Delyth Gilman Cefn Gwlad

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-Here I am,

-in England's vast expanses!

-I'm in the Pickworth area

-in Rutland...

-..and this is Grange Farm...

-..the home of Delyth

-and Will Gilman.

-Delyth's roots

-are in the Hiraethog area.

-She grew up on Brynclochydd Farm.

-Now, she lives in these expanses.

-She has three sons.

-The family

-runs a large cereal farm.

-We'll learn more as we go on.

-Grange Farm lies half a mile from

-the ancient village of Pickworth.

-It is surrounded by thousands of

-acres of wheat, oats and barley...

-..growing in huge fields.

-It's the middle of August...

-..and the season for combine

-harvesting is coming to an end.

-This year, we have 3,000 acres.

-There are 500 acres left to harvest.

-Progress has been good.

-The combines are huge.

-They'd raise a few eyebrows

-in Gwytherin or Llanilar!

-You'd have a hard time

-getting them there!

-We've been using two combines,

-this year.

-We've had good weather

-for making silage.

-Yes, we've had favourable weather.

-We haven't had any rain

-for over six weeks.

-It's been dry.

-Is it dry land, generally?

-Yes, the land is dry, generally.

-It's stony and dry.

-One half of the farm is wetter...

-..though rain doesn't affect it

-too badly.

-Barley is your biggest crop.

-Do you also grow oats and wheat?

-We grow oats, wheat, barley, peas...

-..oilseed rape...

-..all kinds of crops.

-We've expanded our range

-quite a lot, over the years.

-This area

-has good road links nearby.

-It makes it easy for you

-to transport your produce.

-That's right - in the background,

-we can hear the hum from the A1.

-The A1 can take you anywhere

-within a few hours.

-Most of our produce is sold

-in advance on the futures market.

-It's used to make bread

-and biscuits.

-We have a contract with Jordans,

-who make cereal bars.

-We have thousands of tonnes to sell.

-Prices change on a daily basis...

-..depending on the value of the

-pound, and other crops worldwide.

-I should think

-it's a difficult situation.

-Yes, though that's true

-for all farmers.

-So much relies on the weather.

-Weather conditions worldwide

-affect our sales.

-High production in another part

-of the world causes oversupply.

-On the other hand, we profit

-if production is poor elsewhere.

-Do you spray your crops?

-Yes, to some degree.

-Black-grass is a major issue.

-That's our biggest problem...

-..and there are no chemicals

-available on the market...

-..that can kill it,

-apart from Roundup.

-We've sprayed lots of patches.

-Every year is different...

-..when it comes

-to the use of chemicals.

-It's nice to see some hedges,

-and the trees are a vivid colour.

-Do you cut your hedges every year,

-like we do at home?

-We don't cut them every year.

-We're involved

-in a conservation scheme...

-..similar to Tir Cynnal in Wales.

-It's called

-Higher Level Stewardship.

-Hedges are cut three times

-within a five-year period.

-The trees are a vivid colour.

-There's a nice mix, isn't there?

-There's a nice mix, isn't there?

-

-Yes.

-A lot of these woodlands are Sites

-of Special Scientific Interest...

-..and the government

-is keen to preserve them.

-There's a huge contrast between

-Brynclochydd and these expanses.

-Did you fit in happily?

-Yes, I've settled in.

-I've been here for 12 years.

-You're not Delyth Brynclochydd

-any longer...

-..now, you're Delyth the Grange!

-I'm Delyth Gilman.

-People here don't call you

-by the name of your farm.

-That's what everyone does in Wales.

-People here find that strange!

-In this area,

-people just use your name.

-I apologise, Mrs Gilman!

-Yes, Delyth's roots have been

-transplanted to Grange Farm.

-Hopefully, the future will be

-secure - in the hands of her sons...

-..Tomos, Jack and Seth.

-The hard work of combine harvesting

-is drawing to an end.

-Great loads of grain

-are placed in storage.

