[The Guardian] A life of hard work on the hills of a Welsh valley – photo essay

A life of hard work on the hills of a Welsh valley – photo essay

Photographic reportage exploring the traditions, life and history of upland farmers in Wales, and the modern forces that threaten their generational way of life

Driving out to his mountain farm in the Dyfi valley, John Pughe is on the lookout for holly branches. Cutting the holly, to be used by market traders for Christmas gifts alongside wood to be sold for burners, John is always looking out for extra income. He and his farm-trained son, Alwyn, rear sheep and cattle over steep rocky hills following the generational family tradition.

Some upland farmers are being negatively affected by changes to the basic payment scheme, an annual grant to farmers. Now they have to have 10% of their land as habitat and woodland – which is often unsuitable for hill farms – to receive the grant

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