given on certain days from the picnic site. The estuary has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world (traditionally reported as the second highest though more recently reckoned to be third highest), which enables the fishermen to wade out at low tide with nets on shoulders to traditional fishing grounds, with the water up to their waists. The net is then opened and lowered into the outgoing tide which rushes through the net. With his fingers placed at the bottom meshes of the net, the fisherman then waits for the fish to hit the net. The net is made in a traditional way by means of a "Y" shaped structure consisting of two arms called rimes which are made from locally cut willow that acts as a frame work to the loosely hung net. The handle is called the rock staff and is made of ash or willow and the arms are hinged to the rock staff and are kept in position while fishing with a wooden spreader called the headboard. In 2020 the lave fishermen of Black Rock were featured on BBC One's Countryfile programme. In 2021, the fishermen reduced their activities as a result of what they claimed to be unfair pressure from Natural Resources Wales to reduce their catch. Governance Portskewett is also the name of the electoral ward, coterminous with the community. The ward elects a county councillor to Monmouthshire County Council. The Welsh Conservatives' Peter Fox has been councillor since 1999 and is leader of the county council. References Bibliography External links Portskewett village website Portskewett heritage trail leaflet Harold's Lodge at The Gatehouse website Genuki - basic historical info on Portskewett Old photos of Portskewett The Black Rock Lave Net Heritage Fishery More information on lave net fishing Villages in Monmouthshire Communities in Monmouthshire Monmouthshire electoral wards