Wild at Water’s Edge

St Brides Wentlooge is nestled within the Gwent Levels, one of the most important and ecologically sensitive landscapes in Wales. These ancient coastal wetlands, shaped by both nature and centuries of human management, are a defining feature of the area.

The land itself is reclaimed marshland, protected from the Bristol Channel by sea walls and crisscrossed with a unique system of drainage ditches known locally as reens. These man-made waterways date back to Roman times and continue to shape the landscape, supporting both farming and biodiversity.

Today, the area is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its rare and nationally important species. It is home to:

o The endangered shrill carder bee

o A variety of dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies

o Aquatic plants and wetland grasses not found in many other parts of the UK

o An abundance of birdlife, amphibians, and small mammals, such as Lapwing and Herons

St Brides is a Green Wedge area – a planning designation that protects open spaces from urban development and helps maintain the rural character between expanding towns and cities.

These designations reflect not only the area's natural value, but also its cultural and environmental heritage. The relationship between the land and its people – from traditional farming practices to local conservation efforts – is vital to its continued preservation.

As a community, we’re proud to be stewards of this extraordinary landscape and are committed to protecting its rich biodiversity for future generations.

Sources

Natural Resources Wales. Gwent Levels Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Retrieved from: https://naturalresources.wales

Gwent Wildlife Trust. Magor Marsh and Gwent Levels. Retrieved from: https://www.gwentwildlife.org

RSPB Cymru. Protecting Wetland Habitats on the Gwent Levels. Retrieved from: https://www.rspb.org.uk

Friends of the Gwent Levels (FOGL). Local Conservation and Species Data. Retrieved from: https://friendsofthegwentlevels.org.uk

Newport City Council. Local Development Plan: Green Wedge & Environmental Policy. Retrieved from: https://www.newport.gov.uk

Wales Biodiversity Partnership. Priority Habitats & Protected Species Information. Retrieved from: https://biodiversitywales.org.uk

Living Levels. Nature & Wildlife. Retrieved from: https://www.livinglevels.org.uk/nature-wildlife