NATALIE WALSH APPOINTED AS HEAD OF ECOLOGY AT HARRIS LAMB

Harris Lamb has appointed experienced ecological consultant, Natalie Walsh, to head up its Environment Team, providing expert advice and support to clients on a wealth of ecology matters.

Natalie joins the business from Focus Environmental Consultants in Worcester, where she spent 10 years, working her way from Ecologist to Associate Ecologist, and has extensive experience in surveying protected species, botany matters and advising on Biodiversitiy Net Gain, some of the most critical factors now impacting on commercial and residential development schemes.

Her experience includes the undertaking of Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA), and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Assessments, as well as botanical / habitat surveys and field surveys for protected species including great crested newts, badgers, bats, reptiles, riparian mammals and dormice.

Simon Hawley, Director of Harris Lamb’s Planning Team, said: “Our team has worked with Natalie in her former role and we are delighted that she is joining us to head up the Environment department.

“Ecology plays an increasingly important role in our business, and Natalie’s knowledge and experience will be an asset in providing our clients with the essential information they need to avoid delays and concerns when bringing forward their projects.

“Natalie holds Natural England and Natural Resources Wales survey licences for great crested newts and bats (Class 2), and has been the ‘Named Ecologist’ on Natural England (development) licences for bats and on Natural England licences to close or disturb badger setts, all of which will be an asset when it comes to helping to deliver the many rural schemes we advise on,” he added.

Natalie said: “I was attracted to Harris Lamb because of the importance it places on ecology in development proposals. I’m looking forward to working with a property consultancy where I can assist in enabling the ecology of a project to be an early consideration for clients, something which is of particular importance now with Biodiversity Net Gain being a mandatory requirement.

“The business has a really interesting project portfolio and cohesive way of working that I am looking forward to getting involved in, working with and developing the ecology team and supporting other in-house departments.

“I was also particularly impressed with Harris Lamb’s track record in investing in employees through training and development which is important to me. I believe that demonstrates a real commitment to both developing the business and its team, and that’s something I’m very keen to be part of,” she added.

Natalie can be contacted on natalie.walsh@harrislamb.com.