East Mercia Rivers Trust

What East Mercia Rivers Trust does

East Mercia Rivers Trust (EMRT) is an independent UK river conservation charity (registered charity no. 1157922) formed in October 2022 through the merger of Welland Rivers Trust (established 2011) and Lincolnshire Rivers Trust (established 2013). The charity operates across the Welland and Witham river catchments, covering 4,680 km2 across five English counties (Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and Rutland) and encompassing over 120 watercourses. Its mission is 'Revitalising rivers for nature and communities,' delivered through two interconnected programmes: the Resilient Rivers Programme, which focuses on physical habitat restoration, water quality improvement, natural flood management, and invasive species control, and the Rivers for Life Programme, which focuses on community engagement, citizen science, education, and advisory services. EMRT also operates the Rivers Academy at the National Trust's Belton Estate near Grantham, described in its own materials as the UK's first permanent educational centre solely focused on rivers.

EMRT does not sell products or services. Revenue is generated through charitable donations, grants, and project-based funding from government bodies, lottery funds, foundations, and corporate sponsors, with disclosed funders including the Environment Agency, Anglian Water, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and IFM Investors. The trust works with more than 30 strategic partners including local councils, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, the Canal & Rivers Trust, the National Trust, Natural England, the Wild Trout Trust, the University of Lincoln, the Allerton Project, and individual landowners to deliver landscape-scale restoration projects. Notable project outputs include 1.5 hectares of created wetland and 600 meters of restored channel at the Kibworth and Smeeton Nature Project on the Langton Brook, 30 breeding pairs of water voles identified at the Branston Beck restoration site, and floating ecosystem installation at Greening Brayford Pool in Lincoln. EMRT was recognised as a UK River Prize Finalist in 2024 for its Upper Witham landscape-scale restoration work.

Name

East Mercia Rivers Trust

Legal name

East Mercia Rivers Trust

Website

https://eastmercia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

East Mercia Rivers Trust is a UK river conservation charity operating across the Welland and Witham catchments (4,680 km2 across five counties), delivering habitat restoration, invasive species control, natural flood management, environmental education, and community engagement programmes funded by charitable grants, donations, and project-based public funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

River Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE), Flood Control & Protection Infrastructure (Levees, Floodwalls, Gates, Pump Stations) (EUANAEAI)

Keywords

• River conservation services
• Catchment restoration programmes
• Environmental education services
• Habitat restoration projects
• Volunteer water monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Witham & Welland catchments

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: As a registered charity (no. 1157922), EMRT generates revenue through donations, charitable grants, and funding from government bodies, foundations, and corporate sponsors to support river restoration and conservation activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

East Mercia Rivers Trust is a registered charity (no. 1157922) delivering river and catchment conservation across the Welland and Witham catchments in the East Midlands of England, spanning 4,680 km² across five counties. It operates two core programmes — the Resilient Rivers Programme (habitat restoration, natural flood management, water quality, invasive species control) and the Rivers for Life Programme (community engagement, citizen science, education and advisory services) — alongside the Rivers Academy educational centre at Belton Estate and a portfolio of specific restoration projects.

Product overview

East Mercia Rivers Trust operates as a river conservation charity with two core interconnected programmes: the Resilient Rivers Programme focused on physical habitat restoration and protection of watercourses, and the Rivers for Life Programme focused on community engagement and education. The Rivers Academy provides formal educational services at Belton Estate. Supporting these are volunteer monitoring programmes (water quality, riverfly, wildlife surveying), citizen science initiatives, and specific habitat restoration projects including Greening Brayford Pool, Horncastle Riverscape Enhancement, and Limestone Becks restoration. The organisation also produces educational materials including the Horncastle Riverscape Walk leaflet and delivers school programmes like Eels in the Classroom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Resilient Rivers Programme A conservation programme creating and protecting healthy, clean, and resilient watercourses by restoring and enhancing habitats, increasing natural water storage, improving water quality, and controlling invasive species across the Welland and Witham catchments.
• Rivers for Life Programme A community engagement programme inspiring local communities, landowners, businesses, and recreational river-users to act for rivers through data and evidence building, educational activities, advisory services, improved access to nature, and awareness raising.
• Rivers Academy

