A WILDLIFE charity is on the brink of its biggest and most exciting project ever - but it needs your help to create a lasting legacy for nature and the people of Gwent.

Gwent Wildlife Trust has launched an ambitious appeal to raise £550,000 for an untouched natural habitat reaching from Wentwood Forest to the Wye Valley.

As well as restoring "echoes" of the countryside in past eras, it is believed the project could also invigorate the area.

GWT is hoping to fund the acquisition of Glyn Farm in Monmouthshire which comprises of 100 acres next to Pentwyn Farm, one of the Trust's flagship reserves.

"The land at Glyn Farm has massive fields and has been a well managed dairy farm. But it is a blank canvass for nature conservation and would mean so much to the work we have already done next door," said GWT chief executive Julian Branscombe.

It is hoped that the move could be the springboard for farmers, land owners and local residents to join their land and get behind nature conservation, creating something special in eastern Gwent which has not existed there for hundreds of years.

"We want to create echoes of what the countryside was like in past eras with bluebells , cow slips and green winged orchids as part of a full range of plants and species. Our vision is to go back even further as well and have cattle such as deer and boar grazing on wooded commons."

Mr Branscombe added that if the move is successful, it could invigorate and transform the area of Gwent.

He said: "This could drive people to set up business here, to invest and it will be advantageous to the tourist industry. There are strong underlying economic benefits."