The team attended the Royal Welsh Show, Wales’ biggest agricultural event. This is the highlight of the year’s shows and the event where all the preparation comes into play. The main opportunity to showcase our work and team at its best. This was a week was full of buzz and bustle, filled with many activities, interesting discussion sessions, socialising and plenty of tea and coffee. This was an opportunity to chat with interesting people and discuss topics that are so important in such a remarkable way. It is challenging to summarise GWCT’s extensive work in one stand in four days, but the plentiful schedule and knowledgeable stand did this exceptionally well.
Activities and discussions were held throughout the week to target topics ranging from conservation, biodiversity, modern technology, farming, and sustainable and productive food. Topics that are of significance and key to the focus of GWCT’s work. A variety of topics were covered in a suitable way, and broad enough to ensure that something appealed to everyone.
This was a chance to catch up with some and to meet and build relationships with others. An event like this provides a glimmer of hope for the future of biodiversity, conservation and shaping a clear picture on how important it is to educate the next generation.
Throughout the week, we had a range of events and activities taking place on our stand, all addressing important topics. To start off the week off, there was a fascinating conversation about how to manage uplands in Wales and how farming, shooting and wildlife can coexist. This was an interesting discussion, with each person contributing their thoughts and viewpoints. Keeping the standard equal on the second day of the show, there was an engaging discussion regarding the use of modern technology to survey threatened species. The team certainly targeted this conversation from a point of view that kept the audience engaged and were able to succinctly convey the advantages of employing technology for this type of work.
On the third day of the show, chefs Huw Morgan and Sam Everton from Coleg Ceredigion held a cooking demonstration. This was an opportunity for everyone from the audience to see their range of culinary skills and expertise. The audience were fortunate to sample some of their delicious food, and everyone was unquestionably in agreement that the quality of the food reflected their culinary expertise. There’s no disagreement that everyone truly appreciated this experience. Following the highly attended cookery demonstration, both, along with others participated in a panel discussion about ensuring productive and sustainable food opportunities in Wales. This was a key opportunity to assess food sustainability in Wales and highlight how important and advantageous it is to buy local produce.
The curlew was the main focus on the final day of the show. The puppeteer Nico Venables led a workshop on curlew puppetry which was a great chance to use enjoyment to teach the younger generation about the curlew. This activity undoubtedly piqued the interest of the young in learning about the curlew. To end the series of discussions, there was an interesting discussion about the curlew, specifically on how GWCT Wales is working with farmers to protect the curlew in Montgomeryshire. The genuine sentiment and passion of farmers towards the curlew was acknowledged and valued during this poignant discussion. It was an evaluation of the curlew season in Montgomeryshire, and the methods taken by GWCT to work with farmers for the benefit of curlew. This was an excellent way to wrap up the week’s talks and a terrific way to maintain the calibre that had been upheld the entire week.
Educating the young about biodiversity and conservation is crucial. We had a gazebo with a variety of curlew-related activities to teach kids about the bird. In addition, activities including pond dipping and wildlife safari were organised to teach the younger generation about the species that can be found in ponds and help them to identify species like curlew and lapwing.
This is an occasion to honour Welsh farming which is ingrained in Welsh culture. Like other agriculturally related shows, this one welcomes the general public as well as those without a background or interest in agriculture, allowing anyone to enjoy what the show has to offer. Events like this highlight the agricultural community at its best and is a reminder of why securing the future of agriculture in Wales is so important. Speaking on behalf of the whole team, we feel so fortunate to be part of this successful event and extend a thank you to all the organisers once again for doing such an outstanding job.