TEP – The Environment Partnership

Inspiring the Next Generation Through Time for Geography

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:59:14 GMT

TEP is proud to be partnered with the award-winning initiative Time for Geograph y, whic h showcases the importance of geography and the diverse careers it can lead to.

Time for Geography is a free, online education platform reaching schools and universities across the UK. Through a series of engaging video resources, it brings geography to life in the classroom, connecting academic learning with real-world challenges such as sustainability, climate change, urban planning and environmental management.

Our contribution to the initiative forms part of the platform’s Careers Collection, where our team shares insight into the varied and rewarding pathways geography can open up. These resources are designed to help students understand how their studies translate into professional roles, offering a clearer view of the opportunities available within the environmental sector.

We’re delighted that this collaboration has been recognised with a Highly Commended Geographical Association Publishers Award , which celebrates the careers-focused videos and resources developed to guide students towards further education and careers in our industry.

With an audience of over 2.5 million this year, Time for Geography is a powerful example of how education and industry can come together to inspire future talent, showing how a subject studied in the classroom can lead to meaningful, real-world careers. For many of our colleagues at TEP, that journey began with a simple interest in geography at school. Today, that interest has grown into careers spanning ecology, arboriculture, heritage, planning, landscape design and environmental management.

By sharing these experiences, we hope to encourage the next generation to see geography not only as a fascinating subject, but as a pathway into work that makes a tangible difference. We’re proud to support an initiative that is helping shape the future talent pipeline for our sector, and to inspire the environmental specialists of tomorrow.

Learn more and watch our video:

Planning Appeal Procedure Changes: What to Expect from April 2026

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:44:46 GMT

From April 2026, changes to the Planning Inspectorate’s Procedural Guide will introduce updates to how planning appeals are handled in England for applications submitted after 1st April. The aim is to streamline the appeals process, reduce delays, and increase the use of written representations as the primary route for determining cases.

These updates are particularly relevant for planning professionals, applicants and local authorities, as they influence how applications are prepared, evidenced and ultimately tested at appeal.

A Continued Shift Towards Written Representations

Written representations remain the most common appeal method, accounting for the vast majority of decisions in recent years. The updated guidance builds on this by expanding the range of cases that can be handled through the faster, more streamlined ‘expedited’ written procedure.

From April 2026, the expedited written representations route will apply to a wider range of appeal types, including planning permission refusals, reserved matters, prior approvals, Section 73 applications (variation or removal of conditions), Section 73A applications (development already carried out), advertisement consent, and certain appeals relating to conditions. This expansion reflects a continued shift towards resolving more appeals through the expedited procedure rather than the standard written representations.

Greater Emphasis on the Original Planning Submission

One of the most significant implications of the changes is the reduced scope for introducing new material at appeal stage under the expedited procedure. In most cases, appellants will be expected to rely on the information already submitted with the original planning application. This includes drawings, supporting reports, and consultation responses, along with the local planning authority’s decision and supporting documentation. New evidence is generally only accepted where there has been a material change in circumstances, such as updates in policy or relevant legal decisions.

Where additional technical information is required to address issues raised during the determination of an application, it may be more appropriate to submit a new planning application rather than relying on the appeal process.

Implications for Applicants and Planning Professionals

These changes reinforce the importance of preparing robust, well-evidenced planning applications from the outset.

In practice, this means:

Ensuring supporting information is comprehensive and proportionate
Anticipating potential issues early in the design and assessment process
Engaging effectively with the local planning authority and consultees
Recognising that opportunities to introduce new material at appeal stage may be limited

The appeal process is becoming less of a stage for refining a proposal, and more of a review of what has already been presented.

What This Means Going Forward

For planning teams, developers and consultants, the direction of travel is clear. Strong applications, supported by clear justification and appropriate technical evidence, are increasingly critical to achieving positive outcomes, both at application stage and, where necessary, at appeal.

By front-loading quality and detail into submissions, applicants are better placed to navigate the appeal process efficiently and avoid the need for further rounds of submission or reconsideration.

Conclusion

The April 2026 updates to the Planning Inspectorate’s Procedural Guide represent a continued move towards a more streamlined and efficient appeals process. With a greater proportion of cases expected to be determined through expedited written representations, and a stronger emphasis on the original application submission, the quality and completeness of planning applications will play an increasingly important role in determining outcomes.

Understanding Chalk Grassland and Scrub at The Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:16:13 GMT

A Landscape of Global Importance

The iconic Seven Sisters cliffs in East Sussex have recently been formally declared England’s newest National Nature Reserve (NNR). Covering 1,500 hectares, the area includes chalk grasslands, heathland, and floodplain meadows - habitats that support rare and specialist species including chalkhill blue butterflies, bee orchids, and skylarks.

TEP’s Chalk Scrub Study

In 2024, TEP was commissioned by Natural England to carry out a detailed chalk scrub study across the NNR. Our team combined a literature review of previous research with field mapping of scrub habitats to understand the value of different areas for chalk grassland specialists.

This approach provided insight into:

The extent and condition of scrub habitats;
Their role in supporting key species;
How future management could maintain and enhance ecological value.

Informing Conservation and Restoration

Our findings provided an evidence base to inform site management and habitat restoration opportunities, ensuring interventions such as targeted scrub control and biodiversity enhancement could be delivered without impacting the NNR’s historic and ecological character. This enabled Natural England to take forward measures that protect and restore one of England’s most treasured landscapes.

Part of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves

The Seven Sisters NNR forms part of the King’s Series, a programme aiming to create or extend 25 National Nature Reserves by 2028. This designation ensures the area will continue to be protected and restored, providing habitat for wildlife while offering space for people to enjoy nature.

Biodiversity Potential at Moor Allerton Golf Club

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:56:17 GMT

TEP supported Moor Allerton Golf Club in exploring the opportunity to establish a habitat bank across areas of land identified as surplus to operational requirements. As an active golf course, careful consideration was given to ensuring proposed habitat creation would not conflict with play or negatively affect member experience, while strengthening the Club’s long-term resilience.

Following an agreed scope of work, we identified site constraints and prepared high-level habitat mapping before undertaking detailed UK Habitat Classification surveys to verify condition and establish a robust baseline using the biodiversity metric. While much of the opportunity lay within unmanaged areas of the course, the Club also considered the proactive decommissioning of selected playing surfaces, creating space for a diverse mosaic of habitats that would complement the wider landscape.

We carried out River Condition Assessments of watercourses crossing the site and identified targeted enhancements to improve ecological value while aligning with the Club’s wider ambitions for the landscape. All enhancement proposals were tested through metric recalculations to quantify biodiversity uplift and establish a portfolio of units suitable for the natural capital market.

Long-term delivery was central to the strategy. Working closely with the Club’s professional Greenkeeping team, we explored future management responsibilities, resourcing impli cations and costings. This informed a detailed 30-year Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan, providing clarity, transparency and confidence in long-term stewardship.

Throughout the process, we maintained proactive engagement with the Local Planning Authority to ensure proposals aligned with local Biodiversity and Nature Recovery priorities. Legal agreements were secured to enable registration as a habitat bank, and we supported introductions to natural capital brokers to facilitate route-to-market discussions.

The result is a carefully considered, commercially viable habitat bank strategy, balancing recreation, ecological enhancement and long-term environmental responsibility.

Protecting Heritage and Nature at Tatton Park

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:29:29 GMT

Tatton Park in Knutsford, Cheshire is a Grade II* Registered Park and Garden and includes Tatton Mere which is part of the Tatton Meres Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the internationally recognised Midland Meres and Mosses Ramsar site. The character of the landscape reflects centuries of human activity and environmental change and includes archaeological remains from the prehistoric to medieval periods.

Much of the present character is derived from 18th and 19th century landscape interventions which included the creation of tree-lined avenues, water management features and woodland plantations with deliberately designed lines of sight for the Grade I listed Tatton Hall.

TEP was commissioned by Natural England to undertake a two-stage historic environment baseline study and heritage impact assessment to inform proposed intervention options aimed at improving water quality within the Tatton Meres SSSI. Our work considered both the natural and historic environment to ensure that any proposed improvements would enhance the ecological value of the site while respecting its heritage significance.

As part of the baseline study, we reviewed the Historic Environment Record (HER), National Trust records and archaeological reports, and carried out a walkover survey of the site to examine heritage assets, earthwork features and important views. An important aspect of the study was to consider historic changes to the outline and extent of the lakes. We digitised a number of historic maps dating back to the 18th century to allow us to understand the evolving relationship between the heritage assets and the natural and man-made landscape.

Careful consideration was given to the setting, visibility and historic character of the landscape and important heritage assets. The impact assessment reviewed a series of proposed interventions including livestock fencing, footpaths, hedgerow restoration, wetland creation and pond restoration which were designed to reduce pollution, slow water flow and improve water quality. For each, we assessed potential

impacts on heritage assets, their setting and wider landscape character, and provided recommendations to reduce, avoid, or mitigate the anticipated effects. This helped to ensure that the interventions proposed will enhance the Park’s ecological value, while safeguarding the important historic character and heritage assets.

This approach recognises that Tatton Park is both an important heritage site and an evolving natural landscape and demonstrates how careful planning and sensitive design can support environmental improvements while preserving historic character.

TEP’s Environment Grant Is Now Open for Submissions

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:43:00 GMT

Over the past six years, our Environment Grant has supported seventeen environmental projects, all of which are raising awareness of important environmental issues and furthering the environmental profession, something we strongly believe in at TEP.

To continue the success, this March sees the launch of the Environment Grant for the seventh year running. We are looking forward to supporting more fantastic local projects and helping to make the world around us that little bit greener!

�� Do you have an environmental project that needs funding?

�� Would you like support for environmental learning opportunities?

If the answer is yes, TEP’s Environment Grant could help.

The Environment Grant offers funding from £250 up to £1,000, which is available to any individual, group, professional, student, institution or charity across the whole of the UK. To be successful, applicants need to demonstrate a drive to make an impact on the environment, by furthering the environmental profession and/or raising awareness of environmental issues.

For full details on the assessment criteria please read the TEP Grant Guidelines or if you have any further questions email our CSR team directly: csr@tep.uk.com .

Applications are open now, and will stay open until 31st May 2026 . To apply, please fill in the appropriate form below and email back to the CSR team at csr@tep.uk.com before the closing date. We look forward to supporting your project and together, making a positive impact on the future of our environment.

Environment Grant Application Form A – Individuals/Groups

Environment Grant Application Form B – Organisations

How To Apply

Click here to read about last years' Environment Grant Awardees.

Safeguarding Halesworth

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:30:24 GMT

We were commissioned by East Suffolk Council to prepare an updated Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (CAAMP) for Halesworth, replacing the previous appraisal from 2006. The update was needed to reflect changes in the town over time and to provide a clearer, more accessible framework to support effective planning and management decisions.

Halesworth’s historic character is rooted in its medieval origins, still evident in the narrow streets of the town centre, the triangular Market Place, and the routes linking the Thoroughfare, Bridge Street and Chediston Street. Together with the Church of St Mary the Virgin, these spaces form the historic core of the settlement and provide a strong sense of continuity in the town’s development.

At the outset of the project, we worked closely with the client and heritage stakeholders to agree the scope and approach. A detailed data-gathering exercise identified heritage assets for review alongside relevant planning policy and background documentation. This was followed by comprehensive walkover surveys of the conservation area, supported by web mapping and digital field mapping technology. GPS-enabled tools allowed our team to record spatial data, attributes and photographs efficiently in the field, providing a strong shared evidence base and a clearer understanding of how individual assets relate to the wider townscape.

A central element of the commission was the identification and assessment of character areas. These areas capture the distinct physical, spatial, historic and visual qualities of different parts of Halesworth, from the civic and commercial heart of the town to quieter residential streets and former industrial areas. Particular attention was given to group value, recognising how buildings work collectively to define character rather than focusing solely on individual structures.

The appraisal considers the full range of Halesworth’s historic building stock, from early timber-framed buildings to 18th- and 19th-century brick houses and larger architect-designed buildings. Recording architectural details and building materials was an important part of the assessment, helping to illustrate how construction techniques, materials and styles evolved over time and providing guidance for future change.

Industrial heritage also plays a key role in the town’s character. The historic maltings, including Station Yard and the George Maltings, reflect Halesworth’s brewing and industrial past, while waterways such as the River Blyth, the Town River and remnants of the Blyth Navigation connect these sites to the wider landscape. Understanding these relationships helps place individual assets in context and reinforces the importance of preserving both buildings and their settings.

Green spaces, trees and landscaping were assessed alongside the built environment. Areas such as Millennium Park, the churchyard and memorial park at St Mary’s, and the riverside spaces around the Old Rectory contribute to the conservation area’s character, providing visual relief, supporting biodiversity and enhancing public enjoyment. Private gardens, street verges and important trees also play a significant role in maintaining the town’s human-scale streetscape.

The appraisal included a review of the conservation area boundary, resulting in recommendations for several amendments. These included small extensions to encompass historic outbuildings, brewery yards and streetscape features that contribute to the area’s significance, as well as a reduction in one location to better protect important views of the church tower. The surveys also identified a number of unlisted buildings whose architectural or historic interest justifies inclusion on the local heritage list, ensuring their contribution is recognised in future decision-making.

Alongside the appraisal, we prepared a Management Plan setting out clear proposals for preservation and enhancement. These include both general recommendations and character area–specific guidance, covering matters such as public realm, building repair, trees and landscape, and the sensitive integration of renewable and low-carbon technologies. The management proposals were strengthened through input from TEP’s multidisciplinary teams, including arboriculture, landscape design and planning, ensuring the document is practical, robust and aligned with wider policy objectives.

The completed CAAMP provides East Suffolk Council with an up-to-date, well-evidenced framework to guide change within Halesworth. By clearly articulating the town’s character, significance and vulnerabilities, it supports positive place-making while helping to safeguard the qualities that make Halesworth distinctive.

