Cefn Gwlad: Teulu Berain Cefn Gwlad

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-September 2015

-The September sun

-is shining down on us.

-I'm visiting a farm that has

-a very interesting history...

-..Berain Farm, Llannefydd.

-It's an interesting farm,

-with good farmers...

-..John Jones and his wife, Eirian...

-..and John's parents,

-Richard and Iona Jones.

-They also have another farm,

-near Denbigh.

-It's called Meysydd Brwyn.

-This is a superb landscape.

-I'm particularly impressed

-with the large fields.

-Let's see if the family's at home.

-I can hear calves bleating.

-THE BERAIN FAMILY

-This mediaeval mansion was built

-originally in the 14th century.

-It's the birthplace

-of Katheryn of Berain...

-..a most colourful character

-of her day, in this part of Wales.

-Today, it's a busy farmhouse,

-and the home of the Jones family.

-You've remained loyal

-to the old type of Friesian.

-We've gone back

-to keeping Friesians...

-..but we used to keep Holsteins.

-They're very easy to manage,

-there's less work involved.

-They're fertile, and they

-can be kept outside for longer.

-Do you cross-breed them

-with beef bulls?

-No, we don't cross-breed.

-Which do you use, AI or bulls?

-We've always kept bulls.

-Works better, does it?

-I find it more convenient.

-Of course.

-But as the herd increases,

-we'll have to rely more on AI.

-All dairy farmers have had

-to increase their herds...

-..and I'm sure you've done the same.

-Yes, three years ago,

-we started operating a new system.

-There's been an increase

-of about 80 cows.

-Did you buy these cows?

-No, we breed our own cows.

-We get plenty of heifers.

-We used a Friesian bull

-in order to increase the herd.

-We've produced more heifers

-than we needed.

-Now, we have the number we need.

-It's a lot of work - they have

-to be fed, morning and evening.

-Yes, they eat a lot.

-You can't do much to change that...

-..apart from keeping an eye

-on your costs.

-The aim is to produce milk

-as cheaply as possible...

-..from grass.

-These fields are impressive,

-very nice.

-They're good fields to work.

-People have worked over centuries

-to improve the land.

-Years of daily toil.

-But the landscape

-is likely to change, soon.

-There are plans to build pylons,

-from Clocaenog to St Asaph...

-..cutting through the middle

-of the farm.

-Through these fields?

-Not just a single row of poles,

-but two poles, three metres apart.

-How will you manage,

-after the poles are erected?

-You have to harvest these fields

-at least twice a year.

-Machines are getting bigger.

-I'm not looking forward

-to working around all those poles.

-I'm not surprised.

-I speak as a farmer...

-..but there are also concerns

-that the work will affect Berain...

-..which is a Grade II*

-listed building.

-The pylons are planned

-to cover 17 kilometres.

-There's group campaigning to have

-the cables installed underground.

-My first reaction is that

-I don't want them at all...

-..my second reaction

-is to have them placed underground.

-But no-one listens.

-Iona Jones, John's mother,

-is a local woman.

-She has been living in the old

-Berain farmhouse since 1963...

-..when she married Richard Jones.

-She has a keen interest

-in the house's history...

-..and in the history

-of Katheryn of Berain.

-She inherited land.

-She was a descendant of Henry VII.

-The family came from Penmynydd

-in Anglesey.

-Her land extended

-to the end of the Vale of Clwyd.

-She married four times.

-It was the custom at the time...

-..for marriages to be arranged when

-children were about 12 years old.

-Her first husband

-was Salusbury of Lleweni.

-He was followed

-by Clough of Plas Clough, Denbigh...

-..and then one of the Wynns

-of Gwydir, Llanrwst.

-Her last husband was Thelwall

-of Plas y Ward, Rhewl.

-Those names still exist today.

-Yes.

-Wynn is still particularly common

-in this area.

-Where were these four husbands

-buried?

-Or did she predecease one of them?

-Are there any memorials to them

-in local cemeteries?

-No, and there's no record

-of her grave either.

-She's rumoured to be buried

-in Llannefydd...

-..but there's nothing

-to mark the spot.

-According to legend...

-..she killed her husbands

-by pouring lead into their ears.

-But I don't think that's true!

-The work of keeping the old

-Berain farmhouse warm continues.

-Across the road from the house...

-..there's a large stock

-of seasoned logs.

-It's a nice, sunny day.

-Where are the logs - up here?

-Log fires have become fashionable,

-but you need lots of logs.

-Filling the basket is hard work.

-Splitting logs is even harder work.

-That's right.

-These have already been split.

-Log fires have become very popular.

-Yes.

-Logs are kept dry in this shed.

-The wind blows through holes

-in the back wall...

-..which helps to keep the logs dry.

-You have plenty of work.

-You have four children.

-Three boys?

-My daughter, Elin, is the eldest,

-then there's Ifan, Elias and Jacob.

-They're good, fair play to them.

