Centre opens

A NEW centre to be used by the Maesmawr Group for its events and education programme has been opened near Llanidloes.
Members and partners of the farmer-led environmental collaborative in the Upper Severn Catchment held their first meeting at the venue in February.
Chairman Roche Davies said: “It was great to see that all the Jones family’s efforts in getting this new facility off the ground come to fruition. The diversification supports many other businesses – hospitality and accommodation –and is extremely important to economic well-being of the Llanidloes area.”
The sustainable wooden building, clad in larch, that has been grown on farm is at Glynhafren Farm near Llanidloes and boasts meeting and training rooms, showers, toilets and parking. It is also a welcome centre for the farming and Enduro champion family’s diversification – the Yamaha Experience – which has trained a steady stream of people over the years including national sports teams, celebrities and members of the British Royal family.
Rowan Jones, who is also chair of the Steering Group for the Nature and People environmental project, welcomed members: “It is great to see everyone here and we look forward to using the centre for community and group activities,” he said.
The farm has already been venue for Citizen Science invertebrate kick-sampling training sessions led by an ecologist for farming families as the River Severn is in its grounds with a range of fish, beetles and other river species identified and recorded.
The farm has planted new shelter belts, hedging and fenced off watercourses as part of the Sustainable Management Scheme project’s Better Biodiversity and Clean Waters strands, funded by Welsh Government and the EU.