Learning Through Landscapes: TEP’s Educational Outreach

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:51:00 GMT

TEP has a proud history of providing educational outreach activities for schools, charities, and local groups. Our Ecohydrology team are enthusiastic advocates of outreach activities which teach children and adults the benefits of landscape restoration and water systems thinking.

Recent highlights include:

Mourne Mountains National Trust Outreach – Engineers Week

We designed and led an innovative activity at Silent Valley Reservoir during Engineers Week. Over 200 primary school pupils took part in a series of activities that explored the connection between engineering, landscape, and water, including:

�� Measuring peat depth using a real slice from the Mournes: Pupils learned how peat forms (approximately 1mm per year) and its vital role in filtering water in the catchment area before it becomes drinking water for Northern Ireland.

�� Creating mini peat restoration dams using natural materials: Hands-on activity to see how small interventions can contribute to large-scale landscape restoration.

�� Building water filters using natural materials: Pupils saw how peat helps cleanse water, reinforcing the idea that a healthy landscape directly benefits people.

Design Your Own Green Roof – London Academy Event

At a large London-based academy, children aged 11–13 received a short lesson on green roofs, their types, and the benefits they offer to cities. They then designed their own green roofs, impressing with forward-thinking ideas such as climbing plants for green walls, flowers for pollinators, and even a fully functional football pitch on the roof!

Water Reuse Game

TEP has designed and built a bespoke interactive game focused on water reuse. Participants share limited water resources among different land uses, learning the importance of responsible landscape planning. Points are awarded for supplying water to as many land uses as possible, with bonuses for water reuse and nutrient removal.

Verda Valley Board Game

We have developed a full board game called Verda Valley, designed to teach children and adults about integrated land management. Players buy and build different land use industries to gain ecology, people, food, and water points. Players must balance the needs of people, nature, and business to create a sustainable future. TEP staff have helped to demo the game and have provided valuable feedback for version 2, which will be trialled this year!

Award-Winning Plans for Nationally Important Landscapes

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:11:00 GMT

In May 2025, the North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve (NNR) was designated, as part of the King’s Series of NNRs. Working with CFP Landscape and Heritage, we supported the Kent Downs National Landscape in preparing a comprehensive visitor access and community engagement strategy. The strategy, which now forms part of the management framework for the NNR, is available to view here .

The Lost Wetlands Nature Recovery Project will create a thriving wetland landscape in Cheshire and Greater Manchester. TEP supported Natural England, the National Trust, City of Trees and Trafford Council with two linked pieces of work: mapping opportunities for wetland restoration across the project area and developing site design proposals for William Wroe Meadows near Flixton. The project was a 2025 Landscape Institute Award Finalist in the ‘Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement’ category.

The post Award-Winning Plans for Nationally Important Landscapes appeared first on TEP - The Environment Partnership .

“Sets a benchmark in the presentation of a management plan – innovative, forward-thinking and digitally immersive. The accessible, visually engaging format enables the user to understand the complexities of the site, issues and opportunities.”

We were thrilled to win the Landscape and Parks Management Award at the 2025 Landscape Institute Awards, recognising our work with Forestry England to prepare a new masterplan for Bedgebury National Pinetum. This award celebrates excellence in the management of existing landscapes, demonstrated through a written plan or strategy.

The judges commented that the masterplan:

Interactive proposals map from the Masterplan

Emma Bacon tending to Wollemi Pine (© David Jenner)

Wollemi Pine being planted out (© David Jenner)

Bedgebury National Pinetum is home to one of the world’s largest and most complete conifer collections, a centre for tree conservation, scientific research, and a place where people connect with trees. As Bedgebury celebrates its Centenary, the Landscape Institute award provides a fitting highlight to a landmark year that included multiple events and a visit from His Majesty King Charles III. To hear the story of the Pinetum and to find out more about the important work being done there, please visit Forestry England’s ‘ 100 Years of Bedgebury ‘.

The Bedgebury Landscape Masterplan is the result of close collaboration between our client and TEP’s Landscape Architects, Landscape Managers, Ecologists and GIS specialists. Our shared vision was to prepare technically robust, cross-cutting proposals and to communicate them in an innovative and visually engaging way. We are grateful for the support of all the staff at Bedgebury, but particular thanks must go to Dan Luscombe (Curator) and Emma Bacon (Nursery Supervisor) who helped us bring the plan together.

This project forms part of a wider body of work in which we support our clients to formulate plans and strategies for nationally important landscapes.

Our work with Forestry England has continued through 2024-25, with the preparation of the Thetford Forest Resilience Plan. Thetford Forest, in East Anglia, is the UK’s largest manmade lowland forest. The plan, which is available on the Thetford Forest website , sets out how the forest can adapt over the next 50 years to the threats posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, pests and pathogens, and increasing recreational & development pressures. As with the Bedgebury masterplan, the plan is presented in an engaging on-line format.

“ We have been impressed with TEP’s ability to translate complex issues into a clear compelling story. Thoughtful use of high-quality spatial and graphical products, combined with their thorough understanding of environmental and landscape planning, transformed our ideas and collections of facts into an engaging, well supported plan. ”

– Lucie Jerabkova (Resilience Programme Manager, East District, Forestry England)

New permanent open habitat, Kings Wood, Thetford

PlantLife’s Ranscombe Farm, North Kent Woods and Downs NNR

– Dr Thomas Smart (Senior Officer at Natural England)

“ The William Wroe Meadows project is an excellent example of how working in partnership can unlock opportunities for nature and our communities. The designs prepared by TEP are incredibly ambitious and exciting, while also practical and deliverable, and are absolutely in line with the drive towards nature recovery. ”

Illustrative section through proposed wetland, William Wroe Meadows, Greater Manchester

We are currently working with Swindon Borough Council to prepare a Country Parks Strategy for Swindon. The five country parks in the borough span a great diversity of landscapes, from ancient woodland at Stanton Park to the open grasslands of Barbury Castle in the North Wessex Downs. The strategy, which is informed by extensive community engagement, will set out how these valued landscapes can be enhanced to maximise benefits for both people and nature, and will be published in early 2026.

If you would like to hear more about our services, or require assistance on an upcoming project, please contact our team at tep@tep.uk.com .

Barbury Castle Country Park, Swindon

Happy GIS Day 2025!

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 09:55:00 GMT

The post Happy GIS Day 2025! appeared first on TEP - The Environment Partnership .

To mark GIS Day, Associate Director Colin Bourne reflects on his 23-year journey through the geospatial profession, from cartography and modelling to the digital tools now shaping environmental decision-making.

23 years in the geospatial game, would not render him pleasurable to mine eyes!

It’s not every day that Alan Partridge gets quoted in a geospatial blog, but it’s GIS Day and I’m running with it! This week, we are updating our staff profile photos, and I’ve been holding on to mine for nearly 15 years! With good reason, as the grey hairs are expanding and the frown lines are connecting up.

However, it’s not the 23 years in the geospatial field that have caused this, that’s likely more associated to having 3 kids under 12, hence many years of sleep deprivation and the trial and tribulations of parenting.

My geospatial career has given me a creative outlet, a purpose and many years of cartographic joy. The re-taking of my profile picture to show a much older, greyer and hopefully wiser me, has led me to think about my years in the industry, how the technology and my role has evolved and what the future may hold for us geospatial professionals within TEP and wider environmental sector.

My Early Years (2002-2010): ArcMap, Illustrator, and the Power of Cartography

My journey into GIS began with a fascination for maps, not just as navigational tools, but as visual stories and on many occasions mapping aids to the latest computer game on my Atari ST. My 3 years learning the trade at the university of Newcastle provided me with a well-rounded understanding of the profession. It gave me experience of ArcMap, which was my gateway into the spatial world, a platform where layers of data could be manipulated, styled, and interrogated. I got the taste for the world to come and was eager to experience more in my first cartographic role.

This role involved working on a range of urban design projects and providing cartographic support to craft mapping outputs that presented a future vision for a space or place. As well as initial understanding of GIS principles within ArcMap, my role ventured into Adobe Illustrator and Avenza Map Publisher, which taught me cartographic finesse: the art of clarity, layer hierarchy and the power of a well-tuned colour palette.

In those early years, I learned that a well-crafted map could do more than inform, it could persuade. Whether highlighting pedestrian flows or visualising biodiversity corridors, cartography became my own language to communicate and inform.

Big Data, Larger Scale, and GIS for Decision Making

Moving to TEP in 2010, my career evolved and so did the scale and complexity of the data. I found myself working on national projects, regional environmental corridor analysis and a wide range of datasets, using geospatial tools that demanded not just technical skill, but strategic thinking to support largely environmental planning and ecological services.

At the time, a smaller GIS team sat within the environmental planning team and became central to decision-making. Projects were supported with spatial analysis to guide land use planning, ecological strategies and conservation prioritisation. The challenge was no longer just making cartographic outputs, it was making sense of vast, dynamic data to support real-world choices.

ArcMap was still the go-to software, and the desktop environment provided the platform for spatial analysis, although the future online environment was starting to take shape.

Mapping the Opportunity and Answering the Spatial Questions

My next career move took me out of consultancy and into the Forestry sector. My role would also evolve, continuing to provide Geospatial data management and advice but also supporting the management team to setup and run a UK grant funded forestry service, bringing undermanaged woodland into management. This new project was heavily steered by a geospatial modelling and multi criteria opportunity mapping project completed by TEP.

Working with over 20 individual criteria with complex spatial analysis modelling, including land ownership, woodland shape and constraints analysis, the results of the mapping process were the outputs that supported a grant application to initiate the project.

In supporting the setup and running of this team I learnt much about both project and people management, the power of geospatial tools and the flow of spatial data in and out of an organisation. GIS was a new service within a large organisation, much of it not fully understood. I would like to think that the importance of GIS was understood more at the end of my time and that much was learnt about the power of GIS to enable collaborative working and demonstrate the potential of opportunity mapping to bring forward positive change.

Putting the Tools in the Hands of Decision Makers

A move back to TEP followed in 2021, coinciding with a shift to ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. This was a major change in working practices, technology and opportunities for engagement. The geospatial team re-trained and begun the process of creating digital tools for decision makers. This has been the clear shift in the world of GIS in the last few years, providing simple to use geospatial led tools to all professionals and it’s the role of the geospatial professional to collaborate, design and develop these tools to drive geospatial standards and processes into day to day working practices. GIS has become much more accessible, but with this opening out of users, comes the responsibility to ensure validity, accuracy and suitability of inputs, analysis and outputs.

This geospatial collaborative approach continues to be demonstrated on a daily basis within TEP. Much of the workload for the expanded Geospatial skill team is focused on management of digital data from capture through to reporting, providing logical and innovative solutions. This has been demonstrated most recently in TEP’s recent Landscape Institute award success, highlighting what’s possible by collaborating with a range of services and the power of GIS to enable cohesive working environments with interactive, immersive and engaging platforms.

What’s Next for GIS?

Looking ahead, GIS will become increasingly integrated with other environmental services, playing a vital role in facilitating communication and collaboration across different teams and stakeholders. Innovations such as AI-driven spatial analysis, real-time data monitoring, and immersive platforms are transforming how we understand and manage our environments.

At TEP, we are committed to a digital transformation journey that enables all professionals to explore and analyse the spatial data they collect, identify trends, collaborate effectively, and produce engaging, interactive reports. While it’s impossible to predict every technological advance, one thing is certain: our Geospatial team will continue to champion collaborative GIS use across the organisation, ensuring that every service benefits from the strengths of digital geospatial data management.

I’m hoping that in another 23 years’ time, when I’m celebrating GIS Day again, I’ll still have the 2025 profile picture, the grey hairs will hopefully still be there in some capacity and we’ll be celebrating more examples of GIS enabling collaborative working and environmental understanding.

Happy GIS Day!

Colin Bourne, Associate Director

Replacing Sappers Bridge: Connecting Communities in Snowdonia

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:10:00 GMT

We have secured planning permission for Conwy County Borough Council to replace the footbridge across the River Conwy in Betws-y-Coed and upgrade the surrounding public right of way. The site sits within the stunning Eryri National Park in Snowdonia and is adjacent to the Betws-y-Coed Conservation Area, so careful planning and design were essential.

The existing footbridge had been closed due to safety concerns and needed replacing to restore the active travel link. With funding secured by Conwy Council to improve active travel, this project forms part of a wider investment in the Coast to Valley Active Travel Route. We issued an EIA Screening Opinion, and the Local Planning Authority confirmed that no full Environmental Impact Assessment was required. We also prepared a robust planning case to justify development within a National Park, highlighting the benefits of improving active travel, reducing reliance on cars, and promoting local tourism.

Heritage and landscape were key considerations. A heritage assessment was undertaken which confirmed there would be no harm to the adjacent conservation area or nearby listed building, while a landscape assessment demonstrated that the development would not negatively impact the surrounding environment. Impacts on trees were carefully reviewed. We advised on mitigation measures to minimise tree loss and on the number of replacement trees required under planning policy.

Given the ecological sensitivity of the site, our Ecology team carried out surveys for bats, water voles, otters, great crested newts, barn owls, invasive species, and hedgerows. We advised on the design and proposed mitigation measures to ensure the development met planning requirements. We also prepared a Green Infrastructure Statement to demonstrate that a net benefit for biodiversity has been achieved, in line with Welsh planning policy. Our Landscape Design team developed a detailed planting plan along the active travel route to replace lost vegetation and comply with policy requirements.

During the planning process, we responded to and addressed concerns raised by Natural Resources Wales, including the impact of proposed lighting on bats and the local landscape character. The application was approved in March 2025 and construction is now underway. We’re looking forward to seeing the new bridge reconnect the community, support sustainable travel, and enhance this beautiful part of Snowdonia.

The post Replacing Sappers Bridge: Connecting Communities in Snowdonia appeared first on TEP - The Environment Partnership .

