Reserves

Allt-yr-yn  20ha. ST 299888

A reserve with a variety of habitats including ancient semi-natural woodland, 2.5 acres of meadow cut yearly and five ponds. The ponds have shallow edges, ideal for studying pond life. Smooth and Common Newts are common and interesting flora elsewhere includes Broad-leaved Helleborines. Owned by Newport County Borough Council and managed by WING (Wildlife in Newport Group).

Branches Fork Meadow  2ha.  SO 269016

Oak woodland and invading scrub.  Damp heathy grassland with Devil's Bit Scabious.  Informal access from an adjacent cycleway.

Brockwells Meadows  SSSI  5ha.  ST 470896

Unimproved grasslands with a rich variety of limestone flora including Green-winged Orchids, Cowslips and Autumn Lady's Tresses. Plenty of birds.  Limited parking on the roadside.  Access by permit available from the GWT office.

Caldicot Pill  Less than 1ha. ST 487877

Lime-rich "soil" from excavations supports species such as Centuary, Purging Flax, Bee Orchids, Quaking Grass and Thyme.  Rabbits, Slow-worms, Ants, Burnet Moths and Marbled White Butterflies.  Roadside parking.

Coed Meyric Moel  Less than 1 ha.  ST 272940

An urban reserve in Cwmbran.  Woodland with small meadow, scrub and brambles. Good for butterflies, some birds, lots of insects.  Park beside the estate road at ST 271942.

Croes Robert Wood  SSSI 14ha.  SO 476059

The woodland was clear-felled about 1982 and the flora and fauna are changing as the trees grow up and mature. Clearings are colonised by flowering meadow plants which attract butterflies such as Silver-washed Fritillaries and White-letter Hairstreak. North facing slopes and streams keep the area moist so that ferns, bryophytes and fungi are well represented. Fallow Deer and Badgers frequent the wood and Woodcock can be heared "roding" over the rides in the Spring. Parking for 4 or 5 cars.

Dan Y Graig   2ha. ST 235905

The reserve is on a steep hillside with a calcareous soil. A young woodland gives good cover for many ferns including Hart's-tongue and Soft Shield ferns. Ant hills on the grassland have a characteristic flora of annuals such as Scarlet Pimpernel and Annual Pearlwort. Three species of Horsetail, Water Shrews and Kingfishers can be se en by the pond.

Dixton Embankment   1ha.  SO 527149

This 3 acre site was built of 10,000 tons of imported limestone to buttress the A40 road above. The basic soil supports an interesting flora including Bee and Pyramid Orchids, Wild Onions and masses of Yellow Rattle. The site is sheltered and attracts many butterflies and clouds of White-legged Damselflies in early summer. Limited parking.

Drybridge Park.  1ha.  SO 504127

Community NAture Reserve near the River Monnow on the SW side of Monmouth.  Native aquatic and marsh plants have been planted.  Parking in the car park by Monnow Bridge, access on foot.

Duffryn Pond  Less than 1ha.

South West of Newport.  Native aquatic and marsh plants have been planted.

Graig Wood  1ha.  SO507095

A small area of native woodland which is part of a much larger area of woodland overlooking Monmouth and the Black Mountains.  Very limited parking.

Hardwick Wood   Less then 1ha.  ST 455895

A mixed deciduous wood remnant with a rich ground flora of lime-loving orchids and other plants. Roadside parking.

Henllys Bog SSSI Less then 1 ha.  ST 264927

Eighty five plant species have been recorded including Marsh Helleborine and Sundew. Park at Pandy Mawr farm and walk down the track.

Kitty's Orchard  4ha.  SO 401046

Young woodland planting and semi-improved grassland.  Roadside parking.

Margarets Wood    4 ha.  SO 525070

A deciduous wood with a variety of mature trees good for fungi in the autumn and for birds. Very limited parking on the road to Whitebrook, close to the Crown pub. Walk up the steps in a scrubby field next to the pub.

Magor Marsh  SSSI  26ha.  ST 428866

The only major remnant of the Gwent Levels fenland habitat. Some now local or rare wetland plants are supported. The reens (drainage ditches) have Frogbit, Greater Duckweed and Celery-leaved Buttercup. Meadow Thistle, Marsh Ragwort and unusual sedges grow in the grazed meadows and Mare's-tail in the pond. Sedge and reed beds are important for breeding birds such as Sedge and Reed Warblers. Snipe, Shelduck and Water Rail can be seen from the hide. The marsh is the richest site in Wales for water beetles and many other groups of invertebrates. Car park.

