The Gower National Landscape Advisory Group met to discuss the Gower Landscape Connections project, changes to the advisory group's membership, project updates, and the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF). The group voted to co-opt Llyr Jones, Gower Landscape Connections Project Manager, as an observer to the advisory group. Members also discussed representation and meetings, the Gower Management Plan review, festivals and events on Gower, and received updates from partner organisations.

Co-option of Gower Landscape Connections Project Manager

The advisory group voted to co-opt Llyr Jones, Gower Landscape Connections Project Manager, as a non-voting observer. The Gower Society representative, Howard Evans, had requested that the Gower Landscape Connections project attend the meetings of the group, to ensure clear communication channels between the Gower Advisory Group and the project. According to the Gower Advisory Group - Gower Landscape Connections Project Manager Report, Llyr Jones will be able to attend meetings (or send a deputy), contribute to discussions, and receive meeting papers and other documents. The co-option will last for the length of the Gower Landscape Connections project, unless the advisory group decides otherwise. As an observer, Llyr Jones is expected to abide by the City and County of Swansea's Member Code of Conduct.

Gower National Landscape Advisory Group - Representation and Meetings

Mike Scott, Countryside Team Leader, presented the Gower Advisory Group - Representation Meeting Report, advising the members of recent changes to the group's membership and on future steps to be taken. Following the withdrawal of Philip Ogleby from the group, the National Landscape Team is considering who might be a suitable member, able to bring a new voice and skills to the group, and anticipate bringing a proposal to the next meeting.

The group's meetings are held as hybrid meetings in the Lilian Hopkin Room, Guildhall, three times a year. There are IT issues for some members of the group, which does cause some frustrations.

The group has previously held a field visit day, usually in the summer, looking at projects on the ground, an opportunity to meet other partners, and to discuss issues. This could be revived, with members of the group invited to a field day sometime in July.

As part of the consultation exercise for the Management Plan Review, the National Landscape team are planning a Gower Forum meeting to be held before Christmas. The aim will be to hear from a range of communities, groups, and individuals, to discuss some of the issues, and hear about priorities and problems. This framed as an informal event (not as an Advisory Group meeting), with an emphasis on listening face to face – providing material and opinions to contribute towards the management plan. The longer-term intention is that this would become an annual event, building an on-going relationship with the communities.

Project Reports and Updates

Mike Scott, Countryside Team Leader, presented the Gower Advisory Group - Project Update - 22 September 2025, informing the members of recent project work and team updates from Swansea Council's Countryside Team.

Updates included:

• Gower Management Plan: Land Use Consultants (LUC) Ltd have drafted the initial State of the National Landscape Report and the Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA). Copies will be sent out to the Advisory Group shortly. Gower's consultation process has been far beyond the standard National Landscape approach to ensure a wide-reaching awareness and ownership of the new plan.
• Ffermio Bro: The Ffermio Bro scheme is underway for this financial year. The scheme will fund farmers in the Gower National Landscape to undertake projects that maintain and enhance the resilience of ecosystems and the benefits they provide.
• St Marys Chapel & Pill House Goose Pen: Working with Cadw, the Welsh Government's historic environment service, to get consents in place and to carry out procurement processes, so that works can be planned for autumn/spring.
• Ivy Tower, Clyne Valley Country Park: Work to be restarted on the stabilisation of the tower – waiting for Corporate Building Services to confirm details of security grill and gate.
• Sustainable Development Fund: The next SDF panel to meet on 15 September. Almost fully committed for financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
• Parking Issues: The application to register part of Pennard Common as a Village Green was refused on 2 September 2025, following advice in the report by the barrister (independent inspector).
• Pennard Castle: The castle repair works have been completed. Some yellow whitlowgrass seed was sown directly into holes in the new mortar in March. Seedlings of yellow whitlowgrass and Bristol Channel hawkweed will be grown on in the nursery and when ready planted into the wall sometime in November 2025 – March 2026. Applied for a Scheduled Monument Consent from Cadw – awaiting decision.
• Gower Nature Recovery Programme: Continuation of Japanese Knotweed herbicide treatment for Ilston and Clyne valleys are programmed for September/October. Issues around animal safety (road accidents and visitors feeding animals) raised – joint work with Gower Commons Safety Group and Commoners being planned, with focus on visitor education and engagement.
• Hedgerow Restoration: Following on from the success of previous workshops, a third year of hedgelaying workshops will take place.
• Drystone Walling: Gower Walling Project (joint funding with National Trust and Gower Society) continuing.
• Volunteer engagement (nature): Various volunteer activities have taken place, including a Bishop's Wood Conservation Task, the Gower Show 2025, and the Gower Dormouse Project.
• Gower Nature Communities: Following the lesser horseshoe bat improvements inside the towers at Ilston and Oxwich churches in February 2025, Ilston church was revisited in summer 2025 to find the lesser horseshoe bats using the tower for breeding – 18 pups were counted; the tower had previously been used by a maximum of three lesser horseshoe bats.
• Clyne Valley Country Park: Contractor (OnTrack) has completed the mountain bike trail refurbishment work including new signage and reinstatement of trail features. Trails are open. A survey at Clyne Woods Copper & Arsenic Works has identified severe structural issues – further work underway to resolve safety issues will be agreed.
• National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) Undergrounding Group: A new undergrounding group has been established under National Grid (similar to the previous Western Power Distribution (WPD) undergrounding group) – proposals for a project in Horton & Oxwich is being explored.
• Dark Sky Community: Natur am Byth and Swansea Astronomical Society had partnered with Gower National Landscape to deliver a Dark Sky event on 2 August but had to cancel due to poor visibility. Event rescheduled for 31 October / 1 November.
• Rights of Way: Annual Clearance Contract for 2025 issued to Ultimate Arb contractors.
• Countryside Access Plan: The plan review is underway, with further public consultation planned for later in 2025/26.
• Path Maintenance & Improvements: Annual maintenance and improvements projects are underway utilising the Coast Path, Access Improvement and National Landscapes/Gower Society grants.
• Coast Path Mumbles 1: Requests for bids to complete the improvements on the Coast Path between Limeslade and Rotherslade will be issued in the next few weeks.
• Coast Path Mumbles 2: Surveys on the Coast between Caswell and Whiteshell Point will begin shortly with a habitat survey. This is to determine if an alternative route can be found to move the Coast Path away from any potential erosion points and to remove the steps at Whiteshell Point.
• Coast Path Llanmadoc: A site meeting re a proposed solution to the ever-expanding hole in the seawall at Cwm Ivy was held in February.

Sustainable Development Fund - Financial Summary

Jake Cosgrove, Communities and Nature Project Officer, presented the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) Financial Summary - September 2025, updating the members on the SDF.

For 2025/26:

• The SDF budget of £95,000 has been confirmed by Welsh Government.
• 10 projects have funding committed, with 1 project going to SDF Panel on 15 September 2025.
• One project was approved at the SDF panel in June 2025 but will not claim their grant until the 2026/27 financial year.
• The Committed Funds figure includes the Swansea Council Management Fee of £9,500.

For 2026/27:

• The SDF budget has not yet been confirmed by Welsh Government, but indications are that the funding will remain at £95,000.
• The grant offers include a statement that funding is dependent upon Welsh Government funding being available .
• 8 projects have funding committed, with 1 going to the SDF Panel on 15 September 2025 and 1 smaller project close to being approved (below £3,000).
• The Committed Funds figure includes the CCS Management Fee of £9,500.