Tees Rivers Trust

🐣🥚GUESS THE EGGS🥚🐣 Which bird do you think laid these eggs? We'll give you a clue.. 🐦 They're ground nesting.. (obviously) 🐦 They are a wader bird 🐦 They have the most amazing, bubbling call 🐦 They have a very long, down-curved beak 🐦 They have sadly lost half their population since the 90's Let us know in the comments! ⬇ Great spot, Rich! Thanks for sending us the pic 😊 Please remember to take care whilst our walking and be mindful of our ground nesting birds 💚

🎣TEAM TEES DAY🎣 Every quarter the team gets together to have a catch up on all things Tees and ongoing projects! Last week we took to fly fishing... where a rather dazzling trophy made out of treasure rescued from the river Tees during a litter pick (thanks to Kate B for her creativity), was up for grabs to whoever caught the biggest catch 🐟🏅 Congrats to Henry for taking home the prize. A beautiful rainbow trout and the only one caught on the day.. (apart from Richard's bounty but he doesn't count!) Have you ever tried fly fishing? What's your biggest catch? 🐠💙🐠💜🐠

As part of developing our knowledge for growing Seagrass in the Tees Estuary, we have been learning how to do ‘core transplants’ with Cumbria Wildlife Trust! This takes an area of dense seagrass growth, to a nearby area with no growth - with the seagrass growing to fill the gaps surrounding it. #seagrass #CWT #TeRT 🌊🌱

🐍🪣GUESS HOW MANY EELS IN THE BUCKET🪣🐍 We had the highest number of eels ever recorded during our monitoring session last week at Tees Barrage! ❓How many elvers do you think are wriggling around in there? ⬇⬇Comment your guess below! Every year we monitor elvers (juvenile eels) that are making their way upstream and into the Tees Catchment. The elver monitoring at the Tees Barrage is underway and we have been watching the number of eels pick up over the last month. We have been seeing plenty of beautiful glass eels, which are almost transparent and are mesmerising to watch. It is astounding to think they have just crossed the Atlantic Ocean from breeding grounds in the Sargasso Sea! The eel project is undergoing some developments, and you can read about the work, and more about the slimy and wonderful world of eels on our webpage: 🌐/eelmonitoring

⚡MEET THE TEES TEAM - Marc⚡ Tees Rivers Trust may be a small charity, but its made up of 15 passionate individuals who all have a big interest in the river health and heritage. Over the upcoming weeks, we're going to be shining light on who our team members are, and what their role is at the Trust.💙 We have a new recruit! Welcome Marc to the team, Project Officer at the estuary. "I’ve recently joined TeRT coming from a mixed background in compliance and finance roles. That’s given me a strong eye for detail, good organisation, and a practical approach to problem solving. More recently, I’ve been getting hands-on experience in conservation through volunteering, including INNS and working on seagrass restoration at the nursery, which really sparked my interest in this area. I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, since lockdown, and taking my kids out exploring nature has definitely taken that to another level. Seeing their excitement when spotting wildlife or learning something new is what pushed me to make the move into this sector. I’m really keen to keep building my knowledge and skills, and to be part of projects that make a real difference to our rivers, coasts and the wildlife that depends on them." Email: [email protected] 📈 · 📑 · 🌱 · 🌊 · 🐦 · 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 · 🌳 · 🏞

Did you know we partner with universities near and far? 🌍 From working with Marine Biology and MBiol students from Newcastle University on both our INNS and estuary projects, to supporting trainee teachers from Durham University to inspire more outdoor learning 🌱 We’re also proud to work with Teesside University interns and volunteers, helping them gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of their local environment. Our Eels of Steel project is supported by University of Hull , contributing to vital research on this elusive and endangered species 🐍 And our collaborations even stretch as far as University of Plymouth , supporting our estuary work down south! Research and collaboration go hand in hand, and we’re incredibly lucky to work alongside so many passionate students, researchers, and future environmental leaders 💚 #research #universities #collaboration #northeast #conservation

