FUW COUNTY CHAIRMAN ACCOMMODATES MANY NEEDS

Farmers' Union of Wales Meirionnydd county chairman Richard Vaughan and his wife Dwynwen, quite literally, accommodate many needs in enterprising forms of diversification on their farm and further afield.

Pall Mall farm on the Cardigan Bay coastline at Tywyn has successfully diversified over the past 35 years. Outbuildings have been converted, two chalets built and a caravan site established which currently has more than 100 pitches for static and touring caravans.

And during the past nine years Richard (44) and Dwynwen have developed a successful business of purchasing and renovating houses in Aberystwyth for letting.

"We are currently developing three flats near the old FUW head offices at Queen's Square. This is an important part of the business which brings in valuable extra income without taking too much time from our farming activity.

"We have built up a small portfolio of flats and bed-sits which we rent out to a cross-section of professional people and those not in employment."

Back on the farm they have also erected six stables for renting to owners seeking somewhere to keep their horses over the winter.

"So you could certainly say we can accommodate many needs here from tourists to horse lovers," said Mr Vaughan during an open visit to his farm arranged by the FUW and FWAG Cymru.

Pall Mall is situated on the A493 to the north of Tywyn. The farm is one of two holdings, totalling 550 acres, farmed by Richard and Dwynwen with the majority of the land at Pant y Panel and Prysglwyd at Rhydymain, near Dolgellau.

A flock of 700 Welsh Mountain sheep are kept together with 150 ewe lamb replacements, which are over wintered at Pall Mall. About a quarter of the flock is crossed with Texel and Suffolk rams with the remainder to the Welsh Mountain.

Around 95 per cent of the lambs are finished on the farm and are sent directly to abattoir with the remainder sold as store lambs. Approximately 30 store cattle are kept and fattened over the summer.

The farm was one of the first to join the Tir Cymen Scheme when Meirionnydd was chosen as a pilot area in the early 1990s. It benefited greatly from the scheme and is presently in its fourth year within Tir Gofal.

As part of these schemes, capital works were carried out which include stone walls, fencing, hedging, tree planting, wildlife pond and even otter dens.

Richard has been active within the FUW for many years. He was elected vice chairman of the county branch in 2006 and chairman this year. He also is chairman of the FUW's central land use and parliamentary committee, the union's grand council and other committees.

He is a member of the Meirionnydd Royal Welsh Advisory Committee and represents the county on the membership committee in Builth. He is also chairman of Meirionnydd Grassland Society and a member of Tywyn Town Council as well as other associated committees.

His interests also include football and being a Liverpool supporter and he is a keen supporter of the Welsh rugby team as well as Formula 1 racing.

He and Dwynwen have two children, nine-year-old Beca and seven-year-old Tomi. Richard's eldest son David lives in New Zealand.