Plastic in the oceans

Plastic in the Oceans - Plastic is everywhere. It is in the things we use daily, but the waste from throw-away single-use plastics is causing a huge pollution problem - as recently highlighted in the BBC Blue Planet 2 programme.

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Stewart Parsons
Ellendale Environmental now provides Environmental Noise Surveys & Assessments

Ellendale Environmental now provides Environmental Noise Surveys & Assessments

We are very pleased to welcome Emma Parsons to the Ellendale team, who will lead on our offering of environmental noise surveys, noise assessments and noise management.  Emma, who is based in Edinburgh, has over 14 years’ experience in Acoustics - with particular focus on Environmental Noise – and is a full corporate member of the Institute of Acoustics (MIOA). 

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Stewart Parsons
Finally, we have a European otter (Lutra Lutra) on camera!

Over the last few years our ecologists have been monitoring watercourses as part of project works to identify species present. Although we have found evidence of otter activity, such as feeding remains and sprints, the animals themselves have remained elusive, even avoiding our cameras! That is until now…

Finally, we have an otter on camera – and it has caught some dinner!

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Stewart Parsons
Bug Hotels

Bug hotels are structures which are built of a variety of materials to provide habitat for a wide range of invertebrates and depending on its size also amphibians and small mammals. They can range from the size of a bird box to up to a meter high.

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Stewart Parsons
Invasive Species Week - Non-native Birds

Non-native species may have been introduced by humans either on purpose such as pheasants for shooting or by accident such as exotic cage birds escaping. Some non-native species can upset the ecological balance in an area and threaten native wildlife but not all non-native species are harmful. It is hard to determine which species will become a problem, as the examples below will demonstrate, but when a non-native species does establish itself and thrive to the detriment of the native ecosystem this species is known as an invasive species.

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Stewart Parsons
Invasive Species Cookbook – Japanese Knotweed Jam

This week (13th – 17th May 2019) is invasive species week and Japanese Knotweed is probably the most famous of the species to invade the UK. The legendary concrete-smashing, tarmac-raising plant is feared by the construction industry and gardeners alike. But is has a weakness… its edible! so we made Japanese Knotweed Jam!

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Stewart Parsons
Ancient Woodland

Ancient Woodland is defined as woodland that has existed since 1600AD in England and Wales and 1750AD in Scotland. It is the richest land-based habitat for wildlife and home to more threatened species than any other habitat.

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Stewart Parsons
The Invasive Species Cook Book – Wild Garlic

Its invasive nature makes the plant suitable for our Invasive species cookbook! Wild Garlic has an edible bulb, with a strong taste of garlic. The leaves can also be eaten but have a milder garlic taste, and the flowers, which have a stronger flavour, make an interesting addition to salads. At this time of the year the leaves can be easily foraged in most woodlands. Here are a few of our favourites.

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Stewart Parsons
Beavers in Great Britain

The Eurasian beaver Castor fiber was once widespread across Great Britain but was hunted to extinction. The species has been reintroduced to Scotland, with trial reintroductions happening in England and planned for Wales. From May 2019, the beaver will become a European Protected Species in Scotland, meaning that beavers will need to be considered as part of ecological surveys in areas where they occur, to prevent impacts from development activities.

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Website Editor
New Industry Standard Guidance Document ‘Bats and Onshore Wind Turbines: Survey, Assessment and Mitigation’

A new guidance document has been published by the Statutory Nature Conservation Organisations (SNCOs) for England, Wales and Scotland which was prepared with the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT), University of Exeter, Scottish Power Renewables, Ecotricity Ltd and RenewableUK. It is now the industry standard guidance document on survey, assessment and mitigation for bats when considering onshore wind turbines.

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Guest Userbats, guidance
Almondbank Flood Scheme gains a Green Apple Award

Stewart Parsons of Ellendale Environmental is delighted to have accepted an International Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice. Stewart accepted the Gold Award in the Building & Construction category with Ally Johnston of Balfour Beatty, on behalf of the Almondbank Project.

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Guest User
Career Insights Talk, Edinburgh Napier University.

Career Insights Talk, Edinburgh Napier University.

Sarah Miller, Graduate Ecologist with Ellendale Environmental recently attended a career insights day at Edinburgh Napier University and gave a presentation to the students on her path to becoming an ecologist within a professional consultancy.

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Stewart Parsons