Who We Are

There’s a large group of people who help set the direction of Bwyd Sir Gâr Food’s work. 

These are the people who make up the food partnership’s steering group, supported by the Bwyd Sir Gar project staff.  

How do we work? 

Bwyd Sir Gâr Food takes a place-based approach to reflect the unique characteristics of the landscape, history and people of Carmarthenshire and the region.

This is achieved through fostering a co-productive approach, engaging citizens and communities as active participants in shaping the local food system. 

Regular themed community ‘food conversation’ activities and events bring people together to celebrate local food culture. We also examine the challenges in our food system, and how we can become more resilient locally. 

Through our activities and events, we aim to capture thoughts and viewpoints from a wide range of citizens’ perspectives, identifying shared common themes and priorities. These feed into project design, developed by our county-level steering group, and delivered through a partnership approach. 

The Bwyd Sir Gâr Food steering group

The partnership’s steering group is inspired by the Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015 Wellbeing Goals and Five-Ways-of-Working –  the idea that we can become more than the sum of our parts, and tackle complex issues more effectively, by taking a collaborative approach. 

The food partnership’s activity is coordinated by Augusta Lewis, the Sustainable Food Places co-ordinator, and is supported by a steering group made up of representatives from key public, third and private sector county-level partners.

Steering group members reflect how food influences every area of our lives and environment – from health, wellbeing, community cohesion and the local economy, to education, nature, climate and global responsibility. 

Current steering group members are:

  • Augusta Lewis – Sustainable Food Places Coordinator for Carmarthenshire at Social Farms & Gardens
  • Cara Wilson – Bwyd Sir Gâr Food Chair and South West People and Places Officer at Natural Resources Wales
  • Alex Cook – Food System Development Manager, Carmarthenshire County Council
  • Cllr Carys Jones – Cabinet Member Rural Affairs, Communities and Welsh Language
  • Rhian Phillips – Economic Area Development Manager, Carmarthenshire County Council
  • Louise Morgan – Associate Educational Support Advisor, Carmarthenshire County Council
  • Alanna Noble – Community Health Improvement Dietician, Hywel Dda University Health Board
  • Liam Williams – Senior Public Health Practitioner, Hywel Dda University Health Board
  • Marie Mitchell – Chief Executive Officer, Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services
  • Alison Sheffield – Joint Wales Manager, Social Farms & Gardens
  • Edward Morgan – Corporate Social Responsibility and Training Manager, Castell Howell Foods
  • Lowri Roberts – Regional Growth Manager, Cywain
  • Ieuan Davies – Farm Manager, National Botanic Garden of Wales
Members of the Bwyd Sir Gâr Food Steering Group representing a range of organisations including Carmarthenshire County Council, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Natural Resources Wales, Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services (CAVS), Social Farms & Gardens, Food Sense Wales and Castell Howell.

The Bwyd Sir Gâr Food core team

Augusta Lewis

Sustainable Food Places Coordinator for Carmarthenshire

Augusta is based within Social Farms & Gardens, and has coordinated and facilitated Bwyd Sir Gâr Food since its inception in 2022. She grew up in the Newcastle Emlyn area, where she lives now with her family.

Read more about Augusta

Alex Cook

Food Strategy Programme Manager for Carmarthenshire

Alex works for Carmarthenshire County Council. His current role delivers transformational and impactful change through the Carmarthenshire Local Food Strategy and Action Plan.

Read more about Alex

Cara Wilson

Bwyd Sir Gâr Food Chair

To follow

Read more about Cara

Steve Morris

Bwyd Sir Gâr Food Development Worker

Steve has been hosted by Social Gardens since May 2024. His role includes supporting BSGF to achieve its goals particularly through work at Bremenda Isaf county farm.

Read more about Steve

Piers Lunt

Head Grower, Bremenda Isaf County Farm

In his role as Head Grower at Bremenda Isaf Piers has overseen the establishment of a 2 acre market garden, supplying agroecologically produced vegetables into public, private and third sector markets.

Read more about Piers

Bwyd Sir Gâr Food’s journey

February 2021

Bwyd Sir Gâr Food’s journey begins

Carmarthenshire Food Network established by the Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services to address concerns around access to food and co-ordinate emergency food provision during the Covid pandemic.

November 2021

Carmarthenshire Food Network Assistant appointed

A collaborative steering group was formed and the group successfully secured funding through the Wales Poverty Alleviation Fund enabling the appointment a Carmarthenshire Food Network Assistant.  

August 2021

Bwyd Sir Gâr Food established

Cluster groups were established to foster a joined up grassroots food system inspired by the Sustainable Food Places framework, leading to the formation of Bwyd Sir Gâr Food

June 2022

Sustainable Food Places Network membership

With the support of Food Sense Wales, Bwyd Sir Gâr Food was awarded membership of the Sustainable Food Places network and a Coordinator for Carmarthenshire was appointed.

February 2023

Food Developments

A full-time Food Development Officer was appointed by Carmarthenshire County Council to help shape a strategic approach to food at the Public Services Board level. 

June 2023

Additional Funding

With funding from the Welsh Government, Bwyd Sir Gâr Food was able to deliver a community-level project to enable better access to good, nutritious food.

September 2023

Food Systems Development Project

Bwyd Sir Gâr Food applied for and secured UK Shared Prosperity Funding for a Food System Development Project, supporting existing and developing new jobs

December 2023

Bronze Sustainable Food Places award

Carmarthenshire was awarded the prestigious Bronze Sustainable Food Places award in recognition of its commitment to building a thriving, sustainable, inclusive, and resilient county-wide food system.

Summer 2024

Launch of Bwyd Sir Gâr Food brand and website

The new acorn logo represents growth, renewal and a sustainable food system that’s supported by our varied landscape. It also references our local heritage and mythology.

Help us continue the journey

Join the movement by taking a good food pledge