Welcome to the Gwent Levels ‘Revealed’ by TV’s Miranda! fifth edition of our ‘Living the Levels’ BBC ‘One Show’ wildlife reporter and RSPB President Miranda newsletter which Krestovnikoff will be opening a new tactile timeline relief model will keep everyone sculpture and joining in with some free fun family activities at who has expressed Newport Wetlands, as part of the launch of the Living Levels ‘Gwent an interest in the Levels Revealed’ project – and you’re invited! Living Levels Landscape Miranda will be unveiling a unique bronze relief model and a steel etched Partnership up to timeline created by artist Ruben Eynon, based on a relief model of a date. typical area of Gwent Levels landscape showing the intricacies of the historic drainage system and sea defences and their key role in maintaining the habitats and landscape which survives today. The Partnership aims to recapture, enhance This feature is sure to delight visitors to the Wetlands and forms a major and celebrate the part of some exciting new exhibits and features coming to the unique Gwent Levels Environmental Education and Visitor Centre, showcasing the fascinating and has successfully ways in which the Gwent Levels landscape has been created and been awarded a £2.5 maintained throughout the ages, from early occupation through Roman million grant from reclamation to modern times. Exhibits include a small exhibition space the National Lottery including an Augmented Reality (AR) interactive map of the Levels by Heritage Fund. Andy O’Rourke (Malarky Arts) and students from University of South Wales, a poem by famous local poet W H Davies and a range of replica prehistoric bones, tools and artefacts from the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age for handling. If you would like to meet a Roman, see a coracle, or even have a go at cave painting come on down and join Miranda at Newport Wetlands on Saturday June 8th 11am – 3pm and enjoy activities and demos celebrating the history and natural heritage of the Gwent Levels. Long walks, tall tales and big skies! BioBlitz the Castle! Friday 17th May 10.00am – 3.00pm Join us to explore and record the biodiversity of Caldicot Castle and Country Park. Expert wildlife recorders and resources will be on hand to help with species identification, plus you will be able to learn how to use Getting down and dirty on the foreshore apps and websites to turn your sightings into throws up Bronze Age bones! records Over the past four days, a group of archaeology enthusiasts have BioBlitz the Marsh! been taking part in an excavation of Bronze Age paleochannels Tuesday 28th May (2300 BC to 750 BC) on the foreshore of the Severn Estuary at 11.00am – 4.00pm Peterstone, on the Wentlooge Levels. Magor Marsh Nature Reserve Cost: £2.00 per Led by Professor Martin Bell and his team from the University of child An event for all Reading, the group have been learning how to search for, excavate and the family. record archaeological artefacts as well as how to interpret the findings Working alongside and what they can tell us about how people and wildlife lived and wildlife specialists we interacted during this time. will identify as many species of plant, trees, For two days the group braved the intertidal mud, including some rather bugs, mammals and inclement weather on the first day and more than a few slips in the birds that are present sticky mud! Their physical exertions were well worth it as they were able on this day. Wear long to source a number of important artefacts, which were brought back to sleeves and trousers. Newport Ship on the final day of the course for cleaning, recording and Refreshments in processing. Their finds included worked wooden posts and a large Centre. Parking limited, number of animal bones, including a spectacular red deer antler that so please park in Magor bore several cut marks and would almost certainly have been used as a village tool during the Bronze Age. Learn about the The participants feedback about the event was overwhelmingly positive Levels: Black Rock with everybody reporting that they had enjoyed the course and learned Picnic Site Wednesday more about the heritage of the Gwent Levels. A report of the findings 29th May will be published in due course and we’ll provide a summary as soon as 10.00am – 12.00pm it is available, so check back for more information. A fun family treasure hunt. Answer riddles Living Levels is planning a number of other archaeological and rhymes in a quest activities and events over the next two years including GIS to find out more about mapping and analysis, building recording, small-scale excavation the wonderful wildlife, and test-pitting. If you’d like to find out more, please email