How it all started

Early in 2003 it was suggested that the waste ground between the Royal Oak pub and the River Anton needed attention. It was owned by the Parish Council, but was overgrown and closed to the public. Some of the trees were in poor condition and the cost of tree work to make the area safe was difficult to justify. Many village residents wanted the area to be restored.

Three of them started to look into the possibilities and, eventually, under the umbrella of the Parish Council and with funding in 2005 from the Lottery Heritage Fund, the Goodworth Clatford Environmental Group was born.

What we do

As well as the Riverside Walk behind the Royal Oak pub, we have also restored the riverbank adjacent to the Deep Ford in the area called Riverside Rest.

Maintaining these sites for wildlife and the public is an on-going process, so we meet on Task Days each month to keep the sites at their best.

We also have begun to restore a third site, the Riverside Haven, as a wildlife area; this is not open to the public because of its inaccessibility.

See also 'Our Aims', below.

The committee and constitution

The GCEG is a 'Group limited by association' with a constitution, so it is an autonomous group but undertakes work on behalf of the Parish Council for the village. The Group is funded by grants from the PC and other bodies, as well as donations. The annually elected Committee consists of the Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Projects Manager and is responsible for organising the Task Days and AGM, raising funds and finding sponsors, and keeping records of the Groups’ activities.  A nominated Parish Councillor liaises with the group.