-Do you drive them to school?

-No, a minibus picks up all four.

-We're very lucky.

-They're looked after well.

-They're looked after well.

-

-What's your job?

-I teach.

-I teach adults.

-I've been doing it for years.

-I enjoy it.

-The work is flexible...

-..which is convenient

-for the children's holidays.

-I can stay at home with them.

-I enjoy it.

-Did you grow up in a rural area?

-Yes, not far from here, in Nantglyn.

-Were you familiar with farm work?

-Yes, I was raised on a farm.

-Excellent.

-We'd better bring the logs in,

-before John starts shivering!

-Yes, we need a good fire

-in the evening.

-Is it too heavy?

-I'd say most of the weight

-is on this side!

-Excellent.

-Along with Berain...

-..the family also farms at

-Meysydd Brwyn in the Vale of Clwyd.

-'Brwyn' means 'reeds',

-but I can't see any.

-Here, John grows wheat and oats.

-The harvest is almost over

-for another year.

-This is wheat straw, is it?

-Yes, it's wheat straw.

-It's more moist

-than oats and barley.

-It's a lot finer.

-It's a lot finer.

-

-It can be.

-I leave it to dry, and turn it over

-the evening before it's harvested.

-One of the advantages is that wheat

-gives you straw as well as grain.

-You get straw as well.

-Yes, it's an advantage.

-Good gracious.

-Do you use contractors, even though

-you have your own machines?

-We do most of the work ourselves.

-We combine the wheat.

-But at the end of last week,

-the weather was due to change...

-..so we called in a contractor

-to help finish the job.

-It's lucky that we did so.

-You don't want it to get wet.

-It takes two or three days to dry.

-It's easier to dry the straw

-after harvesting the grain.

-You get better straw, too,

-if you don't hurry the job.

-Is it easy to find help locally?

-We're fortunate - there are plenty

-of workers and contractors to help.

-We're fortunate, as an area.

-It's the same in Llannefydd -

-it's an agricultural parish.

-Agriculture remains strong

-in the area.

-After harvesting...

-..all the produce is stored

-at Meysydd Brwyn Farm.

-John keeps an eagle eye

-on its quality.

-Is it fairly dry?

-Yes, it's fine.

-It says 16.1.

-What a big pile of wheat.

-Wheat is very nutritious.

-Yes, it's very nourishing.

-Is it oats, at the far end?

-Yes - I grow wheat and oats.

-Do you grow enough for your own use,

-for fattening cattle?

-Yes, with a little to spare.

-We sell what's left over,

-when spring approaches.

-It may look like a lot of food,

-but it doesn't come cheap.

-It wouldn't be worth growing,

-if we didn't use it ourselves.

-It costs money to grow,

-and grain is cheap...

-..but if you use your own produce,

-you can save money.

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-Since harvesting

-is almost over...

-..John has more time to spend

-at Meysydd Brwyn...

-..checking on the sheep

-and the heifers.

-These ewe lambs are smart.

-They're Welsh Mule crosses

-and Texel crosses.

-That's what we use, mostly.

-They're nice.

-This farm has a fascinating name.

-Meysydd Brwyn.

-There's plenty of grass

-in every field.

-It's fine in summer.

-It can be wet in winter,

-which explains the name.

-We all have our problems.

-The steers have good grazing.

-Will they be fattened indoors?

-Yes, over winter.

-Friesians are a good breed

-for putting on weight.

-You also keep sheep - it'll soon

-be time for them to breed.

-When does lambing begin?

-When does lambing begin?

-

-In mid February.

-The mules stay outside, do they?

-The mules stay outside, do they?

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-No, they're brought in for lambing.

-It's because the land here

-is so wet.

-You have four children,

-including three boys.

-Are they interested in farming?

-I hope so, but these are early days.

-They're interested in lots of

-things, and they're still at school.

-They enjoy playing rugby,

-and computers.

-That type of thing.

-You and your father have done

-a great deal work on this farm.

-It would be nice to see

-one of your sons taking over.

-It's nice to see

-the next generation coming along.

-Work continues,

-back home at Berain Farm.

-John's father, Richard Jones,

-is as active as ever.

-He has no intention of retiring.

-Richard, the cattle

-are looking well.

-Yes, they are.

-You're scanning them for calves.

-Are you doing all of them?

-No.

-John has a list of cows to scan.

-You're still the one who brings

-the cows in and takes them out.

-I do what I can.

-The man who's helping you

-has worked here for years.

-Yes, over 40 years.

-Yes, over 40 years.

-

-Really?

-He keeps us going.

-You must be a good boss!

-Don't let me keep you -

-the men have gone in.

-Nice to talk to you.

-Yes, nice to see you too.

-It's a fine morning.

-Very nice.

-Goodbye.

-Elwy Griffiths

-is a key worker on the farm.

-He can turn his hand

-to any type of work.

-He has remained loyal to the family

-over many years.

-It's a job finding someone who knows

-how to use these things, nowadays!

