Mike Webb, planning manager for GWT explains; "Lapwings are in massive and potentially catastrophic decline. They are ground-nesting birds, so a solar plant, or any other development, is a no-no for them. If you take away the habitat for rare ground-nesting birds, then they simply cannot produce any young – with obvious consequences for their future. The existing solar plant in Llanwern has already had a devastating impact on the lapwings that used to breed there. Llanwern’s published post-construction monitoring documentation states that lapwings have left the development site and have not moved to the compensation site.

This is not surprising, as lapwings show a very high degree of site faithfulness to the birth area, compensation sites can be very difficult to deliver, and their success is low, especially where the breeding population is precarious, as it is on the Gwent Levels.

The birds return to the general breeding area each year, but only an extremely small proportion of birds will search beyond the birth area, especially in situations like we have in Gwent, where breeding sites are shrinking.  Furthermore, lapwings are loosely colonial, so any harm to a breeding area is disproportionately damaging, because it reduces the ability of the colony to defend itself against predators.”

Mike continues: “The seemingly unstoppable march of huge solar plants across our Levels landscape serves to remind us of the enormity of threats facing Gwent wildlife.  This is why we have launched a petition calling on the Senedd to halt significant new development on the SSSI. 

I need to stress, we are not opposed to solar plants, simply demand that these are not located where they will damage nationally important wildlife habitats and scarce and vulnerable species like lapwings.”

Mike explains the enormity of the impact these huge proposed solar plants will have on the landscape: “These power stations cannot be built without significant damage to the landscape.  They involve miles of underground cabling dug into our fragile wetlands, kilometres of fencing, lighting, noise, and ongoing maintenance that causes disruption to wildlife.  For the spectacularly beautiful lapwing, all the above could mean that this bird disappears from the Gwent Levels landscape.

This is why, in defence of the Gwent Levels, and the vulnerable wildlife they support, GWT is calling for a halt on all significant development in the region. If you love the Levels, please our Senedd petition.” 

Below is the plea from Gwent Wildlife Trust to everyone who loves this special landscape.

Halt significant new development on the Gwent Levels SSSI

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION TO SAVE THE GWENT LEVELS. 

Please  add your name to the Senedd petition, by clicking here. 

Signing this petition means that, while being fully aware of the threats posed by the Climate and Nature Emergencies, you call on the Minister and the Senedd to take measures to halt significant new development on the Gwent Levels.