The eight-toothed spruce bark beetle - landowners across Wales are urged to be on the lookout for signs of a pest that has been found in Monmouthshire for the first time.Agricultural pollution - a three month ban on muck-spreading came into force across Wales this week. We hear what it means for the industry and the environmentA community wetland - how a Welsh housing group has helped its tenants save an area of wetland in Cynon Taf, which was once intended for housing.and in fine voice at a church in Llangollen, there's a revival of the ancient art of Gregorian chanting

This term a project is underway to redesign and build a resilient food supply. Called Welsh Veg in Schools it's a pilot project, co-ordinated by Food Sense Wales, that aims to get more organically produced Welsh veg into primary school meals across Wales. Caroline Evans visits Dinas Powys primary school in the Vale of Glamorgan to hear how it's going down with the kids at lunchtime! We visit grower, Bonvilston Edge producing vegetables for the scheme and Castell Howell who distribute them to the schools.

Bird Registration - from Tuesday, October 1st it will become a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Wales (and England) to register themselves with the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Lapwing - some of Wales’ leading ornithologists have been focusing on the plight of our bird populations for Country Focus and this month it's the lapwing brought to us by Dave Anning who is the site manager for a wet and windy RSPB Ynys-hir reserve on the Dyfi estuary Celtic wildlfower - we meet the Swansea ecologist who's on a mission to save our wildflowers Pasta a Mano - we hear how the pop-up pastaria from Ceredigion, that won the British Street Food Awards recently, now goes on to compete in next weekends' European finals in Germany. Chef Derw Robertson-Jacobs to hear about the secret to his success of using local Welsh ingredients combined with Italian cuisine.

Upper Wye restoration - a new project to help restore the upper reaches of the River Wye. Caroline Evans hears how to tackle one of the threats spreading down the river ....the invasive skunk cabbageWaxcap Watch - can you help secure the future of fungi in the UK? With some species at risk of extinction the conservation charity Plant Life is urging people to get involved in recording waxcaps.Boosting biodiversity in Denbighshire - we hear about the local authority's plans to plans to reintroduce and increase numbers of native plants and trees across the county, including the rare 'wild service', or 'chequers' trees, whose fruit used to be eaten by children as sweets! Affineur of the year - refining cheese to it's full potential! We meet the winner of the title Owen Davies who took his inspiration from the mining heritage of Wales and applied it to maturing a cheddar in replicated “coal cave"

The rural affairs programme for those working and living in the Welsh countryside.

Floodplain meadows are a beautiful and natural landscapes that are found alongside rivers on larger flat areas that dry out sufficiently in the summer, through well drained soils. However their value goes way beyond their beauty and wildlife - the many benefits we get include storing floodwaters, keeping soil and nutrients out of rivers and helping to protect water quality. A project is underway to increase our knowledge of Welsh floodplain meadows and promote and conserve them for the future. The Welsh floodplain meadows partnership is focusing on south-east Wales, Carmarthenshire, and the Wye catchment, building connections with communities and organisations working in the floodplain. Caroline Evans meets with members of the project to discover what the work involves and what they hope to achieve.

Rural crime - the cost of crime in the countryside has jumped by 7 percent in Wales according to the latest figures from the rural insurer NFU Mutual. Fluttered away - Butterfly Conservation reports alarmingly low numbers of butterflies, with the weather a significant factor in the decline.Lime Kilns - the Llanymynech Limeworks, closed over a hundred years ago calls for volunteers to help with the restoration work, wildlife surveys and keeping the site open to the public.Mushrooming success in Gwynedd - the grower who's pioneered a method for raising a range of exotic, Lions Mane mushroomsand how a pop-up pastaria, called Pasta a Mano, has quickly gained a cult following for offering authentic Italian Street Food will be competing in next month's British Street food Awards.

The brand new Horticulture Village at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show this year celebrated all aspects of horticulture in Wales from community to commercial growing. Caroline Evans explores the new Village and hears find out what we need to do to produce more fruit, veg, plants and flowers, and deliver greater health and environmental outcomes for the nation, through horticulture.

