Meet the Ribble Rivers Trust team, these are the staff delivering great projects on the rivers and countryside of Ribble catchment.
The data and evidence team
Ellie Brown Strategic Evidence & GIS Manager
Ellie is a Conservation GIS professional who specialises in developing landscape-scale analyses to target works where they are likely to have the greatest benefits for wildlife, the environment and people. Ellie also leads Ribble Rivers Trust’s Data and Evidence Team.
Ellie also manages a programme of Citizen Science activities and environmental monitoring works aimed at monitoring catchment health and evaluating the success of the Trust’s projects.
Ellie joined Ribble Rivers Trust in 2015 after completing a BSc (Hons) degree in Biology and an MSc degree in Biodiversity and Conservation at the University of Leeds. Forever a nature-nerd with a lifelong passion for wildlife, it was while at university that Ellie learned to use GIS: software that can be used to map location-based environmental and species data.
A local lass, Ellie was keen to utilise GIS as a tool to make the greatest impact she could on her local environment and beyond. She was initially taken on part-time as the GIS, Data and Evidence Officer for the Trust’s Ribble Life Together project but now uses data and evidence to support most aspects of the Trust’s work, including:
Developing landscape-scale GIS tools and analyses to help direct the Trust’s works, whether that’s woodland creation, hedgerow creation/restoration, wetland creation, in-river barrier removal, Natural Flood Management, education and community engagement or further environmental monitoring and Citizen Science work. Recent projects include CaSTCo and Ecological Regeneration in Lancashire.
Some of Ellie’s analysis methodologies and decision-support tools have been rolled out nationally for others to utilise, such as the Health and Wellbeing Evidence Base. Ellie has also presented on how the Trust uses location-based data and evidence to aid decision making at national Esri and SCIMAP conferences, and she has acted as a GIS and data consultant for other local and national environmental organisations, including CEFAS, local councils, the Forest of Bowland AONB, The Rivers Trust and Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust.
Outside of her role at Ribble Rivers Trust, Ellie is a Trustee for another environmental & community-focused charity and volunteers as a dance teacher in her village. She also loves walking, cultivating her wildlife-friendly garden, and all things nature-related.
Luke Sherwood Freshwater Scientist
As the trust’s Freshwater Scientist, Luke works closely with the Data & Evidence Team, where he uses his impressive knowledge of freshwater habitats, and their residents to design and carry out project-specific and investigative monitoring strategically around the catchment.
Luke joined Ribble Rivers Trust in 2023, after graduating from the University of Cumbria with a BSc Marine and Freshwater Conservation, with a placement year at a local river trust in Huddersfield – involving water vole reintroduction, invasive species control, Riverfly monitoring, and river restoration.
He can typically be found in the field, collecting macroinvertebrate kick samples, water chemistry and flow data, and conducting habitat surveys. Alternatively, in the lab, with his head burrowed into a microscope identifying the fascinating diversity of macroinvertebrates found in our rivers. Luke is also involved with citizen science communications and coordination in the catchment. In his spare time, Luke enjoys all outdoor pursuits, especially hiking and wild swimming, or both together.
Felicitas ten Brink Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Felicitas joined the Trust to monitor and evaluate our work for the Room For Rivers programme. As her job title suggests, Felicitas uses her practical conservation skills and technical know how to collect and analyse wide range of important data.
As the Head of Land Management, Kathryn manages the farm and woodland teams. The team aims to work with farmers and landowners to reduce diffuse water pollution, increase wildlife, improve water quality and most importantly support farm businesses.
As well as managing the team, Kathryn continues to work on land management projects including the Loud Phosphate and Natural Flood Management project, Ribble and Douglas Farm advice, as well as supporting with woodland creation.
As a local farmer’s daughter, Kathryn has been able to use her knowledge of farming as well as agri environmental schemes and environmental monitoring that she gained from having previously worked at Natural England. Since joining the Ribble Rivers Trust staff team she has been able to develop her interest in soil and nutrient management. This means Kathryn is now a FACTS qualified advisor.
In her spare time, she likes to go walking in the local area as well as helping on the family farm.
