Westcountry Rivers Trust - A Vision for the Future
Strategic 5 Year Vision

Click on the Word icon below, to download a printer friendly version of this document

Index

    1. What is the point?
    2. Where are we now?
    3. What are we going to do….and why?
        a. New ideas – the Research function
        b. Making a difference – the projects on the ground
        c. Inspiration – the Educational package of WRT
        d. If you’ve got it, sell it – the consultancy
    4. The ultimate checklist – all of our targets in one big list
    5. Project Atlantis – Our lasting legacy

What is the Point?
(Taken from the deed (1995))

The objects of the Charity are:

5.1 To secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of the rivers, streams, watercourses and water impoundments in the Westcountry.

5.2 To advance the education of the public in the management of water.

These objectives still embody the mission statement of the Westcountry Rivers Trust. They are as applicable today as they were 10 years ago when they were written, and they will be just as applicable as we move forward into the next decade.

As a Trust management team, we have been asking ourselves the big questions: What do these aims actually mean? What does the delivery of them entail, and How do we actually deliver it?

The real question is - what will we need to do over the next 5 years that will bring us closer to fulfilling those objectives?

Having given this question careful consideration, we have formulated an answer. We know that it is hard to plan 5 years worth of work and obviously no business can be prophetic to the extent that all bases are covered for 5 years, however, we have established two sets of aims.

1. The first set states our direct action targets which are quantitative and easily measured. This will form the basis of our actual work.

2. The second set of aims dictates our qualitative ambitions, i.e. in what manner we will fulfil these objectives. Examples may include using recycled paper, speaking at essential conferences etc. All projects will be ranked according to strategic importance, contribution to the vision, ability to generate matched funds, strength of partnership, contribution to core funds, ongoing financial viability and commercial exploitation.

Between them, these two sets of aims form a blueprint for our work for the next 5 years and allow us to focus exclusively on certain aspects of work whilst ensuring that, as a Trust, we do not lose sight of the bigger picture. In the words of the IUCN adopted Ecosystem Approach, which we ourselves are leading exponents of, we will be able to;

“Think globally, and act locally.”

It is important to have a logical progression for the work we undertake and we feel that the following formula, whilst simple, encapsulates how different types of work support each other. Without research, projects are groping in the dark; without projects, education is untested and without education, there is little chance that our work will be viewed in the wider world. Therefore, it is important to see the inter-relational importance of each element.

RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY



PROJECTS AND WORK ON THE GROUND



EDUCATION AND PUBLISHED PAPERS

Now that we have the formula, we just have to decide on the areas in which we will work. Again, we have narrowed them down to a few key areas which we believe are essential to a successful Trust. We have concluded that WRT is many things and all facets of its work need to be addressed to make it a success. It is a Charitable body undertaking work for the community, an educational body delivering significant research and teaching, and it is also a business and so needs to ensure that things like cashflow, core costs and profitability are prioritised.

Therefore, the five key areas in which we will work, and in which we will set and monitor targets over the next 5 years are as follows:

1. Research across our important areas of strategic importance. This will be generating real solutions to genuine problems…not just blue-sky.

2. Projects to validate the research, keep in touch with the grass roots and retain our “Wet Feet”.

3. Education through which we will aim to inform and inspire as many people as possible.

4. Consultancy which will support core costs, but also provide good contacts within business, develop our team and provide opportunities that we would not ordinarily have as a Trust.

5. Core funding which will provide the long-term security for the Trust and allow us to invest in the future.

:: top of page

The Westcountry Rivers Trust has reached a pivotal point in its history. Having worked for 10 years to deliver its aims of protecting and enhancing watercourses throughout the region, it is now in the position of being recognised as a national and indeed international example of how to deliver environmental restoration.

As a result of the appointment of a new Director, the Trust has over the last 2 months undergone a complete financial review, reducing core costs and implementing budgetary discipline across the board.

It is fundamentally important that the new strategy contained in this document is built on sound financial principles and projects are commercially viable and economically sound. Only on this basis will the Trust establish a sound foundation on which to build its ambitious strategy.

This plan is a strategic vision for the next 5 years and does not include detailed financial plans other than expected funding routes and approximate values in some cases. Targets and benchmarks will in the main only be for 2004-2006 but we will extend them and add to them as we move forward and begin to deliver.

This document is split into sections and then summarised at the end.

