Bwyd Abertawe is a network of food system stakeholders within the City and County of Swansea

Bwyd Iach, Fforddiadwy a Lleol ar Gael i Bawb, er Lles Pobl a'r Blaned.

Healthy, Affordable and Local Food Available to All, for the Well-being of People and Planet.

BWYD ABERTAWE SOCIAL MEDIA

Big Meadow Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Gower

Bwyd Abertawe is a network of food system stakeholders* within the City and County of Swansea, including everyone who is interested in sustainable food for Swansea!

The broad structure includes a Steering Group, and wider Bwyd Abertawe network. As well as sub-groups formed by the Steering Group to fulfil specific tasks and projects under the Bwyd Abertawe action plan.   

Scroll down if you would like to know about the:

  • Swansea Food Charter, launched March 2023

  • 11 projects funded by BA small grants

  • How you can become a member of Bwyd Abertawe

*Food System Stakeholders includes: everyone with an interest (professional or personal) in Swansea’s food system, from farmers, growers and producers, to restaurants and retailers, citizens and community groups, to those working in health, poverty alleviation, procurement and other related fields.

Sign-up to Swansea Food Charter here

Click here and find out how to make a pledge

Click here and download your copy, display it where you would like others to see!

Cofrestru gyda Siarter Fwyd Abertawe

Cliciwch yma i gael gwybod sut i wneud addewid

Cliciwch yma i lawrlwytho eich copi, dangoswch ef lle yr hoffech i eraill ei weld!

Swansea Food Charter Pledges

  • "Share the Swansea Food Charter with your team and encourage them to sign up"

    Gofod Technologies

  • "Buy and serve local, healthy, and sustainably produced food"

    Cater for Flavour

  • "To embed sustainable and regenerative food growing techniques throughout our schools programme. To inspire young people into food growing employment"

    Jessie (Cae Tan CSA Education Officer)

  • "Do what you can afford. Invest in the social, environmental, health, and quality benefits of locally produced food. (Often reflected in the price)"

    Mary and Helen

  • "Ask shops, cafes and supermarkets what their local options are. Encourage them to stock local options"

    Helen and Leonie

  • "Reduce your food waste. Buy and use smaller portions, and compost at home"

    Rhi

  • "Sign up to the Swansea Food Charter!"

    Mel and Helen

  • "Shop local and buy Swansea (or Welsh) produce when you can"

    Ann and David

  • "Continue to buy FairTrade to support farmers overseas when local alternatives are not possible"

    Delyth

Bwyd Abertawe projects funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2024

Growing Volunteers and Access to Local Produce

Connecting urban volunteers with growing projects in beautiful rural areas of Swansea. Join our team of volunteers to learn more about sustainable food production and community growing. We invite individuals and groups for practical training sessions on the field, and offer support on your volunteer experience. Ask about options for community transport and volunteer driving. Contact Saara: prosiect1.bwydabertawe@gmail.com

Staff and volunteers at Blackhills CSA get ready to add woodchip to vegetable beds

Mawr Agriculture and Farmer Engagement

Initial engagement and consultation with farmers and those working in agriculture to improve and strengthen connections with Bwyd Abertawe. To assist collaborations for shared aims and support in food production, including small scale family and community growing. To identify opportunities in using agroecological techniques for ‘future-proofing’ agri-businesses with emphasis on food production and assess need/s to support food production across:

  • Clydach

  • Llangyfelach

  • Llansamlet

  • Pontardulais

  • Pontlliw and Tircoed

  • Gorseinon & Penyrheol

If you would like to know more, or are involved or have key contact for agriculture and farming in these areas, please contact Mary: bwydabertawe@gmail.com

Bwyd Abertawe small grant funded projects 2023

The Welsh Government Sustainable Food Partnerships Fund provided Bwyd Abertawe with funding to make small grants available for projects supporting sustainable food in Swansea. You may have seen BA small grant promoted April 2023.

Bwyd Abertawe Steering Group had the very difficult task of allocating the funding, 36 expressions of interest were received for wonderful sustainable food projects, far exceeding the budget available. However, 11 organisations were funded including 4 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Updates about these projects will be shared via Bwyd Abertawe social media in due course.

It’ll be great to see their work continue into 2024, and beyond!

For more information on each project, check out our small grants playlist on YouTube.

Cae Felin volunteers, getting ready to plant-in the community orchard

  • Big Meadow CSA : Pathway to sustainable independence. Grower salary, and winter veg storage.

  • Blackhills CSA : Start-up support for growing nutritious food for the local community. Increase food growing activity and accessibility to local grown food.

  • Cae Felin CSA : Development package. Promotional engagement events and workshops targeting low income individuals and families. 

  • Cae Tan CSA : Trainee programme. As well as growing, trainees involved in weekly veg collection, events, theory and training with members and volunteers, and part of Cae Tan Grow from Home schools programme.

  • The Centre for African Entrepreneurship : Swansea Sustainable Cooking. Sustainable food cooking and awareness raising. 

