by Angharad Evans, Welsh Editor
The past year has been a difficult and challenging one for us all. We have had to adjust our lifestyles, our priorities have changed, and everyone has found a new appreciation for the small things that may have been taken for granted before Covid.
But one young girl has adapted and gone on to help others through lockdown. Betsan Jane Hughes’ family, who are members of the Union in Ceredigion, farm near the village of Llangwyryfon, and Betsan's interest in sewing developed into setting up a business on the farm overlooking Mynydd Bach and the windmills.
Betsan admits that home is very important to her, and gives her the opportunity to combine the two things that are close to her heart - sewing and agriculture. During her time at college, Betsan enjoyed considerable success designing for a number of well-known companies, but now it is home that offers her the most inspiration.
After the busy lambing season, Cornel Clecs had the opportunity to talk to Betsan about everything from sewing to farming, and what inspires her creative work. Here is Betsan to explain more:
My name is Betsan Jane and day to day I run a clothing design and renovation business called Betsan Jane Design & Alterations. I set up my business back in 2017 after graduating from Carmarthen School of Art while doing a degree in 'Fashion: Design & Construction'. During my last year at University I was fortunate to win a scholarship in memory of Miriam Briddon, this inspired me to start my own business.
Alan Watson is a County Delegate for the FUW’s Brecon & Radnor branch. He’s a sheep farmer and has lived in North Radnorshire all his life. Here he gives us an insight into what it’s like to be an FUW County Delegate.
Why FUW?
Because it stands for family farms and the lowest member has a voice within the Union. It’s a chance to voice opinions.
A member of the Farmers' Union of Wales has collected the work of nearly 150 Llandovery and district poets and rhymers in an attractive book to raise money for the Carmarthenshire National Urdd Eisteddfod, which will be held in Llandovery in 2023.
The book, Diferion Dyfri*, edited by Handel Jones, Rhandir-mwyn, also contains information about each poet - and a picture if available - as well as dozens of drawings and photographs by local artists and photographers.
Handel, author of A Family Affair, The Story of the Farmers' Union of Wales, has been preparing the book for three years. He said: “I thought it was important to include as wide a range as possible to reflect what was being written and read in the area over the centuries.
“The work of winners of the National Eisteddfod Chair or Crown will be seen alongside verses about local characters and events. Among the earliest pieces of work are fifteenth-century poems by Lewys Glyn Cothi, and the latest poets include Endaf Griffiths, born in 1994.
"The artists include the late Aneurin Jones, Peter Kettle, Beryl Morgan, Lon Owen and Marilyn Evans."
Naturally, a high proportion of the poetic work is owned by farmers and others closely associated with the land, for example John Rhys Evans, who farmed in the Pumsaint area until his retirement.
*Diferion Dyfri. Edited by Handel Jones. Published by Gwasg Llech Ddu. Price: £20 (+ £2.70 p&P). Copies available from Dai Dyer. Telephone number: 01550 720 956 / 07977 913 637. Email:
by Angharad Evans, Welsh Editor, Y Tir
Today is the 8th of March 2021. Just a year ago today everyone was about to start the last 'normal' week, without even knowing it.
It's hard to believe how much life has changed in a year - many have lost loved ones to the invisible virus that still controls us, everyone living a 'locked down' life, social distancing, wearing masks, using gallons of hand sanitiser, getting used to working from home and homeschooling children for most of the past year.
Normal life and social events, which were taken for granted up until last year, were cancelled.
