South East Rivers Trust

What South East Rivers Trust does

South East Rivers Trust (SERT) is an independent environmental charity registered in England and Wales (charity number 1091000) that restores, protects, and enhances rivers across South East England and London. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Leatherhead with a registered office in London, the trust operates as a company limited by guarantee and is led by co-CEOs Bella Davies and Hester Liakos. Its core offering is catchment-scale river restoration delivered through 12 catchment partnerships and on-the-ground projects covering habitat enhancement, natural flood management (NFM), wetland creation, fish passage improvement, and water quality remediation. Notable interventions include 33 km of fish passage reconnected, 300 river cleanups, 50,000 m³ of flood storage created, and 400+ misconnected plumbing corrections driven by evidence from its Outfall Safari citizen science programme (developed with the Zoological Society of London).

SERT's products and services span corporate and infrastructure partnerships (most prominently the Gatwick Airport Natural Flood Management project initiated in July 2024), grant-funded restoration programmes (such as the Chalk Stream Connectors project backed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund), education programmes for schools (Project Kingfisher, Our River Our Water, with paid sessions at £150 per River Dipping Session), community events, and citizen science initiatives. The trust is exploring technological augmentation through a research project using AI and drone-based geospatial detection of invasive Himalayan Balsam. It collaborates with the Environment Agency, Thames Water, SES Water, National Trust, Surrey Wildlife Trust, WRAP, and Water Resources South East, among others.

The revenue model is diversified across donations and public appeals, grant funding, water company professional services (where SERT guides customer bill-funded environmental investment), corporate partnerships, and fee-for-service education. SERT positions itself as an independent 'critical friend' to water companies, using data and evidence to direct environmental spending toward measurable catchment outcomes. It is geographically restricted to South East England and does not operate software or technology products for external sale; its offerings are charitable programmes and project delivery rather than scalable technology platforms.

Name

South East Rivers Trust

Legal name

The South East Rivers Trust

Website

https://southeastriverstrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South East Rivers Trust is an environmental charity based in Leatherhead, UK, that restores rivers across South East England through 12 catchment partnerships, citizen science, school education programmes, and nature-based flood management projects delivered with water utilities, corporate partners, and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flood Control & Protection Infrastructure (Levees, Floodwalls, Gates, Pump Stations) (EUANAEAI), Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services (BPALAMAL), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• River restoration services
• Environmental charity
• Catchment management
• Water quality improvement
• Natural flood management

Headquarters

HQ city

Leatherhead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Public Appeals: Voluntary donations from individuals, corporations, and community groups supporting river restoration projects. Appeals for public support on website and through communications.
2. Partnership Funding from Water Companies: Working with water companies to guide their environmental investment toward projects that deliver measurable river improvements. Water companies allocate customer bill income to environmental projects.
3. Grant Funding: Funding from charitable foundations including The National Lottery Heritage Fund for Chalk Stream Connectors, and other grant-making bodies for specific restoration projects.
4. Education Services: Fee-for-service education sessions for schools including River Dipping Sessions at £150 per session. Free sessions available for some programs.
5. Corporate Partnership Projects: Delivered in partnership with Gatwick Airport Ltd as part of its Decade of Change initiative for Natural Flood Management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

South East Rivers Trust is an independent environmental charity that restores, protects, and enhances rivers across South East England. It delivers catchment-scale environmental projects including natural flood management, wetland creation, fish passage improvements, and water quality monitoring. It also runs schools education programmes, citizen science initiatives, and volunteer-led restoration activities through 12 catchment partnerships.

Product overview

South East Rivers Trust is an environmental charity offering a portfolio of river restoration programmes, education initiatives, and citizen science projects across South East England. The core offering consists of catchment-scale restoration work including habitat enhancement, natural flood management, and water quality improvement. Education programmes include Project Kingfisher for schools across South London and the Our River, Our Water programme for Kent and East Sussex. Citizen science initiatives include Outfall Safaris, where trained volunteers identify pollution sources. The Trust hosts 12 catchment partnerships and delivers numerous river restoration projects. While the Trust utilizes technology tools such as AI and drones for environmental monitoring, its offerings are charitable programmes and projects rather than software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catchment Partnerships Collaborative partnerships hosted or co-hosted by South East Rivers Trust across 12 catchments in London and the South East, bringing together communities, organisations, and stakeholders to improve and protect rivers.
• Project Kingfisher Schools education programme designed to connect young people with their local rivers through engaging, hands-on outdoor learning experiences, including interactive river walks, river dipping sessions, and school assemblies.
• Our River, Our Water Free education programme for primary schools across Kent and East Sussex offering curriculum-linked sessions to help pupils understand the value of water and build connections with their local rivers.
• Outfall Safaris Citizen science initiative where trained volunteers survey river outfalls to identify pollution from misconnected plumbing, providing evidence to water companies and the Environment Agency.
• Gatwick Airport Natural Flood Management Project Nature-based flood management project working with Gatwick Airport to restore natural processes across the Upper Mole catchment, reducing flood risk and improving water quality.
• Increasing Water Availability and Resilience Programme Programme working with farmers, landowners and partners to improve how water is stored, managed and used across catchments, helping build long-term water resilience for people and the environment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33 km of fish passage created, 300 river cleanups completed, 50,000 m³ flood storage created
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.

