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Yealm Estuary to Moor
Restoring and Reconnecting Wildlife Habitats
The River Yealm runs for 12.5 miles from Yealm Head on Dartmoor to the sea at Noss Mayo, large sections of which have magical beauty. However, communities in the catchment are increasingly concerned that the river is in trouble and the catchment is losing its biodiversity.
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The River Yealm has many wooded areas along its length, providing important habitats for wildlife and reference lines for roosting places for bats and birds as well as protection for mammals large and small. Woodlands, some of them ancient woodland, throughout the catchment are important wildlife corridors but they have become increasingly fragmented due to roads, fences, walls and buildings.
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YEM is dedicated to enhancing the health and biodiversity of the River Yealm and it's catchment, by creating a continuous wildlife corridor, reconnecting these vital habitats.
Focus Areas
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Creating, improving and connecting wildlife habitats
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Improving the water quality of the Yealm and its biodiversity
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Working with the community, schools, volunteers, citizen scientists, landowners, experts and professionals to achieve our aims
01
Improving the water quality and biodiversity of the Yealm
Community concern within the Yealm catchment drives us to improve the health of our river. Over 50 citizen scientists help identify the top priority sites for water quality improvement, remediation and nature based solutions.
YEM's riverfly survey each Spring and Autumn helps determine the impact of pollution on water quality and biodiversity.
Our continuous water monitor aids our understanding of intermittent pollution events such as sewage spills from storm overflows and farm runoff during bad weather.
02
Restoring and re-connecting wildlife habitats throughout the Yealm catchment
Our aim is to identify opportunities to improve and restore the land across the catchment, creating wildlife corridors; ultimately improving the biodiversity of the land and restoring the river.
03
Working together to make a difference
YEM aims to benefit wildlife and the community by encouraging a passion for nature and science. We actively support projects throughout the catchment and work wiith schools, Parish Councils, small and large landowners, farmers and businesses. Our nature based community activities include tree planting, water and wildlife monitoring, fieldwork with students at Ivybridge Community College and local farmer networking opportunities. We also have more family focussed annual events such as Tree Seed Sunday and the YEM Catchment Schools Art Challenge.
