We're treading the boards this week as Caroline Evans meets the cast and crew of Erwood YFC, - this year's Welsh winners, as they rehearse for the National Young Farmers Club championships. Written by director and producer Samuel Powell, "Read all about it" focuses on a rural community and tells the stories and experiences faced by many over the past few years, from COVID-19, to the Ukraine war and the cost of living crisis. The club go on to represent Wales at the national finals on April 22 in Leamington Spa, along with Montgomeryshire YFC.

Set in the very heart of Wales, Rhayader was once a stop off for drover's on their way from Aberystwyth to London. Today, it acts as a busy crossroad between east and west , the north and south - but given it's scenic location at one end of the Elan Valley and set in the Cambrian mountains, could this historic market town be the Outdoors Capital of Wales? Caroline Evans visits the town and hears how the community is boldly and proudly rebranding Rhayader as a flourishing and unique place to live, to do business and to visit.

It's feared that nearly a third of the 500 public swimming pools in Wales could close without more government support to tackle crippling energy bills. We dip into a swimming class in Powys and hear from Swim Wales about what can be done to keep pools open. Once common in our Welsh rivers, the rare freshwater pearl mussel is now critically endangered but efforts are being made to increase their numbers. And Birds of Conservation Concern in Wales - it's an early start for our ornithologist to witness a wildlife spectacle - it's Black Grouse lekking season!

Aberinnovation is described as world-leading facilities and expertise within the biotechnology, agri-tech, and food and drink sectors. Caroline Evans visits the Innovation and Enterprise Campus on the outskirts of Aberystwyth, where industry and academia are collaborating and expand our green technological horizons.

Anaerobic Digestors - good or bad? Afonydd Cymru and Fish legal call on Welsh Government to stop river pollution from them. We hear how a unique visitor has taken up residence at a Flintshire tourist attraction but what of other beavers in Wales? We explore the landscapes of loss and life with author James Roberts. And nature loss - how you can help turn around the misfortunes of this month's "Bird of Conservation Concern" - the Rook. Photo: Allard Martinius

We hear about the cross party Senedd inquiry looking at growth and productivity in rural Wales. A new Plant Atlas, produced by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland says our native plants have been hit by modern agriculture and climate change. In Wrexham. we visit the roof garden in the city, softening the concrete and steel with fruit trees and foliage. And we're out on toad patrol, with the Bryncoch Environment Group near Neath, helping toads on their migration to the local pond.

The Penllyn Estate near Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan is home to a diverse range of businesses, but agriculture remains at its core. Farmed by Homfray family since 1846, back in 2020 they were set to welcome their first customers to their new venture - the Forage Farm Shop & Kitchen. Of course, 2020 is the year the Covid pandemic struck but three years on and they've developed from scratch, an award winning business ( in the 2022, the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards) with local and sustainable produce very much at it's heart.

Lettuce, tomatoes and peppers in short supply but we visit the Cardiff garden growing salad leaves an advocate for local, seasonal produce for resilience. We take a gander at a goose on Anglesey - the White Fronted Greenland Goose is on the red list of the Birds of Conservation Concern. We hear how an equine apprenticeship is a good way to get a foot in the stable door. And the podmakers creating "third spaces" from natural and local materials.

Politicians find a lack of clarity on the number of patients waiting for check-ups or dental treatment but could a new initiative encourage future dental trainees to take up opportunities across rural Wales to help ease the pain? How to "sheep proof" your dog - the farmer training dogs not to chase livestock. And a prickly but homely rescue centre in Powys - a call for volunteers to take on the role of helping hedgehogs in the county.

The Welsh Government's new Agriculture Bill took another step forward this week but does it go far enough? We speak to the chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee which is examining the quality of water in Wales. Duckweed - a "miracle plant" to help farmers turn agricultural waste into feed for livestock and clean slurry water at the same time. New research from the Made with Wool project uncertainty surrounding the industry’s future. And finally, on the eve of this year's Dark Skies Week in Wales we hear how light pollution is doing untold damage to our biodiversity.