A Gwent local history group is to chip in with the proceeds of a special booklet following the Woodland Trust's £1.5 million appeal to buy and manage Wentwood Forest.

Leaves From the Forest, a compilation of articles by Gwent writers living and dead and published by Caldicot and District Local History and Archaelogical Society, is on sale at £3 a copy.

"It's the story of Wentwood Forest in a nutshell. If we sell every copy we will have almost £1,000 to hand over to the Trust," said teacher Peter Strong, who compiled the booklet.

Wentwood Forest is the largest remaining expanse of primeval forest that once covered much of the Principality.

"The forest has a fascinating history which would fill a much bigger book than ours.

"All we are trying to do is to help the Woodland Trust on its way," added Mr Strong, who is head of history at Caldicot Comprehensive.

"After the Trust organised a meeting at Caerwent a year ago a few of us put our heads together to see what we could do to help. A booklet seemed to fit the bill.

"Some of the articles are reprinted with permission from the South Wales Argus, in particular those by wildlife writer Colin Titcombe, and there is a piece extracted from the Newport Christmas Annual of 1914.

"One of the articles by Colin Titcombe is about the mysterious Will o' Wentwood who may have been a charcoal burner or hermit and who appears to have lived on the forest's resources.

"Wildlife apart, the forest is rich in history including the story of the outlaw Job Jones."

* Leaves From the Forest is priced £3 plus 50p post and package and can be obtained from Mr Strong at 27, Woodstock Way, Caldicot Monmouthshire NP26 5DB (01291 425638).