Farmers open farms to schools to inform food choices of next generation

Farmers who are concerned that anti-farming messages promoted by campaign groups are influencing their next generation of customers are fighting back by inviting schools to their farms.

 Farming Connect’s Agrisgôp initiative has brought together 12 farmers from north-east Wales with an interest in educating children and the wider public about where their food comes from.

 They formed the Farm and Countryside Education Group earlier this year and, under the guidance of Agrisgôp leader Gwen Davies, they have made significant progress.

 Members got involved in Open Farm Sunday and have also invited schools onto their farms.

 One of those farmers is Rhian Pierce, who farms beef and sheep on 300-acre Plas Dolben, Llangynhafal.

 Rhian was keen to get involved because she is fearful of the growing disconnect between farmers and their consumers.

 She is concerned about the rise in veganism and is not willing for some of the inaccurate messages being promoted by animal welfare and environmental activists to go unchallenged.

 It was the second year she had taken part in Open Farm Sunday but she had the confidence to aim higher this year thanks to an information day organised by Agrisgôp with the sustainable food and farming organisation, LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming).

 Her visitor numbers trebled, to over 300. “Last year it was mostly family and friends but this year lots of people we didn’t know came along which was fantastic.’’

 Rhian has since invited three local schools to Plas Dolben – one has already visited.

 Agrisgôp, which is a fully-funded action learning programme that brings together forward-thinking, like-minded individuals from farm and forestry businesses at a local level, had given her the certainty she needed to issue those invitations, she says.

Rhian admits some farmers were puzzled that she is willing to give up her time for no financial return to get involved in educational initiatives.

 Her response is that she is doing so with the future in mind. “It doesn’t make any money now but in the future it will because if we are helping to shape the food choices of future generations, people who will consume the food we produce.’’

 Group leader Gwen says the members of The Farm and Countryside Education Group had been enthusiastic from the outset.

 “Everyone seems to learn something new at every one of our meetings,’’ she said.

 “No matter how niche the subject area, Agrisgop can facilitate small groups of people to get together and help develop their ideas.’’

 Group member Marianne Burrell, who works at the Rhug Farm Estate, agrees. “We all have a common goal, everyone is willing to share ideas.’’

 She says the estate’s owner, Lord Newborough, is passionate about educating people through ‘farm to fork’ initiatives.

 The knowledge she has gained through the Agrisgôp experience could help to formalise some of the educational initiatives at Rhug and potentially create employment opportunities.

 Marianne is from a non-farming background and says membership of the group has filled gaps in her knowledge of agriculture.

 The group has visited a farm in Oswestry that hosts school visits and later this year members will visit an agricultural college to learn how it links farming and education.

 There will also be sessions on engaging with the general public through the media and using social media initiatives such as ‘Facetime a Farmer’.

 Gwen says she would encourage people to use the Agrisgôp programme. “If you have an idea you would like to explore, contact your local Agrisgôp leader through Farming Connect for a chat,’’ she says.

 Farming Connect, which is delivered by Menter a Busnes and Lantra, is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Welsh Government.

Ffermwyr yn agor eu ffermydd i ysgolion i ddylanwadu ar ddewisiadau bwyd y genhedlaeth nesaf

 Mae ffermwyr sy’n bryderus bod negeseuon yn erbyn ffermio, sy’n cael eu hyrwyddo gan grwpiau ymgyrchu, yn dylanwadu ar eu cenhedlaeth nesaf o gwsmeriaid, yn brwydro’n ôl drwy wahodd ysgolion draw i’w ffermydd.

Mae cynllun Agrisgôp Cyswllt Ffermio wedi casglu ynghyd 12 o ffermwyr o ogledd-ddwyrain Cymru sydd â diddordeb mewn addysgu plant a’r cyhoedd ehangach ynglŷn ag o le mae eu bwyd yn dod.

Fe wnaethant ffurfio’r Grŵp Addysg Ffermio a Chefn Gwlad yn gynharach eleni a, dan ofal arweinydd Agrisgôp Gwen Davies, maen nhw wedi cymryd camau breision ymlaen.

Bu’r aelodau yn rhan o’r Dydd Sul Fferm Agored ac maent hefyd wedi gwahodd ysgolion draw i’w ffermydd.

Un o’r ffermwyr hynny ydy Rhian Pierce, sy’n ffermio gwartheg bîff a defaid ar fferm 300 erw Plas Dolben, Llangynhafal.

