The appointment of Welsh beef and sheep farmer Geraint Davies to the Board of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has been welcomed by the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW).
Geraint, who farms at Fedw Arian Uchaf, Rhyduchaf, Y Bala, with his wife Rachael, is also FUW Meirionnydd County Chair and Chair of the Union’s Younger Voice for Farming Committee.
Geraint and Rachael, both believers that food production and environmental conservation go hand in hand, keep 1000 Welsh mountain ewes and a commercial herd of 40 suckler cows.
Welcoming Geraint’s appointment to the board, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Given that 90 percent of Wales is managed by farmers, the appointment of a Welsh farmer to NRW’s board is long overdue.
“I hope this marks a step towards the appointment of more such young individuals who have a deep understanding of both our natural resources and agriculture, and the interreliance between the two.”
Mr Roberts also welcomed the fact that a Welsh speaker had been appointed to the board.
“Given that around a third of Welsh farmers speak Welsh and that the figure is close to 100% in many parts of Wales, I believe the board should include representatives of both Welsh and English speaking farmers,” he added.