Helping to Shape Manchester’s Environmental Future

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:47:00 GMT

Manchester City Council has recently released its draft Local Plan for consultation, and TEP is proud to have played a key role in shaping the city’s environmental policies.

The Environment and Social Infrastructure chapters highlight the vital role of nature and open spaces in city life, from supporting health and wellbeing to improving resilience against climate change and flooding. Policies on green and blue infrastructure, biodiversity, and urban greening put the natural environment at the heart of Manchester’s future development, and ensure natural spaces remain central to the city’s growth.

TEP’s Evidence Behind the Plan

TEP led several foundational studies that informed these policies, working with partners Mersey Rivers Trust, Groundwork Greater Manchester, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and City of Trees who contributed local expertise and consulted with local communities, politicians and environmentalists.

The post Helping to Shape Manchester’s Environmental Future appeared first on TEP - The Environment Partnership .

Our studies were:

�� Managing Manchester’s Trees:
An assessment of the city’s tree stock and canopy cover, providing ward-by-ward guidance for tree protection and new planting. The study included a nostalgic look back at tree planting initiatives in the city over the last 100 years.

�� Our Rivers Our City:
Mapping river valleys and waterways, identifying opportunities for ecological restoration, climate resilience, and improved public access; all measures to help Manchester become a ‘Sponge City’.

�� Biodiversity Net Gain Study:
Predicting the likely demand for biodiversity units from the city’s ambitious growth plans and identifying Council-owned land that could become a habitat bank.

�� Urban Green Factor Study:
Providing practical guidance for integrating nature-based solutions into new developments, ensuring that growth enhances biodiversity and climatic resilience.

�� Open Space Assessment:
Working with the Local plan team to produce webmaps to help them analyse Open Space needs.

Our Arboriculture, Land Management, Landscape Design, Geospatial, Ecology, Planning and Heritage teams collaborated to deliver these studies, providing a broad-ranging evidence base for policies designed to enhance green and blue infrastructure, improve ecosystem services, and ensure Manchester’s future development is sustainable, resilient, and nature-positive.

Fran Hesketh, Technical Director and Founder of TEP, said:

“Contributing to the city’s environmental strategy is a tremendous privilege. Our multi-disciplinary collaboration ensures that our research supports both people and nature, shaping a greener, more resilient Manchester.”

Restoring Wetland Landscapes

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 13:46:00 GMT

The Lost Wetlands Nature Recovery Project (NRP) is transforming the wetland landscape of northern Cheshire and southern Greater Manchester.

Once a network of interconnected ponds, mosses, and wet woodlands, much of this historic wetland was drained over centuries for agriculture and urban development. The NRP aims to restore and rewet these habitats, creating a thriving, resilient landscape that benefits biodiversity, water management, and local communities.

We worked closely with Natural England, the National Trust, Trafford Council, and City of Trees, alongside other partners, on two linked pieces of work: regional mapping of historic and current ponds to identify restoration opportunities and site-scale wetland design at William Wroe Meadows, a former golf course now protected as a community greenspace.

Historically, the project area supported thousands of ponds, which provided vital refuges and corridors for wildlife. Over time, industrialisation, urbanisation, and agricultural intensification led to the loss and fragmentation of these habitats. We conducted a comprehensive mapping and analysis of 73,000 hectares using historic maps, aerial imagery, LiDAR data, and OS datasets. The team identified over 13,000 pond features, including lost and potential ponds, sometimes called ‘ghost ponds’, which could be restored to revive lost seedbanks and re-establish wetland biodiversity.

The former William Wroe Golf Course in Flixton has been identified for wetland restoration. Working with drainage engineers, we developed a masterplan based on the site’s hydrology, ecology, and infrastructure. The design introduces wet woodlands, reedbeds, ephemeral pools, grassland, scrub, and deadwood habitats, alongside paths and boardwalks for community access. Developed in collaboration with local stakeholders through workshops, surveys, and volunteer days, the plan supports species such as the declining Willow Tit while also reducing flood risk, improving water quality, and providing a valuable space for community use, education, and long-term stewardship.

The Lost Wetlands project showcases best practice in evidence-led wetland restoration, combining regional assessment, site-specific design, hydrological analysis, and community engagement. The outputs are now being used to guide restoration across Cheshire and Greater Manchester, forming part of a wider strategy to reverse biodiversity loss, improve climate resilience, and reconnect people with nature.

We’re proud to play a part in this ambitious initiative and even prouder that it’s been shortlisted for the Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement Award at this year’s Landscape Institute Awards. The winners will be announced in London on 14th November, watch this space!

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Pond Opportunity Mapping

Flow Accumulation SCALGO Mapping

Strategy Diagram

Wetland layout and network diagram

Mapping the Lost Wetlands

Wetland Design at William Wroe Meadows

A Model for Nature Recovery

Restoring Lindow Moss – A Landscape in Recovery

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:45:00 GMT

Lindow Moss is an ecologically and historically significant peatland, but decades of drainage and degradation have left it in poor condition. In autumn 2024, we were commissioned by Groundwork CLM to survey peat extent and condition, map habitats and hydrology, and identify opportunities for restoration. This work lays the foundation for restoring the site for climate, nature, and people.

Restoring Lindow Moss is a collaborative effort, bringing together conservation organisations, local authorities, and community groups through the Lindow Moss Landscape Partnership. Their 10-year restoration plan focuses on enhancing carbon storage, improving biodiversity, protecting cultural heritage, and supporting community involvement. Partners include Transition Wilmslow, Friends of Lindow Moss, Cheshire East Council, Wilmslow Town Council, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Mersey Rivers Trust, and Groundwork CLM.

We worked closely with Groundwork CLM and landowners to secure access for surveys through emails, calls, mail-outs, and a press release linked to the StoryMap. This approach secured access to over 50% of the Landscape Character Area and created a database to support ongoing and future restoration, while fostering local support and stewardship.

Using a bespoke ArcGIS Field Maps tool, we conducted detailed surveys incorporating elements of the Peatland Code methodology. Surveys recorded:

�� Peat depth and condition (von Post scale);
�� Key ecological benchmarks, including indicator species and UKHabitat classification;
�� Grazing impacts and drainage features
�� Soil cores to verify survey findings.

This work produced a comprehensive baseline of the peatland’s condition, helping the partnership target areas for rewetting, habitat recovery, and restoration interventions.

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) supported the generation of a landscape restoration opportunity map, highlighting where interventions would have the greatest impact. Using our in-house habitat modelling tool, HabiTEP, we produced a UKHabitat map of the full site, which is now being ground-truthed with ecological survey data. Together, these tools inform restoration planning and guide actions to recover habitats, protect biodiversity, and restore carbon storage.

The next phase focuses on implementing restoration actions, including:

�� Rewetting key areas to prevent further peat loss;
�� Promoting peat-forming vegetation to enhance carbon sequestration;
�� Monitoring water levels, vegetation recovery, and carbon storage potential
�� Continuing engagement with landowners to foster stewardship and community support.

The Lindow Moss Landscape Partnership is committed to restoring this vital ecosystem for people, nature, and climate. We are proud to have contributed to this ambitious project and looks forward to supporting its next stages.

For an interactive view of survey results, maps, and restoration opportunities, visit the Lindow Moss StoryMap

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Partnership and Community Engagement

(Photos courtesy of Groundwork CLM)

Surveying and Mapping

Spatial Analysis and Restoration Planning

(Photos courtesy of Groundwork CLM)

Looking Ahead

Explore the StoryMap

(Photos courtesy of G Davies, TEP)

TEP Partners With Time For Geography

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:50:00 GMT

TEP is proud to announce our partnership with Time for Geography , a pioneering initiative that showcases the importance of geography and the diverse careers it can lead to.

Time for Geography is a free, online education project that reaches schools and universities across the UK. By combining expert knowledge with engaging video resources, the platform brings geography to life in classrooms and inspires the next generation of geographers. It also highlights how the subject connects directly to real-world issues such as sustainability, climate change, urban planning and environmental management.

Our contribution to the initiative is now being used within schools and universities as part of their teaching resources, appearing within Time For Geography’s wider Careers Collection. These resources are designed to show students the breadth of opportunities available through geography-related careers and to connect classroom learning with the professional world.

Many of our colleagues at TEP began their journey with a passion for geography at school, which eventually led them into careers in ecology, arboriculture, heritage, planning, landscape design and environmental management. By sharing our experiences, we hope to encourage young people to see geography not only as a fascinating subject, but also as a foundation for meaningful and impactful careers.

We are excited to be part of this important initiative and look forward to working with Time for Geography, alongside other partners, to promote geography careers and inspire the next generation of environmental specialists.

Learn more about Time for Geography

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Exploring the History of the Helmdon Mantle-Tree

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:50:00 GMT

TEP Principal Historic Environment Consultant, Amir Bassir, has recently been published in the Northamptonshire Past and Present Journal , contributing to a long-standing debate on the history of the Helmdon mantle-tree.

The Helmdon mantle-tree, once located in the parsonage house in Helmdon, Northamptonshire, has been the subject of academic interest since the 17th century. At the heart of the discussion is a date carved into the timber, which has been variously interpreted as evidence for the use of Arabic numerals in England as early as the 12th century. Over the centuries, scholars including John Wallis, John Ward, Samuel Denne and Henry Dryden have all offered competing interpretations, sparking a lively debate about medieval numeracy, architecture, and the reliability of antiquarian records.

In his article, Amir provides an overview of this historic debate and reconsiders the evidence in the context of regional architectural history. He examines how different interpretations of the date align with broader patterns in the adoption of Arabic numerals in England, as well as with the physical characteristics of the timber itself.

Amir’s contribution not only revisits an important episode in the history of mathematics and antiquarian study, but also reflects his expertise in historic building recording and vernacular architecture in the East Midlands.

For those interested in the full discussion, the article is available in the 2024 edition of Northamptonshire Past and Present (members only).

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On the Move: Why Ecologists Monitor Birds Through the Winter

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:29:00 GMT

Autumn is upon us again. As temperatures drop, days noticeably shorten and leaves fall, many birds migrate to more hospitable winter climes. These movements vary greatly and may be epic intercontinental journeys or simply relocations to different habitats or lower elevations closer by.

Part of our work as ecologists involves ensuring that we attain as comprehensive an understanding of our project sites as possible, and mobile populations of birds present a unique challenge when seeking to do so; unlike monitoring many other protected species, surveying for birds is often required throughout the winter months – and sometimes also during spring and autumn migration periods – to ensure that we establish a full picture of avian activity. To this end, separating the surveying, assessment and reporting for breeding and non-breeding birds is essential, to avoid information overload and missing important details. From late September to early October is the ideal time to begin wintering bird work and it is therefore critical for ecologists to have considered the ornithological requirements of their projects before autumn is with us in earnest.

Brief Focus on Redshank (Tringa totanus)

Seen by many as the archetypal wading bird, the redshank (BAm) is a charismatic and relatively conspicuous Tringa sandpiper with a smart appearance. Their matching suite of orange-red legs and bill shout ‘Iook at me!’ and their loud cries in flight might reinforce this caricature of an unabashed show-off. Redshank could be described as ‘busy’ birds, with a hurried, scurrying gait and they can usually be found in winter at the water’s edge probing, like clockwork toys, for invertebrates in the intertidal sediment. These birds then move to farmland and saltmarsh to nest and are equally at home pulling earthworms from the soil. As such, redshank are fascinating specialists of both field and shoreline.

Redshank are a declining UK resident – nesting primarily in Scotland and northern England – with additional overwintering individuals arriving from Iceland. However, a 19% decrease in the migrant population between 1996 and 2022, and a substantial breeding range contraction, highlight the need for careful conservation. Critically, redshank is a Designated Feature of four out of the five SPA sites in north-west England. Therefore, their presence on or near a project site within 10km of any of these Internationally Designated Sites can be especially important. Look out for those well-dressed waders!

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Celebrating 20 Years of ‘Another Place’

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:01:00 GMT

This month marks 20 years since Antony Gormley’s Another Place was installed on Crosby Beach, an artwork that has become one of the UK’s most recognisable coastal landmarks.

Originally intended as a temporary exhibition, the 100 cast-iron figures, modelled on the artist himself, have become a permanent and much-loved fixture on the Sefton coastline, attracting thousands of visitors and becoming synonymous with the local landscape.

We are proud to have played a meaningful role in the early stages of this now-famous installation.

As part of the project’s original planning process, our ecologists were commissioned to carry out ecological surveys and provide expert advice on the siting of the sculptures. Our aim was to help minimise disturbance to local wildlife while preserving the creative vision for the artwork.

This involved identifying and avoiding sensitive habitats on the beach and intertidal zones, advising on installation timings and methods to limit ecological impact, and providing ecological assessments to support the planning application.

The result was a thoughtful approach to sculpture placement, balancing environmental considerations with artistic ambition.

As the statues reach their 20-year anniversary, it’s a reminder of how forward-thinking collaboration between artists, local authorities, planners and environmental professionals can leave a lasting legacy.

From its initial installation in 2005 to ongoing maintenance works in 2021, Another Place continues to evolve and continues to inspire visitors and locals alike.

It’s a project we feel fortunate to be part of, and one that has become a powerful part of Merseyside’s cultural identity.

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A Collaboration Between Art and Environment

A Lasting Legacy

Our 2025 Environment Grant Awardees

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 07:47:00 GMT

Each year, TEP awards funding through its Environment Grant to support grassroots projects that raise awareness of environmental issues or help advance the environmental profession. Now in its sixth year, the grant has funded 17 projects across the UK since launching in 2020.

The grant offers between £250 and £1,000 to individuals, groups, charities or institutions who demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact, whether that be through education, conservation, or community engagement.

