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Hill farmers who planted 120,000 trees and shrubs, restored neglected woods and more than 10 miles (16km) of hedges have been thanked for their work.

Pontbren Farmers’ Group, made up of 10 neighbouring farms near Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, have been working together since 2001.

One of the group’s aims has been to improve shelter for livestock.

Environment Minister John Griffiths launched a report celebrating the farmers’ achievements on Wednesday.

More than half of UK consumers have changed their shopping habits as a result of the horsemeat scandal, a consumer group survey suggests.

The survey by Which? found that 60% of 2,000 adults questioned online had changed how they shop, with many now buying less processed meat.

It also suggested that public trust in the food industry had declined.

Villagers have told a public inquiry of their concerns at plans for a “mega dairy” in Powys housing 1,000 cattle.

Fraser Jones wants a major expansion of his farm in Leighton, near Welshpool, but was told the smell from the current 300 cows was unbearable at times.

A government inspector is holding the hearing following Powys council’s decision to refuse planning for the expansion near a primary school.

The Forestry Commission Wales has apologised after it was fined £24,000 in court for polluting a 20-mile (33km) stretch of waterway in Powys.

The commission admitted causing pollution after soil and silt disturbed by heavy machinery strayed into a brook near Llanwrtyd Wells.

European Union fisheries ministers have agreed to phase out the controversial practice of dumping unwanted fish.

An eco-centre in Machynlleth, Powys, has closed its cafe and vegetarian food store because of financial difficulties facing its trading arm. Eleven workers in the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) Quarry Cafe and Quarry Shop have lost their jobs. The stores were run by by CAT plc, which also operates a shop and restaurant on […]

An audit has found that EU-funded energy efficiency projects are not cost-effective in EU member states. The projects examined by the Court of Auditors were in the Czech Republic, Italy and Lithuania. Those countries received the most EU funding for such projects in 2007-2013.

Chalara dieback of ash has been confirmed at five sites on Forestry Commission land in Wentwood and the Wye Valley in south east Wales, and at Glynllifon college in Gwynedd.

The UK bird population has declined by 44 million since 1966, according to a report by conservation groups.

Wales’ first case of ash dieback disease has been confirmed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

It was found in a newly planted tree on private woodland in Carmarthenshire but Defra has refused to be more specific.

Some scientists warn the outbreak has the potential to devastate the UK’s population of 80 million ash trees.