Adur and Ouse Blog - the First Edition

Dr Sean Ashworth from the EA (center) and Chris Ryder fom Defra (r) on a Sussex site visit

Welcome to the first of weekly blogs from the Adur and Ouse catchment co-ordinator. As one of the Defra pilot catchments launched in March 2011, we have been up and running for a few months so there is a lot of background to cover in this first edition!

Welcome to the first edition of the Adur and Ouse blog and what a week to launch on! We have had a very hectic week out and about with Defra colleagues to talk about the fantastic work that is underway within the pilot catchment (and yes it was freezing and snowy as the picture will verify!)

The Adur and Ouse pilot is a true collaborative partnership with 12 organisations forming our steering group and many more involved through the catchment projects.
In order to set the scene for where we are with the pilot, we have developed a website for the pilot catchment with details of a few of a projects that are underway and the latest on the pilot catchment steering group ;-

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/catchments.

The week that was...

Monday started off with our team meeting and preparation for the Fisheries and Biodiversity Partnership event on Thursday.

The remainder of the day and Tuesday was focused around sharing best practice and knowledge about what we have learnt through the pilot approach with other catchment co-ordinators and the wider community. A teleconference with Pond Conservation covering the New Forest pilot and potential initiatives within the Adur reminded me about how much more can always be done in spreading the word - another reason to get blogging!

Wednesday was our site visit with Defra colleagues. We were very pleased to welcome Chris Ryder (Head of Water Quality) and colleagues to an action packed and freezing day of site visits, covering our work with the National Trust and South East Water to name a few.

Thursday was our partnership event, a great day with 50 people from organisations across Sussex to reflect on the projects the Environment Agency Fisheries and Biodiversity team have delivered this year and also what more can be done to improve out waters.

Friday was a full Adur and Ouse day with a meeting in the morning with many Environment Agency colleagues to go through where we are in the catchment with our own work and how this can relate to the steering group (the brilliantly named Virtual Team) and in the afternoon a core meeting to plan for out next steering group meeting on the 23 February.

Unusually Saturday also sees me working at the Environment Agency facilitated Sussex Fisheries Seminar, to raise awareness of current thinking in fisheries management and working together to improve this valuable Sussex resource.

All in all a long week, but a great week I feel to start blogging....for now I will sign off as it is 6pm and a Friday night so long enough!