YEOVIL RIVERS COMMUNITY TRUST

“What Does the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust Do?

Essentially, the YRCT has four aims or objectives, which are:

 

  • To promote for the benefit of the public both locally in Yeovil and the wider public within Somerset and Dorset, the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by promoting and maintaining biological diversity, notably, but not exclusively, in the restoration, enhancement and creation of watercourses and any other water features (including multi-function surface features as part of a sustainable drainage system) and their adjoining terrestrial areas. Maintaining biological diversity includes managing and monitoring relevant habitats for the mutual benefit of biodiversity and the public.
  • To advance the education of the public, with emphasis on young people, in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.
  • To work with other agencies and local government in the pursuit of the above objectives, including advice to developers and other land users in submission of planning applications in cases where surface water drainage and/or local streams and waterways may be affected.
  • To undertake water quality, ecological surveys and offer flood prevention advice where requested.

 

Some of this work is currently active within the Parish of Brympton and its adjoining local government neighbours where it is focussed on the Preston Brook and its local environment. Currently there are five major practical projects underway or planned in Brympton and immediate surrounding area plus “routine” maintenance and preservation work such as stream clearance and litter picking, planting new wildflowers and restoring previous planted areas, installing bird boxes etc.

A major educational outreach programme for local primary schools is also underway

Informal learning experiences are also run, for parishioners young and old such as bat walks along Lawrence Way and the adjoining footpaths.

The Trust consists of volunteers and paid staff. Some trustees and supporters are “Brymptonians” and support, mainly in the form of grants, is acknowledged and gratefully accepted from the Brympton Parish Council, and local businesses.