An amazing place for people and for wildlifeThe Gwent Levels is renowned for the specialist wildlife it supports, its rich patchwork of different habitats and beautiful landscapes that sweep the Severn Estuary coastline, from Cardiff past the Severn Bridge and beyond.

Along the way, the Gwent Levels Futurescape covers the Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve (NNR), Magor Marsh Wildlife Trust reserve and several other key sites where organisations are working together to save wildlife for future generations to enjoy. This is one of the largest “hand crafted” landscapes in the UK, internationally recognised for its archeological remains and distinct field patterns first reclaimed from the sea in Roman times. The suite of designated sites that form the protected sections of the Levels covers approximately 5,700 hectares and is a mixture of habitats, such as coastal floodplains, drainage channels known locally as “reens”, saltmarshes and mudflats. It’s this mix of wetlands that allows so many species of insects, animals and birds to find homes here.

Wildlife knows no boundaries, which is why we are working together with partners, conservation groups, communities, local farmers and individuals across Wales as part of the Futurescapes programme.

Partnership work so farThe Gwent Levels holds a significant amount of Wales’ reedbeds and provides one of the best opportunities in Wales to deliver high-quality wetlands. Organisations have been working in partnership here for some years, with the creation of Newport Wetlands NNR an example of how wildlife can thrive in this area through co-operation and careful management. Owned and managed by Natural Resources Wales, the reserve was founded as compensation for the Cardiff Bay Barrage. It is now home to the only Welsh breeding population of bearded tits and was the first place in Wales to attract breeding avocets. The Environmental Education and Visitor Centre has gone from strength to strength since opening in 2008, it now attracts over 100,000 visitors a year.

The Gwent Wildlife Trust has successfully run a reintroduction programme for water voles on the eastern section of the Gwent Levels, centred around its beautiful Magor Marsh nature reserve. This has been a great example of statutory organisations working together with the voluntary sector and landowners, eradicating the invasive non-native mink, and bringing back one of the UK’s most threatened mammals to an ideal wetland mosaic.

With the Wales Coast Path passing directly through the Gwent Levels, it is hoped that future partnership projects will raise awareness of the great cultural, historic and wildlife experiences that this landscape has to offer.

Gwent Levels

Newport Wetlands

Capercaillie are woodland grouse, confined to native pine forest and some commercial conifer plantations. Their needs are not straightforward as they require vast expanses of suitable habitat. Males are black, huge and unmistakable, especially so when they gather to perform their mating ritual at traditional lek sites. They spend a lot of time feeding on blaeberries on the ground, but may also be found in trees, feeding on pine needles. The UK capercaillie population and range has declined rapidly, and the species is now at risk of extinction. Conservation and restoration of the habitat is essential if they are to thrive once more.

DECLINE of the CapercaillieAs part of a “Living Levels” landscape partnership, we’re thinking big. In collaboration with communities, farmers, businesses and many organisations, we’ve identified pilot areas where together we can focus advice and management; working closely with landowners to bring nature and colour back to the Gwent Levels. We have ambitions for this area to become a demonstration for sustainable development in action, integrating flood-risk management with landowner engagement, wildlife, and improved access for recreation and “active transport”. We would love to see this unique corner of Wales leading the way in applying an ecosystem approach to managing our environment for future generations.

Balancing people and nature

What’s next?Through the Living Levels landscape partnership, many organisations active in the Gwent Levels are aiming to work together with communities, businesses and landowners to design collaborative projects that benefit both people and nature.

The Gwent Levels must be managed sustainably to retain its unique character, and promote the importance of this distinctive landscape to both the history and future of Wales.

Get in touchWe want to hear your ideas about how we can work together to make the Gwent Levels even better for people and wildlife.

Produced by RSPB CDMU © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787

The Gwent Levels is the largest drainage system in Wales, providing homes for a range of rare aquatic plants and invertebrates. Although this area is an excellent place for wildlife, it will only remain so if it is managed carefully.”Kate Rodgers, Natural Resources Wales

“Gwent Levels

Newport Wetlands Environmental Education and Visitor CentreT 01633 636363E cymru@rspb.org.uk

Futurescapes is the RSPB’s contribution to landscape-scale conservation throughout the UK. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654. Images: Newport Wetlands by David Wootton and bearded tit by Edwin Kats (both rspb-images.com). Maps produced by RSPB CDMU © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787. 020-1-0804-14-15

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International, a partnership of conservation organisations working to give nature a home around the world

Futurescapes is generously supported by the EU Life+ Communications Programme

Natura 2000 – Europe’s nature for you. We are working together across the EU to safeguard Europe’s rich and diverse natural heritage for the benefit of all.