This year, we’re proud to support two very different but equally inspiring initiatives:

Lanjeth Nursery in Cornwall, run by community interest company Growing People, is restoring 13.5 acres of woodland, ponds and water gardens for the benefit of local communities. Their goal is to provide inclusive, not-for-profit outdoor sessions that promote wellbeing and learning through nature.
With the help of TEP’s Environment Grant, they’ll be constructing a wooden boardwalk around a set of restored ponds, improving access for young children and people with reduced mobility. The site is home to the UK’s largest recorded population of dragonfly species, offering a rich opportunity for education and ecological engagement.

The project will help visitors explore pond flora and fauna safely and comfortably, while also inspiring more people to create and protect similar habitats in their own communities.

Images below taken from https://lanjeth.co.uk/ .

Living Paintings Trust is a national charity producing unique audio-tactile books for children who are blind or visually impaired. Their “Touch to See” books combine raised illustrations with immersive audio descriptions, helping thousands of children access stories and learning materials that might otherwise be out of reach.

TEP’s funding will support the adaptation of Tidy by Emily Gravett, a captivating curriculum-linked story about environmental responsibility. The book will be turned into 35 tactile editions to be shared through Living Paintings’ free postal library, reaching children at home and in schools across the UK. By supporting this work, the grant is helping children with sight loss engage with environmental topics and feel included in shared conversations around nature, sustainability and learning.

Images below taken from https://livingpaintings.org/ .

We’re delighted to support both organisations in their missions to widen access to environmental learning. If you’re planning your own environmental project and think it could benefit from our grant, please follow us on social media or keep an eye on our website next March, when applications will re-open.

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Creating Access to Nature:

Growing People CIC at Lanjeth Nursery

Bringing Environmental Stories to Life:

Living Paintings Trust

Non-Potable Water Reuse

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 11:41:00 GMT

TEP was delighted to assist Anglian Water Services, Water Resources East and Enabling Water Smart Communities with the publication of a suite of new reports exploring the role that non-potable water reuse could play in strengthening long-term water resilience. Published under the National Framework for Water Resources, the work identifies where recycled water could support industrial and agricultural needs.

TEP wrote an International Best Practice Review, drawing on case studies from reuse-leading nations such as Spain, Israel and the USA. The work was informed by TEP Associate Thomas Young’s insights from his Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust research into global water security, alongside hydrology expertise from Pluviam Environmental Ltd. The report will support the development of the updated National Framework for Water Resources and its implementation, led by the Environment Agency.

Read the full reports here .

Below we introduce the alternative water sources assessed in the report, highlighting their potential for non-potable reuse.

International Drainage Boards (IDBs)

Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) are local public bodies that manage water levels within a specific area. Water from IDB’s has historically been viewed as ‘problem’ drainage water during high winter flows, and discharged to main watercourses or marine environments through networks of drainage ditches, sluice gates and high-capacity pumps.

The vast volumes of water which leave IDBs could be utilised for non-potable uses due to its relatively clean nature, presence in a water transport network and management by recognised and experienced organisations. However, due to the seasonal nature of IDB drainage water, less water is available for reuse during high demand summer months, thus requiring the storage of winter drainage water.

�� Case Study – Felixstowe Hydrocycle Water Reuse:
This innovative collaboration between local authorities and farmers was in development for over 10 years and was driven by a supportive local authority (Suffolk County Council). It required significant engagement with multiple stakeholders to: a) define the local issue (water security for farmers and untapped resources); b) decide on a strategy to deal with the problem; c) identify funding mechanisms, and; d) implement a solution. The solution is technically simple, with current land drainage water intercepted and pumped to a series of farm reservoirs before it enters the sea. This provides farmers with a year-round water source to fill reservoirs, recharges groundwater, whilst also helping to prevent saltmarsh degradation at the drainage outlet.

Industrial Effluent

Industrial effluent refers to wastewater generated during industrial processes (e.g. food and drink production, chemical manufacturing, hospitals), usually of a lower quality than the water initially used. Typically, industrial effluent is treated to a certain level and then discharged back into the environment or the sewer system. It is becoming increasingly common for wastewater to be treated to a standard sufficient to be reused on-site for the same process, effectively creating a closed-loop system.

�� Case Study – USA – Frito-Lay Snack Food Plant, Arizona:
In 2010, Frito-Lay started to operate the first US based food processing plant to produce recycled wastewater at drinking water standards, for reuse in food production. The facility uses a 2,500m3 a day water treatment and recovery system to recycle up to 75% of the facility’s process water, reducing the plants annual water use by 380,000m3. The innovative advanced treatment system treats water to drinking water standards and mixes it with standard mains water to ensure it can be safely used to wash and move raw vegetables around the factory.

Urban Drainage & Highway Runoff

Urban Drainage

In urban areas where many surfaces are sealed by buildings and paving, natural infiltration is limited. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) allow drainage water to be stored for later reuse, rather than being immediately discharged, mimicking natural regimes. Water is actively drained into areas of soft landscape, such as rain gardens, swales, infiltration basins, tree pits, or retention ponds. This reduces flow rates and increases water treatment. Crucially the first step of a SuDS system should be to reuse the water captured, rather than let it drain away.

��Case Study – Germany – Arkadien Asperg, Stuttgart:
Arkadien Asperg is an urban village where water-sensitive design dominates. A watercourse flows through the village, with drainage directed into it via a series of landscape-dominated drainage features. Fourteen storage tanks hold up to 60m3 of water, which is then used for irrigation, toilet flushing, washing and to top up the watercourse. Play spaces are designed to be floodable, providing further capacity for on-site attenuation.

Highway Runoff

Highway drainage has historically been concerned with removing water from road surfaces as quickly as possible to maintain road safety. SuDS on smaller roads are becoming more widespread to improve water quality and allow for water re-use in local landscape and amenity areas.

��Case Study – Global – Roads for Water Consortium:
The Roads for Water Consortium is a global alliance of organisations organised by MetaMeta, aiming to promote road water harvesting. With 20% of the worlds land surface within 1km of a road, the consortium aims to provide advice and guidance on how best to construct and adapt roads for water harvesting and reducing runoff pollution and erosion, focused on areas facing severe poverty.

Rainwater from Roofs

Rainwater from roofs is a readily available resource with significant reuse potential. It is generally captured and channelled into piped drainage systems. Rainwater harvesting is the act of capturing and storing this water for reuse. These methods have been used globally for millennia at various scales and serve as a primary source of water in many developing countries.

��Case Study – Japan – Ryogoku Kokugikan – Sumi wrestling facility:
The 8,400m2 roof drains rainwater into a 1,000m3 tank, which is used to supply water to ~70% of the stadium’s toilets and air conditioning units. This water can also be used as an emergency water supply after earthquakes, and to melt snow on the roof. The local municipality now also offers subsidies to help install rainwater harvesting projects.

Domestic Greywater and Air Conditioning Condensate

Domestic Greywater

Greywater includes all non-blackwater domestic wastewater, such as from washing machines, basins, dishwashers, showers, and baths. In developed countries, greywater production per household is in the range of 60–200 litres per day. It generally contains low concentrations of microbial, organics and nutrients, which can be treated on-site through small treatment systems, or through constructed wetlands.

�� Case Study – Australia – Grey Water Reuse – Rouse Hill Water Resource Recovery Facility:
Most major Australian water recycling projects were implemented in response to The Millennium drought (2001-2009), as well as due to restraints placed on discharge from wastewater treatment plants. Australia’s largest residential recycling scheme is the 32,000 home Rouse Hill development in northwest Sydney which supplies toilet flushing, clothes washing, garden watering and car washing, reducing potable water demand by 40%. Use was approved on irrigating local fruit and vegetable crops in 2012. The effluent undergoes tertiary treatment, supplying 200,000m3 of recycled water a year, with excess quantities discharging to wetlands.

Air Conditioning Condensate

Air conditioning condensate is the water that forms when warm, humid air passes over the cold evaporator coils in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. As the air cools, moisture condenses and collects, typically draining away through a condensate line. The byproduct is essentially distilled water. Water can be used locally with minimal storage needed onsite due to constant production of water during warm weather. Likely non-potable applications include toilet flushing, car washing, irrigation and cooling water.

Polluted Groundwater and Mine Water

Polluted groundwater and mine water might not sound like ideal resources, but with the right treatment, they could help strengthen long-term water resilience. With case studies from California and South Africa, we look at how polluted groundwater and mine water are already being used around the world, and what lessons we can take from them.

Polluted Groundwater

Groundwater is a vital source of water for potable and non-potable uses. It can become polluted by a range of contaminants from a point source or across wider catchments. Depending on the level of contamination, polluted groundwater can be used directly for non-potable uses. This often occurs when no other viable water sources exist.

Aquifers can be artificially recharged through intentionally adding water. This is often achieved by using wastewater from other sources (such as treated sewage effluent, flood water, Internal Drainage Boards, urban runoff) and adding into the aquifer through either large infiltration ponds or injecting it into deep wells. This approach can help to dilute or prevent contamination, making water available for reuse.

�� Case Study – Orange County Ground Water Replenishment System (GWRS), California:
Due to an over abstracted ground aquifer which was becoming increasingly saline, a GWRS was set up in Orange County, California in 2008. The facility takes treated sewage water and passes it through a series of osmotic membranes to produce ultra-pure water. The water is then pumped into the ground aquifer for later abstraction. Excess stormwater from the rivers within the catchment is also stored in conventional infiltration ponds to supplement ground recharge.

Mine Water

Water is actively pumped from operational mines to prevent flooding and enable continued extraction. Once mines are closed, pumping ceases, and water levels within the mine recover, effectively flooding the mine. Water quality from mines is often compromised, with a range of pollutants present.

�� Case Study – South African Mine Industry:
South Africa is leading on the reuse of mine water, with significant efforts made to provide industry guidance and strategy. Numerous trials have been conducted with mine water in agriculture, including the successful use of lime treated gypsiferous water (high levels of calcium sulphate), successfully used on various field screening trials of over 20 crops at Witbank, Mpumalanga, with no negative impacts on crop yield or leaf burn.

Efforts have also been made in South Africa to introduce guidelines for mine owners to investigate and apply for the correct permits to reuse wastewater from mines. The guidance has been put together by the South African Water Research Commission (WRC) and focuses on gaining the correct regulatory approvals, and technical guidelines for using this water for irrigation. The documents help to highlight current gaps and contradictions in current South African water use regulations, and how best to navigate these.

If you’d like to discuss any of these ideas further or explore how they might apply to your work, please get in touch!

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Felixstowe Hydrocycle, photo credit – Tom Young

Israel TSE in Public Park, photo credit – Tom Young

Frito-Lay Snack Food Plant, Arizona, photo credit – CDM Smith

Arkadien Asperg, photo credit – Dreisetil Consulting

Ryogoku-Kokugikan, photo credit – Expedia

Rouse Hill Recycling, photo credit – Sydneywater

Orange County Ground Water Replenishment System (GWRS), photo credit – Tom Young

A winning mine water treatment scheme, photo credit – UK Government

Treated Sewage Effluent (TSEs)

Waste sewage water is often piped to centralised sewage treatment plants. Here, wastewater undergoes a series of treatments so that it can be released into watercourses (known as Treated Sewage Effluent – TSE). The quality of this water is generally regulated so that minimum standards are met before it can be discharged. TSE can be used in agriculture, industry, landscaping and amenity, groundwater recharge and sometimes for non-potable uses within residential developments.

�� Case Study – Israel – Use of TSE Across Whole Water Industry:
Competitive pricing, volume caps on potable water for non-potable users, and clearly defined water standards for different types of crop were used to quickly move agriculture onto TSE in Israel, with around 80-90% of crops now irrigated with wastewater. A centralised water distribution network allows wastewater to be transported efficiently from source to areas of high demand. TSE water is also used in many public parks for irrigation and water features. These features are still accessible to the public but have appropriate warning signs in place.

Invasive Species and Woodland Ecosystems: A Hidden Battle

Thu, 15 May 2025 12:32:00 GMT

(written by Ric Hampson)

Woodland ecosystems depend on a complex, layered structure, from the towering canopy to the low-lying understory of shrubs, ferns, and wildflowers. This layered habitat supports a remarkable diversity of life. However, invasive non-native species ( INNS ) increasingly threaten this balance. According to the Woodland Trust, the impacts of INNS costs the UK economy £4 billion per annum.

Tree and Woodland management professionals may be familiar with the problems caused by well-known invasive plant species such as Rhododendron ponticum, Japanese knotweed ( Fallopia japonica ) and Himalayan balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera ), however this article will focus on some of the lesser-known (but potentially high-impact) threats facing our woodlands:

��️ Grey Squirrels ( Sciurus carolinensis );

��American Skunk Cabbage ( Lysichiton americanus );

��Tree of Heaven ( Ailanthus altissima )

Without effective management, these species can transform rich woodland habitats into degraded, near-lifeless zones.

Originally introduced from North America in the late 19th century, many people assume Grey squirrels are a cute and harmless addition to the UK’s woodlands, however, as well as outcompeting Britain’s native Red squirrel, they are also a vector for the Squirrelpox virus, causing huge declines in the native red squirrel population since their introduction. It is illegal to introduce Grey squirrels into the wild in the UK.

What to look for:

Aside from spotting a bushy tail poking above a branch, look for sections of the stem or branches where bark has been stripped back, and notice any fresh sections of stripped bark discarded at the base, possibly with little teeth marks in them!

Other impacts include:

�� Bark damage – Stripping bark from broadleaved trees and shrubs which can lead to structural issues, weaken the health of the tree, and possibly reduce the amenity value by rendering it less visually attractive;

�� Biodiversity loss – Outcompeting native Red squirrels and other wildlife has lead to a loss in biodiversity;

�� Excess seed, bud and nut consumption may reduce natural regeneration capacity of native woodland species (esp. Oak) and may alter woodland composition to favour more resilient species (for example Sycamore over Oak);

�� Commercial forestry considerations – Squirrel damage may degrade hardwood and reduce timber values.

