Paul Hudson – Principal Ecologist
Head of Cardiff Office
Paul graduated with a degree in Environmental Biology from Reading University. He is a competent ecological surveyor with over 25 years experience in ecology survey and mitigation design.
His main area of expertise is in undertaking bat surveys, national vegetation classification, habitat surveys and preliminary ecological appraisals, and as a wind turbine and windfarm specialist. He holds licences to disturb bats, great crested newts, dormice and barn owls.
Connect with Paul on Linkedin.
Ruth Martin – Operations and Finance Manager
Ruth has over 9 years experience in the legal and ecology sectors. She manages finance, business operations, client care and other office based functions – basically anything that liberates our lovely ecologists to focus on ecology! Ruth is an animal lover with a keen interest in wildlife, conservation and public policy; she is vegan and alongside her work with Acer she obtained her MSc (with Distinction) in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law in 2020. Ruth occasionally brings in her Christmas special (aka her vegan truffles) – a day we all look forward to in the Acer office!
Sian Youde – Ecological Administrator
Sian has a background in Law and English, graduating from Swansea University with a BSc. She is a huge animal lover and spent a year travelling the world and volunteering in wildlife conservation. She rehabilitated sea turtles and wild dogs in Sri Lanka, cared for big cats and native species in South Africa’s Kwantu Game Reserve, and supported the Cochahuasi Wildlife Sanctuary in Peru. These experiences deepened her ecological awareness and instilled in her a respect for biodiversity and the importance of sustainable practices.
Jack Martin – Assistant Ecologist
Jack holds a BSc in Zoology and an MSc in Wetland Science and Conservation and works as an Assistant Ecologist with Acer. He is developing increasing capability in conducting Preliminary Roost Assessments, undertaking dusk emergence and re-entry surveys, and providing site supervision, with a particular professional interest in bats and bat ecology.
He enjoys hiking around his home turf in Ireland and is a keen admirer of the Welsh landscape, particularly the wetlands of Snowdonia, which closely align with his academic background and wider interests in ecology and conservation.
Dylan Beckham – Assistant Ecologist
Dylan has a degree in Integrated Wildlife Conservation and is currently working towards a Master’s by Research in Applied Science while working part-time at Acer. She has previously worked with wildlife across three different continents, encompassing a diverse array of species from lemurs to loggerhead turtles, but she has a particular love for snakes. As an Assistant Ecologist at Acer, she has enjoyed getting stuck into a variety of projects, including LEMPs, CEMPs, Green Infrastructure, Biodiversity Net Gain, and especially anything that involves mapping!
Ella Newmarch – Assistant Ecologist
Ella graduated in 2025 with an MSci in Biology from Bristol University, where her research focused on insect ecology and regenerative agriculture. Since joining Acer as an Assistant Ecologist, she has gained experience conducting PEAs, PRAs, dusk emergence, reptile, and GCN surveys, as well as using QGIS and writing reports. Outside of work, Ella is a keen hiker and climber and can often be found in the mountains of the UK.
Ellis Cleland – Assistant Ecologist
Ellis works as an Assistant Ecologist at Acer. He graduated with a BSc in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science and has experience across a range of ecological surveys and reporting, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs), Preliminary Roost Assessments (PRAs), bat activity and emergence surveys, reptile surveys, Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) supervision, and the preparation of reports such as Green Infrastructure Statements, Ecological Mitigation and Enhancement Strategies (EMES), CEMPs and LEMPs.
Ellis has particular experience with protected species work, including bats, reptiles and nesting birds, and regularly undertakes dusk emergence surveys using IR cameras and bat detectors. He also uses QGIS to prepare plans and maps to support ecological assessments.
Outside of work, Ellis enjoys spending time outdoors, playing football, hiking, and exploring new landscapes, often combining his interest in wildlife with photography and travel.
Peggy ‘bat sniffer’
Peggy is our professional sniffer dog. She has the important task of searching for bird and bat carcasses near wind turbine sites as part of post-construction monitoring. Unfortunately, some birds and bats collide with the turbines, but with the help of Peggy, we are trying to do our bit to understand the impact turbines may have upon these populations.
Peggy has poor IT skills and consequently is not on LinkedIn. In her spare time, Peggy can often be seen enjoying the surf on various South Wales beaches.