The Gwent Levels Futurescape project is kindly supported by:

Chepstow

GoldcliffMarshfield

Peterstone

Cardiff

Magor

Redwick

Nash

Newport

KEY main road Futurescape area Special Protection Area Living Levels boundary

Caldicot

Lle rhyfeddol i bobl ac i fywyd gwylltMae Lefelau Gwent yn adnabyddus am gynnal bywyd gwyllt arbenigol, am ei frithwaith cyfoethog o wahanol gynefinoedd ac am y tirweddau hardd ar hyd glannau Aber Hafren, o Gaerdydd heibio Pont Hafren a thu hwnt.

O fewn ardal Lefelau Gwent mae Gwarchodfa Natur Genedlaethol (GNG) Gwlyptiroedd Casnewydd, gwarchodfa Morfa Magwyr y Gymdeithas Byd Natur a sawl safle allweddol arall lle mae cyrff yn cydweithio i achub bywyd gwyllt fel bod cenedlaethau’r dyfodol yn gallu ei fwynhau.

Yn derbyn cydnabyddiaeth ryngwladol am ei weddillion archeolegol a phatrymau caeau nodweddiadol, dyma un o dirluniau mwyaf y DU “a luniwyd â llaw dyn”, ac fe’i hadhawliwyd o’r môr am y tro cyntaf yng nghyfnod y Rhufeiniaid. Mae arwynebedd o oddeutu 5,700 hectar i’r safleoedd dynodedig sy’n ffurfio’r adrannau gwarchodedig o’r Lefelau ac mae yma gymysgedd o gynefinoedd, megis gorlifdir arfordirol, sianeli draenio, morfeydd heli a phonciau lleidiog. Y gymysgedd hon o wlyptiroedd sy’n galluogi i gymaint o rywogaethau o bryfed, anifeiliaid ac adar ymgartrefu yma.

Nid yw bywyd gwyllt yn dilyn ffiniau felly dyna pam yr ydym yn cydweithio gyda phartneriaid, grwpiau cadwraeth, cymunedau, ffermwyr lleol ac unigolion ledled Cymru fel rhan o’r rhaglen Tirwedd y Dyfodol.

Gwaith partneriaeth hyd ymaMae Lefelau Gwent yn cynnal arwynebedd arwyddocaol o welyau cyrs Cymru ac yn darparu un o gyfleoedd gorau’r wlad i sicrhau gwlyptiroedd o ansawdd da. Mae cyrff wedi cydweithio mewn partneriaeth yma ers rhai blynyddoedd, ac roedd creu GNG Gwlyptiroedd Casnewydd yn enghraifft o sut all bywyd gwyllt ffynnu yn yr ardal hon drwy gydweithrediad a rheolaeth ofalus. Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru sy’n berchen ar y warchodfa a hwy sy’n ei rheoli, a sefydlwyd y warchodfa i wneud yn iawn am Fared Bae Caerdydd. Bellach mae’n gartref i’r unig boblogaeth yng Nghymru o ditwod barfog a dyma’r lleoliad cyntaf yng Nghymru i ddenu’r cambig i nythu. Yn denu dros 100,000 o ymwelwyr bob blwyddyn, mae’r Ganolfan Addysg ac Ymwelwyr wedi bod yn llwyddiant ysgubol ers ei hagor yn 2008.

Mae Cymdeithas Byd Natur Gwent wedi llwyddo i gynnal rhaglen o ailgyflwyno llygod pengrwn y d∑r ar adran ddwyreiniol Lefelau Gwent, gan ganolbwyntio ar ardal gwarchodfa natur hardd Morfa Magwyr. Dyma enghraifft ragorol o gyrff statudol yn cydweithio gyda’r sector gwirfoddol a thirfeddianwyr i ddifa’r minc ymledol anfrodorol, a dod ag un o’r mamaliaid sydd heddiw mewn perygl mawr yn ôl i fosaig delfrydol o wlyptir.

Gan fod Llwybr Arfordir Cymru’n mynd yn uniongyrchol drwy Lefelau Gwent, gobeithir y bydd projectau partneriaeth yn y dyfodol yn codi ymwybyddiaeth o’r profiadau diwylliannol, hanesyddol ac o ran bywyd gwyllt a gynigir gan y dirwedd hon.

