Mon, 05 Sep 2016 Ffermio

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-Welcome to Ffermio

-and to Llanfachreth near Dolgellau.

-I've come here to meet the shepherd

-who will captain Wales...

-..in the International

-Sheep Dog Trials next weekend.

-Also on the programme...

-..Alun will find out why there's

-more ewes' milk cheese being made.

-And I'll be chatting with a farmer's

-wife who's also a successful author.

-Next weekend, people from Wales,

-England, Scotland and Ireland...

-..will flock to Sandilands Farm

-near Tywyn in Meirionnydd...

-..for the International

-Sheep Dog Trials.

-Fifteen dogs and their masters from

-each country will be competing...

-..and Medwyn Evans

-is the Wales team captain.

-Medwyn is a shepherd

-on the Nannau estate...

-..in Llanfachreth near Dolgellau.

-He is originally from Porthmadog but

-has been here for almost 40 years.

-The estate consists of 2,650 acres.

-Medwyn is responsible for the 2,000

-sheep that graze these fields.

-He has always had an interest

-in sheepdogs...

-..and this year he will lead

-the Wales sheepdog trials team.

-Many congratulations, Medwyn.

-You are the Wales team captain.

-You are the Wales team captain.

-

-Thank you.

-How were you made captain?

-I was fortunate enough...

-..to win first place

-at the national championships.

-Whoever wins the national

-is made captain for that year.

-Next weekend, teams from Wales,

-Scotland, Ireland and England...

-..will compete against each other.

-There are 15 in each team, but

-does that mean 15 dogs or 15 people?

-There are 15 dogs.

-Which dogs are yours?

-Mac and Meg.

-Mac will be competing against Meg.

-Mac will be competing against Meg.

-

-Yes.

-Who is older, Meg or Mac?

-Who is older, Meg or Mac?

-

-Meg.

-Meg is five and a half,

-Mac is three and a half.

-Tell us about Meg.

-She is home-bred.

-Her parents were my own dogs.

-I bought Mac when he was young,

-about two years ago.

-Where did he come from?

-From a friend of mine,

-Arfon Pugh in Harlech.

-I happened to be judging a nursery

-when I saw him run by Arfon.

-I liked the look of him and he won.

-Two or three months later,

-I heard he was selling him.

-I went over and bought him.

-He's a lovely farmyard dog.

-We shall see how it goes.

-I am quite confident.

-Wales have a good team.

-Are you able to spot the potential

-in a young dog?

-By the time

-they're six or seven months old...

-..you know that they have something

-worth having.

-Quite often, if I get them young...

-..I like for half my dogs

-to be taught in Welsh.

-When you're gathering the sheep

-on the mountain...

-..if you have the same

-two commands...

-..it's difficult to send one off

-without the other following.

-If one command is in English and

-the other in Welsh, it's far easier.

-It just happens

-that he's English and she's Welsh.

-This is the third time that Medwyn

-has captained the Wales team.

-He led them in 1998 and in 2014.

-Medwyn lives in a wonderful area.

-The view from the sheep pen

-is beautiful.

-I can think of worse places to work.

-I can think of worse places to work.

-

-I love it here.

-It's quite a view.

-Yes, it's a shame

-there's fog on Cader Idris today.

-It's worth seeing

-when the sun is out.

-And the solitude.

-Yes, visitors do come around

-but I can't blame them.

-How long have you been here?

-Since 1978.

-Almost 40 years!

-I'm old, aren't I?

-I'm old, aren't I?

-

-I'm not saying anything!

-I've enjoyed every second here.

-It would be difficult here

-without dogs.

-I wouldn't be here.

-That's my delight.

-I don't think of it as work,

-it's a pleasure.

-It's a way of life.

-I'm used to having good dogs.

-I get great pleasure

-from working with them.

-Teaching a dog in the little field

-and seeing it develop.

-Taking it up the mountain.

-It makes a lot of mistakes

-at first.

-Then, it starts to get it. That's

-what gives me the greatest pleasure.

-I like that better

-than sheepdog trials.

-I prefer training them

-and seeing them develop.

-When I have the dogs,

-I will take them to sheepdog trials.

-I need four good dogs

-for my work here.

-They're farm dogs

-and sheepdog trial dogs.

-I'm very happy.

-I'm very, very happy here.

-This year might be your year,

-Medwyn.

-You might lift the cup

-on Sunday night.

-I'd like to think that.

-I don't expect to win

-but I'll do my best.

-Good luck to you.

-Good luck to you.

-

-Thank you. I'll need it!

-Good luck to Medwyn and the team.

-Alun, Meinir and I will be at

-the Trials in Tywyn next weekend...

-..making a special programme...

-..which will be shown on S4C

-on Monday 19 September.

-An hour-long programme

-from the International Trials.

-After the break, Alun

-takes a look at ewes' milk cheese...

-..and I chat to a successful author

-from Mid Wales.

-See you in a minute.

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-Welcome back to Ffermio.

-Some excellent cheeses

-are being produced in Wales.

-They're usually made

-from cows' milk...

-..but goats' milk cheeses

-are also popular.

-But the latest

-is made from ewes' milk.

