National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Pigs, Ponies and Cowboys & Indians in Powys
There’s work to be done on the farm – e.g. drilling, rolling fleeces, baling hay – but also play to be enjoyed by piglets and children.
From the collection of:
Overview
Amongst this miscellany of activities on the Trant family farms in Powys - including drilling, rolling a fleece, ploughing, drying and baling hay and a game of Cowboys and Indians with real ponies - the happiness and contentment of the sows and piglets is very evident, as is the gladness felt by a cow when she receives a welcome bucket of mash after she has given birth to a calf amongst rhododendrons. As she feeds eagerly, her calf eventually finds its way to her udder.
Ion Trant, from Dovea Farm, Tipperary, Ireland, was conscious of a gulf emerging between town and country and welcomed school visits to his Powys farms - Maesmawr Hall, Welshpool, the adjoining farm Cefn Du (where shepherd Evan Arthur lived), and Esgairdraenllwyn, Llaithddu. He created/filmed the "Country Close-Up" series for children (BBC - 1956-62), often featuring his own 3, and was subsequently offered work as a freelance cameraman on the BBC's farming programme. He also ventured further afield, travelling as cameraman with sports commentator Max Robertson to the West Indies and with George Cansdale, field naturalist and ex-Superintendent of London Zoo, to Palestine and Israel.
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