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 Head of Data, Evidence & GIS
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.
Eleanor Freeman Monitoring Officer
Eleanor joined the Trust in April 2025 as a Monitoring Officer. She is responsible for collecting and analysing a range of hydrological and environmental data to monitor and evaluate the Trust’s natural flood management (NFM) projects.
Eleanor completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Geography and Geology in 2022 before undertaking a traineeship with the RSPB and Natural England. Here, Eleanor discovered her love for fieldwork and was able to get involved in all things conservation, from performing ecological surveys to delivering practical habitat management.
To complement her practical experience, she completed an MSc in Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia in 2024, with a focus on catchment management and nature-based solutions. After a brief stint in environmental consultancy, Eleanor joined the Trust in April 2025 as a member of the Data and Evidence Team.
As NFM Monitoring Officer, Eleanor monitors the Trust’s Community Catchment projects in Clitheroe, Darwen, and Wrea Green. She can either be found out in the field, collecting a range of hydrological data including water level, flow, and water chemistry, or deep in a spreadsheet in the office, performing data analysis to assess the effectiveness of natural flood management strategies at slowing the flow and reducing downstream flood risk.
Outside of work, Eleanor is a keen hiker and can usually be found up a hill with her dog, Wren. She also loves to bake and cook, and is always trying out new recipes in the kitchen.
Josh Morris Seasonal Monitoring Officer
Josh officially joined the trust in February 2026 as a Monitoring Officer to support the Data and Evidence team in all aspects of their surveying and monitoring. Prior to this, Josh has also been a Seasonal Survey Assistant, carrying out electrofishing surveys since 2023.
As a Monitoring Officer, Josh is often helping Eleanor, Luke and Jess with the Trust’s ongoing water chemistry sampling from around the catchment as well as river fly sampling and natural flood management (NFM) monitoring.
Josh has always had a great interest in the natural world. He followed his passion to complete a degree in Zoology at Bangor University – whilst during the summers, coming home to carry out electrofishing surveys with the Ribble Rivers Trust. Josh’s passion for wildlife has led him to fantastic opportunities travelling the UK, as well as travelling worldwide to find and photograph some weird and wonderful creatures.
In his free time Josh can usually be found outside in a river fishing, or outside on dry land looking for birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects with his camera in hand.
Jess Roberts Monitoring Officer
Jess is a Monitoring Officer at the Trust, working as part of the Data and Evidence Team under the Species Survival Fund scheme. She first joined the Trust in June 2025 as a Seasonal Monitoring Assistant before moving into her current position.
Her role involves getting out and about across the Ribble catchment, collecting vital data to demonstrate the impact of the Trust’s projects. This includes measuring river velocity, taking water samples for chemistry analysis, and assisting with fish surveys during the summer months.
Jess holds an MSc in Environmental Management, and her passion for rivers and freshwater conservation developed through internships with her local Wildlife and Rivers Trusts, where she gained valuable hands-on experience. She enjoys being outdoors and seeing first-hand the positive changes that the Trust’s work brings to the catchment and its wildlife.
Outside of work, Jess can usually be found outdoors with her camera, capturing the landscapes and wildlife she helps to protect. She’s also recently taken up fly fishing and is enjoying learning the ropes as a novice angler.
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.
The Land management team
Rosie Ashworth River Conservation Apprentice
Rosie joined the Trust in October 2025 as an apprentice working in the land management team. She is currently involved in working on a variety of projects at the Trust, gaining valuable skills and knowledge from an experienced team as well as attending Craven College.
Rosie’s day-to-day tasks include tree planting and maintenance as well as working with volunteers and other teams to help achieve the Trusts environmental aims.
Before joining the Trust, Rosie previously worked in a farm shop as a butcher but wanted to pursue a new career path in conservation. Being passionate about how farms and environmental practices can work hand in hand, Rosie introduced tree and hedge planting on her families small holding as well as establishing rotational grazing with a flock of sheep she keeps on the land.
In her spare time Rosie is a keen mountain biker and loves riding on local trails, she also keeps rare breed hens which lay a variety of different coloured eggs.
