At the very heart of our exciting new project lie two inseparable forces: people and nature. Together, they shape a future where communities thrive alongside flourishing landscapes, exactly as all good nature restoration projects should.

This summer, thanks to £245,000 of development funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we began laying the foundations for an ambitious programme to safeguard the future of the Gower National Landscape. Since then, we’ve welcomed a key new member to our team, Engagement Officer Dr Amanda Roberts, who will play a leading role in connecting people to place and in inspiring local communities to explore, understand, and care for this extraordinary landscape.

For Amanda, this project is more than a professional role, it’s personal. Her family roots stretch back to the Welsh Valleys, later moving south to Neath and Port Talbot. Now, with three generations of her family living in North Gower, she is passionate about combining her love of the area with her professional expertise to drive locally led, long-term environmental change.

“My locality is precious to me,” Amanda explained. “I feel deeply embedded in, and supported by, the wonderful local communities here in Gower. There’s a generosity in the way people commit to enriching village life, welcoming visitors, and supporting local businesses. A shared love of where we live creates a real sense of belonging and responsibility to one another, and to the Gower landscape itself.”

Over the next 21 months - the development phase of the project - Amanda will be leading community engagement, planning and research, alongside the rest of the Gower Landscapes Connections team. Delivered in partnership by National Landscapes Association and the Gower Society, this phase will lay the groundwork for a larger-scale nature recovery programme.

As the project’s public-facing lead, Amanda is particularly keen to begin engaging local people from the outset. She is already working on a delivery framework that will include schools, colleges, and community groups.

“I firmly believe projects work best when they are collaborative,” she said. “When all stakeholders are genuinely involved, the outcomes are more meaningful, more relevant, and more sustainable.”

Amanda brings a wealth of experience to this work. Formerly a Senior Educational Officer at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, she has worked extensively with local communities and is committed to ensuring that local voices shape the future direction of this project. Her participatory approach will not only raise awareness of the importance of nature recovery but also foster a shared sense of responsibility for caring for the Gower National Landscape.

Crucially, Amanda wants this programme to be inclusive, reaching beyond those already engaged with the outdoors to involve communities across Swansea, particularly young people and underrepresented groups.

“I’m really looking forward to working with communities who may not have had many opportunities to engage with nature,” she said. “Sharing these beautiful spaces, co-creating hands-on activities, and building long-term connections with the landscape is vital for the wellbeing of both people and place.”

Amanda will also draw on her creative side to open new doors of connection. With a PhD in fine art and a passion for spinning and weaving with local fleece, she hopes to use art as another way for people to experience and value the landscape. Outside of work, much of her time is spent exploring her home environment.

“I love Gower so much I can’t pick just one favourite spot,” she admitted. “But at this time of year, it’s hard to beat a blustery walk along Llangennith beach. With the sweep of Rhossili Bay stretching out before you, and the vast sky overhead, it’s impossible not to feel uplifted.”

Amanda’s appointment brings not only professional expertise but also heartfelt local knowledge and commitment. She understands the challenges facing this special place and the opportunity this project represents.

“I am acutely aware of how fragile our natural environment is and how important it is to safeguard the richness Gower holds. Watching my children grow up here, with freedoms and access to the outdoors that I didn’t have growing up in a more urbanised environment has deepened my appreciation for this landscape. Protecting it for future generations is both a privilege and a responsibility,” she said.

With Amanda on board, Gower Landscape Connections is set to grow in ways that are locally rooted, community driven and deeply connected to place.