Farmers & Landowners

Wales is a pastoral land with a strong and active farming tradition. The rural environment is dominated by grassland and areas of rural heathland, bog and woodland are typically influenced by farming practices. The ongoing reforms of the agri-environment programme heralds a new outlook for the rural economy and could potentially deliver habitat conservation and management on a large scale.

Welsh farmer wins the first national farming award for wildlife conservation 

Peter Davies organic farm in the Vale of Glamorgan is a haven for the rare chough,swallows, hundreds of seed-eating finches, and rare wild flowers. He was one of four finalists shortlisted for the first Nature of Farming Award, a competition backed by Butterfly Conservation and Plantlife. Mr Davies will be presented with his trophy and £1,000 prize money at a special event in January. For more details of Mr Davies's success visit the RSBP website

Peter Davies - BBC Countryfile

Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group

PONT

PONT is a consortium of organisations that work with farmers and graziers in the Welsh countryside to deliver wildlife benefits from grazing as part of integrated, viable and sustainable management systems.

Membership of PONT is open to all individuals and organisations working with and representing farmers and graziers to deliver wildlife benefits from grazing to the Welsh countryside, as part of integrated, viable and sustainable management systems.

PONT has been lucky enough to be able to get a  pot of money  - at least  £22,500 over 3 years to assist PONT partner organisations, individuals and projects to deliver on the ground infrastructural and stocking improvements on sites across Wales, to enable an increased area of Welsh grasslands to be put under appropriate sustainable grazing management for the benefit of the wildlife. The grants can  be used for the purchase or installation of any infrastructure needed, support appropriate stock purchase, or other appropriate solutions, which will enable sustainable appropriate grazing management for grasslands.

• Grants will be given to enable appropriate grazing for a minimum of five years
• Sites to be targeted will be potential / existing Wildlife Sites, SSSI’s or European designated sites, and may be common land.
• There will be a minimum site size of 0.5 acre with no upper size limit.
• Grant money cannot be matched by other exchequer sources of funding, but in kind time can be used to match money. Go to the PONT website to download the application form.

Links

Farmers Union Wales http://www.fuw.org.uk/

FWAG http://www.fwag.org.uk/wales

National Farmers Union Cymru www.nfu-cymru.org.uk/

PONT http://www.grazinganimalsproject.org.uk/pont_home.html