Ellie Schenk Woodland Creation Officer
Ellie works in the Land Management team, working closely with the Woodland team to deliver project targets. Her role involves working with volunteers and other groups to bring about the practical side of woodland creation and maintenance.
Day-to-day work depends very much on the time of year. Winter will find her tree-planting, but Summer brings new tasks in the form of woodland monitoring and maintenance, river clean-ups and the control of invasive species.
Ellie came into the conservation sector through volunteering for a number of charities and organisations, and then achieving her Countryside Ranger apprenticeship with Dorset Council. This led her to a Countryside Warden role with Derbyshire County Council, working on local nature reserves and sites. She enjoys being outdoors and making improvements to the environment for nature and people alike.
Outside of work, Ellie can mostly be found outdoors, walking or cycling, as well as enjoying art classes, learning languages or enjoying a good film.
Hettie Varley Farm Advisor
Hettie joined the Trust in 2023 and works as a Farm Advisor in our Land Management team. Hettie’s day to day work involves working with farmers and landowners to deliver farm based environmental improvements which benefit farm businesses and nature.
John is a Farm Advisor at the Trust working alongside the Land Management Team to help deliver green infrastructure projects and on farm habitat and infrastructure improvements.
John completed his degree in Environmental Science with the Open University after working various environmentally focused jobs and on his family’s dairy, beef and sheep farm.
As well as providing farm advice on sustainable business practice and current incentives available for farmland, John currently works on a few of our Natural Flood Management projects which prioritise slowing the flow of water. As part of this he works with farmers and stakeholders to improve the habitat around watercourses and ensure that this supports the relevant agricultural surroundings.
In spare time, John enjoys outdoor activities such as gardening, cycling and walking.
Jonny Walker Senior Woodland Officer
Jonny is the Senior Woodland Officer in the land management team at Ribble Rivers Trust; working with the farm and woodland teams to link and buffer rivers and wetlands, woodland and shrubland in our agricultural landscape.
Through watercourse fencing, hedgerow and woodland creation or other land management interventions Jonny works from project design and contract tendering to procurement, delivery, and monitoring.
Having studied Marine Biology at Newcastle University Jonny then went on to volunteer and work for a number of conservation charities and bodies: National Trust, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Arnside and Silverdale AONB etc. Generally Jonny worked on the delivery of habitat creation, management, and monitoring across the upland, coastal and wetland habitats of Northern England.
Jonny has recently re-joined Ribble Rivers Trust from the Woodland Trust. When at the Woodland Trust Jonny managed a portfolio of sites across North and East Yorkshire, delivering a variety of work from day-to-day site management to collaborative sub-catchment scale natural flood management (NFM) interventions.
Jonny now works to achieve RRT’s and the governments ambition to increase woodland and tree cover across the Ribble Catchment.
Away from work Jonny enjoys spending time with his young family, including Puddle the cocker spaniel, on walks, bike rides and, if he’s lucky, the odd pint of ale.
Heather Whalley Senior Farm Advisor
Heathers day to day work involves working with landowners and stakeholders to deliver environmental works which tie in with the Trust’s efforts to improve Natural Flood Management and reduce Diffuse Water Pollution.
Chiefly Heather assists farmers with Countryside Stewardship applications, Sustainable Farming Incentive applications, and tries to source funding to support landowners delivering infrastructure to help reduce agricultural pollution and provide public goods through natural flood management opportunities.
Additionally she co-leads several of the trusts farm groups. Each of these groups provides training opportunities and exchanges information on current UK agriculture policy and grants. Competent to provide agricultural consultancy, she aims to support farmers with business planning, budgets, applying for grants, and using farmland economically for environmental outcomes.
Heather is also FACTs qualified advisor for nutrient and soil management advice and planning. Heathers passion for British agriculture stems from her own experience. Alongside her full-time position at the trust, she runs her own beef and sheep farm, as well as a self-service farm shop with her partner. Heather also has a background in environmental science. With a degree in zoology, she worked as a field ecologist prior to working for the trust. She is competent at botanical id, habitat surveying and environmental land management.
Outside the office Heather doesn’t stray too far from farming. Whenever she has free time, she likes to spend gardening, dancing, reading, and travelling.
