MEET THE TEAM

The role involves collaborating with directors, project teams, and external partners to develop and deliver the Trust's objectives. Clare enjoys the varied nature of her role and the opportunity to work with all the teams and partners across the Mersey catchment.

With 15 years experience in fundraising and marketing for both the charity and private sectors, Sarah will be looking to develop new sources of funding and income to ensure the trust can continue to achieve its mission.

Reagan studied microbiology and genetics at Leicester University and has retained a fascination for learning about the world of soil microbiomes. Reagan is a career changer having spent over 17 years in scientific research and held a Director of Research and Innovation position in the NHS managing multiple large-scale projects. Reagan retrained in horticulture with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and is passionate about ecological planting and habitat restoration to improve water quality and biodiversity.

Since then, she has worked at various places, including Shugborough NT, Tatton Park and Reaseheath College, where she gained valuable skills and experience in countryside management. She also holds a foundation degree in countryside management.

Ambers background stems from being a Ranger for the National Trust before developing specialist Lichen and Bryophyte ecological knowledge within a role focused on restoring temperate rainforests at the Woodland Trust. Amber graduated from Newcastle University with a BSc Hons in Environmental science where she designed her dissertation surrounding the effects of mining pollution on freshwater aquatic invertebrates. She will be delivering habitat restoration projects across the Cheshire catchment area. 

Bonnie is passionate about working collaboratively to restore our rivers and connect people with their environment! Bonnie specialises in fluvial geomorphology, with 15 years experience in river restoration and catchment management. Bonnie joined Mersey Rivers Trust in 2025, is host for the Upper Mersey Catchment Partnership, and manages the Upper Mersey Team.

In her current role, Bonnie works with partners and stakeholders to plan and deliver multiple benefit river restoration opportunities across the Upper Mersey Catchment, with a current focus on the River Tame.

Bonnie was previously the Geomorphology Technical Specialist with the Environment Agency (Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire), where she provided planning and permitting advice to protect and improve physical health of our rivers. Prior to the EA, Bonnie worked as a consultant, where she led on fluvial audits, wider river restoration visions, and channel designs for large infrastructure projects.

She has a background in Ecology and a PhD in Environmental Sciences, focussing on pollution and human pressures on the ecosystem. Felicitas believes that we need to use both robust scientific evidence and real-world pragmatism for successful environmental improvement.

Abbie graduated from Bangor University with a masters degree in Zoology with Conservation and, after the end of the summer season doing outdoor education, she was successful in getting her first industry job as a Project Manager at Mersey Rivers Trust.

Abbie organises events and supports projects in the Upper Mersey catchment, including the Norbury Projects and CaSTCo. Abbie has a few tickets to help with the outdoor work and is looking forward to continue to learn more.

Andy has over 20 years of experience of green space management and community engagement, most recently working as a Senior Project Manager for Groundwork CLM managing their outdoor education programme and Grozone Community
Garden in Northwich, and before that as a Countryside Warden for the Mersey Valley Warden Service in South Manchester.

His experience includes employment with BTCV (now TCV), Cheshire Wildlife Trust, and the Canal & River Trust as well as with Merseyside Environmental Advisor Service where he was lead officer on the development of the Liverpool City Region Ecological Framework. Paul has a BSc in Countryside Management and is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).

A keen interest in helping nature and people work better together, Natasha has an interdisciplinary background in interdisciplinary, Manchester-based consultancy Countryscape, project management of UK-based NHLF-funded and Horizon Europe projects, with Oppla – the EU repository for nature-based solutions. Natasha has joined Mersey Rivers Trust to project manage an EA-funded NFM project based in Alt Crossens, helping to reduce flooding in the Alt River catchment.

She started out as Project Coordinator for the ‘Call of Nature’ project in Alt/Crossens and then became a Project Manager in 2018, leading on various wetland creation, NFM and community engagement projects. Her current role involves overseeing the Alt Catchment NFM programme and undertaking monitoring.

The previous summer he graduated from The University of Birmingham with a BSc in Environmental Science where he discovered his passion for freshwater ecology and management. His work for the trust looks to strengthen the Evidence Base for the effectiveness of NFMs at reducing peak discharge, increasing attenuation, and improving the river's overall health.