A NATURE reserve in Caldicot has been given back to Monmouthshire Council.

The council is hoping that individuals or groups might want to take on the management of the Caldicot Pill reserve.

It had been managed by the Gwent Wildlife Trust which has transferred it back to the council because it does not have the resources to manage it.

The trust has been managing Caldicot Pill on behalf of the council for about 20 years.

The reserve was created after the construction of the Severn Tunnel in the 1880s which had left a large area of lime-rich soil close to the village.

As Caldicot expanded the area was developed until a healthy population of bee orchids was discovered on the site.

The area is now being managed as an "urban" nature reserve and remains accessible to the public during daylight hours.

A spokesman for the Monmouthshire countryside service said: "The council would be pleased to hear from any individual or local group interested in looking after or becoming involved in the future management of the site."