About us
Wild About The Erme River (WATER) is a catchment focused charity working to restore the Erme River to its natural state, in order to safeguard all river users from the harmful effects of pollution and to protect and improve the biodiversity of the Erme’s catchment area and the estuary beyond.
Working in partnership with local residents, other community groups, land managers, regulatory bodies and South West Water, our goal is to take action to protect the river from harmful effects of pollution, put measures in place to reduce further impacts and to restore the river back to its natural state.
Through a combination of direct action projects, community events and raising public awareness, our aim is to make a positive change for the future.
About the Erme River
The Erme River, gracefully winding through the stunning landscapes of Devon, is a testament to natural beauty and ecological diversity. Rising on the Southern slopes of Dartmoor, the Erme bubbles and flows through granite and clay before joining the English Channel at its mouth, the Erme Estuary. This meandering waterway showcases a diverse ecosystem, providing a habitat for various flora and fauna, while its tranquil waters offer scenic beauty and opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Erme Estuary is a narrow, sheltered estuary approximately 6.5km long. Bound by dense woodland, this drowned river valley is remote and unspolit, and a fantastic spot for bird watching. Egret, Curlews, Oyster-catchers and Kingfishers have all made this special place their home.
Mixed habitats abound in this small estuary, from sandy seabed to areas of exposed bedrock. The shoreline is similarly varied, from shingle and cobble habitats to the beautiful sands of Wonwell beach.
At low tide, the estuary serves as an important foraging ground for birds and crustaceans. At high tide the estuary offers protection and shelter for juvenile fish.
Like other estuaries in the southwest, this site is important for its function as a nursery area for fish species, with sea trout using the area for spawning. The rare European eel has also been reported in surveys along with a population of otter.*
Beyond its ecological importance, the Erme is a source of tranquility and enjoyment for residents and visitors alike, providing a space for recreation, reflection, and connection with nature. Preserving this invaluable natural asset is an investment in the well-being of our community, safeguarding its beauty and biodiversity for generations to come. The efforts to protect the Erme River are fundamental to conserving Devon's heritage, ensuring clean water, fostering biodiversity, and upholding the intrinsic value of our natural landscapes.
*source: wildlifetrusts.org
Our Team
Our steering group has been formed to identify and link together work already happening in the catchment, to engage with community and institutional stakeholders, and to establish effective pathways to change.
Charlotte Grezo
Chair
Charlotte is a biologist with a PhD in Environmental biology. She has worked in senior sustainability roles in multinational companies throughout her career and has been a Trustee of a number of conservation and natural history charities.
She is currently a Trustee of Botanic Gardens International and the Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT), a member of the Linnean Society Finance and Audit Committee, a member of the BBC Sustainability Advisory Group and a WWF UK fellow.
Charlotte has been passionate about the environment, biodiversity and climate change for most of her life. She lives in the River Erme Catchment and as Chair of WATER and Trustee of DWT is involved in efforts to improve and enhance environmental quality, biodiversity and wildlife locally.
Tim Poate
Vice chair
Tim is a Coastal Research Consultant working at the University of Plymouth working on coastal adaptation and storm impacts in the UK and overseas. He lives in Ivybridge with a young family and in 2018, started the Plastic Free Ivybridge campaign with support from Pl:21. Tim has continued to be involved with Pl:21 and is currently a Trustee supporting a range of projects including Active Travel and River Cleans.
Tim is happiest in/under/around water windsurfing/surfing/swimming- thankfully all of these are possible right on our doorstep in Devon and he is keen to help however he can to ensure they remain for generations to come.
John Mildmay-White
Vice chair, Lead land co-ordinator
John and his family manage the Flete Estate on the Erme Estuary and see protecting this special environment as a priority of their stewardship.
They spend as much time in the water as possible, swimming, surfing and paddleboarding and have unfortunately suffered the effects of the failing water quality.
John trained and worked as an Engineer before returning to the Estate and is passionate about using sound science and data to restore the health of the Erme River
Charlotte Rathbone
Land Project co-ordinator
Charlotte has lived and worked from Modbury for nearly 30 years. She is a chartered landscape architect and a director Rathbone Partnership Landscape Consultants. Charlotte started her career as a geographer and in her landascape architecture role she is a strong proponet for the serious and considered management of soils and landscapes to ensure we retain biodiversity for future generations.
Charlotte is a board member of the Sharpham Trust near Totnes, Co-Chair of the Modbury Wildlife Action Group. She loves to walk, spend time on the water and improve her growing, cultural and wildlife skills.
Colin Wybrow
Marketing and communications Lead
Colin is an experienced marketing and communications professional. He has worked, at director level, in both client and agency capacities on over a hundred brands in more than sixty markets.
He launched, and was international spokesman for, an environmental charity in the shipping industry that reinvented rotor sail technology to provide supplementary wind power for today’s commercial ships, saving both fuel and emissions.
He has walked the Erme for over 25 years having lived close by the river and has been privileged to observe it in every state and every season, as well as observing species such as Kingfishers and otters.
A humped-back stone bridge near his cottage was a training ground for visiting children to learn the ancient art of Pooh sticks after returning from a day at Wonwell or Meadow’s Foot beach. Endless fun.
Our Network
We work in collaboration with a variety of groups, organisations, regulatory bodies and companies across our catchment area and beyond.
