At Wessex Rivers Trust, our Education Team plays a vital role in connecting young people with the wonders of rivers and the importance of protecting them. Over the past few months, we’ve welcomed three brilliant new members who bring passion, experience, and creativity to this growing area of our work: Jennifer Carter, Holly Taylor, and Chloe Searl.
Here’s a chance to get to know Jen and Holly a little better and find out what inspires them—and what they’re looking forward to in their new roles.
Jennifer Carter – Education Assistant
Jen joins us with a deep-rooted passion for conservation and a background in working with children. What drew her to Wessex Rivers Trust was the strength of our education programmes.
“They’re packed full of important information about rivers and delivered in a way that’s engaging and fun for young children,” Jen says. “With many of our rivers in such a dire state, educating young generations is key to protecting them.”
Originally from Cumbria, Jen holds a soft spot for the River Eden, where she first spotted wild otters. Her love of rivers and nature stems from time spent outdoors as a child, thanks to parents who made space for nature in her upbringing, even while living in an urban environment.
Jen is excited to dive into hands-on activities like river dipping and hopes to get involved in wider Trust projects like Save Our Salmon. She’s already thinking about how to inspire the next generation of river guardians.
“I hope to spark curiosity and care in the children we work with—and give back to the wild places that have given me so much.”
And for a fun fact? Jen and her fiancé built a boat and sailed it from Cornwall to Devon for their honeymoon!
Holly Taylor – River Educator
Holly brings a wealth of experience from her career in teaching and lecturing in Early Years Education—but it was the practical, outdoors-based nature of this role that really appealed to her.
“I was excited by the chance to engage and inspire children about our rivers. I also love that I’ll get to explore river stretches I’ve never visited before.”
A lifelong nature lover, Holly’s memories span continents—from watching monitor lizards in a lotus-covered klong in Bangkok to reading by the Cuckmere River in East Sussex as a teenager.
She’s no stranger to conservation either, having run school wildlife groups, led tree-planting and litter-picking sessions, and volunteered with Andover Trees United. At Wessex Rivers Trust, she’s especially keen to build strong relationships with local schools and help newer team members find their feet.
“Small actions in a community really can make a big difference. It’s about linking people together who care and want to help.”
And if you ever watched children’s TV in the Philip Schofield era—you might have spotted Holly giving CPR to a blow-up badger in the iconic broom cupboard!
Chloe Searl – River Educator
We’re also delighted to welcome Chloe Searl, who recently joined the team and is already bringing her energy and creativity to our school sessions. She’s hit the ground running, and we’re excited to have her as part of our growing Education team.
A Growing Vision
Together, Jen, Holly and Chloe strengthen our commitment to hands-on, hopeful, and empowering education. Whether it’s leading field trips, supporting school eco-clubs, or showing young people the importance of river wildlife, they each bring a unique voice and valuable experience to the team.
As Jen puts it:
“There are so many ways to get involved—whether through school visits, volunteering on river projects, or joining fun family activities like the Chalk Stream Challenge.”
