Agricultural Change and Decline
The dominant types of agricultural activity in North Wales are sheep
farming and forestry. Agriculture in Wales is very marginal due to
relatively poor quality land, steep slopes, inaccessibility, and an
unfriendly climate. Traditionally agriculture has been supported by
government funds such as guaranteed sheep prices. This was designed
to keep people 'on the land', reducing unemployment and rural depopulation.
However, as farmers were given grants per animal, they increased the
number of animals they farmed. This resulted in overproduction, a
flooded market and falling prices. Income of most hill farmers is
in long-term decline, causing farmers to cut back on their number
of workers. Farmers now face poor living standards and are leaving.
Young people have little incentive to join. The implications this
is having on the landscape is farms being abandoned or closed, or
amalgamation with neighbours resulting in bigger units.
Farm tourism is increasing in North Wales, with farm building being
used for Bed and Breakfast and farm holidays. There is also an increase
in craft and cottage industries and non-intensive, environment friendly
farming, and land used for woodland. Clearly, agriculture is in transition,
and signs of this can be seen in the landscape.
To revive the rural economy, the Development Board for Rural Wales
has targeted various places for investment, such as light industry
in Dolgellau.
One of the issues arising from rural change is second homes. As people
leave the land, they leave their houses which are bought by wealthy
outsiders as retirement or weekend (second) homes. This demand pushes
up house prices out so locals can no longer afford them. This exacerbates
or maintains rural depopulation, however, not all empty properties
are sought by local people.
Over 10% of dwellings in Gwynedd are second homes, with over 50% in
some villages. This is a total of 8000 in the county, but this has
fallen by 2500 in the last 4 years. Second homes are generally used
for less than quarter of the year and are a source of ill feeling
amongst locals, as many second home owners are seen to make little
attempt to integrate, leading to a break up of the community, and
colonisation by the English. This has caused political controversy
such as arson campaigns by Meibion Glyndwr.
Some important contemporary issues are:-
