become the ‘new green coal mining’, with the money made flowing out of Wales. The dial towards public goods and not paying for production was moving faster and faster. Head winds such as world economics, policy and NRW were all factors businesses have to try and cope with. There would still be excellent food producing farm businesses, but they wouldn’t be just doing that. They would have to think about farming schemes and there could be great opportunities in terms of landscape, nature and natural resources to sustain the diversified farm business of the future. The answer might not be about getting more stock or doing more hours, but to do proper succession planning and think about what might work best.
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Equine judge Richard Johnson, OBE, with the Supreme Champion Stockdale Black Prince, owned by Kelly Searle from Essex, at last year’s Royal Welsh Show. The Royal Welsh Show has long been a highlight of the agricultural and equestrian calendar, showcasing the very best in breeding, skill, and horsemanship. The 2025 event, set to take place at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells between July 21 and 24, is expected to draw thousands of visitors and competitors, all eager to witness the pinnacle of equine excellence. The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) has announced the panel of equine judges for this year’s highly anticipated show, minus a celebrity who will judge the Supreme Horse Championship. The show attracts top competitors and enthusiasts from across the country and beyond. The judging panel comprises a distinguished group of experts, each bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the judging arena. Their expertise will ensure the highest standards of competition are maintained across the various equine classes. The identity of the celebrity judge is being kept a secret until later this year. This special guest promises to bring an added touch of prestige and anticipation to one of the show’s most celebrated events. The full list of equine judges can be accessed via the show website: https://rwas.wales/royal-welsh/competitions-royal-welsh/ . Darren and Helen Knight, new managers of the picturesque Seven Oaks Holiday Park. A picturesque, five-star caravan holiday home park overlooking River Severn near the Shropshire-Powys border has appointed a new management team. Darren and Helen Knight have been appointed managers of the 40-acre Seven Oaks Holiday Park at Coedway, near Shrewsbury. The couple, who previously lived in Whitchurch, are well known across Shropshire, particularly through Helen’s fundraising work for Macmillan Cancer Support, the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Gobowen and Lingen Davies Cancer Centre at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Darren was previously regional manager for Wilkos for 34 until the business closed in 2023 and worked for Wren’s Kitchens in Shrewsbury before securing his new role at Seven Oaks Holiday Park, which is owned by Salop Leisure. A lifelong carp angler, he said his original dream was to run a campsite in France with a coarse fishing lake. “I have now realised my dream and everything has fallen into place, as the park has two lakes as well as fishing on the River Severn,” he added. “It’s an amazing park and I managed to sell a holiday home before moving in, after meeting the customer on the park and convincing him to buy.” Helen said: “We are so happy to have been appointed managers. The park is beautiful with some lovely walks. I have already developed a programme of events for the holiday home owners on the park which I hope they will enjoy.” Ed Glover, Salop Caravan Sites associate director, said: “We are delighted to have recruited Darren and Helen. There are both very experienced people and I’m sure they will be welcomed by the owners on Severn Oaks. “We are looking forward to a very successful season and many more in the future.” An update from Visit Wales:
With Year of Croeso having officially kicked off this month, it’s great to see the world embracing the Visit Wales 'Hwyl' campaign as we invite visitors from far and wide to celebrate and experience joyful and fun moments unique to Wales. The campaign has already seen some fantastic global media coverage from The Guardian’s feature Deep joy: Wales embraces ‘hwyl’ in tourism campaign to rival Danish ‘hygge’ to The Independent’s Move over ‘hygge’ – Wales is inviting tourists to feel the ‘hwyl’ | The Independent and on Ireland Travel Trade Network – Visit Wales Launches International Marketing Campaign: 'Feel the Hwyl...Only in Wales' - ittn.ie. There are some great discussions taking place around the use of the word ‘Hwyl’ and it’s amazing to see Wales at number 5 on this BBC piece The 25 best places to travel in 2025 - BBC Travel. Our first marketing phase will continue until 31 March 2025 and sees us featuring in media such as The Times, Good Housekeeping and Gaydio and live across all TV channels