Country Focus

This winter has seen an "unprecedented" outbreak of Avian influenza across Europe and the UK and on Country Focus this week presenter Caroline Evans takes a looks the outbreak and what its means for our domestic and wild birds. Wales' Chief vet calls for vigilance and increased biosecurity to prevent the spread of the disease. We speak to a free range egg farmer in Denbighshire who says he's losing sleep with worry as the domestic poultry is in lockdown! RSPB Cymru's head of species outlines the concerns for our wild birds and we speak to the Israeli conservation charity about the devastating loss of 5,000 Common Cranes that succumbed to the HN51 strain of Avian Flu in the Hula Valley.

A Food Bill for Wales - Caroline Evans catches up with Conservative MS Peter Fox on his ambitions to establish sustainability, security and choice for our food.

Food Surplus - a project in Newtown, Powys that aims to reduce food waste by sharing surplus from supermarkets amongst members of the public and prevent it from going to landfill sites. Efforts to entice breeding ospreys back to Llyn Brenig after their nest was destroyed. How Snowdonia hydro schemes hit a new milestone for clean energy and in the Dyfi Valley, the rediscovery of lichen once thought extinct.

Programme serving people living in the countryside, including a look at a conservation project exploring the history of five commons in Carmarthenshire.

Alpaca perhaps rather curious creatures but they're rapidly gaining popularity across Wales. But why keep them? This week Pauline Smith explores the potential of these South American animals as farm livestock; a tourist attraction or simply to keep as a companion pet.

At Aberystwyth University’s Pwllpeiran Upland Research Centre in the Cambrian Mountains there's a herd of 8 alpaca. Scientists are studying to discover their suitability to life here in Wales and how they could provide new opportunities for hill farmers.

Meanwhile at Usk Valley Alpaca in Monmouthshire they've been breeding and selling these animals for livestock and pet animals for more than a decade and are planning to double their 93 strong herd. They also run a tourism business with the Alpaca at their "Cute Farm Experience"

and whatever their commercial value, Alpaca are also increasingly being used as a "therapy animal". Students have reportedly "flourished" after four alpacas were introduced at Headlands school in Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Another busy year of reporting on events in the Welsh Countryside draws to close. Dominated by Covid and climate change, we reflect on the stories affecting people living in rural Wales throughout the year, that was, 2021.

And the Country Focus team would like to wish all our listeners Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! Happy New Year!

We all have a responsibility to do what we can for the health of our planet, and that includes the food we choose to put on our plates. What we eat and our everyday dietary habits have an impact on climate change. Caroline Evans discovers that if you buy local, you reduce your food miles you then eat with the seasons, which is good for taste and nutrition. First she visits Troed y Rhiw Organics in Ceredigion to what's in December's veg boxes. We also find out what's in season for fish with "Catch of the day" in Cardigan. For the meat and 2 veg amongst us there's a trip to the family butcher and we get a few tips on how to cook it all from Nerys Howell, food consultant and author of "Welsh food by Season"

Visitors, exhibitors and the livestock....they're all gathered in Llanelwedd at this year's Royal Welsh Winter Fair. After missing a year, because of the pandemic, the Fair returns and Caroline Evans mingles among the crowds, who have travelled far and wide to enjoy competitions, festivities and yes, a little bit of Christmas shopping!

Cop 26 is over, but what will be the impact in our countryside? We speak to the Welsh minister for climate change, Julie James. Stump up for Trees encourage farmers to think of carbon offset as a crop which they can sell, by planting trees on land that isn't suitable for producing food. We hear about a Monmouthshire farmer's "lockdown project" making connections through a shared sense of farm history. Our amateur astronomer, Katrin Raynor-Evans is looking forward to the Christmas Comet and can the green-fingered of Glamorgan, germinate 30 year old seeds, to bring back the the very rare, Shore Dock?

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.