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A few weeks back, RSPB Cymru, Bangor University and Cynidr Consulting, with support from Welsh Government, hosted a groundbreaking event on ‘the future of upland farming in Wales’ at the Glasdir Business and Conference Centre in Llanrwst. The event was the first of its kind and drew over 150 delegates; including farmers, their representatives, policy experts, academics and Government officials. We all came together to consider a new way of working that will shape the future of land management policy in Wales. The resounding message from the conference echoed throughout Wales was that the new policy must be good for people, farmers and nature alike.
RSPB Cymru Land Use Manager, Arfon Williams, speaking at the conference.
The aim of the successful event was to create space for discussion and dialogue to imagine what the future of the uplands might look like – and the day went very successfully. The conference brought together people from various corners of the farming sector in Wales that led to a positive no-holds-barred debate about the future of our uplands.
The event examined possible implications of leaving the EU, the impact of Wales’ new environmental and sustainable development legislation (Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015), and future policies on upland farming. It also explored key relationships between farming and landscapes, the environment and nature, as well as offering farmers the opportunity to discuss and contribute to future policy developments*. S4C’s ‘Ffermio’ filmed the day and you can watch their program on the event here.**
One of the key messages throughout the day was the potential for upland farmers to manage their land in a way that provides much wider public benefits than just food production. By creating a healthy natural environment, land managers help to provide things like clean drinking water, clean air, carbon storage, attractive landscapes for people to enjoy, and habitats for wildlife. These things in turn boost our rural economies and our health and wellbeing. Farmers should be rewarded for providing these services to wider society alongside their role as food producers.
What was most striking on the day was that despite everyone coming from different perspectives and with different ideas, it wasn’t about our differences. It was all about ‘how can we work together on this’ and ‘how can we build a brighter, stronger future for the uplands’? It became clear that in order to achieve the future everyone aspired to, we really do have to work together in partnership. The conference, it seems, was the first step on that journey.
For more information regarding our food and farming work in Wales, please contact cymru@rspb.org.uk
*Speakers included BBC Cymru’s Dei Thomas, Welsh Government’s Head of Agricultural Policy, Kevin Austin, Agricultural Economy specialist from Aberystwyth University, Professor Peter Midmore, Tony Davies and Hefin Jones of ‘Fairness for the Uplands’, Chief Executive of European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism (EFNCP), Gwyn Jones, Ysbty estate farmer Guto Davies representing the ‘FFerm Ifan’ community, farmers Sorcha Lewis and Patrick McGurn, and Arfon Williams, Land Use Manager at RSPB Cymru.
**All presentations and a report from the Conference, highlighting delegates’ key issues, concerns and priorities for consideration whilst developing future land management policy will be available on the Bangor University website in due course.