Andy, our Biodiversity Manager, has worked with MGET since 2022. His passion and ambition has had a real positive impact in the estuary. He has taken our research effort to a new level and is an amazing fountain of knowledge in the world of ecology.
Below, Andy shares what led him to working with MGET and his experiences in his role as Biodiversity Manager.
What led you to working with MGET?
‘I was working as an ecologist for a local consultancy in Warrington and saw the job advertised. I have always been interested in aquatic ecology and fascinated by fish and thought it sounded like the perfect position! I was lucky enough to be offered the role and it really is one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. I’ve had quite a varied career having worked at the Blue Planet Aquarium as an aquarist then Chester zoo for over a decade before moving on to work as a research fellow for a couple of universities. In my role at MGET there is a really nice blend between working out on the river or on the saltmarsh doing fish or plant surveys to working with researchers and other organisations on bigger projects. It’s a really lovely place to work and I’m really grateful to Andrea and the MGET directors for giving me the opportunity to work on a river so close to my heart!’
Can you describe an average day working for MGET?
‘Now that’s a hard one as no two days are ever really the same! An average day will always start with coffee though, then the usual checking of emails and my calendar to see what is booked in for the day. This could be meeting with people from other charities, researchers or contactors on site or meeting with local community groups to discuss projects.
We also sit on quite a few of the catchment partnerships and local engagement groups so there are always meeting to attend and plan for! We currently have a lot of projects running and these require a lot of management and report writing which requires quite a bit of time behind my computer.
I do however try and have a walk out and about at least once a week. Usually either at Spike or Wigg Island to see if there is anything interesting about, please say hello if you do see me, I’m always happy to chat to people.’
Andy keeping an eye on the birdlife at Spike Island.
Andy setting a student studying hydroacoustics on their way to collect data from the Mersey.
What do you most enjoy, and what do you find most challenging about the role?
‘I think the most enjoyable part of my job is working with the university students we support throughout their studies. We have a really close relationship with the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University and offer opportunities for students to undertake projects on all sorts of things from fish surveys to sediment transport! It’s brilliant to see their enthusiasm and commitment to learning more about the Mersey and surrounding habitats. The projects have provided so much data and important information about the river, we know so much more about the river thanks to the hard work of the students.
I think the most challenging part of my role is seeing the river being neglected and mistreated. I have lived and worked around the Mersey for over 40 years and whilst the water quality is slowly improving, and is certainly much better than it was in the 1980’s, the levels of litter and pollution we see everyday along the banks and on the saltmarsh is still really high. We’ve seen everything from plastic footballs, wheelie bins, hundreds of food wrappers and even a canoe (with a very big hole in it). We try to keep on top of it but it’s a seemingly endless stream of litter being brought down from upstream and up from downstream on the big tides.’
What are you most proud of from your time with MGET so far?
‘In summer 2024 we hosted two plankton days at the Fidlers Ferry Sailing Club, over the course of the two days we were joined by lots of people from the local community who came down to see what we could catch and record in the nets around Fiddlers Ferry.
There was an amazing range of people who joined us from school children to people who have lived in the area for over 70 years. It was incredible to see the smiles and shocked looks when we were going through the nets and finding prawns, gobies, jellyfish and even baby sea bass! On one of the days we were even joined by a grey seal! It really showed the power of community engagement and the importance of working with people of all ages. We’re still in contact with many of the people who came along and we love hearing updates of what people have seen.’
Estuarine Prawn found in a plankton net.
Andy leading a walk around Spike Island.
What is one thing you’d like everyone to know about MGET?
‘I’d like more people to know how open we are to working with the community. Over the past two years we have had a numbers of projects where groups from the local area have helped us with our monitoring work and in 2025 we have provided equipment to six community groups to help monitor water quality. We love hearing from people and we could learn so much from people who live around the river.
I often speak to people who tell me what wonderful wildlife they have seen and we would love for more people to send in their stories and photographs so we can record them! So many species are vastly under recorded in the estuary and these records are really important, they help to inform of the health and importance of the estuary and could help provide additional protection for some species.’
What is your favourite thing about the Mersey?
‘My favourite thing has to be the unexpected nature of what we see. During the past few years I’ve seen a whole host of species you just wouldn’t immediately associate with the River Mersey now. This includes osprey, spoonbills, porpoise, cod and salmon. It’s incredible to think that we have these species right on our doorstep.’
Pictured above: photographs Andy has captured of species seen around the estuary (left to right: black-tailed godwit, chaffinch, red kite, skylark, nine-spined stickleback)