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 20 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 owl.
Connect with Paul on Linkedin.
Cari Ormerod – Practice Manager & Senior Ecologist
Cari graduated with a degree in Biology from Cardiff University. She is responsible for the day-to-day management of Acer Ecology. This includes HR, business development, credit control, training and safety. As a working ecologist, she also undertakes ecological surveys when time permits. Cari also has fifteen years of teaching experience at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 and leads on our environmental education work and ecological training provision.
Connect with Cari on Linkedin.
Rory Jones – Senior Ecologist
Head of Bristol Office
Rory leads our Bristol Office and has over eight years professional experience in the environment sector and heads up our Bristol office. He is an Environmental Geoscience graduate of Cardiff University and is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MCIEEM). Rory possesses English and Welsh survey licences for bats, dormice and great crested newts, including a licence covering the Dewsbury ‘Box Trap’ technique. He also holds a barn owl nest inspection licence from Natural England, together with a CSCS card as a ‘Professionally Qualified Person’. Rory is also qualified to work at height and within confined spaces (medium risk).
Rory specialises in ornithological and botanical surveys, but has a broad range of ecological experience, including undertaking preliminary ecological appraisals and protected species surveys, mitigation design, EPS licensing, hedgerow surveys, ECoW, habitat regulations assessments, and undertaking CSH and BREEAM assessments.
Connect with Rory on Linkedin.
Erika Dahlberg – Senior Bat Ecologist (Protected Species Specialist)
Erika is employed as a bat ecologist with Acer Ecology Ltd. She graduated from Portsmouth University with a BSc (Hons) in Animal Management and from Napier University Edinburgh with a PGDip in Wildlife Biology and Conservation. She has been conducting professional bat surveys since 2009. She holds Welsh and English bat licences.
Connect with Erika on Linkedin.
Ffion Jones – Assistant Ecologist
Ffion acts as an assistant ecologist to the team providing report writing and reviewing skills, and has two seasons worth of experience undertaking surveys for bat species and other experience with a variety of protected species such as badgers, reptiles and Otters. She was trained in badger monitoring and surveying with the Zoological Society of London in West Cornwall and undertook her degree with Exeter University studying Conservation Biology and Ecology.
Connect with Ffion on Linkedin.
Harri Williams – Assistant Ecologist
Harri is an assistant ecologist who has been working for Acer since the beginning of 2020. During that time he has assisted on numerous preliminary roost inspections and preliminary ecological appraisals. He has strong report-writing skills and performs most of the QGIS work needed to inform Acer’s ecology reports. He also carries out various administrative tasks for the company. Harri is also fluent in welsh.
Connect with Harri on Linkedin.
Luke Owen – Assistant Ecologist
Luke is one of our assistant ecologist. He graduated in Summer 2020 from the University of Bristol with a BSc (Hons) in Zoology . He has been shadowing our Senior Ecologists, gaining his first ecological surveying experience with bats, birds, reptiles, Section 7 mammals and botany. With the help of the team, he is working towards both NE and NRW licenses, and to widening his general ecological knowledge
Connect with Luke on Linkedin.
Chloe Simkiss – Marketing Officer
Chloe graduated with a BA (Hons) in Marketing from University of the West of England. She is likely to be your first point of call when it comes to any queries you may have. She is responsible for customer relations and keeping you all up to date on our socials. Chloe has been with Acer Ecology since September 2020.
Connect with Chloe on Linkedin.
Ruth Martin – Ecology Support Officer
Ruth has recently completed a Masters degree with a distinction in in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law. She is responsible for co-ordination of office-based functions, finance and is vital to the smooth running of Acer Ecology!
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, although she features regularly on our Social Media with the help of our Marketing Officer Ashley. In her spare time, Peggy can often be seen enjoying the surf on various South Wales beaches.
