SOME 30 volunteers gathered at Wet Meadow fields at Trellech to plant a new hedge in memory of local naturalist Diana Bevan on 2nd March.

Diana, who lived in Whitebrook, was co-founder and the original chair of Monmouthshire Meadows Group and a prominent advocate of conserving traditional wildflower meadows, working tirelessly to protect valuable sites in the Trellech area. She was also heavily involved with writing the history of the Whitebrook Valley.

After Diana passed away last year, the group decided to commemorate her work by planting a hedgerow along the northern boundary of the Wet Meadow fields. Monmouthshire County Council have agreed to lease the fields to the Meadows group who will manage the site jointly with Gwent Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve. Volunteers from the Wye Valley AONB led by Sarah Sawyer joined them on the day and within two hours more than 600 young hedge trees had been planted, staked and fitted with rabbit guards.

Local resident Dick Coates masterminded the day and is leading the team who will manage the reserve.

The hedge and a protective fence are being funded by the Wye Valley AONB’s Landscape Enhancement grant. A Sustainable Development Grant made available by Welsh Government through the AONB is also part-funding a new fence around the perimeter of the site so that animals can be grazed safely.

The current chair of the Meadows Group, Dr Stephanie Tyler, said: “It’s a wonderful example of how much can be done in a short time with a team of enthusiastic volunteers. The hedges and fencing will allow us to manage the site as a traditional meadow, focussing on increasing the wildlife value of the land. It will be used as an accessible resource for the people of Trellech and the surrounding area, who will benefit from having such a valuable wildflower reserve in the heart of their community. Diana would have been delighted.”

Wet Meadow fields will be open to visitors on the MMG Open Day on 18th June.