Wales Farmer 8


DIARYdates March


2nd-3rd: Wales YFC Entertainment Feast and Junior and Senior Member of the Year, Swansea Grand Theatre. English and Welsh drama finals. 9th: Brecon and Talybont point-to-point, Llanfrynach, near Brecon. 10th: Sir W. W. Wyn’s point-to-point, Bangor on Dee racecourse, off A525 between Whitchurch and Wrexham. 16th: Curre and Llangibby point-to-point, Howick, near Chepstow. 16th-17th: South Wales Game and Country Fair Fonmon Castle, Barry. 17th: Tivyside Hunt point-to-point, Cilwendeg, Boncath. 23rd: All Wales public speaking finals, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd. English and Welsh finals for junior reading, junior speaking, intermediate and senior competitions. 23rd: Glamorgan point- to-point, Ystradowen, Vale of Glamorgan. On A4222 between Cowbridge and Pontyclun. 23rd: Welsh Beekeepers Association Convention, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells. Contact 01545 561635. 30th: Monmouthshire point-to-point, Llanvapley, near Abergavenny.


April 1st: South


Pembrokeshire Hunt point-to-point, Lydstep, Tenby. 6th: Carmarthenshire YFC County Field Day. 6th: Pembrokeshire YFC County Field Day, Cefnydre, Fishguard. 7th: West Wales Area Club point-to-point, Lydstep, Tenby. 13th: Ystrad Taf Fechan point-to-point, Ystradowen, Vale of Glamorgan. On A4222 between Cowbridge and Pontyclun. 14th: Flint and Denbigh point-to-point, Bangor on Dee racecourse, off A525 between Whitchurch and Wrexham. 20th: Wales YFC Field Day, Rhuthin. Competitions include ATV handling, fencing and stockjudging. 20th: Llangeinor hunt point-to-point, Pyle. 27th-28th: Wonderwool Wales Festival, Royal Welsh Showground, including artisan products and workshops. Contact 01938 820495 or 01873 821205, or email enquiries@wonderwool wales.co.uk.


OPINIONS March 2013


Cows are least likely to milk it when snow falls


By Debbie James


could always be guaranteed days off school every winter thanks to agenerous covering of snow. Our farm was four miles from the village – four miles of hilly country roads and a bumpy farm lane. Despite the distance and the unfavourable


G


ROWING up on an isolated farm in mid Wales, I


conditions, I’m sure my parents could have packed my sisters and


me off to school if it was open. We had a tractor after all. Our absence from the classroom was because the teachers failed to make it into school. During those snowy days we managed to get the cows milked and their milk to the processing factory, often in blizzard-like conditions. It was often along and torturous process, with frozen pipes to be


thawed and slippery conditions to overcome. It just goes to show what aresilient bunch farmers are. The nation may grind to a halt, but livestock are fed, dairy cows milked and ewes lambed. Animals don’trespond well to waiting for their basic needs to be attended to. Inow live by the Pembrokeshire coast and we rarely get snow, but when we did


We want to hear from you! WALES FARMER CONTACTS


we want to hear it – straight from the horse’smouth! You can send your sto- ries and pictures on any agricultural- related matter, from showing success, top mart prices and diary dates to your equestrian or countryside news. In the upcoming editions we’d also like to feature your readers’ letters, so if there’ssomething you want to get off your chest now’syour chance. To get in touch, email wfeditor@walesfarmer.co.uk or call the Wales Farmer newsdesk on 01437 761759. Please note, photographs should be sent as .jpg files, at least 1MB in size.


H PLANNING matters


Thefuturefor historic buildings “


THERE are more than 30,000 listed buildings in Wales, which contribute nearly £840 million to the Welsh economy each


year. The planning system plays a


vital role in conserving and pro- tecting these assets,but what should landowners takeinto account when seeking to alter or modify alisted structureontheir property? All statutory listed buildings


will retain alisting recordavail- able from the local planning authority or from the Welsh Government’sheritage depart- ment, Cadw. The listing recordwill detail


when and whythe building (or structure) waslisted, along with information on anyspecific char- acteristics deemed worthyof protection. The listing will typicallyrelate


to the physical structure, howev- er it could also include items within abuilding. Forexample; in the case of listed mills,water- wheels and associated mecha-


In his regular column for Wales Farmer, WAYNE


REYNOLDS, director of Atriarc Group, explores heritage planning and what may be in store for 2013.


nisms often fall within alisting. It is important to check the recordprior to undertaking any workstoensureyou won’tbe liablefor enforcement, evenif onlyminor worksare undertak- en.


Undertaking worksonlisted


buildings without consent can carry heavy fines and result in a custodial sentence. In addition to national level planning policy contained within


Planning Policy Wales (edition 5), circulars 60/96, 61/96 and 1/98 give further detailed infor- mation on the duties and respon- sibilities governing historic buildings. However,the Welsh legislative


framework governing historic buildings is likelytochange in 2013. The Heritage Bill White Paper


(due in the summer) should offer aclearer viewofwhatproposals


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk


maycome forward. The keyprinciples thathave alreadybeen outlined will seek:


■ to ensurethathistoric sites and buildings areprotected to the best possible standard;


■ to keep the character of Wales’ historic landscapes and towns,and


■ to help people access,under- stand and careabout their place and history and to appreciate the importance of local heritage.


In an eraofspending cuts,the


heritage minister,Huw Lewis, has recentlytabled discussions to merge the RoyalCommission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments


of Wales


(RCAHMW) and Cadw. The RCAHMW is the investi-


gation bodyand national archive forthe historic environment of Wales. The amalgamation would


result in asingle bodygoverning historic buildings and ancient monuments,and is likelytofall under the control of the Welsh Government.


Undertaking works on listed buildings without consent can carry heavy fines and result in acustodial sentence.


However,ifa newcentralised


bodylost its ‘arm’slength’ inde- pendent quality,itcould impact upon the standardofdecision making. Yetitwould appear to make


good financial sense to amalga- mate twobodies dedicated to protecting historic assets in Wales and mayevenimprovethe speed at which decisions on applications aremade. Forfurther information or enquiries please contact Wayne Reynolds on 07855 646586 or email wayne@atriarcgroup.com.


AVE you got any farming news? If so,


Publisher: Nigel White nigel.white@ walesfarmer.co.uk


Managing editor: Holly Robinson holly.robinson@ walesfarmer.co.uk


Farmereditor: Rhiannon Llewellin 01437 761759 wfeditor@ walesfarmer.co.uk


Reporter: DebbieJames 01646 661395 info@debbiejames media.com


Advertising: Anthony Couzens 01437 761775 anthony.couzens@ walesfarmer.co.uk


● Interested in becoming a community farming correspondent? Email wfeditor@walesfarmer.co.uk or call 01437 761759 to find out more.


have our last significant covering, our cows were already out to grass. These cows proved themselves adept at grazing through holes in the snow. While news reports worked themselves into astate of excitement over whether or not the nation would get to the shops for bread and milk, these cows proved themselves the most resilient of all.


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