Northern Ireland

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Summary of Services

We are specialist consulting ecologists with expertise in a broad range of habitats and species found in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments and a wide range of arboricultural services specialising in planning and health and safety inspections. We are committed to working to the highest professional and technical standards. To that end, our consultants have River Habitat Survey (RHS) and GeoRHS accreditation from the Environment Agency, Personal Track Safety certification to allow us to work on the rail network and a range of licences permitting us to survey protected species.

Our aim is to offer an effective interface between developers and industry on the one hand and legislation and regulators on the other; in order to lighten the burden of compliance. We do this by offering the following services:

>Arboricultural Services
>Ecological Surveys
>Enhancement, Mitigation and Compensation
>Interpretation and Assessments
>Monitoring and Management
>Public Inquiry
>Research and Training

Arboricultural Services

  • Health and safety tree surveys and inspections
  • Planning and development, BS: 5837 tree surveys
  • Planning and TPO appeals
  • Woodland management plans
  • Tree planting schemes
  • Expert witness
  • Arboricultural monitoring

Ecological Surveys

  • Phase 1 habitat and hedgerow surveys
  • Phase 2 NVC surveys
  • River corridor surveys
  • Reptile and amphibian surveys
  • Breeding and wintering bird surveys
  • Mammal surveys, including bats, otters and badgers
  • Use of standard or appropriately modified survey methodologies
  • Biological water quality surveys and aquatic invertebrate surveys

Enhancement, Mitigation and Compensation

  • Ecological input to scheme design to minimise impacts
  • Evaluation of site suitability for species translocations and habitat creation
  • Design of habitat creation and restoration schemes
  • Design of new habitats and artificial sites for protected species
  • Design of on-site protected species mitigation, including species exclusion and translocation
  • Supervision and assistance with the implementation of on-site ecological mitigation

Interpretation and Assessments

  • Analysis of survey information and data
  • Evaluation of nature conservation value in accordance with established criteria
  • Assessments of development and other impacts in accordance with Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management guidelines
  • Comment on applicable nature conservation legislation and policy
  • Reviews of Ecological Impact Assessments and other ecological documents
  • Ecological input to Environmental Scoping Studies, Environmental Statements, Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments, etc
  • Preparation of information to inform Appropriate Assessments under the Habitats Regulations
  • COMAH assessments

Monitoring and Management

  • Design of ecological monitoring protocols
  • Provision of ecological clerk of works during construction works
  • Pre- and post- project monitoring of habitat creation and restoration schemes
  • Pre- and post- project monitoring of species populations affected by developments
  • Design and supervision of ecological management regimes for all habitats

Public Inquiry

  • Preparation of Proofs of Evidence
  • Representation at public inquiries

Research and Training

  • Design and implementation of ecological research projects
  • Statistical analysis of ecological data
  • Provision of short training courses and seminars in ecological and arboricultural techniques


  Thomson Ecology Ltd, Compass House, 60 Priestley Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YU
T: +44 (0)1483 466000 F:+44 (0)1483 303182 W:www.thomsonecology.com
Registered in England No. 4477751 at Compass House, 60 Priestley Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YU