Wentwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wentwood |
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Wentwood reservoir and hills seen from Gray Hill
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 309 m (1,014 ft) |
| Prominence | 243 m (797 ft) |
| Listing | Marilyn, council top (Newport) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Newport / Monmouthshire, Wales, United Kingdom |
| OS grid | ST411942 |
Wentwood (Welsh: Coed Gwent) is a large, beautiful forest area in Monmouthshire, South Wales. It's made up of hills that reach about 309 meters (1,014 feet) above sea level. You can find Wentwood northeast of the city of Newport, and some parts are even inside the city's boundaries. It's a great place for outdoor adventures and learning about nature and history!
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What is Wentwood Made Of?
Wentwood sits on top of sandstone rocks. These rocks are part of something called the Brownstones Formation. They were formed a very long time ago, during the Devonian period. The layers of rock here tilt gently towards the southeast. Wentwood is the southernmost part of a chain of hills. These hills are made from the same strong sandstone. The western sides of these hills are usually covered in thick forests.
Wentwood Village
There's a small group of houses in Wentwood known as Wentwood hamlet. You can also find Gilgal Chapel here, which is a church that has been restored.
Wentwood Village
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 Wentwood Village
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| Principal area | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWPORT |
| Postcode district | NP18 2 |
| Dialling code | 01633 Llanwern and Penhow exchanges |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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An Ancient Forest
Wentwood is the largest ancient woodland in Wales. It's also the ninth largest in the entire United Kingdom. An ancient woodland is a forest that has been around for a very long time, usually since at least the year 1600.
This forest used to be much bigger! It once stretched between two rivers, the Usk and the Wye. This huge forest even divided an old kingdom called Gwent into two parts: Gwent Uwchcoed (meaning "above the wood") and Iscoed (meaning "below the wood").
History of Wentwood
Prehistoric Times
Long, long ago, people lived in the Wentwood area. You can still find signs of them today! There are ancient burial mounds from the Bronze Age. There's also a stone circle and a line of huge stones, called a megalithic alignment, on Gray Hill, Monmouthshire. These show that people were here thousands of years ago.
The Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, Wentwood forest belonged to the powerful lordship of Chepstow. It was a special place for hunting and provided important resources. People living nearby could get timber for building, fuel for fires, and pasture for their animals.
The Royal Forest of Wentwood had its own special laws. Courts were held twice a year at a place called Forester's Oaks. These courts dealt with people who broke the forest rules. Punishments were very strict for crimes like taking sheep or hunting deer without permission.
Later History and Changes
Over time, farmers slowly cleared parts of the forest in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1678, there were protests in Wentwood. Local people, led by Nathan Rogers and Edward Kemys, were upset. A powerful lord, Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort, had fenced off a large part of the forest for himself. He started cutting down trees to use in his ironworks. The local people believed they had old rights to use the forest. They protested when armed men came to take the cut wood.
In the 19th century, many large oak trees were cut down. Their strong wood was needed to build battleships for the Royal Navy, like HMS Victory. However, the very heart of the forest was saved. It was used to make charcoal, which was important for the local iron industry.
In 1902, a large part of Wentwood Forest was sold. Later, in 1880, the first conifer trees were planted here. During World War I, many native trees were cut down to provide wood for the trenches. When the Forestry Commission replanted the area in the 1950s and 1960s, they mostly planted non-native conifer trees. This changed the natural habitat. More recently, efforts have been made to allow native broadleaved trees to grow back.
Fun in Wentwood
Wentwood and the areas around it are very popular for outdoor activities. People love to go hillwalking and mountain biking here. The Wentwood Reservoir, which opened in 1904, is a great spot for trout fishing.
Wildlife in Wentwood
This area is home to thousands of different kinds of plants and animals!
- Birds: You might spot 75 different types of birds, including turtle doves, nightjars, and spotted flycatchers.
- Mammals: Look out for dormice, Eurasian otters, and pipistrelle bats.
- Plants: The ancient woodland has beautiful plants like wild daffodils, wood sorrel, and yellow pimpernel.
In 2006, the Woodland Trust bought a large part of Wentwood. They plan to protect and restore this special forest.
It's important to remember that vehicle access to many parts of Wentwood is limited. This helps protect the ancient historical sites.
Images for kids
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Wentwood reservoir and hills seen from Gray Hill
