Gower Society Youth

At 2.00 p.m. Dawn Thomas of Nature days will be running a river dipping activity at Mead Lake along St. George’s Terrace in Reynoldston village. There will be a geocaching treasure hunt to follow starting from the village using a GPS if you have one, (or mobile phone app), and map based treasure hunts too. A variety of distances will be available, for those who want to walk as far as King Arthur’s stone or just around the village.

This is just one of a wide range of activities on offer that afternoon in the village.

The event starts at 12.00 noon and ends with a lantern parade up to a beacon which will be lit on top of Cefn Bryn at 10.30 p.m. as part of the 2012 beacons being lit around the world.

I will email a detailed timetable of all the events closer to the day.

For up-to-date information follow our blog http://reynoldstondiamond.blogspot.com/ and facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reynoldston-Diamond-Jubilee/262358037139875

Directions:

If you are feeling energetic park at the top of Cefn Bryn in the car park and walk down to the village. There is parking along the road to Fairy Hill on the upper green or down Apple Grove.

Follow the B4271 over Cefn Bryn down the hill into Reynoldston. Turn right to the post office. At the post office turn left this is St. George’s Terrace. We will meet beside the bench on the left hand side of this small road where a small stream runs. Parking will be at a premium as the festival is open to all so it may pay to be early and bring a picnic and find a space.

Meet at 2pm in the field on the marsh road in Oxwich NNR.

We will wander into the sand dunes looking for butterflies and crickets. We will head along the dunes and using butterfly nets, try to have a look at the flying and jumping insects living on the sand dunes. We may see the mining bees, or their homes, the huge variety of grasshoppers and bush crickets and if it’s sunny the beautiful variety of butterflies.

Directions:

Follow the A4118 South Gower Road until the turning sign posted to Oxwich. Follow the road down the hill.
Just after the ponds either side there is a gate to the right. You can park in the field there, Look for the flags. Or continue on the road across the marsh until you come to the beach car park on the left. (There is a charge).

2pm at Coeden Fach.
Coeden Fach is a community tree nursery project based in Bishopston, Swansea.
They offer

Training and practical experience of tree and perennial plant growing skills
Sustainable woodland and food production projects
They also supply trees, shrubs and perennial plants.

They promote awareness of the importance of sustainable land management and hold a vision of a future that is not reliant on fossil fuels.

They are welcoming GSY into their nursery for an opportunity to undertake a range of activities. These will include sowing seeds, nature bingo, treasure hunts and mud art. For older children we have benches that we need making from recycled material. There will also be the chance to look around the site and purchase plants as well as some expert story telling by Nigel Little.

Directions:

No 14 bus from Swansea.
From Swansea A4067, B4436, take the Bishopston turning and drive through the village. Park by the Post Office on Brandy Cove Road and walk down Narrow Lane past the sewage works. The field is the next gate on the right.

Tree Nursery activities.

Help us build a model Celtic village with authentic material. Learn how roundhouses were made and then see if we can create a whole village of Celtic houses. Have a go at some other Celtic crafts such as basket weaving, dyeing with woad as well as watching a demonstration of lighting fires by friction alone. Your responsible adult can relax and weave or just watch as we create our own miniature Celtic village.

Meet at 2.00 p.m. at Green Cwm, Parc le Breos by the picnic benches under the pine trees we will be in the field beside the car park.
Directions: Follow the signs to Parc le Breos Trekking centre at Parkmill. Pass the car park for the heritage centre and follow the road for ¾ of a km. On your left is the car park opposite some large pine tree and a gate. Grid Ref. 538 896.

Bring some binoculars and have a look at our winter visiting birds at the new Oxwich bird hide. See if we can spot some strange and interesting birds. There will also be the opportunity to make bird feeders to hang up in your garden so you can carry on looking at home.

Meet at 2.00 p.m. at Oxwich bird hide.
Directions: Follow the A4118 South Gower Road until the turning sign posted to Oxwich. Follow the road down the hill and across the marsh until you come to the car park on the left. GR 501896. Park in the car park – there is a charge. Once in the car park make your way to the bird hide by following the footpath by the car entrance to the car park which follows alongside the road and then go through a kissing gate. 100 yards after the kissing gate take the path which turns left and follow it to the road. Cross the road and follow the boardwalk until you reach the bird hide.

PLEASE try to be quiet as you enter the bird hide so we do not scare off the birds.

Time to get ready for Christmas with card making and cracker building. Using the huge range of resources, settle down to a fun afternoon creating gifts and decorations ready for the festive season. Listen to the Christmas music and enjoy mulled wine and mince pies. Every year the children’s creations never cease to amaze me.

Meet at 2.00 p.m. at Penmaen village hall. Grid Ref: 525 884
Directions: Follow the A4118 past Parkmill. The Car Park is on the left at the top of the hill. Penmaen Hall is through the gate which says “Private no parking”.

Celebrate Dawn’s birthday on her favourite beach. This beautiful beach is quite a secret to many visitors but is a fantastic place to explore. We will look at the caves, rock pools and fantastic rock formations and also play games on the beach. If you haven’t discovered this hidden beach then join us for a fun afternoon’s exploration.

Meet at 1:30pm in Mewslade car park. Grid Ref: 426 876, to walk down the footpath to Mewslade beach.
Directions: Take the A4118 to Scurlage. Turn right down the B4247and head towards Rhossili. The car park for Mewslade is on the left at Pitton, there is a sign. Follow the road down and turn left into the Mewslade Car Park field, there is a charge.

Celebrate International Bog Day at Crymlyn Bog National Nature Reserve. Activities include pond dipping, guided walks and environmental art. Bring suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. Children under sixteen must be accompanied by an adult.
11am – 2pm.

We will meet on the road by the ford outside Ilston Quarry but will be looking for bats in Ilston Church.
Once assembled we will learn a bit about bats and why this is a good spot to see them. Then we will walk through the village with our torches off into the graveyard. Once in the graveyard we will use bat detectors to listen and look for bats. If we are lucky we may see some great acrobatic displays. The activity will last maybe an hour as I know it will be late for some of our members. Should be finished at latest 10.30pm and then we will walk back to the car park in the dark with our torches.
Please bring a torch for all members of the family and wear warm clothes, it can be cold once the sun is down and you are not moving much. Please contact me if you plan to meet us in Ilston village so we can wait for you.

Directions:
Follow the B4271 North Gower Road. The quarry is located down the left turn to Ilston across the ford but I recommend parking in Brookside car park on the right hand side of the road. I will meet you at Brookside car park at 8.30pm and we will walk down the road to Ilston in the growing dark to the ford at Ilston. If you feel you cannot undertake this 1 Km walk then there a small number of places to park outside the church at the far end of the village, beside the houses in the village and just before the cattle grid on the road into the village. We will be at the ford, the entrance to Ilston Quarry, at 9pm.