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I like to think of this group of hoverflies are the moustaches and kidney beans because that's what they look like in my minds eye 👁 

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I like to think of this group of hoverflies are the moustaches and kidney beans because that's what they look like in my minds eye 👁 

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Embracing the art of mimicry: While humans frown upon pretending, for hoverflies, it's a survival essential! 😶‍🌫️

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CC Interview with Biosecurity consultant researcher - Adam McVeigh

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CC Interview with Biosecurity consultant researcher - Adam McVeigh

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As someone who played a huge part in my own learning curve in entomology, it was incredible to hear about how far his passion for biodiversity has taken Adam.

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An island Nature Reserve where environmental conservation and industrial resource extraction go hand-in-hand? This may be hard to imagine but such a place does exist, and this is where Adam McVeigh calls home for two weeks, every month.

As a Senior Environmental Scientist for Stantec consultancy in Australia, Adam works on a particularly unique island, historically a nature reserve for over 110 years. Many endangered species there are found almost exclusively on and around the island, from marsupials to marine species.

Oil and gas have been extracted from the island for over 60 years and this has played a vital part in the economy of both the local region and the country. Given the high protection provided to a nature reserve, the industry can only operate under strict conditions and legislation.

The unlikely harmony of a nature reserve and resource extraction

While this combination might seem unconventional, Adam suggests that it may have mitigated the impact of recreational tourism, particularly the strain associated with camping or fishing, on the island ecosystem (the name of which is confidential for security reasons). However, the industry's presence necessitates constant monitoring to ensure that there is no harm or change to the local environment.

Australia recognizes the severe impact of invasive species, evident on both the mainland and islands. Feral introduced species like foxes, cats, pigs, and rabbits have significantly threatened native species. While some islands have managed successful control programs, it often comes at great expense.

Adam and his team aim to learn from Australia's past experiences and implement best practices. They conduct essential surveys for non-native animals and plants to prevent cargo and shipments from causing invasive pest outbreaks on this island.

Pests such as rats pose significant threats to native species not accustomed to their presence. Adam's surveys also include checks for invasive marine pests like mussels, crabs, and microorganisms, as well as conducting nocturnal wildlife surveys and specialised live-trapping of mammals and reptiles.

Ants, Adam described, are another threat to the island's pristine wildlife, with their tiny armies rapidly overturning native habitats on the mainland. Surveying for the presence of such specific non-native creatures on a reserve sometimes requires some ingenious thinking. A bucket with tiny ant-sized holes was the crucial answer in this case, baited with enticing ant delicacies such as jam or meat.

Getting a handle on an ecological abyss

In Australia it is estimated about 80% of invertebrate species are yet to be described. How do you begin to survey organisms within such an unknown context? Is the newly discovered species invasive or just undescribed?

Adam acknowledges this aspect presents a significant challenge. While all specimens are sent for further analysis and independent verification, his expertise in invertebrates allows him to prioritize between native and non-native species. Surveys on the island assess for presence rather than abundance and it takes confidence in his eye and knowledge when walking transects, searching for potential invasive species.

Adam described a species of small jumping spider, which until recently was known as a different species. When taxonomists get to study the invertebrates in question, this can trigger discussions at governmental levels regarding their naturalised or introduced status. It is hard to imagine how anyone comes to make a final decision on such a confusing topic!

Fulfilling professional needs through butterflies and bees

Adam's professional journey has followed a rather unexpected but deliberate trajectory. He pursued each opportunity with the specific aim of acquiring new experiences and skills.

As an undergraduate, he trained to be a history teacher, which complemented his childhood love of insects when he became an educational tour-guide at a butterfly farm. He later enhanced his entomology credibility through a Masters degree in Conservation & Biodiversity at Lancaster University, studying the Mountain Ringlet butterfly in the Lake District.

As a research assistant for a conservation charity, he surveyed British farmland insects whilst furthering another of his skills, honeybee keeping. This proved surprisingly crucial, as he joined Nottingham Trent University's honeybee project. Adam enjoyed the holistic and non-invasive approach to beekeeping the team emphasised and through the project he furthered his credentials, publishing a number of scientific papers.

Grasping such opportunities when working in research is essential to demonstrate your abilities to future employers. Undeniably his career developed the key skills he needed to fulfil his current role, despite being on the other side of the world. Trapping methods such as pitfall trapping, walked survey transects and the understanding to identify organisms confidently and precisely.

