The Landworkers’ Alliance is a union of farmers, growers, foresters and land-based workers.

Feedback for us

If you have any comments, critiques, considerations, compliments, complaints, about anything the Landworkers Alliance is or isn’t up to, do let us know your thought. We love feedback, it keeps a system healthy. Please fill in this quick form.

Membership / Supporter / Donation Queries

Please contact Lauren.Simpson@landworkersalliance.org.uk

Requests for work, volunteering or internships

We are currently not recruiting for any roles but please read our newsletters for any announcements. We currently do not offer any volunteer or internship placements directly with the LWA, but keep an eye out in the newsletter or on the forum for any members looking for volunteers or workers.

Academic/Research Enquiries

Please look at the Agroecology Research Collaboration to see if it fits your area of research/work.

Membership Support / Advice

Currently the LWA does not have capacity or resources to help individual members or potential members on their specific projects, farms or programmes. We get a lot of requests for individual support and would love to have the time to respond to each request in full. We are fundraising for a new role for somebody to focus on membership support and services as we have identified it is a gap in our offering so please watch this space. Having said that, if your query is critical and urgent please email info@landworkersalliance.org.uk including the word URGENT in the subject header and it will get picked up and we can try our best to help.

Contacting Individual Staff

Please take the time to explore our staff page here to see who the most relevant contact for your enquiry is.

Our addresses format is firstname.lastname@landworkersalliance.org.uk

Please bear in mind we all work part time and have limited capacity to respond to enquiries outside our core areas of work.

You can also find information under the About Us header about branch and regional organising, and identity groups within the LWA membership.

Press/Media Enquiries:

For any queries relating to press please email press@landworkersalliance.org.uk

Merchandise/calendar Enquiries

For any enquiries to do with shop sales including the calendar please email merchandise@landworkersalliance.org.uk

To Include an Item in Our Newsletter:

You can fill in this quick form to submit it to be included in the next bulletin/newsletter. The deadline to submit is the end of Friday each week for the following week’s member bulletin. With the same form you can also submit to the monthly non-member newsletter which goes out in the first week of the month.

All Other Enquiries:

For any other enquiries that are URGENT please email info@landworkersalliance.org.uk with the word ‘urgent’ in the subject header and we will do our best to help.

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LWA CYMRU

Gweithwyr Y Tir

Mae aelodau’r LWA yng Nghymru yn aelodau o gangen Cymru o’r LWA. Yr enw Cymraeg ar y gangen hon yw ‘Gweithwyr y Tir’ (GyT).

Mae aelodau Gweithwyr y Tir yn trefnu ac yn mynychu ymweliadau fferm, yn cymryd rhan mewn sesiynau hyfforddiant a rhannu gwybodaeth rhwng ffermwyr, ac yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd i feithrin rhwydweithiau cefnogol a bywiog o weithwyr tir ledled Cymru. Trefnir dathliad mawr bob blwyddyn sy’n rhoi cyfle i aelodau GyT ar draws Cymru i ddod at ei gilydd ac i gyfrannu at sgyrsiau cynhyrfus ynglŷn â gweledigaeth a gwaith GyT, a’r LWA yn ei gyfanrwydd.

Mae’r aelodau yng Nghymru yn cadw mewn cysylltiad drwy newyddlen ddwyieithog Gweithwyr y Tir/LWA Cymru, sy’n cael ei anfon atynt yn rheolaidd. Mae gennym hefyd grwpiau WhatsApp rhanbarthol ar gyfer Gorllewin Cymru, De Cymru, Canolbarth Cymru a Gogledd Cymru. Rydym yn gobeithio datblygu ffyrdd gwahanol y gall aelodau LWA helpu gyda’r gwaith trefnu ym mhob un o’r rhanbarthau hyn a byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed gan aelodau sydd â syniadau ynglŷn â hyn, ac yn teimlo’n frwd i weld ein gweithgaredd yn tyfu ar hyd a lled Cymru. Cysylltwch gyda Thîm Aelodaeth y LWA a’r Tîm Trefnu yng Nghymru ar bob cyfri i gael sgwrs!

Sgroliwch lawr i weld rhagor o wybodaeth ynghylch Trefnu ac Estyn Allan at Aelodau, gwaith Polisi ac Ymgyrchu, a Phrosiectau penodol.

 

LWA members in Wales are members of the Wales (Cymru) branch of the LWA; known as Gweithwyr y Tir (GyT) in Welsh. 

Gweithwyr y Tir members organise and attend farm tours, participate in farmer to farmer training, and build dynamic and supportive social networks of landworkers across Wales. Each year there is a big celebration that brings together GyT members across Wales, where exciting discussions about the work and vision of the GyT and the LWA as a whole take place.

Members in Wales keep in touch through a regular bi-lingual Gwithwyr y Tir/LWA Cymru newsletter, as well as through regional WhatsApp groups for West Wales, South Wales, Mid Wales and North Wales. We are looking to develop LWA member organising in each of these regions, and encourage members who have ideas and energy to chat with the LWA Membership team and the Cymru Organising Team about getting involved! 

