Western Mail

'Ice Queen', 16, On Course to Pick Up a Clutch of Trophies ; Turf Talk Racing Mourns the Rider and Trainer Rose Harry

A FEATURE of the 2011-12 point-to-point season has been the riding skill of a 16-year-old schoolgirl. Charlotte Prichard from Penycoedcae near Pontypridd, has impressed a lot of pundits.

First Aid Campaign

FIRST aid charity St John Wales has launched a campaign to cut the number of deaths and serious injuries on Welsh farms. It says the agricultural sector is statistically the most dangerous industry in the UK, accounting for one in five British workplace deaths. Over the last decade, Wales has seen 47 farm-related deaths - with victims aged from just four years old to 86. As a result, St John Wales has developed a training course which focuses on the treatment and prevention of common farming ...

Appeal for Fosterers to Take in Young Horses

THE RSPCA in Wales yesterday launched an emergency appeal to find foster homes for young horses as it announced that some were being sold off for less than the price of a cheap bottle of wine. The RSPCA revealed that the number of horses and ponies in its care had tripled over the past year.

Meal Times for Cattle During Bad Weather a Challenge ; Milk Matters

IN Wales we are used to rain, indeed when it comes to pasture management it is more often than not to our advantage. However last month was the wettest April since records began.

Be Careful or You May Reel in More Than Fish ; Anglers Must Look Behind Before Casting Their Lines Angling

DESPITE recent rains which have resulted in Welsh river flows running in good condition, the sewin and salmon do not appear in that much of a hurry to come off the tide and move up-river. The title, children of the tides, is most appropriate for these beautiful fish at the moment. However, with the rains of this last weekend there were a few sightings of sewin moving up-river and there's no doubt that by the time these words appear in print, the rivers will be holding a good number of sewin.

Market Report

ABERGAVENNY MAY 4 STORE CATTLE SALE ANOTHER fantastic Friday cattle trade with buyers again present for far more cattle. The sale started with 3 cows & calves from Miss Clayton, Garth Farm, selling to pounds 870 for a Hfd X cow with Blonde heifer calf at heel. A quality entry of 56 stores sold to a top of pounds 1,090 for 13- month Lim Blue X steers from R Ikin, Pandy. The excellent consignment included others at pounds 1,055 & pounds 1,000. J R Joseph & Co, Llyswen sold 11-14 month Lim steer...

If You Like a Good Yarn the Wonderwool Show Proves the Place to Be ; Event Weaves Its Magic On Increasing Number of Fans

VISITORS from all over the UK attended the wool and natural fibres extravaganza Wonderwool Wales for a show that was bursting at the seams with creativity and inspiration. Fibre enthusiasts were able to shop until they dropped at the show that was livelier than ever, according to organisers. There was an increased number of exhibitors this year; with more than 175 of them offering a wide and vibrant selection of yarns, fibres, equipment, books and designer-made products covering knitting, cro...

Farming Comment

THE Royal Welsh Spring Festival that is being held at Llanelwedd this weekend is a springboard for the many shows to come across Wales this summer, especially the Royal Welsh Show in July. The Poultry Club of Wales has created three major annual poultry shows since it was formed in 1994.

Festival Season Springs Into Life with Early Goats Leading the Way ; Royal Welsh Spring Festival This Weekend

GOATS will feature prominently at this year's Royal Welsh Spring Festival which has become increasingly important in the goat show calendar because it is one of the earliest shows in the year. A festival spokesman said: "The Spring Festival is unique as the only show in Wales with classes for male dairy goats.

Highlights of Spring Festival to Be Shown On S4c

S4C will broadcast a programme presenting highlights from the Royal Welsh Spring Festival 2012 at the Llanelwedd showground. Dai Jones and Shn Cothi will bring all the buzz and excitement of Wales' prime national festival for smallholding, gardening and sustainable living on Monday, May 20.

