Gower Society Youth

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.

The Gower Society Youth will be present at the Gower Show.
There will colouring and craft activities.
The show has something for the whole family. Dog shows, horse jumping, and many stalls. If you enjoy the countryside, or are looking for a really great day out, you will enjoy The Gower Show – it is a day not to be missed.
Gate Prices: Adult £8 Seniors/Child £4

Directions:
Follow the A4118 through Parkmill and on past the turn off for Oxwich. Parking is well sign posted and the show ground is on the left inside the Penrice Estate grounds. The Gower Society tent is usually beside the horticultural show tent and opposite the main ring.
Penrice Estate. Grid Ref: 497 887

I have created a map of Oxwich NNR and so you can test out your navigation skills, and my map to see if you can follow a treasure trail. Scattered around the Nature Reserve will be a number of clues to a set of questions . Can you find the answers by locating the points on the reserve? There will be three levels; easy, medium and hard depending on how far around the reserve you want to walk. The longest walk will take a good hour or more so bring rations and water if it is hot. Start times will be staggered so arrive any time from 12.30pm – 2pm to start the treasure trail.

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. Park in the car park – there is a charge.
I will be located on the far eastern corner of the car park which leads into the sand dunes just behind the beach from 12.30 until 2pm to start.
Oxwich NNR. Grid Ref: 501 896

For the first time we are undertaking an overnight activity, a camp at Parc le Breos scout camp running from 12pm on Saturday 25th June until 12pm on Sunday 26th June. This event requires booking in advance so please contact me for a kit list, you will need to bring your own tents, and parents will have to stay.
During Saturday and Sunday there will be the opportunity to have a go at lighting fires by friction – rubbing two sticks together, campfire cooking, den building, pioneering and compass trails. After a campfire feast we will sing campfire songs and tell stories. In the evening we will go for a night hike to the top of Cefn Bryn were we will do some star gazing and owl calling.
On Sunday morning after a cooked breakfast there will be further opportunity to undertake activities before leaving at 12pm. If you do not wish to camp then you are very welcome to join us on Saturday afternoon for the activities from 2pm until late. We will be camping in the field which sides onto the car park so come on into the camp when you arrive.

Directions:
Follow the signs to Parc le Breos Trekking centre at Parkmill. Pass the car park for the heritage centre and follow the potholed road for ¾ of a km. On your left is the car park opposite some large pine tree and a gate. We will cross the road and go through the gate and camp in the valley, Green Cwm. Meet in the field which sides onto the car park at 12pm.
Parc le Breos. Grid Ref: 538896

The Reynoldston village green will be transformed into a May Day fair. There will be maypole dancing, Morris dancing, crowning of the May queen. Make your own May queen crowns. Bring a picnic and a picnic blanket and we will have a May day picnic on the Lower Green, if wet it will be in Reynoldston village hall. There will be stalls as well as well as games and story telling. I am hoping that it will be a fun event for the children and adults alike. If anyone would like to help with this event please contact Dawn.

Direction:
Follow the B4271 over Cefn Bryn down the hill into Reynoldston. If you are feeling energetic park at the top of Cefn Bryn in the car park and walk down to the village. There is car parking outside and behind the village hall – carry on past the King Arthur Hotel through narrowing in road. Take the next right and follow the road past the church. Please do not park in the fire station. There is also parking along the road to fairy hill on the upper green. You can walk down to the lower green along St George’s Terrace beside the post office.

Open Evening with Telescopes
The Swansea Astronomical Society are running an open evening with telescopes. They will still run the show if it rains, with indoor attractions, Re:- Telescopes, Laptops, Presentations, Displays etc. All welcome.
This event is open to the public. Drop in between 6.30 – 9pm.