BioTapestry
Weaving nature, community, and creativity together: a celebration of biodiversity and community action
The BioTapestry is a vibrant, multimedia artwork that celebrates the rich biodiversity of the Gwent region and the communities working to protect it. Echoing the Bayeux Tapestry in scale, this ambitious 70-metre-long creation is being co-produced by community groups across all five local authorities in Gwent. It’s not a traditional tapestry, but a stunning mixed-media piece that brings to life the habitats and species that make Gwent so special.
Each of the 20 panels—four from each local authority—represents a different habitat: woodland, aquatic, grassland, and urban. These panels showcase iconic species such as Atlantic salmon, hawfinches, hedgehogs, marsh fritillary butterflies, and white-clawed crayfish, among many others.
The artwork highlights the diversity and importance of local ecosystems and the species they support. Creating the BioTapestry is a community wide effort, with our team working alongside groups across Gwent. Watch the video to hear form some of the people we’ve been working with about what the project has meant to them.
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Why the BioTapestry?
The BioTapestry is part of the Gwent Green Grid Partnership’s (GGGP) wider work to raise awareness of the Nature and Climate Emergencies. It’s about Helping Nature to Help Us – highlighting how healthy ecosystems can support climate resilience, biodiversity, and human wellbeing.
Through creative workshops and community events, the project fosters:
- Connection to local nature
- Awareness of biodiversity
- Community cohesion
- Skill-sharing and learning
Stories from the Panels
Each panel tells a unique story, shaped by the people who create it:
- Coffee n Laughs Group (Newport) focused on aquatic species, discovering the importance of the River Usk and Gwent Levels. A visit to Newport Wetlands sparked a newfound passion for local wildlife—one participant even became a lamprey advocate!
- Van Life Community Group (Caerphilly) explored urban biodiversity, celebrating swifts, house martins, and swallows. Their panel includes owls, bats, butterflies, and insects found in gardens and local green spaces.
- Wyesham WI Group (Monmouthshire) are crafting a river-themed panel inspired by the River Wye. Their work features kingfishers, water crowfoot flowers, and sand martins, while also reflecting on the river’s current ecological challenges.
- Pentref Tyleri (Blaenau Gwent) held drop-in sessions at the local café, where people—including PCSOs and pupils from Blaenycwm Primary—learned fun facts about hedgehogs and their favourite slimy snacks: slugs and snails which feature on the urban biodiversity panel.
- Llantarnam Grange (Torfaen) ran family workshops and summer drop-ins, exploring river and woodland wildlife. Participants discovered clever caddisflies with their sparkly cases and admired the delicate beauty of Welsh daffodils.
Hundreds of volunteers have contributed their time, creativity, and passion. Many have taken their pieces home to add personal touches, deepening their connection to the project.
Participants have described the experience as:
- “Enjoyable and valuable”
- “A great way to learn about local species”
- “A chance to meet others and work together in a group”
Groups are now eager to meet across local authority boundaries, sharing stories, techniques, and a collective commitment to protecting nature for future generations.
Educational Engagement
In addition to community workshops, the GGGP team has delivered educational sessions in many schools across the region, with pupils learning about the importance of pollinators and their habitats. The project has also been featured at public events, including family events, holiday playschemes and the Senedd Biodiversity Day, where it received positive feedback from attendees and elected representatives.
What’s Next?
As the BioTapestry nears completion, we’re planning celebratory events to showcase the panels and the stories behind them. These will highlight the power of community action in tackling biodiversity loss and climate change.
For more information or to get involved, please visit:
GGGP News & Events
Contact: colettemooney@monmouthshire.gov.uk
Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to get involved!
This post is also available in: Welsh