A POPULAR Welsh weatherman has been celebrating the history and scenery of Gwent in the latest episode of the BBC show Weatherman Walking.
In the episode - the final instalment of the show - Derek Brockway brings the outdoors to us with walks along the Severn Estuary, beginning in Redwick and ending in Chepstow.
In the show, to be aired on Friday, May 15, Mr Brockway visits St Thomas' Church in Redwick, unusual for having a bell tower standing in the centre of the historic building which dates back to the 13th century.
He meets with a member of the Redwick History Group for a closer look at the tower, before moving onto Black Rock, where he meets fisherman Martin Morgan who’s trying to keep the tradition of lave net fishing alive.
Mr Morgan belongs to the last lave net fishery in Wales – The Black Rock Lave Net Heritage Fishery – and they make all of their own nets using traditional techniques.
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On their way to Chepstow the crew also stop off at Sudbrook, which was custom-built to house the workforce brought in to build the Severn Railway Tunnel.
Reflecting on his time filming the programme, Mr Brockway said: “I’ve crossed the Prince of Wales Bridge so many times by car but never really thought of its impact on the local landscape. This walk was a very pleasant surprise for me. The scenery is stunning.
“I stopped off in Rogiet and called in to the Community Cafe for a cuppa’. It was clear that the weekly cafe has had a real impact on the village, and it was packed.
Black Rock
“In Sudbrook I learnt how the village was built for the Severn Tunnel workers and their families. They had everything - a school, a chapel, a library - but no pubs as they didn’t want the workers drinking.
“I’ve walked so much of the Welsh coast now and it felt right to end this current series in Chepstow where the Wales Coast Path starts or finishes depending on which way you are walking.”
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