Richard Tudor Cefn Gwlad

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-What a beautiful place!

-I'm in Montgomeryshire,

-and on my way to Cwm Nant yr Eira.

-Currently, I'm about 1,400 feet

-above sea level.

-Behind me are some notable

-Welsh strongholds...

-..Cader Idris and Aran Fawddwy...

-..Dyffryn Banw...

-..and the Berwyn Mountains.

-The scenery couldn't be lovelier.

-I'm visiting

-an excellent grassland farm...

-..the home of Tom and Ann Tudor.

-They've been joined on the farm

-by their son, Richard.

-They've won a great number

-of prizes for their grassland.

-From the corner of my eye, I can see

-some very fine cattle and sheep.

-September 2016

-Llysun Farm produces quality sheep

-and beef cattle...

-..and there is a strong emphasis

-on the use of grass.

-On the farm's uplands,

-above the village of Llanerfyl...

-..Richard Tudor is preparing the

-flock of white-headed mule sheep...

-..for winter.

-We're 1,400 feet above sea level.

-The sheep can cope well.

-We've improved the pasture,

-so they live on grass.

-They're doing well.

-We also like Texel crosses.

-They're tougher

-and easier to keep than mules.

-As you said,

-we're 1,400 feet above sea level.

-That's quite high,

-and it gets very cold in winter.

-But you've worked

-to improve the hillsides.

-You're prominent figures

-in grassland management.

-These hills have responded well

-to your improvements.

-You've done a good job.

-This mountain, for example -

-it's quite sheltered.

-It's a fairly dry mountain,

-fortunately.

-It's amazing, when

-you begin improving land...

-..you find that the grass

-grows extremely well...

-..especially in summer.

-The pasture can be better up here

-than in places lower down.

-This grassland means so much.

-Feeding concentrates to this number

-of sheep would be expensive.

-Yes, that's what lies

-behind our ethos.

-It's something my father

-passed on to me.

-I try to make the most of grassland.

-We don't feed our animals heavily.

-We fatten our lambs on grass...

-..and use concentrates as sparingly

-as possible during lambing.

-We aim to produce good silage,

-and let the grass do everything.

-But it can be difficult.

-This mountain

-is easy to manage in summer...

-..but the winters are long.

-The growing period for grass...

-..is six or eight weeks longer,

-back home in Llysun.

-This isn't just a sheep farm.

-Richard is the winner...

-..of this year's Farmers Weekly

-Beef Farmer of the Year award.

-The cattle are outstanding.

-After calving,

-when calves have been tagged...

-..they're brought up here, where

-they remain until early November.

-Everything depends on the season.

-You can fill your lungs

-with fresh air.

-It feels good.

-The cattle make a pretty picture.

-They like being on the mountain.

-They like being on the mountain.

-

-It's a healthy place.

-What breeds are they?

-I can see that they're cross-bred.

-There's a strong strain of Salers,

-crossed with Simmental.

-There's a strong strain of Salers,

-because that type of cow suits us.

-The mothers are Salers...

-..and we have a Charolais bull.

-The cows couldn't look any better.

-Any bigger, and they'd be too fat.

-We focus on breeding cows

-that can survive on grass...

-..and thrive

-in this type of habitat.

-The aim is to have them

-in good condition...

-..when we bring them

-inside in early winter.

-These views are as good

-as a bag of sugar beet!

-There's plenty of fresh air.

-It's easy to keep them healthy.

-I don't know if it's because

-of the views, but they're happy.

-The cows contribute manure

-to the soil, too.

-If you gathered all that muck

-in a wheelbarrow...

-..you'd have lots of manure!

-Yes, and it gets spread out

-over the mountains...

-..which improves the soil.

-As I said earlier, there are

-no other cattle on the mountain...

-..so there's less risk

-of any diseases.

-You don't have any creep feeders

-for the calves.

-No, they don't have creep feeders.

-We start feeding them

-when they're inside for winter.

