Our Living Levels

18/02/2026

Have your say and help protect the Gwent Levels.

Gwent Levels Consultation is now open!💬

Welsh Government have launched a public consultation on the Draft Strategic Planning Guidance for the Gwent Levels.🌳

Even though parts of the Levels are already protected for their wildlife and historic value, they are still at risk from planning and development. Welsh Government is updating planning guidance to ensure a consistent, evidence-based approach to planning across the levels, and that future planning decisions support a resilient environment, restore ecological networks, and secure long-term benefits for nature and communities. 🦆

📝To have your say, visit:
https://www.gov.wales/strategic-planning-guidance-gwent-levels-national-natural-resource-area
The consultation runs from 17 February 2026 to 31 March 2026 at 4pm.

03/02/2026

Basque Oak and Portugese Wine: A Medieval Merchant Ship Reveals Her Secrets

Cardiff University have a free online lecture on Wednesday 11th Feb featuring Dr Toby Jones talking about the latest findings of the Newport Medieval Ship Project.

Book on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-the-pasthistorical-assoc-online-free-lecture-1122026-7pm-tickets-1981480499514

02/02/2026

02/02/2026

Another fascinating find out on the Severn Estuary mudflats.

14/12/2025

Life on the Levels was an oral history project in our previous phase which aimed to preserve voices of the from the 1930s onward.

Over next few weeks we’ll be sharing stories of resilience, tradition, and connection to the landscape 🌾

Mike Mazzoleni reflects on growing up in Whitson, where fishing in the Severn Estuary meant relying on traditional methods passed down through generations 🎣🐟

“I just love the place! This is one of my favourite places on the planet and I’ve been all around the world on ships.”

🔗Find out more and hear other local stories - https://www.livinglevels.org.uk/life-on-the-levels

🎥 - Marsha O'Mahony

11/12/2025

🌿 Mistletoe is a seasonal favourite! 🌿

Once revered by Druids as a symbol of life enduring through the cold, dark winter months ❄️ If hung above doorways, it was also believed to protect homes from storms and evil 🏠 It later became a sign of love and fertility, inspiring the tradition of kissing beneath it!

Next time you visit the make sure to look up!👀
Mistletoe grows high in the canopy across the landscape and spotting it on an oak tree was once believed to be a sign of great sacredness!✨💫

📖🔎 Want to learn how to identify mistletoe? Check out our Wild Watch species guide 👉 https://www.livinglevels.org.uk/wild-watch-2022/2023/1/19/mistletoe

📸- Chris Harris

07/12/2025

Life on the Levels was an oral history project in our previous phase which aimed to preserve voices of the from the 1930s onward.

Over next few weeks we’ll be sharing stories of resilience, tradition, and connection to the landscape 🌾

Paul Cawley of Undy recalls the hazardous work of grazing livestock between the tides on Denny Island, out in the Severn Estuary: “You walked the cattle out and then stayed there with them for 12 hours!” 🐄🐂

He also remembers how lambs were fattened out on the wharf, their meat infused with the estuary’s salt creating the distinctive flavour of saltmarsh lamb 🌊🐑

🔗Find out more and hear other local stories - https://www.livinglevels.org.uk/life-on-the-levels

🎥 - Marsha O'Mahony

05/12/2025

FFORWM MYNEDIAD DINAS CASNEWYDD:
Mae Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd yn ceisio enwebiadau gan aelodau'r cyhoedd ar gyfer aelodaeth o Fforwm Mynediad Lleol Dinas Casnewydd.

Mae Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd yn y broses o geisio enwebiadau gan aelodau'r cyhoedd ar gyfer aelodaeth o Fforwm Mynediad Lleol Dinas Casnewydd.

05/12/2025

NEWPORT CITY ACCESS FORUM:
Newport City Council are seeking nominations from members of the public for membership of the Newport City Local Access Forum.

Newport City Council are seeking nominations from members of the public for membership of the Newport City Local Access Forum.

02/12/2025

Collective nouns are one of the most delightful quirks of the English language... whimsical, mysterious, and always memorable!

Here are just a few groups of birds you might encounter on the 🐦🪿🐦‍⬛🦆

💨 A wisp of snipe 🌾A sedge of bitterns 📦A parcel of oystercatchers 👑A crown of kingfishers 🥷A banditry of bearded t**s 🌱A spring of teal

And that’s only the beginning… which is your favourite or do you know anymore? 🤔💭

📸A parcel of oystercatchers - Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)

30/11/2025

Life on the Levels was an oral history project in our previous phase which aimed to preserve voices of the from the 1930s onward.

Over next few weeks we’ll be sharing stories of resilience, tradition, and connection to the landscape 🌾

"It was community... it was friendship... it was proper!" Edward Watts MBE DL, chairman at the Mission to Seafarers at Newport docks reflects on what it was like growing up and working in Pill

“In Pill, or Pillgwenlli if you want to call it by its correct name, nearly every family had someone who went to sea within their family. It was just part of life.” 🌊⚓️

🔗Find out more and hear other local stories - https://www.livinglevels.org.uk/life-on-the-levels

🎥 - Marsha O'Mahony