Competitions, world-class livestock, crafts, countryside sports, shopping, food and drink.... you name it, the Royal Welsh Show has it all! Celebrating the Society’s 120th anniversary this year, there will be special displays, a new horticultural tent and the poultry are back! 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 to look ahead at this year's "Sioe Fawr"!

Ahead of this year's Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, we talk to the Welsh Government's Climate and Rural Affairs minister, Huw Irranca Davies about policy, farm protests and the future for agriculture in Wales.People are being asked to avoid the River Irfon, near Builth Wells over fears of a suspected case of 'crayfish plague'. The Wye catchment, including the River Irfon, is a key habitat for the white-clawed crayfish. The plague is harmless to humans but it is a highly infectious disease that is fatal to the crustacean that is already under threat from the non native crayfish. We visit a new nature reserve that has just been opened at the Gwent Levels. Bridewell Common was purchased by Gwent Wildlife Trust four years ago, but it has been closed to the public until now, to allow the charity to restore the area.and for our Bird of Conservation Concern this month it's a charismatic and striking bird of prey, that is unfortunately the UK’s most persecuted bird of prey in relation to its population size - the Hen-Harrier

Pembrokeshire Creamery is the UK's first new dairy for 15 years and it's aim is to reduce food miles and increase supply chain efficiency. It will have the capacity to bottle 60 million litres of milk in its initial 12-18 month phase, building to 120 million litres per year when it reaches full capacity. Caroline Evans tours around the facility and through the stages of milk production to find out what this new venture means for the Welsh dairy industry

Farming and environmental groups call on politicians to commit to a major increase in funding for the agricultural sector ahead of the General Election. We hear from BBC Wales' Environment correspondent, Steffan Messenger.We hear about the remarkable natural phenomena of insect migration through a Pyrenean mountain pass. Insect migration scientist, Dr Will Leo Hawkes, explains how migrating flies could help in the face of climate change.Rodney’s Pillar - an update on the campaign to save an iconic landmark near Llanymynech, on the Welsh border.We escape to the Skerries for our Red listed bird of conservation concern and hear how some very noisy Arctic Terns are faring.

In 1823, geologists investigating mammoth remains in Gower found a partial human skeleton, bones heavily stained with red ochre and surrounded a wealth of grave goods including shell beads and carved ivory. Two hundred years on, Tourism Swansea Bay is exploring new ways of the celebrating the legacy of this important find, what came to be known as the Red Lady of Paviland. The project will explore Gower's rich palaeolithic and neolithic sites with walks and places to visit, culminating with the Red Lady Festival at the Gower Heritage Centre 22nd June 2024. Caroline Evans takes a walk back in time to the cave and explores the history and the heritage and asks should the bones the artefacts be returned?

At the 'Tŷ Te' Tea Hub in the village of Trimsaran, the local community gather together weekly for a chat over a good cup of tea! Hosted by Tetrim Teas, a Welsh family business based in the Gwendraeth Valley, is a not-for-profit, wellbeing and ethical tea company. Caroline Evans joins them at the community centre in Trimsaran and hears how they're developing Rhubarb tea and mushroom teas. And they're not the only ones that think tea grown and made in Wales, has a future. In the hills above Knighton, Mandy Lloyd, who seems to relish the challenge of growing tea in less than favourable conditions, is hoping to build on the existing knowledge of growing tea in the UK. Meanwhile, Lucy George has been growing tea for around 9 years on her farm in the Vale of Glamorgan and is now a Nuffield Scholar looking at tea cultivation as a high value niche crop in the UK, one with ecological and social benefits too!

Since 2007, Fishing for Schools has taken young people out of the classroom and into the countryside but it's more than getting them hooked on fishing. Founded by fly fisherman Charles Jardine it gives children a chance to learn outdoors, connect with nature and gain new skills and confidence. Caroline Evans joins children from Alway primary school, Newport, Gwent at the nearby Llyswerry Ponds for a lesson in Fishing!

