Gower Society Youth

Explore the amazing wildlife sanctuary at Nitten Field. We are meeting early so we can spot the reptiles and then see the wildflowers.

MEET 9:30am -11:30am Nitten field. Middleton SA3 1PJ

Turn down the track by the Middleton sign. There is room for 15 cars in the field so please car share. If full there is parking at Mewslade and Rhossili and you can walk along the road or the coast path.

Explore the amazing wildlife sanctuary at Nitten Field. We are meeting early so we can spot the reptiles and then see the wildflowers in this unique location.

Tickets available here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reptiles-and-wildflowers-tickets-259759737367

Family cycle ride along Swansea Bay seafront. We will travel towards the marina and then back exploring the sights and habitats on route

MEET 10am-12pm, Blackpill Lido next to the climbing wall on the cycle path SA3 5AS

Join Gower Society Youth for a family cycle ride along Swansea Bay seafront. We will travel towards the marina and then back exploring the sights and habitats on route.

Bring bikes and helmets or hire a Santander bike.

This is our first cycle ride so we will take it slowly and enjoy the route. Stopping to look at the sand dunes and broken sea wall over looking the marina, maybe a play in the play park before we head back to the Lido.

Tickets available here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fathers-day-family-cycle-tickets-259730850967

Join the Gower Society Youth for a walk through Oxwich nature reserve looking for spring flowers. Find out why spring flowers grow and how to identify native species of spring flowers like bluebells, wild garlic, and primroses. We will also have a look in the pond for any spring emerging animas like newts and dragonfly nymphs.

Tickets available here on Eventbrite, free funded by the Gower Society.

MEET 10am – 12pm, Oxwich NNR, At the entrance to the car park.

Directions:

Follow the south Gower past Parkmill and up the hill. Turn left towards Oxwich and then left into the car park, there is a charge. Meet by the entrance to the dunes close to the entrance to the car park.

Our first “real” outdoor event for a while! This will be a socially distanced photo treasure hunt along with a video about Oxwich to accompany it. Watch the video on the Nature Days you Tube channel.

You will need:

A print out of the treasure map – Download from the Nature days blog.

A print out of the photos clues- Download from the Nature days blog.

A camera or phone

How to do it:

• Print the Treasure map and photo clues below.
• Try to go to all the locations identified on the map where the photos have been taken.
• When you are at the location take a selfie of yourself and anyone you are with to prove you have found it.
• Upload your photos to Twitter @GowerSociety @DawnNaturedays #OurGower #Naturedays
• I will send certificates to all those who upload photos.
• You might want to enter The Gower Society photo competition with your photos or others you have. Details here, with the chance to win £25 Amazon voucher.

Tips and hints:

Drive or walk to Oxwich Nature Reserve, there is a car parking charge. Look at the map and orientate where you are.

You can access the reserve via the footpath at the entrance to the car park for the beach or at the very front on the east end of the car park, past the toilets.

You can go to each location in any order you like.

Take care to stick to paths, but if you do get lost you can just head for the sea and walk back along the beach.

Dogs are welcome on the reserve but please clean up after them, and take care as there are adders on the dunes.

If you are worried about adders then sing your way around, or bring a stick to tap the ground as you go. Snakes don’t like people so if they hear you coming they will get out of the way.

Why not make your walk even more meaningful by bringing a rubbish bag and doing a litter pick as you go.

Please ensure you stick to social distancing guidelines and government guidance.

Have fun and I look forward to seeing your entries.

Virtual rock pooling Saturday 20th June 2020

The Virtual Rock pooling event is now available on You tube here.

Our next virtual event will be rock pooling. I will be sharing with you the wonders of the littoral zone, the area between low and high tide. Find out about the different zones, life cycles of the many animals and plants. How to identify different types of crabs and where to find them. Take a look at the amazing adaptations the animals have to the extreme environment that is the rocky shore.
The video will be available on the Gower Society Youth facebook page and then on the #Naturedays You tube channel.
Hope you join me online and if you have any questions on rock pool animals before them PM them to me and I will try and answer them on the video.

Our nest GSY activity is a Virtual Mini Beast Hunt on Facebook live Saturday 16th May 11am.

The virtual mini beast hunt is available on You tube here.

Ever wondered what mini beasts live in your garden?

Even though we are in lockdown we can still get outside,  so join us live on the Gower Society facebook page.  The video will also be available on the Nature Days you tube channel along with the Spring stroll if you missed it last month.

If you have any questions about mini beast you would like answering then email them to me or post on the Gower Society Youth Facebook page and I will endeavour to answer them live.

Also I know it was disappointing that we did not have our annual May Day fete so I have a treat for you which I will announce on Saturday at the live event.  Or tune into the GSY facebook page and your email for a treat.

There will be maypole dancing, Morris dancing, crowning of the May queen and traditional games all on Reynoldston green. Bring a picnic and your family.

Tickets available here

MEET 10am -12pm, Reynoldston Lower Green SA3 1AB
Directions: Follow the B4271 over Cefn Bryn down the hill into Reynoldston. After the narrow bit turn right to the lower Green. There is parking outside the village hall – follow the road past the church round to the right, and outside the church.

Sun 19th April – Virtual garden Spring stroll.

The virtual spring stroll is now available on You tube here.

MEET 10am–12noon, Facebook live and Dawn Thomas Nature Days you tube channel.

Even though Covid-19 is stopping us share a woodland walk together Gower Society Youth activity WILL TAKE PLACE all be it in your own garden and virtually!

I will attempt to take you for a virtual spring walk and tell you about some spring flowers which are out in my garden and maybe in my local village.
I will also be posting some river dipping activities you can have a go at.

If you have any spring flowers in your garden then please post them on the facebook page and we can share the joy of spring and learn about these plants.

Join the Gower Society Youth for a spring Garden walk. Finish off the Easter holidays by exploring the spring plants, river dip for fish and animals and learn about what you can do with the plants. Suitable for all.