Gower Information

Overview:
The Gower Peninsula is situated just west of Swansea in south Wales and is approximately 70 miles in square area. It has five recognised blue flag beaches, and was designated the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956.
It welcomes thousands of holiday makers yearly due to its numerous camping facilities and various activities, not to mention its unique and unrivalled scenery:

Gower locations:

Ecology:

Gower has four nationally recognised nature reserves and seventeen individual nature reserve sites.
It has twenty seven sites of special scientific interest and over fifty seven hectares of heritage coastline.
A wealth of prehistoric remains including one of the earliest pre Ice-Age human skeletons found in Britain add to its historical significance.
Over one thousand plant species exist in Gower, including Yellow Whitlow Grass - a species not found anywhere else in Britain. Another unique aspect of Gower is its birdlife, which remains more diverse than anywhere else of its size in the UK.
Most recently, Three Cliffs Bay was voted second on ITV's 'Britain's Favourite View', an accolade reserved for only a handful of places around Britain. Opera singer Katherine Jenkins acted on behalf of Three Cliffs, and in an interview in the Sunday Times stated that:

SUNDAY TIMES: KATHERINE JENKINS: Three Cliffs Bay, Gower Peninsula:

“I grew up on the edge of the Gower, but it was still a holiday place for our family. We’d go on weekend breaks to Three Cliffs Bay – six miles down the road! That’s how gorgeous it is... My auntie kept a little caravan on the clifftops, and I spent long summer days there with my dog, digging out boats in the sand and sitting in them, waiting for the tide to come in... “I’m biased, I know, but my view is not just about sentimentality: the bay really is beautiful, with three curious crags of triangular limestone jutting out into the waves, like pyramids. You can walk right underneath them, through a rocky archway to the shore. “There’s a bit of everything: the sea, the cliffs, the salt marshes, a meandering stream curling down to the sea – and Pennard Castle, an 800-year-old fort tucked behind the beach. It’s in picturesque ruins, perfect for mooning about in. Sometimes you even see wild horses cantering along the sands. Talk about romantic. ..... “It may seem a strange thing to say about a beach, but to me Three Cliffs always feels so intimate and cosy. It gives me the feeling of being hugged. I take friends there whenever I’m home, and every time I’m struck by the magic of it again. It still takes my breath away.”

While Gower undoubtedly has a variety of appeals, there is a danger that such unique scenery and ecology is at risk from numerous threats, such as sand dredging, loss of habitat, marine pollution, and myriad development proposals that will are discussed in detail at other sections of the site.

Badger Cull - National Trust Won't Cooperate With Proposed Cull

Picture courtesy of Badger Watch

The National Trust have revealed that they will not be cooperating with the forthcoming cull of badgers in England and Wales. The trust, which has over three million members, has released a statement saying that they do not believe there is enough scientific evidence to warrant the killing of badgers at various locations across Britain, including Gower. While the trust goes against the proposed cull, this may not sit well with many tenant farmers who currently occupy land owned by the National Trust and many of whom advocate the proposed badger cull in order to tackle the soaring cases of bovine turberculosis. In Gower alone, the trust has almost 3000 hectares of land, including coastline and farmland. In the full story - presented in The Guardian - spokesperson for the National Trust David Bullock stated that: "we have both obligation to badgers and the people who use our land. We are not persuaded it is the right thing to do." The National Farmers' Union of Wales did not comment.

For the full story, see here.

This article made me think about the general opinions surrounding badger culling down Gower. While there was initially quite a lot of coverage in the national press about the proposed cull, there appeared little in local newspapers about the potential situation that could arise in areas such as Gower, even though Gower is a prime example and one that is utilised in articles such as The Guardian's.

