Cwm Nant yr Eira Cefn Gwlad

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-Here's another example of man's

-first craft - a fine quickset hedge.

-The trimmings are stacked

-for burning.

-I'm on the way from Llanerfyl to

-Talerddig through Cwm Nant yr Eira.

-It's one of the strongholds of the

-Welsh language in Montgomeryshire.

-JANUARY 2002

-# Tonight, there are owls

-at Dol y Garreg Wen,

-# Grass covers the farmyard

-and the walls are grey with lichen,

-# And sheets of cottongrass

-spread their cover over the garden.

-It's lovely to have some sunshine -

-even little lambs like sunshine.

-I'm at Sychtyn Farm

-in Cwm Nant yr Eira...

-..the home of the Vaughans,

-an old-established family.

-John, you have

-very fine cattle here.

-You must have some good bulls.

-I buy them locally,

-in Montgomeryshire.

-I bought one bull from a farmer in

-Caersws and another from Y Foel.

-Are you fattening them all?

-Are you fattening them all?

-

-Yes, we've been doing it for years.

-It stood us in good stead last year.

-You have some old breed cattle...

-..but you've mostly gone for Lims

-and cross-breeds.

-That's right.

-It became difficult

-to get hold of white-headed cattle.

-We keep Lims now.

-It's been a while since I saw

-so many cattle in one shed.

-You've put slats down.

-We were buying a lot of straw, so

-when we were planning this shed...

-..we decided

-that slats would be useful.

-Of course -

-straw costs a lot these days.

-It's very dear.

-The cattle seem happy

-and they're clean.

-I think it'll catch on.

-There's less work, too.

-You've got excellent silage,

-for a hill farm.

-We try to look after our grassland,

-as farmers do in valley farms.

-We treat it as a crop.

-If you look after your crop,

-you'll get good grass.

-We know about your services

-to agriculture.

-You've done a lot of work

-with agricultural societies.

-And you've been

-to New Zealand recently.

-I learned a few things

-when I was out there.

-Agriculture in New Zealand

-had a tough period in the '80s.

-Hundreds of people left the land.

-We're going through

-a difficult period now.

-Things have changed completely

-in New Zealand by now.

-Agriculture is flourishing because

-the New Zealand dollar is low.

-Here, the pound is too high.

-But the situation will change.

-It will get better.

-I have a lot of faith

-in the industry.

-The New Zealand government...

-..has a favourable attitude

-towards agriculture.

-This is a phase we're going through.

-This is a phase we're going through.

-

-That'll cheer up a lot of farmers.

-I know you've studied the subject.

-We've visited many local farms.

-I understand that your family,

-some years ago...

-..bred one of the most famous

-shire mares in Britain.

-Yes, that's right.

-The mare was the British champion

-three years running.

-Here she is - Erfyl Lady Grey.

-She'd look at home

-on any show ground today.

-John's a very astute farmer,

-Beryl...

-..to choose a wife

-who's worked in a bank!

-Your financial knowledge must help.

-That's what you think, Dai!

-Yes, I've been in charge of a bank.

-You moved from Meirionnydd

-to a lovely place.

-Of course - Cwm Nant yr Eira

-is a lovely part of Montgomeryshire.

-I settled down well.

-But it's very similar

-to Meirionnydd.

-There are plenty

-of cultural activities around here.

-I've always been very interested

-in recitation.

-I don't recite much nowadays,

-but I do some adjudicating.

-I've never seen a woman

-who can't recite!

-I coach the Dyffryn Banw

-recitation party.

-We enjoy competing.

-I also belong

-to the Cerdd Dant choir.

-It's nice to see these things

-carrying on.

-Children are also getting involved.

-Children are also getting involved.

-

-We hope so.

-We're very lucky

-in this part of Montgomeryshire...

-..to have the Cwmni Ieuenctid

-Maldwyn theatre group.

-The National Eisteddfod

-is coming here in 2003...

-..so we hope the theatre group

-will perform another musical.

-You'll have to give up

-your travelling...

-..when the Eisteddfod comes here.

-You've visited many countries

-recently.

