On Thursday July 1st, new Welsh Climate Minister Julie James MS visited the Living Levels Landscape Partnership at Gwent Wildlife Trust’s Magor Marsh Nature Reserve to make an important statement about her intentions to take action to better protect and manage the Gwent Levels. The Minister was greeted by a group of six representatives from the Living Levels partners who took the opportunity to demonstrate the value of the work Living Levels has been doing over several years.
Shortly after the visit the Minister released a statement pledging additional action to maintain and enhance biodiversity and ensure the Levels are a valued recreational asset for locals and visitors alike.
During the visit, the Minister expressed her admiration and support for the continuation of the Living Levels partnership beyond the end of current Lottery funding. She referred to funding streams such as the £9.8M Nature Networks Fund with Heritage Lottery that could support the legacy plan as well as strengthening the planning policy framework to better manage development on the Gwent levels in future.
This was a very welcome and timely visit following Welsh Government’s decision to remove the route corridor protection for the M4 relief road. Living Levels will endeavour to work closely with the Minister in future to flesh out detailed plans in support of this important statement of intent.
Climate Change Minister, Julie James (second from right), at Magor Marsh Nature Reserve with representatives of the Living Levels Partnership.
You can read the Ministers full statement on the Welsh Government website.