Countryside Care Area
A warm welcome is extended to all visitors to the Show in 2009 to visit the Countryside Care area.
The area has become more and more important in recent years; it brings together relevant bodies and organisations to present a coherent and balanced view of environmental issues and policies involved in achieving a sustainable future.
There is a wealth of information available on the environment, countryside, recreation, heritage and organic food production and a wide range of interest to farmers, those involved in the countryside, the general public and children.
The following organisations will be present:
ADAS |  |
ADAS will be featuring at this years Royal Welsh Show, "Efficient production in the environment" looking at what farmers need to consider when managing grassland and maintain good soil structure and fertility for optimum production. This would balance good farming practice with the need to manage habitats and maintain biodiversity, within the farming system practiced.
CADW |  |
Cadw is the Welsh Assembly Government's historic environment service, working for an accessible and well protected historic environment for Wales. Cadw is proud to celebrate a quarter century of active conservation and promotion of Wales's historic environment in 2009. A new exhibition to mark the many notable achievements made over the past 25 years will be launched at The Royal Welsh Show along with a 30-minute film created especially to mark the occasion.
CALU |  |
CALU, the Centre for Alternative Land Use, is a partnership between Wales leading experts in land management at ADAS, Bangor University, Coed Cymru, Coleg Llysfai, the Welsh College of Horticulture and IBERS at Aberystwyth University.
CALU works to support knowledge transfer to land users and managers in Wales to ensure sustainable and best practice techniques are put to the best possible use. CALU delivers the Farming Connect knowledge transfer development programme for land management.
At the Royal Welsh Show 2009 CALU will be showcasing a range of crops, projects and topics. These will include blight resistant potatoes, cereals, mushrooms and horticultural crops. There will also be a selection of factsheets available from the stand covering a range of topics and experts from our partner organisations will be on hand to provide advice and answer queries.
For more information about CALU and upcoming events in your area please visit www.calu.bangor.ac.uk.
Alternatively phone 01248 680450 or email calu@bangor.ac.uk
THE CENTRE |  |
The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is part of the Natural Environment Research Council. We provide long-term environmental monitoring and state-of-the-art research infrastructure that enable us to deliver practical solutions so that future generations can benefit from a rich and healthy environment.
Our skills and expertise range from the smallest scale (the gene) to the largest scale (whole Earth systems). Our science tackles environmental questions in a holistic manner, integrating scientific disciplines and modelling capability.
Our regional presence and extensive network of long-term monitoring and experimental field sites provide access to diverse ecosystems, enabling us to provide a vital National Capability.
Our research station in Bangor, North Wales is based in the Environment Centre Wales (ECW), an environmentally-friendly building funded by means of a partnership between the Natural Environment Research Council and Bangor University. The research carried out at Bangor is part of the CEH-wide Science Programme, covering the fields of Biodiversity, Water and Biogeochemistry. Topics include the impacts of air pollution, climate change and land use on ecosystem services, with a particular focus on acidification and eutrophication; carbon; catchment science; coastal research; critical loads; ecosystem science; and ozone.
THE COUNTRYSIDE |  |
The Countryside Council for Wales is an Assembly Government Sponsored Body, working for a better Wales where everyone values and cares for our natural environment. This year, the UK celebrates 60 years of nature conservation and access to the countryside. Come and visit the CCW stand to find out more about the many varied opportunities to enjoy the Welsh countryside and coast. Specialist staff will also be on hand to discuss land management issues.
ENVIRONMENT |  |
At Environment Agency Wales we recognise the importance of working with the farming community to help create a better environment. Good farming also benefits farm incomes, the environment and the rural economy. This year, our main stand in the Countryside Care Area will focus on the profits farmers can make from good environmental practice. We will have a series of practical demonstrations to show farmers how to better manage their soil and nutrients. We will also be showing the benefits of water efficiency and how this can save farmers money.
As well as focusing on how farmers can save money, we will be promoting the ways in which everyone can enjoy their water environment. Water related activities like angling, canoeing and sailing generate a vast amount of income to rural Wales.
There will be lots of interactive games, competitions and prizes at our stand, so come along and visit Environment Agency Wales at the show.
