Ecology, biodiversity net gain, and open space consultancy for local authorities and developers across the UK.

Our team

Ecology team

All our ecologists are qualified members or the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (or equivalent), and hold a range of licenses for protected species. We also have specialists in botany, bats, dormouse, birds, reptiles etc. should more technical assessments be required, and can provide expert witness advice for planning appeals and inquiries.

Ecology that works on the ground

Always someone to talk to

Reducing risk in the planning process

Free quotes and transparent pricing

Balancing ecology with project delivery

Direct access to experienced ecologists

Real-world land management expertise

Supporting sustainable communities

Trusted by Local Planning Authorities

Pragmatic solutions, proportional advice

Helping avoid planning delays

Surveys to BNG units - all in one place

photo of Steph Green

Steph Green

Head of Ecology
BSc (Hons), MA, MCIEEM
Photo of Sarah Forsyth

Sarah Forsyth

Principal Ecologist
BSc (Hons), MSc, ACIEEM
Photo of Kane Burchill

Kane Burchill

Principal Ecologist
ACIEEM
Photo of Katie M

Katie Munday

Senior Ecologist
MSc, BSc (Hons) MCIEEM

Ellie Shearn

Senior Ecologist
BSc (Hons) MCIEEM

Martha Tingey

Senior Ecologist
BSc (Hons), QCIEEM

Rachel Turcan

Consultant Ecologist
BSc (Hons), MSc, QCIEEM

Sam Forrest

Consultant Ecologist
BSc (Hons), MSc, QCIEEM

Louise Payton

Consultant Ecologist
MSc, BSc (Hons)

Oliver Sowler

Assistant Ecologist
BSc (Hons)

Amelia Ball

Assistant Ecologist
BSc (Hons), QCIEEM

Fred Beresford

Assistant Ecologist
BEng

Kayleigh Buller

Assistant Ecologist

Jordan Wood

Assistant Ecologist
BSc (Hons)

Jaimie Balmer

Assistant Ecologist
BSc (Hons), MConBio

We provide clear advice on survey requirements, seasonal windows, and how to align ecological input with your project timeline. 

All surveys are carried out in accordance with relevant legislation, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, and CIEEM best practice.

Receive a detailed breakdown
for your project

We provide tailored solutions to help you deliver high-quality, sustainable green spaces. Contact us today to discuss your needs. Whether you require:
Biodiversity net gain
Policy advice
Full strategy
Ecological assessments.

01225 444114

info@ethosep.co.uk 

Steph Green

Head of Ecology
BSc (Hons), MA, MCIEEM
photo of Steph Green

Steph joined Ethos in 2018 and now oversees the ecology team. As Head of Ecology, she is responsible for managing high profile and complex projects with a focus on client management, consultation and ensuring project delivery on time and budget. In addition, Steph oversees the ecology team’s operational planning, team performance and professional development. With several years of experience in ecological consultancy and fieldwork, Steph previously worked for a large multi-disciplinary consultancy before joining Ethos.
Steph is a licensed great crested newt and hazel dormouse surveyor and a Full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). She volunteers in North Somerset and Bristol for the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme as well as by undertaking dormouse surveys for her local nature reserves.

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Sarah Forsyth

Principal Ecologist
BSc (Hons), MSc, ACIEEM
Photo of Sarah Forsyth

Sarah has been with Ethos since 2018, contributing to a diverse portfolio of development projects. As an experienced project manager, she collaborates closely with clients, design teams, and consultees, to provide clear, effective ecological advice that supports client objectives and delivers meaningful biodiversity gains. Her role spans all stages of development, from scoping and field surveys through to planning assessments and mitigation design.
Sarah previously worked as a Natural Environment Officer for a local council, advising on biodiversity and legislative compliance. Her early career in environmental planning across the railway sector and engineering consultancies has established a strong foundation in ecological impact assessment.
Sarah undertakes a wide range of habitat and protected species surveys, with bats as the primary focus of her fieldwork skills. She is a qualified tree climber and holds a Natural England Class 2 bat licence. Sarah is an active member of her local bat group and regularly participates in surveys. Sarah is also a licenced Great Crested Newt surveyor.