Scroll down for more information on Member Organising and Outreach, Policy and Campaigns, and Projects.

Trefnu ac Estyn Allan at Aelodau

Yng Nghymru mae gennym Dîm Trefnu sy’n cynrychioli ein haelodau ar draws Cymru gyfan, ond mae’r aelodau hefyd wedi eu trefnu ar sail rhanbarthau, sef: Gorllewin, De, Canolbarth a Gogledd Cymru. Gwaith pennaf y Tîm Trefnu yw cysylltu gyda’n haelodau, cynhyrchu cylchlythyron a newyddlenni rheolaidd, a threfnu cyfarfodydd, ymweliadau fferm a digwyddiadau eraill. Mae Amber Wheeler yn Gydlynydd Aelodaeth Cymru Wales Membership Coordinator, a’i gwaith hi yw cefnogi Tîm Trefnu Cymru Cymru. Aelodau presennol y tîm hwnnw yw Lou, Dave, Kate, Charlotte, Lydia a Pax. Yn ogystal â chysylltu gyda grwpiau eraill fel y West Wales Growers Group, mae Trefnwyr ac Aelodau Cymru hefyd yn gweithio gyda changhennau a grwpiau eraill o’r LWA, yn cynnwys yr UK Woody Branch, FLAME, OOTL, REAL a’r grwpiau sy’n cynrychioli Gweithwyr Tir Benywaidd a’r rhai hynny sydd ar y cyrion oherwydd eu rhywedd.

Sut i gadw mewn cysylltiad â phopeth sy’n digwydd:

Membership Organising & Outreach

Wales has an Organising Team who represent our members across all of Wales, but members are also organised in the following regions: West, South, Mid and North Wales. The Organising Team work to engage with members, produce regular newsletters, and organise farm visits, gatherings and events. They are supported by the Wales Membership Coordinator, Amber Wheeler. The current Cymru Organising Team are Lou, Dave, Kate, Charlotte, Lydia and Pax.

As well as linking with other groups such as the West Wales Growers Group, Cymru Organisers and Members also work with other LWA branches and groups including the UK Woody Branch, FLAME, OOTL, REAL and Women and Gender Marginalised Landworkers. 

How to keep in the loop:

Cymru Newsletter | Newyddlen Cymru

Rydym yn cynhyrchu newyddlen reolaidd sy’n cynnwys gwybodaeth benodol i Gymru. Yn y newyddlen hon cewch ddysgu am gyfleoedd, digwyddiadau, hyfforddiant rhwng ffermwyr, ymweliadau fferm, swyddi, datblygiadau polisi a materion eraill perthnasol. Gallwch gyfrannu at y newyddlen drwy anfon eich gwybodaeth at cymru@landworkersalliance.org.uk neu amber.wheeler@landworkersalliance.org.uk.

There is a regular newsletter with Wales specific information on opportunities, events, farmer to farmer training and farm visits, jobs, policy and other relevant insights. Submit information for the newsletters by either sending it to cymru@landworkersalliance.org.uk or amber.wheeler@landworkersalliance.org.uk 

WhatsApp

Mae gennym sawl grŵp WhatsApp rhanbarthol lle gall aelodau rannu newyddion a gwybodaeth, neu hysbysu pobl am gyfleoedd ac ati.
Er mwyn gallu ymuno gyda grŵp WhatsApp a chael eich cynnwys o fewn y rhwydwaith wych o Weithwyr Tir yng Nghymru bydd angen i chi ymaelodi yn gyntaf, os gwelwch yn dda. Gallwch ddysgu sut i wneud hyn drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon become a member. Os nad ydych chi’n weithiwr tir ond yn cefnogi’r achos beth am ddod yn gefnogwr – gallwch ddysgu sut i wneud hyn drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon become a supporter. Fel cefnogwr byddwch yn derbyn y newyddlen reolaidd ac yn cael eich gwahodd i ddigwyddiadau. Rydym yn ceisio’n gorau glas i gyfathrebu yn ddwyieithog, yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg, wrth weithio ar draws Cymru. Mae gennym grŵp WhatsApp Cymraeg hefyd ar gyfer aelodau sy’n dymuno cyfathrebu yn Gymraeg.

We have several regional WhatsApp groups where members can share news, knowledge, information and opportunities.

To join a WhatsApp group and become more connected to the landworkers movement in Wales please first  become a member. If you are not a landworker but support the cause then why not become a supporter. This way you will receive the regular newsletters and be invited to events. 

As well as communicating bilingually in English and Welsh we also have a Welsh language WhatsApp for members who like to communicate in Welsh.

Os ydych yn aelod ac yn dymuno gwneud mwy gyda’r gwaith trefnu ar gyfer aelodau, cysylltwch gydag amber.wheeler@landworkersalliance.org.uk.

If you are a member and would like to become more involved with member organising then contact amber.wheeler@landworkersalliance.org.uk.