heritage and history of [email protected] the Gwent Levels. Why not bring a picnic to enjoy after the event? Long walks, tall tales and big skies! Stories and songs from the Levels Friday 31st May 7.30pm Storyteller Christine Watkins and musician Guto Dafis (voice, accordion) bring you an evening of stories, folk legends and music from the Gwent Levels in the cosy surrounds of the Farmers Arms in Goldcliff. Meet at: The Farmer’s Arms Gwent Levels Revealed Launch Saturday 8th Coleg Gwent art students warn of ‘Alien’ June 11am-3pm If you would like to meet threat! a Roman, see a coracle, or even have a go at cave Students at Coleg Gwent, City of Newport Campus have been painting come on down working to produce ‘B-movie’ style posters and life-like sculptures and join Miranda at with the brief of ‘Alien Invasion’ as an effective and eye-catching Newport Wetlands on way of raising awareness of possible Invasive Non-Native Species Saturday June 8th (INNS) that could one day be a threat to the Gwent Levels. 11am – 3pm and enjoy activities and demos The wonderfully detailed and striking art pieces, produced by a class celebrating the history of 33 students, will be showcased at several events in 2019 and avail- and natural heritage of able for public view at the Riverfront Theatre, Newport from Friday 15 the Gwent Levels. £3 to Wednesday 26 June 2019. These select images present a tantalising parking flavour of some of the artwork we hope will raise the profile of Invasive Non-Native Species and appeal to a wide audience. BioBlitz the Lake! The interconnected nature of the Levels’ 900 miles of reens and ditches Thursday 13th June leaves it particularly vulnerable to the colonisation and spread of in- 10.00am – 3.00pm Join vasive non-native species. The ‘Defend the Levels from ‘Alien Invasion’ us to explore and record project, delivered by Natural Resources Wales, aims to improve aware- the biodiversity of ness, recording and management of INNS to help protect this precious Hendre Lake Park. Expert landscape. wildlife recorders and resources will be on hand For further details of this project and information about Invasive to help with species Non-Native Species please contact Nick Sharp (Natural Resources identification, plus you Wales) [email protected] will be able to learn how to use apps and websites to turn your sightings into records. Meet at: Hendre Lake Long walks, tall tales and big skies! Wild Watch: Training Day Thursday 20th June 10.30pm- 4.40pm Through talks, field walks and ‘hands- on’ practical sessions, we will introduce you to 12 Gwent Levels target species and basic survey skills. Meet at: Newport Wetlands (£3 parking) Join us on our ‘Wild Tour’ to BioBlitz the Levels! Wild Watch: Training Day We are bringing a series of ‘BioBlitz’s’ at ‘The Marsh’ ‘The Castle’ ‘The Thursday 27th June Lake’ and ‘The House’ across the Gwent Levels this May to July at a 10.30pm- 4.00pm variety of different venues, some traditional and some brand new! Through talks, field walks and ‘hands-on’ This is your chance to help us record as many living species as possible by practical sessions, we rocking up to your nearest venue (or further afield if you’re feeling will introduce you to adventurous!) and learning about the biodiversity of these sites from 12 Gwent Levels target experts, keen enthusiasts and volunteers in different fields such as plants, species and basic insects, birds and mammals. survey skills. Meet at: Magor Marsh So why not put some time aside and come on down to learn, discover and Nature Reserve contribute to a valuable record for this unique landscape whilst taking in the beauty of Magor Marsh, majesty of Caldicot Castle, grandeur of Tredegar House or the popular parkland of Hendre Lake? We hope you can join us to paint a picture of the biodiversity found at these iconic Living Levels ‘hubs’, from Cardiff to Caldicot, on the magnificent Gwent Levels! Caldicot Castle Friday 17th May 10.00 – 3.00pm Magor Marsh Tuesday 28th May 11.00 – 4.00pm Hendre Lake, St. Mellons Thursday 13th June 10.00 – 3.00pm Tredegar House parkland Saturday 6th July 11.00 – 3.00pm We’re looking for your stories... We know there’s loads of fascinating stories from the Levels as some of you have told us some great ones already– we’d like to share them as they are a great insight to the history of the Levels. So, if you have any out- standing memories or you would like to help collect these tales, then please get in touch. Bell tower graffiti tells a story we want to This is your chance to be hear! part of this exciting and fascinating project that ‘Life on the Levels’ is gathering pace as we start recording our oral will create a historical histories of the Gwent Levels.