Super Dairies, Bat Bridges and Angora goats
Can bigger be better when it comes to large scale farming? The campaign against coastal conservation zones off our shores. It's official - bat bridges don't work and how curl power could be the next big thing for smallholders
Last updated: 17 June 2012
Country Focus - Sunday 17th June at 0700; presented by Rachael Garside and repeated Monday 18th June at 0530
The president of the on claiming that the UK needs "more and bigger" super farms to keep food prices from rising too high but farming on a large scale is not without it's critics - concerns for the impact on the rural community and fears for the environmental impact. We visit a mega farm, built in Carmarthenshire, which met with controversy with animal welfare groups saying it's just wrong. It's the largest dairy farm in Wales owned by Hywel and Susan Richards - milking around 2000 cows.
Campaigners say they'll continue their fight against plans for new off the coast of Wales. The is currently consulting on plans to set aside three or four highly protected areas where no fishing or other disruption would be allowed. It says the zones are necessary to protect wildlife. But opponents say the plans will destroy the fishing and tourist industries in parts of rural Wales. You can hear more on this story on programme.
- according to a team of researchers at the University of Leeds the wire bridges built to guide bats safely across busy roads are simply useless. When a new road is built the government has an obligation that the development does not have a detrimental effect on populations of protected species - but are we mitigating our impacts effectively?
It's been an anxious week for Emyr Evans, the for the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust. Our community reporter Huw Jenkins finds out how the osprey managed in the storms.
We're spinning and weaving with Mohair as Rachael Garside visits angora in Moelgrove, Pembrokeshire. With rising mohair and meat prices, angora goats could be the livestock of choice for the aspiring smallholder - especially if you like an animal with a bit of personality.
Bookmark this page:
Listen online
A new look for Â鶹Éç Radio online: listen live on your computer - and now on your smartphone.
