The Team

The Team - Ecology

Jeremy James MSc, BSc (Hons), CEnv, MIEEM
Principal Ecologist & Company Director

Since graduating in 1990 he has held a range of public and private sector posts. Prior to establishing Bowland Ecology he was a team leader and Associate Ecologist at RPS Plc where he was responsible for managing a team of ecologists with an EIA focused remit particularly working in the highways and landuse sectors. He has gained public sector experience through his work as a catchment ecologist with the Environment Agency (North West Region) and as a SSSI notification officer with the Countryside Council for Wales. In the mid 1990s he was Senior Ecologist with a university based consultancy where he specialised in undertaking detailed botanical surveys for EIAs and research studies. He has a very strong background in EIA at all levels, and is an experienced vegetation ecologist. He also specialises in protected species ecology and holds Natural England and CCW licences for great crested newts, water vole, natterjack toad, badger, crayfish and bats. He has worked throughout the UK and overseas in Tomsk Province, Siberia. He is a former Vice Convenor of the NW Section of IEEM.

Ellen Milner MRes, BA (Hons), MIEEM
Senior Ecologist

Ellen has a first class degree in Zoology from the University of Cambridge and completed her MRes in Ecology & Environmental Management at the University of York. Prior to joining Bowland Ecology in 2007 Ellen spent over 2 years working as a Consultant Ecologist for AMEC Earth and Environmental and prior to this, the Environmental Advice Centre Ltd. She has wide ranging experience of EIAs from small schemes to large developments. She has extensive experience of working with water vole, this species was the focus of her MRes. Ellen holds Natural England licences for bats, great crested newt, sand lizard and natterjack toad. She is currently the practice’s lead point for bat work. Ellen is a project managing ecologist who is responsible for projects from inception to completion.

Alice Helyar MSc, BSc (Hons), PhD, AIEEM
Senior Ecologist

Alice has a first class degree in Environmental Biology from the University of St Andrews. She also has an MSc in Environmental Assessment and Management from Oxford Brookes University and completed her PhD studying the effects of control on the ecology of American mink (Mustela vison) at the University of York in 2005. She joined Bowland Ecology from CCW where she was responsible for providing advice and responses to consultations on designated sites, protected species and wider countryside issues within the Brecon Beacons National Park. She also led a proactive management project on Bleanlyarn & the reactive work arising from the Usk Bats site SAC and River Usk SAC. Prior to her post at CCW Alice has held roles at the Central Science Laboratory and FWAG (Farm Surveys). Alice is a project managing ecologist who specialises in mammal survey, ecology and mitigation. She holds a Natural England Scientific Licence for bats.

Emma Kilduff BSc (Hons), AIEEM
Senior Ecologist

Emma has a degree in Ecology from Bangor University and has been employed in the environmental sector since 2005. She joined Bowland Ecology from United Utilities plc in 2009. At UU she was responsible for managing projects and carrying out protected species surveys, including bats, water vole, otter, badger and amphibians. She is a project managing ecologist who specialises in Phase 1 survey, amphibian survey and mitigation. Emma is also a trained Map Info GIS user. She holds a Natural England Scientific Licence for great crested newts and has extensive experience of supervising complex amphibian mitigation schemes.

Jo Bates-Keegan MSc, BSc (Hons)
Ecologist

Jo has an MSc in Ecology and Management of the Natural Environment from the University of Bristol, and a BSc (Hons) Environmental Biology and Geography from the University of Hull. She has been working with Bowland Ecology since 2007 and is responsible for organising surveys, and working as part of the survey team for a range of protected species surveys, including bats, water vole, otter, badger and amphibians. She has extensive experience of bat work in conjunction with East Yorkshire and East Lancashire Bat Groups, including roost visits, bat handling, detector work and sound analysis. Jo also specialises in badger work, holds badger licences and is the current chair of Lancashire Badger Group. Jo is also a Lancashire County Council Volunteer Ranger – responsible for dealing with and assisting members of the public and various conservation tasks.