Policy & Campaigns

Agricultural and forestry policy is not the same across the whole of the UK. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all have their own governments and legislatures, which decide these issues along with many other “devolved” areas that affect landworkers including: 

  • Environment
  • Education and training
  • Fisheries
  • Health and social services
  • Housing
  • Local government
  • Planning policy (although much of the detail of this is decided by local authorities)
  • Tourism and economic development

Gwaith Polisi ac Ymgyrchu

Mae polisïau amaethyddol a choedwigaeth yn amrywio ar draws y DU. Mae gan Gymru, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon eu llywodraethau a’u deddfwriaeth eu hunain – rhain sy’n gyrru penderfyniadau yn y meysydd allweddol hyn, a hefyd mewn meysydd datganoledig eraill sy’n effeithio ar weithwyr tir, megis:

  • Amgylchedd
  • Addysg a hyfforddiant
  • Pysgodfeydd
  • Iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol
  • Tai
  • Llywodraeth leol
  • Polisi cynllunio (er fod llawer o’r manylion yn cael eu penderfynu gan awdurdodau lleol)
  • Twristiaeth a datblygiad economaidd

Yma yng Nghymru mae deddfau newydd, ar y cyfan, yn cael eu cynnig gan Lywodraeth Cymru Welsh Government ac mae’r Senedd  wedyn, gyda’i Haelodau Senedd etholedig o bob rhan o Gymru, yn craffu ac yn cynnig newidiadau i’r cynigion ac yna’n pleidleisio ar y deddfau. Gallwch ddarllen mwy am y broses here

Mae hyn yn golygu mai deddfau sy’n cael eu creu yng Nghaerdydd, ac nid yn Westminster, sy’n dylanwadu ar ffermwyr, coedwigwyr a gweithwyr tir eraill yng Nghymru. Oherwydd hyn mae’r Landworkers’ Alliance yn ymgymryd yn benodol â gwaith polisi yn y cyd-destun Cymreig.   

Ond mae Llywodraeth a Senedd y DU yn dal i fod yn berthnasol yng Nghymru. Mae rhai materion – fel polisi masnach, budd-daliadau lles ac elfennau o drethiant – wedi eu neilltuo. Mae hyn yn golygu mai Llywodraeth a Senedd y DU sy’n gyfrifol am gynnig a chreu deddfau yn y meysydd hyn. Felly mae’n rhaid i ni edrych ar nifer o feysydd gwahanol : os am ddeall rheolau ynghylch llygredd fferm a chefnogaeth ariannol mae ffermwyr yn troi at Gaerdydd, os am ddeall y rheolau am ganiatâd cynllunio ar gyfer rhyw ddatblygiad neu weithgaredd mae’n bosib mai at eu hawdurdod lleol y bydd angen iddyn nhw fynd, ond os am wybod mwy ynglŷn â rheolau ynghylch gwerthu dramor neu fewnforio deunyddiau ar gyfer y fferm bydd yr atebion yn dod o Westminster.  Gallwch ddarllen mwy ynghylch pwy sy’n penderfynu beth ar gyfer Cymru drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon here.

Meysydd Polisi ac Ymgyrchu allweddol yng Nghymru:

 

In Wales, the Welsh Government generally proposes new laws and the Senedd, made up of elected Senedd Members from across Wales, scrutinises, amends and votes on legislation.  You can read more about this process here

This means that farmers, foresters and other landworkers in Wales are primarily affected by laws created in Cardiff, rather than Westminster and for this reason the Landworkers’ Alliance does dedicated Welsh policy work.  

However, this does not mean that the UK Government & Parliament is not relevant in Wales.  “Reserved” topics are proposed and legislated for by the UK Government and Parliament and these include trade policy, welfare benefits and some taxation. So, we need to look at lots of areas: to understand rules about farm pollution and financial support farmers look to Cardiff, to understand what they need planning permission for, they may need to ask their local authority, but for rules about selling abroad or importing farm inputs they need to look to Westminster. Details on who decides what for Wales can be found here.

Key areas of Policy and Campaigns for Wales:

Food Policy Alliance Cymru

Mae LWA yn deall pa mor bwysig yw hi i gydweithio gyda mudiadau eraill sy’n rhannu’r un math o amcanion â ni er mwyn gallu ymgyrchu’n effeithiol i sicrhau system well ar gyfer cynhyrchu bwyd a defnyddio tir. Yng Nghymru rydym wedi cydweithio gyda gwahanol fudiadau ar wahanol adegau. Mae ein haelodaeth o Food Policy Alliance Cymru (FPAC) yn elfen allweddol o’r dasg i adeiladu cynghrair gref.  Gallwch ddarllen mwy am FPAC a’n gwaith drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon – here.  

LWA recognises the importance of working in coalition with other organisations that have similar aims to us in campaigning for a better food and land use system.  In Wales we have joined forces with various organisations at different times.  Our membership of Food Policy Alliance Cymru (FPAC) is a large part of this coalition building.  You can read more about FPAC and our work here.  

