Country Focus

In celebration of the Welsh countryside and conservation - fishing, clay shooting, gun dogs, falconry and cookery are just some of the country pursuits on offer at the first ever Game Fair, run by the Game and Conservation and Wildlife Trust in Wales. Held at the Faenol Estate, near Bangor in Gwynedd, the event brought together representatives from conservation, farming, field sports and fishing bodies to promote their activities. Caroline Evans visits the fair and hears about the efforts to foster greater communication and cooperation between the various sectors and promote the benefits of country pursuits and conservation to a wider audience.

They were once a common sight and their distinctive, evocative calls, a familiar sound, in our coastal, lowland and upland landscapes. However, the numbers of Curlew have declined so rapidly that conservationists are warning that this wading bird could be facing extinction, as a viable breeding species in Wales, by 2033. In the run up to this year's World Curlew Day (Thursday 21st April), Country Focus hears about the efforts to reverse the decline of curlew from our Welsh landscapes.

The Gower Pilgrimage Way is a new, environmentally friendly, 50-mile walking and cycling route celebrating the natural beauty of the peninsula and it's rich heritage of churches. The route, which has been developed by the Church in Wales, links 17 historic churches, which have their roots in the age of the Celtic saints, and continue to serve as places of faith and worship today. Presenter Caroline Evans explores the route between Penclawdd and the ruins of Hermon chapel, round to Rhossili Church.

The River Usk, or Afon Wysg in Welsh - is 100km or around 62 miles, rises on the slopes of the Black Mountain, in the Brecon Beacons, weaves it's way through Abergavenny before joining the Bristol Channel at Newport. But all is not well....agricultural pollution, sewage leaks, climate change - they're all adding up to loss of habitat for wildlife and depleted fish stocks on this iconic river and what's happening in this catchment, campaigners say, is reflected on waterways across Wales. Steffan Messenger travels along the banks of the river Usk to explore the issues, beginning his journey with Guy Mawle, the author of a report "A Dying River: The State of the River Usk" and continues on to find out what needs to be done to prevent further decline and restore it.

There's a growing number of woodlands in Wales being owned and run by communities. Llais y Goedwig - the community woodland network for Wales say they're all managed differently and for different purposes. For some communities they offer important respite and recreation, which helps improve their local environment. For many of them though, they're managed for nature, biodiversity and the climate. Beyond the social and environmental benefits they can also have an economic benefit. This week, Pauline Smith hears how the Dewis Gwyllt - or Choose Wild - project is finding new ways for community woodlands to develop an income. Following the rhythm of the seasons we begin with Birch sap trials in March, Wild Garlic in the spring, followed by Elderflower and on to tree seeds in the autumn.

Willow is a beautiful tree in our landscape that's proved to be a versatile plant in rural crafts and traditions..... from the ornamental to the practical - basket weaving, garden sculptures, hurdles, fencing, not forgetting cricket bats! Pauline Smith visits a smallholding in the village of Gwernogle in Carmarthenshire to meet owners of West Wales Willows, Justine and Alan Burgess. They're specialist growers of the Salix, to give it its Latin name - or Helyg in Welsh and Justine is a basket weaver. We also meet willow sculptor, Mel Bastier and Sarah Hatton, owner of Hatton Willow, who together also run a business selling willow woven coffins!

Kicking off BBC Radio Wales' coverage for the week ahead, Country Focus presenter Caroline Evans is joined by BBC Wales' Environment and Rural Affairs Correspondent, Steffan Messenger, live at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd.

With a packed programme of competitions, live entertainment and shopping to look forward to, we also discuss the current political issues affecting farming and agriculture. But there's plenty of fun to be had as we hear about one pony club's preparations for the Mounted Games competition and a trip to the Show wouldn't be complete without a spot of food to tempt the taste buds!

A number of of towns in rural Wales this summer are hosting their first ever Pride festivals, bringing together LGBTQ+ people living in their surrounding communities. Caroline Evans joins the organisers of Powys Pride as they prepare for their event in Llandrindod to hear how they hope it will offer support to build a supportive community for LGBTQ+ people living in the county. The organisers of Hay Pride tell us how their celebrations were a drumming success. We also join a Welsh class in Llandovery in Carmarthenshire - a rural town that once was renowned for drovers passing through with their sheep, but recently witnessed their first LGBQT+ parade ....with the statue of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan waving the rainbow flag. And we look at the rural stereotypes surrounding being gay in agricultural rural Wales.

A dramatic decline in the number of Welsh dairy farms - the price farmers receive for their milk has increased but so too have the costs of production. How Lavender is blooming and blossoming in our fields. Connecting with nature post Covid - fancy taking up beekeeping or perhaps moth trapping? And Wales' oldest non-conformist chapel celebrates its 325th birthday.

Across Wales there are hundreds of people farming a range of animals and crops on a smaller scale and through working together, to support each other, they're creating stronger rural communities. The Glamorgan Smallholders Association have seen an increase in membership during the pandemic. This week, Marieclare Carey Jones visits the Association's Produce Market, at Gileston Manor in the Vale of Glamorgan, to explore the smallholders' role in the Welsh countryside.