-I was on the Missionary Board

-of the Presbyterian Church of Wales.

-Now I'm the treasurer for Wales.

-I've been involved

-with the Council for World Mission.

-It gave me the chance to see...

-..how people live

-in other parts of the world.

-We've got a lot to be grateful for

-in Wales.

-Poverty, HIV and AIDS has blighted

-a part of Africa I visited recently.

-You're a treasurer,

-so you're in charge of money again!

-Yes, I enjoy being a treasurer,

-playing with other people's money!

-What was the last country

-you visited?

-What was the last country

-you visited?

-

-Zambia.

-I flew out to Nairobi

-then headed down to Harare first...

-..before going up to Lusaka.

-I stayed in the countryside.

-There were no luxuries there,

-we lived simply.

-I ate all kinds of things.

-I even ate caterpillars.

-I even ate caterpillars.

-

-Good gracious!

-I don't eat caterpillars,

-but I have a weight problem!

-Go on!

-I'm at Moel Ddolwen Farm,

-David Jones's home.

-I don't know what's happening

-today...

-..but if I wanted a JCB,

-I could find one here.

-I've never seen so many

-yellow tractors on a farm.

-I've usually got 12 to 15 of them

-around the place.

-Do you sell them, David?

-Yes, I usually sell them locally.

-Some of them go farther away.

-They're very handy machines.

-Yes, they're handy.

-Many farmers don't want to pay

-a lot of money for one.

-They want one for fiddly jobs.

-Cutting a ditch or clearing scrub.

-Fiddly jobs like that.

-They're useful

-for burying dead sheep, too.

-Just hope

-there aren't too many of those!

-Making money's hard enough as it is!

-How did you get into this?

-Did you have your own JCB?

-I'd bought a digger

-and kept it for about five years.

-Then it started to get a bit old,

-so I bought another one...

-..and I advertised the old one

-in the paper.

-I had lots of enquiries,

-and it sold immediately.

-Then I bought another one.

-We sell them on.

-You never know how many people

-might be interested.

-You never know how many people

-might be interested.

-

-Someone's bound to be interested.

-It's something different to do.

-It's something different to do.

-

-Yes, it is.

-The way farming is these days,

-you need another interest.

-Farming doesn't give you

-much encouragement these days.

-Are these Welsh crosses, David?

-Are these Welsh crosses, David?

-

-Yes, most of them.

-Some of them are bred

-from Welsh mules.

-Do you dock their tails?

-Do you dock their tails?

-

-No, I don't.

-I used to dock them all.

-They're growing very well.

-You've got a lot of cattle, too.

-Yes - too many, to be honest.

-They cost a lot to keep.

-Straw is so expensive this year.

-The animals' bedding

-costs more than their food.

-That's terribly wrong, isn't it?

-This is Hafod Farm,

-Cwm Nant yr Eira...

-..where Wally and Elen Jones

-and their daughter, Mari, live.

-Wally's family has lived at Hafod

-for nearly 100 years.

-That's a long time!

-Wally's a good farmer.

-It's rough up here, Wally!

-It's rough up here!

-It's now the end of January -

-when did you start feeding them?

-I've only just started -

-last weekend.

-They won't be lambing

-until the end of March.

-You're giving them sugar beet.

-Do you give them silage?

-I don't use it at all, because

-it causes health problems.

-Sugar beet's better for them.

-They're looking quite well

-and they had a good autumn.

-But it's easy to overfeed them.

-I had problems last year, too.

-Silage can be so bulky.

-And the sheep become greedy.

-Sheep eat like camels nowadays!

-Sheep eat like camels nowadays!

-

-It's like feeding pigs.

-When does winter begin up here?

-Autumn must come early.

-Yes. The cattle are all in

-by the third week of October.

-The store cattle are in before then.

-It's a problem if the silage

-runs out before the end of May.

-So it's a long winter.

-They need a lot of feeding

-so I need plenty of fodder.

-You're familiar with this land

-from birth.

-Yes. If you're born in a place,

-you get to know it.

-Parts of it seem steep or wet

-or muddy, but I'm used to it.

