About the reserve

Acquired in 2020, thanks to an incredible response to a short appeal, Bridewell Common Nature Reserve is designated within a wider Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The SSSI lies upon peaty ground and has the potential to support a more diverse plant-life than elsewhere in the more clay-heavy parts of the Gwent Levels.

Following acquisition, the Nature Reserve was closed to the public until Spring 2024. During this time, an almighty team of staff, volunteers and contractors 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 found here, we are pleased to announce that Bridewell Common is now open for all to enjoy.

Bridewell Common is designated as part of the Undy SSSI, one of 6 SSSI’s that cover the Gwent Levels. But this reserve is not the only one in our care here as just down the road is our well-established Magor Marsh reserve. Being so close to Magor Marsh will hugely benefit wildlife, enabling nature to forage, rest in, retreat and thrive in a larger, combined area totalling over 200 acres.

Bridewell Common is an area which lies upon peaty ground and has the potential to support a more diverse plant-life than elsewhere in the more clay-heavy parts of the Gwent Levels. It comprises of a series of damp, criss-crossing fields including areas of swamp, that are framed by a network of wildlife-rich reens and ditches, and lined by ancient willow pollards and scrub which further add to this valuable mosaic.

Prior to purchasing Bridewell Common, initial surveys of the land shown that rare wildlife were living in and around the waterways. Having this ancient landscape within our care has enabled us to enhance the reserve to benefit the huge range of rare or endangered 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 last 4 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.

We thank all those who helped make acquiring Bridwell Common a reality and would now like to welcome you all to this tranquil retreat for people and nature to enjoy together.