Dancing with Daffodils project - trials are to begin next month using an extract from daffodils, to feed to cows, with the aim of reducing livestock methane emissions and transform the efficiency and sustainability of ruminant farming. We hear how the Chinese Mitten Crab has established itself in the Dee estuary and has now been confirmed in the Conwy estuary. The crab is one of a number of invasive non-native species (INNS) that are on the increase and pose a threat to biodiversity.and at the Oak and Smoke Tannery in Ceredigion, we meet Jane Robertson who uses natural tanning methods to produce and craft traditional leatherwork.

Concern over the 'worrying' state of nature in our national parks in Wales. The Campaign for National Parks calls for urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity declines so National Parks can properly contribute to the UK’s efforts in tackling the nature and climate crisis. The annual Hay literature festival begins and not to miss out on Country Focus, we've a book selection for you! "Tir: The Story of the Welsh Landscape" discusses the relationship between land and people in Wales. We speak to the author, ecologist Carwyn Graves.....and for our red-listed, Bird of Conservation Concern this spring month, we have a lesson in how to pick out the trills of the Wood Warbler in a Celtic Rainforest near Dolgellau

Welsh Farmers Unite - a new grassroots organisation organises a march in Cardiff this Tuesday, to highlight the threat to our food security and what they perceive as anti-farming policies. We speak to one of the organisers. We also hear from a group of farmers called Digon yw Digon, or Enough is Enough campaign about their meeting with the Welsh Government's Climate change and Rural Affairs ministerThe mental health lorry providing a safe haven for farmers to share their struggles and receive support . The DPJ Foundation drives a lorry to the marts and shows in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to provide a dedicated space for the rural farming community. The Scarce Yellow Sally - we explore the efforts to save a large stonefly that was once thought to be extinct on the river Dee, now rediscovered. It's just one of the species focused upon with Natur am Byth - a major nature recovery project to save rare species. And whether it's the shrill carder bee, pink sea-fan coral, barbastelle bat, or Snowdonia’s arctic alpine plants - they're all in line for intensive care and this week is ‘Nature in your Community’ week and we're being encourage to get out and reconnect with nature.

Connecting rural communities and cutting carbon emissions - a network of car clubs across rural Wales. Caroline Evans visits Llandrindod Wells to hear more.We explore Gwydyr Forest in the Conwy Valley where long-gone lead mines mean the area is now home to around 90 per cent of the world's lead Moss. The Dolphin Diet Detectives project - a new initiative of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales - receives funding to find out what species the bottlenose dolphins of Cardigan Bay are consuming. It involves the collection of dolphin faecal samples - not an easy task - but researchers hope the study will increase our understanding of dolphin and marine conservation in the futureAnd on International Dawn Chorus day, we hear about a new study of nest box-breeding birds by Aberystwyth University, to understand the impact of climate change on competition between birds.

Air Ambulance - campaigners threaten legal action over plans to close air ambulances bases in WalesWe visit a heronry in Carmarthenshire to hear how their fairing after the British Trust for Ornithology reveals the latest findings from its long-running Heronries Census. Mystery beans - volunteers at the Seed Library in the Hive Community Space in Llandrindod investigate a donation of some seeds. “Glenys’ Runner Beans" have been passed down through a number of generations - but how old are they and how can they help local growers? The Snowdon beetle is believed to be down to the last thousand on the slopes of the mountain where it lives. But we hear about plans to help save it from possible extinction.

River Restoration - why the Church in Wales is involving itself in tackling the crisis facing Wales’ rivers and waterwaysTo celebrate World Curlew Day (21st April) we meet a visual artist in Montgomeryshire who compares the plight of the Curlew to that of the now extinct Great Auk and fears for the eventual extinction of both the curlew and the village hall! Birds of Conservation Concern in Wales - the Curlew is on the Red List of Species as is our bird of the month this April - the Bittern. We hear how the reed beds at Newport Wetlands are contributing to something of a success story as their fortunes are slowly, but surely, being turned around.Cockles - how two boys are getting out in nature and keeping the tradition of cockle picking alive on the Burry inletand the Great Glamorgan Sock Project showcasing the different sheep breeds with woolly socks!

