WRIG is an association of local people, landowners, and organisations working together to improve the Wriggle River. The group was set up in May 2023 and aims to address issues of flooding, water quality, and waste along the riverbanks, within the Wriggle River catchment and offer friendly networking and advice for local landowners and interested parties. We have representatives from local parish councils (Chetnole, Leigh, Yetminster) as well as the High Stoy Conservation Cluster, Hilfield Friary, the Leigh Climate Group, Dorset Council, the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West and the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust.
The broad range of organisations and expertise within the group enables it to provide advice and guidance on diverse topics which are most relevant to stakeholders. Topics include technical advice on flood/drought management and environmental/ecological issues, adapting to the impacts of climate breakdown, monitoring water quality, identifying and accessing funding opportunities, riparian ownership responsibilities, securing consents and permissions and achieving enhanced compliance with regulations. The emphasis is on supporting stakeholders and a key function of the WRIG is to facilitate the sharing of information, experience and innovation among stakeholders through a variety of channels.
One of the group’s first activities is to initiate, in the next few weeks, a Citizen Science water quality monitoring initiative which will focus on measuring phosphate levels across the Wriggle Catchment. The scientific data obtained will be extremely helpful for all stakeholders as a basis for designing effective management interventions.
One of our representative organisations, Yeovil Rivers Community Trust, is also seeking significant funding for implementing Natural Flood Management interventions across the Wriggle and neighbouring Beer Hackett Stream Catchments. If successful, this will provide funding for a range of interventions, including leaky dams, flow pathway barriers, flood plain reconnection, tree hinging and wetland habitat creation between 2024 and 2027 for landowners who are willing to accept such measures. The bid outcome will hopefully be known soon!
This is the first of a regular column in the Wriggle Valley Magazine providing information and updates about what we are doing, including local engagement activities, stakeholder meetings and events and important news items relevant to stakeholders generally. WRIG information will also be available on the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust website (www.yrct.org.uk) and all queries to the WRIG can be emailed to info@yrct.org.uk in the first instance.