Magor Marsh is one of the last fragments of fenland on the Gwent Levels, a landscape which has existed here for thousands of years.
The reserve has a varied mix of habitats, including damp hay meadows, sedge fen, reedbeds, wet woodland, scrub, open water, and many water-filled ditches. Water levels are fed by underground springs and are kept high by careful management of the reens.
This range of habitats attracts a wide variety of wildlife; look out for little egrets, kingfishers and Cetti’s warbler at the pond, dragonflies along the reens and ditches, and butterflies in the meadows.
As you follow the path beside the reen, look out for signs of water voles. This native aquatic mammal was reintroduced to the reserve in 2012/13, when over 200 were released. The water vole is the UK’s fastest declining mammal; it is hoped that animals released at Magor Marsh will spread across the Levels using the network of interconnected ditches.
Magor Marsh was the Trusts’ first nature reserve, purchased in 1963.
Magor Marsh is owned and managed by Gwent Wildlife Trust. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Take a tour around Magor Marsh in the company of botanist Stephanie Tyler looking at some of the marshland plants (recorded as part of Gwent Wildlife Trust’s ‘Life on Marsh’ festival):
The Wales Coast Path is a long distance footpath that begins (or ends) in Chepstow and follows the coast of Wales for 870 miles (1400km) to Queensferry in Flintshire.
Step back in time at the National Roman Legion Museum and explore life in a far-flung outpost of the mighty Roman Empire.
Parc Tredelerch (Tredelerch Park) is an area of parkland next to the Rhymney River on the east side of Cardiff.
Churches have been at the heart of life on the Levels for much of the last thousand years.
In 2002, during construction of the Newport Riverfront Arts Centre on the west bank of the River Usk, the remains of a 15th century ship were discovered.
Explore the fascinating prehistory of the Gwent Levels at a stunning new exhibition at Newport Museum and Art Gallery.
Sitting on the edge of the Gwent Levels, between the wide expanse of the Severn Estuary and the mouth of the River Usk, lies the Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve.
Half a mile east of the former church of St Peter in Peterstone Wentlooge, Peterstone Gout, or Great Gout, is an important and interesting landmark on the Wentlooge Level.
Over its long history, the parish church of Redwick has been dedicated to several different saints; before 1875 it was St. Mary the Virgin and before that St. Michael the Archangel.
The history of St Mary’s church, Nash, known locally as “the Cathedral of the Moors”, is closely linked to the nearby medieval Benedictine Priory at Goldcliff.
OS Grid Ref: ST 428 866
Website
Opening times
Open at all times.How to get there
By Public Transport
By bike
By road
Visit and explore seven locations on the Gwent Levels using our memory treasure maps which include information about what to look for and activities to help your class or family learn more about each place.