-It would take atrocious weather

-to drive you from here!

-It would!

-There used to be many more farms

-up here.

-Yes, lots of small farms.

-They had no hope of surviving

-through the 1920s and '30s.

-But there was some panic in this

-valley in the early '70s, too.

-The Severn Trent water board...

-..realised there were only two

-landowners in this area...

-..Sir Watkin and Dad.

-They had plans to drown the valley.

-More water was needed

-for an increasing population.

-But it's not a very long valley.

-They decided to extend

-Craig Goch reservoir instead.

-It's a lovely valley.

-Thank goodness it wasn't drowned.

-So much would have been lost -

-culture and everything.

-We've improved the land a lot.

-It would have been a shame.

-MELODY ON PIANO

-How old are you, Mari?

-How old are you, Mari?

-

-Seven.

-You play well.

-Do you like playing the piano?

-Do you like playing the piano?

-

-A little.

-I see.

-What school do you go to?

-What school do you go to?

-

-Ysgol Llanerfyl.

-Do you like school?

-Do you like helping Dad?

-But I can't go out in the rain.

-No, you wouldn't want to.

-Have you been having

-piano lessons for long?

-Have you been having

-piano lessons for long?

-

-Yes.

-Do you go once a week?

-On Tuesday, and the next Tuesday.

-You go every Tuesday?

-After school on Tuesday evening?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-You're hungry when you get home.

-I eat before I go.

-Oh, Dai was wrong!

-Congratulations, you play well.

-She's doing well, Elen.

-She's doing well, Elen.

-

-She has to practise quite a lot.

-But she's coming along.

-What do all the young wives

-in the valley do?

-I don't have any spare time at all.

-There's always something.

-There's the Cerdd Dant party.

-There's the Cerdd Dant party.

-

-The Cerdd Dant choir, yes.

-I've been in that since I married.

-Then there's the hall.

-I'm on the hall committee.

-We raise money for that.

-The Eisteddfod is coming here,

-and I'm on that committee.

-The school has lots of activities.

-Gwerinos are playing here this week.

-You're mother's very busy, Mari.

-Come on, boy!

-.

-# Over the bleak Cwmderwen bog,

-the cottongrass is a white shroud,

-# And two hayricks look like two

-eyes which have no light in them,

-# And the stars are a myriad candles

-on the altars of the hill. #

-The family farm

-is very important in Wales.

-Here's a perfect example

-of a family farm.

-William Jones and his wife

-live at Dolwen Isaf.

-Mrs Jones was born and raised here.

-Their son, Tom, and his wife,

-Delyth, live at Dolwen Uchaf.

-They have two daughters,

-Mirain and Elliw.

-We're sitting comfortably

-in Dolwen Isaf this morning.

-But you were born and raised

-in Dolwen Uchaf.

-But you were born and raised

-in Dolwen Uchaf.

-

-Yes.

-The two places share the farmyard.

-Yes, they do,

-but we're out of sight here.

-It's a beautifully warm house,

-despite being so high up.

-Yes, it's very warm.

-Did you go to school from here?

-Yes, to Hafod school.

-How many children lived

-at Dolwen Uchaf and Dolwen Isaf?

-There were seven here

-and eight in Dolwen Uchaf.

-So there were 15 children

-playing around here?

-That's right.

-We had a lot of fun.

-Your son, Tom,

-now farms at Dolwen Uchaf.

-You and William Jones have retired.

-But everything's

-still just around the corner.

-You're on hand

-without being in the middle of it.

-You still enjoy

-taking a look at the animals?

-Yes, indeed. I'm nosing around!

-Things have changed.

-The cattle are all inside now.

-Do you remember them being outside?

-Do you remember them being outside?

-

-Yes, I do.

-We kept them outside.

-This place is very open

-to the weather.

-Very open.

-Wind and rain.

-The winters are very long here.

-Wally Hafod told me

-winter lasts from October to May.

-You have to store a lot of fodder.

-You have to store a lot of fodder.

-

-Yes.

-What did you do years ago?

-You didn't produce as much

-as you do today.

-You didn't produce as much

-as you do today.

