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.

Firefighters tackle grass fires as far as 100 hectares wide in Gower twice in one day
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.

GOWER: The UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty turns 70 – here’s why it’s still one of Britain’s most special places

The Gower Peninsula is celebrating a landmark birthday this month – turning 70 as the UK’s very first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a designation that transformed how Britain thinks about protecting its most treasured landscapes.

On 9 May 1956, Gower became the first place in the UK to be officially recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), setting a precedent that has since led to 46 National Landscapes being protected across the country. Seventy years on, it remains one of Wales’s most visited and most loved destinations.

The peninsula’s appeal is easy to understand. From the award-winning sands of Rhossili and the dramatic limestone cliffs of the south coast to rolling green commons, saltmarshes, hidden coves and charming villages, Gower has been stopping people in their tracks for generations. It is possible to surf in the morning, walk along the Wales Coast Path in the afternoon, and watch the sun set over one of the UK’s most photographed coastlines in the evening.

Gower is also steeped in extraordinary history. The peninsula is home to Europe’s oldest known ceremonial human burial site – the Red Lady of Paviland, dating back around 34,000 years – as well as standing stones, shipwrecks, caves, castles and the famous Arthur’s Stone. Few places in Britain pack so much natural and cultural heritage into such a compact area.

More recently, Gower was also designated as one of 46 National Landscapes across the UK, reflecting a modernisation of the way protected landscapes are described. The legal status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty remains unchanged, but the new name signals a broader ambition to connect people with the land and promote sustainable use alongside conservation.

Gower has also become South Wales’s first International Dark Sky Community – a recognition of the quality of its night skies and a sign of how protected landscapes are adapting to modern challenges beyond simply preserving what is there.

Tracey McNulty, Swansea Council‘s head of service for cultural services, said the anniversary was a chance to celebrate not just the landscape but the people who make it special. “The anniversary is a chance to celebrate not just Gower’s landscapes, but also the people, communities and businesses that help make it such a welcoming place,” she said.

She added that Gower continued to pioneer new approaches to land management. “Gower continues to be a pioneer, becoming South Wales’ first International Dark Sky Community, showing how protected landscapes adapt to modern challenges.”

Swansea Council is encouraging everyone to get involved in the celebrations, whether visiting for the first time or returning to a favourite spot. “We’re welcoming everyone to be part of the celebrations whether you’re discovering Gower for the first time, or coming back to your favourite happy place,” McNulty said. “Explore responsibly, support local businesses and help keep this beautiful corner of South West Wales special for years to come.”

Gower’s designation in 1956 came at a time when rapid post-war development was threatening some of Britain’s most significant natural areas. The new AONB status gave the peninsula legal protection and established a framework that has since been applied across the UK, from the Cotswolds to the Causeway Coast.

Today the peninsula attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, contributing significantly to Swansea’s tourism economy. The challenge for the next 70 years will be balancing that popularity with the conservation of the very qualities that make Gower so special.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Gower named one of the best places on Earth to stargaze as Dark Sky status confirmed
How Gower earned its place among the world’s finest stargazing destinations.

Rhossili named among world’s best beaches
The iconic Gower bay earns global recognition once again.

Three Cliffs, Whitesands and Saundersfoot shine in UK’s best beaches list
More of our stunning local coastline makes national headlines.

Pembrokeshire and Gower both rank in top 5 underrated UK staycation spots
Two of our patch’s finest destinations earn well-deserved national recognition.

Rhossili Bay named in list of best places to go sunset spotting
Another accolade for one of Wales’s most photogenic beaches.

80,000 pound upgrade completed on Gower Coast Path between Rotherslade and Limeslade
Investment in one of Wales’s most popular coastal walking routes.

Rhossili cliff horses win reprieve after National Trust meeting
The much-loved horses on Rhossili cliffs get to stay put.

Bright future for felled forest as Wildlife Trust creates new nature reserve on Gower
Conservation work transforms a former forest into a thriving new habitat.

Huw Stephens brings the legend of Pennard Castle’s faeries to life in Trackanory series
Gower’s rich folklore gets the Radio Wales treatment.

Shining through by Lukasz Lukomski

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This map of designated "Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty" (AONBs) makes it looknlikebl the Midlands must be less beautiful than the rest of the country. Come on Midlanders, prove me wrong? What areas are beautiful enough to be designated? If they're really good you could suggest them to National England!

I'll share any suggestions with nice pictures and ALT text!

#AONB #UK #Nature #Conservation #Midlands #Birmingham #Coventry #Leicester #Nottingham

We're planting 11,000 native trees at Nannerch in North Wales to boost biodiversity while creating a space for the community. Learn more about this exciting project in our blog post.

https://www.protect.earth/blog/biodiversity-enhancement-at-nannerch-creating-habitats-for-wildlife

#ProtectEarthUK #ProtectEarthCommunity #Biodiversity #northwales #WalesWildlife #Nannerch #TreePlanting #NatureConservation #flintshire #aonb #WildlifeHabitat #NativeTrees #CarbonSequestration #EcologicalRestoration #SustainableForestry #ClwydianRange #NatureRestoration #WildlifeCorridors