James Birtwistle Conservation and Vounteering Officer
James joined the Trust in December 2024 and is a Conservation and Volunteering Officer on the Land Management Team. His role involves working with volunteers and community groups in delivery of RRT projects.
Prior to joining the Trust, James had a long career in retail but wanted to pursue new opportunities following his passion for all things rivers… quite the career change! James has been fishing the rivers of the Ribble catchment since he was big enough to hold a rod. Some of his earliest memories are catching small sticklebacks on his local brook to now being a keen sea trout and salmon angler. He now helps to run a local fishing club based in the Hodder Valley and is passionate about encouraging people to engage with their local rivers!
As a Conservation and Volunteering Officer, James’ day to day focus involves planning, running and delivering a range of volunteering events. These include woodland creation and woodland maintenance in the winter to invasive species control and litter picks in the summer as well as supporting other projects within the RRT.
In his free time, you’re likely to find James fly fishing, watching football or enjoying a nice glass of red wine!
John Harrison Farm Advisor
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.
Kathryn Oddie Head of Land Management
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 Woodland team to deliver woodland project targets. Her role involves working with landowners, contractors, other organisations and others in the trust to bring about the creation of new woodlands and maintenance of established ones.
Day-to-day work depends very much on the time of year. Winter will find her getting ready for tree-planting, completing designs and procurement, and going out on site to meet contractors and landowners. Summer brings new tasks in the form of woodland aftercare and finding new woodland opportunities.
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 has been involved heavily in the practical side of tree planting as a Conservation and Volunteer Officer for the trust. She enjoys being outdoors and making improvements to the environment for nature and people alike.
Outside of work, Ellie can mostly be found outdoors, hiking or running, as well as enjoying art classes, learning languages or enjoying a good film.
Lee Seymour Woodland Creation Officer
Lee joined the Trust in April 2026, with previous experience of working on a Landscape Recovery Scheme. His work will focus on the creation, development and delivery of woodland networks to improve the rivers of the catchment, along with providing other ecological and socio-economic benefits.
Lee is a career changer from a very different sector. Prior to summer 2024, he spent the previous 20 years within financial services (in Senior Risk & Compliance roles).
With a career and qualifications from the financial sector, a change to an ecological based role may not seem like am obvious transition. However, Lee’s always had a keen interest in conservation and wildlife and has spent many years actively volunteering and undertaking training across the north-west. Having lived in Lancashire his whole life, he is excited to work on projects that will look to revitalise this area, through close collaboration with landowners, farm tenants and local communities.
In the winter months, Lee will focus on woodland design completion, procurement, working with contractors, joining in volunteer sessions and tree-planting. Spring and summer will involve woodland establishment activities along with assisting landowners identify new woodland opportunities.
Outside of work, Lee is a keen walker (often with his two dogs) and loves spending time in the countryside. He loves to go to venues for live music, watching movies, reading, learning (Spanish, guitar and botany), as well as spending time with family and friends.
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.
Beth Wood Farm Advisor
Beth is a Farm Advisor at Ribble Rivers Trust, working as part of the Land Management team to support farmers and landowners in improving habitats and infrastructure.
She holds a BSc in Outdoor Studies from the University of Cumbria and previously worked in outdoor education across the UK and Northern France. In 2021, she joined The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as a Farm and Grazing trainee, later becoming Conservation Grazing Manager, where she developed a passion for livestock and habitat management. Growing up near farms, Beth always wanted to work in agriculture and promote local, British produce.
As the newest Farm Advisor, Beth’s focus is on farms in the River Douglas catchment area and supports other projects within the Ribble Rivers Trust to improve farming infrastructure and improving River Health for the Ribble catchment and surrounding areas.
Outside of work, Beth enjoys reading, canoeing, paddleboarding, walking with her partner and Springador, Basil, and exploring new places. She’s also developing her botany skills and growing foods at home.
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.
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Harvey Hamilton-Thorpe Head of People & Learning
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).
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.
Kerry Stansfield Education Officer
Kerry, who joined the Ribble Rivers Trust in 2026, is a qualified science teacher with a Master’s in Biodiversity Conservation. Her experience includes working with children and young people in primary, secondary and further education.