-

-We kept fewer animals.

-You live in a lovely place.

-I don't know about that.

-I don't know about that.

-

-It's a nice farm.

-I don't know about that.

-We're quite happy here,

-always have been.

-What's going on, Tom?

-We're scanning the mule sheep.

-Will they be brought inside

-afterwards?

-Yes. Most of the mules

-are in already.

-There are about 50 mules here.

-Places like this

-have their own way of life.

-It's not an easy place to farm.

-It's not an easy place to farm.

-

-No, it isn't.

-Most of our land

-is very heavy and wet.

-You drain it and dry it out

-and it's fine for a few years.

-But it takes a lot of work.

-It has to be fertilised.

-It has to be fertilised.

-

-Yes, a lot.

-It's a job to earn enough

-to feed the land.

-Our pockets are too small!

-That's the trouble!

-But they're big enough

-for what we get!

-I won't keep you!

-How old are the girls, Delyth?

-How old are the girls, Delyth?

-

-Mirain's four and Elliw's two.

-They both look mischievous.

-I bet they get up to a lot.

-I bet they get up to a lot.

-

-They're very talkative.

-Do they go to school in Llanerfyl?

-Do they go to school in Llanerfyl?

-

-Yes, Mirain goes to Llanerfyl.

-And you're a farmer's daughter.

-And you're a farmer's daughter.

-

-Yes.

-I'm from the Llanbrynmair area,

-originally.

-I'm from the Llanbrynmair area,

-originally.

-

-You haven't moved far.

-Just across Cwm Talerddig.

-Which of you likes sheep?

-You like sheep?

-Do you like sheep, Elliw?

-Or do you like cattle?

-Or do you like cattle?

-

-No.

-What do you like?

-What do you like?

-

-A little lamb.

-A little lamb!

-There'll be more lambs soon.

-No.

-You speak well!

-You speak well!

-

-Yes!

-Yes!

-This wet weather

-makes everything feel so cold...

-..especially if you follow

-this twisting, turning river.

-I'm at Dolau Farm now.

-Wyn and Bronwen Roberts and their

-sons Gwyndaf and Geraint live here.

-They keep sheep and beef cattle.

-Strong cattle, Geraint.

-Strong cattle, Geraint.

-

-They're nothing special.

-Are these pure-bred?

-Are these pure-bred?

-

-Yes, pure-bred.

-When did you start keeping these?

-When did you start keeping these?

-

-We bought the first heifer

-three or four years ago.

-She did well,

-so we bought a few more.

-It won't be long

-before you'll have bulls to sell.

-The first calf

-has just been registered.

-Will you increase the herd

-or wait and see how these do?

-I intend to keep it

-as a suckler herd.

-Pure-bred cattle.

-How do they compare

-with cross-bred cattle?

-Do they need more food?

-Do they need more food?

-

-Less food than Holstein crosses.

-They're not as good as Welsh Blacks,

-but they're hard to come by.

-Are they fairly placid cattle?

-Yes, very placid.

-They're quite hardy,

-from the French mountains.

-They're quite hardy,

-from the French mountains.

-

-So they say.

-What's going on

-with the sheep today?

-What's going on

-with the sheep today?

-

-I'm giving them copper.

-You have trouble

-with the lambs, do you?

-You have trouble

-with the lambs, do you?

-

-We've had trouble in past years.

-We've had a few with swayback.

-So we give them copper every year.

-Do you sow rape?

-Very little rape.

-We try to sow fresh grass

-every year.

-That helps.

-Do you buy your rams in Llanidloes?

-Do you buy your rams in Llanidloes?

-

-Yes, in Llanidloes.

-At the market.

-It's been a bad year.

-It's been a bad year.

-

-Yes, it has.

-Just hope it doesn't come back.

-We can cope with one year of it,

-but not another.

-Where will these be going?

-Where will these be going?

-

-Outside, back to the mountain.

-I'll hold this for you.

-Come here, boy.

-Lie down, Toss.

-Lie down.

-How many grandchildren do you have?

-How many grandchildren do you have?

-

-Just this one. She's special!

-I should think so!

