Stephen James - Case Study / Astudiaeth Achos

FWAG Cyntaf Member / Aelod FWAG Cyntaf

Commercial dairy farm is a tranquil haven for wildlife.

Stephen James surveys the 300 acres of Gelly Olau with a sense of quiet satisfaction; for as well as supporting an intensive 220 cow dairy unit his farm is also a secluded haven for wildlife.

A firm believer in doing his best to look after nature and the environment, Stephen is keen to point out that most farmers he knows are of a similar mindset. “I don’t think that my concerns for nature and wildlife are any different from those of my friends and neighbours,” he reflected; “whereas we have to make our living from the land and produce as much as we can from it, we are also custodians of the countryside; I think we have an obligation to care for it.”

Stephen farms near Clynderwen in Pembrokeshire with his wife Joyce, and son Daniel. He is a member of FWAG Cyntaf, the premier advisory service run by FWAG Cymru, which provides a whole farm advisory service with an emphasis on environmental schemes and cross compliance issues.

“I see my membership of FWAG Cyntaf as being a tremendous asset to the business, giving me expert advice on a number of issues,” said Stephen. “Safeguarding our single farm payment by meeting all cross compliance requirements has to be one of the most important issues. But also, the management of our Tir Cynnal scheme and integrating the efficiency of the dairy herd with the practicalities of conservation are other crucial areas in which we benefit from the advice of FWAG Cyntaf.”

Important environmental features at Gelly Olau include the Afon Conyn which runs into the Cleddau; both of which are scheduled SSSI’s (Sites of Special Scientific Interest), and disused railway lines. Gullies which run through the farm and its associated woodlands are interesting and useful assets; as are the many interior boundaries, such as hedgerows, which form connections along which animals can travel.

Whenever possible any dead trees and fallen branches are allowed to remain in situ. “There are numerous benefits to various forms of wildlife if we leave a dead tree or fallen timber, providing it is out of the way and not a danger to anyone,” said Stephen. “Woodpeckers for instance will thrive on wood boring insects, and other birds will often use them as nesting sites.”

As well as his work Stephen is actively involved with the NFU (being a past chairman of Pembrokeshire), Clynderwen Farmers Co-operative, First Milk, and also amateur dramatics. Commenting on the last point he was quick to ‘play down’ his acting abilities. “No, I don’t do as much these days”; he smiled, “although I used to participate in a wide range of dramatic productions. My involvement now is purely with the Young Farmers Club movement locally. But I do enjoy it tremendously and find it both relaxing and rewarding.”

Gelly Olau has recently been highlighted as a prime example of how an efficient commercial dairy farm in Wales can also be - with a little thought and the right management - an ideal environment for natural vegetation and wildlife to thrive and develop. Stephen James and his family have every right to be quietly pleased with their achievements.

Fferm laeth fasnachol yn hafan ddiogel i fywyd gwyllt.

Wrth edrych ar ei fferm 300 erw, Gelli Olau, mae Stephen James yn teimlo’n fodlon iawn ei fyd gan ei fod nid yn unig yn gallu cadw uned fasnachol gyda 220 o wartheg godro ar ei fferm, ond mae yno hefyd hafan ddiogel i fywyd gwyllt.

Mae Stephen yn gredwr cryf mewn gwneud ei orau i edrych ar ôl natur a’r amgylchedd ac mae yn awyddus iawn i nodi fod y rhan fwyaf o’r ffermwyr mae’n eu hadnabod yn meddwl yr un ffordd.  “’Sa i’n credu fod y ffordd dwi’n ei feddwl am natur a bywyd gwyllt yn wahanol i fy ffrindiau a’m cymdogion,” meddai; “rydym yn gwneud ein bywoliaeth o’r tir ac yn cynhyrchu gymaint ag a fedrwn ohono ond dan ni hefyd yn geidwaid i gefn gwlad: dwi’n credu fod yn rhaid i ni edrych ar ei ôl.”

Mae Stephen yn amaethu ger Clunderwen yn Sir Benfro, gyda’i wraig Joyce, a’i fab Daniel. Mae’n aelod o FWAG Cyntaf, y prif wasanaeth ymgynghorol a ddarperir gan FWAG Cymru, sy’n darparu gwasanaeth ymgynghorol i’r fferm gyfan gyda phwyslais ar gynlluniau amgylcheddol a materion trawsgydymffurfio.

“Rwyf yn gweld fy aelodaeth o FWAG Cyntaf fel ased mawr i’r busnes - mae'n rhoi cyngor arbenigol i mi ar nifer o faterion,” meddai Stephen.  “Mae diogelu ein taliad fferm sengl drwy gyfarfod â’r holl ofynion trawsgydymffurfio yn gorfod bod yn un o’r materion pwysicaf.  Ond hefyd, mae rheoli ein cynllun Tir Cynnal a chyfannu effeithlonrwydd y fuches odro gydag ymarferoldeb cadwraeth yn un o’r meysydd eraill hanfodol lle ‘rydym yn cael budd o gyngor FWAG Cyntaf.”

Mae’r nodweddion amgylcheddol pwysig yng Ngelli Olau yn cynnwys afon Conyn sy’n rhedeg i afon Cleddau; ac mae’r ddwy wedi eu rhestru fel Safleoedd o Ddiddordeb Gwyddonol Arbennig (SSSI) ynghyd â llinellau rheilffordd segur. Mae gylïau sy’n rhedeg drwy’r fferm a’r coetiroedd cysylltiedig yn asedau diddorol a defnyddiol gan fod ganddynt nifer o derfynau oddi mewn iddynt fel gwrychoedd sy’n llunio cysylltiadau lle gall anifeiliaid deithio ar eu hyd.

Ble mae’n bosib, caiff unrhyw goed marw a changhennau sydd wedi disgyn eu gadael lle y maent. “Mae amryw o fanteision  i nifer o wahanol fathau o fywyd gwyllt os dan ni’n gadael coeden farw neu bren sydd wedi cwympo, cyn belled â’i fod allan o’r ffordd ac nad oes unrhyw berygl i neb,” meddai Stephen. “Bydd cnocell y coed er enghraifft, yn ffynnu ar drychfilod sy'n byw ar bren a bydd adar eraill yn aml yn eu defnyddio fel safleoedd nythu.”

Yn ogystal â’i waith mae Stephen yn brysur iawn gydag Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Amaethwyr (mae yn gyn gadeirydd Sir Benfro), Cwmni Cydweithredol Amaethwyr Clunderwen, First Milk, a hefyd gyda dramâu amatur.  Wrth wneud sylw am y pwynt olaf roedd yn sydyn iawn i ddiystyru ei ddoniau actio. “Na, ‘sa i’n  gwneud llawer y dyddie ‘ma”, meddai dan wenu, “ond ar un adeg ron i’n cymryd rhan mewn ystod eang o gynhyrchiadau drama.  Dim ond gyda’r Clwb Ffermwyr Ifanc yn lleol dwi’n cymryd rhan y dyddie ‘ma.  Ond dwi’n ei fwynhau yn arw ac mae’n gyfle i ymlacio ac yn werth chweil.”

Yn ddiweddar, tynnwyd sylw at y Gelli Olau fel enghraifft dda o sut y gall fferm laeth fasnachol effeithlon yng Nghymru gydag ychydig o feddwl a rheolaeth gywir hefyd fod yn amgylchedd delfrydol i blanhigion naturiol a bywyd gwyllt i ffynnu a datblygu. Mae gan Stephen James a’i deulu bob hawl i fod yn falch iawn o’u llwyddiant.