Yorventure

Case Studies

Heritage Coast Countryside Officer

Environmental Project

In 2001 Yorventure was approached by the North York Moors National Park Authority who wanted to secure funding for the cost of a Coastal Projects Officer whose role was to provide, improve and maintain public amenities within the coastal countryside of Whitby, situated within 10 miles of the Yorwaste Landfill Site at Mickleby.

Yorventure initially allocated a sum of £22,500 to the project and a further £16,000 was awarded in October 2003 bringing the total funding to £38,500.

In 2001 Liz Kelly, the new project officer was appointed and work on various projects shortly followed. In 2003 a further grant form Yorventure allowed work to continue along the Whitby coastline to include projects such as ‘Living Churchyards’, ‘Adopt a Beach’ and ‘Beachwatch’. The Yorventure grant is also helping to fund the development of a pocket park at California Beck, the promotion of rural cycle routes along the heritage coast, an audit to identify coastal parishes, the production of external interpretive panels and various volunteer work parties to encourage people to become involved with conservation tasks along the heritage coast.

Work on these various projects is well under way. Bird and bat boxes have been installed in the wooded Beckside area of Staithes and several churchyards have been identified as being important for local wildlife. Various initiatives have been implemented to protect the natural habitats within the established church yards, including mowing regimes and the installation of bird and bat boxes at Llythe Churchyard to protect and encourage wildlife, insects, flora and forna.

Volunteer Work Parties have already proved to be successful at encouraging people to help clean up Spital Beck and local footpaths in Whitby as well as participating in the Beachwatch initiative which involves volunteers collating data about the types and quantities of litter found on the beach as well as removing the rubbish they find.

A six mile cycle route has been identified and will be complete with interpretive panels, maps, sign posts, ramps and bridges by the year 2007. The cycle paths have been located to suit the local bus routes to prevent cyclists from relying on their cars to access the new cycle tracks.

Mr George Crosby

Crossgates Short Mat Bowling Club

" We have nothing but praise for the Yorventure staff who dealt with our initial enquiry to its ultimate conclusion with respect and professionalism, keeping us informed at all stages of the progress made and answering any queries we made promptly and helpfully. "