Lucinda is FACTS and BASIS Soil & Water qualified.
Working in the catchment with farmers and land-owners takes a certain type of person: someone who is dynamic; who has a thorough understanding of agriculture and a real passion for the rivers we seek to protect.
Our advisors identify opportunities to improve farm infrastructure and land management that are beneficial to both the business as well as the environment.
In line with an ethos that has guided WUF since its inception, we work through our projects on a catchment by catchment basis to tackle the causes, not just the symptoms of diffuse pollution. We try to work with every farm in a catchment and our advice therefore covers a broad range of topics. It needs to be tailored to the requirements of each individual farm.
Quite often, the work of our advisors is a distance from a river. However, all their endeavours are to the benefit of the rivers and towards achieving the Foundation’s charitable objects.
Find out more about their work here.
Nature Based solutions is a new but rapidly expanding area of the Foundation. The department was started in 2020 and continues to grow.
Wendy Ogden joined WUF at the start of April 2023 as Programme Manager for Land Use and Natural Capital. Wendy has many years of experience of project management gained through a career in public sector finance and academy school business management at a senior level. More recently she has worked in sustainable development after completing a Masters Degree in Environmental Management and has published academic research in riverine pollution and floodplain ecosystem services.
Izzy joined the Foundation in April 2021 after graduating with a BSc in Physical Geography and MSc in Geographic Information and Climate Change. Following a year of working in the Foundation, Izzy worked within the water industry, before returning to the Wye & Usk Foundation in September 2022 as a Senior Natural Capital Officer.
She has experience in working on a range of environmental projects from co-ordination to delivery, including the planning and development of constructed wetlands, HRA monitoring and riverine habitat improvement schemes. She is also involved in other project areas including natural flood management, biodiversity enhancement and spatial data mapping, with experience in conducting river habitat surveys, biodiversity net gain assessments, and the use of several natural capital metrics.
Her role at the Foundation involves identifying and developing opportunities to implement catchment interventions and nature-based solutions within the Wye and Usk catchments to target key environmental issues, including pollution and flooding, to benefit both people and nature.
Dreda joined the foundation in 2020 having gained a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Exeter. She grew up on a mixed farm on the banks of the Wye and has spent the last few years working as a freelance cook. As such she is passionate about all things food, farming and conservation.
Initially working as part of the Monitoring team, Dreda now divides her time between Natural Capital and Farm teams, working on projects to identify and deliver natural capital opportunities within the Wye and Usk catchments.
Chloe is a Geology and Physical Geography graduate from the University of Edinburgh, with a Masters in Paleobiology from the University of Bristol. Previously Chloe has published work on dinosaur fossils in Scotland and the impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems. Chloe has also been involved in outreach projects, including developing teaching materials for the Scottish curriculum and delivered classes to schools about biodiversity and interdependence.
Chloe joined the Foundation in April 2022 as a Natural Capital Officer, she is involved in areas such as wetland feasibility and design, and opportunity mapping to identify potential for natural capital and specifically Natural Flood Management (NFM) within the Wye and Usk catchments.
Katie is a Countryside Management graduate of Aberystwyth University. She grew up on a farm in Lancashire and is currently studying a MRes in Agroecology from Harper Adams University. Having formerly volunteered as a ranger, she is interested in conservation, wildlife and woodlands.
She has previously worked in the agri-tech sector with a focus on sustainable agriculture and is passionate about food and regenerative farming. Katie joined the Foundation in April 2022 as a Natural Capital Officer where she has become actively involved in projects to deliver natural capital opportunities within the Wye and Usk catchments.
More info soon
More info soon
More info soon
More info soon
More info soon
More info soon
Lucinda has lived and worked in Herefordshire for most of her life. She studied ecology at Birmingham University then trained and worked for 18 years as an agronomist which provides an invaluable knowledge base for nutrient management and crop nutrition. When not on Foundation duties Lucinda and her family farm in Dilwyn.
Lucinda is FACTS and BASIS Soil & Water qualified.
Jonny grew up in the small village of Llanfihangel Talyllyn near Brecon and has been with the Foundation for 12 Years. Having originally worked as a habitat team leader, Jonny brings a lot of experience to the farm team in relation to practical work to improve habitat alongside watercourses.
When not at work Jonny helps his father with his agricultural contracting business and the family also farm a small flock of sheep. His agricultural background means he is well equipped to work with farmers and is keen to help support changes that are a benefit to both rivers and the farm business.
He is BASIS Soil & Water qualified.
Having gained an Honours degree in Marine Science and Masters in Fisheries Biology and Management, Tom worked for many years as a researcher focusing mainly on sub-Saharan and tropical fisheries where he helped to deliver many pragmatic solutions in the field.
Following a few years in the renewable energy industry and coming home to settle in Wales, Tom is now one of the Foundation’s Catchment Advisors working cross border. One of Tom’s main interests is the use of “off stream” livestock watering options, facilitated by the use of renewable energy technologies.
Tom has been fishing since he was ten years old and is BASIS Soil & Water qualified.
Bridie grew up on a dairy farm in Herefordshire and was passionate about farming from a young age. She graduated from Seale Hayne with a BSc Ag (hons) and has spent time working on dairy, livestock and arable farms, set up an organic poultry (eggs) business on the family farm and spent the last 12 years working for the Soil Association, inspecting organic farms across Wales and the borders.
She now lives with her family close to the river Wye near Hay on Wye and works with farmers in the catchment on the Welsh side of the border.
Ben joined the Wye and Usk Foundation in 2019 after finishing university with a BSc and MSc in Exercise Science and Human Physiology. After nearly 10 years living in Cardiff for university and work, Ben is now living back on the family farm near the Wyre Forest in Worcestershire with his wife and young children. He splits his time between practising and promoting sustainable agriculture with a passion for spreading the soil health bug.
He now lives with her family close to the river Wye near Hay on Wye and works with farmers in the catchment on the Welsh side of the border.
The Wye and Usk Foundation
The Right Bank, The Square
Talgarth
Brecon
LD3 0BW
The Wye & Usk Foundation is a charity registered in England and Wales (no. 1080319).
