Take our guided tour of the reserve
This reserve is part of the vast low lying land which stretches along the northern edge of the Severn River between Cardiff and Chepstow.
To some, the landscape may appear monotonous, and at low tide the vast mudflats of the Severn estuary can seem rather unappealing. But the whole area is an environmental and archaeological gem.
As well as being an important habitat for plants, birds and invertebrates, the levels also display a variety of landscapes from different historical ages - and there is nowhere else in Wales where distinctions between these different landscapes can be made so easily.
The landscape we see today across the Levels is one created entirely by man. It is the result of a series of attempts to reclaim land from the tidal salt marsh along the edge of the estuary. Clear evidence can be seen here of typical patterns of settlement, drainage and land enclosure from different periods.
Since the last Ice Age, due to the changes in level of both land and sea, which in turn have influenced the range and size of the tides, the land has been drowned and reclaimed alternately. Because of this, it is possible that environmental and archaeological remains belonging to much older landscapes may be hidden in the mudflats beyond the sea walls - as suggested by the Mesolithic footprint found recently in the layer of clay beneath the estuary mud.
Although some drainage occurs naturally across the levels, artificial drains, known locally as 'reens' criss-cross the land and some of these support a very rich wildlife. The present pattern of reens includes parts of earlier drainage systems and almost certainly dates from the time of the Romans - it is an unique pattern in Britain and perhaps in the whole of North West Europe.
The Gwent Levels Wetlands reserve was established in 2000. The reserve covers 437 ha of the levels, and it is part of a much larger site which is recognised for its importance to plants and invertebrates. It also lies alongside the Severn estuary, which is a nationally and internationally important site.
Before the reserve was established, the land used to hold only a small and decreasing number of farmland birds. Since 2000, there has been an exciting increase in the number of breeding lapwing, redshank, water rail, skylark, linnet and reed bunting.
In winter nationally important populations of shoveler and pintail ducks use the reserve and numbers of teal and wigeon are fast reaching the same level of importance. The reserve also provides safe roost sites for waders which pass through or overwinter here - such as knot, dunlin, curlew, whimbrel and lapwing.
Management work on the reserve aims to protect the special wildlife of the reens, which includes a high number of important invertebrates and rare water plants such as the rootless duckweed and the hairlike pondweed.
At the same time, new habitats are being created and maintained in order to try and ensure that the reserve becomes an internationally important site for wetland birds.
One such vital habitat is a large area of wet grassland for wintering shoveler and wigeon. The area of reedbed has trebled and as a result there has been an increase in number of breeding water rail and Cettis warblers. Marsh harriers, bitterns and bearded tits now visit the site and may well join the list of breeding birds in the next few years.
On drier parts of the reserve, spring and autumn stubble will attract farmland birds which have seen huge declines in their numbers in Britain during the last decades.
In addition to the birds, other important wildlife species will also benefit from this management, including hares, water voles and great crested newts.
Co-ordinates: ST334834
Location: The car park is open from 9am until 5pm (or dusk in winter). Find it on West Nash Road, between Nash Village and Uskmouth Power Station, grid reference: ST 334 834. From M4 Junction 24 take the A48 to Newport Retail Park then follow the 'Brown Duck' signs to the Reserve car park.The reserve is owned and managed by Countryside Council for Wales. There is also a RSPB Visitor Centre complete with a cafe, shop and children's play area.
Contact: For further details call 0845 1306 229 or visit the Countryside Council for Wales
The RSPB Website featuring further information on Newport Wetlands.