Adams's journey is a story of finding balance and where he feels most fulfilled. He described this as just one example of a story many find themselves in:

"Everyone knows the shared definition for Conservation but it's about finding what that means to you, where you feel you can make the impact you want."

The reality of a career in conservation is you may not always feel like you are making the scale of impact you imagined, but Adam insists there is comfort in knowing you can be one piece of a much larger, global puzzle, creating a team all working towards similar goals.

The highs and lows of island living

Somewhat akin to a real-life Pokémon trainer searching for rare creatures, Adam still indulges his passion for butterflies. Discovering native species on the, island which have not been recorded for 50 years, provides him immense satisfaction.

Despite being less appealing to many, Adam's favourite aspect of his role is the fly-in, fly-out or "FIFO" schedule. This involves living on the island, working long hours for two weeks straight, followed by two weeks off on the mainland. It can be very well-paid and is a common arrangement in Australia, essential for the continued operations of many industrial sites.

Adam utilises his free time to conduct entomological surveys, butterfly walks, community group volunteering, and undertake his own insect research as an honorary research fellow at a local university.

However, the demanding schedule cannot be underestimated, as it varies greatly depending on the activity of the different target species Adam is surveying for. Adjusting to this ever-changing schedule presents the greatest challenge, requiring strong organization, collaboration, and delegation among the team.

These qualities enable everyone to approach the work with positivity, appreciating the diverse wildlife encountered during surveys, with conservation of the island's unique biodiversity as their top priority.

What makes biodiversity valuable to you?

Biodiversity is precious, providing the framework for ecological balance and services, promoting resilience, adaptation and stability. It is also critical for industrial services such as medicinal resources and food production. Beyond this, it holds great cultural value and humans possess an ethical and moral obligation to preserve it because, as Adam describes, it is irreplaceable.

From Adam's perspective, the loss of biodiversity is the most urgent issue. He advocates for accessible ways to raise awareness and value wildlife more. He has experienced projects where collaborators had, well-intentioned, but miss-informed views of what biodiversity actually means.

Agreeing on a clear definition of biodiversity, and our aims when promoting it, can really help a project's impact. Fostering a deep connection to nature and biodiversity loss across diverse audiences, from government officials to land managers and beyond is essential for mobilizing collective action and driving meaningful change.

Describe what you can do, beyond what you have done

Anyone navigating a professional journey in ecology is presented with a formidable challenge: the elusive cycle of experience. One requires experience to obtain more, yet acquiring it proves difficult without an initial foundation.

Adam urges anyone in this position to be open-minded, "there are more ways to obtain experience than you might realise". Beyond volunteering and grasping experiences through educational courses, there is the opportunity to take matters into your own hands, go outside and look for the wildlife you are interested in! This is a great way to practice the skills you are interested in improving and allows you to demonstrate this to a future employer.

Imposter syndrome can haunt people at any professional level, and Adam has been no exception, but he emphasised that accepting competence is as important as acknowledging fortunate circumstances.

Good advice is always worth sharing, Adam remembers his first boss telling him the importance of going above and beyond during interviews:

"Describe what you have done, then following that, what you can do now."

Creating your own opportunities and experience means you have the time to break things down, and work out what you enjoy and where you need to improve. Showing this initiative and self-awareness can go a long way when speaking to people in the ecological network. Connecting through shared passions and learning, particularly as university level, you can open new doors to potential collaboration and support in the future.

You never know where your own steam can take you and Adam is the perfect example of this. Between studies, Adam travelled to Australia and loved it; who could have imagined the path he would take to end up back there conducting such incredible work?

Curious to learn more? Read some of Adam's papers, or follow Adam's adventures on Instagram.

If you'd like to learn more about Ecologist roles, check out our role profile Ecologist | Ensuring ecologically sensitive development, or our ultimate guide How to become an ecologist.

Author Profile | Jayna Connelly

Jayna Connelly is an ecologist, deeply committed to communicating crucial knowledge to a wider audience. As a Research Ecologist specializing in Entomology, Jayna's passion is fueled by a profound understanding of the intricate connections within ecosystems. Her studies made her aware of the huge breadth of wildlife that is often misunderstood or completely overlooked.

Jayna firmly believes that by fostering an appreciation for the significance of even the smallest creatures in our surroundings, society can collectively reverse the decline of ecosystems. Jayna's work extends beyond academia; she strives to inspire a broad audience to recognize the inherent value of the biodiversity that surrounds us. Through her efforts, she envisions a world where the collective empowerment of individuals translates into meaningful actions, leading to positive changes for our planet.