-It can be quicker

-than using a tractor.

-Quite right.

-Good gracious, it's a busy place.

-Yesterday, you were

-applying fertiliser to the fields.

-We've been doing it every month...

-..though we probably won't need

-to do it again, this year.

-The weather's good, for autumn.

-We've had a good growing season.

-You've seen many growing seasons.

-Yes - I've worked here

-for 38 years.

-Are you from the area?

-From Henllan, originally -

-Plas Meifod.

-Very good.

-I shouldn't keep you from your work.

-I shouldn't keep you from your work.

-

-This place is a bit different.

-Richard's still going like a rocket!

-Richard's still going like a rocket!

-

-Nothing slows him down.

-I'm sure that's true!

-He'll never retire.

-If you retire,

-you might as well stop.

-Don't look at me like that!

-I know I'm old!

-Nice to see you!

-Nice to see you!

-

-You too.

-Ta-ra.

-The small place of worship,

-Capel Cefn Berain...

-..is an important place

-for the family.

-Iona Jones has been

-a faithful member since the '60s.

-You've passed this gate many times.

-Come inside.

-Thank you.

-This is the little chapel.

-It's very well-kept indeed,

-I must say.

-We can sit here.

-How many people can it accommodate?

-Over 100 people, when it's full.

-But we don't get

-large congregations these days.

-Do you hold a cymanfa

-or other events in the chapel?

-Not really, we just keep

-the membership going, financially.

-We raise money for charities -

-various charities.

-Very often, these days...

-..it can cost a lot

-to bring in a preacher on Sundays.

-Costs have increased,

-like everything else.

-We don't know how long we can go on.

-It takes a real effort.

-The congregation

-is dwindling, sadly.

-We have about 30 members,

-and 21 or 22 children.

-It's not so bad

-when they're small...

-..but children tend to become

-wrapped up in games...

-..on Sundays.

-Children are important

-in any community.

-The two younger children

-at Berain Farm, Jacob and Elias...

-..are always happy to help

-with chores after school.

-Elias, you've been helping

-your father to feed calves.

-The calves are very pretty.

-Some of them are only a day old.

-They're very small.

-What school do you go to?

-What school do you go to?

-

-Llannefydd.

-You too?

-Jacob, you seem to be

-rather mischievous, to be honest.

-Am I correct?

-Yes.

-I'm glad you agree!

-In what year are you, at school?

-In what year are you, at school?

-

-Year six.

-Do you have interests

-at school, such as rugby?

-Rugby, yes.

-Me too.

-I like rugby, too.

-You like playing rugby?

-Does the school have a team?

-No, we play in Denbigh.

-You go to Denbigh.

-Is it a good team?

-Is it a good team?

-

-Yes.

-The children's enthusiasm

-and willingness to help are vital.

-Their older brother and sister,

-Elin and Ifan...

-..serve as a good example

-for the younger children.

-Today, a new calf has arrived,

-to add to the herd.

-It's a nice female calf.

-Yes, she's fine.

-It's good to have plenty of staff.

-We do our best.

-How was school today?

-Fine, same as usual.

-You received your GCSE results

-recently, didn't you?

-Yes, I received the results

-recently.

-I've just started in the sixth form.

-How did you do?

-How did you do?

-

-I did quite well.

-I got three A grades

-and nine A* grades.

-Well done!

-You and your parents

-must be very pleased.

-Yes.

-What do you hope to do?

-At the moment,

-I hope to study geography.

-What do you hope to do?

-Well, geography, and I may go on

-to study geophysics.

-It seems a complicated subject

-to study.

-You've put some thought into it.

-What do you do, Ifan?

-I've started in Year 10 -

-I'm doing my GCSEs.

-I'm doing engineering,

-design and technology...

-..physical education and geography.

-Well done.

-Do you play rugby?

-Yes, I enjoy rugby.

-I play for Denbigh, ever Sunday.

-It's nice to have these jobs to do

-after school.

-Yes, Dad needs some help.

-Well done, you're going about things

-the right way.

-It's a fine afternoon and when

-a farmer has a moment to spare...

-..he likes to lean against a gate.

-I don't get much time

-to lean against a gate!

-It can be extremely busy at times.

-This is a proper family farm,

-isn't it?

-Yes, that's how it's always been.

-Dad has done a lot of work,

-over the years.

-The children have had

-their grandparents' company...

-..ever since they were babies.

-It's different from the relationship

-they have with us.

-They're the older generation.

-Their grandparents

-live right next door.

-This is where their roots are.

-It's a place

-they'll always remember.

-They've had a good start in life.

-Llannefydd is a good parish

-for parents to raise families.

-It has a school

-and everything else we need.

-I wish you well for the future.

-You live enriched lives

-and you have four healthy children.

-We're very fortunate.

-And parents who are still active.

-I must say,

-I admire the way you farm...

-..and I admire your stock.

-I don't really want to leave!

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

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