The 20th anniversary of the European Union’s LIFE programme, the first dedicated financial instrument for funding environmental activities, was celebrated at the Europe House in London in May. Launched in 1992, LIFE was timed to coincide with the EU Habitats and Birds Directives coming into force, both aimed at preserving Europe’s biological diversity. 

Jonathan Scheele (Head of UK office for the EU) with Tony Grayling (Head of Climate Change and Communities, Environment Agency) at LIFE 20 years celebration.

 Green Week is Europe’s biggest annual conference on the environment. This year’s event, which explored the EU’s approach to water policy was attended by Toni Scarr (Project Manager RESTORE), Chris Baker (RESTORE Communications lead), Bart Fokkens (Chairman ECCR) and Philip Weller (ICDPR). 

RESTORE was pleased to be invited to give a presentation at the launch of the London Borough of Lewisham’s European River Corridor Improvement Project. Susan Sheahan (RESTORE, Communications & Media Advisor) spoke about the development of the RESTORE project and presented an overview of the RESTORE River Wiki, handbook and website.

With the arrival of four Asian short-clawed otters to the WWT London Wetland Centre visitors will now be able to see this key wetland species in London, playing, foraging, feeding, swimming and grooming.

A two day conference was hosted by the River Restoration Centre and held at Nottingham University in April. The event presented some of the most cutting edge and innovative ways of achieving river restoration to a 200 strong audience of international environmental experts.