including ITV, C4 and S4C, as well as streaming services Disney+, Netflix, Sky and ITV X. We’re also in cinemas across the UK and on all digital platforms - we hope you’ve had a chance to see the new creatives. We’d love you to get involved with the campaign by featuring in our Wall of Hwyl on our website homepage. Simply tag us with #FeelTheHwyl, #Hwyl, #VisitWales or @CroesoCymru on Instagram for the chance to included. You can find more information on getting involved, how to use the assets and tailoring content to your target audience on: Year of Croeso | Industry. Last year’s excavations at Strata Florida, the former Cistercian Abbey in Mid Wales, uncovered material dating back 7,500 years. The excavations, which were part of a public field school, will continue in 2025 and booking is now open. Over the past five years, excavations have focused on the courtyard of Mynachlog Fawr farm buildings which are being refurbished by Strata Florida Trust. A number of structures and features under the courtyard have been revealed, including a major aqueduct and medieval buildings, which once formed part of the Cistercian Abbey, along with some earlier structures. Following last year’s annual archaeology field school, 11 charcoal samples were collected form the site and sent to specialists for radiocarbon dating. Five are from the late 12th and 13th centuries, dating from the time of the medieval Cistercian monastery. A further five samples, relating to structures at the site, date from between 951AD and 1172AD and seem to be associated with flagged surfaces and stone walls, predating the arrival of the Cistercians on the site in 1184. They provide strong evidence to support the theory of pre-Cistercian use of the site and potentially an earlier church or monastery. The final sample dates from between 5920 and 5758BC, a staggering 7,500 years ago in the Mesolithic Era. How the site was used prior to the arrival of the Cistercians is still unclear, but continued excavations and the use of techniques, such as radiocarbon dating, will help to further the trust’s research and understanding. The Strata Florida Archaeology Field School offers training to all and will run from June 16 to July 13 this year. Places are available for one to four week courses and digger day experiences. A range of bursaries is available including one for students. For more information or to book a place at the school, visit the website: Archaeology Field School (strataflorida.org.uk) or email at [email protected] Strata Florida Trust is restoring Mynachlog Fawr farmhouse and farm buildings, bringing new economic, social and cultural life to the area, whilst also celebrating site’s unique landscape and history. A free ‘Mynachlog Fawr Exhibition’ is being held in a building on the site, giving visitors of all ages a chance to explore the social and agricultural history of the house and the local area. The exhibition also contains an interactive Virtual Histories educational experience, which allows visitors to travel back to see a day in the life of Mynachlog Fawr farm in 1947 and the abbey in 1238. The trust is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation that represents around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Ceredigion, Powys and Southern Snowdonia. For more information, visit https://www.mwtcymru.co.uk/ . Enjoy a romantic date gin tasting at In the Welsh Wind Distillery. In the Welsh Wind Distillery near Cardigan has the perfect answer for couples seeking a romantic date for St Dwynwen’s Day on January 25 and Valentine’s Day on February 14. Couples who join a gin tasting will receive a pair of engraved tasting glasses to celebrate with at home. Any time spent together learning new things is a great way to strengthen a couple’s relationship and gin tasting is a great ‘win’ if one or both are gin fans. Ellen Wakelam, owner and director of In the Welsh Wind, said: “Gin tasting has been a cornerstone of what we do here at the distillery, both deepening the knowledge of those who already love gin and introducing people to the world of gin, giving them an understanding of the craft of distilling. “We’re delighted to welcome couples to the distillery to spend an afternoon together and celebrate their love - and their love of gin! We’re also excited to be offering couples the gift of a pair of engraved tasting glasses for a limited period.” In the Welsh Wind has pioneered the gin tasting experience in Wales at the company’s coastal distillery over a number of years. Gin tasters enjoy a welcome drink - G&T of course! - a tasting board of three Welsh gins with garnish and mixer and a final drink of choice. The distillery will guide couples through the tasting, taking them on a journey to see where the magic happens. A pair of engraved In the Welsh Wind tasting glasses is being offered to couples who attend a gin tasting experience between January 23 and February 15. To find out more or to book, visit: https://inthewelshwind.co.uk/collections/experiences/products/gin-tasting-experience . Corris Railway Society’s Gala will be held on May 24. Corris Railway Society’s annual gala will be held on Saturday, May 24 with the first train of the day departing Corris at 10.30am. This gala will provide an opportunity to see older locos from the fleet, alongside the railway’s newly built loco, No. 10 Hughes 0-4-2 ‘Falcon’ and No. 11 Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0 ‘Vlad’. There will be several opportunities for railway members to ride on the gravity train down the Dulas valley like slate mine workers of yesteryear. Adult annual membership is £22 and can be purchased online at https://www.corris.co.uk/membership-application/ . Depending on crew availability, the railway hopes to use Loco No. 5 Motor Rail Simplex 4w ‘Alan Meaden’ to offer rides in Guard’s Van 204 in exchange for a small donation. ‘Alan Meaden’ was the first locomotive acquired by the society and worked the first formal train of the revival between Maespoeth and Corris in 1985. The workshops at Maespoeth Junction will be open to the public and there will be fun games for children of all ages to play. Visitors to the gala will also be able to see work by the volunteer workforce including carriage number 24, which, once complete, will allow first class travel on the line for the first time in at least 90 years. The Museum and Shop at Corris Station will also be open. The recently completed reconstruction of a manrider or ‘Velocipede’, using original wheels and axles, will be on display. Refreshments will be available from the shop, the village shop and cafe or the Slaters Arms, which once had its beer delivered in casks rolled across the street from the railway’s waggons. Corris Craft Centre also has an excellent cafe and visitors may park their cars there and walk to the station down the zig-zag path. Parking is available at the station and Lloyd’s bus service number FF2 stops outside the station yard and bus service T2 stops outside the Braich Goch Hotel. Advance Gala Day Rover tickets can be purchased via www.corris.co.uk and are priced at £10 for adults, £5 for children aged five to 15. Children under five are free and there is a £1 fee for dogs. Participants on the printing with packaging course last year. Courses ranging from photography and printing with packaging to a day dedicated to mining in Ceredigion will be held by The Strata Florida Trust during the first half of this year, with more to be added to the calendar. The trust has created a varied programme with a range of skills taught by Ceredigion-based artists and experts. “We always enjoy meeting people who have never visited us before, as well as welcoming back regulars who attend our courses and events. It’s great working with local artists and experts at Strata Florida to share their passion with everyone,” said Carys, trust director. The prominent Strata Florida Cistercian Abbey is located close to Pontrhydfendigaid, between Devil’s Bridge and Tregaron. The trust now runs a range of courses from the converted buildings of Mynachlog Fawr Farm, which also houses their free to enter exhibition. Courses and events provide opportunities to bring new visitors to Strata Florida and experience its distinctive location, as the trust works to preserve existing buildings of historical significance and create the Strata Florida Centre. Dafydd Wyn Morgan is a regular expert who shares his love of Strata Florida with photographers. To capture the beauty of the darkness. ‘Night Photography: An Introduction’ will be on the evenings of Friday and Saturday, February 21 and 22. As this course always gets fully booked quickly, due to its successful photographs produced, it’s advised to get in touch soon to avoid disappointment. Dafydd will be running courses on a range of techniques and night sky features throughout the year. Back by popular demand is the fascinating ‘Printing with Packaging’, which delivers stunning results and is completely unique to the participant. All materials are provided by Marian Haf will be at Strata Florida on Wednesday, February 26 for a full day course. Dafydd returns on the evenings of February 28 and March 1 to photograph the Winter Circle/Hexagon, a brand new course. Try and capture the Orion Constellation travelling above the abbey or the Pilgrim, at a site renowned for its low light pollution. It is on the Cambrian Mountains Astro Trail and is less than a mile from a Dark Sky Discovery Site. ‘Mining in Ceredigion’ is a fascinating topic for a free, one day event on March 19. Join for the day to hear talks from experts David Sables and Ioan Lord, as well as from members of the Metal Mines Programme. There will also be an update on the remedial work that is being done to address the legacy of pollution from the metal mining industry in Ceredigion and a guided walk to the Abbey Consols mine itself. Suitable footwear and outdoor clothing will be required to participate in the walk. Marian returns on May 8 and 9 to bring a different aspect of the ‘Printing with Packaging’ to life. The art of Chine Collé is a technique of gluing colourful, patterned paper or old books or maps with the print. The course is suitable for beginners and seasoned printmakers. Dafydd returns on May 23 and 24 to focus on the art of ‘Photographing the Milky Way arch panorama’. This late night astro adventure in three different locations allows participants to photograph a wide panorama of the Milky Way arch. Further courses and events are planned for later in the year, including the annual archaeology field school from June 19 to July 13, which is open to all, and the second Strata Florida Walking Festival on September 20 and 21. To register and find out more about courses, visit https://www.strataflorida.org.uk/courses-and-events.html or contact the trust at [email protected]. The trust currently has an offer for 2025 of a 25% discount off the third when booking three courses. Strata Florida Trust is restoring Mynachlog Fawr farmhouse and farm buildings, bringing new economic, social and cultural life to the area, whilst also celebrating Strata Florida’s unique landscape and history. A free ‘Mynachlog Fawr Exhibition’ is currently being held in a building on the site, giving visitors of all ages a chance to explore the social and agricultural history of the house and the local area. The exhibition also contains an interactive Virtual Histories educational experience, which allows visitors to travel back to see a day in the life of Mynachlog Fawr farm in 1947 and the abbey in 1238. Strata Florida Trust is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation that represents around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Ceredigion, Powys and Southern Snowdonia. For more information, visit https://www.mwtcymru.co.uk/ . MWT Cymru’s retiring chairman Rowland Rees-Evans (left) with his successor, Dylan Roberts, vice chairman Suzy Davies and chief executive Zoe Hawkins. MWT Cymru, which represents around 600 tourism and hospitality member businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia, has elected a new leadership team following the annual meeting on Tuesday. Rowland Rees-Evans, a director of Penrhos Park, Llanrhystud, near Aberystwyth, stood down as chairman after eight years and is now chairman of the Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA). Replacing him is Dylan Roberts, from Bow Street, near Aberystwyth, joint managing director of multi-award-winning Salop Leisure, which has bases in Shrewsbury, Machynlleth and Stourport-on-Severn. New vice chairman is Suzy Davies, who lives near Machynlleth, a former Member of the Senedd who recently stood down after three years as WTA chairman. Mr Roberts told the meeting, held at Nanteos Mansion, near Aberystwyth, he was privileged and honoured to be appointed chairman and said he was delighted to have Mrs Davies as his vice chairman. He praised Mr Rees-Evans for his “tireless work, enthusiasm and commitment” and congratulated him on his new role as WTA chairman. “Suzy brings a wealth of experience from her career, her time in the Senedd and as chair of the WTA,” he added. “She will be the voice of MWT Cymru in most PR matters, collaborating with other sector representatives, trade associations and with our politicians in the Senedd and Westminster. “I will concentrate on offering guidance and assistance to Zoe Hawkins (MWT Cymru chief executive) and her team, ensuring the company continues to serve its members and flourish. “Together, we aim to promote and represent the interests of our members, encouraging development, respecting the environment, culture and communities, where we live and run our businesses and ensuring a thriving tourism economy for Mid Wales.” Having worked for Salop Leisure for 35 years, Mr Roberts is a director of the British Holiday and Home Parks Association (BH & HPA), represents the National Caravan Council on the Caravan and Camping Forum for Wales and is a member of the Mid Wales Regional Tourism Forum. Apart from being one of the UK’s leading caravan and motorhome dealerships, Salop Leisure operates 11 caravan holiday parks and four self-catering houses in Mid Wales . “I am passionate about Mid Wales and the tourism offering in Wales,” he added. “We are truly blessed to reside in and be able to welcome visitors to our beautiful region.” He thanked MWT Cymru members for their continued support and appealed to them to act as ambassadors to attract other tourism operators and suppliers into membership. “That way, collectively, we can continue to passionately showcase Mid Wales as a thriving tourism destination which benefits so many other businesses and the whole community,” he said. “Don’t forget, we are all stronger as one voice for Mid Wales.” Mrs Davies also stressed the importance of the tourism sector in Mid Wales speaking with one voice during a challenging time for the industry. “A united voice is far more powerful and without you, there is no voice,” she said. “What we do as an industry really matters.”