Roedd Rhian yn awyddus i fod yn rhan o’r cynllun oherwydd ei bod yn poeni am y bwlch sy’n tyfu rhwng ffermwyr a’u defnyddwyr.

Mae’n bryderus bod feganiaeth ar gynnydd ac mae’n awyddus iawn i herio rhai o’r negeseuon camarweiniol sy’n cael eu hybu gan ymgyrchwyr lles anifeiliaid ac amgylcheddol.

Dyma’r ail flwyddyn iddi fod yn rhan o’r Dydd Sul Fferm Agored ond roedd ganddi’r hyder i anelu’n uwch eleni, diolch i ddiwrnod gwybodaeth a drefnwyd gan Agrisgôp gyda’r sefydliad bwyd a ffermio cynaliadwy, LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming).

Treblodd nifer yr ymwelwyr, i dros 300. “Y llynedd, teulu a ffrindiau ddaeth draw yn bennaf, ond eleni daeth llawer o bobl ddieithr acw ac roedd hynny’n wych.”

Ers hynny mae Rhian wedi gwahodd tair ysgol leol i Blas Dolben – mae un wedi bod yn barod.

Roedd Agrisgôp, sy’n rhaglen dysgu gweithredol a ariennir yn llawn ac sy’n dwyn ynghyd unigolion arloesol, o’r un anian o fusnesau ffermydd a choedwigaeth lleol, wedi rhoi iddi’r argyhoeddiad yr oedd arni angen i rannu’r gwahoddiadau hynny, meddai.

Mae Rhian yn cyfaddef bod rhai ffermwyr yn synnu ei bod yn barod i roi o’i hamser, heb ddim budd ariannol, i fod yn rhan o gynlluniau addysgol.

Ei hymateb ydy ei bod yn gwneud hyn gan droi ei golygon at y dyfodol. “Dydy o ddim yn gwneud pres rŵan, ond i’r dyfodol, fe fydd o, oherwydd ein bod yn helpu i siapio dewisiadau bwyd cenedlaethau’r dyfodol, y bobl a fydd yn bwyta’r bwyd a gynhyrchwn.”

Dywedodd Gwen, Arweinydd y grŵp, fod aelodau’r Grŵp Addysg Ffermio a Chefn Gwlad wedi bod yn griw brwdfrydig o’r dechrau.

“Mae’n ymddangos bod pawb yn dysgu rhywbeth newydd ym mhob un cyfarfod,” meddai.

“Ni waeth pa mor arbenigol yw’r maes pwnc, gall Agrisgôp hwyluso’r gwaith o gasglu grwpiau bach o bobl at ei gilydd a helpu i ddatblygu eu syniadau.”

Mae aelod arall o’r grŵp, Marianne Burrell, sy’n gweithio ar Ystâd Fferm Rhug, yn cytuno.“Rydyn ni i gyd yn anelu at yr un nod, mae pawb yn barod i rannu syniadau.”

Dywed bod perchennog yr ystâd, yr Arglwydd Newborough, yn gefnogol iawn i addysgu pobl drwy gynlluniau ‘o’r fferm i’r fforc’.

Gallai’r wybodaeth a gafodd drwy’r profiad ag Agrisgôp helpu i lunio rhai o’r cynlluniau addysgol yn Rhug a chreu cyfleoedd gwaith o bosibl.

Nid oes gan Marianne gefndir amaethyddol a dywed bod ei haelodaeth ar y grŵp wedi llenwi’r bylchau yn ei gwybodaeth am amaeth.

Mae’r grŵp wedi ymweld â fferm yng Nghroesoswallt sy’n cynnal ymweliadau gan ysgolion ac yn nes ymlaen yn y flwyddyn bydd yr aelodau’n ymweld â choleg amaethyddol i ddysgu sut mae’n cyplysu ffermio ac addysg.

Ceir sesiynau hefyd ar gysylltu â’r cyhoedd drwy’r cyfryngau ac ar ddefnyddio cynlluniau’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol fel ‘Facetime a Farmer’.

Dywedodd Gwen y byddai’n annog pobl i ddefnyddio rhaglen Agrisgôp. “Os oes gennych chi syniad yr hoffech ei ddatblygu ymhellach, cysylltwch â’ch arweinydd Agrisgôp lleol drwy Cyswllt Ffermio am sgwrs,” meddai.

Mae Cyswllt Ffermio, sy’n cael ei ddarparu gan Menter a Busnes a Lantra, yn cael ei ariannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Chronfa Amaethyddol Ewrop ar gyfer Datblygu Gwledig.