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From British bugs to biosecurity down under | Conservation Careers

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This Senior Environmental Scientist helps preserves biodiversity on an Australian island nature reserve amidst industrial resource extraction.

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CC Interview with Communications and Scientific Writer - Amber Hopgood

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CC Interview with Communications and Scientific Writer - Amber Hopgood

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Ambers work at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, helping to make science and advise more accessible is ESSENTIAL. Not to mention her enthusiasm for all wildlife is infectious.

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Scientific writing requires details, data and absolutely no emotion, fostering credibility within journals. This approach ensures a rigorous foundation but often lacks the inspirational quality needed to engage a broader audience in conservation efforts. This is where Amber Hopgood bridges the gap between fact-based conservation and the need for greater understanding and support from the public.

Amber's role as Writer and Research Specialist at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) extends beyond the realm of raw data and fosters the essential work of the Trust's researchers into compelling narratives, worthy of everyone's attention.

From passion to profession: Amber Hopgood's career evolution

Amber's career journey began at a young age with a passion for ecology and wildlife. She volunteered at local nature reserves, spending time combating invasive weeds and setting up bird feeders.

Her first degree, studying Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Wolverhampton, allowed her to explore a variety of habitats throughout the Midlands without specialising too soon and narrowing her skills and perspectives.

Amber lived a "double life" during her studies and after graduating, engaging in charity fundraising, managing communications for a pet rescue centre, and gaining marketing experience in e-commerce.

Volunteering has played a significant role for her since she was an undergrad, as she led a student-run wildlife society and began managing the Birmingham and Black Country Amphibian and Reptile Group (BBCARG) during her final year, which she still does now. When the pandemic hit, she transitioned into science communication roles at GWCT, aligning work with her passion for the sector and offering a more flexible working environment.

"[Science communication] is actually in the sector I want to be working in, but it doesn't come with any of the more challenging bits, like working outside or driving long hours, and it's a bit more flexible for the kind of work that I like to do. "

She still spends most weekends and evenings doing surveys, giving talks, and training volunteers, but now her paid work also aligns with her motivations. Amber emphasised that there are voluntary wildlife groups for most species groups in almost every county. This means that everyone has the opportunity to get involved in something. She was able to bring extra value to her involvement with BBCARG by helping to give it more consistent structure, membership, and monitoring projects.

Bridging science with communication

Amber's natural affinity to lead teams does not stop when she comes into work, as she also chairs the GWCT Women for Wildlife group, LGBTQIA+ group, and is an active member of the Trust's Investors in People committee. With her background in ecology, she seamlessly bridges the gap between research and communications at the Trust. Her scientific roots provide added confidence and credibility when communicating with colleagues across the organisation.

She enjoys the varied working schedule, which involves tasks such as summarising scientific papers, producing blogs, literature reviews, and guides, and working with research teams to help them effectively communicate their research. While a significant portion of her time is dedicated to reading papers, and she acknowledges that this might not seem thrilling to some, she genuinely enjoys it.

To tackle the common misrepresentation of science in ecology, and equip everyone with the knowledge they need to make well informed decisions, Amber oversees What The Science Says, a fact-checking site managed by the Trust.

Here, she reviews current research related to specific claims, producing an accessible synopsis that presents a fact-based conclusion, devoid of assumptions, stigma, and personal opinions. Admittedly, by the time one of these highly involved documents is ready for publishing, Amber is keen to move onto a new topic and refresh her enthusiasm for something different.

A creative and collaborative approach is an opportunity to produce more moving stories - calls to action that provide a holistic view on an issue and what can be done to help. Amber discussed how she also enjoys getting to work on "Think Pieces", informative guides, and briefing documents.

"['Think Pieces'] are a nice blend of soft and technical writing to help communicate information to people who may be discovering the issue or species for the first time... they involve more people too - for example our graphic designers, marketing staff, and research teams who all come together to produce lovely documents".

She also utilises her own perspective to support others on her team and encourage innovation beyond her own job description. She feels that by always being open to discussion around new ideas, she can also help her colleagues embrace their own creativity.

The truth behind her dream job

As children, when asked about our future aspirations, we often leaned towards the conventional choices: doctor, fireman, teacher. Yet, the hidden truth behind our dream job may lie in our potential to fill a role that isn't immediately obvious to us.