Zoe revealed that MWT Cymru is developing an AI chatbot named Gwen to answer frequently asked questions on the Visit Mid Wales website. She explained: “With more than 3,000 web pages supporting the promotion of our destination, we understand that it can sometimes be challenging to navigate. This is where Gwen is ready to step in, making information easier to find and creating a more conversational approach to marketing our destination.” Plans have also been announced to host the annual Mid Wales Tourism conference in the autumn, with the venue to be confirmed. Additionally, the IMI Wales digital platform, developed last year to connect local businesses in Powys with the region’s thriving tourism sector, will soon be rolled out across Wales. Supported by Powys SPF funding, the platform provides small, independent businesses with affordable, cutting-edge technology to enhance collaboration and improve the visitor experience across towns and local communities in the county. Zoe noted that several Mid Wales Tourism Awards winners will represent the region at the Visit Wales national awards on March 27, and she wished them success. She also highlighted MWT Cymru’s ongoing fight to ensure that three National Resources Wales visitor centres - Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Coed y Brenin and Ynys Las - which attract over 500,000, visitors remain open until replacement operators are found. The closures will be debated in the Senedd on Wednesday, January 22, thanks to Mabon ap Gwynfor, MS for Dwyfor Meirionnydd. Urging Mid Wales tourism businesses to engage with politicians during Wales Tourism Week from May 12-16, Zoe said: “The relentless challenges faced by tourism businesses in recent years - from the Covid pandemic and the 182-day occupation rule for self-catering accommodation to the cost-of-living crisis and the debate around a controversial tourism tax - have tested us. “However, they have also shown the resilience of Mid Wales businesses and the power of collaboration. We cannot face these challenges alone and MWT Cymru will continue to work with the sector, politicians, the wider industry and our communities to ensure that Mid Wales thrives.” Reflecting on her tenure since taking over as chief executive in March last year, she paid tribute to her predecessor, Val Hawkins, MBE, for her outstanding contribution and dedication over 25 years and thanked her for all her support over the last nine months. Zoe, who also runs a tourism self-catering business, said this dual perspective gives her first-hand insight into the daily challenges faced by members. “The rurality of Mid Wales often means that what works in other areas of Wales isn’t always suitable here,” she explained. “This requires a tailored approach to tourism, a message I will continue to champion on behalf of our region and its businesses.” Looking forward, she highlighted the potential for positive narratives in 2025. “The introduction of IMI Wales in Powys offers an exciting opportunity to engage communities and spotlight the benefits of tourism,” she added. She thanked MWT Cymru’s member businesses, colleagues and volunteer directors for their unwavering support, stating: “We cannot do this alone. It’s only through the dedication of staff, directors and the business community that we can advocate for not only our sector, but also the vital role it plays in the rural economy. “Without Mid Wales Tourism, our region would lack unified representation, regional marketing, press and PR co-ordination and daily support for small businesses seeking guidance. The absence of these efforts would profoundly weaken our sector and the broader rural economy. "As members, you act as our eyes and ears on the ground. With the collective power of more than 600 voices, we are stronger, more resilient and committed to building a thriving visitor economy which supports our community and creates a great place to visit, work and live.” MWT will be hosting a webinar for businesses interested in learning more about its work and how they can get involved. The webinar will take place online on January 21, from 10:30 am to 11am. Register at: www.mwtcymru.co.uk/webinar.” |
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