THE latest community news from Llanddewi Brefi.

Clwb Ffrindiau

A group of 19 members of Clwb Ffrindiau travelled to the Holden Farm Dairy, Bwlchweren Fawr, Llwynyrgroes on Thursday, 13 July where they were warmly greeted by Rob Holden, the cheese maker.

They were given a guided tour of the cheese dairy where Hafod organic cheese is produced using only milk from their herd of Ayrshire cows.

The name Hafod means summer place which is an area of meadow next to the river where the cows graze when not being milked.

In other parts of the farm organic crops are grown to feed the cows during the winter.

Rob carefully explained the process and outlined his working day (cheese is made every other day).

The members then visited the cheese store where Matt explained the maturing process and how the cheeses were looked after until they were ready to be dispatched to customers usually at about nine to 10 months from being made.

A visit to the milking parlour followed where Nick, the resident herdsman, explained about the organic farm, the crops grown in rotation and his equally important role of nurturing of the herd.

They were then briefly introduced to the ’ladies’ who were waiting impatiently to be milked.

Rebecca Holden then made an appearance and treated the friends to tea and wonderful homemade shortcake biscuits still warm from the oven in the pole barn which had been cleverly constructed from reclaimed materials on the farm.

Becky then gave the history of the farm which her husband Patrick had begun in 1973 originally as a commune.

When it was time to say goodbye, Lloyd Jones gave the vote of thanks for a wonderful afternoon and the generous hospitality.

The club does not meet again until 21 September when a visit to Ty Nant Water in Bethania has been arranged.

Anyone aged 50+ from Llanddewi Brefi and the surrounding area is always welcome to join the club.

Please contact Angela Payne on 01974 298643 or Margaret Howells on 01974 298801 for details.

If you’re a member of a club, society or group, send your news to [email protected]