-Most of the calves are sold

-when they're 10 months old...

-..at the market in Welshpool.

-Ten months old?

-Ten months old?

-

-Yes, most of them.

-Your costs must be quite low.

-That's our aim.

-The quality of the grass

-at Llysun Farm is evident.

-Richard has travelled the world...

-..in order to study grassland

-in other countries.

-But his father, Tom Tudor,

-is king of grassland.

-At this year's Royal Welsh Show...

-..Tom received the Sir Bryner Jones

-Award, for grassland management.

-When we came over the hill, Tom...

-..you told me, "This

-is Montgomeryshire at its best."

-Your roots are in this area,

-are they?

-You're not an incomer.

-My roots go very deep

-in Cwm Nant yr Eira, of course.

-I'm glad I live in Montgomeryshire.

-It's a wonderful county.

-From here,

-we can see it at its best.

-Look at all those fields,

-hedgerows and trees.

-It's all natural - nothing much

-has changed during my lifetime.

-If anything, there are more trees

-than ever before.

-This is a very productive county.

-We have fine valleys,

-like Cwm Nant yr Eira.

-This is a good example

-of the valleys in this county.

-You have your son, Richard,

-and you run the farm together.

-It's important, isn't it?

-Yes, very important.

-We're so glad that he's involved,

-that he wants to be a farmer...

-..and to do a good job.

-Keeping animals on these mountains

-is important.

-I hope we can carry on doing so.

-It is possible to work the land

-and to farm on these mountains.

-Our cattle are important.

-We know that there are problems,

-but we'll overcome them.

-During my lifetime, we've seen

-TB, foot and mouth epidemics...

-..all kinds of things.

-But we're still carrying on.

-People born and raised

-in such an area...

-..are the only ones

-experienced enough to do this.

-It has to be in your blood.

-It has to be in your blood.

-

-Yes, hallelujah.

-Fortunately, it's been a good year

-on the mountain.

-The Tudor family's expertise

-in grassland improvement...

-..in these uplands, is evident.

-This used to be covered in bracken.

-All of it.

-Now, just look at all this food

-that's available for animals.

-We bought this land in 2003 and

-the bracken grew above your head.

-But we worked on it.

-We ploughed the ground

-and re-seeded.

-It's come along excellently.

-The trick now, on all these

-mountains, is to maintain the land.

-Cattle are a vital part of that.

-Cattle are a vital part of that.

-

-Lime must be crucial too.

-Yes, lime and cattle manure.

-Both of these

-enrich and feed the soil.

-It's early September...

-..and Montgomeryshire

-still looks its best.

-This morning,

-we're down in the valley.

-Des Owen, a key figure at Llysun

-Farm, is out on his tractor...

-..working to improve the grassland.

-How are things?

-How are things?

-

-Are you alright, Dai?

-Quite well, thanks.

-You're spreading muck.

-Getting rid of some of the water.

-We have to dispose of it.

-Are you in charge of tractor work?

-Sometimes.

-Most of the time, really.

-When I'm here.

-Are you semi-retired?

-No.

-They won't let me go!

-How long have you worked here?

-Forty-seven.

-Forty-seven.

-

-Really?!

-Not since 1947 - for 47 years!

-Nice to meet you.

-Stick with it.

-Can I carry on?

-Wait until I'm out of the way first!

-Nice to see you, ta-ra!

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-Ten years ago, the Tudor family

-of Llysun Farm, Llanerfyl...

-..converted their old stables

-into two luxury holiday cottages.

-In addition to her duties

-as High Sheriff of Powys...

-..Ann, Richard's mother,

-keeps the cottages in good order.

-What a transformation!

-Excellent!

-Well, well, well!

-It's a beautiful job.

-Did you use local craftspeople?

-Did you use local craftspeople?

-

-Yes, two local craftspeople.

-They had a keen interest

-in working with wood.

-Catherine was the one

-who came up with the idea.

-She had been working

-as a locum vet for a year.

-She had the idea

-of renovating the building...

