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Since July 2003, the Gwent Wildlife Trust’s Green Key Project volunteers
have been transforming the Magor Marsh reserve.
Paths and boardwalks have been maintained and vital habitat management has
been put in place, whilst the Derek Upton Centre has been transformed.
Broadwalk repair and reed screen
construction. |
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The project’s vision came from a partnership between the community
occupational therapists of Newport Community Mental Health Team and the
Gwent Wildlife Trust. People from a broad range of backgrounds are now
regularly attending the work tasks. A large group from MIND, assisted by
artist Sarah Osbourne, worked with the project to provide amazing seasonal
murals for the Derek Upton Centre. Seeing these inspired Corus Strip
Products Ltd (who were major funders of the building) to add their support
to the project.
The Project is designed to give people the chance to volunteer for wildlife
who might not otherwise get involved. A grant from the Wildlife Trust’s
Lottery-supported “Unlocking the Potential” fund got the project going,
whilst further financial support has come from the Assembly via the Welsh
Council for Voluntary Action.
The project is introducing people to the joys of getting out and getting
muddy. It is also an important link in getting the people of Newport
interested in the magical wetlands of the Gwent Levels.
The Project’s volunteers are also working at Rogiet Poorland. Rights to
graze these four acres were originally offered to the local “Labouring Poor”
on 14 July 1855. By the time that the Gwent Wildlife Trust took it over in
1991, grazing animals were a distant memory, and scrub had well and truly
took hold, at the expense of the site’s fragile limestone grassland. Now the
Green Key Project has helped open up this reserve, so its cowslips, knapweed
and small scabious can survive and be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
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