-Keeping the produce dry

-is vitally important.

-This year, we've been fortunate.

-Sometimes, we have to dry the grain

-using machinery.

-Large fans, behind us,

-blow air through these vents.

-We keep quite a lot of grain

-to use as seed.

-This is sent away to be tested.

-Depending on the results...

-..the grain is given

-certain treatments before sowing.

-We have to pay a levy for this.

-My father-in-law looks after that.

-This form of farming is completely

-different from keeping animals.

-Yes, completely different.

-This type of farming involves

-a lot more work than I'd imagined...

-..to be honest.

-At home,

-we harvest just a few fields.

-It doesn't work like that, here.

-No, it's not like Brynclochydd,

-with its sheep and cattle.

-The shed next to the grain store...

-..provides storage

-for produce from the pea fields.

-Are these peas used mainly for

-feeding cattle and other animals?

-Most of the crop

-goes to the Middle East.

-These are hard peas.

-They're very dry.

-People eat them as a snack -

-in the form of wasabi peas.

-These are used to make wasabi peas.

-I like their colour,

-and they're dry as a cork.

-You have eggs in many baskets.

-That's right -

-it's a case of necessity.

-Because of the problem

-with black-grass...

-..we've had to expand

-our range of crops...

-..and there's more focus

-on drilling in spring.

-Will Gilman, Delyth's husband,

-is a local man.

-They met at Harper Adams College.

-Will has taken over the management

-of Grange Farm from his father.

-As this year's harvesting

-draws to an end...

-..Will is already preparing

-for next season.

-Will, this is a new drill.

-Apparently, it does everything.

-Apparently, it does everything.

-

-Yes, it's the first day out for us.

-It's a new low disturbance drill,

-causing minimum disturbance.

-We're going from a tine drill

-to a dish drill.

-It's a direct drill,

-straight into the stubble.

-This cuts out ploughing

-and cultivating.

-It does the sowing

-and everything else.

-Any cultivation we used to do...

-..in six or seven stages, depending

-on how hard the ground was...

-..we now do in one pass.

-You've got red soil,

-very much like Breconshire.

-Potentially, they think Rutland

-was called Rutland...

-..because of the red land, red soil.

-This is easy to work

-but it's very drought-prone.

-There's not much depth of soil.

-In places in this field,

-we're down to centimetres.

-The maximum depth of soil

-is probably a metre...

-..but generally,

-we're talking about a foot.

-It's hard to plough.

-One thing I can't get away

-from thinking...

-..your cost of machinery is

-pretty high for this type of work.

-Yes, that's where scale comes into

-it, that's why we do contracting...

-..to offset these things.

-We run on 0.25 units of horsepower

-per acre, at the moment.

-In the scheme of things,

-that's actually quite low.

-You're in that combine

-from morning until dark.

-I wouldn't swap it, though.

-I've got three boys as well,

-so the family farm should carry on.

-Family farms

-can be more efficient...

-..because you don't have to pay

-office staff and things like that.

-Delyth probably doesn't agree!

-Delyth probably doesn't agree!

-

-Will, there's a lot of Welsh in you!

-Yes, the staff of the future

-are raring to go!

-Delyth may not agree with Will

-about paperwork.

-On the other hand, Mam's assistance

-is a great comfort at times.

-A cuppa!

-Here you are, Delyth - a cuppa.

-I'm sure you'd welcome it.

-I'm sure you'd welcome it.

-

-Gwenda, how are you?

-Very well, thank you.

-Does Mam help you with the accounts?

-Does Mam help you with the accounts?

-

-It's handy to have her around.

-She helps with the children.

-It's a shame she lives so far away.

-You have three daughters,

-and they've all flown the nest.

-Rhian is still with us,

-but she's moving to Cardiff, soon.

-We'll be like Sion and Sian

-at home.

-Nice to meet you.

-I want to look at these accounts.

-Do you do this every evening?

-Do you do this every evening?

-

-Not every evening.