The Agriculture (Wales) Bill

The Agriculture (Wales) Bill 2022, sy’n disgrifio’r sail gyfreithiol i’r cynllun ariannol newydd sydd wedi ei ddatblygu yn dilyn Brexit. Bydd y Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy yn cael ei roi ar waith cyn bo hir. 

Am y tro cyntaf erioed mae’r nod o gynyddu gweithgaredd sy’n gwella bioamrywiaeth – yn cynnwys agroecoleg – yn cael ei grybwyll yn y Memorandwm Esboniadol ar gyfer y Bil. Mewn ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad fe wnaethom ddadlau y dylid cynnwys trawsnewid i agroecoleg ymhlith amcanion y Bil.

Mae’r Bil ei hunan yn nodi 4 Amcan ar gyfer Rheoli Tir yn Gynaliadwy. Maen nhw’n cynnwys:

  1. Cynhyrchu bwyd mewn modd gynaliadwy.
  2. Lliniaru ac addasu i effeithiau newid yn yr hinsawdd.
  3. Cynnal a gwella gwytnwch ecosystemau a’r buddion y maen nhw’n eu cynnig.
  4. Gwarchod a gwella adnoddau a diwylliant cefn gwlad a hybu mynediad atynt, a chynnal yr iaith Gymraeg gan hybu a hwyluso’r defnydd ohoni. 

Yn ychwanegol at greu darpariaeth ar gyfer cefnogi Rheolaeth Tir Gynaliadwy drwy’r Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy mae’r Bil hefyd yn cynnig y canlynol: 

  • Galluogi gweinidogion i barhau i roi cymorthdaliadau i ffermwyr yn ystod y cyfnod o drawsnewid i’r Cynllun newydd.
  • Newid y ddeddf ‘Agricultural Holdings Act’ er mwyn rhoi ffordd i denantiaid ddatrys anghydfod dan rai amgylchiadau. 
  • Newid y ‘Forestry Act 1967’ er mwyn rhoi pŵer i Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru (CNC) ychwanegu amodau er mwyn newid, gohirio neu ddiddymu trwyddedau torri coed a fyddai’n mynd yn groes i ddeddfwriaeth amgylcheddol arall.
  • Gwahardd y defnydd o Faglau a Thrapiau Glud.

Roedd yr Agriculture White Paper gwreiddiol hefyd yn cynnwys y bwriad i gyflwyno Safonau Cenedlaethol Isaf Posibl, a fyddai’n tynnu ynghyd a lliflinio safonau amgylcheddol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dal i fwriadu gweithredu’r  safonau hyn, ond nid ydynt yn ffurfio rhan o’r Bil Amaeth Cymru newydd.

Ein hymateb i’r Bil Amaeth Cymru (2022) 

Wrth i’r Bil Amaeth gael ei drafod fe ymunodd aelodau a staff y LWA gyda mudiadau amgylcheddol a’r ‘Nature Friendly Farming Network’, ymhlith eraill, mewn gwrthdystiad i alw am gryfhau’r bil er mwyn adfer natur ac adlewyrchu’r ymrwymiadau a wnaed yn y COP 15 Biodiversity summit.  

Wrth ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad fe wnaethom fynegi ein cefnogaeth i gyfeiriad cyffredinol y Bil a’i amcanion, ond ar yr un pryd fe wnaethom ofyn am gryfhau’r amcan cyntaf er mwyn sicrhau na fyddai’n cefnogi dulliau anghynaliadwy o gynhyrchu bwyd. Fe wnaethom ofyn hefyd am amcan ychwanegol a fyddai’n cyfeirio’n benodol at ddyhead i drawsnewid i ddulliau amaethu agroecolegol, ac i’r Bil fynd i’r afael â’r system fwyd gyffredinol – yn cynnwys y gallu i gael gafael ar fwyd iach, ffyniant cymunedol a sofraniaeth bwyd. 

Roeddem yn cefnogi’r pwrpasau a fyddai’n creu sail ar gyfer cefnogi ffermwyr yn y dyfodol: mae’r rhain yn bennaf yn cynnwys creu buddion amgylcheddol drwy ffermio, a gwella mynediad cyhoeddus i diroedd. Ond fe wnaethom hefyd alw am i’r Bil gefnogi pwrpas ychwanegol i “hybu systemau bwyd lleol gwydn a chynaliadwy”. 

Fe wnaethom godi pryderon ynghylch y cynnig y dylai unrhyw ymgeisydd fod â rheolaeth dros 3 hectar o dir, fan lleiaf, er mwyn bod yn gymwys. Fe wnaethom nodi y byddai hyn yn eithrio llawer o ffermwyr llysiau a ffrwythau llwyddiannus.

Fe wnaethom hefyd gefnogi datganiad ar y cyd gan yr Undebau Amaethyddol a mudiadau amgylcheddol yn galw am i’r bil gefnogi hyfywedd economaidd ffermydd a chymunedau gwledig ac i gael gwell eglurder ynghylch y safonau cenedlaethol isaf posib. 