The people and learning team
Neil Ashworth Education Officer
Neil joined in 2013 to help run the Rivers in the Classroom project as part of the URES project in Burnley, and is now developing an initiative to run fishing lessons in schools as well as helping to develop further educational activities that can be linked into school curriculums.
Before starting work with the Trust, Neil worked as a firefighter for with Lancashire Fire and Rescue. Throughout his career with the fire service, Neil delivered fire safety talks to thousands of school children, which is where he developed his passion for education. Thanks to Neil’s hard work, the fire service eventually saw a dramatic reduction in incidents as Neil’s hard work paid off.
In his spare time, you’re likely to find Neil fishing the waters of the Ribble, or passing his excellent angling knowledge onto others.
Cody Beaghan Community Engagement Officer
Cody joined the trust in June 2024 as a community engagement officer at Ribble Rivers Trust whose day-to-day work involves engaging with local communities and bringing them face-to-face events, activities, and workshops.
In addition, engaging with the wider public through information boards, digital events, and social media.
Cody previously worked in IT and has an academic background in Chemistry and Physics but has a picked up many skills whilst volunteering with the trust, completing tree planting, river cleanups, balsam removal and riverfly monitoring. So, when an opportunity arose to work with the trust, he went for it.
Outside of the Ribble Rivers Trust Cody spends his free time exploring, hiking, and camping across the UK, and the Ribble catchment, with his springer spaniels. But if the weather turns for the worst, you’ll find him inside baking or reading a good book.
Rob Cooper Projects Officer
Rob joined the team as an apprentice through Ribble Life Together, gaining skills and knowledge through working at the Trust, and attending college. Rob is now a Volunteer Supervisor; planning activities, and delivering improvements across the catchment.
Harvey joined Ribble Rivers Trust in 2015 and leads on partnership and engagement activities. Harvey manages environmental education, community projects, apprenticeships, work experience, health and safety, training and events.
When Harvey joined us he was the programme manager for Ribble Life Together. This project went on to win the coveted UK River Prize in 2022. He became Head of People and Learning in April 2020 and Deputy CEO of the Ribble Rivers Trust staff team in October 2021. Harvey leads on partnership and engagement activities. This includes volunteering, environmental education, community projects, apprenticeships, work experience, health and safety, training and events.
Harvey studied Environmental Management at Lancaster University and later earned a Post Graduate Certificate in Management from Uclan. After six years in the public sector looking after parks and green spaces, Harvey has spent the last thirteen years in various roles in the third sector. Furthermore he is a Member of the Institute of Leadership and Management (MInstLM), a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).
Leanne is the Trust’s Outdoor Learning Officer, and her role involves combining learning with the great outdoors. Leanne works on our Ribble Explorers project, developing and implementing fun, creative activities which aim to inspire young people to love their rivers!
Helen Smith Community Projects & Activities Officer
As Community Projects & Activities Officer, Helen engages with the public about all things rivers. Helen involves local communities in the work of the Trust via face-to-face events, activities and workshops, but also through information boards, digital events and social media.
With a background in community engagement in the environment sector, Helen joined the team in 2018 to help deliver the engagement aspects of the Ribble Life Together programme. At first this role saw Helen leading guided walks throughout the Ribble catchment, organising access improvements to help people enjoy rivers, commissioning art installations and creating interpretation panels. Following this Helen now leads health walks and community activities through our HEAL project. She is also linking up with communities along the River Darwen in our Darwen Evidence and Engagement Priorities project (DEEP).
Having grown up in the Ribble Valley, Helen is proud to be delivering environmental improvements so close to home. When she’s not exploring the Lancashire countryside with her dog Eric, Helen loves to bake.
Emily Taylor Education Officer
Emily joined the Trust in 2017 and, after a few years as a stay-at-home mum, returned in 2023. Emily is a qualified primary teacher and L3 Forest Schools leader and is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm through environmental education
Emily grew up in Clitheroe, paddling in the Ribble and Hodder, swimming in a pool of the local stream, investigating the life under stones in the brook and exploring the hills and mountains at the rivers’ sources. In fact, Emily’s love of the natural world led to a Masters in Ecology and work in freshwater scientific research.
In her spare time Emily enjoys art, and spending time with her young family enjoying the wonders of the natural world. Along with a few friends, she also runs a local playgroup – the perfect outlet for her love of craft and sharing children’s books.
Naomi Walker Community Engagement Officer
Naomi is one of our new community engagement officers and began her role in July 2024. Her day-to-day work involves engaging with local communities within the Ribble catchment, which covers a wide range of activities.
Naomi recently finished a degree in Wildlife Conservation at NTU and whilst studying was president of the university’s conservation society. This experience allowed her to explore her interest in community engagement, and she enjoyed inspiring students to get involved in nature conservation activities. These activities included mushroom forays, bird and plant ID walks, volunteer days/work parties, habitat management work, guest speakers (such as Ajay Tegala), and wildflower + tree planting.
After her studies, she felt impassioned to continue working with communities for the betterment of nature, and she is committed to the implementation of nature-based solutions to national issues. Only 15% of the riverine habitats in the UK are in good ecological health, and 1 in 6 UK homes are susceptible to flooding. It is therefore imperative that local communities can work together with charitable organisations like RRT to identify, prioritize, and manage threats in their local catchments. Naomi hopes that through her work she can bring local people out into nature and help educate them on the importance of healthy rivers and the ecosystem services they provide.
In her free time, Naomi likes hiking, swimming, camping, and climbing in the Lakes. She is also partial to spending her evenings curled up with a good book or crocheting, usually with the company of her pet hamster Huckleberry.
The River Conservation team
Mike Flaherty Conservation and Volunteering Officer
Mike is a Conservation and Volunteering Officer on the River Conservation Team. He joined the trust in May 2024 with the aim to work with volunteers and other groups to bring about projects in helping to reduce invasive non-native species in the catchment.
Mike also supports several other teams within the trust to help deliver their community engagement projects.
Mike lives at the bottom of the catchment in Skelmersdale with his family. He is very passionate about protecting his local environment and the wildlife that calls it home. He has a rich volunteer background in conservation and has been involved in multiple projects, such as, river restoration, wetland creation, litter-picks, tree planting, balsam pulling and sand lizard habitat restoration. And that’s just to name few!
Mike is also a committee member of Friends of Tawd Valley and in his main role as river representative he is currently working with The Wild Trout Trust to help improve the River Tawd’s water quality and habitat. Find out more about Mike’s river work here: https://www.wildtrout.org/wttblog/trout-in-the-town-tawd-valley-friends
In his off-time Mike loves spending time with family and enjoying teaching them about the importance or looking after our natural environment and its wildlife. He also enjoys wildlife photography and fishing.
Hannah Lederer Project Manager
Hannah is a Project Manager on the River Conservation Team. Hannah joined the trust in 2024 to support project management of the Ribble Revival: Room for Rivers programme, under the Species Survival Fund.
Hannah’s projects include the creation of new wetlands, culvert removals and river re-wiggling.
Hannah joined the Trust in May 2024 whilst finishing her MSc in Conservation and Biodiversity at Lancaster University. Prior to this, she had worked as an environmental consultant. Hannah undertook her undergraduate degree in Geography (BSc) at Durham University.
Hannah has always had a keen interest for nature and the outdoors – she feels lucky that she can pursue this within her career and enjoys working on projects which will have tangible benefits for people and nature. When not at work, you can likely find her walking in the Lakes or exploring the local countryside on foot or bike.
Adam Walmsley Head of River Conservation
Adam is another long standing member of the Ribble Rivers Trust’s staff team. Having started as a volunteer in 2008, in 2011 he completed his Master Dissertation with the Trust. Adam then joined the team as the Lancashire INNS project officer before taking on capital projects.
Between 2017 and 2020 Adam created 30 woodlands and delivered 15 wetland and 14 fish pass projects as part of the Ribble Life Together programme.
Adam Wheeler Fisheries Officer
Adam is the Fisheries Monitoring Lead, responsible for delivering and reporting on the Trusts annual electric fishing programme. Outputs from these surveys help identify and support future works on the catchment as well as monitoring the impacts of river restoration.