Managing the problem:

Population control efforts can be coordinated with stakeholders, for example via the National Squirrel Accord, to try to control or reduce numbers.

Introduced to the UK from its native range in western North America in the 19th century, this ornamental plant is now widely naturalised and has been listed under section 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside act as illegal to plant. It favours habitats with frequently waterlogged soils; so Wet woodlands, riparian zones and fens/marshland are particularly susceptible.

What to look for:

Flowers emerge early in Spring, (before many native wetland species) thus making it easier to detect in these habitats. Look for large yellow hood-like flowers with a fleshy central spadix and notice a strong, skunk-like odour, especially distinctive during warm weather

Other impacts include:

�� Suppresses native ground flora by outcompeting and reducing light availability along with competing for nutrients in the soil;

�� Dense roots systems can trap sediment and disrupt drainage, which can easily degrade fragile habitats and lead to hypoxic soil conditions;

�� Species-rich wetlands may suffer large scale loss in plant biodiversity;

�� Produces large quantities of highly viable seeds, with effective long-range dispersal mechanisms leading to the formation of persistent seed-banks, making it harder to eradicate.

Managing the problem:

��️ Uprooting the plants and removing seedbanks, although manually intensive, can be an effective removal strategy;

�� Strong biosecurity controls can help to limit the spread.

Introduced to the UK in 1751 after a French priest visited its native China and returned to Europe with seeds to distribute, it has now naturalised across much of southern England. It is considered an invasive species due to its aggressive growth rates and ability to out-compete native species. The Tree of Heaven is particularly adept at colonising open areas or woodland gaps and so is more likely to be found in urban areas or brownfield sites, along transport corridors or woodland edges and areas that have been felled for regeneration.

What to look for:

A fast-growing tree with unusually large compound leaves and a strong odour when crushed, along with dense thickets of identical clones (from suckering).

Other impacts include:

�� Fast growth rates cause dense canopy creation, which crowds out native saplings and ground flora and degrades woodland structure;

�� Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of surrounding vegetation and increase likelihood of a monoculture developing;

�� Aggressive root suckering leads to rapid spread and the creation of dense clonal colonies, reducing biodiversity and further degrading habitats.

Managing the problem:

Repeated treatments by herbicide can offer potential management solutions, however, the environmental consequences my not be worth it.

For expert advice on any arboricultural matter, contact our team at tep@tep.uk.com , we’re always happy to help.

The post Invasive Species and Woodland Ecosystems: A Hidden Battle appeared first on TEP - The Environment Partnership .

Grey Squirrels

(Sciurus carolinensis)

American Skunk Cabbage

(Lysichiton americanus)

Tree of Heaven

(Ailanthus altissima)

Happy 21st Birthday to BNG!

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 09:58:00 GMT

February 2025 marks the 1st birthday for legally binding BNG in England. As we celebrate this landmark date, we look back at a development that celebrates its 21st birthday in 2025, to consider how the new BNG legislation might shape our neighbourhoods in the coming decades.

Stamford Brook in Greater Manchester is a 700 house scheme with a local centre, built on former arable land, owned by the National Trust in partnership with developers Redrow Homes and Bryant Homes. Built before statutory BNG legislation, it had extensive and diverse landscaping at the core of its design, driven by the values of the National Trust and Redrow Homes’ desire to create a sustainable development at a commercial scale.

Key features of the development included energy efficient homes, doorstep green spaces and play areas, swales, sustainable drainage systems, a re-meandered brook and a restored floodplain to improve flood risk, and a community woodland with extensive circular paths.

Earthworks started in 2004 with remodelling of the Sinderland Brook and its floodplain. The 700 homes and associated landscapes were built in several phases between 2005 and 2012.

A retro BNG assessment reveals that Stamford Brook, across 36 hectares, delivers 12% BNG in respect of habitats and a whopping 200% for watercourse BNG! Using industry-standard valuations of £30 to £40,000 per habitat unit and £50 to £60,000 per watercourse unit, the net gains would be worth around £1.3m.

But money is only a shallow and partial way of reflecting the real value of the new habitats to the area.

Biodiversity enhancement was just one of the key pillars of Stamford Brook’s design philosophy. The landscape masterplan also created great access to nature for incoming residents and existing communities. High-quality landscape management was embedded with a management company that takes landscape very seriously with prompt attention to repairs and communicating well with residents. The landscape uses ‘nature-based solutions’ in the form of reedbeds and swales that filter surface water and reduce flood risk.

When creating habitats at scale, species will benefit – the brook corridor and community woodland were strongholds for singing willow warblers in 2024, a species that is being pushed northwards in England by climate change.

The success of the scheme is not just measured by BNG units. Creating a desirable place to live facilitates the growth of local communities, with local spending from new residents supporting services and amenities.

Liz Seal, TEP’s ecology director and a local resident says, “ Stamford Brook shows that BNG adds value to development when it is ‘baked into’ the placemaking and neighbourhood quality aspects of design. Of course, not every development can achieve so much BNG on site but the key thing everywhere is to ensure that biodiversity is part of a multi functional design approach to open spaces and that new habitats should be well managed and supply good access to nature, improved water management and provide a good setting for the development.

“Stamford Brook also benefits from the far-sighted approach by the landowner and developer. Delivering deep environmental improvements meant a realistic approach to land values had to be adopted but the long term gain for the neighbourhood has been worth it.”

In summary, our 21 year old BNG housing scheme, shows that integrating diverse landscaping into development schemes with appropriate long-term management can have a positive impact for wildlife and the community. Therefore, legally-binding BNG which ought to make the delivery of similar schemes the norm, should celebrate its first birthday in style!

Liz Seal again, “ TEP’s integrated team of ecologists and landscape designers can help to maximise on-site BNG in a pragmatic and people friendly way. The challenge for BNG as it matures in England is to streamline the process for smaller sites and SME developers so that the costs of planning for BNG are reduced. 10% BNG is often not possible on smaller sites. As ecologists we understand the importance of housing growth so at TEP we’re looking at ways to streamline BNG advice for small sites to reduce the costs associated with their planning applications.”

Note: TEP acted as ecologist, landscape designer and landscape manager to support the masterplanning, implementation and handover of the river restoration, habitat creation and public open spaces at Stamford Brook. The scheme is in Trafford Borough.

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A Honey Fungus Discovery

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:27:00 GMT

Our Arboriculture team has been out and about in East Cheshire conducting a BS5837 tree survey as part of improvement works on public infrastructure. During the survey, the surveyor noticed a distinctive mushroom smell, a tell-tale sign of honey fungus ( Armillaria ) a parasitic fungus that can affect a broad range of woody and perennial plants. On closer inspection of trees in the area, we found distinctive “bootlace” Armillaria rhizomorphs covering the internal bark of several trees and decaying wood on the woodland floor.

Many of the trees were in decline or already dead, with one particularly large common beech tree having succumbed to advanced decay, and also had several fruiting bodies of bracket fungus ( Ganoderma sp .). This recently deceased tree had left a significant gap in the canopy, giving some indication of how large this tree would have been in its prime.

While the woodland is private and not accessible to the public, the large decaying trees and fallen wood pose little risk and can be left to contribute to the natural cycle of growth and decay, adding vital nutrients to the soil and supporting biodiversity.

Although a pathogenic fungus, Armillaria is a native species that forms part of this cycle within woodland. Our recommendations included selective removal work where necessary.

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Protecting Sandwell’s Wildlife Sites

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:28:00 GMT

TEP was appointed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to assess 18 locally designated wildlife sites within the borough to inform their new Local Plan.

We conducted a habitat survey at each site, followed by evaluations using the Birmingham and Black Country guidance for local site selection. These evaluations were informed by our habitat surveys, local species records, and historical survey data where available. All 18 sites were already designated as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) or Sites of Local Importance for Nature Conservation (SLINC) and the purpose of the surveys was to determine whether the sites still meet the criteria for their respective designations.

In collaboration with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, and EcoRecord (the local biodiversity records centre), we produced evaluation reports for each site. These reports included the necessary data to support any proposed changes to site designations and provide a valuable ecological record for the area. Local designations play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity-rich sites that lack statutory protections. Periodic assessments ensure these areas truly reflect their designated ecological value, ensuring that key habitats are both recognised and preserved.

This project was a rewarding opportunity for our team, allowing us to contribute to the protection of biodiversity in Sandwell for future generations.

If you require assessments of locally designated sites to inform Local Plans, identify biodiversity net gain opportunities, or conduct habitat surveys, we would be happy to assist. Please get in touch using EcoQuotes@tep.uk.com .

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TEP’s Market Harborough Office Celebrates its 10th Year

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:55:00 GMT

Our Market Harborough office recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary, after first opening its doors on 27th May 2014.

The office opened with just 3 staff in 2014 and has grown to over 20 staff members, with more new starters set to join over the coming months. To celebrate and to mark the occasion, the staff took part in 10 separate events running throughout the year, ranging from sports events, to quiz nights, to craft-making.

To kick off the series of events, the Market Harborough team travelled to Haygates Farm in Great Bowden to volunteer at ‘Wellness in the Wild’, a wildlife retreat for veterans and the general public. The team spent the day helping to plant 900 hawthorn tree whips, a worthwhile way to launch the celebration event schedule!

For event number 2, the Market Harborough Office hosted “The Great TEP Bake Off”. The event was supported by TEP’s other offices across the UK, who held additional bake sales and bake offs in support of our chosen CSR charities. We clearly have quite a few unsung culinary heroes TEP and choosing a Star Baker from each office was no piece of cake! Congratulations to Star Bakers Maggie Fennell, Darren Bennett, Elin Roberts and Eddie Chandler, who won the coveted ‘Star Baker’ trophies at each of our offices.

For event number 3, our Market Harborough team organised a sponsored walk in support of our chosen CSR charities. The adventure began with a challenging climb up Beacon Hill, Leicestershire’s second-highest point. From there, the team navigated beautiful countryside trails to Bradgate Park, a historic site recently awarded National Nature Reserve status, recognising it as one of the most important natural sites in the country.

Covering 439 hectares, Bradgate Park is home to some of England’s oldest fossils and rocks, and boasts a rich variety of species including fallow and red deer, kingfishers, the rare ‘Charnwood spider,’ and 800-year-old ancient oaks. The park was also the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, the “Nine Days’ Queen” who briefly claimed the throne of England and Ireland from 10th-19th July 1553. This status will help protect the park’s natural assets and ensure sustainable management for the future. Once at Bradgate Park, the team rewarded themselves with ice creams and a closer look at Old John Tower, an 18th-century Georgian folly and one of Leicestershire’s most iconic landmarks.

Collectively, the team walked 100km, with an extra 30km contributed by their four-legged companions. Well done team!

Event number 4 was another sporting event: a 10k carnival race through the streets and surrounding areas of Market Harborough town. Fortunately, the weather held up, making it a fabulous day for both runners and supporters, who came along to cheer everyone on. Hats off to everyone who took part and congrats to David Miller, who was the first TEP’er across the finish line!

Our Market Harborough team had a fantastic time at their Family Sports Day and Picnic, which was event 5 out of our total 10 across the year.

Thankfully, we didn’t need our rainy-day contingency plan, and had a great time playing fun games and activities for the majority if the afternoon, before relaxing with an amazing picnic spread. We couldn’t let the day end without a Euro24-inspired game of football, with Technical Director Francis Hesketh showcasing his goalkeeping skills and cementing his status as TEP’s leading goalie by pulling off a save that Jordan Pickford would be proud of!

For the 6th in our series of 10 events, the team volunteered at the Market Harborough Junior Parkrun in Welland Park. The day was a great success, with over 100 runners joining in, including one of our own mini-TEP’ers!

Event number 7 brought some midday excitement as our Market Harborough team hosted a live lunchtime online quiz for TEP staff. The quiz was all about Market Harborough, featuring rounds on the town’s history, fun facts about the office, and, of course, some trivia about the team themselves. A standout highlight was the baby photo round, which had everyone guessing as they tried to match colleagues to their childhood snapshots. It was a fantastic way to bring the team together and celebrate everything Market Harborough!

Event number 8 on our calendar was a Pizza and Games Night, organised and hosted by our Market Harborough team. It was a fun evening that brought staff from multiple offices together for some friendly competition.

For the penultimate event, the Market Harborough team hosted a festive (and sustainable!) Christmas Crafts workshop.

Using recycled paper, the team created beautiful snowflakes to decorate the office and the Christmas tree. In true snowflake fashion, each one they created was most certainly unique… and some were most definitely more symmetrical than others! Senior Historic Environment Consultant Steph Dalby added an extra touch of festive charm by crafting baubles from recycled materials, which took pride of place at the top of the tree.

For the 10th and final event, the team volunteered at Smeeton Westerby in Harborough, where they contributed to a significant tree planting project led by Harborough Woodland. The aim of the project is to transform a permanent pasture field alongside Langton Brook into a flourishing native woodland ecosystem. This initiative is part of a joint effort by the landowner, East Mercia River Trust, and the Environment Agency to reverse historical modifications to the river. By reinstating meanders, adding riffles, and creating ponds, the project will not only improve the area’s biodiversity but also enhance flood resilience for Market Harborough, a town highly vulnerable to flooding.

The team prepared the site for a public volunteer planting day by hammering in tree stakes, sorting whips, bagging up trees and organising approximately 1,600 trees and 525 shrubs for planting across two fields along the re-engineered river. A big thank you to everyone involved for your hard work and commitment!

Associate Director Stuart Burke commented, “ I am very proud of the evolution of the Market Harborough office over the last 10 years. From 3 staff in 2014 to 24 staff by the end of 2024 (due to increase further in 2025), the office is truly multi-disciplinary, with Arboriculture, Ecology, GIS, Heritage and Land Management all represented within the office. We now have 4 Associate Directors within the office – 3 of whom were employed directly into the Market Harborough office and have worked incredibly hard over the years to secure well deserved promotions .