The right tree in the right place and how it could save lives in the city. We speak to an Urban Green Infrastructure Advisor for Natural Resources Wales on the need to plant more trees in in our towns and cities for people and the planet.Tiny forests - the Welsh Government is offering grants of between ten and forty thousand pounds to plant trees in a small space under a concept of forest creation developed by a Japanese ecologist. We hear how it works at a tiny forest in Cardiff Bay.We talk pond creation in LLanwrtyd Wells - the Freshwater Habitats Trust says ponds are a critically important but undervalued part of the freshwater network. and our reporter Mariclare Carey-Jones takes her tortoise for a check up at the International Tortoise Association in the Vale of Glamorgan

The White Hart Inn in St Dogmaels has been part of the village for 250 years, so when last orders was called for the final time, villagers refused to accept the closure of their local. They joined forces to raise nearly £250,000 to buy it and nearly 5 years on it's become a thriving community owned pub... or should that be hub?!

Scientists at Aberystwyth University have produced four new varieties of oats which have been approved for growing in the UK. We speak to the team leader about growing oats for the future.Time for a spring clean - we talk to a wildlife officer with RSPCA Cymru about the dangers and distress caused by litter on wild animals like hedgehogs, deer and foxesOur bird of conservation concern for this month is a bird of prey - the Kestrel And Cow Companions - the cow-hugging therapy service at a cow sanctuary in Mydroilyn, near Lampeter, Ceredigion

A cross-party investigation into the Welsh rural economy calls for the re-establishment of a Rural Development Board and greater flexibility on the Sustainable Farming Scheme. Those were just two of a raft of recommendations made in the publication this week of a blueprint for rural growth in the Welsh countryside. We speak to the Director of the Country Land and Business Association about the findings.We hear how an ambitious conservation project on the river Dee gives local children the chance to learn about the life cycle of the trout.Shifting seasons - the Head gardener of the National Trust's Dyffryn Gardens plays "spring flower roulette" as climate changes alters growth patterns...and Ortir Apothecary, near St Dogmaels in Pembrokeshire, takes inspiration from the natural world and uses local botanicals to create perfumes anchored in a sense of time and place

Farmers and suppliers gathered in Carmarthen Mart this week amid growing uncertainty and concerns over the future farming policy for Wales, cuts to rural budgets and what they see as an attack on their way of life. Country Focus presenter, Caroline Evans attends the meeting. Meanwhile, the rural affairs minister Leslie Griffiths has rejected calls to pause the consultation into the Sustainable Farming Scheme and urges everyone to reply with their views by 7th March 2024. And the circle of life - the natural burial ground in Pembrokeshire seeking volunteers to plant trees.

Upland hill farmers fear for the future existence of their farm businesses in light of Welsh government’s scheme proposals.We visit Blas Farm - an organic vegetable farm on the Gwent Levels aiming to produce food in a sustainable way for the local community and to encourage young people into the industry.We hear how one of the world’s rarest and most endangered species of fir tree ‘coned’ for the first time in decades at Hergest Croft Gardens on the Powys-Herefordshire borderand how about joining the goat club in the city of Swansea? It's for the benefit of conservation but warning - they could be too cute to resist!

Forget trees, perhaps the answer lies in the soil? Could fields be farmed to store more carbon? We speak to Dr Non Williams of the Welsh Soil project. Campaigners fear the closure of visitor centres at three beauty spots. Natural Resources Wales say Ynyslas visitor centre near Borth, Bwlch Nant yr Arian, near Ponterwyd, and Coed y Brenin, near Dolgellau are under review due to financial pressures. Birds of Conservation concern - we continue our monthly look at birds at risk in the company of Wales' ornithologists - this month we have a trio of waders at RSPB Point of Ayr reserve.The poetry trail in Pembrokeshire - why boxes are popping up on our coastal path inviting passers-by to stop and create a poem inspired by the natural world

It's the Farmer's Union of Wales' Farmhouse breakfast week! Up and down the country, rural communities this week have been joining together around the farmhouse kitchen table, for what can perhaps be described as the most important meal of the day - Breakfast! Caroline Evans visits the village of Capel Gwynfe in Carmarthenshire where the farming and rural community have gathered to eat and chat, all in support of a rural charity - this year the Air Ambulance.

