GIVEN the importance of common land to Welsh farming – it covers more than 10 per cent of the land mass – some tough talking is a certainty at this year’s Welsh Commons Forum (WCF) annual conference. The Welsh Government’s Deputy Agriculture Minister, …
Archives for January 2012
Rules tightened on food festival funds
Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries said: “Each year food festivals in Wales contribute millions of pounds to the economy and are a key element in promoting Wales’s burgeoning food culture and giving visitors a ‘sense of …
Blaenavon’s Love Food Festival returns
THE Love Food Festival will return to Blaenavon for a second year this weekend, giving visitors the chance to taste the best of Welsh produce. The two-day festival, which will be held over Saturday and Sunday, was launched at Blaenavon’s Big Pit in the …
Wales’ flagging High Streets ‘need national strategy’
The report from the assembly’s cross-party enterprise and business committee wants co-ordination of policy, planning as well as financial considerations to promote town centres. The Welsh government’s independent panel on business rates should consider …
Welsh Government urged to prepare for new farm virus
Antoinette Sandbach, shadow rural affairs minister for Wales, now wants assurances from the Welsh Government that it is fully prepared for the virus. “I am urging ministers to ensure that Wales, alongside the rest of the UK, has contingency plans,” …
Pub to be run by four rival brewers after being bought by mystery London banker
Mr Hughes said the four were normally rivals but had worked successfully together to provide the beer tent at the annual Conwy Feast food festival. While the Great Orme and Conwy breweries are within a couple of miles of the pub, another brewery …
West Wales clothing business Howies has been bought out by its management
The business has always had a strong ecological ethos and its clothing is made from organic cotton. In 2007 Howies was named the ninth coolest brand in the UK. It has a shop in Cardigan and use to have a store in London’s Carnaby Street.
National park throws out plans for ‘Nelson’s Column’-sized turbine
The proposed turbine would have stood 48.4 metres (159ft) tall from base to blade tip at its maximum height, twice as high as any approved in English and Welsh national parks. The committee said a turbine this size would stand out too much on a …
Green light for flood alleviation scheme in Rhydyfelin
The Environment Minister, John Griffiths, has approved a Welsh Government grant of over £1.3m million towards a £3 million flood alleviation scheme at Rhydyfelin, near Pontypridd. This grant is in addition to the £0.2 million awarded previously and the …
Recycling hits a record 49% across Wales
“One of the reasons for our good progress is the fact that every local authority in Wales offers weekly food collection services. “Separating out food waste not only diverts significant waste away from landfill, it also makes us far more aware of the …