Who We Are
Switch Ecology is a small ecological consultancy set up and run by Steven Whitcher and based in North Wales, just over the border from Chester. Steven is Switch Ecology’s director and principal consultant and works closely with a small group of trusted sub-contractors, where needed, to ensure access to surveyors and skills required to cover all eventualities.
Steven is an experienced ecologist and full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). He has worked in ecology for over 20 years with expertise in a wide range of habitats and species, including amphibians, badgers, barn owls, bats, hazel dormice, reptiles and more. Steven holds a variety of survey licences with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Natural England, including being a Registered Consultant under the Bat Mitigation Class Licence (BMCL), as well as being qualified in tree climbing, confined spaces and more, allowing flexibility of working in a range of sites and situations.
In 2020 Steven made the decision to become freelance, allowing flexibility in the way that he worked and to gain control over his work/life balance, working practices and outputs. As of 1st April 2023 Steven took the next step in the progression of his career in ecology and set up Switch Ecology Ltd.
What We Do
Switch Ecology offers a wide range of ecological services, from initial site assessments, such as Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA) or Preliminary Roost Assessments (PRA), to site monitoring, species licencing and anything else that you may need to support your project, big or small.
Switch Ecology prides itself on working to a high standard but on a realistic timescale. Therefore, reports are turned around quickly and where there are deadlines to meet we will do everything we can to ensure that we don’t cause delays.
Why Choose Us
Switch Ecology works to a high professional standard and, being a Registered Practice with CIEEM all works are carried out in accordance with CIEEM’s code of professional conduct.
We offer a professional and prompt approach to everything we do and aim to meet your projects timescales and avoid unnecessary delays.
Practice What We Preach
Switch Ecology is keen to show that incorporating wildlife and nature into everyday life doesn’t have to be difficult. Therefore, we hope to show that the measures that we recommend in our reports are realistic and can be implemented at minimal costs.
Steven, Switch Ecology’s founder, is working to improve the biodiversity and environmental benefits of his own plot of land, sharing the success and failures through his personal channels. The improvements are aimed at showing that everyday life and land management can be ecological friendly and sustainable. Baseline surveys of the land have shown that badgers, bats, foxes and a variety of bird species are already present and that the grassland displays a reasonable range of grass and wildflower species. Future plans include works to improve hedgerow management, grassland diversity, soil health and the range of species the land supports.