Countryside news - WalesOnline

Perry-maker hopes Silver Lady will bag him a hat-trick of awards

A WELSH amateur perry maker could make history if he wins again at this year’s Welsh Perry and Cider Championships in May. Read

Farm shop’s cutting food miles and supporting the local economy

GROWING consumer demand for quality local produce persuaded Andy and Debbie Eastwood to swap their jobs in Oxfordshire for a small farm and farm shop in Pembrokeshire. Read

Look out for the first welcome sign of spring on the woodland floor

WINTER officially ended on March 20 with the spring, or vernal equinox, cyhydnos y gwanwyn, when day and night become equal in length. However, the changes in nature are much less precise. Read

Open dog show to supply Crufts

MORE than 1,000 dogs will be participating in the open dog show at this year’s Royal Welsh Smallholder and Garden Festival at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, in May. Read

Bog lands’ vital role in fending off change

The Anglesey and Lln fens support plants such as black bog rush and great fen sedge, which depend on the area’s calcium-rich waters. The plants are rare across the UK. Read

Fenlands need support

AMBITIOUS plans have been drawn up to get local farmers and businesses to join in the largest wetland restoration project in Wales. Read

Keepers want 1% investment to protect creatures that bring in £800m

About 44,000 beekeepers manage an estimated 250,000 honey bee hives in Britain. Read

Parasite could ‘wipe out our honey bees within 10 years’

HONEY bees could be wiped out in Britain within 10 years by a blood-sucking parasite that has already decimated the population. Read

Have your say on apprenticeships

LANTRA is urging individuals working in agriculture, horticulture and animal care to take part in a short, online survey to comment on their industries’ apprenticeships. Read

Chance to see a national forest through all the trees

As politicians urge us to plant more trees, Rory Francis of Coed Cadw explains why recreating Wales’ native woodland is a good idea Read

Access agreements can greatly restrict canoeists

THE Welsh Canoeing Association has called for open access to inland waterways in Wales as fair to all users – not just anglers. Read

Hands-on day shows path to a career

LAND-BASED industries across the UK still offer a whole range of career opportunities for young people, despite dramatic changes which have taken place over the past 20 years. Read

Learn how to sell at food fairs

A MARKETING expert will be handing out advice on how to sell at food fairs and farmers’ markets in a Welsh workshop later this month. Read

Bid to protect oaks from lethal moths

EXTRA measures are being taken this spring to protect Britain against a moth that damages oak trees and can harm humans. Read

Reef worm builds again – after a gap of 60 years

IT MAY not look much and seldom grows more than an inch-and- a-half – about 4cm – but sabellaria alveolata, the honeycomb worm, leaves a big impression. Read

MP talks riding Bill to a costly death

A LABOUR MP has blocked a bid to clarify the law on the liability of animal owners in the event of an accident. Read

European Squirrel Initiative finds that almost 80% of us want to see greys eliminated

A SURVEY commissioned by the European Squirrel Initiative shows growing public support for control of the grey squirrel population in Britain. Read

£5,000 fine and imprisonment gives bite to new protection for the water vole

A GOVERNMENT Minister has taken action to protect the water vole. Read

The warden of Skomer Island for the past eight-and-a-half years Juan Brown is leaving to move back to another of his favourite islands – Shetland. His place is being taken by Jo Milborrow, formerly warden of neighbouring Skokholm. Juan and Jo met up on Skomer last month for the official hand-over. Here they talk of their island lives Read

Preparing horses for the show ring

THOROUGH shampooing with products more expensive than the ones you use yourself, furious brushing with the best brushes available, meticulous scrubbing, careful mane and tail pulling, rugging (several thick layers), bandaging and even turning your horse into a hoodie! These are just some ways to get your horse or pony looking groomed and immaculate for the show ring. Read