-..and she took care of everything.

-It works well.

-People like staying here.

-That's the important thing, for us.

-You mention your daughter,

-Catherine.

-She's a vet, is she?

-Yes, working in Carmarthen.

-And you have two sons -

-Richard is one of them.

-Yes, and Huw lives

-just the other side of Llanerfyl.

-When you came down from the

-mountain, you passed Huw's house.

-It was built on our land.

-What does Huw do?

-Huw works with HSBC,

-in its agricultural dealings.

-I'm currently High Sheriff of Powys.

-The appointment lasts a year.

-I feel it's a great honour.

-I must say, I'm very humbled

-at being chosen.

-I often wonder, why me?

-I've been a Justice of the Peace

-for 34 years...

-..which has provided a good

-grounding for this appointment.

-The work has a close association

-with law and order...

-..and with voluntary work

-and voluntary organisations.

-Morgan, Ann's grandson, is also keen

-to continue the farming tradition.

-Today, he's at home,

-helping Tomos Howells.

-They're moving lambs to a pasture

-beside the Banw river.

-Lambs from the mountain?

-Yes, the last lambs

-from the mountain.

-You're Tomos, aren't you?

-Are you a local lad?

-Yes, I live a mile and half away.

-Yes, I live a mile and half away.

-

-At Goetre?

-I know your parents well.

-I remember them

-when they were your age.

-You've grown tall.

-Do you intend to farm?

-Yes - I spent two years

-at Llysfasi College.

-Now, I work here full-time.

-You couldn't find a better place.

-You couldn't find a better place.

-

-That's right, and it's local.

-It's a fine place.

-Are these the last lambs

-of the season?

-Yes, ready for fattening.

-They're destined for Waitrose.

-Will they be sold at Christmas?

-Will they be sold at Christmas?

-

-Before Christmas.

-A Christmas present!

-And you're Morgan.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-

-Tell me about yourself.

-I enjoy farming

-and that's what I hope to do.

-I'm so glad to hear that!

-You're at college, of course.

-Yes, and I may go to university too.

-After that, I'd like travel

-before coming back home.

-I hope I can

-improve things even more.

-He'd have his work cut out!

-While Morgan moves the sheep...

-..his mother, Catrin,

-and his sister, Lois...

-..are enjoying

-a competitive game of netball...

-..after a busy day.

-I've been counting -

-you're one point ahead!

-Catrin, you teach at a local school.

-I'm a classroom assistant

-at Ysgol Dyffryn Banw.

-Are there many children

-at the school?

-It's a very small school, actually.

-We don't have many children

-at the moment.

-It's a nice school, beside the road.

-Yes, it's a nice school,

-and there's plenty of space.

-Did you grow up in this area?

-I'm from Newtown, which isn't far.

-Do you go there to do your shopping?

-Yes, I take my mother shopping

-from time to time.

-Your son, Morgan,

-is almost as tall as you are!

-And how old are you?

-I'm 12 years old.

-Do you go to the local school?

-No, I go to the secondary school

-in Llanfair.

-This is a nice place.

-I must say,

-you're living in paradise!

-Yes, it's great.

-We sit here often,

-looking out over the landscape.

-It's beautiful.

-Richard knows the benefits of his

-background in agriculture...

-..and his father's vast experience

-over the years...

-..in improving the farm's grassland.

-This has grown well.

-It's early morning

-and there's lots of dew.

-We sowed this in spring,

-with the aid of Farming Connect.

-It's an annual variety of grass.

-We've also used

-an American clover variety.

-I visited America last year, and

-they had a new variety of clover...

-..fixation clover, which we're

-trialling, to see how it grows.

-Will you bring cattle in here?

-Will you bring cattle in here?

-

-Yes, cattle.

-Mind the wire!

-Will you give it a shake?!

-Will you give it a shake?!

-

-No, I'll keep my distance!

-This grass is good for cattle -

-it's annual ryegrass.

-It's powerful stuff...

