Gower Landscape Connections

The Project:

Gower Landscape Connections is a farmer‑ and community‑led, landscape‑scale nature recovery programme that links Gower’s priority habitats across commons, farms, coast and estuary. Using a proven cluster approach within individual landscapes, it brings together commoners, tenant and owner‑occupied farms, conservation landowners and local communities to:

• Restore, reconnect and buffer fragmented habitats (hedgerows, species‑rich grasslands, coastal wetlands and saltmarsh, wood pasture/woodland, riparian corridors).
• Improve the condition and resilience of heritage features and traditional land management (e.g., grazing on commons, stone features, historic field patterns).
• Deliver tailored, trusted farm‑advice at scale via a strong advisory function, linking nature outcomes with viable farm businesses.
• Build local capacity through volunteering, skills and youth engagement, creating inclusive routes to participate in nature recovery.

Community connection & inclusion focus:

Purpose: Actively enable communities—especially those from Swansea’s most deprived neighbourhoods—to connect with Gower’s landscapes through hands‑on nature recovery, inclusive access, and skills pathways.

How: Co‑design with community partners and youth groups; remove practical barriers (transport, kit, childcare‑friendly timings); deliver activities in both neighbourhood settings and on Gower sites; and create supported progression from first visits to regular volunteering, training and paid placements.

Outcomes: Increased confidence and sense of belonging in natural spaces; improved wellbeing; locally relevant skills; and community‑led micro‑projects that leave a visible legacy close to where people live.

Uniqueness:

Landscape‑scale, farmer‑led delivery model across complex tenures (including large areas of common land).

Integrates natural, cultural and community heritage with measurable ecological outcomes.

A ready pipeline of shovel‑ready habitat and access projects that corporate partners can directly support and visit.

Timeline

Development: present – December 2026 (design, baselining, consents, pilots, co‑design).

Delivery (indicative): 2027 – 2035 (phased habitat and access delivery with annual monitoring & reporting).

Corporate partners can join for a single phase or a multi‑year partnership with annual review points.

Key Outputs

• Habitat restoration & creation: up to 150–250 ha improved (mosaics of grassland, wetland, coastal and woodland/wood‑pasture).
• 20–30 km of hedgerow restored/created with climate‑resilient, locally appropriate species; establishment and 3‑year aftercare.
• 10–15 km of riparian buffer improvements and nature‑based water interventions (e.g., leaky dams, scrapes).
• Access & inclusion: 8–12 km of priority paths/boardwalks/steps improved; accessible interpretation and community wayfinding.
• Advisory & training: 150–200 on‑farm advisory visits; 12–18 farmer cluster workshops; 10–12 skills days (hedge‑laying, scything, invasive control).
• People engagement: 1,500–2,500 volunteer days and citizen‑science actions; school/youth nature experiences and placements.
• Community connection (Swansea focus):
• 1,000–1,500 priority participants engaged from target wards via first‑time visits, repeat trips and doorstep activities.
• 250–400 transport bursaries to overcome access barriers.
• 20–30 co‑design sessions with community partners and youth groups.
• 12–20 community‑led micro‑projects (e.g., pocket meadows, courtyard planters, micro‑wetlands, local interpretation).
• A kit library (boots, waterproofs, tools) and loaned monitoring equipment for citizen science.

Funding Required

National Lottery Heritage Fund Landscape Connections – Development phase secured; there is a match funding requirement of £20,000 (match/in-kind). This activity would be ringfenced to carry out community engagement with disadvantaged groups with a particular focus on young people.   

Delivery phase to be bid (corporate funds can act as match to unlock/scale public investment). Intention is to bid for the full 8-year period for the maximum grant of £10m. We expect and need to provide around £5m in match funding/in-kind support.  

In‑kind examples: 

• Landowner time and access
• Volunteer time 
• Donated materials 
• Pro‑bono specialist support 

Inclusion targeting: (£20,000+)  Packages can be ring‑fenced to Swansea priority wards (using WIMD data) with quarterly KPIs on reach, participation and progression. 

Partner organisations

National Landscapes Association – CFO and Development Lead 

Gower Society 

Swansea Council

National Trust 

Gower Commoners Association 

Potential Benefits

Ecological:

Habitat connectivity; species recovery; carbon storage/sequestration; reduced diffuse pollution; natural flood management; invasive species control.

Social:

Inclusive access to nature with a place‑based equity focus (targeting Swansea’s most deprived areas); reduced barriers (cost, transport, confidence); improved wellbeing; progression routes from first visits to volunteering, training and employment.

Economic:

Farm business resilience via advice and nature payments; local contractors and nurseries; sustainable tourism; reputational value for partners.

Heritage:

Healthier commons and traditional field systems; interpretation celebrating Gower’s natural & cultural heritage; neighbourhood‑level micro‑heritage activities that link city communities with the landscape.

CSR opportunities

• Primary in the delivery stage though some will be possible in the development stage:
• Adopt a habitat block: fund and name a hedgerow/wetland/wood‑pasture package with geocoded before‑after evidence.
• Employee action days: hedgerow planting, invasive pulls, path improvements, beach/saltmarsh cleans (season‑appropriate).
• Skills & STEM: sponsored hedge‑laying and survey training; youth internships/placements; schools days with kit.
• Water & catchments: support riparian buffers and NFM features tied to measurable water‑quality outcomes.
• Innovation pilots: test low‑carbon machinery, nature‑positive grazing tech, or biodiversity monitoring.
• Communications: co‑branded interpretation, case‑studies, and partner field days.
• Community‑centred opportunities (Swansea focus)
• Community Nature Connect Fund: sponsor small grants for neighbourhood‑led micro‑projects that link back to Gower (e.g., school meadows, courtyard planters, local heritage trails).
• Green Routes bursary: underwrite transport and access costs for priority groups (minibuses, community transport, parking/kit).
• Neighbourhood Nature Hubs: co‑fund pop‑up hubs with regular doorstep activities that step people into Gower volunteering.
• Youth Rangers pathway: support taster days → accredited training → paid placements with delivery partners.
• Community Science to Action: equip residents to collect data (insect/canopy/bird counts) and feed results into site decisions.
• Health & wellbeing links: partner with social prescribers to offer supported nature sessions for families and carers

Interested in hearing more?

Get in touch with the team today.