Who we are
We are an active, ambitious and diverse coalition of NGOs, local authorities and many other partners, working together to support nature’s recovery across the West of England.
Our aim is to see nature thriving again all around us - restored, reconnected and recovering.
Established in 2012, WENP is the designated Local Nature Partnership for the West of England. It covers the unitary authority areas of Bristol City, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset.
Meet the team
The WENP team works closely with partners to support collaboration and deliver their shared strategy and ambitions.
Zoe Davies
Partnership Manager
Zoe joined the Partnership in February 2023. As WENP Manager, she leads the delivery of WENP’s 2021-30 Strategy, working closely with the Board, working groups and individual partners to meet our ambitious targets for nature’s recovery and to secure investment in our Nature Recovery Programmes. She is also responsible for overseeing WENP’s governance, finances and operations. Zoe joined WENP from the Royal Society where she was a Senior Policy Adviser specialising in UK environment, land use and agriculture. She also brings extensive experience of partnership working from her time at Wildlife and Countryside Link, England’s biggest coalition of environmental NGOs. She has an M.Res. in Biodiversity, Evolution and Conservation from UCL.
Helen Wood
Nature & Health Coordinator
Helen joined as WENP’s Nature and Health Coordinator in October 2022. Her primary focus is working with partners to deliver the Strategy for Nature and Health in the West of England, which seeks to integrate nature connectedness into regional health system, as well as embedding it in communities more broadly for the benefit of both people and nature. Helen has a background working in the NHS as a Clinical Psychologist, predominantly working with children and families, and developing clinical services. More recently she has studied sustainability and ecology at Centre for Alternative Technology and seeks to integrate all this into her role with WENP. Helen’s role is part-time (4 days per week).
Frances Gray
Partnership Administrator
Frances supports the Partnership with administration and event management for the Board, working groups and other matters as needed. She splits her time 50:50 between WENP and the West of England Combined Authority’s nature team, where she supports the Community Pollinator Fund and Bee Bold Awards.
WENP Partners
nature recovery.
WENP Board
Wider WENP network
How we work together
Current WENP working groups include:
- Agriculture Working Group (joint with the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership)
- Environmental Data Technical Advisory Group
- Natural Environment Finance Strategy Group
- Nature and Health Strategy Group
- Tree and Woodland Strategy Group