Amber described how her perspective, fostered by her role at the Trust and the completion of her Masters degree in Ecological Monitoring, has made her realise the variety of roles which professionals in her area are doing much more than she had realised beforehand.

"I think if I had known earlier that these careers were an option, I would have gone for this kind of job much sooner"

She loves engaging with the technical side of projects at the Trust, and getting the chance to discuss new research and go out into the field with departments for which she supports communications.

The dance of diplomacy and conservation

The flexibility of science communication work was a major positive factor for Amber, although she admits much credit is owed to her lovely team. Beyond her flexible working schedule, she enjoys the creative freedom she has to raise current issues which she feels her and her team should address and provide coverage for.

The diversity of people and expertise Amber gets to work with and represent, keeps her work varied and often fast paced. She describes how she cannot think of many other professional positions that would provide her with the same level of interdisciplinary insight.

Times where she can't be as flexible, however, often come with their own challenges. Larger pieces of work involving bigger teams often result in Amber feeling like she has as much project management to do as she does writing.

To be the mediator between a passionate scientist, keen to describe every nuance of their work, and public engagement, sometimes feels like threading a needle - dropping some technical details for the sake of clarity and comprehension. This can seem like a dance of diplomacy and communication, without dumbing down the science but providing the ultimately harmonious blend of expertise and accessibility.

Let's unlock the cycle: Emphasizing communication drives public awareness and value

What is the purpose of research? It should not be enough to secure funding, complete the research, and then only have others in the scientific community be aware of its findings. A true and positive ripple effect requires people like Amber to translate a project into messages that resonate beyond a select group of people.

"Science can only exist if there are enough people willing to fund it, and often funding is concentrated towards where there is public interest and benefit to be gained."

Amber says she would like for the "softer" communication avenues such as social media, leaflets, guides, and blogs to be given higher value in the scientific field. Unless the industry utilises these tools as effective bridges between science and the public, funding may not be provided to where it is most needed or can have the greatest impact.

She emphasises that often public awareness is needed long before a study's results are published. It takes a moving story to convince someone of the importance of a species they have never even heard of before.

Understand your audience!

Amber described that by volunteering in ecology you achieve so much more than just logging experience hours, as you are able to create a network of support and opportunities that are invaluable.

Subsequently, you gain awareness of all the different routes people take into the industry, as well as understanding potential audiences that - as someone working in marketing or communications - you may be presenting your ideas and content to in the future.

For anyone looking at a future in science communication, Amber says that building a portfolio by offering your pieces for publication in smaller local or student journals, blogs, and magazines is essential to gain credibility, and can be just as important as gaining valuable experience or qualifications related to your field of interest.

Amber is a perfect example of someone whose passion for nature and people shines through everything she does, there is no doubt her positive impact in her industry and on our wildlife is all the better for it.

Useful links

Check out these links to learn more about Amber's work:

Are you interested in becoming a conservation communicator? Check out our Conservation Communicator role profile to learn more about careers that raise the profile of conservation.

Author Profile | Jayna Connelly

Jayna Connelly is an ecologist, deeply committed to communicating crucial knowledge to a wider audience. As a Research Ecologist specializing in Entomology, Jayna's passion is fueled by a profound understanding of the intricate connections within ecosystems. Her studies made her aware of the huge breadth of wildlife that is often misunderstood or completely overlooked.

Jayna firmly believes that by fostering an appreciation for the significance of even the smallest creatures in our surroundings, society can collectively reverse the decline of ecosystems. Jayna's work extends beyond academia; she strives to inspire a broad audience to recognize the inherent value of the biodiversity that surrounds us. Through her efforts, she envisions a world where the collective empowerment of individuals translates into meaningful actions, leading to positive changes for our planet.
Interviews

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Communicating conservation - Double life or delicate dance? | Conservation Careers

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Amphibians, farmland and more! Explore Amber Hopgood's conservation career journey bridging science and communication.

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This is very simple but a great place to start for those who are interested.

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https://www.instagram.com/excelsior.on.tour/

Started this account for fun but my puppy is too cute to ignore!

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Fun FRAMEwork project blog but of course I 'm part of this research for a reason...

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Fun FRAMEwork project blog but of course I 'm part of this research for a reason...

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I am always keen to provide an insight into the amazing research conducted by the GWCT - sometimes this can provide some light hearted content but it's important to remember why this research is needed.

