Community action/Swansea
The aim of this page is to recognise, celebrate and encourage the self-empowerment of community agency networks (CANs) and community groups' activism for climate, environment and many other sustainability topics across Swansea.
News
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‘We plant belonging’: how nature charities and asylum seekers work together in UK countryside, theguardian.com (Jul 12, 2026) — Environmental and refugee groups have joined forces to benefit lives and wildlife in Wales and elsewhere- Scientist dubbed The Bogfather is restoring peatland to fight climate change, BBC News (Jul 03, 2026)
- Rights of Nature movement grows, with the Wye and Ouse subject to new protection charters, wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk (Jun 18, 2026) — Nature sits at the heart of several new sets of rights and charters; it’s even headlining a festival this summer. Is the way that we view and value Nature within our political and cultural frameworks at a turning point? asks Hannah Marsh
- Sardines are having a moment but could this humble fish turn the tide for the UK’s local fisheries?, wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk (Sep 03, 2026) — Can the UK learn from Iberian traditions and turn its booming love for tinned sardines into a lasting win for coastal communities?
- Andy Burnham announces thousands of new homes, but is the government much closer to its target?, theconversation.com (Sep 02, 2026)
- 'Social supermarket' to take over vacant shop, BBC News (Aug 26, 2026) — A "social supermarket" offering low-cost food and support to escape financial hardship is to open at a third location in Kent: the Pentagon Shopping Centre in Chatham in October
- European farmers face ‘unprecedented crisis’ after successive heatwaves, theguardian.com (Aug 17, 2026)
- Europe’s rivers are running dry, and the knock-on effects are disastrous, Yiannis Baboulias, theguardian.com (Aug 05, 2026)
- How Australia combines modern tech and Indigenous knowledge to fight wildfires, BBC News (Aug 01, 2026)
- Why We Sat Out RAMICS Rio, grassecon.substack.com (Aug 30, 2026) — Moving beyond the currency frame, Grassroots Economics and Njambi Njoroge, Programs Director, Grassroots Economics
- A Global Gathering to Tackle the Planet’s Soil Crisis Is Underway in Mongolia, insideclimatenews.org (Aug 22, 2026) — This year’s Convention to Combat Desertification focuses on rangelands and attempts to address an overlooked solution to climate change. By Georgina Gustin
- The everyday guardians: Rana Tharu women’s implicit roles in Nepal, globalvoices.org (Aug 21, 2026) — Rana Tharu women embody unspoken care, cultural continuity, and living memory across generations in Nepal, Civic Media Observatory, Samanta Azpurua, Bikram
Networks and sustainability initiatives
[edit | edit source]- The Environment Centre, Swansea, (Wikipedia) independent charity organisation for environmental information, education and activity. The Environment Centre's aims are to raise people's awareness of environmental issues, to increase the participation in environmental projects and to work towards a more sustainable future. It promotes, for example, the concept of the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). The Centre provides support for environmental organizations and groups, information on environmental issues and educational activities. Both, the charity organisation and its building, serve as a central place of exchange and networking for environmental organizations all around Swansea and South Wales.
- Sustainable Swansea, Swansea Sustainability Trail, Sustainable Swansea
- Swansea Environmental Forum
Maps
Green Maps, Sustainable Swansea
Each week 3 different short videos from across the UK or world.
Community action/Moray, Rewilding Scotland, Community action/Wiltshire / ...This week's featured Global videos / ... read more about Cosmolocalism
UK and international events
[edit | edit source]UK events
Sep 7 - 11, 2026 (Mon-Fri) — Zero Waste Week, zerowasteweek.co.uk- Sep 11 - 20, 2026 (Fri-Sun) — Heritage Open Days, celebrating our fantastic history and culture. Your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore, heritageopendays.org.uk
- Sep 18 - 27, 2026 (Fri-Sun) — Great British Beach Clean, mcsuk.org
Global or international events
- Sep 15, 2026 (Tue) — Free Money Day, Global invitation for people to explore, in a liberating and fun way, what it might be like if our relationship to money was a little different. Sep 15, annually, freemoneyday.org
- Sep 18, 2026 (Fri) — Park(ing) day, global, public, participatory project where people across the world temporarily repurpose curbside parking spaces and convert them into public parks and social spaces to advocate for safer, greener, and more equitable streets for people, myparkingday.org
- Sep 21-27, 2026 (Mon-Sun) — Global Week Of Action For Peace And Climate Justice, climatemilitarism.org
- Sep 21, 2026 (Mon) — International Day of Peace, Globally shared date, Sep 21 each year for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace, internationaldayofpeace.org
2021-2030, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, International community action events
Ethical consumerism
[edit | edit source]Cycling activism
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There are four dedicated cycle routes in the local authority's area:
- Swansea Bay: The Maritime Quarter to the Knab Rock near the Mumbles Pier.
- Clyne Valley Country Park: Blackpill to Gowerton forming part of National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 4.
- Along the east bank of the River Tawe forming the start of NCN, Route 43, which terminates at Abercraf. Sustrans advise that it will continue northwards to Builth Wells once complete.
- Adjacent to the Fabian Way: Forming part of NCN Route 4 and extending as the Celtic Trail to Chepstow and London.
City cruiser pedal vehicles are being introduced to the city centre in a joint venture between the council and Swansea Business Improvement District.
In November 2007, a new bridge was completed over the Fabian Way which provides a one way park and ride bus lane and a shared-use pedestrian and NCN route 4 cycleway. The leaf-shaped bridge was shortlisted for the 2008 British Constructional Steelwork Association Structural Steel Design Awards.
Education for sustainability
[edit | edit source]Down to Earth, not-for-profit organisation doing innovative outdoor experiences with vulnerable and 'hard to reach' groups of all ages
Swansea Environmental Education Forum
Environment quality
[edit | edit source]Open spaces
[edit | edit source]Friends of Bryn y Don Park on facebook
News archive
[edit | edit source]2010-2015
- Consent for world's first Tidal Lagoon Power Plant, June 9, 2015...Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay
- Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay: the mastering of the tide, August 6, 2014...Blue and Green Tomorrow
- Swansea to join thousands of other communities across the globe taking part in Earth hour 2010. "Switch off your lights for Earth's sake on March 27, 8.30pm...City and County of Swansea, February, 2010.
About Swansea
[edit | edit source]Past events
- November 21 - 22, 2015, Swansea's annual Green Fayre
Swansea ( SWON-zee; Welsh: Abertawe [abɛrˈtawɛ]) is a port and coastal city in Wales. It is the second-largest city in the country. The city forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea (Welsh: Dinas a Sir Abertawe).
| Authors | Phil Green |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Cite as | Philralph (2014–2025). "Community action/Swansea". Appropedia. Retrieved September 7, 2026. |