The Tees Rivers Trust has been awarded a £3m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its Invasive Species Project, a five-year programme to protect and restore the natural heritage of the River Tees catchment. The River Tees catchment is an important part of the North East region’s natural heritage, supporting valuable habitats, wildlife and landscapes enjoyed by local communities. The Tees Invasive Species Project (TISP) will build on more than a decade of partnership working and the success of previous projects. Chloe Lawrence, project manager at Tees Rivers Trust, said: “I’m absolutely over the moon that we’ve received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. “We can now really get on with delivering a catchment-wide programme that tackles invasive non-native species, restores habitats, and helps people reconnect with the River Tees.