“ All the staff contribute to the friendly and hard-working attitude of the office and are willing to support each other and help each other to develop new skills and qualifications. When the concept of ten events to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the office was first discussed, the level of enthusiasm to join in was great to see. Special thanks need to go to Dave Miller, Meg Brocklebank, and Maggie Fennell Wells who were all instrumental in arranging a number of the events. We had a good turnout for all of the events, and it was great to have special guest appearances from Francis Hesketh at the Sports Day in July, and from Liz Seal at the Games Night in December .”

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TEP Wins The Brownfield Supreme Award

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:57:00 GMT

TEP had a successful evening at the 2024 Brownfield Awards in Manchester. Hosted at the beautiful Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, the event featured an inspiring talk from guest speaker Tom Bloxham MBE, Chairman and Co-Founder of the award-winning regeneration company, Urban Splash.

We were thrilled to be shortlisted for two prestigious awards:

⭐ Best Research or Application in the Advancement of Science, Technology, or Digital Innovation in the Brownfield Sector:

This award recognises projects or innovations that enhance procedures and processes within the brownfield sector through scientific, technological, or digital advancements.

⭐ The 20th Anniversary Award – Most Significant UK Remediation or Regeneration Project:

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Brownfield Awards, this category honours the remediation or regeneration project that has delivered the most significant positive impact since the awards began in 2004.

We were absolutely delighted to bring home the Supreme 20th Anniversary Award! Receiving this honour is a testament to the passion, commitment, and teamwork that drives TEP forward.

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TEP Environment Grant: MGET Outcome Report

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 13:11:00 GMT

Each year, TEP’s Environment Grant provides funding for local initiatives that raise awareness of environmental issues, advance the environmental profession, and align with our core values.

In 2023, one of our grant recipients was the Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust (MGET), an independent charity established in 2010 to support the conservation and improvement of the Upper Mersey Estuary and surrounding areas. Their project focused on assessing and monitoring the aquatic biodiversity of the estuary, particularly planktonic fish and invertebrates.

With the help of our grant, MGET staff, along with community volunteers, conducted ichthyoplankton surveys at three locations along the river. The initial findings indicate that the River Mersey serves as an important nursery for fish and invertebrates. Despite the historical alterations to the river, it continues to support a diverse aquatic ecosystem.

To date, MGET has recorded over 1,000 individual organisms representing 19 different species of invertebrates and vertebrates. Among these findings are several species previously unrecorded in the upper estuary, including post-larval European bass found 17 to 20 miles inland. These fish are estimated to be around 50-60 days old and are likely from an unprotected spawning population in the Irish Sea, highlighting the need for greater protection of the river’s transitional habitats. The data from these surveys will also inform the Mersey Tidal Power Project, ensuring appropriate mitigation and remediation measures are considered in future planning.

MGET organised three community engagement days, attracting significant local participation. The project received coverage in local newspapers, and feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing surprise at the river’s biodiversity. MGET plans to continue these events over the next five years.

Looking ahead, MGET’s work will help monitor the river’s health and foster collaborations with both statutory and non-statutory bodies to enhance biodiversity and water quality. In 2025, they plan to publish a free downloadable field guide on the common invertebrates and vertebrates of the estuary, making this valuable information accessible to the public.

We’re thrilled to see our funding supporting such impactful work!

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Plankton Species Recording

Community Engagement

TEP Environment Grant Awardees 2024

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 18:37:00 GMT

Each year, TEP’s Environment Grant offers funding in support of local projects that raise awareness of environmental issues, further the environmental profession and resonate with our core values.

This year we are thrilled to announce our support for three organisations and groups that share a common vision for enhancing the wellbeing and overall quality of life in our communities and surrounding environment.

Our first awardee is Biddulph Youth and Community Zone, a social enterprise based in Stoke-on-Trent, that is creating a community garden to offer environmental education to local residents. The project provides hands-on learning experiences in gardening, growing fruit and vegetables, recycling, and understanding local wildlife. This initiative will greatly benefit disadvantaged, socially isolated, and vulnerable members of the community, fostering relationships and friendships while equipping them with valuable new skills.

Our second awardee, EcoVida Routes Ltd, is launching a pilot program to provide Sustainability Education to 1,000 primary school children in the Halton area. The initiative aims to create social action projects that directly address key issues in schools, including biodiversity, energy use, and waste management. This pilot program will empower schools to listen to students’ concerns, enhance the curriculum, and create meaningful projects that drive positive change within the school, at home, and in the wider community. The goal is to promote sustainability by educating young people about recycling, renewable energy, and the critical importance of biodiversity, fostering a deeper understanding of environmental responsibility.

Our third awardee, Grappenhall Heys Primary School, will use the funding to create a willow garden that enhances biodiversity, supports their goal of rewilding 75% of the school grounds, and provides a sustainable, hands-on learning environment. Students will actively participate in planting and maintaining the garden, gaining knowledge about sustainable practices such as irrigation, soil enrichment, and pruning. Ongoing care will become a regular part of school life, involving all year groups, the school gardening club, parent volunteers, and the eco council. This initiative aims to foster environmental awareness, promote biodiversity, and offer immersive learning experiences for both students and the wider school community.

TEP has previously awarded funds to:

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�� The Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust (MGET) to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the Upper Mersey Estuary and related areas.

�� Twiss Green Primary School to develop a sensory garden and vegetable patch, aiming to encourage outdoor education, boost biodiversity within the school grounds, and offer a chance for children of all ages to engage with the natural environment.

�� Kingsteignton Wild to create a 2km nature trail connecting two local schools in South Devon.

�� Sustainable Penzance CIC to develop their website and to create an online ‘portal’, containing information, training, resources and support on how to reduce the impact communities and businesses have on the local environment.

�� Our Only World to support a biodiverse marine environment through the modification and enhancement of manmade structures such as sea walls in Cornwall.

�� RE-PEAT to help promote Peat-Fest 2022, a 6-day online festival dedicated to celebrating peatlands and raise awareness of their importance.

�� Croxteth Park Volunteer Group to offer bi-monthly recording sessions for volunteers and local school children using the iNaturalist app, which will feed into local, national and global databases.

�� PLACED Academy who run a free Environmental Academy for 37 students from diverse backgrounds throughout the Liverpool City Region.

�� Kirkby C of E Primary School to facilitate Forest School style sessions for all their children.

�� Friends of the Upper Wye to restore the ecological health of The River Wye for local communities, for visitors to the region, and for all the invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds that also call it home.

�� St Basil’s Catholic Primary School in Widnes to help improve the school’s natural environment.

�� PhD candidate Richard Bentley to identify, map and share information about quiet spaces and their benefits for human wellbeing and the environment.

Previous Awards

2023

2022

2021

2020

Congratulations Amy and Stephen!

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:55:00 GMT

Congratulations to Amy Lee and Stephen O’Gorman on becoming Chartered Members of the Landscape Institute (CMLI) after successfully passing their Pathway to Chartership examination.

Achieving chartered status is a significant accomplishment, reflecting years of hard work, dedication, and continuous learning to attain this globally recognised qualification. Amy and Stephen were supported by their respective mentors, Charlotte Hayden and Richard Catling, who generously dedicated many hours of their own time to guide and mentor them.

Landscape Consultant Amy joined TEP after earning her Master’s in Landscape Architecture from The University of Sheffield. Since joining TEP, Amy has contributed to a variety of multi-disciplinary projects, utilising her diverse knowledge and expertise in landscape design and management. She also volunteers as a Green Flag judge. and has experience working with a number of environmental charities.

Stephen is a Consultant Landscape Architect and 3D Visualiser at TEP, holding a degree in Landscape Architecture from University College Dublin. He provides landscape and masterplanning support to the design team and specialises in producing verified photomontages that are used in environmental impact assessments, consultations, and public inquiries for a diverse range of projects. Stephen’s portfolio includes experience in masterplanning as well as landscape design for projects such as schools, residential, mixed use, employment, energy, and infrastructure developments.

Well done Amy and Stephen on this outstanding achievement – truly well deserved!

The post Congratulations Amy and Stephen! appeared first on TEP - The Environment Partnership .

“I am very pleased to have achieved Chartered status and grateful for the continued support from my mentors and colleagues at TEP.”

Amy Lee

“I am delighted to become a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute, marking a significant milestone in my career. Being part of a multidisciplinary company like TEP has greatly enhanced my professional skills. Thank you to my mentor and colleagues for their fantastic support on this journey!”

Stephen O’Gorman

Tree Management at Crystal Palace Park

Tue, 07 May 2024 08:59:00 GMT

TEP’s Arboriculture team is collaborating with the Crystal Palace Park Trust to conduct detailed assessments and effectively oversee the maintenance of the park’s tree population.

Since taking over park management from Bromley council in 2023, the Trust has been dedicated to safeguarding, enhancing, and enriching the park’s status as a vibrant hub for the community and all park visitors. Their overarching goal is to elevate Crystal Palace Park into a premier London destination, all the while preserving and sharing its rich historical narrative with the wider nation.

We recently completed Phase 2 of a three-year contract that will see all the park’s trees inspected twice during different seasons. This approach allows better visibility of both structural and foliar condition, as well as a greater likelihood of identifying any fungal associations that may be missed in the warmer months. So far, we have mapped and inspected 1,370 trees and 58 groups of trees identifying over 250 interventions, ranging from ivy severance to aid tree heath or future inspections, to the emergency removal of trees at risk of immediate collapse due to structural defects only observable to the trained eye.

During the work, TEP and the Trust are continuing to harness the innovative capabilities of PlanIT Geo’s Tree Plotter software and the unique Risk Module developed in collaboration with, and exclusively for, TEP in 2018. Offering a robust online platform, all the survey data is accessed digitally, allowing the Trust to view the survey results in real-time on any web-enabled device and share information with contractors and stakeholders via read-only login accounts.

If you would like more information about TEP’s tree risk assessment capabilities or the Tree Plotter platform, please get in touch with our Arboricultural team lead here .

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Navigating The New Biodiversity Net Gain Landscape

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 15:10:00 GMT

In a monumental move towards ecological sustainability, significant changes in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation are set to come into effect in England on February 12 ^th 2024. This pivotal date marks a turning point in the way businesses and developers approach environmental considerations, emphasising a commitment to biodiversity preservation and creating positive outcomes for both nature and communities.

Whilst attention is currently focussed on England because of the significant amount of new legislation that will come into force, similar approaches are found elsewhere in the UK. Scottish Government will also seek to quantify developmental impacts on biodiversity, using a metric; although it has decided to deliver this through policy rather than statute. In October 2023, Welsh Government announced that consideration of Net Benefits to Biodiversity and green infrastructure will be a policy requirement for most new development.

The imminent legal alterations highlight a growing global awareness of the critical need to protect and enhance biodiversity. BNG, a concept gaining traction worldwide, mandates that almost all planning applications in England deliver an increase of at least 10% in biodiversity, either on-site or by off-setting. This initially applies to major developments but BNG rules for small sites (typically less than 1 hectare) will apply from 2 ^nd April 2024.

BNG requires developers to measure the biodiversity value of a site before and after their project using DEFRA’s Biodiversity Metric 4.0 calculator. This approach ensures the required enhancements needed to achieve the minimum 10% improvement in biodiversity can be identified. If it is not feasible to achieve the necessary biodiversity units within the development area, compensation off-site is needed, through habitat creation and/or enhancement.

By enforcing Biodiversity Net Gain, the new regulations seek to align economic progress with nature conservation. Companies will need to adopt strategies that actively enhance local ecosystems, fostering resilience and diversity in flora and fauna.

The significance of this legal shift extends beyond mere compliance; it represents a collective commitment to creating sustainable spaces where development and nature coexist, with aspirations for a more ecologically balanced future.

BNG is in TEP’s DNA! Our very first project in 1997 was to create woodland and grassland habitats on urban brownfield sites. One of them, Kenworthy Woods in south Manchester, has been so successful that it was designated as a statutory Local Nature Reserve in 2023. We have won prestigious awards for BNG, for example our work at Redrow Homes’ 300 house scheme at Heathlands in North Wales secured the Landscape Institute Biodiversity Award.

BNG is a team game and TEP has in-house expertise in ecology, trees, habitat design and implementation, planning, landscape management, costings and mapping. Our Planning team can advise on the process for submitting a planning application, identify planning applications that are exempt from BNG, and clarify the requirements to discharge the statutory BNG condition. Additionally, we can provide guidance on securing legal agreements (such as Section 106).

We conduct biodiversity reviews of land and are proficient in preparing detailed BNG assessments advising on habitat design, enhancement, and management. We are currently supporting a number of clients on a wide range of developments, including residential, commercial and infrastructure, advising on constraints and opportunities, and providing a robust strategy for delivering BNG.

In cases where the necessary biodiversity units cannot be achieved within the development boundary, compensation habitats can be established off-site. We can assist in locating and establishing such off-site habitats. We are helping landowners to optimise the habitat value of their lands for use as off-site compensation, facilitating their registration as a habitat bank.

Compensatory habitats, whether on-site or off-site, necessitate comprehensive management and monitoring for a minimum period of 30 years. TEP is equipped with experienced landscape managers who possess the expertise to implement the necessary management actions for habitat enhancements. This includes the development of detailed landscape management plans and monitoring strategies aligned with the objectives identified by the BNG metric calculator.

We also provide strategic BNG advice, for example need and supply assessments for local authorities and large corporations looking to understand the implications of their long-term development plans. We provide training and a bespoke advisory service for clients needing advice on the many rules surrounding BNG in England, and how to tailor schemes in Wales and Scotland to meet the different policy requirements.

If you have any questions about BNG, or would like to get in touch, please contact tep@tep.uk.com .

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TEP – At The Forefront Of BNG

What is BNG?

Why is BNG Important?