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By Jayna Connelly, Farmland Ecology Research Assistant

Holding my breath, navigating clouds of pollen in rye fields - an expected state for an ecological researcher. But after yet another summer field season, I've uncovered the need for a myriad of skills beyond the obvious.

I, along with the rest of the GWCT, pride myself on being part of a team that produces some of the most valuable and relevant scientific data on effective countryside management that benefits our ecosystems. To gather this data you need survey skills, identification skills, the ability to communicate effectively with people and sometimes even licences, but there is so much more that goes into a successful field season.

This year we completed nearly 500 pollinator transects for the FRAMEwork project and each survey came with its own challenges. Navigating a daily marathon of over 10km, battling brambles, and deciphering invisible gates is the ultimate test of willpower. Armed with determination and trousers that could probably withstand a nuclear blast, we face the wild terrains with a clipboard in hand, our official-looking prop.

But the real plot twist this year? Cue the entrance of a military helicopter on the horizon. Apparently, two innocuous girls in a field of rye triggered some serious suspicion. No doubt the chopper had a far more important mission to attend to; nonetheless it stopped and hovered above us, possibly debating whether our clipboard conferred top-secret status or if we were just overly enthusiastic agronomists.

While tightrope-walking over nettle-filled ditches gets the nerves going, the helicopter drama took the cake. We played it cool, giving an award-worthy performance of nonchalance with a side of, "Oh, we're just counting bugs here." Eventually, they must have figured out we were just harmless data gatherers and decided our clipboard wasn't concealing a secret mission.

So, in the grand tapestry of fieldwork adventures, we added a chapter on attracting military helicopters. Note to self: clipboard as an unintentional VIP pass to aerial surveillance. Fieldwork, where every step is a potential plot twist!

Another talent I never expected to need as an ecologist is the innate ability to tell what the weather is going to do. Preferably I need to see into the future or have the psychic ability to predict the weather better than my weather apps can. I often joke that I made it into the best branch of ecology because insects hide away in bad weather. While strolling around in the sun sounds pleasant and easy, fieldwork is never that simple.

The wet summer we experienced makes for quite the challenge when planning time-sensitive fieldwork. We did, however, successfully complete all the surveys, and while our data is still yet to be analysed, my general observations are complemented by this year's results of the Big Butterfly Count. Notably ringlets were on the list of species that have severely declined - this was a species that did strike me as almost entirely lacking during my surveys this year. I remember as a placement student just 4-5 years ago seeing this underrated butterfly constantly. In some areas I could barely take a step without flushing tens of them, but this year I could count the number I saw between April and August on one hand. These butterflies should be common as adults between July and August and I cannot help but wonder if, for species such as these, the wet summer months are more than just a logistical inconvenience.

Whether the unexpected hurdles of the fieldwork season are seen as 'off-putting' or 'fun', the potential catastrophic outcomes of climate change for species such as the ringlet butterfly remind me that every stinging nettle and scratch is worth it to help us gain a better understanding of the state of nature and continue to provide the data and tools to help wildlife in our countryside.

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Helicopters and hurdles aside, we make every insect count! - 2023 FRAMEwork pollinator surveys

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By Jayna Connelly, Farmland Ecology Research Assistant Holding my breath, navigating clouds of pollen in rye fields - an expected state for an ecological researcher. But after yet another summer field season, I've uncovered the need for a myriad of skills beyond the obvious.

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Bees in the uplands - Byron Pace podcast - Into the Wilderness

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Bees in the uplands - Byron Pace podcast - Into the Wilderness

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It was certainly nerve wracking speaking on this Podcast but I love how Byron is utilising this Podcast to consider the full breadth of the impacts of upland management - great and small.

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A landscape thousands of years in the making, facing an uncertain future.
Britain's uplands and the peat beneath it form one of the most unique, valuable and vulnerable ecosystems in the world.
Between ambitious tree planting targets, wind farm construction and efforts to restore damaged peatland, the British Uplands Podcast sees conservation journalists Byron Pace and Sarah Roberts explore the conflict between these difficult choices.
This is not a sit-down studio interview podcast. Over the coming weeks we'll join Byron and Sarah as they travel the country and get out on the hills meeting guests ranging from soil scientists, ecologists and rewilding enthusiasts to game keepers, chefs, crofters and deer managers.
Episode one of six to be released weekly.
For more visit www.britishuplands.com
Presented by Byron Pace & Sarah Roberts, co-produced and edited by David Shanks. An M.H. Studios production.

