Ecology Consultancy Services to Local Authorities
Baker Shepherd Gillespie (BSG) has worked with local authorities for fourteen years, developing an extensive portfolio. Over this time our nationwide team of over thirty ecologists has widened and deepened its understanding of local authority needs in an ever-changing administrative, funding and policy environment.
We are working closely now with local authorities through times of increasing demands on local resources and close scrutiny of public finances to ensure delivery of value for money. Using our understanding of the requirements of local authorities and the demands placed upon them, we can offer targeted assistance to help ensure that ecological obligations and requirements continue to be met.
We provide ecological expertise and experience, across a range of technical disciplines and at various levels. Importantly, we offer a flexible service that can be tailored to meet specific needs and budgets, which may range from the provision of one-off assistance to more regular inputs. Specific areas where BSG can provide assistance to local authorities include:
Provision of a comprehensive suite of ecological surveys for habitats and species.
Advice to help local authorities meet their biodiversity duty as set out within the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.
Development control advisory services, including the ecological appraisal of planning applications, use and interpretation of PPS9, TAN 5, and other policy /legislation, and technical review of ecological impact assessment chapters of environmental statements.
Advice and guidance on the preparation and/or interpretation of assessments carried out under The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.
Preparation of screening templates for protected species to assist non-ecologist staff to carry out basic site appraisals.
Assistance with resolving ecological conflicts that might arise when a local authority is exercising its other duties and responsibilities.
Preparation and delivery of bespoke training for you and your team on key aspects of ecology, such as legislation and planning policy guidance, protected species issues, biodiversity planning, or wildlife site surveys, selection and management.
Guidance on the application of Natural Englands new Standing Advice: South East and Rest of England.
Preparation of biodiversity checklists tailored to your area and local Biodiversity Action Plan.
Provision of ecological input to emerging Local Development Frameworks, including site allocation, identification of site restoration, management requirements and representation at EIP.
Expert witness representation at planning appeals, hearings and similar.
If you would like to find out more about how we can help, then please contact our Local Authority Lead, Kirsty Kirkham, the Director of our Derbyshire office in Hathersage (01433-651869). Alternatively you can call your local BSG office or email our general
address:
info@bsg-ecology.com
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We have recently appointed Kirsty Kirkham as the new Director for our Derbyshire office, which has recently relocated to new offices at Hathersage. Kirsty brings considerable experience with her that has been gained in both the public and private sectors. She has ten years experience gained at North Yorkshire County Council as their Principal Ecologist and, more recently, she spent three years as a Team Leader and Senior Ecologist at Golder Associates (UK) Ltd. Consequently, she has a good appreciation of the needs of both developers and those administering the consenting process. As a result, she is able to offer a realistic and pragmatic approach to ecological solutions.
For further information click here
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Bakewell office moves to Hathersage
We are pleased to announce that Baker Shepherd Gillespie (BSG) has relocated its Derbyshire office from Bakewell to Hathersage with immediate effect. Please take a note of our new contact details as shown. This exciting step in our development brings with it a number of client benefits, including improved public transport links, with reliable bus and train services to many places, in particular, Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds. The move will allow us to meet your needs more efficiently and to develop new business links with clients operating in these key urban areas.
We will be holding an office opening event in Spring 2011, which will include a free ecology seminar. If you are interested in attending this event, please download a registration form here. Once it has been completed, please return it to: k.kirkham@bsg-ecology.com.
Our new contact details can be found here
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Baker Shepherd Gillespie is pleased to be exhibiting at the RenewableUK conference to be held in Glasgow on 2-4th November 2010. RenewableUK is the leading renewable energy event in the UK, with over 270 companies involved in the wind, wave and tidal energy sector exhibiting alongside conference sessions addressing the key issues in renewable energy.
Come and visit us on stand no.364. We look forward to seeing you there.
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"Ecologists blissfully ignore 80,000 seat stadium and get frothy when the conversation turns to creating back-water habitats and planted coir pallets" - Vilas Anthwal.
In 2008 BSG was invited to become part of the LDA Design. Hargreaves design team appointed to prepare a masterplan for the 2012 London Olympic Park, within which the principal venues for the 2012 Olympic Games will reside. Since then BSG has been working closely with environmental consultant LDA Design and the Olympic Delivery Authority on incorporating the biodiversity requirements for the park into the overall design.
On the 16th of September six members of BSG attended a site visit to the Olympic Park to see at first hand the remarkable progress being made on the ground. The visit was led by Dr Peter Shepherd who has been the lead ecological consultant working in the LDA Design. Hargreaves team. The project is making great progress and this was a good opportunity to experience at first hand the amazing scale and progress of the work.
Peter Shepherd said following the visit: "Progress on the park and the venues is remarkable and for the first time in two years I can see the actual park emerging that has until now just been designs on plans and a scale model. It is really very exciting".
Dr Shepherd went to add "The decision to draw back the banks of the River Lea to the edge of the venues in the North Park was clearly a very significant step in the development of a park design that works and to see this on the ground confirms this. It has opened up the park and created a sense of space and importantly has provided the opportunity to create significant new reedbeds, amphibian ponds and wet woodland which add significantly to the riparian habitats of the River Lea".
Sian Mitchell, principal ecologist said "I have listened to Shep talking about the park designs as they have evolved and have been aware of the detailed consideration that has gone into the designs by the team at LDA Design.Hargreaves, but to actually see the park really brings it home as to the scale and significance of this project and the impact it is going to make on the habitats in the River Lea valley".
Alan Salkilld, senior ecologist (Berwick) said "The ambition of the project is impressive and the scale of planting such as the semi-mature hazels and willows with 4 tonne root balls is mind boggling".
To see progress on the site you can visit the ODA website: www.london2012.com
Wetland bowl, North Park - reed beds, amphibian ponds and wet woodland.
Species-rich meadow trial plots.
Sedge planting to create wet woodland.
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Historic Gardens article on Brackenhurst Hall dew pond - Mark Woods
Historic landscapes such as parks and formal gardens have an important function for the conservation of biodiversity in Britain, because they provide habitats for a range of protected species such as great crested newt, bats, badger, barn owl and water vole. In some cases the features that gardens and parklands provide such as ancient trees and ponds, are no longer common features of the British Countryside and consequently historic landscapes have become increasingly important for the protection of British wildlife.
Management of gardens is usually intensive and involves regular disturbance and as such has not been viewed by conservation organisation as ideal for the protection of biodiversity. However, with careful timing and sensitivity it is possible to manage gardens so as to maintain their aesthetic qualities without compromising the needs of wildlife. In order to illustrate how horticulture and conservation can happily co-exist, the article in Historic Gardens magazine provides a case study of Brackenhurst Hall, which is surrounded by gardens that originated in the 18th Century and have been modified at varoius stages throughout the history of the Hall.
Nowadays the site is part of Nottingham Trent University and is the campus for land-based studies. Within the gardens there are several ponds of varying sizes, but all are of artificial origin. The ponds have been colonised by great crested newts and the site now supports one of the largest populations in the county.
Over the last fifteen years, Horticulture and Ecology staff members have worked together to develop a programme of management that is lawful and maintains the aesthetic appearance of the ponds without compromising the needs of great crested newts. Despite an extensive recent building programme on the campus and continued intensive management of the land surrounding the ponds, the evidence suggests that the newt populations are thriving and have expanded beyond the gardens into the wider countryside.
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