About us
A chance meeting in 2015 brought together two men and the South East Wales TB Regional Board who would go on to set up The Gower Vaccination Project.
Local vet Ifan Lloyd met pilot and aviation consultant Stephen Crocker over a Christmas lunch organised for the village. Discussing the plight of many Gower farmers, many of whom had lost entire herds due to TB, they discussed the opportunities presented by vaccination, but the many challenges in implementing it.
Over the coming months, Stephen, Ifan and The South East Wales TB Regional Board developed a farmer led programme and secured the support of both local farmers and the Welsh Government.
Why Gower
Having a long-term history of bTB, the Gower peninsula provides an ideal location for a project of this nature. Surrounded on three sides by the sea and on the fourth side by urbanisation, the movement of badgers in and out of the area will be limited. This means that the effect of the vaccination programme is neither going to be diluted by an influx of immune naïve badgers or by the exodus of vaccinated badgers.
Key objectives
Our key objectives are:
- To deliver a programme that will help maintain cattle farming on the Gower for the benefit of the community, the environment and the tourism industry.
- To deliver an effective disease control programme that will enhance the eradication of bTB from the Gower.
- To build up a reservoir of immunity in badgers by vaccination.
- To reduce the level of M. bovis in the environment, the bacterium that causes bTB
Governance
The South East Wales TB Regional Board is one of three boards in Wales working with farmers, vets, auctioneers, the Welsh Government, Local Authorities and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) to develop regional initiatives on bovine TB eradication.
The Board has been working with farmers on the Gower and Welsh Government since 2009, developing and implementing actions to help eradicate bovine TB.
Cefn Gwlad Solutions Ltd was set up as the legal vehicle for the project to receive funds from government. Its work is overseen by The South East Wales TB Regional Board.
Funding
We are delivering the badger vaccination project with the support of the Welsh Government and have already secured two-thirds of the funds needed. We completed the first year of vaccination in 2019 and have another three years to go.
Funds have also been provided by Swansea Council, Gower Heritage Centre, Tourism Swansea Bay, Gower Caravan Parks, the Swans and the farming community itself.
However, to continue our vital work over the next three years, we need to raise £100,000 – or risk jeopardising much of the good work already done. Find out how you can help [link]
Funds have also been provided by Swansea Council, Gower Heritage Centre, Tourism Swansea Bay, Gower Caravan Parks, the Swans and the farming community itself.
However, to continue our vital work over the next three years, we need to raise £100,000 – or risk jeopardising much of the good work already done. Find out how you can help [link]
Our partners and supporters
The programme involves a wide range of people and organisations.
The following are some of the key partners:
- Gower farming community
- Gower Farmers Working Group
- Gower Commoners
- South East Wales TB Eradication Board
- Cefn Gwlad Solutions
- Iechyd Da (gwledig) Ltd.
- Welsh Government
- City and County of Swansea – AONB group
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
- National Trust
- National Resources Wales
- Wildlife Trust
- Gower Heritage Centre
- Swansea Football Club
