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Everything You Need To Know About Applied Ecology
History
Applied Ecology is an independent ecological consultancy operating from two offices, in Cambridge and Glasgow. Applied Ecology describes itself as drawing on over 25 years of professional experience in ecological consultancy. The company holds a CIEEM Registered Practice accreditation.
Number of Employees
Up to 10.
Services Offered
Applied Ecology offers ecological consultancy and survey services across the following areas:
Preliminary Ecological Appraisal
The company carries out Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA) to inform project planning.
Ecological Impact Assessment
Applied Ecology provides Ecological Impact Assessments for a range of development types, including residential, commercial and nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Habitat and Fauna Surveys
The company carries out a range of habitat and species surveys, including:
- Bat surveys (small and large scale manual activity surveys)
- Bird surveys, including breeding bird and nesting bird checks
- Great crested newt surveys
- Hazel dormouse surveys
- Badger surveys
- Water vole surveys
- Botanical surveys and wildlife site monitoring
Consultancy Services
Biodiversity Net Gain
Applied Ecology offers Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, including BNG pilot studies and botanical assessments to support BNG requirements.
Biodiversity and Habitat Management Planning
The company provides biodiversity and habitat management planning services, including monitoring of statutory and non-statutory wildlife sites.
Ecological Mitigation and Compensation
Applied Ecology plans and implements ecological mitigation and compensation measures, covering:
- Bat roost mitigation licensing
- Great crested newt mitigation licensing
- Water vole mitigation and compensation
- Hazel dormouse and badger mitigation
Ecological Clerk of Works
The company provides Ecological Clerk of Works support on development sites during construction.
BREEAM Assessment
Applied Ecology provides suitably qualified ecologists to support BREEAM assessments.
Expert Witness
The company offers expert witness services for planning appeals.
Sectors and Clients
Applied Ecology works across a range of sectors. Client types include residential and commercial developers, utility companies, planning and environmental consultants, local planning authorities, universities and education establishments, architects, nature conservation organisations, landowners and farmers.
Notable client organisations include Natural England, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Crown Estate, several Cambridge and Oxford colleges, SSE, BP, EDF Energy Renewables, Barratt Homes, Bellway Homes, and a number of local authorities across England and Scotland.
The Work of an Ecology Consultancy
With land pressure and the decline of nature receiving growing public and political attention, ecology consultancies are playing a key role in managing the relationship between development and the environment.
Consultants provide specialist scientific expertise on the natural world for clients such as housebuilders, commercial developers, infrastructure operators, local councils and private landowners.
A significant proportion of an ecology consultancy’s output centres on field surveys. Planning legislation means that many development proposals cannot proceed without a proper assessment of the likely effects on protected species and habitats. Ecologists are therefore regularly deployed to survey for species such as bats, great crested newts, badgers, water voles and nesting birds. They also assess features including hedgerows, trees and ancient woodland.
Survey results inform ecological reports and impact assessments which can be submitted alongside planning applications. Armed with this evidence, consultancies advise clients on how to minimise harm to wildlife and shape proposals that meet the expectations of planning authorities and statutory bodies including Natural England.
The introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain through the Environment Act 2021 has broadened this remit further. Developments in England are now required to deliver a net improvement to biodiversity, which has drawn ecology consultancies into longer-term work around habitat creation and ecological monitoring.
Consultancies also work on ecological restoration schemes, major infrastructure assessments and conservation management plans.