:: top of page

Research

“Scientific research consists of seeing what everyone else has seen, but thinking what no one else has thought.”
Source Unknown

Historical Achievements

To date the Trust has undertaken the following elements of research:

    1. Co-ordinated and supervised 5 MSc projects
        a. Fish habitat survey methods
        b. Catchment scale river surveying
        c. Assessing Dartmoor streams for Trout habitat
        d. Observing Bullhead breeding strategies in different rivers
        e. Examination of balance between Aluminium and Carbon in Dartmoor streams
    2. Researching pH issues on Dartmoor in collaboration with Exeter Uni. and EA
    3. MPhil student employed to compile GIS on Dartmoor
    4. PhD student studying population structure of Tamar Salmon
    5. PhD student reviewing Trout population dynamics on Dartmoor
    6. MPhil student examining the effect of hormone-imitating chemicals on breeding     successes in Salmon
    7. Two 3rd year degree dissertations:
        a. Habitat surveying
        b. Habitat utilisation

Rationale for proposed strategy

WRT do not believe in adding more papers to a pile of unread scientific literature.
We want to work closely with partners to search for real solutions to genuine problems. We hope to complement others’ research, not compete for funds to do the same thing. We aim to find new approaches and new inspiration for positive ways forward. Our research function is important, however, it forms only a very small part of our overall project portfolio and thus will have targets that will be contributory and complementary to our wider workload.

Research is about influencing people, it is not just white-coated scientists stirring test tubes and mixing potions. Research should have a point to it, and that should be to overcome doubt, to make decision-making more informed or to establish good practice. Therefore our targets, in addition to showing what type of research we will undertake, will show the qualitative aims too; who do we want to influence and why?

Proposed Targets and Benchmarks

Proposed Funding

National Environmental Research Council
VI Framework
RES
Interreg IIIb
LIFE

:: top of page

Projects

“Half the world’s population suffers water services inferior to those of the ancient Greeks and Romans.”
American Rivers Foundation

Historical Achievements

• 1800+ farmers & landowners given advice
• 1400+ Integrated Land & River Management Plans
• 200 km+ vulnerable riverbank fenced
• 16 wetlands restored/improved
• 74+ km ditches prioritised for re-vegetation
• 400+ sites of accelerated erosion controlled
• 45 demonstration sites developed and operational
• 180+ sites of habitat improvement
• 150+ buffer zones created

Rationale for proposed strategy

The Trust is known for many things but by the far the most important, that sets us apart from our peers and many other conservation bodies, is the fact that we are not a talking shop. We have occasionally been criticised for doing things that are as yet “unproven” to the satisfaction of everyone else. However, we cannot be criticised for doing nothing and, over the years, this philosophy of taking direct action has yielded enormous benefit.

The second fundamental aspect of our project methodology is that of partnership. We have established strong partnerships historically, however, we need to develop further relationships with strategic bodies. We will continue to maintain our relationship with existing partners including the EA, RHIER, Exeter University, ART and so on but we will be targeting new organisations too.

However, we need to keep what has become known as having “wet feet”.

Therefore, the largest segment of our workload over the next 5 years will be the delivery of projects. These projects will enable us as a Trust to keep our communal finger on the pulse. We aim ultimately to be partners or contractors in every major river or water based initiative in the UK and we will pursue this vigorously over the next 5 years.

Proposed Targets and Benchmarks

Proposed Funding

LIFE
VI Framework
Heritage Lottery Fund
Interreg
Objective 1
Objective 2
Grant giving trusts
Central Government Funding
Rural Enterprise Scheme

:: top of page

“The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life."
Plato

Historical Achievements

Education is and should be the ultimate output of the Trust. To date, we have undertaken the following type of work:

    1. Employed an education officer off and on for a period totalling 5 ½ years
    2. Visited over 50 schools
    3. Produced an high quality education CD (see annexe) which is about to go to print
    4. Delivered over 45 river walks for adults and children
    5. Given over 140 talks to community groups, scientific bodies and universities.
    6. Offered work experience to over 30 youngsters who want to make a career out of     the environment
    7. Sponsored a “Top Student” prize at Duchy College for 4 years
    8. Sponsored angling/river awareness courses and initiatives for 5 years
    9. Addressed over 40 key conferences across Europe on our catchment scale     conservation and management methodologies.

Rationale for proposed strategy

Education is not about sitting in school being lectured at; rather we believe it is about meeting people where they are, and about communicating the aims, objectives and work of the Trust to the general public.

Education can be delivered in many formats including the classroom, the field, conferences, individual conversations, one to one demonstrations, academic papers, signage and leaflets, newsletters and publications, advertising and marketing and many others.

The education work underpins the wider work of the Trust, and provides a focus for our research, projects and consultancy. We aim to develop a centre of excellence for not just river restoration and catchment management, but also our wider remit of water management and strategy.

Therefore, we intend that all of our work should be challenged with the question, “Is this worth teaching?” If the answer is no, then we should rethink our work programme.

