THE GWENT LEVELS

Location

The Gwent Level form an extraordinary landscape of over 5000 hectares in the south east corner of Wales, stretching from Cardiff in the west to Chepstow in the east, with the Severn Estuary lying to the south. Originally reclaimed from the sea by the Romans, the area has thrived for two thousand years as a prime example of a successful relationship between human activity and the natural world.

The Gwent Levels have multiple designations which should protect them from damaging development, from neglect and bad land management. These include:

  • Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  • Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest
  • Special Landscape Area
  • National Natural Resource

Despite these designations, the Levels are under constant and increasing threat from development. Their landscape, habitats and biodiversity are in sharp decline. There is a danger that we will soon reach a tipping-point of irrecoverable biodiversity and landscape loss.

  • East Usk Lighthouse, Gwent Levels
    East Usk Lighthouse, Newport Wetlands (C Harris)

 

WHO WE ARE

We are a grassroots campaigning organisation whose mission is to protect the landscape and biodiversity of the Gwent Levels.

Formed in 2020, we are made up of members of the local community of the Gwent Levels, with the support of a number of existing organisations and individuals from outside the area who believe strongly in preserving the Levels for future generations.

 

OUR WORK

  • Scrutinising development applications and holding developers and planners to account.
  • Increasing the level of statutory protection for the Levels
  • Advocating for the Levels in the Welsh Senedd
  • Working with others to restore the landscape and biodiversity of the Levels

 

OUR MISSION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE GWENT LEVELS

  • A moratorium on development on the Levels unless the development’s central aim is to enhance biodiversity
  • A specific commitment by Welsh Government to enhance biodiversity and habitats on the Levels
  • A programme of projects aimed at working with landowners and stakeholders to improve biodiversity and habitat

 

CURRENT CAMPAIGNS

  • We are currently fighting a number of large-scale developments proposed for the Gwent Levels as Developments of National Significance. We have attended Welsh Government Planning Hearings in order to make our case for protection of this landscape.
  • We invited candidates in the recent Senedd elections to endorse our  pledge to protect the Levels and are now working on advocating for the Levels cross party within the Senedd.
  • We are collaborating with the University of South Wales on projects to further our understanding of the unique biodiversity of the Levels, including developing a Citizens’ Science Toolkit to enable members of the public to get involved in monitoring the state of nature here.
  • We have been invited to participate in the Gwent Levels Working Group, established by John Griffiths MS – a multi-agency group with a common aim to keep the Levels alive.

 

FUNDING

We currently receive no funding for our work but if you would like to support us please get in touch using the contact form.

 

JOIN US

If you would like to join us and help with our campaigns, please contact us.