Transition Monmouth has been granted funds to enhance the local wildlife in the Wyesham Community Woodland on Wyesham Road, Monmouth. The funds will enable the creation of a new management plan and new benches, tools, and training for local volunteers to deliver the plan to improve the woodland’s biodiversity, making the area more resilient to climate change.

Transition Monmouth, a group of people within Monmouth who are committed to working towards a more sustainable future, was successful in its application to the Wye Valley National Landscape Sustainable Development Fund (SDF), to produce the new management plan. The plan will increase the woodland’s biodiversity and provide opportunities for local residents to increase their skills, while enjoying the community woodland. Transition Monmouth recognises the importance of the woodland continuing to remain accessible to all and for that reason new benches will be installed as part of the project.

The Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) is a Welsh Government Initiative to support projects that aim to enhance and conserve natural beauty, wildlife, culture, landscape, land use and community in Wales’ National landscapes. The application for the sum of £2,420.86 was approved by the panel on 24th February 2026 and will be allocated to the project in two separate payments over a period of two years. Transition Monmouth will also contribute over £800 towards the cost of the project.

The Community Wood in Wyesham (also known as Clay Patch Woods) is cared for by a dedicated group of local volunteers. Since the previous management plan has expired, the funding will pay for a new management plan so that the group can implement an approach which enhances the local wildlife (with the support of contractors where necessary). The funding will provide the community group with the essential new tools and training required to manage the woodland. This will provide new opportunities to educate local people about biodiversity and for healthy activities in the outdoors for residents of all ages and abilities. New benches will be provided to enable local people to spend time in the enhanced space and engage with the wildlife on their doorstep.

Local resident Helena Ronicle, a professional ecologist with over 30 years’ experience will write the new management plan. Explaining the project, Helena said, “The Wye Valley contains the largest remaining area of ancient semi-natural woodland in the country. While the little woodland in Wyesham is not semi-natural in origin it is a great space to engage with people in an urban environment to highlight traditional woodland practices and show them the benefits these can bring to the ground flora and associated fauna, hence increase people’s confidence to engage and understand the wider landscape. The woodland also creates an important stepping stone within the wider landscape for species to move across Monmouth and out into the wider countryside.”

Living just around the corner, Helena has an extensive local knowledge and is invested in ensuring the plan will be robust, evidence-based and grounded in an understanding of local conditions. The new plan will aim to alter the two-hectare area currently planted with just five varieties of tree, into a space with the diverse ground flora associated with local woodland, a more varied age structure and more diverse tree species. This will be an improved habitat for wildlife, strengthening ecological connectivity and creating conditions that allow wildlife to flourish. The management plan will aim to return this area of woodland to a species mix that is more appropriate for the local landscape and of greater benefit to local wildlife.

Transition Monmouth is part of an international effort to tackle the problems of climate change by initiating and supporting activities of our local communities building resilience and happiness. If you would like to join in or to find out more you will find further information on our website: https://transitionmonmouth.wordpress.com on Facebook.

This project has been supported by Welsh Government’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) in the Wye Valley National Landscape.