Three new team members have joined the Everyone’s Evenlode project caring for and ecologically improving the river.

The River Evenlode is one of the headwaters of the River Thames, running through the rural communities of the Cotswolds.

The new team have joined the Cotswolds National Landscape team which is delivering the project.

Rosalind Marsden has joined as the new Education Officer, Ruth Rudwick is the project’s Community Outreach Officer, and Rowan Wynne-Jones is the Community Outreach and Education Officer.

The posts are funded by Thames Water’s Smarter Catchment initiative for the River Evenlode, which is run in partnership with the Evenlode Catchment Partnership.

Ruth, who is combining her new role with finishing a wildlife conservation foundation degree at the Royal Agricultural University, will be working with youth and community groups to help them access the Evenlode.

She said: “By exploring opportunities to enjoy the river, people also understand its environment more and that can lead to action to take care of it. It’s about enjoying and caring for the whole catchment area, even beyond the river itself: doing hedgerow surveys, or creating leaky dams to help with flood management, or building and putting up bird and bat boxes."

Ros, whose previous roles have included outdoor teaching for organisations like Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and the National Trust, is enthusiastic about setting up a pilot River Schools project aimed at both primary and secondary students, similar in concept to Forest Schools.

She aims to offer a range of activities from pond dipping, tracks and signs, seasons and senses to possibly some rural crafting, a river walk, or learning related to water cycles.

Rowan joins the team as an experienced forest school leader, youth worker, and community outreach worker. Her hybrid role includes elements of both community outreach, and working with schools.

She said: “Spending time in nature provides a multitude of benefits for people’s mental and physical wellbeing, from reducing stress levels and anxiety, to increasing fitness levels and general happiness, whilst simultaneously helping individuals to feel a greater connection to something outside of themselves.

"Providing children and young people with the opportunity to explore, learn about, and engage with their local watercourses can help spark a life-long passion for protecting the environment, as well as providing opportunities for memorable, hands-on learning.”

The team is very keen to hear from schools, youth and community groups, landowners, farmers and individuals within (and close to) the Evenlode catchment area.

If you would like to find out more or be involved in the project, please email the team at evenlode@cotswoldsaonb.org.uk.