Gower Unearthed was founded in 2010 by two friends who shared a passion for education, conservation, local history, and the great outdoors. By combining our skills, we created a unique approach to learning, encouraging children to explore and connect with the natural world. From the beginning, we developed educational field trips rooted in Gower’s landscapes and stories, linking them to specific historical themes—like Tudor life at Oxwich Castle or the Iron Age in Bishopston Valley.

We also branched out into community-focused walks, talks, and creative projects. One of our enduring favourites is the Fairies and Ancient Medicine package, which delves into the folklore and magic of the natural world.

What started as a small partnership grew into a Community Interest Company (CIC)—a not-for-profit organisation passionate about celebrating Gower’s heritage and helping to protect it.

Our Projects

The Stories of Gower

Our first grant-funded project came from the Gower Landscapes Partnership (GLP). The project began with an interactive folklore walk to Pennard Castle, highlighting the stories woven into the landscape.

• In 2014, we delivered 10 outdoor field trips to Hadod Primary School.

• These trips included storytelling workshops inspired by Gower, where students helped write, script, and animate films. This culminated in a creative project filmed at Oxwich Castle.

The Celts

Our flagship project is the Iron Age roundhouse at the Gower Heritage Centre. Here, schools and community groups can learn about the prehistoric story of Gower through hands-on experiences and experiential archaeology workshops.

Edgar Evans: What is Resilience?

We created an expedition-based field trip inspired by Edgar Evans, a Rhossili native who joined Scott of the Antarctic’s fateful South Pole expedition. The program explores resilience and failure through outdoor science activities and includes a film made with Bishopston Primary School, available on our YouTube channel.

The Vernon Watkins Memorial Stone

This project brought together the Gower Landscapes Partnership, the community, and local artists to celebrate the poet Vernon Watkins.

• Working with the community, we raised funds for a limestone memorial stone at Pennard Primary School, carved by Ieuan Lloyd.

• We continue to run poetry workshops and the annual Vernon Watkins Prize competition.

Pennard Castle

We coordinated efforts with CADW and the Gower Society to address concerns about Pennard Castle. Our work balanced structural preservation with the needs of the local golf club, adding interpretative signage to orientate walkers and provide opportunities for storytelling.

The Red Lady of Paviland

For the past two years, we’ve focused on educating young people about the story of the Red Lady of Paviland, one of the oldest ceremonial burials in Western Europe. This iconic discovery is central to Gower’s prehistoric history, and we are passionate about sharing its significance through talks and educational programs.

The Story of Mumbles

We worked in partnership with Mumbles Community Council to develop this project, helping to establish its foundation and build a strong framework. Over time, the project was designed to transition to a sustainable model, managed by volunteers and a dedicated coordinator. This initiative highlights the unique maritime heritage, folklore, and history of Mumbles through community involvement, guided activities, and storytelling.

School Projects and Collaborations

We are proud of our creative collaborations and school projects, which bring history and the outdoors to life.

• Watch our school films, including Agnes Jack, and other videos on our Gower Unearthed YouTube channel.

• We also collaborate with Dryad Bushcraft to offer immersive outdoor learning experiences that combine survival skills with history and heritage.

What We Do

In addition to our core projects, we:

• Provide work placements for BA and MA students.

• Run archaeology projects, guided walks, and heritage programs focusing on dialects, farming, and coastal archaeology.

• Deliver talks on a wide range of topics, including Gower’s prehistoric history.

• Highlight local stories, such as the history of Mumbles and its surrounding areas.

• Collaborate with like-minded organisations to enrich our offerings.

• Continue building partnerships and exploring collaborations for 2025.

What’s Next?

We’re excited about new initiatives, including interactive walks across Gower accessible via QR codes, and projects focusing on Gower’s bone caves—thanks to the support of the proactive Gower Landscapes team.