A local action group says that in the last twelve months it has seen a popular cafe close, a playground removed, and a forest shorn of its trees.

Friends of Goytre Wharf met with David Davies MP last week to discuss the loss of forestry near the Wharf, ahead of a possible effort to replant the area.

The Friends are envisaging a ‘transformational redevelopment project’ establishing the Wharf as a ‘vibrant, sustainable, inclusive and popular’ tourist destination’, said John Healey, a group member (pictured with Mr Davies).

The Wharf has always attracted thousands of visitors a year but in the last twelve months has suffered a number of setbacks with the café closing, the disappearance of the forest and the removal of the playground.

The new group set up by Hummingbird Coffee Shop and ABC Leisure is made up of a wide range of stakeholders from the public, and includes charitable and private organisations.

Earlier in the year, the Hummingbird Coffee Shop opened up on the site, following on from its success in Llanover.

David Davies MP, said, “The decision by NRW to fell a large number of trees in the area of the wharf and to just leave the detritus there has left the area looking like a moonscape. Given the importance of tourism it is very disappointing and I am in the process of contacting NRW to ask when they will replant.”

Recently, National Resource Wales felled the trees on the northern side of the Goytre Wharf forest. The trees were removed as they had already reached maturity and were also causing a health and safety issue due to their lack of stability.

In conjunction with Friends of Goytre Wharf, NRW are holding a consultation event on July 17, from 2 to 7pm to discuss a potential replanting proposal and the inclusion of a new sensory trail. The group are hoping for a large turnout as many people have expressed anger and dismay at the current state of the forest. There has been considerable concern for the forest’s future as, at the moment, it is viewed as a significant blight on the landscape.

Working alongside the pupils of Goytre Primary School a lottery bid is being submitted for a replacement playground.

The former one, which had been in place several years, had been removed as it was deemed unsafe.

The School’s Eco Committee held a workshop at Hummingbird Coffee Shop with pupils working on their own designs for a new playground. A professional designer is incorporating these designs into the bid.

It is also an aspiration of the group to seek additional funding to update the Visitor Centre to have a wider range of interactive learning resources available.

The group are ambitious and intend making a real difference to the quality of life of all who sample the fascinating heritage of the site and enabling visitors to enjoy the beauty and peace that this part of Monmouthshire provides.