Farming Connect is focussing on small scale diversification ventures that have the potential to scale up, in an online programme of events targeted at smallholders and farmers. The series of events is part of this year’s ‘remote’ Royal Welsh Smallholding and Countryside Festival which launched in May but remains available online. Beekeeping, which does so much to improve biodiversity; a recently established cut flower and ‘pick your own’ soft fruit enterprise set up during lockdown, together with guidance on running a successful, high quality pig unit, are all key themes. Farming Connect events manager Ffion Rees says that although it hasn’t exactly been ‘business as usual’ for Farming Connect because the pandemic curtailed so many face-to-face activities, the ability to reach out online with events, training courses, webinars and sector-led projects has enabled the programme to support and remain in regular contact with thousands of farmers and foresters t