The outcomes of the programme have been considerable.

One of the main achievements has been the mass engagement with people from across the region, including residents, landowners and farmers, visitors, business owners, volunteers, and politicians with influence over important policy decisions affecting the Levels. This has created a real revival of interest and enthusiasm in the Levels.

The public engagement side of the programme has been at least as important as the ecological restoration side. The heart of Living Levels has been about reconnecting people with their history, their environment and with other people. The huge programme of events, skills training and volunteering has had overwhelmingly positive feedback, with people consistently reporting learning new things about their local area as a key reason for enjoyment.

The learning programme has sown the seeds of interest amongst young people from primary age up to tertiary. The partnership with Coleg Gwent has seen Coleg tutors embed the Gwent Levels as a study course with photography, arts and drama students. This is a departure from the typical ecology subjects, helping to reach a far broader demographic through their peer networks. A diverse range of people have also been involved in volunteering from local residents to corporate groups as well as groups with special needs.

This work is leading to an injection of passion and pride in this landscape on a significant scale. Events have frequently been sold out, there have been volunteer waiting lists, and there has been an increase in the number of visits at some key destinations. There has also been an excellent response from press and media through coverage on programmes such as BBC’s Countryfile and regular appearances in local press. A Friends of the Gwent Levels campaigning group has been established, with several of their founding members being closely involved with Living Levels activities.

This work has translated into real and sustained pressure for policy change which is beginning to lead to a change in the way the Levels is being valued, managed and protected. Evidence for that change lies in recent political decisions and announcements by Welsh Government. There are also policies being prepared that will strengthen protection for the Levels in the planning system. Although this is the collective output of a very large number of organisations and individuals, the work of the partnership has really helped to organise information and coordinate awareness-raising activity around the importance of the Levels.

Much has been achieved, but there is still more left to do to realise our goal of protecting this special landscape.

Some key achievements:

• 26km of reens and field ditches restored, allowing the recovery of aquatic plant and animal communities

• 150+ willows pollarded

• 160+ fruit trees planted and traditional orchards restored and restocked

• 27ha of land managed for the shrill carder bee and other pollinators

• 30+ fly-tipping cases investigated, and 7 prosecutions made

• 120,000+ unique visits made to the website

• 10 gateway and visitor hubs created

• New pre-history display at Newport Museum and Levels display at Caerleon National Roman Legion Museum

• 5 ’People of the landscape’ sculptures installed

• 8 walking and 4 cycling routes created

• PROW network upgraded and improved with new bridges, stiles and way marking

• 17 community hubs funded

• 239 events and activities delivered with over 16,000 attendees

• 37 history RATS volunteers recruited

• 52 oral histories recorded

• 73 schools, 1000+ primary pupils and 150+ college students reached

• Over 600 volunteers contributed 25,144 hours, equivalent to £177k of support.