Former children’s heart specialist aims to connect more people to nature
Professor Richard Kirk is an international pediatric cardiologist who has extensive experience of charity and non-profit organisations both in this country and abroad. He has recently retired and moved back to the North East, where he spent a large part of his career as a pediatric cardiologist at the Freeman Hospital.
He has now taken on the role of Chair of Trustees of the only environmental charity dedicated to looking after the River Tyne and its tributaries. Tyne Rivers Trust works to tackle the effects of climate change and support the wildlife and habitat of our rivers, something which has become an essential part of people’s lives during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Richard says: “Tyne Rivers Trust has been very successful in improving habitat, reducing pollution, educating children and working with volunteers to clean-up the Tyne’s river system.
“As Chair, I hope to not only build on that work, but also to promote access to, and an understanding of, the rivers and the catchment to a wider sector of society. I’d like to see more support for the socially disadvantaged and those with physical, mental or psychological challenges to experience the benefits to their wellbeing from being by the river.
“Lockdown has highlighted how important nature and a strong river system is for people’s mental health and leisure time and it’s crucial that we don’t forget it’s importance as restrictions are lifted.”