When not splashing about in rivers Adam manages and supports the delivery of fish pass projects and the removal of manmade barriers. This work improves river connectivity so that fish can migrate to optimal spawning and foraging habitats.
Adam was first involved with the trust as a survey assistant while studying for his Bsc (hon) in biology at Salford University. After graduating, he spent time in a number of analytical roles working in laboratories before joining the Trust full time in 2017. In addition to his day to day, Adam works for the consultancy arm of the Trust, providing stock assessments, project monitoring and fish rescues for in river works.
Through project work Adam has delivered one of England’s widest weir removals on the Main Stem Ribble near Samlesbury – funded through the Water Environment Grant. He has also provided the monitoring and summative assessment for Primrose Lodge Blue and Greenway Project. For this he evaluated how the project has impacted the conservational status of Mearley Brook and local public enjoyment of the newly developed nature reserve. Currently Adam is working on ‘Opening Up the River Douglas’. This is a suite of 8 civil engineering projects to modify artificial structures to reduce the impacts of habitat fragmentation within the River Douglas.
During his free time Adam is a prolific hill ticker, avid climber and . . . yes . . can still be found in a river, fishing.
The core services team
Charlotte Ireland Pope Fundraising and Administration Officer
Charlotte is a fundraising officer at Ribble Rivers Trust. Generally, Charlotte’s day-to-day work involves building relationships with corporate partners, and individuals, to raise money for the Trust’s endeavours.
Additionally, Charlotte also creates web content and blog posts, manages the Trust’s social media channels, and helps to organise press and publicity opportunities.
Charlotte joined the team whilst embarking on a degree in Land Management and Conservation as an adult learner. Initially working part time, once completing her education Charlotte moved onto working full time, assisting with administration and finance management. Thanks to her previous experience in sales related roles, Charlotte was able to take the helm and develop a fundraising strategy. This is in the process of being implemented.
In addition to her own duties, Charlotte also assists with the day-to-day administration of the Trust, working on numerous projects to ensure that everything continues to run smoothly. In fact, as one of the longer serving members of the Ribble Rivers Trust’s staff team Charlotte knows the inner workings of the Trust like no one else.
Outside of the world of Ribble Rivers Trust Charlotte spends her free time exploring the UK, and the Ribble catchment, with her dog Otto. Together they kayak, paddleboard and travel on foot. But sometimes they simply relax in her wildlife friendly garden with a good book!
Catherine Jaggs is one of the longest-standing members of the Ribble Rivers Trust’s staff team, having worked there for over a decade. Over the years, she’s been involved in almost every aspect of the Trust’s work, from tree planting and ecological monitoring, to publicity and partner relations.
Catherine prides herself on being the backbone of the Trust, doing the ‘behind the scenes’ work that allows her colleagues to deliver their projects efficiently and effectively.
Catherine has always had a passion for the natural world. She obtained a BSc in Physical Geography from Aberystwyth University, studying topics such as conservation and land management, fluvial geomorphology, soil systems and climate change. Having lived in the Ribble Catchment all her life, she knows the area well, and is eager to preserve and improve its natural assets for generations to come.
Heading up the core operations team, Catherine now takes care of the bulk of the HR admin and is heavily involved in the day to day finances of the Trust, including working closely with funders to ensure grant monies are claimed and spent appropriately. Producing the Trust’s Annual Newsletter is one of Catherine’s favourite jobs of the year, writing articles about all of the wonderful projects her colleagues have delivered and sharing it far and wide. Now with two youngsters in tow, Catherine’s hobbies have mellowed somewhat from her days of climbing mountains, overseas travel adventures and wild weekends at music festivals! For now, she loves nothing more than a family walk, inspiring her children to learn and care about wildlife, and more often than not, finishing up in a pub for a pint and chips..
Jack Spees Director and CEO
Jack is at the head of the Ribble Rivers Trust staff team. Having started at the Ribble Rivers Trust in 2008 as the Fisheries Scientist Jack was made Trust Director in 2010. Jack now oversees the work undertaken by the Trust and the team as well as providing a wealth of information on all aspects of the river environment.
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