It is fair to say that 2015 has been an eventful year.  International and national affairs have been at the fore front of our minds, with a national election, turmoil and war in Syria, refugees and the recent horrors in Paris.

On a more local level, it is time to reflect on the first 5 months of Huckle Ecology's existence.  In all honesty it has been a thrilling and challenging experience and thoroughly enjoyable ride - those 5 months have flown by.
Great crested newt santa hat - Jon Huckle
Contact me on 07496 255050 or via email
The diversity of projects that I have been able to undertake has been a particularly enjoyable aspect of my first few months as an ecological start-up business. In addition, the satisfaction of being able to provide effective and pragmatic solutions to clients new and old has been really rewarding.

​Particular high points have included:
  • Appearing as an ecological expert witness at the Torr Works Wind Farm public inquiry in September. This was held in Shepton Mallet in Somerset, and like most planning inquiries, was a really rewarding experience.
  • Winning and undertaking my first piece of independent consultancy work - a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal for a Solar Farm in Warwickshire.
  • Working with some really good clients in East Anglia to overcome ecological hurdles in their aspiration to achieve planning consent for residential property developments.
  • Undertaking Ecological Clerk of Works duties, providing on Site expertise to ensure that vegetation clearance and site enabling works were undertaken without causing harm to protected species, such as reptiles, great crested newts and dormice.
  • Working with other ecologists, including former colleagues I have known for years and new contacts. I looking forward to collaborating with you all again and welcome new opportunities to work with other ecologists in the future.

I would like to finish this post by thanking all the clients who have commissioned me to undertake work in my first few months of business, and I hope to work with you again in the near future. I would also like to express my gratitude to the many friends, former colleagues and family who have provided advice and encouragement over the past 6 months or so.

So I would like to wish you all a really Christmas break and a cracking New Year - I look forward to working with you on new opportunities in 2016.