Our projects

Lower Wye Valley Tracks & Trails Project

We have been working together to create an Action Plan for Recreational Access focused on the Monmouthshire section of the Wye Valley National Landscape, looking at how to help provide the best experience for everyone who uses tracks and trails to explore and enjoy the  lower Wye Valley. The aim of the work is to develop the most practical ways of supporting the requirements of all types of users, while protecting the natural and built environment for current and future generations. View the Strategy and Action Plan here.

Nature-based solutions to protect landscapes, wildlife and communities

The UK is one of almost 200 nations to sign up to the international 30by30 target to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. The Wye Valley National Landscape team, with our partners, are making steps towards the 30by30 milestone using nature-based solutions to protect landscapes, wildlife and communities. Restored wildflower meadows and leaky dams might sound like a ‘nice to have’, but they provide services that would otherwise cost the UK around £300 billion. Nature is critical national infrastructure and the more we invest in it, the more resilient the country will be. Find out about one of these projects, The Grange, HERE

Welcome to Off-Road Wheelchair Rambling

We have been working with Craig Grimes from Experience Community, researching and checking routes which are barrier free and suitable for off-road wheelchair rambling with the right equipment. 

We recently held a fantastic ‘Welcome to Off-Road Wheeling’ Weekend with the support of Natural Resources Wales and the Taylor-Davies family at Townsend Farm. Find out about our off-road wheelchair rambling weekend and ‘Have a go’ day here.

Priority Species Project 

We have identified a 5 priority species for the Wye Valley National Landscape that reflect the key habitats found here.

One of the species is the hedgehog and we’re running a campaign called Wye Hedgehogs, working with our fantastic local Wye Hedgehog Hero Dylan Allman, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and People’s Trust for Endangered Species to make the Wye Valley the most hedgehog friendly National Landscape!

Precious Peatlands Project

At just 15 hectares, Cleddon Bog (between Cleddon and Trellech) might look unassuming, but its importance cannot be overstated. Recognising its vital role as a carbon store, floodwater store, wildlife haven and a place of rare beauty, it was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1963. However, the natural services that this Bog provides are threatened as the bog is gradually drying out and is being taken over by a few dominant plant species. Find out what we’re doing to try to reverse the decline of Cleddon Bog SSSI…

Wye Valley National Landscape Volunteers

With a regular programme undertaking conservation and enhancement tasks – sociable and satisfying!

Volunteers are needed for a wide range of activities throughout the year, from tree and hedge planting, vegetation clearance, drystone walling to scything meadows and installing footpath gates. Please get in touch with Lucinda our Community Links Officer if you’d like to get involved:  community@wyevalleyaonb.org.uk

WISP – Wye Invasive Species Project

We are working with the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat, Wales Resilient Ecological network (WaREN), partner organisations, our local communities, landowners and contractors to stop the spread of three Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) – Japanese Knotweed, American Skunk Cabbage and Himalayan Balsam. Find out what’s happening and how you can help….

Photo: American Skunk Cabbage in Brockweir by Emma Drabble.

Wye Valley Walk

We co-ordinate the Wye Valley Walk Partnership that looks after this wonderful 138-mile long-distance trail, managing the Cicerone guide and passport. In 2025 we will be celebrating 50 years of the Wye Valley Walk with a series of guided walks along the path. Click here for the official Wye Valley Walk site.

Lower Wye Valley Nature Networks Project

In Autumn 2021, we secured National Lottery Heritage Fund support to deliver our Lower Wye Valley Nature Networks Project, in partnership with Gwent Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust. This funding is improving the condition of a suite of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the Welsh side of the Lower Wye Valley between Monmouth and Chepstow, and enhancing connectivity between the special sites to allow greater movement of wildlife across the landscape.

Water Catchment Management Seminar

We brought together three wonderful speakers to talk about ‘Enhancing water catchment through innovative land management’. The result was an inspirational day of talks from leading experts in soil and land management, agroforestry and Natural Flood Management. Niels Corfield – Regenerative Agriculture Consultant, Stephen Briggs – Abacus Agriculture & Nuffield Scholar and Chris Uttley – Stroud Valleys Natural Flood Management.

View all the talks here.

Lower Wye Catchments Project

We’ve adopted a catchment-scale approach to natural flood management (NFM) in this National Landscapes-led project, funded previously by Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency. Working with farmers, landowners and land managers, we are focussing on a number of small catchments in the lower Wye Valley (Welsh and English sides) – the Angidy, Cat Brook, White Brook and Valley Brook – to help our river ecosystems and our local communities become more resilient as our climate becomes more wet and stormy.