Learning Through Landscapes: TEP’s Educational Outreach

Learning Through Landscapes: TEP’s Educational Outreach

Learning Through Landscapes: TEP’s Educational Outreach
6 February 2026

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!

25 June 2026
Well known Invasive-Non-Native Species (INNS) are widely understood, however the threat of new and emerging INNS across the UK is real.
25 June 2026
INNS compliance should be integrated into project planning at the earliest stage, as well as site management, and delivery. We discuss key measures for the management of floral INNS.
12 June 2026
On behalf of Cheshire East Council, TEP has secured consent for the expansion of the Environmental Services Hub site. The expansion will facilitate a weekly food waste collection service for every property in the borough, helping Cheshire East Council prepare for a new statutory requirement from central government due to come into force from 2026-2027. To achieve this, we prepared and managed three planning applications: A full application for 84 new employee parking spaces, a bin storage area and a security lodge; A non-material amendment application for the reconfiguration of the existing site layout; and A variation of condition application to increase the limit on vehicle movements. The project began with a pre-application advice request, followed by discussions with the local planning authority to confirm the applications and supporting information required for submission. A key element of the project was the preparation of a planning needs case. This justified the development remaining at the Environmental Services Hub site, rather than a 'preferred site' identified within the council's Waste Plan. The case also identified the benefits of increasing recycling rates and supporting sustainable waste management across the borough. To support the applications, traffic surveys were commissioned and a Transport Statement was prepared, demonstrating that the proposals would have no negative impact on the local highway network. A Transport Note was also produced to establish the number of vehicle movements that should be permitted through the variation of condition application. Air quality and noise assessments were also undertaken to demonstrate that impacts would be limited and acceptable. 
25 June 2026
Well known Invasive-Non-Native Species (INNS) are widely understood, however the threat of new and emerging INNS across the UK is real.
25 June 2026
INNS compliance should be integrated into project planning at the earliest stage, as well as site management, and delivery. We discuss key measures for the management of floral INNS.
25 June 2026
Well known Invasive-Non-Native Species (INNS) are widely understood, however the threat of new and emerging INNS across the UK is real.
25 June 2026
INNS compliance should be integrated into project planning at the earliest stage, as well as site management, and delivery. We discuss key measures for the management of floral INNS.
12 June 2026
On behalf of Cheshire East Council, TEP has secured consent for the expansion of the Environmental Services Hub site. The expansion will facilitate a weekly food waste collection service for every property in the borough, helping Cheshire East Council prepare for a new statutory requirement from central government due to come into force from 2026-2027. To achieve this, we prepared and managed three planning applications: A full application for 84 new employee parking spaces, a bin storage area and a security lodge; A non-material amendment application for the reconfiguration of the existing site layout; and A variation of condition application to increase the limit on vehicle movements. The project began with a pre-application advice request, followed by discussions with the local planning authority to confirm the applications and supporting information required for submission. A key element of the project was the preparation of a planning needs case. This justified the development remaining at the Environmental Services Hub site, rather than a 'preferred site' identified within the council's Waste Plan. The case also identified the benefits of increasing recycling rates and supporting sustainable waste management across the borough. To support the applications, traffic surveys were commissioned and a Transport Statement was prepared, demonstrating that the proposals would have no negative impact on the local highway network. A Transport Note was also produced to establish the number of vehicle movements that should be permitted through the variation of condition application. Air quality and noise assessments were also undertaken to demonstrate that impacts would be limited and acceptable.