Peterstone Wentlooge Marshes reserve

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This coastal reserve lies along the foreshore of the outer Severn Estuary and is an outstanding site for watching birds attracted to the rich feeding grounds of the saltmarsh and muddy tidal flats. In the centre of the reserve you will find Peterstone Gout which is where much of the fresh water collected by the Gwent Levels’ drainage system is discharged into the Severn estuary.

Gwent Wildlife Trust owns the fishing rights to approximately two square kilometres of the foreshore, and has an agreement with the Wentlooge Wildfowling and Conservation Association to have a no-shoot zone in an area on the west side of the mouth of the Peterstone Gout.

The area supports significant populations of waders such as curlew, dunlin, redshank, turnstone, knot and oystercatcher. Teal, wigeon, pintail and shelduck are also commonly seen. Another duck to look out for is shoveler, with its broad spatula-like bill.

Raptors visible during daylight include short-eared owl, peregrine falcon and merlin, Britain’s smallest bird of prey.

"Gout" comes from the Old English word “gota”, and Middle English “gote”, meaning watercourse, channel, drain or stream. The same word can be seen in Goyt, Cheshire, Gut in various places in Britain, and The Gouts at Roch, Pembrokeshire.

With thanks to Prof Hywel Wyn Owen, of the Welsh Place-Name Society, and Richard Bakere

View Location Map

Website of Gwent Wildlife Trust

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