-..so I've brought some lambs in to

-graze it before I bring cattle in.

-Watching Richard and Des

-repairing one of the machines...

-..it's evident that there's plenty

-of young blood on the farm.

-Sion Lewis and Tomos Howells

-are dosing yearling ewes.

-Are these mules, bred

-from your own sheep?

-No, they're Aberfields.

-No, they're Aberfields.

-

-These are Aberfields?

-That's right.

-They were bought in

-about three weeks ago.

-They're nice lambs.

-I've never seen this breed before.

-Do you have older Aberfields?

-How long have you been keeping them?

-We've been keeping Aberfields

-for three years.

-We breed from them with

-a Texel ram - it seems to work well.

-There's something of the Welsh

-Mountain breed in Aberfields.

-They're quite tough.

-Cuppa, Dai?

-Thank you - no sugar!

-Thank you - no sugar!

-

-You might need it!

-In a fancy mug too!

-Iechyd da!

-That's our chapel of rest.

-It's where we have a cuppa

-every morning.

-I don't know why it's called that.

-I don't think

-anyone's died in there!

-Not after drinking coffee,

-hopefully!

-We'll give it a try!

-That's a nice Welsh bitch.

-That's Calon.

-That's Calon.

-

-Is that her name, Calon?

-She's usually in the chapel of rest,

-stealing biscuits.

-She knows when it's time for tea!

-A class of Year 10 pupils

-from Ysgol Uwchradd Caereinion...

-..visits the farm occasionally as

-part of their agriculture course.

-They select lambs for market, guided

-by their teacher, Gareth Griffiths.

-If anyone catches hold of you

-in an awkward way...

-..their flesh is the same as yours,

-it does bruise.

-So if you go alongside, like this,

-just go like that...

-..and then, you've got

-perfect control of the lamb.

-Shall we get a few in...

-..to start?

-This practical opportunity

-to handle sheep...

-..is a valuable one...

-..especially for those

-who don't live on farms.

-The pupils choose a lamb.

-They make a note of the number

-on the ear tag.

-Then, they follow that lamb...

-..all the way through to

-Randall Parker Foods in Llanidloes.

-They record the lamb's live weight.

-The result comes back

-from the abattoir...

-..and that records

-the carcass weight.

-In the classroom, they work out

-the difference in percentage...

-..between live weight

-and carcass weight.

-So there's some mathematics

-involved.

-We like to welcome them.

-They come for a few hours in the

-afternoon at this time of year.

-Lambs are sent away,

-and the pupils play a part.

-I like to welcome them.

-I like to welcome them.

-

-Forty point four.

-I remember Tomos and Sion

-coming here as part of their course.

-It's good to watch them

-grow and develop.

-I hope it turns out

-to be about 40 kilos.

-It looks nice.

-Thirty-six kilos.

-What?

-Forty!

-More for his pocket!

-I was hoping it would be 43 or 44,

-but there we go.

-"The gentleness of Maldwyn"

-is well-known.

-Llysun Farm

-is an excellent example of this.

-As we watch all the activity

-on the farm today...

-..Tom Tudor can be satisfied...

-..that his family

-has strived to do its best...

-..with its grassland and stock...

-..over the years,

-in good times and difficult times.

-There are always ups and downs

-in agriculture.

-I remember, back in the '60s...

-..we lost 200 lambs

-to foot and mouth disease...

-..in an outbreak

-that started near Oswestry.

-Then, we had Chernobyl...

-..and BSE, and a further

-foot and mouth outbreak.

-There are ups and downs.

-Young people face uncertainty

-at the moment.

-With any luck, it'll be temporary.

-I hope our politicians will be able

-to strike a good deal...

-..where the Common Market

-is concerned.

-This is an extremely important

-market for lamb...

-..and we worked hard over the years

-to create it.

-We must do all we can

-to maintain it...

-..without too many tariffs,

-hopefully.

-Tom Tudor, what a man!

-Not at all, Dai!

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

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