Structure

About RRC > Structure

River Restoration Centre Team

The RRC core team located at Cranfield University is responsible for maintaining the UK’s National River Restoration Inventory. This inventory is key to being able to provide best practice information and national trends to a range of end users. The team develop technical workshops, deliver the annual network conference, provide independent on-site advice, compile and disseminate monthly bulletins and, service the river restoration community with regular news updates via social media. Additionally, the technical staff provide direct advice and support to a range of national initiatives, whilst the support staff are responsible for membership, conference delegate information, and managing the business accounts.

The team are supported by a Board of Directors and an Advisory Group. Where specific additional technical support is necessary, the staff seek input from Expert Technical Advisers.

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Board of Directors

RRC staff report to a Board of Directors comprised of individuals from both the public and private sector.  Many are directly involved with operational aspects of river restoration, with first hand knowledge of current needs and practices, whilst others provide support to business planning. The current board members are:

  • Christianne Tipping (Chair)
  • Fiona Bowles (Vice-Chair)
  • David Adams
  • Phil Boon
  • Hugh Clear Hill
  • Patrick Murphy
  • Clare Rodgers
  • Ann Skinner
  • Jason Winslow
  • Stewart Priddle
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Advisory Group

Working closely with the Board of Directors, the Advisory Group comprises representatives from UK government agencies.  The Board is a crucial element of the River Restoration Centre structure and ensures our business planning process takes account of national environment programmes and operational staff needs.  The current Advisory Board members are:

  • Stewart Clarke - Freshwater & Estuaries National Specialist, National Trust
  • Judy England - Environment Agency
  • Gareth Greer - Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
  • Andrew Hitchenor - DFI Rivers
  • Janet Hooke - University of Liverpool
  • Simon Johnson - Freshwater Biological Association
  • Mark Lloyd - Rivers Trust
  • Dianne Matthews - Natural England
  • Noel O'Neill - DFI Rivers
  • Charles Perfect - Scottish Environment Protection Agency
  • Rhodri Powell - Natural Resources Wales
  • Antonia Scarr - Environment Agency
  • David Sear - University of Southampton
  • Meredith Thompson - Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs
  • Angus Tree - NatureScot
  • Jenny Wheeldon - Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Expert Technical Advisers

As well as the Board of Directors and Advisory Board, RRC works with a network of experienced individuals who can provide specific advice and guidance in conjunction with RRC staff. If you would like to become an RRC Expert Adviser and have the appropriate expertise and experience, please contact the Centre. Expertise of current Expert Technical Advisers include:

  • Channel Design
  • Ecology
  • Engineering
  • Enhancement works implementation
  • Environmental Assessment
  • Fisheries
  • Geomorphology
  • Hydrology & Hydraulic Modelling
  • Project Management
  • Reservoir Engineering
  • River Restoration Design
  • Water Management
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Core Funders

The River Restoration Centre (RRC) is supported by the following UK environmental agencies. Each organisation has a grant or contract agreement related to the support that RRC can offer to their staff.  

Environment Agency

@EnvAgency

The Environment Agency is a public body sponsored by DEFRA. EA "work to create better places for people and wildlife, and support sustainable development". The EA's responsibilities encompass many aspects of river restoration including fisheries, flood risk, ecology, waste and contamination.

How to access support

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Natural Resources Wales is a Welsh Government sponsored body. Its aim is to "ensure that the environment and natural resources of Wales are sustainably maintained, sustainably enhanced and sustainably used, now and in the future." 

River restoration and management falls under many of NRW's responsibilities.

How to access support

Natural Resources Wales

@NatResWales

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Natural England

@NaturalEngland

 

Natural England is the government's adviser for the natural environment in England, helping to protect England's nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services they provide. They are an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

How to access support

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NIEA has been a core funder since 2007. The current agreement ended in November 2015 and due to the restructuring across Northern Ireland's government departments, a continuing agreement is yet to be explored.

The NIEA operates under the direction of the Northern Ireland Minister for the Environment. Its strategic objective is to "to create prosperity and well-being through Environment and Heritage excellence."

By advising, promoting, regulating and funding, NIEA are protecting and restoring Northern Ireland's rivers.

How to access support

Northern Ireland Environment
Agency

@nieaevents

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Department for Infrastructure

The aim of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Rivers is to reduce the risk to life and damage to property from flooding from rivers and the sea and to undertake watercourse and coastal flood management in a sustainable manner.

Their vision is to manage flood risk to facilitate the social, economic and environmental development of Northern Ireland.

How to access support

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NatureScot (previously Scottish Natural Heritage) has been a continuous core funder since 1997 through its grant scheme. 

Funded by the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage looks to promote the sustainable use of Scotland's natural environment.

SNH's mission statement is "All of nature for all of Scotland". They are working towards a vision of Scotland's Natural Heritage in 2025 which will require the involvement of many organisations and individuals.

How to access support

 

NatureScot

The NatureScot brand | NatureScot

@nature_scot

 

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Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Communications about our funding | Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

@EsmeeFairbairn

The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is a registered charity founded in England in 1961. It is one of the larger independent grant-making foundations based in the UK, funding organisations which aim to improve the quality of life for people and communities in that country.

From 2015-2018 the RRC secured funding from The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to provide free support to UK trusts, partnerships and community groups delivering local river restoration projects.

RRC have once again secured this funding! Find out more about how this funding has helped RRC support small organisations and trusts.

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