Various independent businesses and other rural activities thrive at Bodnant. A selection of some of them is given on this page.
Agricultural activities
There are a number of farms on the Bodnant Estate. Most of the farming is sheep, with some dairy and beef cattle. Apart from the production of meat, milk and wool, pedigree animals are bred for sale as stock.
For instance, amongst the farms with fine pedigree herds is Llwydfaen Farm, which is home to the following pedigree herds:
- The ERYRI herd of Pedigree Holsteins, Champion Pedigree Herd of Wales 2003. Embryos are available from the cows in the herd.
- The ERYRI herd of Pedigree Texels, Champion Small Flock North Wales 2003, MV accredited and scrapie monitored. The flock has obtained impressive Show results. The stock for sale comprises some ram lambs plus some females.
Bee-keeping and honey-making
The Conwy Beekeepers' Association have the use of a disused quarry near the Tal-y-Cafn Bridge as a training apiary for new beekeepers. Bee-keeping classes are held there regularly, and the sheltered site is ideal for teaching beekeeping. It is very sheltered, making the bees calm and easy to handle. For more information on the Conwy Beekeepers' Association, telephone Peter McFadden 01492 650851 or e-mail him on peter@honeyfair.freeserve.co.uk, or visit their website on www.conwybeekeepers.org.uk.
Other individual beekeepers are permitted by agreement to place their hives on other designated sites on the Estate; currently one of these sites is available to let. Please contact the Estate or the Conwy Beekeepers' Association for further details.
Contractors
Arfon Jones Contractors operates from Llindir, one of the Estate farms. It was established in 1999 to provide a quality Contracting service to private and public sector clients across North Wales, Cheshire and further afield. For more information telephone 01492 650111 or e-mail on info@arfonjonescontractors.co.uk, or visit the website on www.arfonjonescontractors.co.uk.
Crafts
Various independent craft studios have been created within Bodnant Garden Centre. The tenants of those craft studios produce and sell a wide range of crafts. For more details about the sale of crafts, please see the Bodnant Garden Centre page.
Equestrian Show Centre
At the Estate small-holding known as Ty'n y Bryn the tenants specialise in ridden Native Welsh Ponies for the show ring as well as Plaited Ponies. Ponies are taken for breaking from lead rein upwards. Schooling livery is also on offer to prepare for the show ring and there are occasional vacancies for ponies for show production. Inhand ponies are also taken to prepare for the ring. They offer individual lessons on show ring preparation, even travelling to your yard, a full trimming service is available and they have the contacts to find ponies as well.
The Centre is run by a very experienced individual with over 30 years of success in the show ring at the highest level, including time as Head girl in a top show yard that produced show pony of the year and Show hunter pony of the year. Their own ponies win at the highest level including Royal Welsh 2008, BSPS Championships 2007, NPS 2007 and Northleach 2007.
For further details, contact Bethan Jones, Ty'n y Bryn Equestrian Show Centre, Maenan, Llanrwst, LL26 0YL. Tel: 01492 651005 or 07779 138570, e-mail: tybequestrian@fsmail.net
Kennels and Cattery
Boarding and training kennels and cattery facilities have been established on one of the Estate farms. Fully licensed, they are sited in two modern purpose-built buildings. For further details, contact Aled Jones, Tal-y-Cafn Kennels and Cattery, Meddiant Isa Farm, Tal-y-Cafn, Colwyn Bay LL28 5RY. Tel: 01492 650929, e-mail: info@talycafnkennels.co.uk or visit the website: www.talycafnkennels.co.uk.
Bodnant Garden Tea-rooms
The Pavilion Tea-room, located in the car park, and Magnolia Tea-room, located near to the exit in Bodnant Garden Centre, (both operated by the National Trust) offer refreshments and light meals from mid February to Christmas. For more details about the Garden Tea-rooms, please see the Bodnant Garden page.
Plants and gifts
Bodnant Garden Centre sells a wide range of unusual plants and gifts. It is owned by Bodnant Garden Nursery Ltd. For more details about the plants and gifts for sale, please see the Bodnant Garden Centre page.
Woodland products
Various woodland products, such as firewood and wood for wood-turning, are for sale from BigFoot Logging at the Rookery. For more details, see the Timber, Christmas trees and other Woodland Products page.
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