Gallwch weld ymateb llawn y LWA i’r ymgynghoriad ar y Bil Amaeth drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon here . Mae’r ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad cynharach ar y papur gwyn i’w weld drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon here

The Agriculture (Wales) Bill 2022, which sets out the legal basis on which Wales’ new post Brexit funding scheme, the Sustainable Farming Scheme, will be soon be implemented.  

In a historic first, the aim of increasing biodiversity enhancing practices – including agroecology – has been mentioned in the Bill’s Explanatory Memorandum.  Our consultation response had called for a transition to agroecology to be included in the Bill’s objectives. 

The Bill itself sets out 4 Sustainable Land Management Objectives, which include:

  1. To produce food in a sustainable manner
  2. To mitigate and adapt to climate change
  3. To maintain and enhance the resilience of ecosystems and the benefits they provide.
  4. To conserve and enhance the countryside and cultural resources and promote public access to and engagement with them, and to sustain the Welsh language and promote and facilitate its use.

In addition to the provision for support for Sustainable Land Management in the form of the Sustainable Farming Scheme the Bill proposes to: 

  • Allow ministers to continue to make agricultural support payments to farmers during the transition period.
  • Amend the Agricultural Holdings Act to provide tenants with a route to dispute resolution in certain circumstances. 
  • Alter the Forestry Act 1967 to give Natural Resources Wales (NRW) the power to add conditions to amend, suspend or revoke felling licences to prevent felling that would contradict other environmental legislation; and
  • Prohibit the use of Snares and Glue Traps.

The initial Agriculture White Paper also included the introduction of National Minimum Standards, which will streamline and collate environmental standards. Whilst Welsh Government still intends to implement these, they do not form part of the Agriculture Wales Bill. 

 

Our Response to the Agriculture Wales Bill 

As the Agriculture Bill was being debated, LWA members and staff joined environmental organisations, the Nature Friendly Farming Network and others in a demonstration calling for the bill to be strengthened so as to restore nature and to reference the commitments made at the COP 15 Biodiversity summit.  

Our consultation response supported the overall direction of travel of the Bill and its objectives, but called for a strengthening of the first objective to ensure that it would not support unsustainable food production.  We also called for an additional objective of a transition to agroecology and for the Bill to address the food system overall including access to healthy food; community prosperity or food sovereignty. 

We supported the purposes for which farmers could receive support, which are mainly delivering environmental benefits through their farming and enhancing public access to the land, but also called for an additional purpose of ““promoting resilient and sustainable local food systems” to be supported. 

We raised concerns about the proposed eligibility criteria to include management control of at least 3 hectares of land, pointing out that this would exclude many successful fruit & veg farmers. 

We also supported a joint statement from Farming Unions, environmental organisations calling for the bill to support economic viability of farms and rural communities and to get clarity on the national minimum standards. 

You can see our full response to the consultation on the Agriculture Bill here and the earlier white paper consultation response here

Cynllun Ffermio Cynaliadwy | Sustainable Farming Scheme

Bwriad Llywodraeth Cymru yw i symud i ffwrdd oddi wrth y Cynllun Taliad Sylfaenol cyfredol, lle mae’r taliadau wedi bod yn seiliedig (yn bennaf) ar faint yr ardaloedd o dir sy’n cael eu ffermio gydag ond ychydig o amodau cysylltiedig. Yn lle hyn mae’r Llywodraeth yn mynd i gyflwyno cynllun sydd â gofynion amgylcheddol (ymhlith pethau eraill) llawer mwy uchelgeisiol. Mae’r cynigion diweddaraf yn cynnwys set gyffredinol o ofynion y bydd rhaid i bob un sy’n rhan o’r cynllun eu cyflawni – mae’n debyg y bydd yr elfen hon yn dal i fod yn seiliedig ar faint yr ardaloedd sy’n cael eu ffermio – ac yna bydd gweithgareddau opsiynol eraill sy’n dwyn mwy o fudd amgylcheddol neu gymdeithasol i’r rhai sy’n dymuno gwneud mwy. Elfen arall sydd hefyd yn rhan o’r cynigion yw cyfleoedd i weithio ar y cyd ar draws ardaloedd ehangach o’r dirwedd a’r gadwyn cyflenwi. Gallwch ddarllen mwy am y cyngion diweddaraf drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon – here.   

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ymgnghori ar y newidiadau hyn ers 2018 ac mae Gweithwyr y Tir/ Landworkers’ Alliance Cymru wedi bod yn ymateb i’r cynigion gan dynnu sylw at y canlynol:

  • Y ffyrdd y mae ein haelodau eisoes yn cynhyrchu nifer o’r buddion y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dymuno eu cyflawni; 
  • Yr heriau a wynebir gan ein haelodau; 
  • Y newidiadau polisi a allai helpu creu gwell system fwyd a ffermio, a chynnal coedwigoedd sy’n gyfoethog a bywiog ac yn cael eu rheoli’n gynaliadwy.