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the british uplands podcast: episode 1/6

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‎Into The Wilderness with Byron Pace: The British Uplands Podcast: Episode 1/6 on Apple Podcasts

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A landscape thousands of years in the making, facing an uncertain future. Britain's uplands and the peat beneath it form one of the most unique, valuable and vulnerable ecosystems in the world. Between ambitious tree planting targets, wind farm construction and efforts to restore damaged peatla...

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CC Interview with ESG Data Analyst - George day

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CC Interview with ESG Data Analyst - George day

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There were so many aspects I enjoyed about this blog - Interviewing George provided a significantly different perspective to conservations from my usual day to day. The discussion was so good it made for an interesting challenge to cut down into a blog. I also enjoyed designing the headline image :)

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Often, we see the blame for global warming or ecosystem destruction being placed onto large companies and corporations, governments or even entire countries. So, if they are the largest issue, who is addressing them to create fundamental change? Is it the activists who protest in the streets? Maybe.

But Consultant Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data analyst George Day believes there is another approach. He engages with the corporate world - working with them to comply with new ESG legislation in the UK and abroad.

What lead to George taking on this role?

George studied Economics at university and discovered that many individuals around him were solely focused on profit. This was a common experience for him, as he observed similar profit-driven motives across various organizational scales.

Despite this prevalent mindset, George was determined to seek a more balanced approach within this economic landscape. He feels he began to find that balance when he started a role as a Junior data analyst at Asesoria Group Ltd (a professional services group).

What are the main activities in this role?

In this role George worked as a consultant for Asesoria clients, working with companies to calculate their emissions as well as waste data, water use data and so on to be published in their annual reports.

This then progressed to helping organisations develop transition plans that align with the increasing legislation around environmental transparency, as well as solidify targets and ambitions for their future business sustainability. In more recent years this has also included beginning to address biodiversity commitments although he admits this is still in its early stages for listed companies.

How do the three parts of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) work alongside each other?

These three pillars (Environmental, Social and Governance) represent a set of criteria that investors use to evaluate a company's impact beyond traditional financial metrics.

George admits that environmental issues often fall to the bottom of the list of priorities for a company, with governance or social issues coming first. It is potentially unsurprising that topics such as gender equality or health and safety which directly impact people on a day-to-day basis may be seen as more pressing.

"Peoples' prioritisation of the climate ... depends on how immediate it is to them. And how much time they have to worry about it - if someone doesn't have to worry about their wages, how stable their job is ... then yes they can focus on the climate".

George went on to explain that this is a two-part issue."We've seen it this summer with all the wildfires for example... many companies, particularly those with employees in locations where the effects of climate change are already impacting them... when you talk to those people, they definitely care about it."

Where do you think the drive for change should be coming from? Is ESG as it stands enough?

George believes that the responsibility lies with everyone.

"I think it needs to come from everybody, because that would get the most impact... it does need to come from government and legislative bodies, etc.; it does need to come from the top down, but it also need to come from the bottom up."

He explains that people in the lower ranks of companies often could enact new changes to procedures, these are also often the people with the most practical ideas of what these changes might be. It may not be the only solution but the ESG template encourages a culture where these individuals can suggest environmentally sympathetic improvements for the company's progress.

As to his view on the potential criticisms around ESG - Greenwashing or gaps left by self-reporting systems - George hopes that as legislation progresses to become more globally standardised through the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) public perception will improve. This will therefore push demand from these companies further in the right direction.

"Progress is progress", he insists, claiming that all too often we all want to solve all the issues now. Everyone wants to be the best they can be but depending on their priorities often you have to accept some companies are only willing to take two steps forward at this stage rather than five.

What are the main challenges in your job?

In George's daily role, a significant challenge is assisting companies in sourcing their emissions data. He notes that the nature of the company greatly influences the types of resources used (e.g. an IT company versus a transit company), and data accessibility varies accordingly.

The location of the corporation and its suppliers also plays a role; European suppliers may have already calculated emissions, while counterparts in Latin America or Asia may not prioritize such measurements. Obtaining information from these regions can be more challenging.

However, a positive trend is the increased scrutiny on the validity and authenticity of published data, ensuring a more accurate representation by companies.Top of FormBottom of Form

While George says he has " never really met anyone who is a climate denier, there are many who feel their hands are tied by the infrastructure they are working within ". This can be for several reasons:

The infrastructure and culture in the company's host country may impact its operations. In regions where electric vehicles are not yet practical, transit/route-based companies might face challenges.