Lucy Blades MSc, BSc (Hons), AIEEM
Ecologist

Lucy has a degree in Ecology and an MSc in Ecology and the Environment both from Lancaster University. Lucy has worked with Bowland Ecology since 2007 helping out with a wide range of surveys, mapping and reporting. She moved to Scotland in 2010 where she worked for ESS Ecology assisting with the project management of offshore bird surveys and working as an Ecological Clerk of Works on the Lochelbank wind farm. Lucy moved to Atmos Consulting in 2011 and carried out two busy survey seasons of project management; reporting as well as conducting a wide range of surveys from extended Phase 1 to bat surveys on both small and large wind farm developments across Scotland. Lucy has experience with a wide range of project types and specialises in protected species and botanical surveys. Based near Edinburgh she is well placed in Scotland to carry out Bowland Ecology’s growing workload north of the border.

Laura Bennett MSc, MA
Ecologist

Laura has an MA in Geography from the University of St Andrews and worked for 3 years as a development officer for a renewable energy developer in Edinburgh. She completed an MSc in Ecology and the Environment at Lancaster University in 2010 and joined Bowland Ecology in 2011, following some time volunteering for the National Trust in Cornwall. As an assistant ecologist her main responsibilities include completing ecological desk studies and working as part of the survey team for a range of protected species including amphibians, bats, badgers, water voles, reptiles and birds. She is a competent Mapinfo user and provides GIS input into all relevant projects.

Gemma Waddington PCert, BSc (Hons), AIEEM
Technical Officer

Gemma joined Bowland Ecology after completing her degree in Environmental Geography at the University of Lancaster in 2006. Her main areas of work are amphibian survey, desk studies, technical support to projects and GIS. Gemma has been involved in all aspects of amphibian projects from scoping surveys through to Natural England licensed mitigation works. She is highly competent in the use of MapInfo and provides GIS input into all relevant projects. In addition, she is a licensed amphibian worker and also undertakes bat surveys. Gemma also maintains our survey equipment and co-ordinates health and safety issues.

Jack Kellet BSc (Hons)
Field Ecologist

Jack has a life-long interest in natural history. He has excellent field identification skills and is particularly strong in bird survey, Lepidoptera survey, amphibian survey and Phase 1 habitat survey. He has carried out amphibian and bat surveys over the past two field seasons. Jack has undertaken bat and bird surveys for wind farm developments and is currently undertaking surveys for a wide range of infrastructure, utility and development projects.

Claire Wilson MSc, BSc (Hons)
Assistant Ecologist

Claire previously spent 7 years lecturing in Ecology and Conservation at Sheffield City Ecologist. She is a licensed bird ringer and is the Communications Officers for Doncaster bird ringing group. She is also a volunteer ranger for Natural England at Thorne & Hatfield Moors. Claire is developing skills for Phase 1 habitat survey, amphibian surveys, reptile surveys and mammal surveys. Claire is responsible for GIS input using MapInfo as well as assisting with surveys. She is also carrying out Ecological Clerk of Works role on projects.

Mark Breaks BSc (Hons)
Ornithologist

Mark is a highly skilled ornithologist with extensive experience throughout the UK and overseas. He has a BTO Bird Ringing Permits Class C and Class A, and a Canadian Banding Permit. He became a member of Lancashire bird report rarities committee during spring 2011. Previous employment includes: National Trust warden Farne Islands, bird bander, Prince Edward Point Bird Obs, Canada, Steller’s Eider Project, Alaska, assistant warden Fair Isle and a voluntary assistant warden at Minsmere. In addition to ornithological experience he has extensive experience of bat and amphibian surveys and has worked extensively on licensed amphibian mitigation schemes.

Fiona Coombes
Office Manager

Fiona joined Bowland Ecology in spring 2008 to take up the position of office manager. Fiona brings a wealth of experience of financial management and administration to the business. Whilst Fiona manages the smooth day to day running of the business her primary focus is credit control.

Caroline James BA (Hons), Associate Member CIPD
Financial & HR Manager

Caroline began her career in educational publishing before taking up posts in the financial management sector. She worked as Departmental Coordinator for GE Capital and was Consultancy Manager for a small financial training consultancy. She is responsible for the financial and HR management aspects of the business.