Hello! Welcome to the very first edition of the Swansea Scoop! Your new resource for Swansea news and events for the week ahead - curated, summarised, and delivered to your inbox for free every Sunday.

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In this week’s Swansea Scoop covering July 8th - 14th:

• Iron Man returns 🏋️

• Save Swansea’s Swifts 🦢

• Castles in the Sky 🏰

• What’s replacing the Grape and Olive? 🍽️

• … and more!

Let’s get to it.

— James

GOOD NEWS

Longest-serving employee 🚌

Swansea’s Kenny Beckers has been honoured as First Bus's longest-serving employee after 58 years. The 76 year-old started as a conductor in 1966, became a driver three years later and has since transported seven million passengers over 800,000 miles.

Fundraising superheroes 🏃

Last week, families gathered in Cardiff for the third annual Superhero 5K Fun Day, raising nearly £69,000 for the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity. Members of Morgan’s Army from Swansea took part, honouring three-year-old Morgan Ridler from Gorseinon, who died from a rare form of cancer last year.

New dog playground opens 🐶

Fancy treating your pup to a day out? A new dog playground has been launched at The Spirit of Llynfi Community Woodland near Maesteg (15 miles / 40 minutes from Swansea). Developed by Natural Resources Wales and the Kennel Club, the playground features activities including weaving through posts, running through tunnels, and balancing on logs.

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LOCAL BUSINESS

Jack’s Vets Open Day 🐕

Looking for a vet? Jack's in Killay is celebrating a successful first year of offering personalised pet care, attracting thousands of Swansea pet owners since its launch. To celebrate, it’s hosting an Open Day on Sunday 14th July from 1-3 PM. The event includes practice tours, team meet-and-greets, and cake for pets (and humans!).

Celebrate Volunteer Week 🧑‍🌾

Help The Shared Plate celebrate 40 years of Volunteer Week (and grab yourself a free lunch) by attending its Shared Garden Volunteer Day at Killan Fach Farm on Sunday 14th July. All ages and abilities are welcome and you can drop in any time between 11am and 3pm. But do let them know you’re coming first - details here.

New Restaurant in the Meridian Tower🥘

It’s been a long time coming, but a new restaurant looks set to occupy the space at the top of the Meridian Tower in Swansea Marina. Details are scant, but keep an eye out on Altitude 28 Sky Bar and Restaurant on Facebook for all the latest.

Can you get your weekly shop at Swansea Market? ♻️

The Environment Centre has teamed up with vendors and stalls at Swansea market who have agreed to accept “bring your own containers” every Thursday and Friday in July - including Billy Upton Family Butchers, Bowla, and The Market Plaice. Visit the Environment Centre’s stall in the market to get your sticker sheet; receive a sticker when you buy from eligible traders, and collect 5 stickers to be eligible to enter a prize draw.

Strawberry picking on Gower (now with climbing wall!) 🍓

The strawberry-picking season is in full swing at Gower Pick Your Own in Scurlage. The farm is open to the public from 10.30 AM - 5PM Tuesday to Sunday, where as well as undercover fruit picking, there’s an on-site cafe, a new children’s climbing wall, giant deckchair for an Instagrammable moment, plus hay bails to relax on with a picnic, which you’re welcome to bring.

Experience the lavender fields on Gower 🪻

It’s your last chance to experience the colourful confetti and lavender fields at Gower Fresh Christmas Trees in Three Crosses this week (before attention turns to their ever-popular sunflowers at Rhossili), complete with flower arch for photos and a chance to meet the reindeer herd. The farm is open Wednesday - Friday, from 10 AM - 6 PM.

Watch the Wimbledon Finals on the Big Screen 🎾

Anyone for tennis? Swing on by to Cinema and Co.ffee on Castle Street to watch the Women’s (Saturday) and Men’s (Sunday) Wimbledon tennis finals on their big screen. The action starts at 2 PM.

WHAT’S OCCURIN’

IRONMAN Returns to Swansea 🏋️

The sold-out IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea takes place on Sunday 14 July. Athletes and spectators can enjoy a fantastic route offering the scenic beauty of the historic SA1 dockside, Swansea Bay and the Gower Peninsula. Find out more about the event, route map, road closures and how you can support the competitors here.

Monthly Mumbles Market 🍔

The monthly Mumbles Market will take place on Saturday July 13th from 9AM - 1PM., with tons of food and wares from local businesses - including burgers, doughnuts, honey, jam, ceramics, soap, flowers, and more. Find it in the Dairy Car Park - look out for it on the left as you enter Mumbles before the White Rose pub.

Castles in the Sky Art Trail 🏰

Wales is known for having the highest density of castles of any country in the world - and now there’s a few dozen more. A free public art trail with over 30 colourful castle sculptures will dot the city's streets, parks, and public spaces this summer - find them all with a free map and app, unlocking fun facts and rewards along the way. Castles in the Sky runs from now until September 15th.

