Countryside news - WalesOnline

Postcode marking to deter thefts from farms

FARMERS in Pembrokeshire have welcomed an initiative to deter thieves from stealing livestock or agricultural trailers and other equipment. Read

In harness for a second TV run of point-to-point

S4C’s point-to-point horse racing series Rasus ar Garlam is under starter’s orders for a second season from next Monday following the success of last year’s first TV run. Read

Spotlight on the Welsh mountain pony

RARE pony breeds will be celebrated at a free family fun day in Cyfarthfa Park next Sunday. Read

Catch that bird call

EARLY birds is the theme in more ways than one when National Wetland Centre Wales Manager Nigel Williams leads a dawn chorus walk as the sun rises over the Burry Inlet on Saturday. Read

60 years of RSPB at island landmark

THE RSPB is celebrating 60 years of owning and managing its first Welsh nature reserve. Read

Tip-top fresh food straight from the fields in a farm’s growing business

IT’S a bright Saturday morning and a cold northerly wind is blowing straight off the Celtic Sea and into the wide open front of the Spring Meadow Farm Shop, near St David’s. Read

Spring show for Shetland ponies

THE South and West Wales Shetland Pony Group are holding their Spring Show at Coombe Park stables, Peniel, Carmarthen, on Saturday, May 3. Read

Wonderwool show – report

A NEW use for wool that could energise the stagnant market for fleeces is being blocked by red tape. Read

Open day shows fine wool breed’s potential

A pair of photogenic sheep at Wonderwool have been the public face of an Adas project. The aim of the project, which started in October 2004, is to assess the practicality and financial benefits of keeping a fine wool breed in the high rainfall of the Welsh uplands. Read

Oak pathways help salmon

SALMON and sewin entering Welsh rivers on their spring run his year will find new stretches of river open to them for spawning thanks to new fish passes constructed from sustainable Welsh oak. Read

Butterflies lashed by the rain

BRITAIN’S butterflies suffered their worst year for more than a quarter of a century after a rain-soaked summer last year. Read

Badger culling’s out on Trust land

CONSERVATIONISTS at the National Trust plan to scupper the badger cull in Wales. Read

Investigation into badger cull

THE RSPCA is investigating whether some farmers have taken a proposed cull of badgers into their own hands after four animals were found dead in a field. Read

Glamorgan’s champion

TO CELEBRATE the 25th anniversary of the Glamorgan Association, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society awarded medals which attracted record entries. Read

Breast cancer sufferers are hooked on Casting for Recovery

Fourteen ladies (and Molly the spaniel mascot) enjoyed a weekend fly fishing retreat at Caer Beris Manor Hotel, Builth Wells, at the first Casting for Recovery event in Wales. Read

Governments ‘must act now’ to combat climate change

THE current approach to global warming was compared last week to someone on a diet who considered it was fine to eat cream buns because he had also eaten a salad. Read

10 years on, reserve proves a great haven

IT’S been 10 years in the making. And there was hardly a bird in sight. Read

Birds put sentries on watch

BIRDS have been found to use personalised radio-style communication to protect members of a group and improve the chances of a good meal. Read

Paddlers petition for right to roam on rivers

CANOEISTS are petitioning the National Assembly to draw up a framework to cover all 350 rivers and 200 lakes of Wales. Read

Bryncarreg Lightning Jack strikes to become the supreme champion

INTEREST in all aspects of Welsh pony and cob breeding continues to grow apace and this was again evident by the large numbers, including foreign visitors, present at Lampeter on Saturday. Read