Helen Phillips, chief executive of environmental agency Natural England, spoke at the Inaugural Vitacress Conservation Trust Annual Environment Lecture on March 27.
The lecture, which took place at Southampton University, was entitled “Chalk Rivers: a world-class environment”. Delegates learned about the biodiversity and wildlife of chalk rivers in the UK, which are primarily located in the south and east of the country, and how Natural England is helping conserve the regions and engage the public in their protection. Attendees also heard about how the watercress industry is heavily involved in the initiatives.
“Our aim is to restore the ecological functioning of these delicate environments,” Phillips told delegates. “We are working with the watercress industry, which has many farms concentrated in the headwaters of chalk rivers, to produce a report outlining a code of practice for producers operating in such environments. Properly maintained settlement lagoons are a good example of how we can work closely with the watercress industry to save these delicate areas.
“However, the final code of practice can only be as good as the industry’s efforts, of course,” she added.
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