Delivering expert ecological services

Nov 17 2009 by The Journal

ECONORTH, the consultancy arm of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, has appointed its first full time manager. Paul Salmon will establish the consultancy as a provider of ecological services to the development and construction industry.

EcoNorth are able to offer a range of ecological services to support development proposals such as inputting into masterplans, building and landscape design, BREEAM assessments and surveys for protected species – such as bats, badgers and great crested newts – as well as undertaking ecological constraints and impact assessments.

To date EcoNorth has been busy undertaking work from Berwickshire down to East Yorkshire as well as winning work more locally in Ashington and South Shields. The work has included surveying for two of our most protected species, bats and water voles, as well as assessing new housing developments to ensure that they make the most of the opportunity to preserve and enhance wildlife whilst providing new homes in the North East.

Clients employing the services of EcoNorth will benefit from the experience and expertise of the Trust’s ecologists with profits from the consultancy Gift Aided back to the charity for the wider benefit of wildlife projects throughout the region.

Paul is no stranger to consultancy work, having already spent seven years as an environmental consultant in Newcastle helping developments as diverse as business parks, mixed-use regeneration schemes, power stations and large scale infrastructure projects gain planning consent.

Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust chief executive said: “This is a great opportunity for Northumberland Wildlife Trust to work with local businesses and industry to deliver sustainable development and at the same time generate funding for the organisation. It is great to have Paul on board as an experienced consultant who can grow EcoNorth to its true potential and help both the environment and future development of the North East.”