Social infrastructure within the Does anyone have the privilege to be confident in their position, their pay, their safety? Do they have the time to think about the company's climate impact?

Company culture. Do people feel empowered enough to suggest how the company might improve? Will it be reciprocated higher up?

Frequently, the central concern remains profitability, questioning whether a company can sustain or even increase profits annually within its physical infrastructure. The challenge here lies in the emphasis of the paper trail for profits, which is far rather than on the environmental impact. ESG steps in here, creating a paper trail that encourages companies to take responsibility and, ultimately, improve.

George emphasizes that maintaining confidentiality can hinder convincing companies of the effectiveness of a certain approach, whether it involves drafting new policies or engaging with investors.

"One of the most difficult parts of the job is to convince clients that you have an understanding, that you have expertise because you have done something before - whilst not being able to go into detail about it."

It takes a level of skill to be able to convince clients of your credentials without having a physical portfolio of examples.

What are the best parts of the job?

"Although this is a career I had never previously thought about, I'm pleased I've landed in it... and as it's a growing sector... I think it's one where the potential to have positive impacts is only going to get bigger as I stay with it," George shares.

Another positive is that as a consultant he gets to work on many different projects, so things are always changing. By working with different companies with different outlooks he never gets bored and doesn't feel stuck in the same situation for too long before moving on to the next client.

If he wasn't a consultant, he feels he would have a narrow view of what sustainability means. Whereas:

"From the consultancy perspective you get to work with a huge number of companies, all across the world, operating in vastly different areas and it gives you much more of a rounded view of what the climate challenge actually is."

George describes how this can be an advantage for his personal confidence that he can show a range of clients how they can best work on their ESG. He adds, " It's also just a bit more fun, to be honest... there's a huge range of projects you can get involved in and therefore a huge range of positive impacts you can have without burning out ". George never gets bored, and his ever-changing role keeps him motivated for the next challenge.

What would you want someone to know who is considering a similar role?

George says that it is important to be realistic.

"Ultimately as a consultant you are brought in to do what is asked of you by that company. You can advise them to enact a more ambitious transition plan; you can advise them to push themselves further. If they turn around and say no, you have to accept that. We are not activists, we are experts. Experts who recognise that this is a crisis that we should be trying to manage."

To tackle this climate crisis, it takes all kinds of people from all walks of life, backgrounds and specialities. Those who have the most to offer may not always be the obvious ones. Wildlife rangers, research ecologists, nature journalists and many others with roles based "on the ground" are all widely thought of as the people at the forefront of the climate movement.

However, from George's point of view he's making the best impact he can by sitting across the table from these companies and working with them to make those crucial (however small) steps in the right direction towards a more sustainable future.

If you want to find out more, visit the Asesoria website.

For more information on the corporate side of conservation visit:

Author Profile | Jayna Connelly

Jayna Connelly is an ecologist, deeply committed to communicating crucial knowledge to a wider audience. As a Research Ecologist specializing in Entomology, Jayna's passion is fueled by a profound understanding of the intricate connections within ecosystems. Her studies made her aware of the huge breadth of wildlife that is often misunderstood or completely overlooked.

Jayna firmly believes that by fostering an appreciation for the significance of even the smallest creatures in our surroundings, society can collectively reverse the decline of ecosystems. Jayna's work extends beyond academia; she strives to inspire a broad audience to recognize the inherent value of the biodiversity that surrounds us. Through her efforts, she envisions a world where the collective empowerment of individuals translates into meaningful actions, leading to positive changes for our planet.

Interviews, Climate Change, Sustainability

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The corporate side of conservation | Conservation Careers

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Often, we see the blame for global warming or ecosystem destruction being placed onto large companies and corporations, governments or even entire countries. So, if they are the largest issue, who is addressing them to create fundamental change? Is it the activists who protest in the streets? Maybe.

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https://www.instagram.com/farmlandecologygwct/

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Salisbury and District Natural History Society

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Salisbury and District Natural History Society

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https://www.instagram.com/sdnhsoc/

Alongside my role on the Society Committee as Field Events Secretary, I am also supporting a focussed effort towards connecting a new generation of local nature lovers to the Society through Instagram as well as Junior blogs and events.

