THE founder of west Wales farming charity Tir Dewi has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

The Venerable Eileen Davies, Archdeacon of Cardigan, has been awarded an MBE for her services to farming in west Wales as a founder of Tir Dewi, a helpline, listening service and sign-posting service.

The service was originally launched in the summer of 2015 and, since then has actively helped hundreds of farmers and their families who were, in one way or another at crisis point.

There is now a network of 60 volunteers across Wales meaning that farmers and their families have more support available to them when they need it.

A working farmer herself, Archdeacon Davies has been the St Davids diocesan adviser on rural affairs since 2005, the year she was ordained into the priesthood.

Last year, she was the first woman to be appointed archdeacon in the diocese of St Davids and has won widespread acclaim – and several awards – for her work with farming communities in west Wales.