From dairy to mixed farming - we visit Bremenda Isaf Farm in Llanarthne, a Carmarthenshire Council owned holding. where they'll be growing fruit and veg for schools and care homes. We visit the village of Hermon in Pembrokeshire where they're breathing new life back into empty buildings for community use.Wales is blessed with an extensive coastline but we ask how ocean literate as a nation are we?and snowdrops, catkins and frogspawn - we're spotting the first signs of spring!

With its white berries and rounded drooping leaves, mistletoe is often used in our Christmas decorations - but where do those traditions come from? Caroline Evans visits the mistletoe auctions in Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire and an orchard in Gwent to hear how this distinctive plant is good for wildlife and how it has become steeped in our folklore and festive traditions. And the Country Focus team would like to wish all our listeners a joyous and healthy Christmas!

Spreading out through the heart of Wales, the Cambrian Mountains contain some of our darkest skies. It's a perfect location for stargazers but also for remote rural communities to embrace astro-tourism. Dark Sky Wales run regular astronomy weekends, a chance for guests to come and discover the glories of the night sky. Pauline Smith joins them for an evening of stargazing at the Meddins' family farm near Staylittle, in Montgomeryshire.

Rebranding Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to National Landscapes to reflect their natural beauty and important role in climate change, conservation and wellbeing.We head to the rocky shores of Anglesey for our bird of the month. The purple sandpiper is a wader that likes our winters!Are you away for Christmas? Who's looking after the hens? We hear from the Cosy Hen Co in Monmouthshire providing Hennels, or hotels for poultry! And earthy paints - we meet an artist from Powys who has taken her love of the natural world and started a business making paint from soil

For many it's the start of the festive season in the agricultural calendar of rural Wales as livestock, producers, exhibitors and vistors all gather at the Royal Welsh showground for this year's.... Winter Fair! Caroline Evans visited the event in Llanelwedd to discover more about the issues facing agriculture and the Welsh food industry.

Ahead of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair we catch up with the Welsh Government's Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths, amid challenging times for the agricultural industry. The restoration of a rare heathland habitat in Hensol Forest, in the Vale of Glamorgan. Sheep farming in Wales as you've never seen it before - "A Hardy Breed: Sheep Farming in Wales" a photography book by Bruce Cardwell And a thoroughbred census to establish what happens to the horses when their racing days are over.

The national call to plant trees to fight climate change requires a good stock supply! This week we're at the largest commercial tree nursery in the UK – selling approximately 35 million trees a year from it's base just outside Wrexham. We've all heard the mantra "the right tree in the right place", well behind that is a lot of research and science. Caroline Evans visits Maelor Forest Nurseries at Bronington, close to the Welsh border, where they are sowing the seeds to success specialising in home grown trees.

At a crossroads - the family farming organically in Pembrokeshire, trying to make sense of the Habitat Wales scheme and uncertainty around future funding. Renowned as the ‘voice of Welsh shearing’ Tom Evans from Beulah, Radnorshire recounts his memories from over nearly 40 years of commentating on Welsh shearing. The community woodland in Knighton encouraging more people to visit and get involved with the conservation. Our bird of the month is the somewhat elusive Woodcock. And Sycharth Castle - we go in search of ancestral home of Owain Glyndwr but would a little signage help?

From falcons and hawks to eagles and owls - Falconry Experience Wales is home to around 30 different birds of prey. It's a popular Powys wildlife tourist attraction but for owners Barry MacDonald and Luce Green their endeavours are with the conservation work and raising public awareness of the plight of raptors in the UK and abroad.

Plastic plates, cutlery, polystyrene takeaway food containers... just some of the items newly banned from being sold across Wales. Welcome news perhaps for Yr Wyddfa's ambition to be the world's first plastic-free mountain? We hear graziers concerns about the future of farming on the tops of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Why there are fears that the habitat Wales scheme could lead to a significant contraction in organic farming. And for this November's bird of the month we're off to Pembrokeshire to hear about one our fastest declining native resident birds, that nevertheless seem to love our wet, damp, woodlands!