Gallwch ddarllen yma ein hymatebion i ymgynghoriadau pwysig gan Lywodraeth Cymru:

Brexit and Our Land: Securing the future of Welsh farming Consultation (2018)

Sustainable Farming and Our Land Consultation (2019)

Sustainable Farming Scheme: outline proposals for 2025 Feedback Form (2022)

 

 

The Welsh Government have proposed a transition away from the current Basic Payment Scheme, where payments were based primarily on area of land farmed with limited conditions attached,  to one with significantly higher environmental and other obligations.  The latest proposals include a universal set of obligations that all participants in the scheme will need to follow, which will likely still be area based; optional actions with environmental or social benefits for those who wish to go beyond; and collaborative actions across the landscape and supply chain.  More details on the latest proposals  can be found here.   

Welsh Government has been consulting on these changes since 2018 and Gweithwyr y Tir/ Landworkers’ Alliance Cymru have been responding to proposals highlighting:

  • the ways in which our members are already demonstrating many of the benefits Welsh Government is seeking to achieve; 
  • the challenges that our members face; and 
  • policies changes that could help create a better food and farming system and support sustainable, living, working woodlands.  

You can read our responses to key Welsh Government consultations here:

Brexit and Our Land: Securing the future of Welsh farming Consultation (2018)

Sustainable Farming and Our Land Consultation (2019)

Sustainable Farming Scheme: outline proposals for 2025 Feedback Form (2022)

 

 

Bil Bwyd (Cymru) | The Food (Wales) Bill

Crëwyd Bil Bwyd (Cymru) er mwyn creu system fwyd mwy cynaliadwy yng Nghymru a dull mwy trefnus a chydlynol o greu polisïau bwyd, drwy sefydlu:

  1. Comisiwn Bwyd;
  2. Amcanion a thargedau bwyd cenedlaethol;
  3. Strategaeth Fwyd Genedlaethol;
  4. Cynlluniau Bwyd Lleol.

Cyflwynwyd hwn fel Bil Aelod  Members Bill  gan yr Aelod Senedd Ceidwadol Peter Fox , ac nid gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Er i amcanion y bil ddenu cefnogaeth eang cafodd ei drechu o drwch blewyn. Er i’r Gweinidog dros Faterion Gwledig, Lesley Griffiths, ddadlau y byddai’r Bil yn gostus ac nad oedd mo’i angen gan fod modd cyflawni’r amcanion drwy ddulliau eraill, mi wnaeth hi ymrywmo i ddod ag adrannau’r Llywodraeth ynghyd ac i ymchwilio i’r potensial o ddatblygu strategaeth fwyd. 

Roeddem yn cefnogi uchelgais y Bil, a’r fframwaith gyffredinol a gynigiwyd ynddo. Roedd hi’n siom felly na lwyddwyd i basio’r Bil, ond byddwn yn parhau i gydweithio gyda mudiadau eraill i sicrhau bod y Gweinidog a’r Llywodraeth yn cadw at eu haddewidion.

Gallwch weld ein hymatebion i’r ymgynghoriadau ar y Bil Bwyd (Cymru) yn 2021 drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon here . Gallwch weld yr ymateb a luniwyd ar y cyd gyda’r Food Policy Alliance Cymru, wedi i’r Bil gael ei wrthod, drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon here.

The Food (Wales) Bill was  intended to create a more sustainable food system in Wales and more coherent food policy making through the establishment of: 

  1. A Food Commission:
  2. National Food Goals;
  3. A National Food Strategy; and
  4. Local Food Plans.

It was introduced by Conservative Senedd Member Peter Fox as a Members Bill rather than Welsh Government and despite broad support for the aims of the bill, it suffered a narrow defeat.  Whilst arguing that the Bill was unnecessary and costly, and that the aims could be achieved without the Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, did commit to bringing together Government departments and exploring the potential for a food strategy. 

We supported the Bill’s ambitions and the broad framework it proposed.  Whilst we were disappointed that it did not pass, we will continue to work with allies to hold the Minister and Welsh Government to the commitments they made.  

You can see our responses to the 2021 consultations on the Food (Wales) Bill here and the joint Food Policy Alliance Cymru response to the Bill being rejected here.

Strategaeth Fwyd Gymunedol | Community Food Strategy

Mae Rhaglen bresennol y Llywodraeth yn cynnwys ymrwymiad i greu Strategaeth Fwyd Gymunedol newydd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi penodi ymgynghorwyr i gysylltu gyda’r sector fwyd gymunedol ac i ddatblygu cynigion ond nid oes llawer o fanylion wedi cael eu cyhoeddi eto. Os hoffech chi gyfrannu at ddatblygu ein safbwyntiau ar y pwnc a’r cynigion hyn cysylltwch gyda  holly.tomlinson@staging.landworkersalliance.org.uk 

Rydym wedi cyfeirio at hyn yn ein hymateb i’r Senedd Economy & Rural Affairs Committee Consultation ac yn ein hymateb i’r Senedd Climate Change and Environment Committee Consultation.  



