Major Land Expansion at Congresbury Moor
YACWAG has significantly expanded its Congresbury Moor nature reserve with the purchase of three additional fields on the Biddle Street Site of Special Scientific Interest. This more than doubles the reserve to almost 19 hectares (47 acres), strengthening habitat connectivity and long-term conservation potential.
Ownership of adjoining riverside land means improved management of watercourses and greater influence over river stewardship. The additional land also enhances habitat for Greater Horseshoe Bats, barn owls and kestrels, while supporting grazing by Dexter cattle — a key conservation tool that maintains species-rich pasture and benefits insects, birds and bats alike. A notable feature of the new land is a mature black poplar adorned with mistletoe.
Growing Volunteer Impact
YACWAG continues to thrive because of its volunteers. From practical conservation work such as hedge-laying and tree care at Cobthorn Reserve, to species monitoring and habitat management, members are actively shaping local nature recovery.
The expansion of reserves has strengthened the warden network. Each reserve is now regularly monitored, with wardens recording wildlife sightings, checking infrastructure, assessing grazing impact and deploying wildlife cameras. These efforts are building a clearer ecological picture across YACWAG’s landholdings.
Volunteers are also increasingly involved in specialist survey techniques, including bat detection and moth trapping, contributing valuable records to national biodiversity databases.
Digital Mapping and Data Development
A new digital mapping project marks a significant step forward in land management. Volunteers are developing a detailed, interactive map of reserves and surrounding areas. Using mobile apps, they are logging bat box locations, tree condition, hedge maintenance and wildlife observations.
This evolving database supports long-term monitoring, trend analysis and reporting requirements, while strengthening contributions to wider ecological datasets. The project ensures that management decisions are informed by accurate, up-to-date field data.
Alongside this, YACWAG’s educational and historic records have been digitised, creating an accessible resource library for facilitators and preserving decades of ecological knowledge for future research.
Supporting Citizen Science and Skills Development
YACWAG is helping connect members with regional wildlife monitoring initiatives, including opportunities for training in species identification and survey methods. These programmes support landscape-scale understanding of biodiversity and enable local people to contribute meaningfully to conservation science.
Youth Engagement and Conservation Success
Young volunteers continue to gain hands-on conservation experience through YACWAG. Activities such as plant monitoring, reptile surveys, trail camera use and bat detection are fostering skills, confidence and deeper understanding of local wildlife.
The organisation is also exploring projects to support declining species, including work to encourage swifts to nest locally through collaboration and specialist survey input.
Sustainable Fundraising and Community Support
The YACWAG Shop offers sustainably produced clothing and merchandise, with profits directly supporting conservation work. Organic materials, renewable energy production and circular manufacturing reflect YACWAG’s environmental values.
Book sales and donations, often inspired by YACWAG’s strong digital presence, continue to provide important financial support.