Andrew Baker BSc MIEEM
Partner
Andrew (Fred) is an ecologist with nineteen years’ professional experience in ecology and environmental management. Working in the public, private and voluntary sectors he has developed broad ecological experience, and his specialist areas are ecological assessment, habitat restoration and management, wetland ecology and environmental impact assessment. Andrew has considerable experience of statutory environmental assessments and has compiled environmental statements for a number of flood alleviation, coastal protection and water transfer schemes. Andrew also supervised the implementation of large-scale ecological mitigation and compensation measures, as part of the construction of the second runway at Manchester Airport. He is currently designing and implementing a large-scale habitat creation scheme on the River Trent for Severn Trent Water.

Andrew has a particular interest in wildlife legislation and its interpretation and implementation. He has published a number of articles on the subject and is convenor of the UK Environmental Law Association’s Nature Conservation Group.

Prior to the formation of Baker Shepherd Gillespie much of Andrew’s work was consultancy based for clients which include the National Rivers Authority, Peak National Park, English Nature, Welsh Development Agency, Countryside Council for Wales, Local Authorities, Consulting Civil Engineers and Water Authorities.


Dr Peter Shepherd BSc PhD MIEEM
Partner
Peter is an ecologist with over eighteen years' professional and research experience. He has worked in the voluntary and private sectors in the UK and abroad. His specialist areas are habitat creation, management and rehabilitation, ecological and policy research, land management and planning, impact assessment, tropical peat swamp forest ecology and protected species work. Peter’s PhD thesis is recognised as being one of the key studies of urban plant communities in the UK and he has specific expertise in phytosociology. Peter has undertaken surveys under license for great crested newts, and for other protected and declining species such as badgers, bats, barn owls, slow worms and water voles. He holds a bat roost visitor licence for all counties of England and is a licenced bat worker trainer and has designed and implemented a wide range of bat mitigation projects.

Peter has undertaken consultancy work for a range of clients including Department of the Environment, English Nature, Environment Agency, Local Authorities and numerous private sector bodies including opencast coal and mineral extraction companies and residential development companies. He has appeared at four public inquiries and has presented numerous papers to local, national and international conferences. Peter is a member of IUCN (The World Conservation Union) Commission on Ecosystem Management and sits on the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s Professional Affairs Committee.



James Gillespie BSc PGDip MIEEM
Partner
James has seventeen years professional experience in ecology and nature conservation in both the conservation and private sectors, as well as working within Government Agencies and Local Authorities on a number of long-term consultancy contracts. He has experience of large ecological consultancy contracts, including masterplanning and EIA work, as well as work with protected species including badgers, bats, reptiles, crayfish and great crested newts. He holds various survey and development licences from English Nature and DEFRA.

James has a particular interest in nature conservation legislation and policy, and their practical application, of which he has experience from the standpoint of both the private and regulatory sectors. He has worked on a wide range of ecological issues in conservation, research and consultancy for clients from all sectors, and has presented evidence at several local plan and planning appeal inquiries.

Steve Betts BSc MSc MIEEM
Partner
Steve has fifteen years’ professional experience in fisheries, ecology and nature conservation, working with Government Agencies and in consultancy. He has experience of dealing with a wide range of clients including water companies, local authorities, the Environment Agency, English Nature and industry. He has worked on a diverse range of projects that have included Environmental Impact Assessment, ‘appropriate assessment’, research and development, and training provision. This has involved ecological assessment and appraisal across a number of specialist areas including riverine and stillwater ecology, water quality, fisheries, habitat assessment and restoration and marine inter-tidal ecology. He has worked extensively with protected species including badgers, bats, otters, red squirrels, white-clawed crayfish and great crested newts, holding various survey and development licences issued by English Nature and DEFRA respectively.

Steve has an excellent working knowledge of nature conservation legislation and policy, and its practical application in the UK and Eire. This includes practical experience of applying the requirements of the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994 across a range of projects in England and Eire. He also has a good understanding of key European legislation that is likely to have a significant impact on ecological monitoring, protection and enhancement in the future, such as the Water Framework Directive and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive. Steve also has a good understanding of the planning system and the requirements of PPG9.

Philippa Harvey BSc MPhil MIEEM
Principal Ecologist
Philippa is an environmental manager with over sixteen years ecological experience. Working in the public and voluntary sectors she has developed a broad experience in ecology and environmental management. She has worked in urban conservation for many years and is experienced at working with local communities and site users encouraging their use, appreciation and involvement in their local countryside.

Philippa is experienced in all aspects of land management in particular site management planning for a wide variety of habitat types, co-ordination of their implementation, drawing up briefs and specifications, working with contractors, farmers and local community volunteers. In addition, Philippa has considerable experience in advising and assisting landowners in conservation management, habitat creation and funding applications.

Since joining BSG Philippa has also developed expertise in advising on issues relating to protected species including badger, water vole, great crested newts, white-clawed crayfish and breeding birds.



Helen Evriviades BSc MSc MIEEM
Principal Ecologist
Helen is an ecologist with over seven years professional experience in consultancy, working mainly in the UK, but also abroad. She has considerable experience in habitat and protected species surveys and holds a UK-wide English Nature survey license for dormice.

In addition to her survey skills, Helen also has experience of carrying out Ecological Impact Assessments and designing and implementing mitigation and compensation measures. Prior to joining BSG Helen worked for two large engineering firms, providing ecological advice for all stages of large engineering projects including roads, rail and waterways.



Dr Edward Bodsworth BSc PhD MIEEM
Principal Ecologist
Ted has been working in the field of ecology since completing his PhD in 2001 and has a wide range of experience in research, consultancy and the public sector. His thesis focussed on the ecology and conservation of butterflies in England and as a result, he has as excellent understanding of scientific theory associated with the impact of habitat fragmentation and land use change on the persistence of species and populations. Since completing his research, Ted has worked as a conservation officer for The Wildlife Trust, during which time he provided advice to the Local Planning Authority on nature conservation issues including implementation of Biodiversity Action Plan targets. He has also worked on the identification of new nature reserves, involving habitat restoration and linkage on a landscape scale. In addition to work in the UK, Ted has been involved in a variety of biodiversity survey and EIA projects in Vietnam, China and Madagascar.

Since working with Baker Shepherd Gillespie, Ted has broadened his knowledge in a wide range of areas including habitat and species surveying, ecological impact assessment, design and implementation of appropriate mitigation and compensation measures and liaison with stakeholders. In particular, his work with BSG has resulted in a wide experience of projects involving ‘brownfield’ land and the specific challenges they present. Ted holds licences to survey for dormice, bats and great crested newts and has particular expertise in the survey of Lepidoptera. As a Principal Ecologist, Ted is partly responsible for the management and running of the Oxford office.

Sian Mitchell BSc MSc AIEEM
Principal Ecologist
Sian has more than six years experience of conservation, ecological consultancy and project management, has worked with clients in the private, public and voluntary sectors and has a sound understanding of current planning guidance, legislation and survey methodologies. She has first hand knowledge of the practical issues associated with site management and survey techniques following close involvement with a range of habitat management and restoration projects.

Sian has recently worked with a large multi disciplinary consultancy to provide ecological services. This involved project scoping and site assessment, survey co-ordination and detailed project management. Current responsibilities include ecological impact assessment of regeneration and infrastructure proposals, involving field studies, mitigation design, assessment and reporting as well as sensitive liaison with interest groups and other specialists involved in the EIA process. In addition Sian shares responsibility for work programming involving the co-ordination of protected species and habitat surveys undertaken through the Oxford office.

Guy Miller BSc MSc MIEEM
Senior Ecologist
Guy has worked as a professional ecologist since 1998, for statutory, voluntary and private sector organisations, most recently as a consultant ecologist for Baker Shepherd Gillespie. Since joining BSG in 2004 he has provided specialist advice for a diverse range of projects including environmental impact assessments, bird surveys, habitat creation and restoration schemes and a wide range of work involving protected species including bats, reptiles and great crested newts. Guy is interested in sustainable design including the ecological benefits which can be achieved through green roofs and sustainable drainage systems. Guy is also a qualified tree climber.

Prior to joining BSG Guy was a Conservation Ecologist for British Waterways where he was involved in canal restoration and regeneration projects, as well as providing day-to-day advice on many other aspects of waterways ecology. In addition to consultancy Guy has a background in nature conservation. He managed Gloucestershire’s Biodiversity Project, worked with English Nature on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and also worked in Bermuda as a Conservation Officer.

Guy has also carried out research in partnership with the RSPB, into pinewood regeneration at Abernethy Forest in Scotland, and also in partnership with English Nature which analysed the costs and effectiveness implementing the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, particularly in relation to agri-environment schemes.

Katy Stiles BSc MIEEM
Senior Ecologist
Katy is an ecologist with five years' professional experience. She has worked for BSG since September 2001. Katy specialises in protected species, particularly bats, and habitat survey. She has carried out numerous ecological appraisals for a wide range of sites including botanical survey, extended Phase 1 habitat survey and river corridor survey. Katy's experience with protected species includes badgers, great crested newts and water voles. She has held a number of development licences for protected species and holds a great crested newt survey licence.

Katy holds an English Nature scientific survey and roost visitor licence, and is an English Nature Volunteer Bat Worker. She is also a member of the Bat Conservation Trust. Katy has a wide range of experience in relation to assessing structures for bats and has been involved in a number of projects requiring specialist mitigation to avoid impacts on roosting bats.



Mark Woods BSc MIEEM
Senior Ecologist
Mark has over eighteen years experience of countryside management, nature conservation and ecology in both the education and conservation sectors. Within the education sector, Mark has extensive experience of teaching ecology, habitat management, wildlife surveying and other related disciplines across a wide-spectrum of adult learners. Mark is also a member of the IEEM Training, Education and Continuing Professional Development Committee (TECDC), with a particular interest in training and education of biological field skills. In addition to teaching he has carried out a wide range of ecological contract work including wildlife surveying and monitoring, ecological assessment, management planning, habitat management and creation. Research interests include great crested newt population studies, restoration of semi-natural grasslands for nature conservation and management of upland heaths at the catchment scale to improve quality of potable water supplies.

Mark has been an active member of the Botanical Society of the British Isles since 1997 and has contributed plant records for incorporation in the Atlas of the British Flora and other recording schemes.

In addition to consultancy, Karen has a background in nature conservation. Since completing her MSc, she has volunteered for the Wildlife Trusts and worked for the public sector managing nature reserves which involved practical habitat management and biological monitoring of key species.

Karen continues to be involved with voluntary conservation work. She is a licensed bat worker and an active member of the North Bucks Bat Group and the Bat Conservation Trust through their National Bat Monitoring Programme. She is also a volunteer surveyor for the local wildlife trust undertaking vegetation and butterfly assessments of their reserves.

In 2005 Ryan co-ordinated a great crested newt translocation in the field, on the site of a proposed open cast coalmine site in Wales. In addition Ryan has experience of working as an ecological clerk of works on developments including road schemes. Ryan holds an English Nature countrywide badger disturbance licence, along with English Nature and Countryside Council for Wales great crested newt survey licences. Over the summer of 2008 Ryan was involved in a road scheme project which required the translocation of reptile populations along with habitat creation and enhancement works.

Since joining BSG in 2007, Alex has undertaken a variety of work including Phase 1 habitat surveys and protected species surveys for great crested newts, bats, badgers, water voles, harvest mice and brown hares. He has led reptile and amphibian translocation projects, operated as an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) and prepared several habitat management plans. Alex has a particular interest in reptiles and amphibians, holds a great crested newt survey licence and is a member of both the Hampshire and Berkshire Reptile and Amphibian Groups. He has knowledge and experience with ArcGIS, Arc Objects and Microsoft Access.

Corin has also been involved with a number of conservation projects overseas, undertaking surveys of coral reefs in the Philippines and Australia.Her survey and report drafting work is wide ranging, she has worked on many contracts since recently joining the practice. She is competent in Phase 1 habitat survey techniques and Ecological Impact Assessment and has experience of undertaking surveys for badgers, water vole, arable flora and breeding birds.

Dr Kate Vincent PhD BSc AIEEM
Senior Ecologist
Kate completed a PhD into the decline of the urban house sparrow in Britain (more info). in 2005 and has worked for BSG since 2006. Her research background has given her a detailed understanding of urban ecology and its relationship with the wider countryside. Kate has also undertaken research on the impact of the Sullom Voe oil terminal in the Shetland Isles on local seabird populations which involved trapping and mist netting of seabirds to monitor population levels. Kate has held a bird ringing licence since 1996. Kate has also worked as a wildlife information officer for The Wildlife Trusts providing detailed advice about wildlife to various groups, the media and the general public.

Since working with Baker Shepherd Gillespie, Kate has been involved in a number of projects in particular ornithological surveys and assessment involving wind farm developments and bird strike assessments. Kate has a particular interest in integrating biodiversity within buildings and how to design new developments to improve their biodiversity interest.

She also has experience of working with other protected species including water voles, otters, great crested newts, badgers and bats as well as undertaking Phase 1 Habitat Surveys. Kate holds a Natural England scientific survey licence for great crested newts.



David Stiles BSc
Senior Ecologist
Dave, who has a background in engineering, is an Ecologist who has worked for BSG since January 2006. Since joining BSG Dave has carried out numerous ecological appraisals for a range of sites. Dave's experience with protected species includes bats, water voles, crayfish and great crested newts. Dave holds an English Nature scientific survey licence for bats. Dave is an affiliate member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.

Susan White BSc AIEEM
Senior Ecologist
Susan has worked at BSG since 2005. She has many years of professional experience in ecology, working for both voluntary and private sector organisations in a range of roles. Prior to joining us, Susan contributed to major research programmes on the behaviour of wintering barnacle geese around the Solway Firth and mapping of breeding common scoter sites in Caithness and Sutherland while working for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. She has also worked for the Scottish Wildlife, Trust progressing from assistant ranger to ranger team supervisor providing her with an excellent grounding in nature reserve and protected species management.

Since joining BSG she has undertaken field work, provided technical reports and submitted licence applications for a diverse range of projects including ecological impact assessments, habitat creation and site restoration schemes. Susan has particular experience in undertaking ornithological field work and the preparation of site management plans. She holds English Nature survey licences for bats and great crested newts.

Susan maintains contact with the voluntary sector and is Chair of the Board of Trustees for a charity based in Nottingham as well as a volunteer for the British Trust for Ornithology.

Paul Howden-leach BSc PGCE MIEEM
Senior Ecologist
Paul has been working as an ecological consultant since 2001. During that time he has gained a wide range of ecological experience in protected species and currently holds a Natural England science and education license for bats and great crested newts. Paul also has experience in habitat surveying, landscape management, invasive weed control and producing habitat management plans.

Paul is experienced in managing a wide range of large and small contracts for a variety of clients including local authorities, governmental agencies, NGOs, utility companies and private developers. He has also been a speaker at educational workshops on invasive weed control and identification, aimed at developers and local authorities.

Paul has specialised in a variety of bat survey techniques within trees, including undertaking aerial endoscopic assessments of tree canopies. He is the treasurer of the South Yorkshire Bat Group and a Natural England Volunteer Bat Worker.

Prior to joining BSG, Karl then worked as an independent ecologist, specialising primarily in botanical survey, monitoring and management planning. Many projects have involved Phase 2/NVC survey and condition assessment monitoring across a diverse range of habitat types. He has also been involved in a number of ecological impact assessment projects, including a major road scheme in North Wales. During this time, Karl also gained experience in the field of habitat translocation, involving a colony of Adder's-tongue Fern Ophioglossum vulgatum.

Karl continues a keen interest in botanical issues, especially the ecology of mires and veteran/ancient trees, and is a member of the Botanical Society of the British Isles and the British Bryological Society.

Dave is very active in the voluntary sector, being a founding member of the North Oxfordshire Mammal Group, in addition to undertaking surveys for the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme and the British Trust for Ornithology. Dave holds Natural England protected species licences for dormouse and great crested newt.

Kelly Clark BSc
Ecologist
Kelly worked for Baker Shepherd Gillespie as assistant ecologist during the summer 2005, undertaking field work involving bat, great crested newt, water vole, white-clawed crayfish and otter surveys.

After graduating with a degree in Environmental Conservation in summer 2006 she joined Baker Shepherd Gillespie on a full-time basis as an Ecologist. Since then, Kelly has been involved in a number of projects involving Phase 1 Habitat Surveys and a range protected species survey. Kelly also holds a great crested newt survey licence and is a graduate member of IEEM.

Kelly has been involved in a range of conservation projects through her voluntary work for the National Trust at Clumber Park and has also assisted the ‘Moors for the Future’ Project by collecting ecological data from upland sites for a study into the effects of moor burning and water quality.



Liz Rose-Jeffreys BSc
Ecologist
Liz joined BSG in December 2006. Since graduating in Environmental Biology and Physical Geography from the University of Wales Swansea in 2004 she has been involved in a range of conservation projects both through her voluntary work with the Biodiversity Officer at Swansea City Council and as Assistant Ecologist for Sheffield Wildlife Trust. At Sheffield Wildlife Trust Liz was involved in the Nature Reserves Project and the Coalfield Heathland Project. She also assisted in numerous ecological surveys including Phase 1 habitat surveys, ecological monitoring programmes, grazing impact assessment, and small mammal surveys. Liz has also created numerous maps on the GIS software MapInfo for a range of projects and Management Plans.

Sam Mellor BSc
Assistant Ecologist
Sam joined Baker Shepherd Gillespie in June 2007 after graduating in Environmental Science at University of Nottingham. Initially on a work experience placement, she joined BSG on a full-time basis as an Assistant Ecologist in October 2007. Since joining Sam has undertaken research into green and brown roofs and their potential for biodiversity. She has also carried out research into habitat requirements and geographical distribution of invertebrate species listed under Section 41 in relation to the NERC Act 2006. Sam has also been involved in a variety of ecological survey work including Phase 1 habitat surveys and bat surveys.

Natalie White BSc MSc
Ecologist
Natalie began work at BSG as an Assistant Ecologist before joining as a full time Ecologist in October 2007. Since then Natalie has gained experience in a wide range of ecological work including phase 1 habitat surveys, protected species surveys, translocation projects and operating as an ecological clerk of work.

Prior to joining NSG, Natalie graduated in Zoology (University of Wales Swansea 2004) and Wildlife Management and Conservation (Reading University 2005). Research for her MSc thesis involved species identification of aquatic invertebrates from Woodwalton Fen NNR. Natalie has volunteered for her local Wildlife Trust; gaining experience in practical habitat management, livestock management and participating in National Vegetation Classification Surveys.

Between her MSc and working at BSG Natalie undertook 6 months of travelling through Central America. During this time, Natalie volunteered for Project Golden Frog in Panama, an initiative set up in response to the spread of the amphibious disease Chytridiomycosis.

Laura Jennings BSc Hons
Assistance Ecologist
Laura joined Baker Shepherd Gillespie in April 2008 as an assistant ecologist, being made a permanent member of staff in August 2008. Laura graduated from Cardiff University in 2007 where she read Ecology and Environmental Management undertaking a year in industry with Birmingham City Council. Working for the Council Laura shadowed the Biodiversity Officer where she developed a wide range of survey skills including bird ringing, phase 1 habitat surveys, and surveys for protected species such as bats and badgers.

After graduating Laura spent six months working for Countryside Council for Wales as an Assistant Reserve Manager where she undertook active habitat management, gaining an understanding of conservation at the site and landscape scale.

Since working with Baker Shepherd Gillespie Laura has been involved in a number of projects, carrying out bat, dormouse, reptile, great crested newt and phase 1 habitat surveys.

Since joining Baker Shepherd Gillespie Kate has been involved in preparing technical reports for a variety of projects and has undertaken Phase 1 surveys; river corridor assessments and protected species surveys of bats, otters and reptiles. Kate is currently studying part time for an MSc in Biological Recording.

Andrew has been an active volunteer with several conservation groups, most recently Shotover Wildlife in Oxfordshire, where he has been involved with habitat management and surveys for breeding birds, reptiles and plants. He has also assisted with research on local badger populations and a study monitoring small mammals in Canada. Andrew holds a Natural England great crested newt survey license and is a graduate member of IEEM.