The current Programme for Government includes a commitment to create a new Community Food Strategy.  Welsh Government have contracted consultants to engage with the community food sector and develop proposals, but very little detail has been announced yet.  If you would like to contribute to our position on this proposals please email holly.tomlinson@staging.landworkersalliance.org.uk 

We have referred to this in our response to the Senedd Economy & Rural Affairs Committee Consultation and our response to the Senedd Climate Change and Environment Committee Consultation.  

Cynllunio | Planning

Gwella’r system gynllunio ar gyfer ffermydd bychain a choedwigwyr:  Mae ein haelodau yn aml yn sôn mai’r system gynllunio yw’r her fwyaf iddyn nhw wrth geisio cyflawni eu hamcanion fel ffermwyr a choedwigwyr cynaliadwy. Dro ar ôl tro,  rydym wedi tynnu sylw at bethau sy’n peri problem – fel y trothwy 5 hectar ar gyfer Hawliau Datblygiad a Ganiateir ar ffermydd, a’r anhawster wrth geisio perswadio’r rhai sy’n llunio polisi am yr angen i godi anheddau ar dir sy’n cael ei weithio. Yn ystod gwanwyn 2023 roedd hi’n ymddangos ein bod ni’n gwneud rhywfaint o gynnydd o’r diwedd: fe gomisiynodd Llywodraeth Cymru ddarn o waith ymchwil i’r ffordd y gallai rheolau cynllunio gael eu newid er mwyn caniatáu anheddau ac isadeiledd ar ffermydd bychain. Rydym yn dal i fod yn rhan o’r drafodaeth, mewn partneriaeth ag eraill – yn cynnwys Our Food 1200, Social Farms & Gardens, yr Ecological Land Cooperative a Shared Assets. 

Ymgyrchu yn erbyn ffermydd ffatri:  Er bod ein haelodau yn wynebu heriau mawr wrth geisio cael caniatâd ar gyfer datblygiadau bychain, mae perchnogion unedau dofednod anferth wedi llwyddo cael caniatâd, dro ar ôl tro, i godi adeiladau mawr a sefydlu busnesau sy’n llygru afonydd ac yn dibynnu ar fewnforio bwyd sy’n disodli cymunedau a dinistrio coedwigoedd dramor. Mi wnaeth LWA Cymru ymuno â chymunedau lleol, WWF, Maint Cymru ac eraill i ymgyrchu ar y pwnc hwn campaigning for a moratorium on IPUs outside Senedd in February 2022.

Improving planning for small farms and foresters:  Our members frequently cite challenges with the planning system as the biggest barrier to achieving their aims as sustainable farmers and foresters.  We have repeatedly raised issues such as the 5 hectare eligibility threshold for permitted development rights on farms and challenges of getting dwellings on farm land with policy makers.  In spring 2023 it appeared we were finally making progress as Welsh Government commissioned research into how the planning rules could be adjusted to accommodate dwellings and infrastructure on small farms.  We are continuing to engage with this in partnership with others including Our Food 1200, Social Farms & Gardens, the Ecological Land Cooperative and Shared Assets. 

Campaigning against factory farms:  Whilst our members have faced major barriers for very modest developments, intensive poultry units have been getting consent and pollution from them has been devastating our rivers, whilst their imported feed is displacing communities and destroying forests abroad.  We joined local communities, WWF, Size of Wales and others in campaigning for a moratorium on IPUs outside Senedd in February 2022.

Ffermydd Sirol & Chyfleoedd i Gymunedau Weithio Tir | County Farms & Community Land Access

Gall ffermydd sirol fod yn ffordd i bobl gael eu troed yn y drws amaethyddol, ac i greu adnodd ar gyfer gymunedau lleol, ond mae’r ffermydd hyn yn cael eu gwerthu gan awdurdodau lleol mewn sawl rhan o’r wlad. Mewn ymateb i werthiant fferm  Trecadwgan yn Solfach, Sir Benfro, a’r ymgyrch a sefydlwyd i geisio prynu’r lle fel ased cymunedol community campaign mi wnaethom lunio argymhellion proposals ynglŷn â’r ffordd y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru atal hyn rhag digwydd eto.   

Mi wnaethom adeiladu ar y gwaith hwn, ynghylch y modd y gall cymunedau gael gafael ar dir i dyfu, drwy gydweithio gyda Shared Assets fel rhan o’r rhaglen Lleoedd Gwyrdd a Gwydn sy’n cynnwys nifer o fudiadau ar hyd a lled Cymru.   