Kerry’s love of nature began when exploring rivers looking for bullheads and cased caddis and she is passionate about enabling children to explore the river environment themselves.
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.
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.
Abigail Gunson Project Officer
Abigail joined the Trust as Project Officer with the River Conservation Team in 2025. Her role involves delivering and facilitating river and wetland conservation projects under the Species Survival Fund.
Abigail, or Abi, completed her bachelor’s degree in Zoology with Conservation at Bangor University in 2022 and her masters in Conservation Management at Edge Hill in 2024, with a short time working as a Library officer in between the two degrees. Despite most of her undergraduate studies taking place during the pandemic, Abi was able to experience enough of the world of conservation, including working on the Countess of Chester Country Park wetland creation project, to inspire pursuing further education and a future in conservation.
Her postgraduate degree influenced her to begin volunteering at a local nature reserve, joining a small group of people to maintain and enhance the habitat that supports a healthy population of the protected species Great Crested Newts (Triturus cristatus). Her connection with this reserve and Brockholes lead to her thesis revolving around identifying the key features of ponds that are desirable for Great Crested Newts, specifically looking at the composition of the water in them.
During her postgraduate studies, Abi was introduced to, and subsequently became passionate about, field botany, in particular, grass, sedge, and rush identification. Of all the ID work that she studied, including bird, deer, bat and invertebrate, botanical ID was the one she enjoyed the most, gaining valuable field ID skills, a FISC (Field Identification Skill Certificate) level 3 and a favourite species of grass (Yorkshire fog!).
As well as her own projects, Abi assists with different projects in the river conservation team as well as occasionally crossing into other teams when support is needed.
Outside of work, if not walking her dog (and practicing her ID skills), Abi expresses herself through her artwork, creativity inspired by the books she reads and games she plays with friends.
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.
Ellie McKee River Conservation Apprentice
Ellie joined the Trust in October 2025 as an apprentice with the river conservation team. She will be supporting a wide range of activities, learning valuable skills and completing a qualification at Craven College.
Before joining the Trust, Ellie began her journey as a volunteer with the Yorkshire Dales National Park. After a year of gaining valuable experience, she then went on to a 1-year Traineeship with the Tees Swale Naturally Connected project.
While stationed in Swaledale, Ellie worked with local organisations and the farming community to help deliver works across a range of upland habitats, learn skills in vegetation ID and surveying, hay meadow restoration, woodland and hedge planting and hands on experience in dry stone walling and hedge laying. She now looks to build on these skills and increase her knowledge in conservation and land management.
Ellie is a keen insect enthusiast and helped run the citizen science Bumblebee survey programme in Swaledale. She also enjoys introducing groups to art of ‘worm charming’ to teach about the exciting world of Earthworm species and their importance to soil health!
In her spare time Ellie enjoys Bee keeping and getting her hands dirty working on her garden to attract a range of wildlife.
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..
Francesca Peck Admin Officer
Francesca has joined the Core Services Team at the Trust to assist the behind the scenes operations, as it continues to grow. After several years providing administrative support in the legal industry, Francesca has returned to her environmental roots as an Environmental Scientist graduate.
Working alongside Catherine and Charlotte, Francesca supports her colleagues to carry out projects by covering a variety of bases such as HR, budgeting and finance, events management, engagement and any and all ad-hoc tasks. No two days require the same, and Francesca enjoys the diverse nature of working in an organisation striving to improve our environment – it’s quite literally ever changing!
Francesca’s downtime is taken up with her other job; parenting two small children! When the weather is on side, she loves to get the family outdoors to explore Lancashire, even if it’s just a walk to the playground. She endeavours to nurture their interest in and respect of nature and will certainly get them involved in volunteer days here at the Ribble Rivers Trust when they are old enough!
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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YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Cookie
Duration
Description
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE
5 months 27 days
A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
yt-remote-connected-devices
never
YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.
yt-remote-device-id
never
YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Cookie
Duration
Description
_ga
2 years
The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_gat_gtag_UA_62022963_1
1 minute
Set by Google to distinguish users.
_gid
1 day
Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