• Gatwick Airport LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Delivering the Gatwick Airport Natural Flood Management project as part of Gatwick's Decade of Change initiative. Working across the Upper Mole catchment to reduce flood risk, improve water quality, and create healthier habitats using nature-based solutions. Year 1 started July 2024 with detailed mapping and landowner engagement; Year 2 delivered over 50 leaky barriers, 100m hedgerow, new wetland storing 600m3 of water, and 100m river reconnected to floodplain.
• Surrey Wildlife TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting the River Mole Catchment Partnership to bring together organisations and stakeholders with an interest in the river's health. Collaborative restoration work across the catchment from West Sussex through Surrey to the Thames.
• Kentish Stour Countryside PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting the Kentish Stour Catchment Partnership to improve river habitats, support chalk stream recovery, tackle pollution, and help communities connect with their local rivers across East Kent.
• Bore PlacestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking closely with Bore Place and SES Water to develop a shared nature recovery vision for the Eden Valley catchment. Collaboration on restoring water resources, enhancing habitats, and supporting river-friendly farming practices.
• SES WaterstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SES Water in the Eden Valley to develop shared nature recovery vision, focusing on restoring water resources, enhancing habitats, and supporting sustainable farming practices.
• National TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with National Trust at Morden Hall Park to restore sections of the River Wandle. Volunteer-led restoration project improving habitats and enhancing natural river processes. Builds on previous restoration work delivered in 2015 and 2020.
• WRAP Water RoadmapstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerHolistic Water for Horticulture project is part of WRAP Water Roadmap initiative and UK Food and Drink Pact. Over 100 organisations committed to 50% of UK fresh food from areas with sustainable water management by 2030, supporting UN Sustainable Development Goal 6.
• Water Resources South East (WRSE)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Water Resources South East in regional water resource planning to improve water storage and use across catchments, helping build long-term water resilience for people and environment.
• Zoological Society of LondonsupportingTechnology or IntegrationOutfall Safari methodology developed by Zoological Society of London in 2016. SERT uses this citizen science approach to train volunteers in surveying riverbanks for pollution from misconnected plumbing.
• Thames WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurvey findings from Outfall Safaris on Hogsmill, Beverley Brook, and Wandle are submitted to Thames Water for investigation. Thames Water has traced and corrected over 400 misconnected appliances following SERT surveys.
• People's Trust for Endangered SpeciessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMegan Gimber from People's Trust for Endangered Species led a hedgerow workshop for the Eden Valley Farmer Cluster, exploring hedgerow role using historic and current mapping to identify restoration opportunities.
• Environment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERT reports environmental incidents and pollution findings to the Environment Agency. EA decides on Enforcement Undertaking acceptance. SERT carries out due diligence on any projects linked to Enforcement Undertakings.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Trust: Large UK conservation charity with which SERT partners on River Wandle restoration at Morden Hall Park. Operates across land, heritage, and water at national scale, with overlap on river restoration, wetland management, and volunteer-driven habitat projects.
• Surrey Wildlife Trust: County-level wildlife trust covering Surrey, an active SERT partner on the River Mole catchment partnership. Broader remit (all wildlife, not just rivers) and larger reserve network, but overlapping geography and shared stakeholder base in the South East.
• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT): Large national wetland and waterbird conservation charity operating wetland visitor centres and conservation programmes across the UK. A broader, more established incumbent working on overlapping themes of wetland creation, water quality, and biodiversity.
• The Rivers Trust: National umbrella body representing rivers trusts across the UK. Operates across all UK catchments at a policy, coordination, and grant channelling level, providing a broader, non-regional counterpart to SERT's regional focus.

Direct peers

• Tweed Forum: Cross-border rivers organisation in the Tweed catchment delivering catchment-scale restoration, invasive species control, and farmer engagement. Operates a comparable model of multi-stakeholder catchment partnerships and on-the-ground delivery to SERT.
• Severn Rivers Trust: Regional rivers trust working across the Severn catchment on habitat restoration, fish passage, and natural flood management. Shares SERT's combination of practical on-the-ground delivery, volunteer engagement, and partnership-funded project model.
• Westcountry Rivers Trust: Regional rivers trust in South West England delivering catchment-scale restoration, fish passage, natural flood management, and farmer/landowner engagement under the same Rivers Trust movement as SERT, with a comparable operating model and programme mix.
• Thames21: London-based environmental charity focused on restoring the River Thames and its tributaries. Operates in overlapping geography (London and the tidal Thames), uses citizen science and volunteer-driven river cleanups, and works with Thames Water on pollution tracing, making it the closest direct peer to SERT.
• Don Catchment Rivers Trust: Regional rivers trust working across the Don catchment on river restoration, biodiversity, and water quality improvement. Mirrors SERT's catchment-partnership-based delivery model and reliance on grants and water company funding.
• Bristol Avon Rivers Trust: Regional rivers trust covering the Bristol Avon catchment, delivering river restoration, education, and citizen science. Shares the catchment partnership, volunteer mobilisation, and water company engagement model that defines SERT's operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/southeastriverstrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-east-rivers-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/southeastriverstrust
• Xx.com/SE_Rivers_Trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South East Rivers Trust