What’s your role at SWT and how long have you been with us?

The main part of my role is preforming secretariat duties for both the River Mole Catchment Partnership and Wey Landscape Partnership, I also coordinate the Trust’s Riverfly and Eel monitoring programs and assist with other mostly river related projects. I did a year in industry placement with the Trust August 2012 - August 2013 and returned to work for the Trust in June 2014. My role has changed a fair bit since I started. When I retuned to work for the trust in 2014 I was working part time in the Planning team and part time in the Living Landscapes team. My role with the Living Landscapes team has gradually evolved into my current role.

Why did you choose to join the Surrey Wildlife Trust team?

I chose to do a year in industry placement between my second and final year of my university undergraduate course to gain relevant industry experience. I had previously enjoyed a summer placement with Sussex Wildlife Trust and had some connections with Surrey Wildlife Trust. I was interested in the work that I was aware Surrey WT were doing and they were open to having me as a biodiversity intern.

What does a typical day in your role look like?

My role has many aspects to it but is mainly office based. A typical day might include:

• Attending a partnership meeting

• Writing articles and requesting input to a newsletter or partnership Storymap

• Coordinating a partnership response to a consultation that relates in some way to the river catchment

• Ensuring that enough volunteers are signed up to check the Eel trap this week

• Approving Riverfly surveys

• Responding to emails in my inbox

This is just a snapshot of some of the things I regularly do!

How does helping nature make you feel? Why is supporting rivers projects important to you?

I love being outside in nature, it makes me feel relaxed, refreshed and it brings joy. I particularly enjoy a riverside walk or canoe along a beautiful stream. Rivers are an important habitat for lots of species and the riparian margins are a connecting corridor between other habitat pockets, joining populations. The majority of our rivers are significantly degraded and in need of restoration and I am keen to play my part in that.

What would you like to have achieved by this time next year?

The majority of my work continues on from one year to the next, though I do provide a role in coordinating collaboration and assisting with delivery or projects that colleagues and our partners are leading on. Of the projects or streams of work I’m leading on or more involved in, by next we hope to have:

• Completed the state of Surrey’s Riverfly Report

• Filled the current gaps in the Wey Catchment Portal content (though the content will continually be added to and updated)

• Built the catchment partnerships capacities so that we’re in a better position to take advantage of any future funding opportunities that come our way