The Wales Real Food and Farming Conference that gets underway this week at Llysfasi in Ruthin - sure to cause a buzz is a discussion on the Welsh Dark Honeybee and its role in sustainable food production. We hear how the historic ban on use of snares and glue traps which came into force this week will be policed in rural Wales. We meet the lichenologist transplanting rare lichen back into the countryside to save some of our most endangered species of the complex lifeform And the observatory in Powys that hopes to spot dangerous, new asteroids - if they fix the telescope!

Thanks to our somewhat damp climate, Wales is home to a staggering 850 different species of Bryophytes, representing three quarters of the total number (which is 1100) found in the UK as a whole. Bryophyte is the collective name for a group of plants that include mosses, liverworts and hornworts. This year the British Bryological Society is celebrates its hundreth birthday and has a variety of activities to mark the centenary, including designing a number of moss trails at Treborth Gardens in Bangor; the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire and also one in Harlech, Gwynedd. It's there Pauline Smith explores the wonderful world of bryology and goes "mossing"!

Applications for the new Habitat Wales Scheme have opened but farmers call for a "funding rethink" and support with their food, farming and the environment ambitions A fourth National Park for Wales? People are being encouraged to have their say on the proposal for one in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley area. Nature loss on a "devastating scale" - the State of Nature report finds of almost 3900 different animals, plants and fungi studied, one in six are at risk of extinction now from Wales. Pondweed - unlocking the ecological secrets of 2 rare aquatic plants on the Montgomery Canal as stretches are dredged to improve water quality. and it's time to get voting for a sweet, Sweet Chestnut in Wrexham!

We're dancing at the edges of Wales this week with a look at nature conservation efforts on the coastal slopes around the country to protect and build healthy resilient ecosystems and communities, for now and future generations. Huw Jenkins takes a waltz around the coast of Wales and hears how conservation organisations have been sharing their knowledge to promote best practice in sustainable coastal fringe management.

Farmers welcome new rules on the movement of TB restricted cattle and we visit a dairy farm in Pembrokeshire that's taking part in a new pilot project finding new ways of tackling the disease. We hear how "leaky dams" on the River Teme to manage the flow of water to prevent floods over in Shropshire can also be beneficial to farmers upstream in Wales. A Radnorshire farmer takes time out from the harvest to highlight the beauty of the mountain blackbird - the Ring Ouzel .....and the orchard trials in Machynlleth to grow to pears for both Perry and eating, with a little help from Willow!

Fed up with high sewerage discharges into their local river the Garw WI organise a walk to show their disgust! We speak to Dwr Cymru Welsh Water about the sewage being dumped in the River Garw. Green prescribing - could it save the NHS millions of pounds? The Wildlife Trusts certainly think so - we join a guided walk with Gwent Wildlife Trust and ask a GP if they would prescribe a dose of nature?! This year marks the 70th anniversary of the iconic fashion brand - Laura Ashley. Her designs travelled the world, but many were created in rural mid-Wales.

How bird flu is decimating Wales' gannet population on Grassholm island off the coast of Pembrokeshire. Calls for tougher penalties for dog owners after 46 ewes in a "horrifying attack" on a farm near Wrexham Could you have the next Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan Balsam growing in your garden? We speak to a PhD student about his work identifying ornamental garden plants with an invasive potential. We meet the former Red Arrows engineer in his first year as warden for Flat Holm island, off the coast of Cardiff. And we meet the two musicians finding new ways of connecting post covid and promoting their album as they walk the Wales Coast Path

The Penllyn Estate near Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan is home to a diverse range of businesses, but agriculture remains at its core. Farmed by Homfray family since 1846, back in 2020 they were set to welcome their first customers to their new venture - the Forage Farm Shop & Kitchen. Of course, 2020 is the year the Covid pandemic struck but three years on and they've developed from scratch, an award winning business ( in the 2022, the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards) with local and sustainable produce very much at it's heart.

