Who we are

Who we are

At the core of our smarter water catchment is a group of professionals who are passionate about water. We love studying it, protecting it and talking about it. We believe that together we can achieve more.

The partnership approach is a collaboration between Affinity WaterBuckinghamshire CouncilChilterns Conservation BoardChiltern SocietyEnvironment AgencyHertfordshire & Middlesex Wildlife TrustThames Water and The River Chess Association. This mixed group from different sectors, provide a steering group and governance in the direction Smarter Water Catchments will take over the next 10 years.

Our team

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Steph Horn, CSWC

Role: Chess Smarter Water Catchment Coordinator & Working together lead
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Dr Claudia Bernardini

Role: Project Support Officer
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Harriet Bennett, CCB

Role: Farming adviser
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Tracey Read, Chiltern Society

Role: Volunteer Manager
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Nick Christensen, Chiltern Society

Role: Ranger
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Prof. Kate Heppell, CCB

Role: Water Quality Lead
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Paul Jennings, River Chess Association

Role: Managing Flow lead
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Allen Beechey, CCSP

Role: Invasive non-native species lead
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Hannah Simpson, Mott Macdonald Consultancy

Role: Wildlife corridors lead
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Tom Beeston, Chiltern Society

Role: Involving people lead

Monthly newsletter

View our previous monthly newsletters and/or sign-up to receive regular updates about citizen science survey results, events, projects led by partner organisations and much more.

Get involved

Join our citizen-science army, volunteer with a conservation organisation or save water at home – you can help the Chess in many ways.

Volunteering Hub

Have a look at all the volunteering opportunities that are available through our partner organisations around the Chilterns.

Chilterns Chalk Streams Project

Learn about our flagship partnership project, committed to conserving our threatened chalk streams and the wildlife they hold.