Caernarfonshire Farmers’ Union of Wales member Lowri Thomas presented Cancer Research Wales with a cheque worth £500 at the National Eisteddfod.

The money was raised during the FUW’s farmhouse breakfast week in January at Meillionydd Bach, Rhoshirwaun.

FUW Caernarfonshire CEO Gwynedd Watkin said: “The whole family including Huw Thomas (Lowri's husband) and his brother Dei, made a tremendous effort to raise over £2,000 of which £500 was donated to Cancer Research Wales. The remaining £1,500+ was added to the President's chosen charity BHF Cymru. I am very grateful to them for hosting the breakfast, which allowed us to raise such a fantastic amount of money.”

Farmers from Denbigh and Flintshire have met their local Assembly Members to talk about some of the major problems the new bovine TB zones will have on local farm business and stressed the urgent need for high resolution maps. 

‘Taking Forward Wales Sustainable Management of Natural Resources’, a title which seems innocuous enough, but hides more than fifty proposals, many of which are highly contentious for a broad range of stakeholders, were discussed with Pembrokeshire Assembly Members recently.

Discussing the consultation at Pembrokeshire county show, FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas said: “The consultation covers areas as diverse as forestry, public access to land and waterways, fishing, drainage, agriculture and wildlife - to name just some, with specific proposals including allowing mountain bikes on all public footpaths, allowing people to camp and play games wherever they want on open access land, reducing the circumstances in which public safety can be protected when trees become rotten and dangerous, and on-the-spot fines for the drivers of cars from which litter is thrown.

Pembrokeshire farmers and Farmers’ Union of Wales officials met with Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths at Pembrokeshire County Show to discuss the NVZ consultation and bovine TB.

FUW Deputy President Brian Thomas said: “We had a very good meeting with the Cabinet Secretary and discussed the timing of an announcement on the NVZ consultation. It was confirmed that a decision would be announced by the end of the year.  

“The length of any implementation period was also highlighted as an issue, as the period of time needs to be as long as possible to enable the planning permission system to be able to cope, to ensure the availability of specialist contractors and to take account of the fact that there will be periods of the year when no construction work can take place due to weather conditions.