Last week, Paul Sizeland, Director of Nature Finance, and Leah Reinfranck, Nature Finance Project Officer, hosted two workshops in Larkhall and Inverness. These sessions brought members together to explore the development of a River Catchment Restoration Fund, fostering collaboration and gathering valuable insights from their hands-on experiences with delivering river restoration projects.
Attendees engaged with updates on key project developments, including:
- Member Engagement Insights: Leah Reinfranck presented findings from her summer work engaging with members to shape the project portfolio.
- Monitoring Frameworks: Julia McCarthy, a consultant for Fisheries Management Scotland, shared progress on developing a robust framework to measure the fund’s impact.
- Marketing and Corporate Engagement: Paul Sizeland led a strategic session on effectively marketing the fund and pitching opportunities to potential corporate contributors, emphasising the value of aligning restoration goals with business interests.
These workshops mark a significant milestone in the River Catchment Restoration Portfolio Project, supported by the Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS). The project aims to create a sustainable pipeline of restoration initiatives funded by corporate contributions, delivering lasting benefits for Scotland’s rivers, ecosystems, and communities.
We sincerely thank the Fisheries Management Scotland members and other stakeholders who participated in these workshops. Your invaluable feedback and expertise play a crucial role in shaping the success of the River Catchment Restoration Fund. We look forward to keeping you informed about our progress as we advance this innovative and impactful project.