-It isn't long

-since the boys were small.

-It doesn't seem long.

-Do you help out on the farm?

-Not so much these days,

-but before the boys left school.

-There was only Wyn and me.

-I'd help with the shearing

-and the dipping.

-You knew what had to be done.

-You knew what had to be done.

-

-Yes.

-Do you have a driving licence?

-Do you have a driving licence?

-

-Yes.

-You can come and go as you please.

-You can come and go as you please.

-

-Yes, otherwise

-this would be like a jail!

-What goes on during the year?

-Though it's been a bad year.

-There's the chapel in summer.

-Yes, and Welshpool on Monday, though

-it hasn't been held this year.

-Did the farmers' wives

-go to Welshpool on Mondays?

-Did the farmers' wives

-go to Welshpool on Mondays?

-

-The men went to the sale...

-..and we women went shopping.

-We'd meet up for a chat.

-The little one

-enjoys being with you.

-You don't often see cattle

-in a cowshed these days.

-You don't often see cattle

-in a cowshed these days.

-

-No, we keep them in big sheds now.

-But straw is expensive.

-But straw is expensive.

-

-That's the trouble, these days.

-Are you from Dolau, Wyn?

-No.

-I came here in 1936.

-That's before I was born.

-That's before I was born.

-

-I thought it might be!

-I was eight and a half at the time.

-Where did you come from?

-Where did you come from?

-

-From Llanwddyn.

-Yes, Llanwddyn.

-Yes, Llanwddyn.

-

-A good place!

-But a terrible place for gnats!

-But a terrible place for gnats!

-

-Yes, because

-there are so many trees there.

-You have some land down the road.

-You have some land down the road.

-

-It's up the valley.

-That shows you how much I know!

-Cwm Nant yr Eira is quite flat.

-Shall we go down?

-You've got plenty of land here.

-That's how it is.

-You've improved the land up there.

-You've improved the land up there.

-

-Yes, we've done it all.

-It's made a difference.

-It's made a difference.

-

-Over the past 20 to 40 years.

-This is a very twisty river.

-What's it called?

-Afon Gam - 'crooked river'.

-Afon Gam - 'crooked river'.

-

-Really?!

-Seriously?

-Seriously?

-

-Yes, seriously!

-It's crooked along its whole length.

-It's crooked along its whole length.

-

-Very crooked!

-How far is this land

-from Dolau Farm?

-Three miles.

-And we're up the valley.

-And we're up the valley.

-

-That's right.

-There's a good road here.

-There's a good road here.

-

-There is, now.

-It's a new road,

-built in 1966, I think.

-Really?

-So there wasn't a road here before?

-So there wasn't a road here before?

-

-No, nothing.

-You couldn't come

-from Talerddig to Llanerfyl?

-You couldn't come

-from Talerddig to Llanerfyl?

-

-No.

-There wasn't even a track here.

-There was a bridleway

-going across there.

-But not to Llanerfyl.

-It's quite a long way.

-It's three miles by the new road.

-About a mile, maybe more,

-crosses our land.

-It's made the journey shorter

-for you.

-It has indeed.

-I used to go by pony.

-Most of the time.

-I used to walk here, in 1947,

-every morning...

-..with a sack of hay on my back,

-for the sheep.

-Things have changed a lot.

-Things have changed a lot.

-

-Things have changed.

-This bridge crosses

-the crooked river.

-I'm on my way

-to Dolau Ceimion Farm...

-..where Dafydd Huw and Mrs Owen live

-Where you have a crooked river,

-you must have crooked meadows!

-Dafydd Huw, you're not originally

-from Cwm Nant yr Eira.

-No, I was raised

-in Cwm Llanfihangel y Pennant.

-It's quite a step

-from there to here

-It's quite a step

-from there to here

-

-Yes, it was.

-Since when have you been here?

-Since '47, after that snowy winter.

-You've seen the valley change.

-You've seen the valley change.

-

-Yes, a lot.

-Today, your daughter

-and son-in-law run the farm.

-Today, your daughter

-and son-in-law run the farm.

-

-Yes, in a way.