  • Gower College : Horticulture and Landscaping. Practical Horticulture Level 1&2 already offered, plan to introduce Level 3. Increase growing space for learners developing an organic kitchen garden, that will also engage local Food Bank.

  • Oystermouth Primary School : Ready Steady Grow! Start growing a 'pupil patch' garden, connect with food bank. Education and training which facilitates transition to circular economy and promotes food citizenship.

  • Swansea Community Farm : Geifr Gwyr. Goats and milking equipment for Goat CSA feasibility study.

  • Swansea Community Fridge : Tyfu Bwyd. Create a growing space to supplement food supplies for Community Fridge customers, and increase biodiversity in an urban environment. Small scale growing, and skill development for learners to grow at home.

  • Swansea Community Growing Network : Growing Together. Community Growing Skills and Networking Programme.

  • Swansea MAD : Roots of Change. Monthly food events, recipe video resources, sustainable food action plan and policy.

Bwyd Abertawe Steering Group

Is a bi-monthly multi-sector meeting group, and during 2024 their focus is on:

  1. Promoting Swansea Food Charter

  2. Overseeing administration of Bwyd Abertawe Small Grants

  3. Coordinating delivery of Bwyd Abertawe’s Action Plan 2024

  4. Achieving Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award - and looking towards Silver in the Future! 

Bwyd Abertawe Activities and Updates

Is a bi-monthly wider membership meeting group, initiated in May 2024. Bwyd Abertawe invite members to join this online meeting to share and discuss sustainable food activity.

Recent Activities and Updates meeting notes:

22nd May 2024

16th October 2024

If you would like to find out more or be involved:

  • Read Bwyd Abertawe’s 2023 - 2024 Annual Report

  • Read Bwyd Abertawe’s live 5 year action plan

  • Sign-up to the Bwyd Abertawe membership and e-news 

  • Sign-up to the Swansea Food Charter

  • Follow Bwyd Abertawe social media

  • Or, get in touch with our team

Contact Bwyd Abertawe

Coordinator: bwydabertawe@gmail.com

Admin and Comms: cefnogi.bwydabertawe@gmail.com

Growing Volunteers: prosiect1.bwydabertawe@gmail.com

Social Media: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Youtube: @bwydabertawe

Bwyd Abertawe Membership and e-News

Sign-up as a member of Bwyd Abertawe, and receive our free quarterly e-Newsletter. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Recent issues of BA e-News:

Winter 2024

Autumn 2024

Summer 2024

Spring 2024

Winter 2024

Autumn 2023

Summer 2023

Bwyd Abertawe has put Swansea on the Sustainable Food Places map! Get involved and be part of Swansea’s sustainable food journey.

Resources

Asset Map Links

The food standards agency map, showing all food related businesses they have assessed and their hygiene rating.

A map showing Health and Well-being resources in the Cwmtawe area of Swansea.

A map showing “pick your own” farms that work in collaboration with Tyfu Cymru.

A map by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species showing the location and survey status of traditional orchards.

A map used in Afallen and Swansea Council’s local food systems study. It shows the producers used by supplier Castell Howell.

List of the finalists of the 6th Wales Food Awards. Categorised by area and type of cuisine.

Swansea Council’s map of “Warm Hubs”.

A map showing CSA projects, searchable by type of food they produce, and area. Each farm has added themselves to this map.

A map by The Orchard Project showing the location of community orchards they have planted or restored.

A map used in Afallen and Swansea Council’s local food systems study. It shows all food related businesses in Swansea, and distinguishes rural and urban areas.

Information

  • Swansea CSA Report by Gower Power: Read here.

  • GVALP project 6 month case-study: Read here.

  • Local / Community Markets in Swansea: Find out where and when here.

  • Calendar of food and environment awards and events.

  • Oxford University Sustainable Food Policy

  • Food Waste Quiz: Download the questions and answers here.

  • Food Waste info pack: Download the resource here.

  • Free Food Hygiene training through Gower College Swansea.

  • Careers in Growing : Watch the video here.

  • Training and Education in Growing: Information here. (Click on the training provider to go to their website)

Gower College Swansea’s new poly-tunnel, part of their Horticulture and Landscaping learning facilities

Quick Food Quiz

Do you recognise these ethical and sustainable food standard logos?

Click on the logos to find out more…

Look for these logos when you shop

Bwyd Abertawe signed-up to Swansea Climate Pledge!

Activities Bwyd Abertawe promotes and we collectively work towards through the Swansea Food Charter, align with Swansea Climate Pledge. For example:

  • Shop locally and consume locally produced food

  • Reduce food waste

  • Create space for nature in my garden, and grow food

  • Grow food using nature friendly practices

  • Plants trees, especially fruit and nut trees

  • Connect with fruit gleaning projects to reduce fruit waste

It could be a small change you're able to make, or something you're doing already that supports sustainable food and climate movement. Make a change and pledge to Swansea Food Charter and / or sign-up to Climate Pledge Swansea.

Bwyd Abertawe is hosted by The Environment Centre,
and receive funding from:

Sustainable Food Places

Welsh Government Sustainable Food Partnerships Fund

Moondance Foundation

Awards For All