Dynamic Rivers

About Dynamic Rivers

Founded in 2021 and based in Cumbria, Dynamic Rivers is a specialist river and floodplain restoration consultancy led by Dr George Heritage and Director Sebastian Bentley. Despite being a team of six, the business punches well above its weight, delivering complex fluvial geomorphology, hydraulic and sediment modelling, natural flood management, and river restoration schemes for some of the UK’s most respected environmental bodies, including the Environment Agency, Natural England, the National Trust, and multiple rivers trusts and wildlife trusts.

The business earned national recognition early in its life, winning the River Restoration Centre’s Nigel Holmes Trophy in 2021 for its work on the River Keekle in West Cumbria, a project that removed 180 tonnes of plastic liner from a former opencast coal site and restored a functioning river ecosystem supporting salmon, trout, lamprey, and eel.

The challenge

In just four years, George and Sebastian had established Dynamic Rivers as a genuinely differentiated business in a growing market. The demand for river restoration, natural flood management, and Water Framework Directive-compliant design is accelerating, driven by regulatory pressure, climate resilience requirements, and a growing public and governmental focus on biodiversity net gain.

The opportunity was clear, but scaling a six-person specialist consultancy independently has its limits. The founders were looking for a partner with the infrastructure, commercial reach, and complementary capabilities to grow the business at a pace that matched the market opportunity, without losing the technical rigour and reputation that made Dynamic Rivers worth acquiring in the first place.

The solution

K3 Law acted as legal adviser to Dynamic Rivers throughout the transaction, working alongside KBS Corporate’s Associate Corporate Director Joe Norris, who led the corporate finance process. The buyer, Ecology Group, a PE-backed environmental consultancy group backed by Ansor and already operating at over 350 people and £25 million in revenue by the time of the deal, brought both the platform and the strategic intent the founders were looking for.

K3 Law guided George and Sebastian through the full legal process, from heads of terms through to completion, ensuring the founders were fully advised at every stage and that the deal was structured to protect their position and the integrity of the business they had built.

The outcome

The deal completed in October 2026. Dynamic Rivers joins Ecology Group as a distinct practice, bringing river and floodplain restoration expertise that is entirely new to the group’s existing portfolio, and positioning Ecology Group as one of the most comprehensive environmental consultancies in the UK market.

George Heritage and Sebastian Bentley commented:

“Our team of six people has achieved a great deal over the years, and it’s because of this that we’re part of Ecology Group. We bring our skills in river and floodplain restoration, geomorphology, hydromorphology, hydrology, and hydraulics — something entirely new for the Group. We’re still the same Dynamic Rivers our clients trust and our people love working at, but we now have greater access to new services, sectors, and clients, and greater investment in the learning, development, and training of our team.”

Chris Heyes, CFO of Ecology Group, added:

“Dynamic Rivers brings something new to the Group, with its specialist knowledge and focus on river and floodplain restoration. This of course builds on our existing service offering, but it also means we can deliver even greater value for our clients and nature alike. I’m excited to work with George, Seb, and the wider team, and I’m looking forward to delivering on our ambitious growth plans with them.”