-I just keep an eye on things!

-Mrs Owen, you like it here. You'll

-never move unless you have to.

-No, I wouldn't. I'm happy here.

-Can you drive? It's a remote spot.

-No, I depend on Dafydd Huw.

-Does he take you out often?

-Yes, quite often.

-Whenever I want.

-Do you go on holidays much?

-We used to.

-Yes, in recent years.

-Before that, we'd just

-take a day off here and there.

-We went for about 10 years,

-didn't we?

-Yes, that's right.

-I thought you meant

-you'd been on holiday for 10 years!

-People didn't go away years ago.

-People didn't go away years ago.

-

-People didn't think of holidays.

-We certainly didn't.

-Did you belong

-to any local societies?

-Yes, years ago.

-Things have deteriorated a lot.

-There's nothing here now.

-There's nothing here now.

-

-It's the same everywhere.

-Yes, it is.

-What takes up your time these days?

-I suppose you keep an eye on things.

-I suppose you keep an eye on things.

-

-And the feeding.

-You still feed the animals?

-You still feed the animals?

-

-Yes, I take them some hay.

-How many children do you have?

-Just one daughter.

-She's married

-and she has two children.

-So you have grandchildren, too.

-So you have grandchildren, too.

-

-We have five great-grandchildren.

-I suppose they get a lot

-of attention when they visit.

-I suppose they get a lot

-of attention when they visit.

-

-They're worth everything.

-These are good gates.

-Huw of Cwmderwen made them.

-The boys of Cwmderwen.

-After you - you go first.

-Beulah Chapel, Cwm Nant yr Eira.

-This chapel

-has an interesting history.

-Yes, it does.

-Do many people come here in summer?

-Do many people come here in summer?

-

-Yes, quite a few.

-A lot of strangers come here, too.

-Valley families must have filled it,

-at one time.

-Yes, years ago, so they say.

-There were no empty seats.

-There were no empty seats.

-

-Some famous names

-have preached here.

-Yes, indeed.

-Years ago,

-they'd hold big meetings here.

-Ceinion Thomas and Tom Davies,

-Llandysul, would come here.

-Who's been here in recent years?

-Gwyndaf came here regularly

-for over 50 years.

-Alun Evans still comes here.

-He's been coming here

-since he was at college.

-And Gwyn Erfyl is a local boy.

-And Gwyn Erfyl is a local boy.

-

-That's right.

-The Reverend Glyn Lewis

-was raised here.

-The ceiling is unique.

-The ceiling is unique.

-

-They say it was made

-by Iorwerth Peate's father.

-They say that Iorwerth Peate himself

-painted the railings outside.

-How many members are there today?

-How many members are there today?

-

-About 16 members.

-One's in Australia, but she

-contributes generously to the cause.

-Is she from the area?

-Yes, Emily James.

-She was in service with the Tudors,

-years ago.

-And she's still a member?

-And she's still a member?

-

-Yes, she is.

-.

-# Fragile white cottongrass

-of the moor, what weary enchantment

-# Made every memory a dead one,

-and made this old moor a screen?

-# Nothing but Time's oppression,

-that withers everything. #

-This next farm's postal address

-is Abercannon...

-..but local people

-call it Ty Isaf Farm.

-Mrs Nel Owen and her son, Gwynant,

-live here.

-Mrs Nel Owen

-is over 90 years of age.

-She still reigns over the farm.

-Hello?

-Anyone up yet?

-How are you this morning?

-Have you always lived

-in Cwm Nant yr Eira?

-I came to Cannon to work as a maid.

-It was a notable place.

-How many years were you there?

-How many years were you there?

-

-Seven.

-Then my husband got this place.

-We got married in 1934.

-That's a very long time ago.

-That's a very long time ago.

-

-It is, indeed.

-Sixty years and more.

-Do you enjoy good health?

-I've no cause to complain.

-Why do men lose their hair?

-You've got lots of hair.

-It's very smart.

-I've never put a lot of stuff on it.

-So you don't have your hair done

-all the time?

-You don't have

-highlights every week.

-Am I allowed to say

-that you're about 90 years old?