Quantifiable outcome

• Created 1.5 hectares of wetland at Kibworth and Smeeton Nature Project, storing water during high rainfall periods
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Environment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary regulatory partner providing funding, expert advice, and collaboration on river restoration, habitat enhancement, and flood risk management projects across both Welland and Witham catchments.
• National TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing access to Belton Estate for the Rivers Academy and collaborating on Upper Witham restoration projects across both urban and rural settings.
• Wild Trout TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner providing expertise for trout habitat restoration and river enhancement projects, including Limestone Becks restoration work.
• University of LincolncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing research expertise through the Catchments and Coasts Research Group (Fluvial Geomorphology) for Upper Witham restoration projects.
• South Kesteven District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Blue/Green Corridor Project, providing funding and support for Witham/Slea restoration initiatives.
• Canal & Rivers TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partner collaborating on waterway restoration, heritage conservation, and engagement activities along canals and rivers.
• Lincolnshire Wildlife TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner working on wildlife habitat restoration and species protection initiatives within Lincolnshire catchments.
• Natural EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment advisor providing regulatory guidance and partnership on environmental conservation and species protection initiatives.
• Woodland TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner providing native trees and woodland creation support for river restoration and habitat enhancement projects.
• City of Lincoln CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Greening Brayford Pool project, providing funding and permissions for floating ecosystem installation along the waterfront.
• Brayford TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrust responsible for maintaining and enhancing Brayford Pool, collaborating on habitat improvement and environmental standards initiatives.
• South Holland District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority leading Spalding Reconnected: Historic Town & Riverside Project, partnering with EMRT for eel conservation and river enhancement.
• Heritage LincolnshireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage organisation partnering on Spalding Reconnected project for community artwork activities and heritage trail development.
• Easton EstatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandowner partner collaborating on Upper Cringle Brook restoration, providing land access and co-funding for 1km river restoration and 2.7 hectares wildlife habitat.
• Horncastle TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership group collaborating on Horncastle Riverscape Enhancement Project, contributing local knowledge and community engagement.
• Horncastle History and Heritage SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal society providing historical expertise and heritage interpretation for Horncastle riverscape walk and educational materials.
• Sir Joseph Banks SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSociety partner supporting Horncastle project with venue (Sir Joseph Banks Centre) for leaflet distribution and heritage celebration activities.
• Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner in Welland Valley Partnership, working on wildlife habitat protection and species recovery initiatives.
• Leicestershire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal local authority partner in Welland Valley Partnership, providing governance and funding support for catchment management.
• Welland & Deepings Internal Drainage BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrainage authority partner managing water levels and flood risk in Welland catchment, collaborating on watercourse maintenance and restoration.
• RiverCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable initiative partner supporting community engagement and river care activities across catchments.
• The Allerton Project / Game and Wildlife Conservation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and advisory partner contributing to RePhoKUs phosphorus study and farming best practice in Welland catchment.
• Horncastle Town CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTown council providing support and partnership for Horncastle Riverscape Enhancement Project and local flood resilience initiatives.
• Lincolnshire Rivers TrustcoreOthersPre-merger entity (established 2013) that merged with Welland Rivers Trust in October 2022 to form East Mercia Rivers Trust.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust: Rivers trust delivering catchment restoration, farm advice, and education in the Yorkshire Dales. Comparable small-charity operating model and grant-funded project portfolio.
• Severn Rivers Trust: Rivers trust covering the River Severn catchment in the West Midlands/Welsh borders, delivering habitat restoration, invasive species control and community engagement. Directly comparable charity delivering similar river restoration services.
• Thames21: London-based rivers trust delivering catchment restoration, volunteer programmes, water-quality monitoring and education on the tidal Thames. Closely comparable operating model to EMRT across an urban/rural catchment.
• Norfolk Rivers Trust: Norfolk-based rivers trust focused on chalk-stream and wetland restoration with similar volunteer and partnership-based delivery. Highly relevant peer given shared chalk-stream conservation focus.
• Trent Rivers Trust: East Midlands rivers trust working across the Trent catchment, with overlapping geography to EMRT's Witham catchment and shared Environment Agency / Anglian Water stakeholder base. Comparable volunteer-led restoration and education programmes.

Regional players

• South West Water / Wessex Rivers Trust: Wessex-based rivers trust delivering similar catchment restoration services in a different UK region. Comparable operating model but geographically distinct, useful as a non-competing benchmark peer.

Broad incumbents

• The Rivers Trust: The umbrella network for rivers trusts across England and Wales, of which EMRT is a member. Directly comparable as the national coordinating body for catchment-based river restoration charities with similar mission and operating model.
• Canal & River Trust: National waterways charity already listed as a strategic partner of EMRT. Larger incumbent operating across the inland waterway network with overlapping waterway restoration and heritage-conservation activities.
• The Wildlife Trusts (Lincolnshire and Leicestershire & Rutland): Regional wildlife trusts that are listed as core partners and overlap with EMRT on habitat restoration, species protection, and volunteer engagement across the same five counties.

Others

• Westcountry Rivers Trust:

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/EastMerciaRT
• Facebookfacebook.com/EastMerciaRT
• Instagraminstagram.com/eastmerciart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eastmercia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 East Mercia Rivers Trust