GREAT BIG GREEN WEEK – Clean Rivers for People and Wildlife

This year we will focus on our WI resolution with a local twist, “Clean Rivers for People and Wildlife in Essex” for our Great Big Green Week event. This topic is featuring often in the news and it would be great to think it’s already been sorted out, but it still really needs more WI oomph to get it over the line! We are delighted to welcome, amongst other speakers, Darren Tansley, Wilder Rivers & Protected Species Manager from the Essex Wildlife Trust to speak on “River Champions – Taking action in the Community”, to show us what we can all do to help our own local rivers. We hope to see you with your friends and neighbours, this event is open to the public. Please see the agenda below, it will be a fascinating morning and we will learn all we need to know about how to restore our rivers to sparkling health and life. You are most welcome to bring a picnic lunch if you’d like to stay on for a chat after the meeting closes at 12.15pm

AGENDA 
10.00am Welcome  Chair Cllr Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for Greener and Safer Chelmsford and Liberal Democrat Councillor for Chelmer Village & Beaulieu Park
10.05am The Essex Water Strategy – Lucy Shepherd – Lead Local Flood Authority Manager, Essex County Council
10.15am The Local Nature Recovery Strategy – Helena Taylor, Local Nature Recovery Co-ordinator, Essex County Council
10.25am Introducing the Essex River Hub to improve the state of Essex Rivers – Andy Went, Project and Catchment Officer, Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust
10.40am River Champions – Taking action in the Community – Darren Tansley, Wilder Rivers and Protected Species Manager, Essex Wildlife Trust
10.55am Tea/ Coffee
11.10am Bathing water designation – Anna Helm-Baxter, Manningtree Mermaids, Safe Water in Manningtree (S.W.I.M)
11.25am Chelmsford waterways, their role in our cultural and environmental strategies – Cllr Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for Greener and Safer Chelmsford and Liberal Democrat Councillor for Chelmer Village & Beaulieu Park
11.40am Questions and panel discussion
12.10pm Summary Rose Moore
12.15pm Bring your own lunch and discussion
2pm Meeting close