A Yatton resident’s unexpected bequest opened the door to a big change in YACWAG’s ability to ‘create and maintain nature reserves’ – our core purpose.
During her final illness, Mrs Owen spoke with a close friend who supported YACWAG. They enjoyed walking their dogs together along the Strawberry Line and through conversations during those regular walks Mrs Owen learned more about YACWAG’s conservation work, including our barn owl project on land visible from their favourite walk. That conversation started a chain of events that led directly to the purchase of more land to sustain the barn owls.
This interest ultimately led to YACWAG being named as a beneficiary in her will.
In 2022, YACWAG was notified that it would receive a one-quarter share of Mrs Owen’s estate. Due to complications, probate took some time to complete, but two years later the bequest enabled the purchase of Paddocks, an extension to our Cobthorn Reserve, with some of the proceeds.
At the time, Paddocks was close to being sold to a planning consultancy for use as ecological mitigation linked to a housing development within the North Somerset and Mendip Bats Special Area of Conservation (SAC). With support from a neighbouring landowner who is a YACWAG member, and with funds from the bequest available, YACWAG was able to secure the purchase.
One day soon after, Tony was showing the field to Tim, a member who is a professional ecologist with a strong interest in bats. They were talking about how to enhance the field and Tim told Tony about Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), a Government initiative to safeguard biodiversity in every new development. Tim helped us pro bono and the resulting payment from the sale of units on Paddocks then started the snowball which doubled the value of Mrs Owen’s bequest. The snowball rolled on, with the bequest now responsible for facilitating the purchase of three fields alongside the Congresbury Yeo to extend our Congresbury Moor Reserve.
Shortly afterwards, the field was assessed by YACWAG members, including a professional ecologist with a strong interest in bats. This led to the field being entered into the Government’s Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) scheme, a Government initiative to safeguard biodiversity in every new development. Our member, Tim, helped YACWAG pro bono and the resulting payment from the sale of units on Paddocks then started the snowball which doubled the value of Mrs Owen’s bequest. The snowball rolled on, with the bequest now responsible for facilitating the purchase of three fields alongside the Congresbury Yeo to extend our Congresbury Moor Reserve.
Without Mrs Owen’s bequest, the purchase of Paddocks – and the subsequent BNG income that funded further land acquisition – would have been impossible.