Distracting 'Officials' Take Woman's Pounds 170 ; Countrynewsbulletin

BOGUS water officials who distracted a vulnerable woman in Mid Wales and stole pounds 170 are being hunted by police. Detectives said two men made a cold call claiming to be from the water board, then distracted the victim in the Red Bank area of Welshpool in Mid Wales between 2.30pm and 2.45pm last Wednesday.

'Lobby Politicians On Milk Price Cuts' ; Countrynewsbulletin

NFU Cymru is urging Welsh dairy farmers to lobby their local political representatives and milk buyers to take urgent action against the recent cuts in milk prices. Over the course of the past fortnight, a number of milk buyers have cut their milk prices and NFU Cymru fears that many Welsh dairy farmers will be forced out of the sector due to "unfair" milk contracts and commercial practices in the dairy supply chain.

Michelin Starred Chef Aims to Raise the Bar in the Capital ; Roger Jones to Mentor Team at the Park House's Burges Restaurant

A MICHELIN-starred chef who has cooked for the Royal Family is coming home to Wales in a bid to set the standard for gourmet food in the nation's capital. Roger Jones, 52, who owns the highly-acclaimed AA Restaurant of the Year The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, in Wiltshire, has been appointed to mentor the Welsh team of chefs at the Park House's Burges restaurant, as part of his ambition to raise culinary standards in Cardiff.

Lobster Fish Finger Recipe a Signature Dish by Roger Jones (Serves 12)

YOU WILL NEED: Loaf of White Bread best made with Spelt Flour - one small loaf Free Range Eggs 1 Double Cream 125ml Fresh Cardigan Bay Raw Langoustines/Prawns - 1 kilo Live Little Haven Lobsters - 500g/750g Seasoning METHOD: Cook the Lobster for seven minutes, refresh in ice cold water, then pull apart and chop the lobster into small chunks. Remove the shells from the langoustines/prawns and blend together with the egg and cream until thick and mousse like, keep chilled at all times, season. ...

Breathtaking Bluebells

ONE of the most spectacular sights of spring can be seen at Bodnant Garden this week, as thousands of native bluebells come into full flower. Carpets of blue cover the grassy glades in the quieter corners of the garden, eight miles south of Colwyn Bay off the A470 in North Wales.

Yfcs Focus On Solar Energy at Spring Festival

SOLAR photovoltaics will be the theme for activities at the Wales YFC Centre during the Royal Welsh Spring Festival. The event at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, next weekend will feature the worldrenowned renewable energy company, Dulas.

County Rally Lives Up to Its Billing

THE annual Young Farmers Clubs' Rally is unique in that it not only brings together present members of clubs in all parts of the county but also generations of past members who still share the same enthusiasm for the movement as they did in their own younger days. The Carmarthenshire Rally, held at the Showground, Nantyci, again lived up to its long-standing reputation of being a huge social event, with members from their teens to early twenties taking up the challenge of each particular seri...

Longest Serving Wool Board Manager Dewi Jones Retires

THE manager of Wool Producers Wales has retired after 48 years - making him the board's longest serving manager in the whole of the UK. Dewi Jones, pictured below, began working for the Wool Board in Dinas Mawddwy near Machynlleth as a 15-year-old back in June 1964.

Single Farm Payments Loom Large On Mep's Farm Visit

CHANGES in Single Farm Payments were discussed when NFU Cymru officeholders met Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans on a farm in Flintshire. Ty Newydd, predominately a dairy unit, is farmed by NFU Cymru Clwyd county vice chairman Evan Roberts and his wife, Ruth.

Snake Expert Leads Talks at Popular Spring Festival

REPTILE specialist Dr Rhys Jones, star of the BBC Wales programme Rhys to the Rescue, will be among those giving talks at the popular Speakers' Corner at the Royal Welsh Spring Festival this weekend. Dr Jones, a Cardiff University Distinguished Visiting Fellow, is one of just a few trained experts in the UK who can be called on to rescue endangered species.