The Farmers’ Union of Wales has warned that conservation bodies have their heads in the sand over the devastating impact badgers have had on hedgehog numbers, and are doing conservation a great disservice by scapegoating farmers.

The State of British Hedgehogs 2018 report released today (7 February) by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People’s Trust for Endangered Species estimates that hedgehog numbers have halved since the beginning of the century, and places the lion’s share of the blame on intensive farming.

However, world leading hedgehog expert Dr Pat Morris, author of The New Hedgehog Book, wrote in his 2006 book “The implications [of high badger population densities] for hedgehog survival are serious...ignoring the issue or pretending that badgers exist only by harmless drinking of rainwater doesn't help at all."

By Angharad Evans, Welsh Editor

Recently, I had to turn to the traditional way of searching through the old phone book which is now idle thanks to more convenient and fast ways of searching for something.  As I turned the pages to the appropriate letter, I stopped for a moment and realised that all types of surnames, the weird and wonderful exist.

Looking back at history, the old Welsh style was to use the father's baptism name as a surname, with the family's surname changing from generation to generation. For example, Iolo Griffith would be the son of Griffith William, and he was the son of William Dafydd, and would be written as Iolo ap Griffith ap William ap Dafydd! Quite a mouthful! Women would use the same procedure sometimes using 'ferch' instead of ‘ap’. They also kept their maiden names after getting married because surnames did not exsist.

The equivalent of a year’s farm income (£13,000) has been raised by the Farmers’ Union of Wales, for its charitable causes - Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and The Farming Community Network.

Speaking about the success of the FUW’s farmhouse breakfast week at the end of January, Union President Glyn Roberts said: “Our staff, members and wonderful volunteers have done an incredible job in raising what is the equivalent of a year’s farm income for many farms in Wales for our chosen charities.

“Farming communities are close-knit communities and this shows what can be achieved when we all come together, with a common goal. Through these events, where we all sat around the kitchen table to talk and share our thoughts about #FarmingMatters, we’ve strengthened ongoing and permanent relationships and established new ones.

“The money we have raised in our rural communities will go towards helping others in our communities - we must never forget that our communities are the engine room of people powered change and also that this strength of community has the power to hold governments to account.”

A wonderful time was had by all who attended the 7 breakfasts arranged across the county by the Caernarfonshire Branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales last week.

Over £6,300 has already been donated by locals with money still coming in. Over 500 people attended the breakfasts around the county, which was fantastic support from all the local communities.

“The farmers’ wives did an excellent job with admirable help from friends and family in all the locations. We must thank Anita Thomas, Gwenan Jones, Carol Jones, Helen Jones, Anne Franz, Eleri Roberts, Anwen Jones and Sara Evans and their hard working teams very much for a wonderful effort which has raised so much money for very worthwhile charities, those being the FUW President’s Charities – Alzheimer’s Society Wales and FCN (Farming Community Network) and the Sir Conwy 2019 National Eisteddfod Chair Fund,” said FUW Caernarfonshire County Chairman Tudur Parry.

“The successful week would not have been possible without the priceless donations from the local businesses,” he added.

All the food was donated by the following:

Hirdre Isaf’s Happy Eggs from Tudweiliog; O.G. Owen & Son Butchers Ltd, Caernarfon; Oinc Oink, Ffridd, Llithfaen; Dafydd Wyn Jones & Son Butchers, Caernarfon; A Ll & H Williams Butchers, Edern; South Caernarfon Creamery, Rhydygwystl; K E Taylor, Daughter & Son, Cricieth; Welsh Lady, Y Ffôr; Tesco, Bangor; A.F. Blakemore, Bangor; Llaethdy Ll?n, Madryn Isaf, Boduan; Co-op, Llanfairfechan; Ieuan Edwards of Conwy; John Williams of Llanfairfechan; Becws Islyn, Aberdaron; Spar, Pwllheli; Llechwedd Meats, Llangefni; Tesco, Caernarfon;  Elystan Metcalfe Llanrwst; Popty Tandderwen, Betws-y-Coed; Belmont, Llanddoged; Llaeth y Llan - Village Dairy Llanefydd; T & M Roberts, Ochr Cefn Isa, Ysbyty Ifan; D J Fruits, Porthmadog;  Morfa Nefyn Garage & Shop; Wynnstay , Pengroeslon; R.H. Evans (Hywel Jones) Pwllheli; Becws Glanrhyd, Llanaelhaearn; Wyau Plas Newydd Eggs, Llwyndyrus; Cig Ceirion, Sarn; Becws Gors Bach, Morris Bros, Cwm-y- Glo; Morrisons Caernarfon; Wyau Desach, Clynnog fawr; Caffi Idris, Cricieth; Cae Melwr, Llanrwst; A.L & R.O Jones, Cigydd, Llanrwst; D.I. Hughes, Pencraig Uchaf, Betws y Coed; Hafan Hire; Cigoedd y LLain, Pwllheli; Tesco, Porthmadog; Aldi, Pwllheli; Tonnau, Pwllheli; Cigoedd y maes, Pwllheli; Ian Jones, Wyau Penygroes; Village Shop, Llanfairfechan; Nerys; Emyr Evans a’i Gwmni; Popdy Lleuar, Penygroes; Spar, Aberdaron; Spar, Nefyn; Llefrith Tir Glyn, Aberdaron; T? Newydd, Aberdaron; Eleri Stores, Aberdaron; Caban Bysgod /Sblash Fish Bar, Aberdaron; Llên Ll?n, Pwllheli.

As part of the FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast week, the Brecon & Radnor county office put on a wonderful breakfast at the Union’s Pavilion at the RWAS Showground and as well as raising the profile of Welsh food, also raised £237.50 for Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and The Farming Community Network.

The breakfast provided an opportunity to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow every day of the year and put a spotlight on the importance of our rural economy.

FUW Brecon and Radnor CEO Aled Jones said: “ A big thank you to all of you who supported us again this year and helped us raise the profile of Welsh premium food! We were also pleased to welcome Kirsty Williams AM to our breakfast table and much enjoyed discussing many #FarmingMatters with her.

“Over the last year the FUW has been busy highlighting why farming matters – not just in terms of food security but also in terms of our rural economy and our rural communities.

“A host of businesses up and down the country have already been supporting the FUW in bringing that message across to politicians over the past 12 months and through farm visits, round table discussions and meetings, the Union has been making great progress in highlighting why #FarmingMatters.

“Our breakfast here was another link in that campaign and I hope that more people will understand how much farming matters to them every day.”

A warm welcome and mouth-watering smells greeted those who joined the Ceredigion breakfast functions, which were organised as part of the last week’s FUW’s Farmhouse breakfast campaign.

The events held at Aberaeron Rugby Club and Tregaron Rugby Club, were well attended and as well as raising the profile of Welsh produce and showcasing the important role the food and drink sector plays in our everyday lives, also raised £520 for the FUW’s charities Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and The Farming Community Network.

FUW Ceredigion CEO Mared Jones, who organised the breakfasts, said: “I would like to thank all those who supported us again this year and made these breakfasts such as success.

“It was about showcasing the most important meal of the day in a bid to raise awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of breakfast but also an opportunity to show decision makers how vital a part farmers play in maintaining our rural communities, sustaining a viable and profitable agricultural sector and of course producing excellent food.

“A big thank you therefore also to Ben Lake MP and Elin Jones AM for joining us for breakfast to talk about #FarmingMatters. And a special thanks to our sponsors for kindly donating the food for the breakfast; Ben Evans Butchers, Llanon; Owain Butchers, Aberaeron; D.Davies Butchers, Tregaron; Gary Jones Butchers, Tregaron; Spar Tregaron; HD & C Eggs, Pengraig Farm, Ystrad Meurig; Sainsbury’s Lampeter; Costcutters Aberaeron; Popty Aberaeron and J H Williams & Sons, Lampeter.”