-Yes, since I am 90 years old.

-I think you're over 90!

-Do you enjoy moderately good health?

-I've no cause to complain.

-Gwyneth, my daughter,

-and Gwynant are very good to me.

-I won't keep you.

-It's been a pleasure talking to you.

-I'll call again when you celebrate

-your 100th birthday!

-I don't think I'll make it.

-People do, these days.

-I'm not like the Queen Mother.

-She has people attending to her

-every step of the way.

-But you're probably happier!

-Thank you very much, Mrs Owen.

-They tell me you get up very early.

-Well, I suppose I do.

-I get up as soon as I wake up.

-I prefer to get up.

-It's nice meeting you.

-It's nice meeting you.

-

-And you.

-Look after yourself.

-I can smell cawl cooking -

-get back to it, it's cold out!

-Thank you!

-What's going on here, Gwynant?

-What's going on here, Gwynant?

-

-I'm measuring the rainwater.

-Have you been doing this for long?

-Have you been doing this for long?

-

-Yes.

-Mam used to do it.

-We've done it for over 50 years.

-Do you record this officially?

-Do you record this officially?

-

-Yes.

-I'll measure this and write it down

-and send the result away.

-So you can tell how much rain

-falls every day.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-Is this pond

-something to do with it?

-Not at all.

-It didn't used to be here.

-Recent wet seasons have caused this.

-It used to be a small pond.

-It's been wet recently.

-Yes.

-Can you tell by looking at the jug

-how much there is?

-A rough guess.

-I'll come with you, to see.

-Is that all it is -

-a bottle in there?

-This is like the river Jordan!

-I'll stay on the road!

-What do you keep - suckler cattle

-and some sheep?

-Yes, sheep, mostly.

-This is a very convenient place

-for you and your mother.

-This is a very convenient place

-for you and your mother.

-

-Yes.

-I used to work at other places.

-I used to work at other places.

-

-Other farms?

-Yes - this place wasn't big enough

-for Dad and me.

-I worked at nearby farms.

-I worked at nearby farms.

-

-Which nearby farms?

-After leaving school, I worked

-three days a week at Dolau Ceimion.

-Then I worked half the week

-at Dolau Ceimion and half at Dolwen.

-From Dolwen, I went to Hafod.

-From Dolwen, I went to Hafod.

-

-You must remember Wally as a child.

-He was at school

-when I first worked there.

-The years fly by.

-The years fly by.

-

-Don't they, just.

-And we don't realise.

-This is a lovely valley -

-I like it enormously.

-But there's a sharp breeze.

-As soon as you come up past Dolwen,

-it gets colder.

-As soon as you come up past Dolwen,

-it gets colder.

-

-You feel the difference.

-Your mother loves it here.

-She's been here

-for quite a few years.

-She must remember some hard times.

-Yes, she's told me a lot.

-She often asks me

-why I'm complaining.

-That's true for all of us.

-It's time I went -

-I've got further to go.

-It's very dark this morning.

-It's very dark this morning.

-

-More rain on the way.

-Really?

-Really?

-

-I'm afraid so.

-You'll need a bigger jug!

-This is the highest farm

-in the parish of Llanerfyl...

-..Cwmderwen Farm.

-The old road used to end here.

-Jean and Huw Thomas and their sons,

-Elwyn and Gwynfor, live here.

-They've diversified -

-they do contract work.

-Farmers do what they can these days

-to make ends meet...

-..and to keep their sons

-in the area.

-How long has the family

-been at Cwmderwen?

-I was raised here.

-Dad came here with his parents

-from Dolau in the 1920s.

-Members of his family

-lived here before that.

-So the family's been here

-for quite a while.

-Your two sons

-work with you on the farm.

-Yes, both sons are at home.

-Our daughter is married

-and lives in Machynlleth.

-The farm isn't enough

-to keep us all...

-..so we do some contract work.

-Agricultural work?

-Tractors, lorries, or what?

-A bit of everything.

-Most of it is agricultural work.

-Transporting tack sheep for people.

-Transporting animals to abattoirs.

-The boys can do other things

-as well.