-Alun has the story.

-Here at Moelyci Farm

-in Tregarth near Bangor...

-..Carrie Rimes is selling what is

-a new kind of cheese to us in Wales.

-Ewes' milk cheese.

-She has been making it for a year,

-and sales are going up and up.

-Where did you get the idea

-of producing ewes' milk cheese?

-Well, that goes right back

-to when I was a child on the farm.

-I tried to make cheese

-from cows' milk at the time.

-But I had no experience, really,

-and the cheese was quite horrendous!

-But I could see

-the magic in the process.

-I left my job

-with the Countryside Council...

-..and I retrained.

-I got the opportunity

-to spend three years in France.

-Eating ewes' milk cheese

-is totally normal in France.

-The balance between protein and fat

-is perfect for making cheese.

-I can imagine that it's hard

-to get hold of sheep's milk.

-Where do you get it at the moment?

-I have to go all the way to Preston,

-to the Forest of Bowland.

-Currently, there's no-one

-milking sheep in North Wales.

-It starts with untreated milk.

-I immediately add

-the starter cultures.

-That means that by the time

-I get back to Llangefni...

-..the milk is just right...

-..to carry straight on

-with the cheese-making process.

-The rennet can go straight into it.

-The rennet can go straight into it.

-

-Tell me about the brand.

-You've created Cosyn Cymru,

-and also Brefu Bach.

-Brefu Bach is a soft cheese.

-It's a bit like Camembert,

-but it's not Camembert.

-What are your hopes as regards

-developing here at Moelyci?

-Well...

-..the next step, and the most

-important step, to be honest...

-..is to get my own dairy.

-Wow!

-Without my own dairy,

-I can't really grow.

-It's been great in Llangefni...

-..but a lot of other people

-want to use the place as well.

-If I want to develop

-local milk here...

-..I have to be ready

-to use the milk every day.

-At the moment, I can't.

-The next step

-is to get a dairy here.

-That's the next big step.

-After that, I really need

-to make a big effort...

-..to work in partnership

-with local people...

-..to develop local milk.

-Carwyn Adams also spotted

-that same gap in the market.

-Unlike Carrie, he already had

-the facilities and the dairy.

-But ewes' milk cheese

-isn't like cows' milk cheese.

-Ewes' milk cheese is a new product

-at Caws Cenarth this year.

-We produce soft, blue

-and hard varieties.

-We got lucky last year.

-We located a milk supply

-very near to the factory.

-It comes from five miles away,

-just outside Crymych.

-Nick and Wendy Holtham's sheep

-are a little bit different.

-Over the years,

-they've kept a lot of Welsh sheep.

-But they've bred them

-to produce milk.

-If we continue with this project,

-I think they'll develop the ewes...

-..towards producing milk

-rather than breeding lambs.

-When we started

-using ewes' milk to make cheese...

-..we had no previous experience.

-It was different to cows' milk.

-It had a bit more fat, for example.

-It was also a bit more delicate.

-We had to be more sympathetic

-with the milk.

-Because of the extra fat,

-the salt had to be adjusted.

-We have had some problems.

-But producing ewes' milk cheese

-is a learning process.

-We use pasteurised ewes' milk.

-We've adapted our own equipment

-here in the factory...

-..to allow us to put milk into

-the pasteuriser a little at a time.

-It's easier for us,

-in terms of risk and so on...

-..that everything is pasteurised.

-That's what the market demands.

-Many of us may be familiar with

-feta cheese from Greek holidays...

-..but ewes' milk cheese

-is relatively new in Wales.

-How have customers reacted to it?

-We've had a fairly mixed response...

-..to ewes' milk cheese.

-Firstly, the fact that it's made

-from ewes' milk puts people off.

-But we hope to brand it

-so that people try it first...

-..without having

-any preconceived ideas.

-We've had a fantastic response

-from people who have tried it blind.

-That's the aim - getting people

-to try something different.

-We've been very lucky this year.

-We got first prize

-at the Royal Welsh Show.

-That was quite a shock.

-That was for the hard cheese.

-No-one expected it,

-and that was a fantastic boost.

-It put the cheese

-on the national stage, really.

-It was great for us

-and for the milk producers.

-The response

-has taken me by complete surprise.

-The cheeses have sold out.

-I don't believe

-in competitions at all.

-Competitions? No, not for me.

-But the cheeses have won

-quite a few awards this year.

-At the British Cheese Awards...

-..Brefu Bach was named

-Best New British Cheese 2016.

-That wasn't in the business plan

-at all...

-..but that has been a big help.

-Two companies from two ends of Wales

-venturing into new territory...

-..both with a unique vision.

-Will ewes' milk cheese

-ever be as popular...

-..as goats' milk cheese

-or cows' milk cheese?

-Only time will tell.

-The best of luck

-to both companies.

-We're fortunate on Ffermio

-to meet interesting people...

-..with interesting tales to tell.

-I went to mid Wales...

-..to meet a unique woman

-with an exceptional talent.

-Tia Jones and her husband, John...

-..keep 800 Welsh sheep, 20 Roussin

-sheep and 30 head of cattle...

-..at Pwll Iwrch, Darowen in Powys.