⚡MEET THE TEES TEAM - Warren⚡ Tees Rivers Trust may be a small charity, but its made up of 15 passionate individuals who all have a big interest in the river health and heritage. Over the upcoming weeks, we're going to be shining light on who our team members are, and what their role is at the Trust.💙 This weeks star is Warren aka Wazza, Senior Project Delivery Officer "I began my career with Tees Rivers Trust in January 2022 as a Project Officer, delivering a range of environmental initiatives including wet woodland management, invasive species control, and in-river habitat improvements. Since then, my role has progressed into project leadership, where I have overseen and supervised several large-scale river restoration projects in Billingham and Stockton. My current focus is on developing our trading arm, Nature Based Solutions Ltd, which delivers practical habitat restoration and nature-based solutions across the North East. It may sound cliché, but this role genuinely offers something different every day, which is exactly what I enjoy most. One day I might be writing a method statement for upcoming work, and the next I could be out on a boat carrying out an invasive species survey. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking in the Lake District, Scotland, and along the coast. Some of my favourite spots include the Cleveland Way and the Assynt mountains. I am currently preparing to climb Grossglockner, the highest mountain in Austria." Email: [email protected] 💧 · 🌳 · 🌱 · 🐟 · 👨‍💼 · 💻 · 🥾 · 🗻 · 🇦🇹

The Eels are here! Every year, between April and November, the trust monitors juvenile eels entering the River Tees. These small eels, known as glass eels and elvers, have migrated all the way from the Sargasso Sea over 1-2 years and will spend the next 10-20 years of their life in the River Tees. Over the last months, we have been watching the numbers go up as we reach the peak migration! Eels are a truly incredible fish but are classified as critically endangered, with a population decline of over 95%! We are working to protect this species through monitoring, and improving access to suitable, healthy habitats. Keep tuned in to see this work develop!

🌿MUSTARD MONDAY (with a hint of garlic)🌿 Have you spotted this plant popping up in your garden? Peeping out of the hedgerows or flaunting by the river? This fabulous plant is known by many names.. • Jack by the Hedge • Garlic Mustard • Poor Mans Mustard Why so many garlic and mustard references?! Because that's exactly what it tastes like - a blend of the two! Abundant and resilient, this plant is loved by foragers for its tangy taste. Plus it's native and pretty too. 💚🥗 /wild-plants/hedge-garlic-2/

🌼NO MOW MAY🌼 To celebrate the start of May, we'd like to hear your thoughts on 'No Mow May' - where you don't mow your lawn for the whole month (or leave some patches) for insects and pollinators to feed on/hide in. Will you be taking part? Dandelions.. Are you a lover or a hater? 💛

⚡MEET THE TEES TEAM - Chloe⚡ Tees Rivers Trust may be a small charity, but its made up of 15 passionate individuals who all have a big interest in the river health and heritage. Over the upcoming weeks, we're going to be shining light on who our team members are, and what their role is at the Trust.💙 Lets meet Chloe, INNS Project Manager. "I joined Tees Rivers Trust whilst finishing my MSc in Conservation Management, after originally studying Business – a bit of an unexpected journey, but one that means I get to mix strategy with muddy boots! Since joining the Trust, I’ve dived into all things invasive non-native species (INNS), from biological control trials for Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed to the menacing management of giant hogweed. What I really love is the variety – one day I’m out mapping plants or overseeing management, the next I’m running community events, wrangling budgets, or creating content for our socials. There’s always something new, and that’s what keeps it exciting. Plus, I get to work with an amazing team and volunteers who care deeply about making our rivers healthier and more biodiverse." Email: [email protected] 💻 · 🥾 · 🌿 · 🐜 · 🗺 · 📍· 📈 · 🤝 · 🌼

When your office looks like this... 😍 The woodlands that run alongside our wonderful River Tees are looking extra magnificent at the moment as the bluebells carpet the ground, splashing hues of purple and blue. 💜💙 How to tell the difference between Spanish and Native bluebells? Native: 💜Deep violet-blue (sometimes white), narrow, tubular-bell flowers, with tips that curl back 💜Flowers on one side of the stem 💜Distinctively drooping stems 💜A sweet scent Spanish: 💙Pale blue (often white or pink), conical-bell flowers, with spreading and open tips 💙Flowers all around the stem 💙Upright stems 💙No scent Which do you think are pictured here? Find out more about Native Vs Spanish bluebells here: /wildlife/how-identify/spanish-or-native-bluebell