FIRST generation farmer, Teleri Fielden has been sharing the highs and lows of life during her first year at Llyndy Isaf.

Teleri Fielden has been learning the ropes, managing the challenging 600-acre National Trust upland farm in Snowdonia.

Twenty-seven-year-old Teleri from Meifod, Powys, said: “It’s been a whirlwind of a year, I still can’t believe I’m living and working at such an amazing place as Llyndy Isaf. The National Trust team, particularly the shepherds at Hafod y Llan farm, have been a font of knowledge and patience. My sheepdog, Roy and I have both learnt so much.

“I haven’t been brought up on a farm, so activities that might come as second nature for practised farmers are relatively new to me and as such can be a bit more challenging.”

Teleri became the fifth farming scholar at Llyndy Isaf in September 2017 and has had to adapt quickly to farm life and the challenges brought by a long hard winter.

The annual scholarship was set up in 2012 by National Trust Wales in partnership with Wales Young Farmers Club, to support the next generation into farming by helping young farmers to gain practical experience of managing a nature friendly farm, with a mixture of sheep and cattle.

Teleri added: “I’ve always wanted to be a farmer, and whilst I have some experience of working on farms in France and Wales, I haven’t had the chance to manage a farm before now. It’s been a steep learning curve but so worthwhile. It makes me confident that one day I’ll be able to manage my own farm.”

Teleri’s journey so far will be broadcast on BBC One on Monday, 13 August at 7.30pm, as part of BBC One’s Our Lives strand.

After five years of running an annual scholarship, both National Trust and Wales YFC have decided to trial a three year programme with Teleri, more akin to an apprenticeship, which will help develop the farmer as well as the farm.

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