Certificate of Environmental Commendation

Environmental work

MGET have been working with ecological consultants AECOM and Anser Ecology Ltd to monitor wildlife in and around the Mersey Estuary. this includes over 10 years of wintering bird surveys, breeding bird surveys, as well as invertebrate surveys on Astmoor and Widnes Warth saltmarshes.

We are also working with the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan university to develop methods for monitoring the aquatic ecology in the Mersey estuary, including fish, invertebrates and plankton communities. To date we have recoded over 60 species of fish including Atlantic Salmon, European Smelt and European Eels.

MGET is also undertaking habitat improvement work around Wigg Island, whilst also setting up equipment to help us collect data in this largely unmonitored area. Clearance work has included the organisation of Corporate Responsibility Days, with employees from corporate organisations such as Thales contributing to this work (photographed to the left).

Projects

Our project work includes: 

• Species Recovery Programme: in 2023, we were awarded a grant from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme to improve habitats for ground nesting birds (such as skylark and lapwing) on the marshes at Widnes Warth, Astmoor, and Port Sunlight River Park. Working with The Conservation Volunteers, several sections of marsh have been mown to replicate grazing (photographed to the right) – this habitat is favoured by many ground-nesting birds. We hope that following this mowing, wildfowl such as geese will help us keep it short by grazing it. 
• Plankton project: supported with a grant from The Environment Partnership, we recorded aquatic invertebrate life of the Mersey by using plankton nets. During the project we found over 20 species of invertebrate and 9 species of fish! We have engaged with various community groups, for example the Cheshire Federation of the Women’s institute to showcase the abundance of life in the Mersey.
• Willow Tits: we are a partner on a Lancashire Wildlife Trust led project, surveying the area between the Mersey estuary and Greater Manchester for willow tits, with habitat enhancements planned. 

Engagement with local communities

Our recent work in the community has included several events, including:

• A collaboration with Hazlehurst studio to combine ecology and art & well-being, inviting local people to join walks around the Mersey Estuary (photographed to the left).
• Encouraging people to take part in the City Nature Challenge, with stalls at Runcorn Hill Park and Spike Island.
• Delivering talks to a variety of audiences at events and through attending community group meetings.
• A collaboration with Knowsley Safari, delivering BioBlitz events at the Safari and Spike Island.
• A collaboration with Record LRC for Insect Week, celebrating all things invertebrate and encouraging people to record their findings.
• Plankton Open Days at Fiddlers Ferry Sailing Club, giving people a microscopic view of the species that live in the Mersey

Work with Universities

Through our Living Laboratory project, we support research and innovative thinking, bringing international research into the area. MGET provides a platform for estuary related research through our Biodiversity and Research Board, who meet twice a year to discuss upcoming research opportunities. We deliver lectures and supervise field visits to the estuary for university students, photographed to the right is our Biodiversity Manager introducing students to the history and ecology of the Mersey Estuary at Spike Island. We also facilitate the research of university students, topics of recent work have included: 

• Hydroacoustics (sonar) to monitor fish populations in the river 

• Remote sensing to monitor breeding bird populations 

• Soil and habitat analysis to understand how well the saltmarsh is functioning 

• Monitoring invasive aquatic species using eDNA techniques 

• We funded a PhD using eDNA to monitor fish in the river Mersey 

Did you know: eDNA (environmental DNA) analysis allows us to detect trace levels of DNA left by living creatures that are found around the Mersey Estuary. This DNA may be shed by fish, birds and even whales and dolphins! This means from a small sample of water we can quickly find out what animals can be found living in the river.