Learn how the Gower Society has made a difference to Gower over the years.
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
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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