Bowland Ecology is supporting a cause very close to our hearts – the Badger Trust, a registered charity that works to promote and enhance the welfare, conservation and protection of badgers.

We have become an inaugural pledger to the new ‘Emergency Badger Rescue and Rehabilitation Fund’ that the charity is setting up to help protect badgers by providing funds to local groups on the ground.

This year Badger Trust is taking part in the ‘Big Give Christmas Challenge’ for the first time. This is a UK-wide fundraising campaign which runs for a dedicated week from 30th November – 7th December, and is a matched fundraising event, which means when the general public donate, donations are doubled by previously pledged funds – so one donation ends up having twice the impact!

You can find out more about the Big Give Christmas Challenge here: https://www.thebiggive.org.uk/s/christmas-challenge

We’re delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile cause!

During the current C-19 outbreak we would just like to assure clients and partners that our aim is to continue to deliver our service during this period of uncertainty by adopting a business as usual stance while taking heed of the latest health advice and guidance. Our priority is the health and safety of our team, clients and partners. We are mindful that circumstances may change, and we are keeping up-to-date date with both government and NHS guidance on a daily basis.  The company has a business continuity plan in place to ensure we can maintain client care to our usual standards. We are adopting an agile and flexible approach to minimise any disruptions and we have secure remote working capability.

In line with government guidance, we will minimise and avoid direct meetings where remote alternatives are available. We will carry out all technical work including site and fieldwork observing the need to minimise risk. In addition to Government and NHS guidance, we are also monitoring the advice given by both the World Health Organisation and the guidelines issued by Public Health England whilst keeping our staff fully updated.

Ed has over 25 years of work experience in nature conservation and ecological research. Before joining Bowland Ecology, he was a UK Habitats Advisor with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Examples of major work areas include: (i) UK reporting under the EU Habitats Directive; (ii) review of the SSSI Selection Guidelines; (iii) review of UK BAP priority habitat series; (iv) assessing the impacts of atmospheric N pollution on protected areas; and (v) detailed research on the ecology, history and management of native woodland and European beech forests. He has published his own scientific research and co-authored a major book on the development of natural woodland.

Paisley is usually the first voice you will hear when you call Bowland Ecology. Her hard work has paid off and we’re very proud to announce that she has passed her Advanced Level 3 Apprenticeship Qualification in Business Administration with Training 2000 http://www.training2000.co.uk/.  She has now started the Higher Level 4 Qualification, equivalent to HND/Foundation degree.

.

Bowland Ecology has been successful in tendering for DEFRA’s District Level Licensing Project two year Framework Agreement. District level licensing is an alternative to the site by site licensing process for great crested newts which has been used for development to date. Following on from the success of the pilot project in Surrey, the government is funding a nationwide roll-out.  A total of 3,000 ponds will be surveyed across England in 2018 and 4,800 ponds in 2019. Bowland Ecology will be undertaking environmental DNA sampling and habitat suitability assessments at 370 ponds across Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and N. Yorkshire in 2018.

The survey information will be used to produce a local conservation plan for the newts, which will retain, enhance and link up the most significant populations of newts, identify areas where development will have the least impact and specify where new habitat will be created to ensure a healthy overall population. Local planning authorities will put in place the new habitat, so that when development results in habitat loss, the habitat gains will already be in place to compensate. This system will not only improve the habitat legacy for great crested newt, it will radically reduce delays and cost to developers of survey and setting up their own schemes to protect newts.

For more information on District Level Licensing go to: https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2017/02/17/newts-in-the-news-a-major-step-forward-for-district-licensing/

Congratulations to Sarah and Jade who recently completed a 5 day Lantra tree climbing course at Myerscough College. http://www.myerscough.ac.uk/courses/arboriculture/city-guilds-nptc-level-2-award-in-tree-climbing-and-rescue-formerly-cs38/

We now have 4 in house Lantra qualified tree climbers; this significantly enhances our capability for carrying out assessments of trees for bat roost potential.

We are seeking to recruit an Ecologist. The post will be permanent, full time and based in our office in New Lanark, Scotland. Salary for the position is negotiable and based on experience. Staff objectives are based on the CIEEM competency framework and we place a strong emphasis on continuing staff development via external and in house training.  All roles require a full driving licence.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, flexible, hands – on, project managing ecologist with experience of working as part of a team. The successful candidates will ideally have:

• a degree in a relevant discipline
• 2 + years’ experience as an Ecologist, with appropriate technical and project management experience
• a good understanding of the role of consultants within the commercial sector
• Phase 1 habitat survey and protected species survey capability
• a survey licence for one or more protected species would be desirable
• experience of designing and implementing simple ecological mitigation schemes;
• experience in writing technical reports
• ECoW experience and CSCS would be advantageous

Application for is by covering letter and CV to Bowland Ecology Ltd, 2 York Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 2DL or helen@bowlandecology.co.uk.

Closing date: 3^rd February   Interview dates: 9^th-10^th February. Prospective start date: early March.

We are pleased to announce that we have now been formally accredited to QG standards in respect of our Quality, Environmental and Health and Safety procedures. The QG is an independent externally audited and accredited system that has been developed according to the principles of ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHAS18001.

Earlier this summer Jeremy became one of the first Registered Consultants in respect of Natural England’s Great Crested Newt Low Impact Licensing Scheme.

The scheme aims to reduce the licensing burden for developers in situations where impacts to great crested newts and their habitat are considered to be small scale.  According to Natural England,  ‘the concept of ‘Registered Consultants fits with the work Natural England is undertaking to explore further potential for expanding ‘Earned Recognition’ into the licensing system. The use of ER is based on an applicant providing evidence that they have gained sufficient GCN relevant experience and skill set to achieve a threshold of competency which would allow Natural England to trust them to perform certain licensable activities under a Class Licence. The level of experience and skill required to become a Registered Consultant for this GCN Low Impact Class Licence is greater than that to become a ‘Named Ecologist’ on an individual GCN mitigation licence.’