Proposed Targets and Benchmarks

Proposed Finance Sources

    1. European Social Fund
    2. Ernest Cook Charitable Trust
    3. TRANSCO
    4. Rural Progress Fund
    5. Learning and Skills Council

:: top of page

Consultancy

“Success is 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration.”
Source unknown

Historical Achievement

1. Consultancy established and running for over 6 months
2. Expected to break-even at end of year 2004
3. New areas of commerce accessed including EIA, Biotope monitoring and Market Research
4. Core training and marketing costs contributed to
5. Website and brochure produced

Rationale for Proposed Strategy

Tamar Consulting, the trading arm of the Westcountry Rivers Trust, set out to deliver £100,000 worth of work during 2004. This was and is an ambitious target considering that historically, the Trust has done very little consultancy and its team is inexperienced in this area. With no direct selling experience it has nevertheless prospered and is on target to deliver by the end of the year.

Overall, it will contribute some 10% of the total turnover of the Trust and we aim to keep this target constant over the next 5 years. The company is an important facet of the Trust, not just financially, but more importantly, in that it allows us to access clients and projects that would not otherwise have been possible.

The particular areas of work that the company will focus on are:

1. Ecological services including freshwater, terrestrial and marine surveys and monitoring
2. Market Research within the environmental sector focussing on water conservation and management
3. European funding training courses (1st course Sep ’04)

Proposed Targets and Benchmarks

Proposed Funding Streams and Key Clients

    1. Environment Agency
    2. Parsons Brinkerhoff
    3. Hyder/CEC
    4. ARUP
    5. DEFRA
    6. CEFAS
    7. Ewan Assoc.

Other Targets

These further targets cut across all departments of the Trust and the aim of them is to ensure that we, as an organisation, function in an appropriate way.

:: top of page

Summary of Targets and Due Dates

:: top of page

Project “Atlantis”

Historically, the Trust has developed a reputation for delivering large catchment-scale projects which address issues of diffuse pollution resulting from bad agricultural practice.

We have set out our aims for the next 5 years in the preceding pages, and it is clear that to achieve this will require monumental effort and a great deal of hard work.

Nobody would blame WRT if we decided to just get our heads down and deliver this business plan, however if one thing sets the Trust apart, it is raw ambition and a history of trailblazing across many new areas.

WRT were the first to launch a catchment scale project when we won Tamar 2000. We were the first to win a delegated grant scheme under Objective 1. We were the first to get around the rules concerning the RDR with Cornwall Rivers Project and we were the first to win the RDA’s Hand in Hand Award for bringing the environment and business together.

Therefore, we feel it is time to consider a project that has been bubbling internally for some time. This project meets all of our aims in terms of conservation, preservation, political influence, education and a core income.

The proposal is to plan, build and run a Centre for Sustainable Water Management.

The centre would be

1. An educational facility i.e. the home of the European Institute for Water Management with facilities for lectures, talks and schools.

2. A tourist attraction designed to inspire and empower visitors of all ages about water, conservation and habitat rescue.

3. Office space and a permanent home for the Westcountry Rivers Trust

4. It would complement other major attractions in the Southwest and would add value to ventures including Eden, NMA, Heligan etc.

This is undoubtedly the most ambitious target we have ever set ourselves, there is an enormous body of work to be done before we can even begin to see the vision becoming reality. It is true to say that now is the time to undertake this type of project.

Cornwall is fast becoming the home of sustainable tourism as well as excellence in the fields of ecology, marine conservation and environmental action taken on behalf of a struggling planet. The Eden Project, the Falmouth Maritime Museum, the Padstow Lobster Hatchery, the National Marine Aquarium and many other attractions are creating an image of the Southwest which is vibrant, dynamic and, most of all, based around responsible, sustainable tourism, coupled with education.

This project, codenamed “Atlantis”, will capitalise on these other initiatives and has the potential to add millions of pounds more to Cornwall’s GDP.

This project however, should be set in the context of our continuing mission; to protect and enhance rivers, streams and watercourses throughout the Westcountry and to educate people of all generations about water management and conservation.
This is not tourism for the sake of it but rather the next logical, albeit ambitious, step in our development.

We have no idea of value, or even venue, at this stage. However we would suggest that the project be approached in 3 stages.

1. Scope project fully, canvas opinion and support, develop initial seed funding and evaluate potential sites and sizes
2. Finance and build Phase I which would be the tourism element of the centre, along with basic educational facilities and office space
3. Finance and build Phase II that would considerably expand the educational facilities to house the European Institute for Water Management, and would further develop tourism opportunities.

At present, we need to commence Phase I and produce a feasibility study. Although this seems an enormous task, the old maxim is true that says “from small acorns grow giant oak trees”.

:: top of page