Associates

Benjamin Goodger: Principal Ecologist, MA (Oxon) MSc CEnv MCIEEM

Ben has 20 years’ experience as a professional ecologist, five in nature conservation and 15 in consultancy. As a consultant he has worked on a wide range of development projects at sites across the UK. These have ranged from housing and employment developments, land reclamation projects, road schemes and major infrastructure projects. He has undertaken numerous site assessments, using information obtained from habitat and protected species surveys and desk-based studies. He is particularly skilled in Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA) and the design of mitigation solutions, and has written ecology chapters for a number of Environmental Statements (ESs). He has also undertaken several Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRAs). Ben is a skilled botanist and has undertaken many plant and habitat surveys in his career, including Phase 1 habitat surveys, National Vegetation Classification (NVC) surveys and targeted plant surveys. Ben holds a Natural England great crested newt and dormouse licence.

Gemma Waters: Associate Ecologist BSc (Hons) MCIEEM

Gemma has 15 years’ experience in ecological consultancy with a focus on bat and bird ecology and surveying. She is also an experienced environmental educator. She has worked on a wide range of consultancy projects from residential developments, renewable energy projects and cultural heritage work. Gemma has undertaken many internal inspections of different man-made structures, trees, and other natural features to assess their potential to support roosting bats. She is also very experienced at planning and undertaking emergence and dawn re-entry surveys for bats alongside activity transects to determine bat use over the wider landscape. She has also been a bat warden for Natural England since 2006, providing surveys and advice for householders with bats. Gemma is a Natural England licence holder for bats  and is also a volunteer bat roost visitor. Gemma is experienced in providing EPS mitigation on a variety of projects, including cultural heritage projects for the National Trust and the Wye Valley AONB and a wide range of development projects. Gemma has undertaken voluntary research with Gloucestershire Bat Group (GBG) and Dr Roger Ransome, assisting in research of greater horseshoe, Bechstein’s and barbastelle bats. With GBG, Gemma has also led bat walks and talks for the public. Gemma has over a decade of teaching experience; from primary students, up to University level.

Jeremy Doe - BSc (Hons) MCIEEM - Ecologist/Botanist

Jeremy has over 30 years’ experience as a field surveyor of habitats and higher plants of lowland England. He was part of the team of Ecologists who produced the ancient woodland and grassland inventories for Natural England.  He has carried out habitat and species monitoring on GWT reserves, County key sites and conservation road verges. Jeremy has attained Level 5 in vascular plant identification on a BSBI/FSC assessment. He also holds great crested newt, dormouse and Roman snail survey licences.

Beccy McKie Assistant Ecologist, BSc (Hons)

Beccy joined Wild Service in 2020 having completed an Undergraduate Degree in Environmental Science. Beccy has professional experience of undertaking bat surveys and assessments, reptile surveys and translocations, great crested newt surveys, Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW), as well as assisting in the preparation of ecological reports and production of maps in QGIS (including Phase 1 habitat maps).

During her BSc studies, Beccy gained knowledge and experience in GIS mapping using QGIS, and environmental law, as well as undertaking various fieldwork projects, such as studying the effect of climate change on invertebrates in hot springs in the Sierra Nevada. She has also completed Ecology Training UK’s ‘Certificate in Ecological Consultancy’, during which she gained experience in Phase 1 Habitat and PEA Surveys, survey techniques for protected species, botany, wildlife law, hedgerow assessments and invasive species. Beccy has also carried out practical volunteering with the Wildlife Trusts, as well as being involved in hedgehog conservation through volunteering at Help a Hedgehog Hospital.

John Field - BSc (Hons) MSc – Living Landscape Adviser

John has been with Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust since 2007, having previously worked for the Soil Association and the University of Warwick. Primarily a specialist of river habitat restoration and natural flood management, John has more than 10 years’ experience in riparian mammal (water vole, otter, American, water shrew) surveys, white-clawed crayfish conservation and wild brown trout habitat enhancements. John holds a Natural England licence for white-clawed crayfish surveys, experience in translocation and is leading the Trust’s approach to their conservation in the Stroud Valleys. In addition, he is also licensed for barn owl surveys and box checks and is the licensed lay vaccinator for the Trust’s badger vaccination programme.

Rae Luckett – BA (Hons) LA, B Land Arch, CMLI – Principal Landscape Architect

Rae has worked for various landscape architectural practices including Pegasus Planning Group, Robert Myers Associates and most recently Atkins. She has over 20 years professional experience in landscape architecture providing landscape services from feasibility and planning through to construction and supervision on site.  Services include provision of fully detailed design packages for both hard and soft landscape projects for private individuals and rural estates, developers and larger organisations.

Tom Hyde, JPR Environmental -  Ecological Mitigation Services

Tom is the Mitigation Project Manager of JPR Environmental and holds a CSCS Black Card in Construction Site Management and has completed the Site Manager Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS). JPR Environmental has extensive experience with wildlife protection and mitigation services where there is a developmental need or for habitat enhancement.  The company offers the full range of site preparation works from vegetation clearance to security fencing plus erosion control solutions using bio-engineering, reedbed installation and management and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). The Company has achieved UKAS accreditation in ISO 9001: 2015 & 14001: 2015 and is a CHAS accredited contactor. The company is also a member of the Constructed Wetland Association and individual staff have membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).

Neil McLean - Cert Arb (RFS) - Arboricultural Consultant

Neil is a fully qualified arboriculturist providing advice on all aspects of tree and woodland management, as well as being a licensed and experienced bat surveyor which complements his arboricultural skills. He is also experienced in invasive weed control including Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam.

Murray Bracewell MCIEEM, Charlton Abbots  - Land Management Services

Charlton Abbots provides private and public landowners, commercial and industrial  companies with a professional forestry, landscaping and arboricultural service in addition to implementing protected species mitigation schemes. The Landscaping side of the business concentrates on landscaping schemes for building developments including ground working, soft landscaping and fencing.