Extending Kenn Moor Reserve
One of YACWAG’s land-purchase strategies is to extend existing nature reserves where opportunities arise. For some time, we had been interested in the field adjacent to our Kenn Moor Reserve. When it first came onto the market, however, the asking price was beyond our budget due to the inclusion of extensive equestrian infrastructure that was not required for conservation purposes. The field was subsequently purchased by a private horse owner.
Approximately a year later, the field was offered for sale again. It failed to reach its reserve price at auction, and local residents – who had previously supported YACWAG’s initial purchase at Kenn Moor – approached us to explore whether a joint purchase might be possible. An agreement was reached whereby the residents would raise half of the purchase price and YACWAG would fund the remainder.
At that time, YACWAG received bequests from Yatton residents, Mr and Mrs Maslen, who had left funds in their wills specifically to improve biodiversity in Yatton. These bequests made it possible for YACWAG to contribute its share of the purchase costs.
As a result, the residents retain a natural landscape on their doorstep, and YACWAG has secured an extension to Kenn Moor Reserve. The additional land provides increased habitat for wildlife and allows grazing to be managed more sustainably. This outcome would not have been possible without the Maslen bequests.
Cadbury Hill
YACWAG members, especially the wild flower lovers, had become increasingly concerned about the impact of council budget reductions on the management of Local Nature Reserves (LNR), including Cadbury Hill.
One area of particular concern was an amazing limestone grassland slope that historically supported thousands of common spotted orchids but had become heavily dominated by bracken.
By the time of the Maslens’ bequests, local authority funding for Local Nature Reserves had effectively ceased. In their mirror wills, Mr and Mrs Maslen specified that their gift to YACWAG was intended to enhance biodiversity in Yatton, explicitly including Cadbury Hill.
Using these funds, YACWAG has been able to commission specialist contractors to reduce bracken cover on the orchid slope and begin restoring the limestone grassland. This habitat is recognised as a priority in Biodiversity Action Plans, and management work is planned to continue over several years.
In 2025, for the first time in more than a decade, orchid numbers on the slope increased, reflecting the impact of this targeted conservation work made possible by the Maslen bequests.
