TEP Environment Grant: MGET Outcome Report

TEP Environment Grant: MGET Outcome Report

TEP Environment Grant: MGET Outcome Report
September 24, 2024

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.

Plankton Species Recording

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.

Community Engagement

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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TEP's Environment Grant was established to support projects that inspire environmental learning, raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage positive action. Since launching in 2020, the grant has supported 17 projects across the UK, helping individuals, community groups and organisations bring environmental ideas to life. Now in its seventh year, the grant received a record 102 applications from across the UK. Following a detailed review process, funding has been awarded to two projects that stood out for their innovative approaches to community engagement, environmental awareness and learning.
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TEP's Environment Grant was established to support projects that inspire environmental learning, raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage positive action. Since launching in 2020, the grant has supported 17 projects across the UK, helping individuals, community groups and organisations bring environmental ideas to life. Now in its seventh year, the grant received a record 102 applications from across the UK. Following a detailed review process, funding has been awarded to two projects that stood out for their innovative approaches to community engagement, environmental awareness and learning.
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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.
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