Team

Helen started Corylus Ecology in 2004. She has over 25 years’ experience within consultancy, having worked in multi-disciplinary consultancies prior to setting up Corylus. She has worked on a range of projects from conservation projects, small to large housing projects and large infrastructure schemes.  Helen is a general ecologist who specialises in bats, dormice and birds and can hold licences for ringing and radio-tracking bats.

Key skills and experience:

• Registered Consultant under the Bat Mitigation Class Licence for bats (CL21)
• Earned Recognition Licence holder (Level 2)
• Natural England bat survey licence (Level 4 – CL20)
• Natural England dormouse survey licence (Level 1 – CL10a)
• Natural England great crested newt survey licence (Level 1 – CL08)
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card

Paul joined Corylus Ecology in 2008 and set up the Devon office in 2013. During that time, he has worked on a wide variety of development and conservation-based projects across the south of England. Initially focusing his skills on development projects that involved protected species and habitat surveys, he has developed a keen interest in conservation, habitat management and landscape ecology in recent years, working closely with National Parks and conservation charities.

Key skills and experience:

• Registered Consultant under the Bat Mitigation Class Licence for bats (CL21)
• Natural England bat survey licence (Level 2 – CL18)
• Natural England dormouse survey licence (Level 1 – CL10a)
• Natural England great crested newt survey licence (Level 1 – CL08)
• Considerable experience in habitat and botanical surveys, protected species surveying, licensing and mitigation
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card

Bill is a Chartered Environmentalist who joined Corylus Ecology in 2019 and has worked in the ecology and conservation sector for over 30 years, working variously in the industry, regulatory and education sectors. Bill’s main areas of interest focus on the design and delivery of biodiversity-led landscape planning and design commissions for the urban and public realm that actively promote access to nature to meet the needs and expectations of a diverse range of clients and stakeholder communities. Bill sits on CIEEM’s Strategic Policy panel, which provides high level guidance on the implications of policy formulation and its potential impact on UK biodiversity.

Key skills and experience:

• Natural England great crested newt survey licence (Level 1 – CL08)
• Extensive experience with all aspects of the EIA process
• Undertakes surveys across a wide variety of habitats and species groups, with a particular focus on birds
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card

Alexander has worked at Corylus Ecology since 2010 and has considerable experience leading projects for the private, public and charity sectors. Alexander initially focussed his skills on development projects that involved protected species and habitat surveys, moving towards more conservation and landscape ecology in recent years, working closely with conservation charities such as the National Trust and Woodland Trust.

Key skills and experience:

• Natural England bat survey licence (Level 2 – CL18)
• Natural England dormouse survey licence (Level 1 – CL10a)
• Natural England great crested newt survey licence (Level 1 – CL08)
• Writing bat, dormouse and great crested newt EPSM licence applications and mitigation design
• Bat radio-tracking
• Considerable experience in habitat and botanical surveys, protected species surveying, licensing, mitigation and biodiversity net gain
• CAD mapping
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card

Nancy is a Chartered Ecologist who joined Corylus Ecology in 2023 with almost 20 years of ecological consultancy experience. Nancy has provided ecological advice to both the private and public sectors for a diverse range of land-use changes, from residential and retail developments, to road schemes, mineral extraction and renewable energy. She has also provided advice relating to habitat creation and management for nature conservation purposes.

Key skills and experience:

• Natural England bat survey licence (Level 2 – CL18)
• Natural England great crested newt survey licence (Level 1 – CL08)
• Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) Level 4 for botanical surveying
• Accomplished author of Shadow Habitats Regulations Assessment (sHRA) and Ecology Chapters for Environmental Statements
• Seasoned assessor of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), with an understanding of River Condition Assessments
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card
• Qualified River Condition Assessment Surveyor

Nick joined Corylus Ecology in 2022, following almost ten years of previous experience working in several different ecological consultancies. Nick has experience across various sectors including residential and commercial development, heritage buildings, large-scale infrastructure and conservation. Nick has a particular specialism in bat ecology and surveys and EPS mitigation licences for a wide variety of species and development projects. Nick also has extensive experience of coordinating and undertaking bat trapping and radio-tracking surveys and subsequent data analysis and reporting.

Key skills and experience:

• Natural England bat survey licence (Level 4 – CL20)
• Natural England licence to survey barn owl for development (CL29)
• Undertaking all types of bat surveys including Advanced Licence Bat Survey Techniques (ALBST), PEAs and EcIAs
• Writing bat EPSM licence applications and bat mitigation design
• GIS mapping and data analysis
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card

Bea is a Chartered Ecologist with considerable experience working within the private, public and charity sectors. Bea joined Corylus Ecology in 2017, bringing 15 years of previous experience working in various National Park Authority and Wildlife Trust roles, including ecology, land management and ecosystem services. Her main areas of interest include conservation and nature recovery.

Key skills and experience:

• Natural England bat survey licence (Level 2 – CL18)
• Natural England dormouse survey licence (Level 1 – CL10a)
• Conservation-focussed surveys and reporting, including landscape-scale nature recovery projects
• Undertaking a range of habitat and protected species surveys
• Writing PEAs, EcIAs, BNG assessments and other specialist reports
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card
• Qualified River Condition Assessment Surveyor

Constance joined Corylus Ecology in 2022, with seven years of previous experience, two of which were in ecological consultancy and five in broader conservation work. Constance has a particular interest in herpetology and holds a Level 1 great crested newt survey licence (CL08). Constance is also working towards her Level 1 bat survey licence (CL17).

Key skills and experience:

• Natural England great crested newt survey licence (Level 1 – CL08)
• Level 2 BCT competency for bats
• GIS mapping and data analysis
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card
• City and Guilds Level 2 – Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue
• Qualified River Condition Assessment Surveyor

Amberlea joined the Corylus team in 2022, with three years of previous experience. Amberlea has a particular interest in dormouse surveys and holds a Level 1 dormouse survey licence (CL10a). Amberlea is also working towards her Level 1 bat licence (CL17).

Key skills and experience:

• Natural England dormouse survey licence (Level 1 – CL10a)
• Natural England great crested newt survey licence (Level 1 – CL08)
• GIS mapping and data analysis
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card
• Qualified River Condition Assessment Surveyor

Melissa joined the Corylus team in 2022, following completion of an MSc in Conservation Biology and one previous year of working in ecology. Melissa has a keen interest in birds and is working towards gaining a barn owl licence. She is also on her way to achieving bat and great crested newt survey licences.

Key skills and experience:

• Leading on breeding and winter bird surveys
• Undertaking other surveys, including habitats, butterflies, reptiles, great crested newt, dormouse and bats
• Volunteers for the BTO as a Wetland Bird Surveyor on the Thanet Coast
• Level 3: Improver at plant ID certificate (Canterbury Christ Church University PId Test)
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card
• Qualified River Condition Assessment Surveyor

After graduating in Conservation Biology and Ecology, Ella joined the Corylus team in 2023. Ella’s main areas of interest include dormice, bats and invertebrates.

Key skills and experience:

• Undertaking reptile and bat surveys across a variety of different habitats
• Considerable experience in bat sound analysis
• Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card

Having finished a BSc (Hons) in Zoology, Joe is in his first year as a professional ecologist and joined the Corylus team in 2024. Joe is a qualifying member of CIEEM and is currently training towards his survey class licences.

Key skills and experience:

• Excellent mapping skills, including QGIS and AutoCAD software
• Particular areas of interest include aquatic life and mammals