On the 10th February Defra hosted a wide ranging set of stands, posters, PC based demonstrations and discussions on the role of the Catchment Based Approach and its partners. This event, held in the Atruim of Nobel House in London, gave Defra staff the opportunity to have a break, grab a coffee and see how the water environment and a partnership approach fits into their role.
The event was launched by Sonia Phippard (Defra WQ and FRM Director), Dan Rogerson MP and Arlin Rikard (Chair of the CaBA National Support Group), with an emphasis on working together in partnership across government departments and agencies with locally based delivery organisations like Rivers, and Wildlife, Trusts, water companies, landowners and other community based organisations.
I was involved in supporting the Catchment Data User Group stand, where RRC contributes to working out how best to collect, collate and package information for the 108 Catchment Partnerships to use. Other stands offered perspectives on Biodiversity; Managing Water; Reducing Flood Risk; Geomorphology Modelling; Fisheries; the Urban Environment; EU LIFE+ WaterLIFE and Woodlands. It would have been tricky not to find something of interest.
There was a really good ‘feel’ to the event and a great turnout of very interested Defra staff. Two hours went very quickly and the large space was continually filled with questions and discussion.
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