YES Community Projects  



Melvyn Rutter BSc Hons Environmental Consultant

Why not contact for some free advice. If you ask me to do something, then I charge Teaching Rates of £125 per day, with accommodation fees as an extra. 

Over the many years I have been involved with :-

*   Hard and Soft Landscaping

*   Public Consultation Reports, 

*   Environmental Studies with Reports or Management Plans

*   Community Regeneration Projects.

*   Community & Youth Environmental Education

*   International Exchange Visits

*   Working with Environment Agency and Local Authorities

*   Fund Raising for Community Projects

If you want to affect environmental improvements or regeneration, don't know who to turn to, who to trust, or who is going to charge a fortune, then email or call me. The initial consultation is free, and we are happy to help as much as it takes. 

More information on our work can be seen on the community pages below.

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An example of this was the work one at Chale on the Isle of Wight, where erosion of the cliff was endangering homes. The Community Group were aware that their houses were in danger from falling over the cliff. They needed the confidence to undertake work, which would at best delay this natural process.  

Houses that were expected to fall over the cliff within 5 years are still intact, as the erosion rates seemed to have abated. It could be that the inevitable has been halted for now. Meanwhile these people continue to live in relative safety in their peaceful village.

Spen Valley         Continual industrial pollution incidents led to YES being involved in assessing water quality in the River Spen. This river is probably one of the most polluted in the UK. Peoples from along the river were joined into an action group. Progress with the Authorities and Industries has been made and is ongoing.

Bradford Council undertook restoration work following a major pollution incident. The return of invertebrates to sections where invertebrates could not exist, is evidence that environmental improvements have been achieved. Without the Community pressure, it would have been most unlikely that these improvements would have been considered.  

Swillington         A Community Group wanted their stream banking cleared of rubbish. YES were successful in restoring the ecology of the stream. As a result the rubbish was cleared and the site remained fairly clear for upto 2 years following. The invertebrate life returned to the stream, as did the sticklebacks, as did the King Fisher. The King Fisher had not been seen for 20 years.  

Colne Valley         River water quality in The Colne was found to be virtually lifeless only 3 miles (4.8km) from it source. YES worked with community groups from four villages along the River. Carried out environmental assessments, and produced a "Community Wish List" for improvements. The Colne Valley Trust then raised funding to employ a project office for two years, to deliver this Wish List.  

East Yorkshire       Communities in East Yorkshire had a collective desire to improve the water quality in their village ponds. Ducks had removed all the vegetation in the ponds, which had become duck toilets.

The aspects that worked were the Iron Age walkway, and the living willow erosion protection at the edge of one pond. One pond had floating Reedbeds as an attempt to introduce vegetation. However, the problem of the ducks remained. They were destroying every attempt to improve water quality. With the ducks being so popular, little real progress was made.  

Czech Republic        A visit to The Czech Republic was arranged through Anthony & Jana from Premise Feasibility. This too place in September 2003. Return visits have been arranged for January and Easter, to begin the setting up of a Company in The Czech Republic. 

The community approach can be applied at the National Level. The Czech Republic is steeped in history and culture. Ecological Solutions are for the people and by the people. Czech people could use environmental science techniques, to solve problems their way, at their level of costs, meeting required standards without dependency on costly Western technologies.  

Poland         YES have taken part in four international exchanges to Poland. These exchanges set about understanding of the society and culture in Poland. The visits also aimed to set up projects which could take place both in UK and Poland.

This work was mainly in connection with the Kirklees River of Life project. This project worked towards an International Conference in Huddersfield. YES had a key involvement in this conference.  

Ponds   YES have been involved in a number of pond projects.

Northern Ireland  YES visit to Northern Ireland to install a Domestic Reedbed System

Oakwell Hall  A Reedbed was constructed to filter silts which were covering plant growth in the pond. This allowed the numbers of invertebrates to increase from 9 to 20. 

Meanwood Valley Farm  A demonstration Reedbed was built as an interactive display. This involved the use of an Archimedes screw to life water to the top reedbed unit. All the kids want to do is turn the screw, and lift the water. Still, its great fun

Meeting with David Bellamy   Just a couple of photo's of me with David Bellamy, who for me is a great inspiration

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Our experience is that local people know what the problems are, and know how best to achieve the solutions, and can be very clear about how not to do things, and what solutions are a waste of time.

Human innovation can lead to amazing results. Often people simply need to be listened to, or to be given the courage to do what they know to be right.

Regeneration from only £1,500

Yorkshire Ecological Solutions Ltd Community Regeneration Projects Regeneration from only £1,500
What you get for your money is :-
* Community Environment Assessment. The environmental assessment would compile local wishes. The management plan would leave instructions on how to look after the development. 
* 4 days of work of 2 people ( £650 )
* 2 Days of work of JCB Digger ( £500 )
* £350 of materials
* Management Plan
* Work to commence, once the funding bid is successful, but only in the right season

We offer this work for free to understand the wishes of local people. The plan would form the basis for your group to make the applications for funding and grants The work of two people and a JCB over 3 to 4 days can be really effective. Added to this, £350 can provide sufficient materials to regenerate a wildlife area in a school grounds, develop an area of waste land at the end of a street, build a pond, or restore water quality to a stream.

 


River Testing for Invertebrates



Environmental Science Teaching


Recycling