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Kane Burchill

Principal Ecologist
ACIEEM
Photo of Kane Burchill

Kane has been with Ethos since 2014, starting as an apprentice environmental planner and assisting with various ecology projects. Over the past decade, he has advanced to Principal Ecologist, gaining skills in protected species surveys, biodiversity net gain, report writing, and GIS mapping. Kane holds an NVQ Level 2 Certificate and Diploma in work-based environmental conservation and is an Associate member of CIEEM. He has protected species licenses for bats, great crested newts, and dormice, and is involved in monitoring projects in North Somerset and Wiltshire.

As a Principal Ecologist at Ethos, Kane conducts comprehensive habitat assessments and has extensive on-site experience as an Ecological Clerk of Works. He supervises site activities, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and promoting biodiversity conservation. His expertise and dedication have been crucial to the successful completion of numerous projects.

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Katie Munday

Senior Ecologist
MSc, BSc (Hons) MCIEEM
Photo of Katie M

Katie joined Ethos in January 2022 during a student placement for her Master’s in Environmental Consultancy. She has progressed within Ethos and now leads a range of surveys and holds protected species licences for bats and hazel dormice. She is certified to undertake River Condition Assessments and enjoys opportunities to utilise her background in Earth Sciences, but her main focus is on undertaking ecological assessments and producing associated reports. With extensive customer service experience, Katie excels in managing projects and client relations, aiming to enhance conservation outcomes through strong working relationships.

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Ellie Shearn

Senior Ecologist
BSc (Hons) MCIEEM

Ellie joined Ethos in early 2021 having graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science from the University of Plymouth. Ellie’s focus is on undertaking a wide range of protected species surveys, GIS mapping and producing a range of ecological reports.
Ellie manages the bat call data analysis for Ethos, designing and implementing up to date analysis techniques for detailed results to maximise benefits for bats throughout developments.
During her time at Ethos, Ellie has worked as an ecological clerk of works for a range of projects involving birds, badgers, dormice and reptiles. Ellie is a Full member of CIEEM, holds a CSCS card and holds protected species licences for bats, hazel dormice and great crested newts.
Ellie has a high standard of work and likes to complete projects from initial site visits to discharging any ecological conditions associated with a planning condition and ecological clerk of works whilst ensuring the best outcome can be achieved for the client and for biodiversity.

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Martha Tingey

Senior Ecologist
BSc (Hons), QCIEEM

Martha joined Ethos in 2026 but has worked in ecological consultancy since 2020. Having previously worked at Aspect Ecology, SWT Ecology Services and Acer Ecology.
From her previous roles Martha has project managed a range of projects. This has included projects such as, multi-phased developments, ecological walkover, preliminary ecological appraisal, reserved matters, habitat banking, management plans and peat surveys. She liaised with each client to understand their requirements and organised the surveys and production of reports within the set timescale. Also, providing input at the early stage of projects to improve design plans for biodiversity.

In a previous role, she assisted a local planning authority and SWT Ecology Planning Advice Service (EPAS) to provide ecological planning responses to planning application, which has allowed her to gain a greater understanding of the planning system.

Martha’s main interests include invertebrates, fungi, water voles and badgers and she holds a Level 1 Great Crested Newt Class Licence.

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Rachel Turcan

Consultant Ecologist
BSc (Hons), MSc, QCIEEM

Rachel joined Ethos Environmental Planning in 2026, bringing experience from a large multidisciplinary consultancy where she began her ecological career. She has worked in the wildlife sector since graduating from the University of Bristol in 2020 with an MSc degree in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation. Her experience includes volunteering with the Bat Conservation Trust and at WWT Slimbridge, as well as supporting the Animal and Plant Health Agency on a long-term badger vaccination project.

Rachel undertakes and leads a wide range of protected species surveys, contributes to technical reporting, and supports project management across a variety of ecological projects. She has a particular interest in ornithology and is currently working towards a Class Licence (CL29) for barn owl survey and monitoring.

Rachel holds a current CSCS card and an Outdoor First Aid qualification, and is a Qualifying Member of CIEEM, working towards Associate membership.

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Sam Forrest

Consultant Ecologist
BSc (Hons), MSc, QCIEEM

Sam joined Ethos in 2026 as an ecologist and has been working in the ecology sector since 2023. He holds a Master’s degree in Global Ecology and Conservation and a bachelor’s in environmental geography, both from Cardiff University.
As an Ecologist as Ethos, Sam conducts comprehensive habitat assessment surveys, assists with a wide range of European protected species surveys and works onsite as an Ecological Clerk of Works.
With a keen interest in biodiversity net gain and ornithology, Sam is constantly working to further widen his skill set and ability to deliver comprehensive and informed ecological solutions.

