Melanie Findlay CMIEEM
Melanie is responsible for the day-to-day running of the business. She has been working in the ecology field for over 20 years in various posts, initially working as a freelance field ecologist followed by the role as Ecologist for Scottish Coal Company and Principle Ecologist for AECOM Ltd. She specialises in mammal surveys and mitigation, particularly otters, as well as vegetation surveys. She is a fully competent field botanist and has undertaken numerous large NVC surveys, initially on protected sites and then for large development projects such as windfarm and forestry developments.
She holds a license to survey for great crested newts and a license to disturb otter holts when monitoring by camera trapping and has also applied for numerous derogation licenses on behalf of clients when working around badger setts and otter holts.
She has provided many upbeat training courses for the Chartered Institute of Ecologists and Environmental Management and other ecological consultancies on otter surveys and also camera trapping.
Roger Ingledew
Roger’s main focus has been undertaking mammal surveys and mitigation. However, for the last five years he has developed as our main Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) and has accrued extensive experience in large scale construction projects including the Galashiels, Selkirk and the Water of Leith flood protection schemes. This has entailed undertaking numerous checks for nesting birds and protected species as well as advising on mitigation and monitoring the sites biodiversity. A practical mind and good working knowledge of large scale engineering works combined with sound ecological field skills and being a good communicator allow him to fit effectively into any construction management team.
Roger also has a particular interest in and knowledge of camera trap technology and its uses in protected species monitoring. Drawing on a background in electronics, Roger has also developed specialist camera equipment which we affectionately call ‘shufty scopes’. We use these for internal inspection of otter holts, and they can also be mounted on a pole to inspect birds’ nests without having to climb, use ladders or cause unnecessary stress to nesting birds.
Roger has contributed to otter survey and camera trapping courses for the CIEEM.