I have been a professional ecologist since 2008 and joined EDP in 2021 and am now an Associate, a Chartered Ecologist and a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.

As an Associate I manage multi-discipline projects (heritage, arboriculture, landscpae, maspterplanning and ecology) although due to my background still have a very strong affinity with ecological projects. 
I currently co-ordinate and undertake a range of wildlife (species and habitat) surveys and have a strong interest in birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. I particularly enjoy UK Habitat Classification Surveys as well as their influence on development through Biodiveristy Net Gain. I hold Natural England survey licences for great crested newt, dormouse, barn owl, bearded stonewort, smooth snake and sand lizard, and have experience of a range of other protected species and habitats. I hold mitigation licences for water vole, great crested newt and dormouse, with a Low Impact Class Licence for great crested newts and a Displacement licence for water vole. I have undertaken consultancy work for a range of clients including central government agencies, local authorities and numerous private sector organisations in the urban development, urban regeneration, renewable energy and public realm sectors. I regularly works within consultant teams on large-scale development projects. I regularly provides training and talks to the consultancy, public and voluntary sectors  (e.g. on dormouse, reptiles, chough, etc) and have appeared as an expert witness at public inquiry.

 

 I graduated from the University of Southampton with a Master’s degree in Environmental Science. My dissertation, conducted in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), was on the feeding strategy of Chough, and how understanding this can be used to inform future management for this species. I was subsequently employed by the RSPB, and also spent some time working for Natural England, before moving into consultancy work. The knowledge and understanding gained through working for a charity, in the public and private sectors, has given me a good grounding as a professional ecologist.

In the past I have worked for Natural England as well as the RSPB and also worked for close to ten years at BSG ecology and previous to that was seconded to EnterpriseMouchel where I worked in close collaboration with project engineers on Highways infrastructure maintenance and improvement projects across various environmental technical disciplines particularly including ecology, air quality, cultural heritage, landscape, water and geology.

 

Outside work I am involved in a range of voluntary conservation work in the local area and across the country. This has included running the Oxfordshire Dormouse Project, and also volunteering with Oxfordshire Mammal Group (was a founding committee member), Oxfordshire Bat Group, BBOWT, Hampshire Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, various local councils and loads of other interest groups.