huckle-ecology-blog-views-news-and-updates - Ecology Survey and Assessments

Published on: January 6, 2016

Updated Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment published

The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) has recently published updated guidelines for EcIA, which can be downloaded here:

The 1st edition Guidelines were originally published in 2006, and have become a cornerstone for professional ecological consultants since then.
Following only a quick read, my initial thoughts are that this new edition of the guidelines is an excellent update, providing a concise and well-written exposition of how EcIA should be undertaken.

I particularly like the Introduction section which defines the EcIA process and highlights the two most commonly used applications; providing input to Environmental Impact Assessment, and for demonstrating how projects accord with planning policy and legislation for non-EIA projects. It then summarises the general EcIA process and the various stages therein.

Having applied the EcIA process to numerous projects (both for EIA and non-EIA projects), I would highly recommend that this document be read by anyone commissioning professional ecologists, those actually required to undertake EcIA (who should be suitably qualified ecologists) and to those reviewing EcIA reports (such as planning officers and consultees).

These guidelines are also essential reading for students or graduates who aspire to be professional ecological consultants.

All in all, I am very impressed and applaud the various authors and contributors, who I know have put a great deal of time and effort into the production of these guidelines.

Published on: December 21, 2015

Merry Christmas.... a time for reflection for many reasons

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.

Published on: October 23, 2015

Deep Voice = Small Balls......

Great story on the BBC this morning that reminds me of the fascinating world of Behavioural & Evolutionary Ecology that underpinned a lot of my academic studies - I believe there is a similar study that has shown a relationship in human males and the size of the car they drive.....I mean that deeper voiced men have lower sperm counts!

On a more serious note, it is important to note that this study has reached conclusions based on actual evidence from detailed scientific investigations - this empirical approach to science is what makes the findings robust!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34607031

Published on: October 16, 2015

Huckle Ecology Takes Flight.....

After 3 months of operation as a fledgling consultancy, Huckle Ecology is taking flight in more ways than one.

It has been an exciting time, and the first three months of operating seem to have flown by (the flight puns are ending now I promise!). In that time, I have undertaken several projects for clients old and new and there have been a number of highlights which I will save for a future post.

To celebrate that three-month milestone, I am delighted to be able to publish the new logo for Huckle Ecology.

I owe a huge degree of gratitude to my very talented sister, Sue Huckle, who has designed the wonderful dragonfly. Have a look at her website www.poshplants.com if you are interested in seeing more of her work and finding out about her garden design and plant hire business.

For those of a buggy disposition, here is the key question: Can you identify the species of dragonfly?

Post your answers below and win nothing more than a great deal of admiration and a warm glow inside!

Published on: September 25, 2015

A night in the Woods with the bats

Well..... a couple of hours in the evening anyway!

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of joining a band of hardy souls from the Suffolk Bat Group for an evening survey at Holbrook School, south of Ipswich. I had not been to this location since an ill-fated trip to play rugby in the region of 30 years ago - we were thrashed if I recall correctly.

This time, the visit was far more rewarding - the school has an enviable position, located adjacent to the Orwell estuary and it looked extremely picturesque as the sunlight faded and the first hints of dusk tempted bats out to forage.

The bat survey involved recording bat activity at a series of locations around the school grounds - I took up a station within a stand of mature broad-leaved woodland next to an open area of canopy that had been selected well - the woodland edge habitat offering a good prospect for bat foraging, with plenty of insects attracting bats close to and among the trees.

We were not disappointed - there was a regular passage of common and soprano pipistrelle bats, two very similar species that were until recently considered a single species - but now distinguishable by the frequency at which they echolocate. However, the undoubted highlight was a single, but unmistakable call of a Nathusius' pipistrelle. This species is considered rare in the UK, although may well be under recorded. It was great to record this species!

Adult nathusius pipistrelle courtesy of Jon Russ - www.nathusius.org.uk

Published on: July 30, 2015

sO WHAT DO i KNOW....about ecology?

Well....after 20 years of being employed as a professional ecologist in some form or other, I have now successfully negotiated my way through two whole weeks as a self employed ecologist. .....and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I have set up my own company, built a small but growing website, huckleecology.com, successfully undertaken my first piece of commissioned work as an independent ecological consultant (more about this will follow on a future post!).

One of the key things that I have been reflecting on in the past few weeks is the whole concept of digital marketing and using social media (such as this) to advertise my new start up business. As part of that process it has occurred to me that it is tempting to focus on making a big deal about the ecological knowledge and experience that I have developed over the years.

However, one of the key reasons about why I am so passionate about wildlife and enjoy being an ecologist is not so much about what I do know (which is important admittedly!), but it is the sheer quantity of stuff that I do not know and that ecology is constantly never failing to amaze and fascinate me in equal measure. Take the mathematical patterns that re-appear again and again in the plant world, such as the fibonacci series in the plant to the right for example.

The ability to stimulate the mind and acquire new knowledge and skills seems to me to be a key requirement of a fulfilling career - for me ecology provides that spark and will I hope continue to do so for years to come.

If you are still reading this, many thanks for showing good stamina and putting up with some of my musing. If you would like to find out more about what I do know then please feel free to get in touch via my contact page, or leave a comment below!

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