GOWER: Fire crews tackle two wildfires in 24 hours -Fairwood Common and Cefn Bryn – as bank holiday fire risk soars

Fire crews have tackled two major wildfires on the Gower Peninsula within 24 hours, with blazes breaking out at both Fairwood Common and Cefn Bryn as Natural Resources Wales warns of peak bank holiday fire risk.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service say that the first fire broke out at Fairwood Common at 7.50pm on Wednesday 29 April, when a crew from Swansea West Fire Station tackled a wildfire across approximately four hectares of grass, bracken and trees. Strong winds and difficult terrain hampered progress. The crew left the scene at 10:08pm

The fire service said that a larger fire then broke out on Cefn Bryn at 1.10pm on Thursday 30 April — crews from Swansea Central, Swansea West and Reynoldston were called to a wildfire across approximately 35 hectares of grass and gorse, using three hose reel jets alongside wildfire beaters and blowers. They left the scene at 5.14pm.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews faced difficult conditions at both incidents. “This incident was especially challenging as strong winds and terrain hampered the progress made by crew members,” the spokesperson said of the Fairwood Common fire.

Dramatic aerial images taken by Sol Cinema show a wide fire front tearing across the dry grassland of the common, with a thick wall of orange flame and a huge plume of grey smoke visible for miles around. Fairwood Airport sits nearby on the common.

It comes as Natural Resources Wales warns that the May bank holiday weekend brings some of the highest wildfire risk of the year – with dry conditions, warm temperatures and thousands of extra visitors heading to open countryside creating the perfect conditions for fires to take hold and spread fast.

Gower has been hit by a string of devastating grass fires in recent months. In April, seven fire crews fought a 120-hectare blaze on Cefn Bryn as high winds turned the fire into a monster. In February 2025, firefighters were called to two separate 100-hectare fires on Gower in a single day, and Bishopston Community Council launched an emergency appeal after a fifth woodland fire broke out in the area within weeks.

Tonight’s fire adds to the pressure on a fire service already stretched by the huge commercial waste fire still burning at Water Street in Port Talbot, which has had multiple appliances tied up since yesterday.

Fairwood Common is part of the Gower National Landscape – the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which this month celebrates its 70th anniversary. Its dry grass and heathland make it one of the most fire-prone stretches of land in south Wales, particularly during warm bank holiday weekends when visitor numbers spike.

Natural Resources Wales urges anyone heading to the countryside this weekend not to light open fires or disposable barbecues on commons, moorland or woodland. Any fire should be reported immediately by calling 999.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Gower: Seven fire crews tackle 120-hectare blaze on Cefn Bryn as windy conditions hamper efforts
Our coverage of the major Cefn Bryn fire in April 2026.

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Two major Gower fires in a single day in February 2025.

Firefighters tackle fire 100 hectares wide in Gower
The previous day’s blaze that preceded the twin fires.

Bishopston Community Council launch appeal after fifth fire at woodland in a matter of weeks
Growing alarm about repeated fires on Gower.

Port Talbot: Schools keeping pupils indoors as fire crews remain on scene at Water Street blaze
MWWFRS are simultaneously managing the ongoing Port Talbot industrial fire.

SWANSEA: World’s smallest solar cinema — built from a chicken coop caravan — heads to Monty Python statue unveiling

A solar-powered cinema built from an old caravan by a man from Swansea is heading to north Wales this weekend — as part of one of the most Python-esque public events Wales has seen in years.

The Sol Cinema, co-founded by Paul O’Connor from Swansea, has been engaged to screen exclusive films made by Terry Jones alongside behind-the-scenes footage from his Monty Python days, as part of the unveiling of a bronze statue of Jones in Colwyn Bay on Saturday April 25.

Jones — who died from dementia in January 2020 — was born in Colwyn Bay and was, as his family put it, “a proud Welshman in an accent straight out of Surrey.” The statue, created by Llandudno sculptor Nick Elphick and funded entirely by donations from comedy fans around the world, depicts Jones as the Nude Organist from Monty Python’s Flying Circus — nude apart from a flapping tie and wild hair, grinning as he strikes the classic pose.

Michael Palin said: “Terry always insisted on doing his own stunts, and I think that sitting stark naked (apart from a tie) on Colwyn Bay promenade, in all weathers, is the ultimate tribute to the lengths he was always prepared to go to for comedy. I hope his wonderfully generous bottom will become an emblem of the town he loved so much.”

The day is being billed as “A Python on the Prom” — a Python-esque afternoon of silliness, with marauding Vikings, knights and their coconut-clopping squires, a recreation of the Spam Cafe set, and a Silly Olympics for fans to compete in. Visitors are encouraged to dress as anything Terry or Python, with official Monty Python merchandise on offer for the most imaginative costumes. The statue unveiling itself takes place at 3pm. Entry is free.

Steve Coogan, who worked with Jones on his film version of Wind in the Willows, said: “Naked at the organ is both cheeky and a strangely profound expression of Terry’s life-affirming anti-establishment anarchy.”

The Sol Cinema is no ordinary picture house. It was created by upcycling a 1972 caravan that had been used to house chickens on a smallholding — fitted out with tiered seating, LED lighting, a projector and surround sound, and running entirely on solar power. Its smartly-dressed usherettes are experienced street performers who add what co-founder Jo Furlong describes as “a touch of bizarreness to the entire experience.” The cinema has also made headlines over the years for its innovations — including becoming one of the first cinemas to accept cryptocurrency payments.

