Establish and Maintain Nature Reserves and Educate in Natural History and Nature Conservation
Establish and Maintain Nature Reserves and Educate in Natural History and Nature Conservation
YACWAG began over 25 years ago as a small group of local people who simply cared about the wildlife on their doorstep. Entirely volunteer-led, we look after and protect nature across the parishes of Yatton and Congresbury in North Somerset, while helping people of all ages connect with the natural world around them. From practical conservation to walks, talks and community projects, everything we do is rooted in local places and local passion for nature.
We help local people get closer to wildlife through walks, talks, events, surveys and work parties. The charity owns 19 fields and a small wood which are managed as nature reserves, and also manages the wildlife interest of the Yatton – Congresbury section of the Strawberry Line heritage trail.
YACWAG encourages people of all ages to enjoy nature as their neighbour, working with local primary schools and youth organisations in Yatton and Congresbury.
YACWAG connects people with their natural environment and gives opportunities for getting out and being active outdoors – essential for their physical health, as well as mental and spiritual well-being. Special interest groups include ones for amphibians and reptiles, birds, butterflies and insects, and bats.
When YACWAG acquired its very first field, Ten Acres, in 1999, we dreamed it could become a safe haven for lapwings, then already in decline. That hope was at the forefront of Trustee Ken Blake’s mind when he designed our first logo: two lapwings, symbolising the birds we longed to welcome back. With Ten Acres just 500 metres from their last known local nesting site, how could they resist?
Reality soon set in. A national lapwing expert gently explained that our 10 acres, though precious to us, were too small for the wide horizons these striking black-and-white birds need. Locally, their numbers continued to dwindle, echoing the national trend.
Yet we chose not to abandon the lapwings on our logo. In a spirit of optimism, and perhaps quiet defiance, Ken’s design stood firm. Even as the real birds became scarce in our reserves, the lapwings on our emblem remained, embodying our faith and hope that small actions can still make a difference for nature.
In 2025, with the support of National Lottery funding to refresh our website to make it fully accessible, we revisited the YACWAG logo after 25 years of service. There was lively discussion: should we switch to a different animal, reduce to one bird, or bring in more colour to reflect the lapwing’s iridescence? In the end, the decision was clear. The pair of lapwings stayed – one for Yatton, one for Congresbury – uniting our two parishes and carrying forward the same message of hope for nature.
The renewed logo adds freshness and colour, but the lapwings remain at its heart: symbols of resilience, optimism and belief in a thriving future for nature in our corner of the world.
YACWAG delivers its objectives by working closely with a range of valued partners, including Natural England, North Somerset Council, Chris Sperring MBE (Hawk and Owl Trust), Avon Bat Group, and Green Mantle, who support us with aspects of conservation management. These partnerships strengthen our ability to protect wildlife and enhance local habitats.
YACWAG is also a proud member of North Somerset Nature Net, an informal network of independent local conservation groups collaborating to share knowledge and promote nature conservation across the area.