-When I have the opportunity -

-when the children are in bed...

-..or when they're out helping Dad.

-You operate several different

-farming systems.

-You do contract farming.

-Is there any share farming?

-No, we don't do share farming.

-We do contract work, we rent...

-..and we manage.

-There's a lot going on.

-It's a lot of work,

-and you also have three children.

-You can turn your hand to anything.

-I'm sure you're busy during lambing.

-Yes, and I enjoy lambing.

-As a child, I used to help Dad

-with lambing in Gwytherin.

-It's strange.

-Your children understand Welsh.

-You speak Welsh with them

-all the time.

-I speak Welsh with them

-and they understand...

-..but they answer in English.

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-Delyth Gilman

-of Grange Farm near Pickworth...

-..has been living in Rutland

-for about 12 years.

-She has settled in well.

-One of the area's attractions is

-this huge reservoir - Rutland Water.

-Construction of the reservoir

-was completed in '76.

-Its main purpose...

-..is to provide water for homes

-in Northampton and in Milton Keynes.

-It's been designed

-as a tourist destination too.

-What attracts you to this place,

-as a family?

-You bring your sons here

-for a day's outing.

-It's a convenient location.

-There's something here for everyone

-- a large park, cycle paths...

-..ice cream, and a small beach

-where people can swim.

-You can spend the whole day here.

-We visit often.

-A village was drowned

-to create the reservoir.

-It's similar to Tryweryn.

-Really?

-We can't see all of it.

-It's very big.

-Yes, it's very big.

-The drowned village

-was called Hambleton.

-The only thing

-that remains is the church.

-That's all that remains.

-In the shadow of St Andrew's -

-another local church...

-..there is

-a very interesting memorial.

-Delyth's father, Morus Jones,

-and her mother, Gwenda...

-..are here on holiday.

-They live in Brynclochydd

-in Gwytherin.

-We're in Sempringham, which used

-to be the location of a priory.

-Nothing remains

-of the priory's walls.

-The battle at Cilmeri...

-..led to the conquest of Wales

-by Edward I.

-Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf -

-our last prince - was killed.

-Llywelyn's daughter, Gwenllian,

-was captured...

-..and brought to this place, where

-she spent the rest of her life.

-She was born in 1282

-and she died in 1337.

-This is where she lived

-all her life.

-Is it a well-known story?

-The memorial is very simple.

-Gwenllian was born

-in Abergwyngregyn...

-..or perhaps in Llanfairfechan -

-somewhere in that area.

-The stone for the memorial

-was brought from Penmaenmawr...

-..as I understand.

-That makes it even more interesting.

-Local people

-became interested in the story.

-They realised its significance and

-felt there should be a memorial...

-..and here it is.

-Most of the farmland at the Grange

-is laid out in huge fields.

-But parts of the landscape

-are more similar to Wales.

-This is where the family manages

-a flock of 850 Easy Care sheep...

-..belonging to a neighbour.

-You don't manure this land, do you?

-There's good grass, though.

-It's been over 20 years

-since this land was manured.

-Easy Care sheep

-seem to do well here.

-They can move

-from one field to another...

-..and there are lots of fields.

-Are they brought inside for lambing?

-Are they brought inside for lambing?

-

-No, lambing takes place outside.

-They're free to roam these fields.

-We weaned the lambs last month.

-Most lambs

-go straight to the abattoir.

-We keep...

-We keep yearling ewes...

-..and we sell male lambs

-as fatstock.

-Do you feed them?

-No, nothing.

-There are buckets of mineral

-in the field, but that's all.

-You don't have to buy

-any concentrates...

-..which means more profit.

-Exactly, that's why we do it.

-With the Easy Care breed, there's

-a minimal amount of work involved

-The breed was developed

-by an Anglesey man, Iolo Owen.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-That's interesting.

-Back home at Grange Farm...

-..the children's Wiltshire Horn

-sheep require treatment.

-Delyth and Will are helping.

