SYCL developed to record Regular (and Irregular) Events

The Thinking behind a System for Community Liaison (SYCL)

 

Parish Councils and community clubs (e.g. farming, fishing, scouting, women’s institutes, toddler groups, village halls and pony clubs etc.) are examples of a great many people giving to their community and gaining from it in different ways.

 

People may go bird-watching, horse riding, ploughing, gardening or sight-seeing, shooting or fishing, or walk just for the fresh air and exercise, perhaps with a dog. On these excursions much knowledge is gained, e.g. where the land is boggy, where the buzzard always sits, where the blackberries are, etc. 

 

It has long been realised that local communities have no way of passing on these titbits of information. However, if the knowledge were to be collected to help understand and manage nature, then community members could start to play a role in gaining and disseminating knowledge for the benefit of all in the community.

 

After all, nature tends to be best preserved where humans benefit and learn about it. Using nature can provide jobs that help to preserve and protect it, e.g. bird watching leads to visitor centres, fishing to water management, shooting to game-keepering. What pays, stays. Merely enjoying a walk along a meadow will be enough for people to become aware of the wild flowers, birds and small mammal life there and accordingly provide a place for youngsters to go with their parents and treasure in the future.

 

Read more on how these activities can aid nature conservation.