**Gower Woodland to Become Nature Reserve Following Major Illegal Felling Case**
A significant parcel of land in Gower, previously under scrutiny for illegal tree felling, is now set to flourish as a protected wildlife reserve. The site, which has faced enormous environmental upheaval in recent years, is being given a fresh start as it comes under new stewardship with ambitious plans for restoration and conservation.
The 43-acre property, which covers open land, meadows and a watercourse, was recently acquired by the Gower Society. The organisation, known for its enduring commitment to preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the Gower Peninsula since 1947, has taken the unprecedented step of purchasing land for the very first time in its history.
This move comes after the Gower Society used aerial photography to document major changes to the woodland as evidence in a high-profile tree-felling court case. Their survey work revealed a marked loss of tree cover at The Old Forge, Cartersford Lower Farm, Lower Fairwood, between 2015 and 2020. This information was pivotal in subsequent legal action.
In 2022, landowner Thomas Jeffrey Lane was found guilty at Swansea Magistrates’ Court for breaching the Forestry Act. Proceedings detailed how nearly half the total area – equivalent to 12 football pitches – had been cleared illegally, without the requisite licence or compliance with enforcement obligations to restock trees previously felled. Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which led the prosecution, described it as one of the most severe incidents of unlawful tree felling encountered in three decades.
During the hearings, Mr Lane, a retired mechanic residing at the site, maintained that he considered the woodland waterlogged and the trees unsalvageable. Nonetheless, the court was not persuaded. Following his conviction and an initial confiscation order based on asset values, further financial penalties were imposed after it emerged the defendant would soon have access to additional funds from a property sale. Ultimately, the confiscation sum was raised to over £78,000, matching the estimated benefit gained from his unlawful activities.
Amid this legal backdrop, the land’s future has now been dramatically recast. According to minutes from the Gower national landscape advisory group, the site, valued at £390,000, was secured by the Gower Society after “difficult negotiations”. The acquisition has been welcomed by local conservationists, who see it as an opportunity to repair ecological damage and protect habitats for generations to come.
To ensure expert stewardship, the Gower Society is leasing the area to the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. The Trust will manage it as a new reserve, to be named Cartersford, and has pledged to prioritise habitat restoration for both flora and fauna. A spokesperson from the Trust confirmed that access will remain restricted to limit disturbance, with detailed plans for habitat management and species support set to be released imminently.
The Society sees this purchase as a legacy project. Jill Burgess, a trustee, remarked, “It was a substantial commitment, financially and in principle. We believe it will be a remarkable asset for the landscape and for wildlife.”
The Gower Society’s purchase underscores its long tradition of advocacy for the peninsula, which in 1956 became Britain’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. By adding this tract of land to its portfolio, and working closely with the Wildlife Trust, the Society hopes to create not just a safe haven for nature but also a model of community-driven conservation.
This development serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing challenges in protecting the UK’s ancient woodlands from illegal activity. The collaborative rescue of the Cartersford site suggests that determined action by local groups, backed by the force of law and public support, can indeed turn crisis into a chance for renewal.
The coming months will prove crucial, as conservationists devise and implement strategies to allow nature to reclaim what was lost. Few will forget the devastation wrought by the felling scandal, but with new hands guiding its recovery, this corner of Gower might yet offer hope for woodland restoration across the UK.