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Who we are
Established in 2012, WENP is the 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.
We are an ambitious coalition of public, private, and third sector partners, drawing on the diversity of skills and expertise in our network to support nature's recovery across the region.
Our aim is to see nature thriving again all around us - restored, reconnected, and recovering - supporting healthy communities and underpinning resilient, inclusive economic growth.
Meet the team
The WENP team works closely with partners to support collaboration and deliver their shared strategy and ambitions.
Sumita Hutchison
WENP Chair
Sumita Hutchison
WENP Chair
Sumita joined WENP as Chair in November 2024. She brings a wealth of experience to the role, spanning both the private sector, where she worked as a lawyer, and the voluntary and community sector, where she was the founding Chair of Bristol’s Commission for Race Equality. Currently serving as a Board Director in the NHS, Sumita focuses on the critical intersection of health and environmental sustainability. She also leads as the EU/UK Coordinator for Save Soil, a global movement dedicated to raising awareness and driving policy change on soil health. Their impactful contributions on the global stage, particularly at COPs, have emphasised the essential role of nature-based solutions in tackling environmental challenges.
Frances Gray
Partnership Administrator
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.
Zoe Davies
Partnership Manager
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.
How we work together
Current WENP working groups include:
- Agriculture Working Group (joint with the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership)
- Environmental Data Technical Advisory Group
- Nature Finance Strategy Group
- Nature and Health Strategy Group
- Tree and Woodland Strategy Group
Partnership Board
The Partnership Board at 2024 Conference
Wider WENP network
Through our working groups, themes and wider network, we work with many organisations across the region. These include, but are not limited to:
