Local people. Expert guidance. A shared mission.
We are homeowners, business owners, riparian landowners and neighbours — all with a stake in the upper Deben and a determination to protect it.
Our Vision is:
A Deben valley rich in biodiversity with a healthy river and thriving climate resilient community free from the risks of extreme flooding and drought.
Our mission is to:
- Accelerate natural flood management and mitigation measures in the upper Deben at a scale sufficient to manage risks of extreme weather events.
- Identify funding opportunities and broker partnerships to achieve bigger better, more joined up thinking on catchment management.
- Represent the small stretch riparian owners, small business and property owners impacted by flooding to statutory bodies e.g. Environment Agency and catchment-based initiatives.
- Support community engagement and education initiatives that promote greater understanding of Natural Flood Management and sustainable land management practices
Where we work
Geographically, UDOG representation begins in the extremities of the upper catchment north of Debenham and ends at Kettleburgh, meeting the boundary of the Lower Deben Owners Group (LDOG) which runs to the estuary. The two sister organisations work closely together and liaise with The River Deben Association, the Upper Deben Farm Cluster and other organisations and initiatives like Recovering the Deben with aligned visions.
How we work
- Use an evidence based, ecologically sound approach to all activities
- Enable the voice of communities at risk of flooding to be heard through an inclusive membership
- Represent diverse interests of the communities of the Upper Deben, united in ambition to achieve the vision of a climate secure, thriving area of Suffolk
- Be a channel for funding from statutory bodies, philanthropic sources and local government
- Be transparent and aim at best practice governance
- Seek to support, complement and accelerate outcomes from existing initiatives that share the vision
- Work in partnership with existing entities across the course of the River Deben and in support of the 14 Parish Councils in the upper catchment.
You can help
Joining UDOG is free and eveyone is welcome.
If you are able, we encourage you to make a donation of any amount to join.
Every pound strenthens our work and helps cover essential running costs.
Joining is free. Your donation really helps.
Our President: Rt Hon John Gummer, Lord Deben
Lord Deben has a long and distinguished record on environmental policy, including
serving as Chair of the UK Climate Change Committee.
Our Trustees
Andrew Donnelly - Chair
Richard Parry - Treasurer
Nick Hughes - SME business representative
David Liddle - Short stretch riparian owner representative
Jayne Jackson - Secretary
Kate Scott - Membership
Henry Chevalier-Guild - Business & landowner representative
Our Advisory Council
Professor Peter Hobson (Anglia Ruskin-Writtle University)
Glen Buckingham (NFU/Helmingham Estate)
Tom Hunter (Area Manager, Water Management Alliance)
Ellie Coleby (Suffolk County Council, Flood Investigations Team Leader)
Helen Dangerfield (CEO, Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust),
Jo Hayward (Catchment Sensitive Farming, Natural England).
How we are governed
UDOG is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) and is in the process of registered with the charity commission. Our board of trustees meet at least quarterly. Activities are guided by our Science Advisory Council. We are committed to transparent, best-practice governance and publish our accounts and meeting outcomes publicly.