Core Group
Formed in April 2023 following a process of co-design with key stakeholders, the Core Group sits at the heart of the partnership. It’s role is to formulate a plan for the ecological restoration of the River Usk, including but not limited to a plan to reduce nutrient loading within the Usk to help facilitate affordable housing, in line with the Welsh Government’s priority action plan.
Membership includes;
- Dwr Cymru Welsh Water – Catchments team
- Dwr Cymru Welsh Water – River quality liaison
- Natural Resources Wales – Environment Team (South East)
- Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority – Member
- Powys County Council – Cabinet Lead for a Greener Powys
- Monmouthshire County Council – Cabinet Member for climate and the environment
- Wye and Usk Foundation
- Wildlife Trusts (represented by Gwent Wildlife Trust)
- Save the River Usk
- Beacons Water Group
- Tirweddau Cymru – Nutrient management strategic lead
Values
The foundation of the core group is a shared set of values from which we build our collaborative action. These include:- an open and honest culture; where we leave blame at the door, and accept responsibility for the part each of us plays
in the degradation and repair of the river; where we learn from the experiences of one another and sign up to play our fair share in delivering transformative change for the benefit of the Usk, it’s catchment and it’s communities
Ways of Working
The group has been spending a lot of time thinking about the challenges the river faces, whilst sketching out what a restored river catchment looks and feels like for nature, for community and for business (including food production). These outcome, alongside the high level actions needed to bring about these changes are beginning to be defined (see over). The Core Group will now form a series of working groups, to think about how these actions could be delivered, The knowledge hub will help ensure that the actions are understood in terms of their long term impact and benefits quantified. At present four working groups are being proposed looking at – resilient and active communities; nature’s recovery; adaptive land use and funding. The partnership is keen to ensure that the working groups take in a range of knowledge and experience so if you are keen to get involved please email uskpartnership@beacons-npa.gov.uk to register your interest.