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Louise Payton

Consultant Ecologist
MSc, BSc (Hons)

Louise is an Ecologist who joined Ethos in 2026, with recent experience in UKHab surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments, and protected species work. She holds an MSc in Wildlife Conservation and has over 15 years’ experience working on ecology in agricultural land use systems, focusing on policy, strategy, and environmental outcomes.

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Oliver Sowler

Assistant Ecologist
BSc (Hons)

Oliver joined Ethos in spring, 2024, assisting with protected species surveys while undertaking training with Ecology Training UK. Since then, he has been taken on fulltime and now contributes to report writing, biodiversity net gain calculations, and QGIS mapping.

Oliver graduated from the university of St. Andrews in 2022, receiving an honour’s degree in Evolutionary Biology with an emphasis on Ecology. He then spent 2023 tutoring biology, chemistry, maths, and physics at a Secondary School in Tottenham. Oliver has broad interests in the natural world, including conducting regular moth surveys, scuba diving, and studying to become a licenced ecologist.

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Amelia Ball

Assistant Ecologist
BSc (Hons), QCIEEM

“Amelia has been with the team since spring 2025 as an assistant ecologist. She leads and assists with a range of protected species surveys and habitat surveys and has experience in report writing, BNG calculations and habitat mapping.

Amelia graduated from Plymouth university in 2023 with a BSc (Hons) in Conservation Biology. She has volunteered with charities to support habitat creation and management, and has been involved in local wildlife groups for dormice and great crested newt.”

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Fred Beresford

Assistant Ecologist
BEng

Fred began working at Ethos in 2024 as a Seasonal Assistant Ecologist and then joined again for the 2025 survey season after earning a BEng in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of the West of England. Fred conducts protected species surveys, UK habitat classification surveys, data analysis and writes ecological reports. He is currently working towards becoming a qualifying member of CIEEM and taking courses to increase and broaden his knowledge and skills.

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Kayleigh Buller

Assistant Ecologist

Kayleigh joined Ethos in 2026 as an Assistant Ecologist, contributing to a range of protected species surveys, habitat assessments, data analysis and report writing.

Kayleigh brings eighteen years’ publishing experience, most notably with National Geographic Learning, specialising in commissioning and project managing large-scale, complex projects. She holds an honours degree in Journalism and is currently working towards her Certificate in Conservation Management.

Kayleigh enjoys contributing to community and research projects, including supporting her local mammal group on dormouse surveys and the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust with bird surveys and a research project focussing specifically on lapwings.

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Jordan Wood

Assistant Ecologist
BSc (Hons)

Jordan joined Ethos in February 2026 as an Assistant Ecologist and contributes to a wide range of ecological projects. Her work includes protected species surveys for dormice, bats, great crested newts and reptiles, UKHab habitat surveys, GIS analysis, biodiversity net gain calculations and supporting ecological assessments and reporting.

Jordan holds a BSc (Hons) in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science, reflecting her strong interest in ecology and biodiversity. During her studies, she gained experience working on a variety of field research projects, including tracking lemurs through the forests of Madagascar, conducting small mammal surveys in Snowdonia, and undertaking coastal ecology surveys in Cornwall. These opportunities have provided her with a broad range of practical field skills across diverse habitats and species.

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Jaimie Balmer

Assistant Ecologist
BSc (Hons), MConBio

Jaimie joined the team in March 2026, bringing a practical mix of field experience and data analysis skills. After completing a Master of Conservation Biology at Victoria University of Wellington, she developed a diverse ecological toolkit working in both the public and private sectors, including roles with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and in habitat restoration in New Zealand. This background includes hands-on monitoring projects for short-tailed bats, kiwi, and reptiles, alongside leading remote field teams, vegetation monitoring, and pest control operations.
Since starting at Ethos, she has jumped straight into a wide range of surveys, including Great Crested Newt, bat, dormouse, reptile, and UKHab assessments. She also supports the office team’s technical output, utilizing her background in data tools and statistical analysis to provide report writing, data processing, and manual bat call identification. Her previous experience as a university statistics tutor and biodiversity ranger makes her proficient at turning field data into clear, reliable outputs for ecological reports.

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Ecology Team

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