T
The420Guy
Guest
Most motorists zooming along the A55 past Bangor on the north Wales coast
have little idea that there is a full field of cannabis plants thriving
only 200 yards away.
But there is no danger of this crop getting anyone high.
The plants are being grown by scientists from Bangor University who hope
the versatile plant will breathe new life into the farming industry in
north west Wales.
The project, which is being trialled on the University's farm in
Abergwyngregyn and is funded by European Objective One money, aims to
assist farmers to diversify by growing alternative crops like hemp and flax.
Project manager, Geraint Hughes, says he hopes their trials will lead to
the development of an industry that produces insulation material, gardening
products such as hanging basket lining and substitute for fibre glass.
It is used, for example, in the door panels of the Mercedes Class A car.
Mr Hughes says the crop has many advantages.
"It is a very green plant, it is carbon neutral and biodegradable - it is
much more environmentally friendly than cotton for example, which needs a
lot of spraying with pesticides."
This is the second year of trials at the University's farm and they say
that about eight other farms in north west Wales now grow the crop.
But there is nothing new about Welsh farmers growing the crop says Mr Hughes.
"Harlech was the hemp capital of the UK in the 1800s.
"It used to be a legislative requirement for farmers to grow hemp to make
ropes to supply the navy.
"That is why many place names in Wales are based on the Welsh word for hemp
- - "cywarch" - such as Cwm Cywarch near Dinas Mawddwy.
"And also the Welsh word for flax - "llin" - is seen in the place name Cwm
Lline and the Welsh word for twine is "llinyn"," he added.
The crop is being grown under strict Home Office legislation and does not
have the "drug" component.
"You would have to eat the whole crop for it to have any effect on you,"
says crop scientist, Dr Jim Dimmock.
"But you'd probably die in the process if you tried!
"There are certain rules you must adhere to - you have to prove which
variety the plant is.
"If it is over the drug content threshold, the Home Office can destroy the
whole crop," he added.
"The idea is to give farmers a viable alternative enterprise in the region
and create a local industry."
With the downturn in livestock prices after the foot-and-mouth crisis, the
project hopes that their trials will help find the perfect conditions for
growing hemp in the region.
Pubdate: Mon, 14 Jul 2003
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2003 BBC
Contact: newsonline@bbc.co.uk
Website: Home - BBC News
have little idea that there is a full field of cannabis plants thriving
only 200 yards away.
But there is no danger of this crop getting anyone high.
The plants are being grown by scientists from Bangor University who hope
the versatile plant will breathe new life into the farming industry in
north west Wales.
The project, which is being trialled on the University's farm in
Abergwyngregyn and is funded by European Objective One money, aims to
assist farmers to diversify by growing alternative crops like hemp and flax.
Project manager, Geraint Hughes, says he hopes their trials will lead to
the development of an industry that produces insulation material, gardening
products such as hanging basket lining and substitute for fibre glass.
It is used, for example, in the door panels of the Mercedes Class A car.
Mr Hughes says the crop has many advantages.
"It is a very green plant, it is carbon neutral and biodegradable - it is
much more environmentally friendly than cotton for example, which needs a
lot of spraying with pesticides."
This is the second year of trials at the University's farm and they say
that about eight other farms in north west Wales now grow the crop.
But there is nothing new about Welsh farmers growing the crop says Mr Hughes.
"Harlech was the hemp capital of the UK in the 1800s.
"It used to be a legislative requirement for farmers to grow hemp to make
ropes to supply the navy.
"That is why many place names in Wales are based on the Welsh word for hemp
- - "cywarch" - such as Cwm Cywarch near Dinas Mawddwy.
"And also the Welsh word for flax - "llin" - is seen in the place name Cwm
Lline and the Welsh word for twine is "llinyn"," he added.
The crop is being grown under strict Home Office legislation and does not
have the "drug" component.
"You would have to eat the whole crop for it to have any effect on you,"
says crop scientist, Dr Jim Dimmock.
"But you'd probably die in the process if you tried!
"There are certain rules you must adhere to - you have to prove which
variety the plant is.
"If it is over the drug content threshold, the Home Office can destroy the
whole crop," he added.
"The idea is to give farmers a viable alternative enterprise in the region
and create a local industry."
With the downturn in livestock prices after the foot-and-mouth crisis, the
project hopes that their trials will help find the perfect conditions for
growing hemp in the region.
Pubdate: Mon, 14 Jul 2003
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2003 BBC
Contact: newsonline@bbc.co.uk
Website: Home - BBC News