On a recent visit to Gower, I was quite perturbed to pass four badger corpses - presumably victims of traffic - two of which were within 100 yards of each other by Parkmill. While it is never a welcoming sight to encounter a dead animal, regardless of the circumstances, what got me thinking most was the fact that this was probably one of only a handful of badgers that I have ever seen down Gower, even though I visit there most days and nights. This led me to discuss with some of my friends and colleagues as to whether they had been fortunate to see badgers in their natural setting - most had not. And while the badger may be notoriously an elusive creature, it made me slightly saddened to think that an animal that is so ubiquitous in countryside debates and discussion, is actually rarely encountered by those who are not residing in the heart of the countryside, or whose profession does not involve dealing with such creatures. Maybe I am being too blinkered and biased due to having an unashamed 'softspot' for our black and white friends, but I feel that as well as looking at the scientific background for dealing with the tuberculosis, which is currently what is dominating the majority of press coverage on the issue, perhaps we should also look at the fact that essentially we are permitting the mass slaughter of an indigenous species simply because of the rather weak argument that they are wholly responsible for diseased cattle which, if you go back to the very root of the debate, are encroaching on their habitat in the first place.

Like I said, I am undoubtedly not impartial when it comes to this debate, and welcome challenges to it, but I do feel that a major concern of mine is the lack of balanced reporting in light of the scientific background to the issue, and the humane concerns of the opposition.

Ecotourism

There are currently attempts being made to turn Gower into the UK's first 'green' tourist destination. This was first reported by the Evening Post in November 2007 after a report from Arena Network stated it that it is now time for Gower to market itself as a green destination, with spokesperson Jake Griffiths stating that "Gower is now well on its way to being the first place to offer a carbon neutral holiday."

Currently flaunting their green credentials are the Gower Heritage Centre in Parkmill, and Clyne Farm Activity Centre, which were both praised in the report. Gower Heritage Centre currently stocks a large range of local produce, while Clyne Farm has recently introduced solar heating and lighting panels. Such measurements got me thinking about what else could be done to reduce the carbon footprint down Gower. At present it would seem that ecotourism is a growing industry across the world, and Gower could indeed be a prime location for 'ethical' travelling. So, aside from businesses like the Heritage Centre and Clyne Farm implementing energy saving methods and promoting local businesses, what else can you and I do to contribute to Gower gaining its green status? The following are a few suggestions that everyone could get involved in. Please feel free to contribute your own ideas.

• Gower Explorer: Acting as both a local service and visitor service, the Gower Explorer is a network of regular bus services connecting various popular destinations around Gower. A day pass costs only £3.70, which is much cheaper than most day-long car parks. Visit: http://www.traveline-cymru.org.uk/ for routes and further information.
• Traveling by bus has even more advantages, including half price admission at The Gower Heritage Centre for any visitor who can produce a bus ticket upon arrival. Phone the Heritage Centre on 01792 371206 for more information.
• Get walking! The City and County of Swansea in partnership with the Countryside Council of Wales and the National Trust have produced a series of walk leaflets. See http://www.visitswanseabay.com/walking for more information.
• See the Swansea Green Map for a thorough overview of over 300 locations in and around Swansea and Gower and The Environment Centre for information on all aspects of the environment.
• Get involved with supporting local produce. http://www.food-passion.co.uk gives information on the local food scene in Swansea Bay, Mumbles, and Gower.

Tourism down Port Eynon - a visit

It is often claimed that Port Eynon's coastline is dramatically changing due to sand dredging, but while this invariably alters the aesthetic appeal of the beach; can this be seen to affect tourism?

On Bank Holiday Monday (May Day) I chose to visit Port Eynon with the aim of seeing whether the area still attracts tourists, and also, what the people visiting there generally think of Port Eynon as a resort.

On first impression, Port Eynon is bustling; it takes almost half an hour to reach the carpark from the main road, which isn't helped by the fact that a rather full Gower Explorer bus is attempting to get up the single-lane hill. When I finally park, after paying £3 for the privilege, the beach - although containing hardly any sand - is pretty full, however it is clear to see that the numerous families occupying the bay are huddling on a small section of sand, their towels only inches apart.

