Learning Through Landscapes: TEP’s Educational Outreach

Learning Through Landscapes: TEP’s Educational Outreach

Learning Through Landscapes: TEP’s Educational Outreach
February 6, 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!

September 22, 2026
The publication of the new NPPF 2026 represents an important shift in national heritage planning policy. While the fundamental objective of conserving the historic environment remains unchanged, the new framework restructures how that policy is presented and introduces some important changes in how heritage assets are assessed and weighed in decision-making.
August 19, 2026
As Biodiversity Net Gain becomes an increasingly important part of the planning system, local authorities are exploring how their land assets can play a greater role in supporting nature recovery while creating long-term environmental value. To help inform its approach, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council commissioned TEP to assess the Biodiversity Net Gain potential across approximately 500 Council-owned landholdings. Using bespoke desk-based software the project sought to establish a robust baseline of biodiversity value, identify opportunities for habitat enhancement and provide strategic recommendations on how the Council could utilise its land assets to support the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain .
August 12, 2026
We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, recognising our continued commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture and supporting our people to thrive. Investors in People is an internationally recognised accreditation and framework for improving workplace culture, leadership and people management. Since its launch in 1991, it has helped organisations across the world to lead, support and develop their people more effectively. Today, the framework is used by organisations in over 100 countries and provides a robust benchmark for assessing workplace culture and employee experience. Achieving Gold status is a significant accomplishment and places TEP among a select group of organisations demonstrating outstanding people practices. Only around 28% of Investors in People accredited organisations achieve Gold, highlighting the strength of our culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The assessment process includes an independent evaluation of leadership, communication, employee engagement, learning and development, organisational culture and wellbeing. Colleagues are invited to provide confidential feedback through surveys and interviews, ensuring the accreditation reflects the real experiences of people across the business. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based on direct feedback from our people and recognises the positive, supportive and collaborative environment we continue to build together.
September 22, 2026
The publication of the new NPPF 2026 represents an important shift in national heritage planning policy. While the fundamental objective of conserving the historic environment remains unchanged, the new framework restructures how that policy is presented and introduces some important changes in how heritage assets are assessed and weighed in decision-making.
August 19, 2026
As Biodiversity Net Gain becomes an increasingly important part of the planning system, local authorities are exploring how their land assets can play a greater role in supporting nature recovery while creating long-term environmental value. To help inform its approach, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council commissioned TEP to assess the Biodiversity Net Gain potential across approximately 500 Council-owned landholdings. Using bespoke desk-based software the project sought to establish a robust baseline of biodiversity value, identify opportunities for habitat enhancement and provide strategic recommendations on how the Council could utilise its land assets to support the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain .
September 22, 2026
The publication of the new NPPF 2026 represents an important shift in national heritage planning policy. While the fundamental objective of conserving the historic environment remains unchanged, the new framework restructures how that policy is presented and introduces some important changes in how heritage assets are assessed and weighed in decision-making.
August 19, 2026
As Biodiversity Net Gain becomes an increasingly important part of the planning system, local authorities are exploring how their land assets can play a greater role in supporting nature recovery while creating long-term environmental value. To help inform its approach, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council commissioned TEP to assess the Biodiversity Net Gain potential across approximately 500 Council-owned landholdings. Using bespoke desk-based software the project sought to establish a robust baseline of biodiversity value, identify opportunities for habitat enhancement and provide strategic recommendations on how the Council could utilise its land assets to support the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain .
August 12, 2026
We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, recognising our continued commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture and supporting our people to thrive. Investors in People is an internationally recognised accreditation and framework for improving workplace culture, leadership and people management. Since its launch in 1991, it has helped organisations across the world to lead, support and develop their people more effectively. Today, the framework is used by organisations in over 100 countries and provides a robust benchmark for assessing workplace culture and employee experience. Achieving Gold status is a significant accomplishment and places TEP among a select group of organisations demonstrating outstanding people practices. Only around 28% of Investors in People accredited organisations achieve Gold, highlighting the strength of our culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The assessment process includes an independent evaluation of leadership, communication, employee engagement, learning and development, organisational culture and wellbeing. Colleagues are invited to provide confidential feedback through surveys and interviews, ensuring the accreditation reflects the real experiences of people across the business. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based on direct feedback from our people and recognises the positive, supportive and collaborative environment we continue to build together.