-After gathering them in a pen...

-..Tomos, the trainee shepherd,

-watches his father carefully.

-These belong to the boys, do they?

-These belong to the boys, do they?

-

-Yes.

-They look after them.

-Up close, they're very big sheep!

-Yes, they are.

-They have sharp horns, too.

-Do they tend to give birth to twins?

-This year...

-There are 20 ewes.

-Fifteen of them gave birth to twins.

-Five gave birth to singletons.

-They're quite prolific, aren't they?

-They're quite prolific, aren't they?

-

-They can look after themselves.

-Lambing occurs outside.

-You keep them pure-bred.

-You keep them pure-bred.

-

-Yes, they're pure-bred.

-We decided on this breed...

-..because we had

-an area of grassland...

-..within a Site

-of Special Scientific Interest.

-We needed a rare breed

-to graze this land.

-So we bought a few of these.

-They also give the children

-something to do.

-Grange Farm has thousands of acres

-of fertile land...

-..but some of it

-is kept uncultivated.

-It provides a habitat for ducks,

-pheasants and wild flowers.

-You have two lakes for ducks -

-wild ducks.

-Last year, we brought in

-500 ducks for shooting.

-The remaining ducks have bred.

-I'm not sure how many there are,

-but they number about 200.

-We give them a limited amount

-of food in order to keep them here.

-Is shooting

-a popular autumn activity?

-Yes, it is, and a great deal of

-shooting takes place in the area.

-We run a small shoot on the farm

-for our syndicate.

-There are 16 members.

-They're supposed to help

-with running the shoot...

-..but...

-I know the feeling!

-We get about 10 days' shooting...

-..between early October

-and late January.

-They were here earlier -

-they've gone into hiding, now.

-Yes - you frightened them away!

-They can move quickly

-through this rough grass.

-What about foxes?

-The land is very open.

-The population of foxes

-is kept strictly controlled.

-We don't really have any problems.

-A hunt operates in this area.

-Here they are, look!

-Oh, here they are!

-Let's get in front of them.

-Let's get in front of them.

-

-Some of them, anyway.

-These are older ducks.

-In addition to being

-a home for ducks...

-..this area of land

-is rich in natural foods...

-..such as mixed seeds

-for wild birds...

-..and plants that encourage insects.

-This is an area

-on the edge of a field...

-..that provides a habitat

-for wildlife.

-Yes, this is for wildlife.

-As you can see,

-there are lots of butterflies.

-We can hear grasshoppers and bees.

-They're everywhere.

-Conservation and farming

-go hand in hand.

-They go together well.

-You have more facilities than most

-because you have more land.

-But it works well.

-We don't want to lose our wildlife.

-Those are last year's bales,

-left behind.

-They provide winter shelter

-for wildlife.

-What are you doing with this?

-It looks very smart!

-It contains food for pheasants

-and partridges.

-They're around here, somewhere.

-You have partridges?

-You have partridges?

-

-Yes.

-You have lots of trees on your land.

-Do you keep any deer?

-Yes.

-We have lots of deer.

-There are deer all over the place.

-Do you catch a few of them?

-Yes, a number of them.

-There are two men

-from Stoke-on-Trent...

-..who come to shoot them.

-They're quite difficult to shoot.

-Bees are getting everywhere!

-Shall I hold the bucket?

-Corn and barley for the birds.

-Sorry?

-You're giving them barley, are you?

-You're giving them barley, are you?

-

-Yes.

-Stuff that's too wet to go...

-Stuff that's left over

-after cleaning.

-We have plenty of it.

-Fair play to you.

-You know exactly what goes on

-in every part of the farm.

-You can turn your hand to anything.

-You can turn your hand to anything.

-

-I enjoy it.

-The children enjoy

-helping with easy chores, too.

-It's good to encourage

-their interest.

-Farmers are farmers,

-from cradle to grave.

-Yes, it's in their blood,

-from both sides of the family.

-That's the way they are.

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

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