It once made the finest steel but when Wrexham's Brymbo Steel works closed in 1990 it was a huge blow to the local community but now the historic industrial site is being turned into a remarkable heritage attraction. Sarah Easedale meets the members and volunteers of the Brymbo Heritage Trust and hears about the community's efforts to preserve and celebrate Brymbo's industrial past, conserve a 300-million-year-old fossil forest and provide an area for events and activities

A consultation on the whether to keep the Wales Air Ambulance helicopter, pilot and paramedic crew flying out of Welshpool is underway - we hear from the campaigners and the Commissioner reviewing the service. Domestic abuse in rural areas can be compounded by a lack of local services and a sense of isolation. We hear one woman's experience and from the Women's Institute highlighting the issue. And our bird of the month is the Shelduck which has taken a liking to the mudflats of the Dee estuary.

Before the introduction of steam engines and tractors to work the land Shire horses were once essential for the farm. Today, however, these heavy horses are considered to be a rare and endangered breed. Caroline Evans visits a tourist attraction in Pembrokeshire, where the family have increased the number of breeding shires they keep in order to try and sustain the breed. Indeed, on the day Country Focus visits a new arrival has just been born! The Dyfed Shire Horse Farm in Eglwyswrw boasts royal links, providing horses to the Household Cavalry over the years, with Major Apollo, or Ed as he was known on the farm, this year leading the horses in procession for King Charles III's coronation.

It's that time of year again! The pinnacle event in the British agricultural calendar - the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show get underway this week and 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 showground in Llanelwedd.

Regenerative farming - it's a catch all buzzword that's being used in the agricultural sector and the media, but what does it mean in practise and how can it benefit the environment? Ahead of next week's Royal Welsh Agricultural Show Caroline Evans visits Sealands Farm, St Brides Major in the Vale of Glamorgan and home to arable farmer, Richard Anthony and family.

Bracken control - National Farmers Union Cymru calls on the Welsh Government to urgently review a decision to refuse authorisation of a herbicide to control Bracken this season. Blanket bog restoration - last year, the Welsh Government tripled its annual peatland restoration target to 1800 hectares a year but conservationists working on a project to restore blanket bog surrounding Lake Vrynwy say they're struggling to find contractors with the right skills in peatland ecology and experience. Preserving World Heritage status at Blaenavon. Seagulls - love them or loathe them? In our focus on Birds of Conservation Concern in Wales, how a little understanding and tolerance might help the fortunes of the Lesser Black Backed Gull.

Stricter regulation on the release game birds in Wales is under consultation - we hear the arguments for and against greater control. Swansea scientists invent a new way to store and decarbonise heat with a little help from seaweed! Let's hear it for the Kittiwake! - we head to Skomer Island for this month's bird of "conservation concern in Wales". And after a 30 year absence Caerphilly cheese is being produced in it's home town.

Where the land meets the sea there is a rich, but fragile habitat - but what can it tell us about the health of our shores? The Shore Search Intertidal Surveys project monitors that sea life to better understand the effects of pollution, climate change and invasive alien species. Pauline Smith joins the marine team of the North Wales Wildlife Trust and volunteers at Criccieth beach on the Llŷn peninsula to discover more.

Shearing season is upon us but with the price of wool in decline in recent years, the challenge is to find a sustainable use for this natural product. This week, on Country Focus look at Gwnaed a Gwlan - the Made with Wool project, which is finding innovative ways of using Welsh wool and discovering it's potential to revitalise the rural economy. It all starts with the raw product and Caroline Evans first meets with the Williams family at Parlla Isaf Farm in Rhoslefain, in Gwynedd. From there it's on to the Wool Testing Authority in Caernarfon, which is offering farmers the chance to get their wool tested and the potential it has. Finally we discover some of the innovative uses being developed at Bangor University BioComposites Centre. Menter Môn is calling on farmers to get involved!

