Smallholders Gather to Share Change Strategies

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Meyrick Brown looks at the inaugural meeting of the newly-formed Ceredigion Smallholder Network RHIPPINLLWYD, a family farm of 150 acres at Cwmcou, near Newcastle Emlyn, was the ideal venue for the inaugural meeting of the Ceredigion Smallholder Network.

The farm, run by Tony and Laurel Brookin for almost 30 years, illustrates the kind of changes that the owners of small holdings have had to carry out as financial returns have diminished.

The former dairy farmers now rear livestock, work as contractors and offer educational visits and tours of the farm to community groups and schools. Evening visits by torchlight have proved very popular.

The Brookins sold …