A North Wales farming family have opened the gates to their hill farm to showcase how safeguarding the environment and food production go hand in hand.
The farm visit, which was hosted jointly by the Meirionnydd branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales and FWAG, and was also attended by local MP Liz Saville-Roberts, was held at Rhydyfen, Arenig, Bala, Gwynedd. Here Geraint Jones farms in partnership with his wife Sharon and their son Osian, who has recently returned to work on the farm following a 3 year Agriculture course at Aberystwyth University.
Joining the tour of the farm were Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, as well as James Owen, Deputy Director, Land Management Reform Division, Welsh Government who heard not just about the history of the farm but also the outstanding work already being done by the family to safeguard the environment, whilst producing sustainable, nutritious food.
Just 10 miles north-west from the town of Bala the farm has been in the family for generations, with Geraint’s grandfather obtaining the tenancy of Rhydyfen in 1933 from the Rhiwlas Estate. The Liverpool Corporation then bought all the farms in the valley in the 1950’s as part of the construction of the Tryweryn reservoir. In the late 1970’s, the farms were bought by the tenants, which included Rhydyfen.
The farm extends to 520 hectares, the vast majority of which is mountain land, with only approximately 10 hectares of fields available to gather silage for winter fodder. A true mountain farm it encompasses a vast area of unimproved mountain land and large areas have been designated an SSSI. The family also own approximately 8 hectares of land near Ruthin.
The farmhouse at Rhydyfen is some 1100 feet above sea level, with the land rising to 2300 feet. The farming enterprise comprises a flock of 500 Welsh mountain ewes with 170 ewe lamb replacements and 18 Welsh Black suckler cows. All the young stock are sold as stores through Farmers Marts at Dolgellau and Ruthin Farmers’ Auctions.
The farm has been in a variety of agri-environment schemes and entered the Tir Cymen scheme in 1993, when Meirionnydd was chosen as a pilot area for the scheme. Thereafter, the farm joined the Tir Gofal scheme until the opportunity came to join Glastir in 2014.
Talking about the area, Geraint Jones explained:
“The mountain land at Rhyd-y-fen encompasses Arenig Fach, an impressive area of heather moorland which is part of the Rhiwlas estate. The heather extends into the adjoining large ffridd which itself comprises a mosaic of habitats and grazing.
“The lower, marshy land alongside the river Tryweryn is an important wetland area, is an SSSI and is grazed by cattle, ensuring the longevity of the diversity of the flora and fauna found there. Rhydfen has an area of very deep peat – being the deepest in Eryri – which is very important in terms of carbon sequestration on the farm.
“Rhyd-y-fen and surrounding area is steeped in history – the house itself used to be an inn and there are traditional stone and slate buildings on the farm which are well maintained as are a number of dry stone walls, in particular an impressive one which forms the boundary between the ffridd and the Arenig Fach mountain land.”
FUW Meirionnydd County President Euros Puw said:
“This is the definition of agriculture in Meirionnydd. It is really positive to see this Welsh family hill farm in the heart of Meirionnydd thrive while helping to sustain the Welsh language, our culture and rural economy with succession in mind.”
FUW Senior Policy and Communications Officer Gareth Parry said:
“Rhydfen is one of many examples across Wales where the creation and maintenance of environmental features already takes place alongside sustainable food production. This is why it is vital that the future Sustainable Farming Scheme rewards farmers for maintaining what they already have on their farms, but without underpinning this by including the economic sustainability of such businesses within the overarching objectives of the Welsh Agriculture Bill, this excellent work cannot be sustained.”
FUW Meirionnydd County Executive officer Huw Jones added:
“I would like to thank the family for showing us around the farm today and all the other speakers who joined us here. Farming has such an incredibly positive story to tell and families like the Jones family are a prime example of how safeguarding the environment and producing sustainable food work hand in hand here in Wales.”
FUW Meirionnydd County Chairman Edwin Jones concluded:
“We had a very special day at Rhyd-y-Fen. The well organised day offered a farm tour along with a discussion about the challenging future facing agriculture. We experienced how a family farm in rural Wales can contribute to the environmental demands of today’s world, and while doing so, can sustain our culture and legacy.
“There was also an opportunity to remind everyone that the agriculture industry is lonely and dangerous. Reference was made to the value of community and the importance of being willing to talk about any problem. Thanks to everyone who showed support for the event whether big or small but most especially to our hosts Geraint, Sharon, Osian and Huw.”
Feature image: FUW Rhydyfen: Family at Rhydyfen (from left) Huw, Sioned, Osian and Geraint