Lefelau Gwent

Gwlyptiroedd Casnewydd

Capercaillie are woodland grouse, confined to native pine forest and some commercial conifer plantations. Their needs are not straightforward as they require vast expanses of suitable habitat. Males are black, huge and unmistakable, especially so when they gather to perform their mating ritual at traditional lek sites. They spend a lot of time feeding on blaeberries on the ground, but may also be found in trees, feeding on pine needles. The UK capercaillie population and range has declined rapidly, and the species is now at risk of extinction. Conservation and restoration of the habitat is essential if they are to thrive once more.

DECLINE of the CapercaillieFel rhan o bartneriaeth dirwedd “Lefelau Byw”, rydym yn gweithredu ar raddfa fawr. Mewn cydweithrediad â chymunedau, ffermwyr, busnesau a llu o gyrff eraill rydym wedi nodi ardaloedd peilot lle gallwn gyda’n gilydd ganolbwyntio ar gynghori a rheoli, a chydweithio’n agos gyda thirfeddianwyr i ddod â byd natur a lliw’n ôl i Lefelau Gwent. Ein huchelgais ar gyfer yr ardal hon yw y bydd Lefelau Gwent yn datblygu’n ardal arddangos ar gyfer datblygu cynaliadwy ar waith, wrth integreiddio rheolaeth rhag perygl llifogydd gyda chyfraniad tirfeddianwyr, bywyd gwyllt, a gwell mynediad ar gyfer hamdden a “thrafnidiaeth ar waith”. Byddem yn falch iawn o weld y gornel unigryw hon o Gymru ar flaen y gad o ran gweithredu dull ecosystem o reoli ein hamgylchedd ar gyfer cenedlaethau’r dyfodol.

Sicrhau cydbwysedd rhwng pobl a byd natur

Beth nesaf?Drwy gyfrwng y bartneriaeth dirwedd Tirwedd y Dyfodol, nod llawer o gyrff sy’n gweithredu yn Lefelau Gwent yw cydweithio gyda chymunedau, busnesau a thirfeddianwyr i gynllunio projectau ar y cyd sydd o fudd i bobl a byd natur.

Rhaid rheoli Lefelau Gwent yn gynaliadwy i gynnal eu cymeriad unigryw, a hyrwyddo pwysigrwydd y dirwedd nodweddiadol hon i hanes a dyfodol Cymru.

CysylltuHoffem glywed eich syniadau ynglŷn â sut allwn ni gydweithio i sicrhau bod Lefelau Gwent hyd yn oed yn well i bobl ac i fyd natur.

Produced by RSPB CDMU © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787

Lefelau Gwent yw system ddraenio fwyaf Cymru ac mae’n darparu cartrefi i ystod o blanhigion dwr prin ac infertebratau. Er bod y safle’n lle ardderchog i fywyd gwyllt, ni fydd yn parhau felly os na gaiff ei reoli’n briodol.”Kate Rodgers, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru

“Lefelau Gwent

Canolfan Addysg ac Ymwelwyr Gwlyptiroedd CasnewyddT 01633 636363E cymru@rspb.org.uk

Cyfraniad yr RSPB i gadwraeth ar raddfa’r dirwedd ledled y DU yw Tirwedd y Dyfodol. Mae’r Gymdeithas Frenhinol er Gwarchod Adar (RSPB) yn elusen gofrestredig: Lloegr a Chymru rhif 207076, Yr Alban rhif SC037654. Lluniau: Gwlyptiroedd Casnewydd gan David Wootton a thitw barfog gan Edwin Kats (y ddau o rspb-images.com). Cynhyrchwyd y mapiau gan RSPB CDMU © Hawlfraint y Goron. Cedwir pob hawl. Trwydded yr RSPB 100021787. 020-1-0804-14-15

Mae’r RSPB yn aelod o BirdLife International, partneriaeth o gyrff cadwraeth sy’n gweithio i roi cartref i fyd natur ledled y byd

Cefnogir Tirwedd y Dyfodol yn hael gan Raglen Gyfathrebu EU Life+

Natura 2000 – byd natur Ewrop i chi. Rydym yn cydweithio ledled yr UE i warchod treftadaeth naturiol cyfoethog ac amrywiol Ewrop er budd pawb.

Cefnogir Tirwedd y Dyfodol Lefelau Gwent yn garedig gan:

Cas-gwent

AllteurynMaerun

Llanbedr

Caerdydd

Magwyr

Y Redwig

Trefonnen

Casnewydd

Allwedd priffordd ardal Tirwedd y Dyfodol Ardal Gwarchodaeth Arbennig terfyn Lefelau Byw

Caldicot