GWENT Wildlife Trust (GWT) has received a compulsory purchase order, part of Welsh Government’s proposed M4 Relief Road development, for a section of GWT’s Nature Reserve at Magor Marsh on the Gwent Levels.

The order will take an area of wet grassland and ditch rich in rare wildlife that includes meadow thistle, otters, water voles and ancient pollarded willows.

This area is representative of many parts of the Levels expected to be compulsory purchased for the motorway relief road development, much of which is nationally designated for its wildlife importance. 

Gemma Bodé living landscapes manager, said: “The M4 relief road proposals including the Compulsory Purchase Order if successful would rob an area of the Magor Marsh reserve and bring dark times for the Gwent Levels as a whole and the nationally important wildlife that thrives here.

“The drainage system on the Levels is extremely complex and 2,500m of ditch and reen, full of nationally rare plants and insects would be lost if the proposed relief road goes ahead.

“There is no way to replace these with brand new ditches never mind maintain the integrity of the drainage system that ultimately prevents many villages and towns on the Levels from flooding.”

GWT strongly urges members of the public to respond to Welsh Government’s current M4 Draft Orders Consultation and oppose the planned relief road online at: www.gwentwildlife.org