Silent Valley

Gwent Wildlife Trust
Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Gwent

Silent Valley - The Story So Far

By Kelvin Jones

The past 300 years have been a time of great change for the Gwent Valleys. What once was picturesque rural farmland evolved almost overnight into a thriving industrial centre, only to just as quickly turn into the tainted scarred landscape that most of us still associate with post industrial Wales. But look deeper and that is not at all what you will find. The decline in heavy industry has brought with it a surprising after effect, the wildlife that was once forgotten in the industrial rush is now in its wake making a slow come back to the area it once dominated. Nowhere can this change be seen more clearly than at the Silent Valley Local Nature Reserve.

Located just behind the village of Cwm near Ebbw Vale lies a prime example of nature 'fighting back'. This beautiful and tranquil (after all that is how it got its name) site was established in early 1998 with the merging of the Cwm Merddog and Coed Tyn-y-gelli woodlands. It covers approximately 50ha and contains numerous plant communities from grassland to wetlands, heaths and of course woodlands.

The area was once farmed, indeed the name Merddog is believed to be a corruption of the name of the old farm that used to be here, Troed y Rhiw y Myrdd Fach, which translated means 'the foot of the myriad little hills'. The remaining semi-natural beech woodland is the highest and most westerly occurring example of its kind in the whole of the UK and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The reserve is home to numerous plants such as narrow buckler fern, heath spotted orchid and helleborines. Birds including green woodpeckers, pied flycatchers and redstarts are also on view at various times throughout the year.

The reserve has for years been used by the local community as a quiet place to relax, walk the dog and enjoy the beauty of the valleys. Indeed the designation of the site as a local nature reserve has meant that management has always taken place with people in mind. The aim has been to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for wildlife that can also be enjoyed by the community at large. To do this many community and education events are run on the reserve. Silent Valley Local Nature Reserve exists to promote people working in harmony with wildlife. Indeed the reserve follows the philosophy that "you will only protect what you appreciate, you will only appreciate what you understand and you will only understand what you have been taught." For a reserve to flourish in a local community, people, need to play a large part.

Silent Valley's commitment to community work and education is clearly echoed in its ever-growing relationships with local schools and community groups. Over the course of the past year, more than 1600 children have passed through its gates.. school children and visiting community groups have the opportunity to practice woodland management skills and the chance to study all the mini- beasts that work so hard reducing, re-using and recycling natural waste. Assistant Project Officer Morag Boyd says, "We hope children leave us with the understanding that everyone has some effect on the world around them. The key is to make sure your effect is positive, for example by minimising the amount of waste produced you can not only protect natural resources but also save money. By volunteering you can not only help increase your skills but also manage wildlife".

Community groups such as Wildlife Watch Clubs, Scouts, Prince's Trust, local history groups, Air Training Corps and BTCV, (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) have all taken part in the activities to study and improve their local environment.

The project at Silent Valley has only been made possible by partnership working and funding. The Local Authority, Silent Valley Environmental Trust, European Regional Development Fund, Woodland Grant Scheme, Countryside Council for Wales and the Gwent Wildlife Trust combine to provide management and funding for the reserve.