A Year of Transition & Opportunity
2021–22 was a pivotal year for YACWAG – a time of stepping into new roles, reclaiming momentum post-pandemic and acquiring and building for long-term conservation in the Yatton and Congresbury area.
Despite operational constraints from COVID, the charity maintained strong volunteer engagement and community reach. The acquisition of the Cobthorn Reserve under a planning agreement marked a major milestone: for the first time, YACWAG assumed responsibility for a full nature reserve, opening new opportunities for habitat work and local collaboration.
Membership remained steady at around 300 people and the online platforms (e.g. Facebook Group) continued to grow – a sign that interest in local nature across Yatton and Congresbury remains strong.
Key Highlights & Success Stories
Taking on Cobthorn Reserve
One of the standout achievements was YACWAG’s formal takeover of Cobthorn Reserve in Congresbury, via a Section 106 planning agreement with North Somerset Council and the developer Strongvox.
This handover was celebrated with a launch event attended by council and conservation representatives. In the ensuing months, eight volunteer work parties were ran through winter to begin habitat management and engage neighbours in stewardship.
The vision for Cobthorn is to provide feeding habitat for juvenile Greater Horseshoe Bats, while enhancing overall biodiversity across the reserve.
Biodiversity, Monitoring & Reserve Work
Across all YACWAG-managed land, efforts intensified to improve habitat quality and species support:
- Volunteers carried out counts and monitoring of bats and birds, encouraging members to be hands-on in data gathering.
- On the Strawberry Line corridor, YACWAG worked to improve habitat connections and installed a new information board highlighting local wildlife and railway-nature links (funded by Bristol Airport and Yatton WI).
- Management tasks such as tree and hedge work, nest-box maintenance and scrub clearance proceeded on several reserves
- With pandemic restrictions still influencing activity, some educational events shifted online, but a successful programme of virtual talks (on bats, owls, water management, planning, etc.) was delivered reaching over 175 people.
Community Engagement & Creative Outreach
YACWAG’s interaction with the public remained creative and inclusive:
- The Wildlife Window Wanderland returned over Valentine’s weekend, inviting over 60 households to create nature-themed window displays under the theme “Love Your Local Wildlife.”
- During the summer, in collaboration with Yatton and Congresbury libraries, a “Wild World Heroes” nature treasure hunt along the Strawberry Line was launched – participants uploaded photos and shared via social media.
- The YACWAG AGM included a presentation of a virtual biodiversity trail, expanding engagement in a socially distant format.
- Community initiatives, such as Tree Dressing Day, were supported in the two parishes and contributed to hedgerow planting in churchyards.
- Talks were given to local organisations (e.g. Congresbury WI) about the new Cobthorn Reserve and YACWAG’s ambitions.
Challenges & Lessons Learned
- COVID constraints & flexibility: Even as restrictions eased, planning in-person events required care. Some programmes had to remain virtual or hybrid, which limited hands-on engagement.
- Legal and planning complexity in reserve acquisition: Accepting Cobthorn came with responsibilities and legal detail. Planning agreements and management obligations require careful navigation.
- Balancing open access with species protection: As activities increase, ensuring minimal disturbance to sensitive wildlife (especially bats) is an ongoing balancing act.
- Sustaining momentum and volunteer capacity: With many new projects beginning, sustaining volunteer energy, administrative support and organisational focus is crucial.
Looking Ahead
The strides made in 2021–22 set the stage for bigger ambitions in subsequent years. Going forward, YACWAG’s focus will include:
- Deepening restoration and ecological enhancement at Cobthorn Reserve.
- Strengthening habitat connections across local reserves and the Strawberry Line corridor.
- Expanding citizen science and monitoring (birds, bats, insects, etc.).
- Growing public engagement – especially hands-on volunteer programmes, children and youth projects.
- Enhancing advocacy and liaising with local planning authorities to protect biodiversity in development schemes.
This year proved that even in uncertainty, community conservation can thrive. With dedicated volunteers, creative outreach and acquiring new reserves, YACWAG is well positioned to make lasting impacts for nature across Yatton and Congresbury.