Short video of Port Eynon on Bank Holiday Monday highlighting the rocky coastline:

I was fortunate enough to meet the Tugwell family from Bargoed, who last came to Port Eynon in 1992. While they say that they think Port Eynon still has its appeal, namely in the form of the pubs and inns that surround the village, they are quick to point out how the coastline has changed since they were last here. Mrs Tugwell claimed that it has 'altered dramatically' since their last visit, and that they remember having a picnic on the sand at the point by the Salt House, which is now almost entirely exposed rock.

"The last time we were here, the children were only small and wanted to play in the rock pools, I remember us struggling to find a spot near to the rocks as most of the bay was covered in sand. Now, it is the complete opposite."

Mrs Tugwell's words paint a stark picture of how the coastline down Port Eynon is changing, and how while there remain debate surrounding the visual changes of Port Eynon, few arguments consider the implications that the demise of sand can have on tourism. While Mrs Tugwell says that she will more than likely be returning as there are still beautiful beaches such as Rhossili and Llangennith, whether they remain that way is to be contested.

Port Eynon - What is actually happening?

Port Eynon overview:

All too often, Port Eynon is presented as the pivotal example of the effects of sand dredging. Pictures of the bay's demise are synonymous with the sand dredging debate, and indeed it cannot be argued that what was once a predominantly sandy beach, arguably rivalling Rhossili in the beauty stakes, now has far more rock than sand. Port Eynon has been the subject of numerous debates surrounding the changing coastline, such as the following news report from the Evening Post in December 2007:

"MP'S SHOCK OVER BEACH'S DECLINE" (South Wales Evening Post.)
09:00 - 08 December 2007

Action is needed to halt the decline of Port Eynon beach in Gower, the shadow Secretary of State for Wales has said.Cheryl Gillan visited the beach with fellow Conservatives from Swansea and Gower, who have launched a petition calling for independent monitoring of the environmental impact of dredging, which they believe is responsible for the beach's condition. Ms Gillan said: "I cannot believe what has happened to this beach."When I was a girl, my family came here regularly. The lack of sand is devastating." We need to do everything we can to stop this disastrous situation getting even worse. "Byron Davies, Gower Conservative Parliamentary candidate, said the petition now had thousands of signatures. Local people were desperately concerned, he said. "I was brought up in Port Eynon, and am devastated by the current state of the beach," he said. Swansea councillor Paxton Hood-Williams said the petition would be handed to the Assembly this month. "When we launched the petition, we knew people were concerned, but we did not realise we would get such a massive response," he said.

Furthermore, Explore Gower's website refers to the sand dredging epidemic as it states that:

"Suffering like no other beach on the peninsula, Port Eynon's once wide stretch of sandy bay has now receded drastically behind newly revealed rocky outcrops that had hitherto not been exposed here since prehistoric times."

Yet, while there remain concerns about Port Eynon's dramatic change, there are still those in favour of sand dredging who claim that what is occurring down on the beach is simply a natural process, and not the result of the sand being obtained from the offseas Helwick Bank. Such a claim has never really sat properly in my mind, and it is because of this that I decided to take a trip to Port Eynon on Bank Holiday Monday to see how bad the situation has got, and whether tourism has been affected to the degree that some campaigners fear.
Before presenting the findings of my day out, I have included two photographs of Port Eynon over the years, which I feel speak for themselves.

Port Eynon, 1981:Port Eynon, 2008:

Fairwood Airport

Fairwood Airport has been the subject of much controversy over recent years. From 2000 onwards, Air Wales began operating flights to Dublin, Belgium, and France, however in 2004 the company cancelled all routes out of Swansea due to lack of interest. After concentrating on routes from Cardiff Airport, Air Wales eventually ceased to operate in April 2006. This resulted in a sigh of relief being breathed by campaigners such as SANE (Swansea Airport No Expansion) who over the years have fought against the potential expansion, citing a variety of reasons namely the increase in flights and the funding that would need to be obtained from council taxes. At the time of writing, Swansea Airport Ltd. intends to retain the airport for only general aviation, police helicopter, and Air Ambulance Services, however for how long this will be the case remains to be seen. Indeed the previous cessation of expansion plans can be seen to be primarily due to the financial hardship encountered by Air Wales, which leads us to question what might happen if another potential airline were to utilise the airport and propose further expansion. This may appear a rather stretched hypothesis, but I feel it is worth considering the possibility of future proposals and likewise address the implications that such an expansion of the airport could have. In light of this, the following is a brief summary of the main arguments put forward by campaigners such as SANE regarding Fairwood Airport:

Possible implications of expansion:

• The potential number of flights each day could far exceed what is currently in place.
• Any expansion would undoubtedly result in larger aircraft being able to use the airport, therefore resulting in an increased level of noise pollution for the surrounding area. This can be seen to include not only Fairwood and the Gower region, but also areas such as Killay, Three Crosses, Dunvant, and further afield.
• The improvements would have to depend on increased council taxes.
• The potential pollution problems could result in damaging air quality.
• The roads surrounding Fairwood would need to be altered in accordance with the increased demand. The current single-lane infrastructure would not be able to cope with the influx of traffic that could be anticipated. This would result in the roads encroaching into the common land. Indeed traffic problems can be furthered to Killay, Sketty, and Three Crosses, which already struggle with traffic at most times of the day.
• The increase in noise pollution and the potential 'eyesore' of the airport could act to the detriment of Gower as a tourist destination, therefore directly affecting the economy of the region.
• Finally, the environmental implications are arguably the pivotal section of the argument against any expansion. Gower is not just a tourist destination, nor attractive region, but is also habitat to myriad species, many of which depend on the delicate environment surrounding the airport, such as the common land and woodland - areas that would have to be cleared to make way for any development.

As it stands, there are few reports concerning any future plans for the airport, if anyone has any further knowledge or information, please feel free to contribute.

Interview with Dr Neil Price of Cardiff University

Interview with Dr Neil Price, ecologist at Cardiff University regarding the various issues concerning Gower:

As one of the leading academic ecologists situated in Cardiff University (and previously of Swansea University) Dr Neil Price has conducted various research throughout Gower over the last five years. He has undertaken numerous surveys on butterfly populations, has been involved in various marine biology field work, and has excellent knowledge of the peninsula. I decided to contact him via e-mail to see what he feels are the most important ecological issues concerning Gower and likewise what he thinks should be done in order to tackle the situation. What follows is the interview conducted with Dr Price regarding his opinion about various issues.

What do you feel are the most important issues concerning Gower at the moment?

There are many major worries for Gower flora and fauna, which is of my principal concern. I guess the major one is the problem of sand dredging. I'm sure you're aware of the problems this causes, such as in Port Eynon.

What are the implications of sand dredging?

This has major implications on the sand dunes in particular, which are an important habitat for all kinds of wildlife (particularly the Fen Orchid in Whitford, and also many invertebrates such as the strand line beetles.) Essentially it is just a gross act of environmental vandalism. Habitats are being destroyed that can never be replaced.

What other issues do you feel are being overlooked?

Another issue, which is a problem all over the UK and not just in Gower, is agriculture. The use of chemical pesticides in the 1960s and 70s has devastated the insect population. Butterfly Conservation estimate that the butterfly population has gone down by 50% in the last fifty years. That's an incredible amount. The growth of monocultures is also a major problem; a low diversity of plants = a low diversity of animals. Japanese Knotweed - an evil invader plant - is causing major problems to native plant species in Swansea. I think (but am not 100% sure) its roots out-compete those of other plants. There is a campaign to stop this plant reaching Gower because if it does, it could devastate much of the local flora.

Indeed Dr Price addresses factors that are often overlooked in the debates surrounding sand dredging and other ecological issues. While it is commonly agreed that sand dredging affects the aesthetic appeal of the coastline, the implications on wildlife and local flora is not as widely covered. It is therefore relevant to consider such issues as they are undoubtedly integral to Gower's environment.

Contact: PriceDN@Cardiff.ac.uk