At the event after leading wildlife walks around the reserve, Gwent Wildlife Trust thanked guests, including local community representatives, supporters, volunteers and staff, who had contributed to the acquisition and restoration of this beautiful 33-hectare site. 

Sitting within the eastern Gwent Levels, tucked below Magor and Undy, Bridewell Common was acquired by Gwent Wildlife Trust (GWT) in 2020 thanks to an incredible response to a short fundraising appeal. The reserve has been closed to the public until spring this year, while a series of major restoration and safety works were carried out. 

Bridewell Common sits within the Magor and Undy Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), lying upon peaty ground which has the potential to support a more diverse plant-life than elsewhere in the more clay-heavy parts of the Gwent Levels. This vast wetland landscape, stretching from Cardiff in the west, to Chepstow in the east, has been shaped by humans over millennia, giving rise to a landscape that is nationally important and recognised for its diverse community of rare aquatic plants and invertebrates.  

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: "Securing the future of important and beautiful natural places like Bridewell Common is absolutely key to achieving the UK's commitment to protect at least 30% of our land and sea by 2030. Making more space for nature to become abundant once again will give our struggling wildlife the chance to recover in Wales and will also provide wonderful wild places for people to enjoy. Restoring these habitats is vital to store carbon and helps to tackle the climate crisis. Three cheers for Gwent Wildlife Trust and its supporters for doing such a brilliant job of saving this jewel in the Levels!"

In her speech at the opening event, Gemma Bodé, GWT’s Interim CEO and Head of Nature Recovery paid tribute to a collective local effort: “An almighty team of staff, volunteers and local contractors and graziers at Gwent Wildlife Trust have worked tremendously hard in ensuring the site is safe for people and initial, major restoration works undertaken for wildlife before opening. By focusing our efforts on tree safety work, creating accessible routes throughout the reserve and managing the land to benefit the rare and beautiful wildlife such as otters, water voles, butterflies and dragonflies found here, we are pleased to announce that Bridewell Common is now open for all to enjoy.” 

The restoration of Bridewell Common supports the Trust’s ongoing commitment to protect, restore and reconnect nature on the Gwent Levels. Their newest reserve is connected to their oldest and most well-established reserve at Magor Marsh. With the Gwent Levels at constant risk from damaging development including huge multiple solar power stations, the Trust is also calling on Welsh Government to strengthen protection of the Gwent Levels SSSIs by calling for halt to all Damaging Developments on SSSIs. 

Prior to GWT purchasing Bridewell Common, initial surveys of the land had shown that rare wildlife were living in and around the waterways known locally as reens. 

Gemma added: “Having this ancient landscape within our care has enabled us to enhance the reserve to benefit the huge range of rare and threatened wildlife found here, including species such as otters, water voles, different flora including Tubular Water-Dropwort, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies and water beetles. Different bird species, including Snipe, Reed Bunting and Barn Owl and the Brown-banded Carder Bee also call Bridewell Common home. 

“Over the past four years, a lot of work has gone into opening up dry, double hedge ditches into open, water filled ditches thriving with nationally important wildlife.  Hay has been cut every year and a local grazier aftermath grazes the site with his cattle. We have also planted a new orchard full of local fruit varieties.  Other activities have included pollarding willows and poplars to make them safe for visitors and to increase their longevity with their crooks and crannies providing multiple niches for the important insects on site. 

Bridewell Common is free to access and one of 30 nature reserves owned and managed by GWT. 

Welcoming visitors to their newest reserve Gemma said: “We thank all those who helped make acquiring Bridewell Common a reality and would now like to welcome you all to this tranquil retreat for people and nature to enjoy together.  

“As shown by our commitment to Bridewell Common, our Trust we will continue to fight to preserve and protect the Gwent Levels’ unique and ancient mosaic of landscapes for people and wildlife, now and for future generations.”