Restoring Wetland Landscapes

Restoring Wetland Landscapes

Restoring Wetland Landscapes
9 October 2025

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.


Mapping the Lost Wetlands

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.

Pond Opportunity Mapping

Flow Accumulation SCALGO Mapping


Wetland Design at William Wroe Meadows

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.

Strategy Diagram


A Model for Nature Recovery

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!

Wetland layout and network diagram

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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: 
1 April 2026
Changes to the Planning Inspectorate’s Procedural Guide will update how planning appeals are handled in England for applications submitted after 1st April 2026.
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14 April 2026
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: 
1 April 2026
Changes to the Planning Inspectorate’s Procedural Guide will update how planning appeals are handled in England for applications submitted after 1st April 2026.
14 April 2026
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: 
1 April 2026
Changes to the Planning Inspectorate’s Procedural Guide will update how planning appeals are handled in England for applications submitted after 1st April 2026.
30 March 2026
TEP was commissioned by Natural England to carry out a detailed chalk scrub study across the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve.