News & Views

Steart Marshes in Somerset is one of the largest examples of managed retreat (coastal realignment) in England. As a result of its design, it has rapidly become of great importance for biodiversity, and is also delivering wider ecosystem services benefits. In this article, BSG Ecology Partner Peter Shepherd reflects on the lessons that can be learned from projects such as Steart if we are to deliver the bigger, better and better connected network of habitats envisioned for Britain by Sir John Lawton in his 2010 review[1]
12 July, 2019
BSG Ecology now has five consultants who have been awarded Chartership by the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). Chartership represents a considerable personal achievement, as it both recognises technical expertise and is the culmination of a lot of hard work. It should also provide our clients with the confidence that the advice they receive from BSG will help ensure positive outcomes for their projects.
10 July, 2019
We are delighted to announce that BSG Ecology has won the best Small-scale Mitigation Award and Tony Bradshaw Award (for outstanding best practice) from CIEEM, the leading professional membership body representing and supporting professional ecologists and environmental managers. We were also short-listed for the Best Medium Consultancy of the Year award (which we had previously won in 2018).
27 June, 2019
Reptile survey work needs to be designed in a project-specific manner to allow impacts on populations to be accurately assessed and appropriate mitigation designed. Our latest graduate training workshop, held in May 2019, provided attendees with an overview of British reptile ecology, and an opportunity to discuss the scope and specification of reptile survey and mitigation when faced with different development scenarios.
28 May, 2019
In May 2019 BSG Ecology’s Emily Moore and Sophie Olejnik spent an afternoon teaching primary school children in Barnsley about the ecology of amphibians and other freshwater creatures. The event allowed the children the opportunity to see and learn about a range of species, including great crested newt, smooth newt and common toad. It was facilitated by Barratt Homes, being close to one of the development sites we are supporting them on.
24 May, 2019
As BSG Ecology has grown as a business there has been a requirement for more staff to take on leadership and non-project related management activities. To ensure people feel equipped to take on these tasks, training has been developed to meet our specific needs through discussion with our staff and an external training provider. Our first Leadership and Management training day took place in Birmingham on 16 May 2019, and was attended by the BSG Senior Management Team.
20 May, 2019
As part of the Continued Professional Development programme for our Welsh team, Principal Ecologist Rachel Taylor led an evening “introduction to great crested newts” in Brecon in early May. Our staff were joined by the local authority ecologists for Powys and the Brecon Beacons National Park (BBNP), and a planning officer from BBNP.
13 May, 2019