2010 – present

2010

• Concluded 2nd caravan site Public Inquiry
• Took part in Mynydd y Gwair wind turbine Public Inquiry
• Six Society nominations on Gower were awarded The Civic Trust for Wales Design Award
• Responded to WAG Planning Enforcement System procedures consultation
• Grant-aided coastal FP re-alignment at Slade
• First opposed the Atlantic Array wind farm in the Bristol Channel
• Continued to campaign against inappropriate signage in the AONB

2011

• Published a series of cards depicting Edward & Iris Martin designs
• Sent in responses to 147 proposed LDP Candidate Sites
• Responded to Draft Design Guide
• Opposed Mumbles Headland development
• Awarded the Bowland Award by NAAONBs
• Published DVD Walking with Flowers

2012

• Supported Jubilee tree planting on Gower
• Society is an active participant in the Gower Landscape Partnership
• Society involved in filming of a BBC 4-part series on Gower
• Society is represented at Jubilee Royal visit to Margam Park
• Chairman is awarded MBE for ‘Services to community in Swansea’

2000 – 2009

2000

• Published the Gabriel Powell Survey of Gower 1764 prepared by B.Morris
• Published The Butterflies of Gower by Stewart & Grenfell
• Gower Commons initiative started work on Gower Commons, with some grant-aid from the Society

2002

• Gower Society Youth Action started

• Began major sponsorship of The Gower Show

2003

• Published Vernacular Gower
• Joined the Lord Mayor’s Design Awards by sponsoring an annual Gower Vernacular Award
• Grant-aided the production of a CD of Phil Tanner’s folk-songs

2004

• The Gower Way route completed on the ground
• Inaugurated the Society’s own Design Awards for sympathetic Gower design
• Grant-aided reflective cattle collars as part of the Gower Commons Initiative

2005

• Published a colour edition of The Castles of Gower
• Began campaign to extend AONB into Upland Gower

2006

• Played a major role in the Helwick bank sand dredging Public Inquiry
• Protested against Cefn Gwrhyd wind farm development
• Commenced twice-yearly aerial surveys over Gower
• Participated in the Golden Gower exhibition at the R.I.S.W.
• NAAONB Annual Conference held in Swansea
• Published a colour edition of The Caves of Gower

2007

• Involved in L.A. discussions regarding restoration of Oystermouth Castle
• Published Swansea Bay-The Coastal Route
• Published The Churches and Chapels of Gower
• Published Gower in Focus by H. Grenfell
• Took part in the Commons Registration Inquiry

2008

• Published Edgar Evans of Gower by G. Gregor
• Lord Mayor hosted reception for Society to mark its 60th anniversary
• Published The First Sixty Years to mark the anniversary
• Responded to draft AONB Lighting Guide consultation
• Grant-aided N.T. Culver Hole restoration and work by C.C.W. at Oxwich

2009

• Took part in 2 caravan site Public Inquiries
• Published a revised edition of Rhossili by Robert Lucas

1990 – 1999

1990

• First expressed concern at dredging at Helwick Bank
• Gave a donation towards restoration of the J.D. Davies memorial stone
• Campaigned against neglect of The Salthouse, Port Eynon
• Contributed to Operation Fig Leaf to replace local storm-damaged trees

1991

• Published Gower Walks by Ruth Ridge
• Took Counsel’s advice again re: Airport development proposals

1992

• First expressed concern at Mynydd y Gwair wind turbine proposals

1993

• Donated money towards information panels for The Salthouse, Port Eynon and towards restoration at Cheriton Church

1994

• Awarded Prince of Wales Award for educational / conservation work etc
• Took Counsel’s advice yet again re proposed development at the Airport

1995

• Expressed concern at the state of Whiteford Lighthouse
• Organised and held Conference on AONBs The Way Ahead and published report on it

1996

• Began campaign to save Whiteford Lighthouse
• Following the Society’s success, the L.A. held its own Conference on AONBs, leading to the formation of the National Association of AONBs
• Concern expressed at noise pollution

1998

• The Society exhibition A Snapshot in Time toured locally
• H.R.H. The Prince of Wales inaugurated The Gower Way
• Published Old Gower Farmhouses and their Families by Bernard Morris
• Started new Oral History Project
• Presented replica set of bones of the Red Lady of Paviland to Swansea Museum

1999

• Published a colour edition of A Guide to Gower

1980 – 1989

1980

• Article 4 Directive came into force for AONB area

1981

• Contributed to N.T. purchase of Coastguard Cottages at Rhossili
• Published The Sea Beneath My Feet by Mansel Thomas
• Published Noteworthy Gower Churches by Toft and Grenfell

1982

• Society gave further grant to N.T. for Rhossili

1984/5

• Fought Council’s attempt to extinguish rights / clauses of the Fairwood Airport Act

1985

• Helped to purchase Overton Mere for Wildlife Trust

1986

• Helped to purchase raised beach at Rhossili for the N.T.