To find out more about Environment Agency Wales, please visit our website:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
FARMING AND WILDLIFE ADVISORY GROUP, |  |
FWAG Cymru offers environmental management advice to farmers throughout Wales. It is a farmer-led, independent organisation. Its premier membership category, FWAG Cyntaf appeals in particular to commercial farmers seeking guidance on cross compliance, agri environment schemes, manure & fertilizer management, soil & water management and all aspects of nature conservation. FWAG is assisting farmers with existing Tir Cynnal and Tir Gofal schemes as well as preparing for the recently announced Glastir scheme
IBERS – ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY
A warm welcome awaits farmers at IBERS
IBERS works with farmers throughout Wales, undertaking innovative research that is directly aimed at producing practical answers to problems facing Wales and the rest of the world.
Visit us in the IBERS Pavilion in the Countryside Care area to find out more about how our research is turning into real solutions for:
• Improving food production and quality
• Developing sustainable agriculture
• Helping to adapt to and combat against the effects of climate change
The IBERS team is available throughout the week to answer your questions and tell you more about research activity that’s relevant to you over a cup of tea or coffee.
We look forward to seeing you at the Show.
IBERS was established within Aberystwyth University in April 2008, incorporating IGER and provides world class research and teaching facilities in Biological, Environmental and Research sciences.
ORGANIC CENTRE WALES |  |
The Organic Food and Farming marquee brings together many organisations and companies offering advice and information to both farmers and consumers about organic food and farming in Wales. Visitors can enjoy our organic hospitality free of charge whilst visiting the exhibits of Organic Centre Wales and three certification organisations - the Soil Association, Organic Farmers and Growers and Quality Welsh Food Certification. Consultants and advisors from ADAS Wales and the Organic Advisory Service will be on hand and staff from IBERS will be offering information on organic grassland management. Representatives from Graig Producers, Welsh Black Cattle Organic Club and other companies buying and marketing organic produce will also be present. For more information, telephone Organic Centre Wales, (01970) 622248.
RSPB CYMRU |  |
RSPB Cymru is part of the RSPB, which speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Join us at our stand in the Countryside Care Area to find out more about birds and wildlife in Wales. Chat with our advisory team or browse the gifts in our shop. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654
ROYAL COMMISSION |  |
| ON THE ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS OF WALES | |
This year the Royal Commission’s stand will have a number of displays and events highlighting its work of recording and surveying the built heritage of Wales, with images from the national archive relating to archaeological sites, historic buildings and landscapes. To celebrate Glamorgan as this year’s host county, Dr Toby Driver, Aerial Investigator at the Royal Commission, will give a talk on Glamorgan from the Air on Monday 20 July at 3pm. On Thursday 23 July at 1pm Deanna Groom, our Maritime Officer, will be giving a talk on the Treasures under the Sea off the Glamorgan coast. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Royal Commission archaeologists Louise Barker and Susan Fielding will be demonstrating some of the latest technology used in the survey of archaeological sites and buildings. Join us to find out more about the Hidden Histories of Wales.
WILDLIFE TRUSTS WALES |  |
Come face-to-face with Asian water buffalo at the Wildlife Trusts Wales stand!
A cow and calf will be helping to illustrate how the Wildlife Trusts graze their land using a variety of animals - native and non-native - to create "Living Landscapes" for the benefit of both people and wildlife.
Three of the six Trusts in Wales choose to use water buffalo for grazing wetland reserves because they are ideally-suited to the job. They are hardy animals and unfussy eaters with a preference for scrub and other vegetation which many animals find unpalatable.
This particular cow and calf are part of a herd owned by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and are normally in residence at the Cors Dyfi nature reserve in Machynlleth. Collectively, the Trusts manage more than 5,440ha of land across Wales, and work with other landowners on joint projects. Conservation staff will be at the stand throughout the week to offer advice to farmers and smallholders interested in maintaining their own land in a wildlife-friendly way.
OTHER STANDS
In addition to the above there are a number of other stands as follows:
AEOLUS POWER - renewable energy
BRITISH WATERWAYS - details of Wales and borders waterways
ENERGY NOW - Offers renewable energy solutions.
ENFINITY WIND - Belgium wind farm company
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPACT
NATIONAL HEDGELAYING SOCIETY - hedging on site
NUON RENEWABLE - renewable energy
POND DIPPING - with Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
OTTERS - Ever popular TV otters with Daphne Neville
SONGBIRD SURVIVAL TRUST
DRY STONE WALLING ASSOCIATION- building traditional stone walls on site
WWW CYMRU - Welsh arm of global environmental charity
