Wildscapes

Bats, buildings and being inspired: Spotlight on Nick White, Consultant Ecologist

Spotlight on Nick White, Consultant Ecologist.

Nick White has recently joined Wildscapes as Consultant Ecologist. Here he talks about bats, buildings and being inspired…

When did you start at Wildscapes and what did you do before?

I joined Wildscapes in June 2011 after six years working as an ecologist for a variety of companies and also on a freelance basis. Before that I was the marketing manager for a housebuilding firm, but wildlife and ecology was my first love, so I went back to university and studied for a Masters Degree in Environmental Management.

What attracted you to working with Wildscapes?

I really like the fact that it has associations with the Sheffield Wildlife Trust, which means that all profits go to support the charity. Also, when I met the rest of the ecology team, I was very impressed by their experience and knowledge.

What is your favourite part of the job?

I love the field work – getting outside and surveying a piece of land for evidence of wildlife and their habitats, in particular protected species such as bats and great crested newts.

What type of creature interests you most?

I think bats are really fascinating. They are unique as the only mammal which can truly fly and there are many things about them which scientists still don’t know. Bats live can live up to 30 years and because they only produce one offspring per year, they are very susceptible to population decline if their habitats are damaged or lost, which is why it is so important to protect them.

Do you have a hero in the world of wildlife conservation?

There are many people who have helped and inspired me in my career as an ecologist. In terms of a ‘household name’ it would have to be David Attenborough. I used to watch his ‘Life on Earth’ series with my dad and that’s where my own passion for wildlife began. His enthusiasm for the natural world is still as infectious today.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

It would have to be ‘Do a job that you enjoy’. Most of us spend a long time at work so I believe it is really important to work at something which inspires you.

What is the main challenge you face in your job?

Unfortunately there is still an enormous lack of knowledge about the need to consider ecology issues before drawing up planning applications. If developers consult an ecologist at the very beginning of a project they can often avoid issues which could cause them costly delays later on. By starting discussions with the client at the planning stage, we can help them to find the best solution to issues such as protecting wildlife habitats whilst still enabling development to take place.