Go Underhill Family Fun Day ⚽

Head to Underhill Park in Mumbles on Saturday July 13th from 11AM for a day packed full of fun to celebrate the first anniversary of the Underhill Park Hub opening. There’ll be food, fun for the children, and music from the Rock Project, Gwalia Singers and Take This!

D-Fest 2024 Rocks Dunvant 🎸

The annual D-Fest festival takes place at Dunvant RFC on Saturday July 13th from 1 PM - 11.45 PM, with live music from 8 local bands, BBQ food, inflatables, and more. 75% of tickets have already gone, so don’t delay if you and your family want in on the action.

Saving Swansea’s Swifts 🦢

Not to be confused with a certain singing Taylor, Gower Ornithological Society (GOS) is running several evenings to celebrate these beautiful birds. Hear about Saving Swansea’s Swifts project aiming to protect this endangered bird and join in on a sunset walk looking for swifts (starting at 9 PM).

Join in at the following places (no need to book):

• Monday 8 July, 8 PM - 10 PM
  23 Davis Street, Plasmarl, Swansea SA6 8LF (by the playground)

• Wednesday 10 July, 8 PM - 10 PM
  15 Queens Road, Sketty, Swansea SA2 0SD (front garden)

Gower Music Festival Concludes 🎶

Experience music from some of the world’s best musicians at Swansea’s most beautiful churches and chapels - The Gower Festival continues every day until Saturday. Most shows have sold out, but there are still a few tickets for Pavel Kolesnikov playing classic piano favourites at St Peter’s Church.

Gower Open Studios Celebrates Local Artists 🎨

Experience the beauty and creativity of local artists in Swansea as they open their studios to the public as part of Gower Open Studios. Why not make a day of it and visit several artists dotted around Gower? The event runs all week until July 14th.

Wonderfest! at the National Waterfront Museum 🥳

Join Platfform for Wonderfest! – an annual festival packed full of activities and workshops for young people aged 13+, plus parents and professionals to support wellbeing on Saturday July 13th from 12 PM - 3PM at the National Waterfront Museum.

COUNCIL NEWS

The Big Intergenerational Conversation 👴🧒

Swansea Council is hosting the Big Intergenerational Conversation at the National Waterfront Museum on Wednesday July 10th from 10 AM until 2.30 PM It's a chance for children and young people to tell adults what they think and help bridge the gap between generations through games and activities to help ensure that Swansea is a place for people of all ages.

Grants Available to Tackle Period Poverty 💵

Swansea Council has funding available for charities and organizations in Swansea to combat period poverty by providing free period products, prioritising low-income households and underserved communities. Applications for grants up to £2,000 are open until Monday, 28 July. Apply here.

WEATHER

Monday
17🌡️ 13 | 🌦️ | 26% | 💨 NE 10 mph

Tuesday
18 🌡️ 13 | 🌦️ | 55% | 💨 N 13 mph

Wednesday
18 🌡️ 13 | 🌦️ | 27% | 💨 NE 10 mph

Thursday
18 🌡️ 13 | 🌦️ | 49% | 💨 NE 11 mph

Friday
18 🌡️ 11 | 🌦️ | 70% | 💨 NE 10 mph

Saturday
18 🌡️ 11 | 🌦️ | 14% | 💨E 12 mph

Sunday
18 🌡️ 11 | 🌦️ | 48% | 💨 E 8 mph

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Wednesday

Sin City | Sundara Karma | 7 PM

Friday

Taliesin | The Phoenix Choir of Wales | 7 PM
Swansea Arena | Coffee Shop Sessions | 12 PM
Sports And Social Wind Street | Cliffhangers | 9 PM
The Bunkhouse | Helldown | 6 PM
The Oyster House | Live Music | 7.30 PM
Elysium | Dactyl Terra | 7 PM

Saturday

Hangar 18 | The Black Charade & Fell Out Boy | 7 PM
Pontardawe Inn | The Goodges | 8 PM
Brangwyn Hall | Symphonix Soundtracks | 7.30 PM
St Mary’s Church | Morriston Orpheus Choir’s Annual Gala Concert | 7 PM
The Railway Inn | GCL Trio and the Ripping Cones | 3 PM

Sunday

The Railway Inn | Stu’s Gastric Band | 4 PM

SPORTS NEWS ⚽

Southampton have signed 22-year-old centre-back Nathan Wood from Swansea City for £3m on a four-year deal. Wood, who made 72 appearances for Swansea, previously played under Saints (and former Swansea) boss Russell Martin.

Swansea City will face FC Koln in friendly on Wednesday, 24 July as part of a week-long pre-season training camp in Austria.

THANKS

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