In the face of the current nature and biodiversity emergencies, and the risk of extinction faced by some species across Wales, stories of conservation success can offer us hope for the future.

One such uplifting example involves the remarkable return of two of the UK’s rarest and most elusive marshland birds - bitterns and marsh harriers – to the Gwent Levels near Newport.

After previously being driven to the point of extinction, bitterns have successfully bred for the fifth successive year in a row at Newport Wetlands, thanks to dedicated conservation efforts by officers and volunteers from Natural Resources Wales (NRW).