No drought warnings are expected in Wales this summer, according to Dwr Cymru Welsh Water but there's still a need for us to be careful with our water usage. We meet growers from the Wales Seed hub, growing local seeds for resilience. How Wales is home to a number of rare plants but some are under threat - we visit the Rare British Plants Nursery in Builth Wells and hear about efforts to conserve them. And in it's 100 anniversary year the British Bryological Society invites you to celebrate with a photography competition ....of Bryophytes!

Welsh Government plans for a tourism levy on holidaymakers are set to be be put before the Senedd in the next 2 years - but will it be a boost for the rural economy or a bitter blow to the industry? Why parking on the beach at Newport Sands in Pembrokeshire is no longer permitted. We meet the designer of an innovative, flat pack water tank and as part of our "Birds of Conservation Concern in Wales" the experts are out looking for the Grasshopper Warbler!

We hear how on farm weather stations can improve agricultural practises and lessen pollution in our rivers. We meet the expert who says good-quality soil can help save the planet. Welsh watercress enjoys a revival as growers network together and the multi (re) uses of coffee grounds!

We speak to the chief vet for Wales. Avian influenza protection zones are placed in and around a major game breeding farm in Powys. From farm to fork, via a vending machine, selling local produce directly to customers. We meet Jinx, the UK’s first conservation detection dog and his handler in Pembrokeshire and track down the Welsh bagpipes, surely fit for a king!

Wildlife and rural crime can come in many forms from the theft of agricultural equipment to the destruction of wildlife and their habitats and much more in between. But, are we leading the way in tackling it? Caroline Evans visits the Wales Wildlife & Rural Crime Conference being held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells where government minsters, police forces and delegates from conservation and rural organisation gather for the launch of a "made in Wales" strategy to tackle wildlife and rural crime.

We're treading the boards this week as Caroline Evans meets the cast and crew of Erwood YFC, - this year's Welsh winners, as they rehearse for the National Young Farmers Club championships. Written by director and producer Samuel Powell, "Read all about it" focuses on a rural community and tells the stories and experiences faced by many over the past few years, from COVID-19, to the Ukraine war and the cost of living crisis. The club go on to represent Wales at the national finals on April 22 in Leamington Spa, along with Montgomeryshire YFC.

Set in the very heart of Wales, Rhayader was once a stop off for drover's on their way from Aberystwyth to London. Today, it acts as a busy crossroad between east and west , the north and south - but given it's scenic location at one end of the Elan Valley and set in the Cambrian mountains, could this historic market town be the Outdoors Capital of Wales? Caroline Evans visits the town and hears how the community is boldly and proudly rebranding Rhayader as a flourishing and unique place to live, to do business and to visit.

It's feared that nearly a third of the 500 public swimming pools in Wales could close without more government support to tackle crippling energy bills. We dip into a swimming class in Powys and hear from Swim Wales about what can be done to keep pools open. Once common in our Welsh rivers, the rare freshwater pearl mussel is now critically endangered but efforts are being made to increase their numbers. And Birds of Conservation Concern in Wales - it's an early start for our ornithologist to witness a wildlife spectacle - it's Black Grouse lekking season!

Aberinnovation is described as world-leading facilities and expertise within the biotechnology, agri-tech, and food and drink sectors. Caroline Evans visits the Innovation and Enterprise Campus on the outskirts of Aberystwyth, where industry and academia are collaborating and expand our green technological horizons.

Anaerobic Digestors - good or bad? Afonydd Cymru and Fish legal call on Welsh Government to stop river pollution from them. We hear how a unique visitor has taken up residence at a Flintshire tourist attraction but what of other beavers in Wales? We explore the landscapes of loss and life with author James Roberts. And nature loss - how you can help turn around the misfortunes of this month's "Bird of Conservation Concern" - the Rook. Photo: Allard Martinius

We hear about the cross party Senedd inquiry looking at growth and productivity in rural Wales. A new Plant Atlas, produced by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland says our native plants have been hit by modern agriculture and climate change. In Wrexham. we visit the roof garden in the city, softening the concrete and steel with fruit trees and foliage. And we're out on toad patrol, with the Bryncoch Environment Group near Neath, helping toads on their migration to the local pond.