-Both are dedicated to the

-family farm and to conservation...

-..but controversial global issues...

-..manifest themselves

-in Tia's writing.

-Were you raised on a farm, Tia?

-Were you raised on a farm, Tia?

-

-Yes and no.

-My grandfather

-had a farm in Llanbrynmair.

-I milked cows at a young age.

-He taught me a lot

-about some wonderful things.

-Hares, the mountain,

-walking, horses.

-He bought me and my brothers

-our first pony when I was seven.

-He taught me a great deal.

-How much of your background...

-..and your way of life

-is in the novel?

-How much is it influenced

-by rural life and farming?

-A lot.

-Not about me personally,

-but things I know about.

-Foot and mouth.

-I know people who lost everything

-because of foot and mouth.

-Things like that.

-I haven't been through them myself,

-but I did a lot of research.

-I do a lot of careful research...

-..to ensure I get my facts straight.

-Fiction may not be true,

-but you must know your subject.

-I've lived on a farm,

-I've been out on the farm a lot.

-I know how rural people think.

-You gather things in.

-This age, for example.

-There's one character

-in The Curlew's Cry...

-..who comes home

-from the Balkans and Iraq.

-He's a soldier

-who's originally from Llanfeni.

-I can bring the world's problems

-back to Llanfeni.

-Tia may be enjoying

-much success with her writing...

-..but day-to-day farm work

-is important to her.

-Are they the right weight, Tia?

-On the whole, they're over 40 kilos.

-Some aren't quite ready,

-but I'm pleased, on the whole.

-They're Welsh crossed with what?

-Welsh crossed with Roussins,

-a breed from Normandy in France.

-Not unlike Suffolks,

-but with a smaller frame.

-Lambing is easier, less trouble,

-with twins and triplets often.

-Quite strong, standing and suckling

-right away, which is good.

-When you've finished writing,

-you come out.

-I love the sheep,

-especially lambing time.

-You have 800 sheep here.

-Will you turn them all out

-to a Roussin ram?

-No. Oh, no.

-We want to keep some Welsh ewes,

-some Suffolks.

-My husband likes Texel crosses,

-and Roussins as well.

-They all fit in well here.

-You love going around the stock

-on your horse.

-Yes. I'm fortunate

-that I lead a very good life.

-It's really nice

-to be out every day.

-I'm very lucky.

-You're out farming every day...

-..surrounded by beautiful scenery.

-Is this what inspires you?

-Definitely.

-I can see the top of Ty'r Sais.

-Cringoed.

-The village I was raised.

-Llanbrynmair.

-Back to this valley.

-It's heavenly.

-You enjoy training the dogs.

-You enjoy training the dogs.

-

-Very much so.

-I don't want to buy them in.

-I like to train my own puppies

-and see the potential.

-I'm in no rush, so it's OK if

-it doesn't happen in the first year.

-You enjoy competing.

-You enjoy competing.

-

-Yes, I enjoy it.

-I really do.

-I get nervous being in a field

-with sheep and just one dog...

-..with experts watching.

-Tia and John believe conservation

-goes hand in hand with farming.

-As a result, John has planted trees

-on the farm...

-..using the wood to restore

-some of the old buildings.

-Pine has been here for a few years.

-Pine has been here for a few years.

-

-Yes.

-They're huge now.

-They grow well.

-I've been farming for 40 years and

-been privileged to see them grow.

-You've planted some deciduous ones.

-You've planted some deciduous ones.

-

-Yes.

-Oak trees and all sorts.

-You've cut them down

-to use for the barn and so on.

-I've cut down trees that my father

-and people before him planted.

-Caring for the future.

-Are you working on a plan that

-was already in place with the barn?

-Yes, the walls were there already.

-I'm lucky I can cut the trees down

-to whatever size we want.

-We needed a beam.

-The building is 26 feet high.

-It was a big help

-that we could saw wood...

-..that was big enough

-to go across the barn.

-The experiences

-Tia has here in Pwll Iwrch...

-..are a big influence

-on what she writes.

-How do you see things developing

-here?

-You are so busy with the sheep

-and the writing.

-I think we'll be farming less

-as we get older...

-..and some of the children

-will get into farming.

-I'll be living on my pension...

-..I think.

-Farming less, Tia, and writing more?

-I love sheep

-so I won't be cutting down much.

-He can cut down...

-..but I think I'll carry on

-with sheepdogs and the horses.

-I'm still writing.

-Do you have any concerns

-about the future?

-Yes, I have lots of worries.

-We don't look after

-our world at all.

-The sea has been wrecked

-with plastics everywhere.

-There's talk about green issues

-and green energy...

-..and then the Middle East

-gets blown up.

-Why look after wind turbines

-if part of the world gets blown up?

-But I think we're in the best place

-to handle that.

-A very interesting woman.

-Tia's novels are on sale

-in the shops.

-Don't forget about the International

-Sheep Dog Trials this weekend.

-Alun, Meinir and I will be there.

-I hope we'll see you there too.

-Good luck to Medwyn Evans

-and his team.

-Come on, Wales!

-Thank you for your company.

-See you next week.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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