-Gwynfor makes silage

-and he has an excavator.

-Elwyn does shearing.

-These things have to be done

-these days.

-It's good that the boys

-want to stay here.

-You can't really run a farm

-these days without outside work.

-And you have to do everything -

-drive a tractor, a lorry.

-Yes, I'm the general gopher!

-You have cattle and sheep.

-There's plenty of work

-for three of you on the farm.

-Yes, more than enough.

-Does Jean answer the phone?

-Does Jean answer the phone?

-

-Yes, and she cooks and cleans

-for us.

-She does most of the work

-at lambing time.

-It's a lot of work.

-I'll go and look for the boys now.

-You said you were building a shed.

-We're build a lean-to

-in time for lambing.

-Very handy, Gwynfor.

-Very handy, Gwynfor.

-

-Yes, it's very handy.

-It's safe

-and there's plenty of room to work.

-It's safe

-and there's plenty of room to work.

-

-That's why we made it.

-Just what we needed.

-Are you combining these two sheds

-for cattle?

-We hope to get it ready

-by lambing time.

-We won't keep anything in it

-this year.

-Just use it for the sheep.

-Just use it for the sheep.

-

-It's very big.

-It's quite a shed.

-But it'll never be big enough.

-You're right, there.

-How much time

-have you spent on this?

-We put the girders up first.

-We put them up

-and welded everything in place.

-We need to put the sheeting

-and the roof on.

-Are the rafters difficult to put up?

-Are they heavy?

-Are they heavy?

-

-They're easiest, to be honest.

-Are they heavy?

-

-They're easiest, to be honest.

-

-Get away!

-They're easy - we lift them with the

-excavator and bolt them together.

-You have these machines

-to do your contract work...

-..but they're handy at home, too.

-..but they're handy at home, too.

-

-That's right.

-You have better equipment

-to do jobs at home.

-This is no place to be

-when it's raining.

-We try to do these jobs

-when it's dry.

-I'm no expert on these things...

-..but I'd say

-you're doing a good job.

-Good, thank you.

-You're not originally

-from Cwm Nant yr Eira, Jean.

-You're not originally

-from Cwm Nant yr Eira, Jean.

-

-No, Llanwddyn.

-The other side.

-Yes - Cwm Cwmni.

-What's the busiest time of year

-for you?

-What's the most important time

-for you?

-Lambing time.

-Are you out with the boys?

-Are you out with the boys?

-

-Yes.

-Do you keep track

-of the hours they work?

-No, I've given up on that.

-They do it themselves?

-They do it themselves?

-

-They do it themselves.

-Are you fattening all these calves?

-Are you fattening all these calves?

-

-Yes, fattening all the cattle, Dai.

-Are these cross-Lims?

-Yes, most of them.

-We've got fewer Welsh Blacks now.

-And you use a Charolais bull.

-And they're all inside?

-And they're all inside?

-

-Yes, all the young cattle

-are in over winter.

-Are you fattening both the bullocks

-and the heifers?

-Yes. All these will go outside

-for the summer.

-The sheep need feeding up

-before lambing, too.

-You fatten all your lambs, too.

-Yes, we do.

-We fatten them on turnips.

-It's a lot of work, really.

-We're back and fore a lot.

-Do you do a lot of shearing

-in summer?

-I do a bit of shearing.

-How's your back?

-How's your back?

-

-My back's alright.

-They say that a shearer

-has a weak head and a strong back!

-But when the back gets weaker

-and the head gets stronger...

-..he stops being a shearer!

-..he stops being a shearer!

-

-It's a tough job.

-These cattle look well.

-And you've clipped their backs.

-And you've clipped their backs.

-

-Yes, we clip them a little.

-# The old voices

-won't return to Beulah

-# From the depths of the grave,

-it was too much for them.

-# Be still, wounded heart, and

-don't wait for them any longer.

-# The old pleasures I loved

-have fled and will never return,

-# The sweetness of times past

-disappeared with the summers.

-# Nothing remains but the

-cottongrass quivering in the wind. #

-S4C subtitles by

-TROSOL Cyf.