THE GWENT Wildlife Trust has received a boost with a £7700 donation this month.

The donation of £7700 from Tata Steel’s landfill community fund and Cogent Power Ltd. Tata Steel ltd, has been used to improve the accessibility of the Magor Marsh Reserve near Newport. The Argus is backing the trust's bid to raise £50,000 this year in its 50th anniversary.

The Magor Marsh Reserve which welcomes more than 3500 children through its gates each year has been transformed with new fencing, on the gates and bridges, on the raised walkways and to make it more accessible and safer for visitors.

The work was carried out by the Gwent Levellers volunteer group, with the Tata Steel donation paying for the materials.

Richard Bakere the reserves officer at the Magor Marsh said: “We are so grateful for the donation from Tata steel it has enabled us to do some greatly needed work on the reserve, creating a safer place for visitors.

“We have lots of children visit the reserve from school trips to youth groups and the education centre is renowned within the area for teaching children about wildlife and the natural environment”.

Keith Farron, community liaison manager at Tata, says: “We are delighted to support the renovation and on-going maintenance of the Gwent wildlife project.

“Any project that helps conserve local wildlife and provides a valuable resource for the local community has our vote. “