Gwent Levels

Available for over a year

Helen Mark explores the Gwent Levels, an extensive low lying area on the north side of the Severn Estuary in South Wales registered as a Historic Landscape of Outstanding Interest. The area has a rich archaelogical past and tell a fascinating story of the recent social history of Wales and the battle between man and river, as well as being home to Magor Marsh, the last fenland on the Levels. Helen meets Kevin Dupe, Reserve Manager of the Newport Wetlands to find out how the Reserve fits into the history of the area and Chris Hurn who gives Helen a sense of the interaction between man and wildlife, a sense of change, and an idea of the friendships had on the Levels. Artist, Jill Hobbs, tells Helen how she uses her love of this landscape to create her own representations of it and Helen also climbs the tower at Redwick Church with Rick Turner for a birds eye view of this landscape. Archaeologist, Nigel Nayling, gives Helen a sense of the ancient history of the area and gamekeeper, Paul Cawley explains the importance of conservation for such an important area. Presenter: Helen Mark Producer: Elizabeth Pearson.