A PROMINENT name in North Wales agriculture will lead commercial land and property developments on a 15,000-acre farm estate.

Rhys Davies, from Llandyrnog, is the new estate and general manager at Rhug Estate, near Corwen.

He takes over from Emma Story, who is from Bala, and will move on to become strategic lead for Nature Recovery and Carbon Sequestration as part of an upcoming Welsh Government project on Wales's Designated Landscapes.

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Having previously worked as a chartered rural surveyor, agricultural banking manager and latterly chief executive of Farmers Marts, Dolgellau – which during the pandemic became a world leader in the sale of sheepdogs online – Rhys is pleased to be joining Lord Newborough and the team.

“I’m delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started,” he said.

“Emma has done a fantastic job and I hope to build on that, focusing on further commercial opportunities on the estate, notably the letting and development of land and built property.

“I have been in the industry for a long time and hope to bring that expertise to this position, given there is so much potential to grow that side further.

“I enjoyed my time at Farmers Marts and am especially proud of how we pivoted and built a strong reputation in past years – in the face of unprecedented challenges – but excited to begin this next chapter.”

Based in Snowdonia, Emma’s new role will be focused on carbon and supporting the regeneration of ecosystems within Wales’s national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Lord Newborough congratulated her on the new role and said: “We wish Emma all the best for the future and thank her for her dedication, commitment, and hard work for Rhug Estate over the last seven years.

“I look forward to working with Rhys, especially on new developments. He brings with him a great combination of experience and drive.”