Introducing Two New Company Directors

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:16:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce the recent appointment of two new company directors, Mike Hodgkinson and Lindsey Cunniff.

Mike Hodgkinson joined TEP in 2005, initially taking on the role of Graduate GIS and Graphics Technician. Over the years that followed, he worked within several teams, including Planning, Stewardship, Land Management, ICT and GIS. Since 2018, Mike has jointly managed two teams, helping support the development of the internal systems and infrastructure through the ICT Team, as well as establishing and expanding the GIS Team.

Mike commented, “Working across teams with so many talented staff has allowed me to learn and develop a wide range of skills and knowledge, and to build a sound understanding of the company, its markets, values and people. I have enjoyed developing the various new services via the Innovation Goal within TEP’s Business Plan and supporting the expansion into new markets. I will continue to support staff and grow the business through my new role as Director”.

Lindsey Cunniff began working for TEP in 2005 as an Environmental Consultant for the then Environmental Regeneration Team. In the early stages of her career at the company, Lindsey actively participated in a diverse array of Land Management and Green Infrastructure projects, for a wide range of clients. As Lindsey progressed, her role expanded to encompass broader responsibilities in service delivery, overseeing the provision of Managing Agent services across multiple sites in the North West and Yorkshire.

Lindsey played a pivotal role in establishing TEP’s Milton Keynes office (now relocated to Market Harborough) and maintained active involvement in strategic management, more recently taking the lead in overseeing TEP’s Estate Management Framework for Homes England and spearheading the Land Management Team.

Lindsey remarked, “I am thrilled to be taking on the role of Director and continuing my commitment to TEP. My project, client and management experience will enable me to support staff and grow the business. Mike Hodgkinson and I went to college and university together and I am particularly pleased to be starting this new chapter of my TEP career alongside Mike, supported by the existing and former Directors”.

As Mike and Lindsey step up to the Board, Ian Grimshaw and Francis Hesketh will be stepping down after 27 years of dedicated leadership. Jo Boothroyd is also changing her role, and Ian, Fran and Jo will become Technical Directors, mentoring staff, providing advice to clients and technical expertise within their relevant professions. They will continue to offer guidance to the Board, ensuring that their combined years of management experience and business acumen remain firmly within the business. Our clients can be assured of a smooth continuation of TEP’s successful project delivery approach.

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The Contrasting Fortunes of Two Winter Visitors

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 13:43:00 GMT

In the following article, the ecology and conservation of two important waterbird species in North West England is considered. Both species are qualifying species for at least one special protection area (SPA) in the region, making them the subject of many Habitats Regulations Assessments.

The pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) is an icon of autumn migration. They are harbingers of dropping temperatures and shorter days, signalling their arrival with honking couplets as the flight formations of arriving skeins paint huge arrowheads across the sky. North West England has historically been a place of opportunity for these conspicuous birds; large numbers gather to feed on our farmland, wetlands and coasts.

Teal (Anas crecca) , on the other hand, are not as attention-drawing as their long-necked relatives; they are our smallest native duck species and their habit of ‘hunkering down’ on the water gives the impression that they are even smaller than they really are. Teal are also sensitive to disturbance, often being amongst the first birds within an assemblage to take flight at the hint of danger. They are very much wader-like in flight, moving quickly and acrobatically in the air with rapid wing beats, banking, keeping tightly packed and flying low. These movements can give the impression of a collective nervousness – perhaps little wonder, as their diminutive size places them on the menu of many a hungry predator. The same physical and behavioural traits cause teal to also evade the prying eyes of ecologists and birdwatchers alike, resulting in them all too easily being under recorded.

The Mersey Estuary SPA covers an area of 5,023.35ha. It comprises large areas of intertidal sand and mudflats and supports large assemblages of wildfowl, waders and other waterbirds. Teal is a Qualifying Species of this internationally designated site, with 11,723 individuals (2.9% of the non-breeding Northwestern Europe population) representing the average number of teal recorded across five survey winters (1993/94 – 1997/98 five-year peak mean). However, nearly 30 years later the outlook for this beautiful species on the Mersey Estuary is less assured; the most recent five-year peak mean (2017/18 – 2021/22) was just 3,140 individuals. This represents a decline of 73% over 28 years.

In stark contrast, pink-footed goose numbers have increased dramatically within the Mersey Estuary SPA over the same period. The five-year peak mean for this species was just 51 individuals (1993/94 – 1997/98) but increased to 7,673 geese by 2022 (2017/18 – 2021/21 five-year peak mean). This represents a greater than 15,000% or 150-fold increase.

The reasons behind the contrasting population trends of these two migratory species is complex. Furthermore, their respective ecologies differ considerably and thus a common solution is not obvious. Pink-footed goose have certainly benefitted from concerted conservation efforts and the good practice of environmental consultants but they are also a species that exploit the feeding and roosting opportunities inadvertently provided by humans. As a result, we can be tentatively optimistic about their future in the region. Teal though have clearly not been the beneficiaries of large-scale farming practices and are perhaps more vulnerable to the disturbance associated with an increased human presence. Opportunities certainly exist to create or enhance supporting wetland habitat around the Mersey, which could be crucial in securing a bright future for teal in the region.

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Farm Advice for the Wye Valley National Landscape

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 12:57:00 GMT

The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Unit (now known as the Wye Valley National Landscape) commissioned TEP to deliver targeted farm advice in the Monmouthshire part of the Wye Valley AONB in order to develop small scale habitat enhancement and connectivity interventions. The project was part of a wider scheme with Gwent Wildlife Trust and The Woodland Trust to deliver the overall Lower Wye Valley Nature Networks Project with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF). The scheme allowed match funding to be given to farmers and landowners to improve habitat condition and connectivity on their land.

TEP reached out to a number of organisations to compile a list of potential farms to contact about the scheme with a bespoke information flyer produced in English and Welsh. A total of 10 farms agreed to participate in the scheme and were visited by consultants in August and September 2022.

Summary reports were produced for each farm. These listed an introduction to the project, farm overview, previous conservation actions, basic soil and hydrology commentary, description of current ecological habitats, information on consenting requirements and site-specific ecological opportunities. All reports were supplemented with opportunity maps.

Seven farms proceeded with selected works, which were all installed and established by September 2023. The projects also allowed the AONB to work with new contacts, hopefully facilitating future work. One farmer’s aspiration to undertake further Natural Flood Management (NFM) activity resulted in Monmouthshire County Council issuing an ordinary water consent for the whole of a woodland site, allowing future NFM projects to take place without requiring separate consent applications.

Nick Critchley, Wye Valley AONB Development Officer, said, “The Lower Wye Valley Nature Networks Project has delivered some fabulous habitat enhancement work. The farm advice and opportunity mapping work delivered by TEP was well organised, managed and targeted, developed trusted relationships with farmers and identified a range of beneficial opportunities. The results of which have added value to project work managing SSSIs, by identifying opportunities for enhanced habitat connectivity on private land. Farmers engaged welcomed the advice provided and were enthusiastic to participate. Farmers have carried out some great work and we have developed relationships which will be valuable in our continued work to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape.”

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TEP’s Appointment As Key Sub-Consultant on Homes England’s DaRTS Framework

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:33:00 GMT

We are proud to announce we will be a key sub-consultant to Campbell Reith Hill LLP (Lot 1; end-to-end technical and professional services) and Tibbalds (Lot 2; placemaking, master planning and design services) on the new Homes England Development and Regeneration and Technical Services (DaRTS) Framework, which replaces the Multidisciplinary Framework of 2019-2023.

We will deliver arboriculture, ecology, heritage, procurement and landscape services in its sub-consultant role to support Homes England in achieving sustainable homes and places, maximising their positive contribution to the natural environment and minimising their environmental impact. This will build upon our existing role as Homes England Estate Management Services Framework Consultant, where we proactively manage over 7000 hectares of land owned by Homes England.

Katie Shilcock, TEP Director commented:

“We are delighted to have once again re-secured our position on Homes England’s Framework with Tibbalds and Campbell Reith, and to continue collaborating with Homes England and their partners in delivering high quality, sustainable development. Our re-appointment is testament to our expertise, dedication, and passion, and to our extensive track record of successfully delivering projects of varying scales and complexities. We look forward to leveraging our experience and knowledge to contribute to the success of future projects within the Framework” .

By renewing a position as a sub-consultant on the Framework, we reaffirm our long-standing reputation as a trusted partner and are well-positioned to continue supporting public sector organisations in their pursuit of efficient, sustainable and innovative development and regeneration initiatives.

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The Importance of Winter Bird Surveys

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Every autumn we see the arrival of many thousands of ducks, geese, swans and waders; north-west England is an attractive proposition with its extensive coastline, rich seas, and intertidal and grassland feeding grounds.

The Ribble Estuary, Morecombe Bay and the Dee Estuary are all within the top-four UK sites by population for non-breeding waterbirds.

The mighty whooper swan, only rivalled in size by its more sedentary cousin the mute swan, is a magnificent bird. The UK provides a winter home for internationally significant numbers of these birds and those numbers are happily increasing. This is in no small part down to the efforts of reserves throughout the region and the good practice of environmental consultancies like TEP.

Whooper swans need space. They need clear sightlines across large fields in order to feel secure when feeding on agricultural land. The vicinity of roads, footpaths, aerial obstacles and the presence of livestock are also important considerations when ascertaining the suitability of sites for this species.

A handsome bird of remote moorland in the summer months,-autumn sees golden plover migrate to lower altitudes and gather in dense flocks. It is therefore on farmland and some coastal areas that peoplecome across numbers of this species, still resplendent in their winter plumage. They often appear nervous on the ground, standing upright and alert. Golden plover fly high in oval flocks and readily associate with the more familiar lapwing.

Disturbance caused to birds can negatively affect their overwintering and breeding success as they use precious energy to take flight more often. This can be minimised by better understanding their interactions with a site. The early autumn is the right time to commence winter bird surveys to inform projects. Such surveys are often an essential requirement for projects covering large areas of open agricultural land. Species like the whooper swan and especially golden plover can make daily feeding flights of up to 20km from their protected coastal sites, of which there are many on the Northwest coastline. Therefore, it is essential not to overlook winter bird surveys at this time of year.

TEP has a dedicated team of ornithologists that can review your project requirements and provide advice on the potential requirement for the design and undertaking of winter bird surveys. Please contact Principal Ecologist Tim Ross ( timross@tep.uk.com ) for more information.

-Tobie Wharton, Consultant Ecologist

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Whooper Swan – Cygnus cygnus (WCA1, BAm)

Golden Plover – Pluvialis acricaria

TEP Ornithologists are here to help!

New Six Year Contract With English Heritage

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 09:11:00 GMT

English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites, bringing the story of England to life for over 10 million people each year. Alongside their medieval castles and Roman forts stand an estimated 38,000 specimen trees and 160 hectares of woodland. The distribution of these trees is diverse, ranging from individuals and small groups to designed historic landscapes containing thousands of trees. Some of these have heritage significance in their own right as a result of great age, botanical significance or due to connections with historic people or events.

Building on our relationship with the Trust dating back to 2018 when TEP was engaged to undertake a review of their tree management practices and systems, we are delighted to commence a new 6 year contract to inspect trees across their northern estate. The portfolio covers 73 sites including the enchanting Belsay Hall and Gardens with its medieval castle, and thirty acres of outstanding gardens; the splendid 13th century Pickering Castle set in the heart of the North York Moors National Park; and the remains of the forts, towers, turrets and towns that once kept watch over the Hadrian’s Wall.

The work will be delivered using Alloy, Causeway Technologies connected asset management software, which was adopted by the Trust in 2022 to replace their outdated method of managing tree risk. The software can be hosted on either a tablet computer or mobile phone and is highly configurable, providing a high level of flexibility. Any arboricultural work required after the survey can also be managed, tracked and recorded through Alloy as an end-to-end, fully digital process.

English Heritage registered charity no. 1140351.
For more information, please visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk

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TEP Tree Planting Initiative

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 10:54:00 GMT

In celebration of our 25th year, TEP has pledged to plant 25 trees, one for each year since TEP was established in 1997.

Staff members from each of our offices in Warrington, London, Gateshead, Market Harborough and Cornwall have taken on the role as ‘TEP Tree Champions’ and have been planting trees in contribution to ‘The Queen’s Green Canopy’, a nationwide initiative created to mark the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

Well over a million trees have already been planted in Her Majesty’s name. Not only does the tree planting initiative serve as a living legacy and tribute to the late Queen, but when planted responsibly trees become an important component in the fight against climate change and in the restoration of biodiversity.

Landscape Manager Matthew Williams chose his wedding day and wedding venue for his planting site. As the wedding was taking place at Delamere Events situated alongside Cherry Orchard Lake, cherry trees were the obvious choice for the initiative. Thanks to WAP Lawton & Son Ltd for supplying the trees.

Landscape Manager James Cooper from TEP’s Warrington office planted four fruit trees to create a mini-orchard at Howick C of E Primary School, Preston. Students will be able to gather the fruit as a healthy snack or for class cooking projects. Thanks to Nurture Landscapes for supplying the trees, stakes and ties.

Principal Landscape Manager Paul Bennison is the Tree Champion for TEP’s Gateshead office and has successfully planted trees at five sites across the North East, Gosforth Central Park courtesy of the Friends of Gosforth Park (pictured), The Linkskill Centre in North Shields (with thanks to Linskill & North Tyneside Community Development Trust), Willow Brook Assisted Living Facility in Washington care of The Little Onion Club, Redmarshall Parish Council and The Gateshead TEP office, with thanks to Airedale Forestry for supplying the trees.

Thank you to TEP’s Tree Champions and to all who dedicated their time and attention to this worthwhile project.

For more information regarding the initiative, please visit https://queensgreencanopy.org

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LI Awards Success for TEP

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 11:39:00 GMT

TEP was shortlisted for two awards at the 2022 Landscape Institute Awards ceremony, held in November at The Troxy in Stepney, London. We were delighted to be named as a Finalist for the Innovation and Research Award and the Winner of the Partnerships and Collaboration Award.