New Grove Meadows   5ha.  SO 501067

The management of the two northern meadows has been limited to a simple cut of hay and no known fertiliser or pesticides. A rich insect fauna has developed, in season the grassland swarms with such insects as Grassland Chafers and Robber Flies and unusual butterflies include the Dark Green Fritillary. Large numbers of Green-winged and Common Spotted Orchids plus Twayblade and Early Purple Orchids are present plus hundreds of fronds of Adders-tongue Fern and the elusive Moonwort. The two southern fields are a more recent acquisition and intention is to enrich the wildlife, perhaps with seed from the northern fields. Car park in the wood at the end of the track.

Four dry meadows totalling 12 acres are cut for hay late in the season to allow the rich flora to flower and seed. Six species of orchid, including Early Purple and Greenwinged, flower in May, Spotted Orchids in June and Greater Butterfly Orchid in July. Adder's-tongue Fern grows diminutively by the footpath. Parking at the end of the track.

Peterstone Wentlooge Marshes  SSSI   40ha. ST 269799

This coastal reserve lies along the foreshore of the outer Severn Estuary and is an outstanding site for watching birds attracted to the rich feeding grounds of the saltmarsh and muddy tidal flats.  Park opposite Peterstone Wentlooge church and follow the footpath alongside the church signposted Sea Wall.

Priory Wood SSSI    5ha.  SO 352058

This is a varied broad-leaved woodland with an abundance of Cherry Trees, though the ground flora is limited. Rich in woodland birds with several species, such as Pied Flycatcher and Greater-spotted Woodpeckers, using the nesting boxes. Hawfinch occur in the wood and sometimes breed. North of the Usk near Chain Bridge. Very limited parking at the end of the track.

Prisk Wood SSSI    6ha.  SO 532092

A great diversity of trees and shrubs including Ash, Wych Elm, Cherry and Small-leaved Lime. Birds include Flycatchers, Sparrow Hawk and Woodcock. Insect life and fungi are abundant. Small old stone quarries provide ideal sites for ferns including the Hard Shield Fern. Car park off Lone Lane.

Ringland Wood  7ha.  ST 352883

WING (Wildlife in Newport Group) manages part of a wood owned by Charter Housing and Newport County Borough Council. It stands on a pocket of calcareous rock so the flora is interesting, including Early Purple Orchids. There is a large rookery in the wood.

Rogiet Poor Land   1ha.  ST 453883

Limestone grassland with Bramble and Blackthorn thickets have Lesser Broomrape, Early Purple Orchids, Small Scabious and Red Bartsia. Autumn Lady's Tresses, Greater Butterfly Orchid and the Large Robber Fly have been reported in the past. Very limited car parking on the roadside.

Silent Valley   SSSI  22ha.  SO 187062

The wood is mostly mature Beech with Oak, Alder and scrub. Flushes support a rich and interesting flora while nesting birds include Redstart and Pied Flycatcher. The old mining tips show examples of colonisation by lichens, mosses and grasses.

The Silent Valley Education Partnership, managed by Gwent Wildlife Trust, aims to provide environmental education for all ages and abilities. The reserve is used as an outdoor classroom, free to local schools, to study natural systems and to teach land management skills. Car park at SO 186060

Solutia Reserve at Great Traston Meadows  36ha  ST 453883

This reserve is notable for its grassland divided by reens (drainage ditches) which provide marshy habitats.  The flora includes reeds, rushes and sedges along with drier grassland species such as meadow vetchling.  Other specialities include southern marsh orchid and grass vetchling. 

Springdale Farm  47ha.  ST409995

One of the largest areas of unimproved grassland in Gwent.  Species-rich pastures in both dry and wet situations.  Well developed hedgerows.  Semi-natural broad-leaved woodland near a stream.  Acquired by the Trust in 2001.  Very limited parking - to be extended.

Strawberry Cottage Wood  SSSI  6ha.  SO 313216

Sessile Oak and Hazel wood. Interesting plants include Nettle-leaved Bellflower and Forester's Wood-rush along the bridle path while in a wet flush there are Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage and Loose-spiked Wood Sedge. Birds include Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Lesser-spotted Woodpecker. Park near the footbridge at SO 3122215.

Wern Plantation  4ha.  SO486087

A woodland hillside south west of Monmouth with bracken areas and badgers.  Roadside parking at the road junction.