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Anne Harrison

Principal Research Officer, Wetland Landscapes & Processes

Contact details

anne.harrison@wwt.org.uk

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About me

I am a conservation ecologist with wide-ranging interests. I joined WWT in 2006 following my Zoology degree from University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and Masters in Biodiversity & Conservation from University of Leeds. I first specialised in aerial surveys of waterbirds, where I designed and conducted surveys around UK coastlines and reported to government and developers to inform wind farm planning and SPA condition. I also managed and delivered habitat restoration and visitor centre design projects.

Since 2011 when I joined WWT’s Conservation Evidence department I have worked across a wide range of projects, from designing monitoring programmes to quantify the ecological benefits of catchment-scale Natural Flood Management schemes, to leading the scientific delivery of the EU-funded 'Safe grounds for Red-breasts' project, providing evidence to guide conservation measures on the wintering grounds of a globally threatened goose.

My role

I am responsible for developing, delivering and communicating research to inform the conservation of wetlands and wetland nature, to support our Conservation Programmes. Our research hopes to demonstrate the multi-functional benefits of wetlands to society, from biodiversity and water quality improvements to flood attenuation and human health and wellbeing.

My specialism is in spatial ecology and GIS: using spatial data to inform conservation delivery and providing spatial support across a wide range of projects and work areas. I recently led WWT’s Wetland Potential Mapping work to demonstrate the spatial and economic potential of large-scale wetland restoration across the UK. This identified parts of the country where there is both the demand and suitability for wetland solutions around flood resilience, water quality, carbon storage (with a saltmarsh focus) and wellbeing.

Experience and interests

  • Project management and development
  • GIS & remote-sensing
  • Designing and coordinating scientific studies
  • Statistics – mixed modelling in R
  • Ecological monitoring including vegetation, river habitats, aquatic invertebrates, water quality.

Publications

  • Taylor, M.D., Clarke, L., Harrison, A.L., Weldon, L., Golob, E., and Robson, H.J., (2025). The Use of Woody Dams in Natural Flood Management—Temporal Implications on In-Channel Hydrology, Sediment Dynamics and Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.70029
  • Tough, L. F., Bamford, A. J., Harrison, A., Wood, K. A., Los, S., van Biervliet, O., Turvey, S. T., Hudson, M., Hansford, J., & Duncan, C. (2025). An open source, remote sensing-based methodology for wetland habitat condition assessments to aid conservation decision-making. Journal of Applied Ecology, 00, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.70135
  • Harrison, A. and Tough, L.F. (2024) 100,000 Hectares of UK Wetlands – Exploring the potential. Technical guidance document. WWT. 100,000 Hectares of UK Wetlands – Exploring the potential. Technical guidance document. WWT.
  • Petersen, I.K., Frederiksen, M., Petersen, A., Robson, H.J., Einarsson, Á., Nielsen, R.D., Harrison, A.L., Cervencl, A., Fox, A.D., 2020. Recent increase in annual survival of nesting female Common Scoter Melanitta nigra in Iceland. Journal of Ornithology 162, 135–141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-020-01818-0
  • Lewis-Phillips, J., Brooks, S.J., Sayer, C.D., Patmore, I.R., Hilton, G.M., Harrison, A., Robson, H.J., Axmacher, J.C., 2020. Ponds as insect chimneys: Restoring overgrown farmland ponds benefits birds through elevated productivity of emerging aquatic insects. Biological Conservation 241, 108253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108253
  • Lewis-Phillips, J., Brooks, S.J., Sayer, C.D., McCrea, R., Siriwardena, G., Robson, H.J., Harrison, A.L., Axmacher, J.C., 2019. Seasonal benefits of farmland pond management for birds. Bird Study 66, 342–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2019.1688762
  • Harrison, A.L., Petkov, N., Mitev, D. Popgeorgiev, G., Gove, B. and Hilton, G. M. (2018). Scale-dependent habitat selection by wintering geese: implications for landscape management. Biodiversity and Conservation. 27(1): 167-188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1427-4
  • Petkov, N., Harrison, A.L, Stamenov, A. and Hilton, G. M. (2017). The impact of wintering geese on crop yields in Bulgarian Dobrudzha: implications for agri-environment schemes. European Journal of Wildlife Research. 63: 66. https://doi.org10.1007/s10344-017-1119-0
  • Hearn, R.D., Harrison, A.L. & Cranswick, P.A. 2015. International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis). AEWA Technical Series No. 57. Bonn, Germany