Our entry “Our Rivers Our City: A Strategy for Revitalising Manchester’s River Valleys and Urban Waters”. This award celebrates innovative research, ideas, new technology and strategies that have the potential to be transformative for the landscape practice. TEP’s entry titled “Our Rivers Our City: A Strategy for Revitalising Manchester’s River Valleys and Urban Waters”, featured our strategic vision for Manchester’s River Valleys, focussing on 7 key areas including people and neighbourhoods, zero carbon, sponge city, access to water, clean water, wild rivers and place-making. The 10-year vision, set out in a strategy, compiles over 80 targeted, collaborative actions for revisiting the city’s blue infrastructure.

Our entry “Northern Roots, Oldham” celebrates partnership and cross-discipline collaboration on landscape projects. Northern Roots is a pioneering project creating the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park on 160 acres of stunning green space in the heart of Oldham. The development aims to add value to the local community and environment by creating jobs and business opportunities whilst preserving and enhancing the biodiversity of the site. We were delighted to be named as the winners of this prestigious award.

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Innovation and Research Award (FINALIST):

Partnerships and Collaboration Award (WINNER):

Redevelopment of Northampton University Campus to Provide 140 New Homes

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 12:19:00 GMT

Following the University of Northampton’s move to its new town-centre Waterside Campus in summer 2018, the Avenue Campus site was released for redevelopment. The development will provide 140 new houses and flats to be built and managed by Northampton Partnership Homes. Throughout the planning process, the scheme had critical input from TEP’s heritage and landscape consultants, who have shaped the design to create a place that will be unique, safe and attractive to live in with habitats retained, incorporated and managed to ensure long term, on-site biodiversity enhancement. Sustainable urban drainage has also been an integral part of the design, and which manifests itself in the form of swales, retention ponds and a wetland meadow.

The campus is located approximately one mile from the town centre and sits opposite the 120 acres of public open space, known as The Racecourse. The site is 5.8 hectares with a mix of buildings, some of which will be retained and converted into flats. The development retains the best landscape and architecture features of the site to create a new space for accessible homes in the town.

After Outline Planning was approved in March 2021, TEP worked on the Reserved Matters Application. Landscape Architects Anna Miroslaw, Yixing Luo, Landscape Manager Sam Marshall and Heritage Consultant Amir Bassir provided specialist design advice, preparing the landscape design drawings, landscape management plan and a listed building recording report.

TEP collaborated with MCW Architects, BKAL and Greengage, as well as our own in-house ecologists and arboriculturists, to retain the existing habitats, creating attenuation ponds with wildflower meadows, residential streets and play spaces.

The Reserved Matters Application was submitted in November 2021, and granted planning permission in October 2022 with unanimous approval.

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TEP Sponsorship Update: PLACED Academy

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 20:18:00 GMT

In summer of this year, The PLACED Academy opened its doors to its fifth annual cohort of summer school attendees. Sponsored by a number of consultancies and organisations, including TEP, PLACED offers a free-to-access innovative programme for 14-18 year olds across the northwest of England, and provides an introduction into a career in the built environment. The programme is designed to encourage creativity, increase self-esteem and develop a broad range of interpersonal skills. The content of the course centres around the built and natural environment, and how design and management can positively respond to the effects of climate change.

PLACED runs from July to the following May and comprises both online and face to face workshops, site visits, model-making and youth led engagements. It also gives the young attendees the chance to work alongside professionals such as architects, town planners and TEP’s very own landscape and urban designer Tim Johns, who volunteers at the academy.

This July, 36 young people from diverse backgrounds throughout the north west arrived at the University of Liverpool School of Management to partake in a four-day programme during which the attendees were tasked with designing a unique neighbourhood for one of six sites across the region.

Working in groups and mentored by volunteering professionals, the cohort discussed and developed designs inspired by the Liverpool City Region’s Spatial Development Strategy (SDS). This strategy effectively lays out a blueprint for the region, detailing policies for use of land and adopting sustainable placemaking principles to ensure developments are connected and coherent, and prioritise the interests, desires and needs of the local community. Particular focus was given to the concept of the ‘15-minute neighbourhood’ model, which focusses on pedestrian accessibility from homes to nearby services and green spaces. The young cohort were particularly passionate about the impact developments would have on the environment and were keen to discuss and promote the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and water.

The summer school culminated in a celebratory exhibit of final designs and a graduation ceremony, attended by proud parents, care-givers and Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram. Feedback from the attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with the vast majority stating that they had gained a good understanding about built environment careers and prospective career paths, that they felt proud of what they had achieved, and had thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends.

For more information about The Placed Academy’s future programmes, please visit https://placed-academy.com .

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TEP Expands Tree Risk Service

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 10:06:00 GMT

As the growing season begins, TEP adds further momentum to our expanding tree risk service via the appointment of Arboricultural Consultant Rob Jones. Rob has spent the last 16 years in the arboricultural sector gaining vast experience in Visual Tree Assessment, utility vegetation management and the delivery of works contracts. His career has seen him work across the UK with several large companies and his experience includes private, local authority and commercial work. After gaining a degree in Forest and Woodland Management his continued interest in the urban forest has led him away from commercial forestry to the management of trees in the built environment, which perfectly aligns with TEP’s core services.

Rob will join our team of Arboricultural experts and be based in the northwest of England. He will initially support the delivery of our Homes England Estates Management Services, proactively managing and safeguarding Homes England’s land assets, including its trees. This will involve Rob managing the workflow of rolling a tree inspection regime out across a very large and diverse portfolio of sites, as well as liaising with sub-contractors and handling stakeholder enquiries.

Rob also will be charged with marketing the use of our pioneering tree risk management software, Tree Plotter Risk. TEP adopted Tree Plotter into our normal service offering back in 2020 and it has revolutionised how we map, process and communicate survey data to our clients and colleagues. The use of interactive online maps presents tree survey results and recommendations spatially, in a simple format that is suitable for interpretation by non-expert users. For more information on this service or to discuss a bespoke solution to your tree management needs, please get in touch with Rob at arboriculture@tep.uk.com .

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Weathering The Storms For FareShare

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 10:49:00 GMT

16 weeks ago, a group of TEP staff began training for a sponsored walk. Although ‘a walk’ is a bit of an understatement. Our challenge was to cover a combined distance of 600 miles in the same weekend, the equivalent of walking between each of our offices. Each of our staff members set themselves the target of walking 40,000 steps (just shy of a marathon). Even on a normal weekend, this would require a significant amount of effort. But last weekend, we had storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin to contend with as well. However, this didn’t deter our intrepid ramblers, instead, it made them more determined. Like your Aunty always said, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”

As we mentioned, it was a sponsored walk. So, not only were our ramblers training for their epic quest, but they were raising money too, which included lunchtime quizzes and our famous Christmas raffle. The charity we were raising money for was FareShare , a charity making sure no good food goes to waste. FareShare takes good quality surplus food from right across the food industry and delivers it to more than 10,500 frontline charities and community groups. This includes school breakfast clubs, older people’s lunch clubs, homeless shelters, and community cafes. Every week they provide enough food to create almost a million meals for vulnerable people.

To help support FareShare in their goals, TEP set our staff the fundraising target of £2,500, which they pledged to match fund if we managed to reach. With the target and date set, all there was left to do was walk.

On the weekend of the 19 ^th and 20 ^th February 2022, 30 TEP staff (plus some cajoled family and friends) set off. They battled the wind, rain, sleet, mud and even fallen trees, all to reach that finish line. And they did it with as much style and grace they could muster considering the conditions. Our staff could be found wandering paths all over the UK including Tyne and Wear, Merseyside, Cheshire, Leicestershire, Wales, London, Cornwall, the Cairngorms, the Peak District and even in Poland and on Lanzarote. And altogether they managed to walk a combined distance of 735 miles, which is over 1.4 million steps.

Well done to our fantastic ramblers, who donated their time and energy to help raise money and awareness for this worthy cause. Without you, it wouldn’t have been possible!

We would also like to say a special thank you to all the contacts and companies that very generously supported us. This includes Airedale Forestry, CampbellReith, Stantec, USP Creative, VPS, Tobemore, LEAD Careers, Kinley Group (Excel Edge) and Softcat.

By enlisting the help of the entire company and our very generous contacts, including many kind individuals, we managed to raise an incredible £6,225 . That means FareShare will be able to provide over 24,900 meals for those most vulnerable in our communities.

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Tackling Food Waste One Step at a Time

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 11:18:00 GMT

Over 30 of TEP’s staff are about to embark on a 16-week training programme that will culminate in each of them walking 40,000 steps in the same weekend and covering a combined distance of over 600 miles. That is the equivalent of walking between each of our offices (From Gateshead to Warrington, to Market Harborough, to London and then to Cornwall).

Even though this is excellent cardio, they aren’t just doing this for their health. In fact, they are doing it to raise vital funds for FareShare , our charity of the year. FareShare was established 25 years ago and is the UK’s longest running food redistribution charity. Their core belief is that no good food should go to waste, especially when people are going hungry. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of good food are wasted by the UK food industry every year, whilst millions of people are struggling to feed themselves. FareShare addresses this by redistributing food industry surplus that would otherwise go to waste. Last year was FareShare’s biggest year to date, with a huge increase in the number of community groups benefiting from their service. The number of charities that they support increased to 10,962 and the number of people accessing FareShare food each week rose to 933,178. The food they redistributed contributed towards 57.3 million meals and saved the charity sector £14.1 million.

To support the fantastic work that FareShare does and to help them reach as many people as possible, our staff have set themselves a challenge that will test their limits. On the 19 ^th and 20 ^th February, our willing volunteers will be taking part in a sponsored walk. We have also set ourselves a fundraising target of raising £2,500, which TEP will very kindly match if we manage to reach. We will be sharing all the highs and lows of our training, so please follow our progress over the next 16 weeks and if you are able, please sponsor our staff. It will definitely give them that extra little boost of encouragement, especially whilst the weather is so wet and windy!

For every pound that is donated, four people will get a meal. So, if you would like to support our staff in their challenge and help them reach their goal, you can donate by visiting our JustGiving page here .

Thank you to all our staff taking part and good luck!

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2021 Environment Grant Awardees

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 09:59:00 GMT

Another successful year for our Environment Grant, as we get ready to announce this year’s awardees. We received so many applications from such a diverse range of projects and we loved reading about the incredible work that is going on in our communities, but it did make it tough for our CSR Team to choose. The grant is awarded to local projects that align with our values, further the environmental profession or raise awareness of environmental issues. And this year we are proud to be supporting four fantastic organisations that share a single vision of making where we live, work and play a better place for all.

Our first awardee is Croxteth Park Volunteer Group , which provides volunteering opportunities for the community through a series of Wildlife Recording Sessions. They also won Outstanding Environmental Project in the 2020 Echo Environment Awards. More consideration is being placed on evidence and data within local planning and decision-making, generating a need for the recording of biodiversity. Croxteth Park Volunteer Group plans to offer bi-monthly recording sessions for volunteers and local school children using the iNaturalist app, which will feed into local, national and global databases. One of the outcomes of this project will be to ensure species that are ‘in danger’ or decreasing in numbers are accurately recorded to provide good empirical data recording. They also hope to get more children out of the classroom and into their local parks and greenspaces. They believe by getting children involved, they can create a legacy that will protect the planet for them and future generations thereafter.

Our second awardee is PLACED Academy , an education programme delivered by PLACED, a social enterprise working with young people and communities. This autumn, PLACED will run a free Environmental Academy for 37 students from diverse backgrounds throughout the Liverpool City Region. By putting the built environment at the core of the programme, PLACED helps to create empowered young citizens who know their views matter and can shape the places in which they live. The Academy will help develop their self-belief, skills and knowledge. This will bring many benefits to the environment as students will become more aware of the opportunities to design towns and cities for the benefit of people’s health and wellbeing, to enhance biodiversity and reduce the impacts on climate change. The programme will comprise online and face to face sessions, including hearing from professionals, design workshops, mentoring, site visits, youth-led engagement, skill and design workshops. The expectation is that many will choose further study and continue to a career in the built or natural environment. The grant from TEP will help to ensure all participants have access to the same materials and the best opportunity to develop and record their ideas.

Our third awardee is Kirkby C of E Primary School , who are looking to facilitate Forest School style sessions for all their children. The school plans to transform a neglected woodland area to provide a safe space for children to learn. Nature provides countless opportunities for discovery, creativity and problem-solving. Interacting with natural environments allows children to learn by doing and experiment with ideas. In nature, children think, question, and make hypotheses — thereby developing inquisitive minds. The whole woodland area has become a haven for birds, plants, foxes, hedgehogs and insects. By working with experts, the school wants to protect the natural environment and teach children and young people how to re-connect with and respect nature.

Our fourth awardee is Friends of the Upper Wye , a volunteer group formed to defend their local river, The River Wye. The Wye is suffering from severe pollution and the effects of climate change. Many factors are influencing the poor health of the river including intensive agriculture, the discharge of human sewage, industrial spillages and the increased frequency of severe flooding events. Algal blooms are damaging irreplaceable ecosystems and killing the river from the bottom up. The group aims to better understand these complex problems and to offer practical solutions that anyone can get involved with. They plan to recruit local volunteers to monitor the Upper Wye and its tributaries, identifying key pollutants and their sources. They can then use this data to persuade those contributing to the pollution to improve their practices and to influence local authorities, statutory bodies, and the government to safeguard the river. The long-term goal is to restore the ecological health of the river for local communities, for visitors to the region and for all the invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds that also call it home. They want to make sure it is enjoyed and flourishes for generations to come.

If you are interested in applying for an Environment Grant, submissions will open again in spring 2022. To learn more about the projects and for further updates, follow us on social media and our website .

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