The Connecting the Culm project is part of Co-Adapt, an international programme working with partners in France, Belgium and the Netherlands to test ways of making river catchments more resilient to the impacts of climate change (mainly flooding and drought), using nature-based solutions and collaborating with people living in the area to do so. Co-Adapt is part-funded by the European Union’s Interreg 2 Seas programme.
The project is managed by the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (where the River Culm rises) who employ a full-time Project Manager and provide a range of other support roles including senior management, finance, administration and communications.
The Westcountry Rivers Trust is commissioned to deliver several other key roles in the project including stakeholder engagement, nature-based solutions technical advice to landowners and managers, evidence and research, and monitoring and evaluation.
The Devon Biodiversity Records Centre, hosted by Devon Wildlife Trust, is commissioned to carry out biodiversity surveys and bring their extensive records to bear on our developing plans.
Some independent consultants are employed to carry out specialist tasks.
Finally, the project is overseen by a Steering Group, representing the organisations funding the project or providing in-kind support.
Steven is an environmentalist by nature, and engineer and project manager by training, with a background in the water and wastewater industry in the UK and experience of international water, sanitation and hygiene projects. He is passionate about sustainable development and collaborating to achieve better outcomes for people and the environment. Having been born and brought up in Cornwall, he is excited to be applying the knowledge and skills he’s developed from further afield back to the south west!
Cat is an experienced primary school teacher with a background in environmental archaeology. She now works as a heritage and environment educator engaging people with their local environment. She has worked on a range of projects across the south-west including the ‘Culm Community Crayfish’ project and ‘Natural Futures’ run by the Blackdown Hills AONB and the University of Exeter’s ‘Understanding Landscapes’ project.
Josie is a qualified and experienced journalist as well as a professional photographer/short filmmaker. She holds a MA in Photography and when not working with WRT, she creates environment-related photo-art and runs workshops via her eco-conscious photographic practice.
Being bred and reared in East Devon I have a passion for the local area. I want to ensure our beautiful landscape and river catchments are preserved for future generations of all species.
Dominic’s background is in countryside management and connecting people with nature. He specialises in project development, community-based enterprises and fundraising for social and environmental purposes.
Lydia helps to monitor the Rivers of the South West and is also part of two other large projects. Plymouth River Keepers, where she is coordinating a citizen science effort and Preventing Plastic Pollution where she is mapping and collecting data on where and what plastic is entering the Tamar.
Sarah has an academic background in physical geography and earth sciences, social science and engineering and professional experience in water resources and urban water management. This includes alternative water supply systems (e.g. rainwater harvesting), drought risk management and community water resilience. She previously worked at Thames Water, the University of Exeter’s Centre for Water Systems and was most recently an Associate Professor in Environmental Hazards & Community Resilience at UWE’s Centre for Water, Communities & Resilience.
Tim’s role is to take an overview of the project and work closely with Steven Johnson and the team to make sure the project is on-track in terms of budget and work programme. Keeping an eye on the future and ‘horizon scanning’ for future funding is also important, along with an on-going assessment of risks to the project and the team dynamics. Tim and Steven report directly to the project Steering Group that is made up of funders, key partners and members of the AONB Partnership Management Group.
Catherine is delighted to be back living and working in the West Country where she grew up. Most recently she has been supporting leaders run the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in schools, colleges, and youth groups and is a keen advocate for the responsible enjoyment of the countryside.