Special Beer to Mark Gower Anniversary

Rory Gowland - who runs the Joiners Arms in Bishopston and the Railway Inn in Killay - will be making a special pale beer for the occasion.

The 4.2 per cent beer will be available at Swansea University in July when the AONB's National Association Conference takes place.

The ale will also be on tap at his pubs and in others across Gower.

Beer mats are being made to commemorate the anniversary and Rory's tenth year as a brewer.

Swansea Council has set up a working group to discuss other celebrations.

It is made up of the local authority, One Voice Wales, the Gower Society, the Countryside Council for Wales, the National Trust and Gower Riding Club.

A travelling exhibition to highlight the special landscape qualities of Gower will be visiting attractions across the city and county.

A static display will be held at Swansea Museum from May 22 to September 6 and a new logo is being designed for the area.

Other ideas include the identification of a project for restoration or conservation- such as the Salt House in Port Eynon- and signs on the main road entrances into Gower at Mayals, Upper Killay and west of Crofty.

Another proposal is to light a chain of beacons in Gower and other Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty- such as that in North Devon and the Quantock Hills in Somerset.

This would ideally take place on December 10- the date on which Gower was confirmed as the first AONB.

Links will be established with Gower Walking Festival in June and the National Eisteddfod at Felindre in August.

It is also been suggested that photos of Gower taken by the public could be uploaded to a website.

Swansea Council principal policy officer Richard Beale said: "The number of ideas generated so far has been most encouraging. The designation of the Area of Outstanding Beauty has greatly helped Gower because it is linked with planning policies. It has prevented inappropriate developments from taking place that would have had an impact upon the natural environment and it has highlighted the qualities of Gower- such as the beaches and limestone cliffs. Gower is all about getting out about in the countryside and experiencing the activities available. It offers a geological and ecological diversity that varies from north Gower to the south- which makes it a very popular visitor attraction for tourists and locals."

Swansea Council cabinet member for environment, Cllr John Hague, said: "It's very encouraging that so many ideas have been developed. The 50^th anniversary is an historic occasion. We hope to increase the awareness of Gower as a wonderful part of the UK in the months to come.

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This page last updated on January 16 2006