Twenty young pupils from the London Welsh School joined Farmers’ Union of Wales president Emyr Jones and deputy president Glyn Roberts on a recent visit to a city farm in the south-east of the UK’s capital.

The 90-acre Woodlands Farm, on the borders of Greenwich and Bexley, is the largest city farm in Europe and represents part of London’s vanishing countryside. It includes old hedgerows, fragments of ancient woodland and traditionally managed hay meadows.

[caption id="attachment_2263" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Woodland Farm Trust project manager David Jones leads pupils on their tour of the farm[/caption]

“It was a pleasure to visit the farm to see how things are run on a city farm and show the children how it is managed as well as introducing them to a little bit of countryside,” said Emyr Jones.

Saved from road and housing developments by local campaigners in the 1980s and 90s, the Woodlands Farm Trust (WFT) was established in 1997 to safeguard the farm and its unique environment.

FUW member and WFT project manager David Jones, originally from Llanrhystud, Ceredigion, was delighted to see the children learn about farming practises and the animals on farm.

He said: “With so many diverse habitats on the farm there is much to learn and explore, from the farmyard to the ponds, woodland and hay meadows.

“It was wonderful to have the children from the London Welsh School at the farm. They took a great interest during the whole visit and indeed showed a good knowledge of farming.

“They also had great fun in creating felt flowers from wool with our education officer Hannah Forshaw.

“The WFT supports the FUW in their campaign to support the Welsh rural economy and Welsh culture. Europe is a richer place if cultures remain diverse and strong.”

The farm is managed in a way that respects habitats and enhances biodiversity, focusing on conservation and education for all the local community to enjoy.

Activities on the farm include traditional hedgerow management and making hay from the meadows with conservation grazing using rare and minority breed cattle and sheep after the hay cut.

[caption id="attachment_2264" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Pupils feel the fleece from the sheep flock at the farm’s classroom[/caption]

Breeds kept on the farm include Irish Moiled and British White cattle and Lleyn, Dorset Down and Herdwick sheep.

The farm is a major community and educational resource with over 3,000 schoolchildren visiting annually.

London Welsh School head teacher Julie Sullivan, who accompanied the children on their visit, said: “This was an excellent opportunity to see the farm animals. The children got see the cows, sheep and pigs as well a meeting the farm pony.

“They enjoyed the chance to stroke the chickens and hold the guinea pigs as well as exploring the traditional farm craft of felt making, which is made from wool.

“Welsh heritage and culture is an important part of the London Welsh School curriculum and many children have farming links back home in Wales.  Farming and the countryside is embedded in our Welsh heritage and is not forgotten just because we are living in London.

“Thank you to the Farmers’ Union of Wales for inviting the children on such an exciting trip.”

[caption id="attachment_2261" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Smelling the hay[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2262" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Pupils make friends with a happy hen watched by (from right) London Welsh School head teacher Julie Sullivan, FUW president Emyr Jones and Woodlands Farm Trust education officer Hannah Forshaw.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2260" align="aligncenter" width="300"] London Welsh School pupils feeding sheep on the farm[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has appointed Nia Wyn Evans as their area officer for south Montgomeryshire to succeed Montgomery-based Tony Williams who recently retired from the post after 26 years’ service.

Mrs Evans, who has previously worked for the FUW as an area officer in Meirionnydd and as the union’s welfare officer, said: “I feel very privileged to have been appointed as an area officer for south Montgomeryshire and can’t wait to meet the FUW members and insurance clients in my new area.”

Together with her husband Dylan, she runs a 25-acre smallholding with 120 Beltex ewes and 12 chickens on the Mawddach estuary.

Mrs Evans will be based in the FUW county office in Newtown and will be present at Welshpool livestock market on Mondays to deal with and address any issues or customer insurance needs.

Having also worked as an educational business careers adviser for Careers Wales and as a YFC organiser for Meirionnydd she looks forward to using her previous knowledge and experience to develop her insurance portfolio in south Montgomeryshire.

FUW business development director Emyr James said: “We are delighted to welcome Nia back to the fold and are quite sure that she will maintain the high level of service for our members in Montgomeryshire.

“We wish her every success in her new role,” added Mr James.

[caption id="attachment_2252" align="aligncenter" width="245"] Mrs Nia Wyn Evans[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales today reminded further education students of the entry deadline for its revamped student bursary worth a total of £1,500.

Following a review by the union’s agricultural education and training committee, a number of significant amendments were made to the FUW student bursary scheme that have been implemented for this year’s applications.

The union is now offering a bursary aimed specifically at further education students with an award of £1,000 to the winner and £500 to the runner-up.

The bursary has also taken on a new format with applications being requested before the April 8 closing date. The bursary is specifically aimed at assisting college students studying an agriculture or land-based subject.

FUW agricultural education and training committee chairman Alun Edwards, who is keen to attract more applications from further education students, said: “Applications for the further education bursary opened in November, to give students a longer period of time to settle into their studies, and is centred on the practical nature of the courses being studied.

“By making these changes we hope to attract a greater number of applications and we look forward to receiving this year’s entries.”

It is a condition of the award that short-listed candidates attend an interview to discuss their submission during the period leading up to the 2013 Royal Welsh Spring Festival on Saturday May 18 when the successful candidates will be announced and presentation of the bursary cheques made.

To apply for the bursary, applicants must complete the application form and either write an essay of a maximum of 1,500 words on one of the following subjects:

• How I will utilise the skills I’ve learnt at College in my future career.
• What is your favourite course at College and why?
• Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Or, applicants can use one of the following options to showcase a project they have been working on, either as part of their course, in the workplace, or at home.

• Written diary report
• Photo documentary
• Video diary

Applications can be submitted via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (file size must not exceed 10MB). Attached files up to a maximum of 25MB can be submitted to either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Students may also submit electronic copies on disk format. All projects need to be submitted in Microsoft accessible format.

With membership of the Farmers' Union of Wales in Carmarthenshire boosted considerably last year the county office has arranged a series of sub-branch meetings this month.

The increase led to the union's Carmarthen-based county executive officer Meinir Bartlett receiving the new members award at the annual FUW staff conference recently.

And Glamorgan area officer Sam Evans, who is also based at the Carmarthen office, picked up the FUW Insurance highest book growth award.

The forthcoming sub-branch meetings are:

East Carmarthenshire - Thursday February 7 at the Cottage Inn, Llandeilo, at 7.30pm with guest speaker FUW deputy director of agricultural policy Rhian Nowell-Phillips.

West Carmarthenshire - Tuesday February 12 at Llanboidy Football/Social Club (7.30pm) with guest speaker, FUW policy officer Andrew Gurney.

North Carmarthenshire - Thursday February 21 at the Talardd, Llanllwni, (7.30pm) with guest speaker FUW senior policy officer Hazel Wright.

South Carmarthenshire - Thursday February 28 at Upper Tumble Social Club (7.30pm) with guest speaker FUW director of agricultural policy Nick Fenwick.

Presentations at the first three events will be based on the future of the Rural Development Plan 2014-2020 and its effects on Agri Environment Schemes, Farming Connect and Rural Development, and Dr Fenwick will give an update on CAP reform, in terms of Pillar 1, and other issues.

Also present at all meetings will be David Foode, of E-On energy suppliers, providing details of the favourable contracts available to FUW members.

Mrs Bartlett said: "Members' attendance at these meetings, where they can present their views as the grass roots of the industry, is vitally important.

"Their contributions will assist the union to represent, fight and safeguard their interests more effectively in the future. We look forward to seeing members at their most convenient location."