1987

• Published Sketches in Gower as part of the Society’s 40th birthday celebrations

1988

• Campaigned to get replacement electricity lines underground

1989

• Helped to purchase Common Wood, Llanrhidian for the Woodland Trust

1970 – 1979

1970

• Published The Castles of Gower by Grenfell and Morris

1971

• Opposed development on 150 acres of Clyne Common
• Published The Caves of Gower by Grenfell and Morris

1972

• Opposed plans for 128 chalets in Stembridge Valley and also to further plans for development on Clyne Common

1973

• Opposed holiday camp plans for Ilston Valley

1974

• Society made a further donation to Enterprise Neptune

1975

• Published Gower Yarns by Cyril Gwynn

1976

• Objected to plans for a children’s zoo and red deer breeding concern at Rhossili rectory

1978

• Continued to fight local authority plans for Fairwood Airport

1979

• Prince of Wales Award for conservation work on Port Eynon dunes
• Society planted replacement trees at end of Vennaway Lane

1960 – 1969

1960

• As part of the Gower Defence Union, resisted commercialisation of Gower bays
• First Gower warden appointed

1961

• Campaigned to get Pennard Castle repair underway

1962

Published The Plant Life of Gower by G. Goodman

1963

• Ensured, and largely paid for, restoration of Pennard Castle
• Purchased land between Port Eynon Point & Overton Cliff for Wildlife Trust
• Published Swansea Bay to Worms Head

1964

• Opposed the Sharp plan to treble the size of Port Eynon / Horton

1965

• Published A Guide to Gower
• Society unveiled memorial stone to Gwent Jones and Stephen Lee

1966

• Lobbied to get Oystermouth Castle restored and re-opened
• Worked tirelessly to register Gower Commons

1967

• Lobbied to get sand, which had been taken from the Oxwich sand dunes, replaced

1968

• Helped to purchase Gelli Hir Wood for Wildlife Trust
• Opposed Rhossili cliff railway to beach
• Objected to car parks at Cefn Bryn and Broadpool for 1,000 cars

1969

• Objected to plans for six foot high chain link fence on west side of Cefn Bryn
• Objected to continuing car parking on Rhossili raised beach
• Opposed shooting range at Pembrey
• First registered as a charity

1950 – 1959

1950

• Oxwich Castle saved
• Ensured that historic features of Cross Keys Inn, Swansea were safeguarded
• Campaigned against bad housing design on Gower

1951

• Published Gower Gleanings by H.M. Tucker of Overton
• Organised a Gower exhibition at Swansea Museum for the Festival of Britain
• Part-funded purchase of Bishopston Valley by The National Trust
• Campaigned against sub-urbanisation of rural Gower
• Published a special map of Gower (in sepia) by Robert May to sell at 4d

1952

• Prevented clear-felling of much of Oxwich Woodlands including Nicholaston-Crawley Woods
• Stepped up campaign for AONB designation for Gower
• Published A Portrait of Gower by Evans and Gwent

1953

• Continued to oppose tree-felling
• Prevented setting up of Artillery Range on 7,300 acres at Salthouse Point
• Fought off plans for entertainment park at Port Eynon

1954

• Started fight to preserve commoners’ rights at Fairwood
• Geographia map of Gower (approved by the Society) was published

1955

• Prevented radar station with 450 ft. steel masts being built on Rhossili Down
• Fairwood Airport Act named Society as important signatory
• Further Swansea Castle repairs urged
• Society re-launched Gower Protection Fund

1956

• Gower designated AONB no. 1
• Thwarted ‘unhealthy interest’ by Gower Beauty Parks Development Company for ‘entertainments’ at Oxwich, Horton & Port Eynon

1957

• Prevented permanent ammunition dump on Mumbles Head
• Campaigned to stop demolition of Swansea Castle; Swansea Castle Defence Committee formed

1958

• Published a Caravans in Gower booklet

1959

• Published Ten Walks in Gower by Morris and Lee

1947 – 1949

1947

• First minuted meeting, when a group of researchers formerly known as The Gowermen were converted into a Public Society

1948

• Inauguration of the Society at a lecture on Gower at the RISW
• Campaigned for the upkeep of Oystermouth Castle
• Prevented a large-scale holiday camp being built at Rhossili
• First edition of Journal Gower was produced, as well as Footpath Map for Gower by Stephen Lee

1949

• Started campaign to prevent Oxwich Castle being demolished to six feet
• Started opposition to firing range at Penclawdd
• Phil Tanner, folk singer, made an Honorary Life Member