North Wales Silver Lapwing Competition Winner 2007

FWAG Cymru - FUW Farm Walk at Ty Isaf, Llan Ffestiniog

North Wales Winner of the FWAG Cymru-National Grid Silver Lapwing Award 2007

You know that you are on the right lines when over 160 people of all ages come onto your farm to see what you are doing. This was the case in mid July when Mrs Bini Jones of Fferm T? Isaf, Llan Ffestiniog hosted a farm walk on behalf of the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) Cymru and the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW).

Whether it was the lure of seeing how Mrs Jones has integrated the environment into her commercial farming activities to such an extent that she was the worthy winner of the 2007 FWAG Cymru- National Grid Silver Lapwing Farm Conservation award or the opportunity to sample organic lamb burgers and kebabs from the farm's organic livestock and flavoured by secret family recipes dreamt up by Mrs Jones's husband, Dr Huw, one cannot tell!

A lot of work went into ensuring the day was a resounding success. Barns were swept, tables and chairs brought down from the village hall and family members roped into barbequing and hulling strawberries. Mrs Ann Murray gave an exhibition of wool spinning whilst Llangybi Organics, a co-operative venture by two like-minded farmers, presented a selection of organically grown vegetables directly from their farms on Pen llyn for people to buy.

The farm walk started with an examination of the School Garden, an idea promoted by Mrs Jones and Rhydian Roberts to encourage pupils of Ysgol Bro Cynfal to grow their own potatoes and other vegetables together with a number of top fruit trees. As well as giving the children something tasty to eat, the garden will also give them a greater understanding of how it is possible to harness the power of nature to help grow their food.

The visitors then moved on to examine the flower rich hay meadows that are bordered by corridors of mixed species hedges. Both habitats interact with each other, with the hedges helping wildlife to move in relative safety from field to field. Traditionally managed hay meadows are increasingly rare in Wales and it was a joy to see the range of plants and grasses that are thriving here with only occasional dressings of manure to sustain them.

The party then moved on to examine areas of new woodland planting that had been established on areas of the farm that are less productive or that link into existing woodland. Together with the tremendous range of restored drystone walls, these woods will serve as a legacy for future generations to enjoy.

The final part of the walk took in several hectares of SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) ancient oak wood. These woods are managed in conjunction with the Countryside Council for Wales and Doug Oliver, Senior Reserves Manager, told of their international importance explaining that the steep, wooded valley creates its own microclimate making it a unique habitat for a range of lichens, mosses and liverworts.

From here, it was an appetite-enhancing steep walk back to the farmyard and a much anticipated lunch. Gareth Vaughan, President of the Farmers' Union of Wales, proposed the vote of thanks and urged any farmer who was not already a member of FWAG Cyntaf to consider joining as he was deriving much benefit from his own membership of this scheme.