O’Connor said the Sol Cinema team were honoured to be involved in the event. “Monty Python influenced the construction of the Sol Cinema, with our flying cherubs, doric pillars, plush seating, surround sound and performing usherettes,” he said.

O’Connor and his team have been touring the UK and Europe with the cinema since 2010, entertaining more than 100,000 people at festivals, schools, factories, farms and even a zoo. The BBC has previously described it as the world’s smallest solar-powered cinema. Previous celebrity visitors have included the Welsh Rugby squad, Suggs and Madness, and DJ Don Letts. The cinema has also performed at Glastonbury Festival among many other landmark events.

The statue was funded through the “A Python on the Prom” campaign, which hit its target within six months thanks to donations from comedy fans worldwide. It will be gifted to Conwy County Borough Council to sit permanently on the promenade, and will be unveiled by Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam — Jones’s surviving Python colleagues.

Terry Jones’s daughter Sally said the family wanted the day to reflect her father’s eclectic interests. “We want this celebration to reflect Dad’s eclectic interests, from his wonderful children’s books to his passion for medieval history,” she said. “We want everyone who has been a part of this campaign to join us and enjoy a really fun day.”

Sol Cinema is currently taking bookings for 2026 and will be performing at Camp Bestival among other events. More details are available at thesolcinema.org.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea’s smallest cinema will perform at Glastonbury Festival
Sol Cinema heads to one of the world’s most famous music festivals.

Sol Cinema hired by Madness to premiere their new film
How Suggs and the band chose Swansea’s solar cinema for their film debut.

Swansea cinema accepts first cryptocurrency payment
Sol Cinema makes history as an early adopter of crypto payments.

Sol Cinema — all our coverage
Our full archive of reporting on Paul O’Connor’s award-winning mobile cinema.

Swansea’s smallest cinema will perform at Glastonbury Festival

The Swansea based tiny cinema, complete with performing usherettes will join the rest of the amazing line up in the Theatre & Circus fields. Since 2010, the diminutive mobile picture house has entertained more than 150,000 people at music and film festivals and community events across the UK and EU.

Co-founder and Sol Cinema projectionist Paul O’Connor stated; “Glastonbury is the mother of all festivals so we are delighted that the organisers chose Sol Cinema to give 18 hours of top entertainment. We will be showcasing new independent short films in the Sol Cinema this year so we look forward to gathering the reactions from audiences.”

He added; “Sunshine is predicted for this years festival which is perfect for us, as our entire cinema is powered by the Sun. Sol Cinema will store sunshine in our solar batteries and releasing it to power our video projector, lights, surround sound system and digital video player”

The architect and builder of the Sol Cinema Jo Furlong added: “I created the Sol cinema from mostly found objects and constructed it from a 50 years old caravan which was putted out of hedge. It is wonderful to give old things a new life rather than throwing them into landfill.”

Sol Cinema is excited about introducing their new usherettes at Glastonbury. It is a family affair as even the co-founders children work in the Sol Cinema. All teenagers now, they have grown up working as usherettes or projectionists in the World’s smallest cinema.

Sol Cinema has a library of new short videos to present to audiences. During the last 15 years the Sol Cinema has performed in fields, factories, castles, schools, city centres, on a farm and even in a Zoo. Being mobile, they can squeeze into the smallest spots and entertain with short films and their stylishly attired street performers.

Sol Cinema will be showing short Independent films every day during Glastonbury Festival.

#cinema #GlastonburyFestival #SolCinema #Swansea

Thieves steal vehicle from award winning Swansea cinema

An award winning mobile cinema has had its van stolen which included important equipment necessary to carry out their show.

The bright yellow Ford Transit Custom was stolen from Penclawdd on North Gower on Thursday 16th April by a gang of thieves who arrived in a black hatchback car at 1am. A neighbours CCTV footage show the gang drive off
in the car, followed by the stolen Sol Cinema’s yellow van.

The theft was a spate of other similar vans being stolen but the same gang on that same night. Police have stated that “there have been a number of thefts of vehicles overnight”.



Another Ford Transit was stolen in Dunvant within minutes of the Sol Cinema van being stolen.

Co-founder of the Sol Cinema, Paul O’Connor said; “The theft of our van is a devastating blow to our show. We choose a bright yellow van as our cinema is completely powered by the Sun. Our solar panels generate the renewable energy to power our projector, lights, sound and computer.

Sol Cinema has toured all over the UK, Ireland and the EU entertaining tens of thousands of people with short films, usherettes and popcorn. The van was a recent purchase and was was just finished being kitted out for this Summers festival tour, which includes Glastonbury and Camp Bestival in Dorset.

Our vital tools and equipment were in the stolen van which we can not afford to replace now. We don’t know what we will do now”

The Sol Cinema has won a Digital Hero award for best digital communication project for its use of 100% solar power. Sol Cinema are appealing to anyone who may have had their vehicle stolen that same night to get in touch. Perhaps someone has CCTV footage of the thieves faces.

#featured #Penclawdd #SolCinema #stolenVehicle #Swansea