Mae hyn wedi cynnwys ymateb i ymchwiliad Pwyllgor y Senedd ar Lywodraeth Leol a Thai o gylch Asedau Cymunedol. Gan dynnu ar y profiad gyda Threcadwgan, a lleoedd eraill, fe wnaethom alw am newidiadau i sicrhau bod cymunedau yn cael y cyfle cyntaf i fynegi diddordeb pan fydd asedau o werth cymunedol (yn cynnwys tir a ffermydd) yn cael eu gwerthu, a hefyd i sicrhau bod mwy o gefnogaeth i gymunedau, ynghyd â sicrhad cyfreithiol i gyrff cyhoeddus sy’n gwerthu ar bris is na phris gorau’r farchnad pan fydd buddiannau amgylcheddol a chymdeithasol yn deillio o’r gwerthiant. Fe wnaethom hefyd ddadlau dros gael proses haws er mwyn cyflawni Trosglwyddiad Ased Cymunedol (TAC). Roedd adroddiad report y Pwyllgor yn cefnogi nifer o’n cynigion a galwodd am gomisiwn i edrych ar y posibilrwydd o roi’r cyfle cyntaf i gymunedau brynu tir sy’n cael ei wared gan gyrff cyhoeddus. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn accepted y mwyafrif o ganfyddiadau’r pwyllgor ond nid ydym eto wedi gweld canlyniad y comisiwn hwn.  

Gallwch ddarllen ein hymateb i’r Ymchwiliad i’r Ymgynghoriad ar Asedau Cymunedol (2022) drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon here.

County farms can be a route into farming for new entrants and a resource for the local community; but in many parts of the country they are being sold off.  In response to the sale of Trecadwgan farm in Solva, Pembrokeshire and the community campaign to buy it as a community asset, we put together proposals for how Welsh Government could stop this happening again.  

We built on this work on community land access in collaboration with Shared Assets as part of the Resilient Green Spaces programme that we are working on with Shared Assets other organisations across Wales.  

This included responding to the Senedd’s Local Government & Housing Committee’s investigation into Community Assets.  Building on the experience at Trecadwgan and others we called for amendments to allow communities first right of refusal when assets of community volume, including land and farms, are being sold, more support for communities, legal assurances for public bodies that sell below best financial value where there are social or environmental benefits and a simpler Community Asset Transfer Process. The Committee’s report supported many of our proposals and called for a commission to look into giving communities first right of refusal.   Welsh Government have accepted the majority of the committee findings, but we are yet to see the outcome of such a commission. 

You can read our response to the Inquiry into Community Assets Consultation (2022) here.

Projects

Resilient Green Spaces

Resilient Green Spaces is a £1.27m partnership project led by Social Farms & Gardens to pilot alternative re-localised food systems using communities and their green spaces as the driving force for change across Wales until June 2023.

This project is funded through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. 

Six collaborative work streams delivered by partners, are testing what communities can achieve, given the right support, access to land and freedom to do what they do best.

The three work streams that Landworkers’ Alliance were involved in include: 

1. Innovative Food Hubs 

Open Food Network, Development Trust Association Wales and The Landworkers Alliance have joined forces and have established five enterprising and sustainable Food Hubs in communities across Wales to provide food that is good for people, good for the environment and good for local business by promoting short supply chains. You can read more about the Food Hubs here

2. Exploring Community Access to Farms and Land 

The Landworkers Alliance and Shared Assets have teamed up to find ways to realise the challenges and opportunities of access to land for new entrants and local communities interested in agroecological farming.

3. Building Horticultural Future Farming Skills 

Lantra are using their unmatched knowledge and experience of horticulture training in Wales to develop a pilot training package covering the skills needed to run horticultural farming businesses. Training will be delivered in partnership with Cae Tan CSA and The Landworkers Alliance. Cardiff University Sustainable Places Research Institute are countering negative perceptions of careers in horticulture farming through creative engagements with young people. 

Astudiaethau achos WWF Cymru | WWF Cymru Case studies

Landworkers Alliance in Wales has worked with Food Sense Wales to produce a series of six case studies of agroecological farmers for WWF as part of their Land of Our Future campaign. The series covers a range of farming types and features two Landworkers Alliance members, Tyddyn Teg – a horticulture co-operative in North Wales and Nantclyd – a mixed and poultry farm. A report summarising the case study findings with policy recommendations is being launched at the Royal Welsh Show in July 2023.

Mae LWA Cymru wedi gweithio gyda Food Sense Wales i greu chwech astudiaeth achos sy’n canolbwyntio ar ffermwyr sy’n gweithio drwy ddulliau agroecolegol. Mae’r gwaith hwn yn cefnogi ymgyrch WWF Land of Our Future . Mae’r gyfres yn cynnwys nifer o fathau gwahanol o ffermio ac mae’n braf gweld dau o aelodau Gweithwyr y Tir yn cael sylw, sef  Tyddyn Teg – menter arddwriaethol gydweithredol yng ngolgedd Cymru a Nantclyd – fferm gymysg, yn cynnwys dofednod. Byddwn yn lansio adroddiad sy’n crynhoi’r gwersi o’r astudiaethau achos ac yn cyflwyno argymhellion polisi, yn y Sioe Fawr yn Llanelwedd ystod mis Gorffennaf 2023.

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