Changing places; ADVERTISING FEATURE.

THE Conwy Rural Partnership (CRP) received approval for 32 projects with a value of pounds 5.7m to be implemented during 2009-1011. These projects are having a positive impact on rural Conwy.

Contributing to the up-skilling of the rural workforce and enabling learners to become effective employees and employers, Conwy Rural Partnership's (CRP) Bilingual Rural Business Development Training project is ascertaining business training needs within rural communities.

Delivered by Coleg Llandrillo, the project offers new bilingual opportunities using modern facilities in Glasdir, Llanrwst, via a range of full-, part-and one-day courses at all levels.

This well-received project has made a positive impact on a wide range of participants in the region. Course participant Lynne Jones said: "It's wonderful to have this facility locally and to have the opportunity to gain a recognised, fully-funded qualification. It gives people a chance to enhance skills on professional and personal levels." A student on the Access to Higher Education course said: "As a single parent, attending the course has given me a second chance. I've been able to build my confidence in a supportive environment, during child-friendly hours. I've been offered a conditional place on a nursing degree, and without this course being available in Llanrwst I would have never considered furthering my education and taken that step towards becoming a nurse."

In addition, 120 local businesses have benefited from funding to train and up-skill the workforce.

Leading industry experts and commentators state making maximum use of pasture constitutes one of the biggest opportunities for Welsh livestock producers to increase profits. Barriers against more efficient use include lack of knowledge and poor understanding of new technology and its benefits.

The Agri Innovation project is tackling this by holding two events in Conwy; the first at the start of the grazing season, and the second at the height of growth. The project is working with a group of forwardthinking livestock farmers in Conwy, linking with the Dyffryn Conwy branch of the Grassland Society.

CRP is working with the group to hold the events and trial new 'pasture meters' widely used in New Zealand to maximise pasture returns. These are pulled behind a 4X4 motorbike, monitoring growth in fields.

Pasture meters' information and forecasts are easily understood, and their impact on Conwy's farming community potentially significant. No other county in Wales has offered this type of support to farmers, despite growing interest in improving pasture management this way.

Gareth Evans, Chair of Conwy Valley Grassland Society, said: "Members are grateful for the support from this project. The equipment provides detailed readings on the amount of pasture available for livestock to graze, and we are looking forward to experimenting with it."

. For more information contact the Conwy RDP team on 01492 643159 or conwyruralpartnership@conwy.gov.uk.

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Title Annotation:	Features
Publication:	Daily Post (Liverpool, England)
Geographic Code:	4EUUK
Date:	Apr 22, 2010
Words:	460
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