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M&S Farming with Nature - pollinator monitoring training

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M&S Farming with Nature - pollinator monitoring training

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I was asked by growers at APS at the Isle of Wight branch to come and spend the day showing them how to methodically survey the pollinators on their land. They are hoping to collect data on how the habitat management they are putting in place is improving the abundance and diversity of Solitary bees, bumble bees and hover flies.

Working with such keen and engaged farmers was incredibly rewarding and I look forward to hearing about the data they collect in the future.

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I had the pleasure of working with Anna Vollmer and illustrator Anne-Lieke faber to produce an inspiring and informative poster form farmland management through the seasons.

Using the knowledge and experience I gained during the project, I collated the key points farmers can consider when managing their semi-natural habitat as well as what they might see using these areas.

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30 June 2023 - Published by Baastian Blauw

by Jayna Connelly, Lucy Capstick, John Holland (Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust)

Illustrations by Anne-Lieke Faber

Your flower strips and hedges are colourful habitats

With this poster we aim to inspire land managers to support pollinators and other wildlife with flower strips and hedges throughout the year. We provide concise habitat management recommendations per season for wildflower areas and hedges. In each season you can find the main plant species, pollinators and other wildlife for which you can provide habitat on your farmland.
Transform your land into the colourful, lively home for pollinators and other wildlife which not only benefit the whole ecosystem but you and your crops as well!
Above you can find detailed instructions to establish wildflower areas and recommendations for their management.

You can print the single seasons in A4 format and combine them to the whole year on your wall.

The poster is available to download here: in English, Dutch or German

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The BEESPOKE Poster, Interreg VB North Sea Region Programme

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30 June 2023 - Published by Baastian Blauw by Jayna Connelly, Lucy Capstick, John Holland (Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust) Illustrations by Anne-Lieke Faber With this poster we aim to inspire land managers to support pollinators and other wildlife with flower strips and hedges throughout the year.

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Jay.bug - Wildlife research and communications

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Jay.bug - Wildlife research and communications

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https://www.instagram.com/jaybug.wild.life/

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https://www.instagram.com/beespoke_nsr/

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Top Hoverfly - Eristalis Pertinax, bottom hoverfly Eristalis arbustorum

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Andrena haemorrhoa (Orange-tailed Mining bee)

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Working on this project was a huge learning curve. I improved my identification and survey skills as well as working on various outreach events and publications.

Here are some key take aways from the project.

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By Jayna Connelly, Farmland Ecology Research Assistant

When your think of "robbers", who comes to mind? Surely not a cute little honeybee. Over the course of the BEESPOKE project, this is a revelation that has stuck with me from the beginning.

As the project draws to a close, there are a number of crucial messages to take away. Pollinators, like many living creatures, need food, shelter and somewhere to nest. The need for floral diversity to provide pollinators with food sources that suit them is a key point around which the BEESPOKE project was largely based.

When the familiar honeybee is only one of 270 bee species in the UK, this diverse group undoubtedly calls for diverse habitats for all of them to call home. Unlike honeybees, wild bee species such as solitary bees and bumblebees do not inhabit hives laid out by humans but may use quality-made bee hotels. Other wild bees use bare earth, tree cavities, tussocky grass and leaf litter.

Since around 75% of the land in the UK is farmed, it is crucial to work with farmers to improve pollinator habitat on their land. For this to be viable sufficient financial support and incentives need to be put in place by governments and regulatory bodies. Providing training and developing networks where knowledge can be shared between land managers is also essential. This is what the BEESPOKE project focused on in its last phase of the project.

Encouraging politicians to put in support mechanisms for pollinators at an event at the EU parliament and encouraging practitioners to put in the management for pollinators at an on-farm event at the Allerton Project.

The BEESPOKE open day at the Allerton Project

If you attended the BEESPOKE project open day you will have heard Dr John Holland discussing the importance of utilising the strengths of as many of our wild bees as possible. You will have also learnt that honeybees are a common culprit for robbing bell-shaped flowers such as field bean crops. Shorter-tongued honeybees and bumblebee species such as buff-tails often struggle to reach the nectar at the back of deeper flowers and so will bite a hole at the base as a shortcut and 'rob' the nectar. This means the bees don't collect and deposit pollen as they visit different flowers and so don't provide cross-fertilisation for the crop. Garden bumblebees, however, have much longer tongues, and so will usually forage through the front of the flower, getting covered in pollen and transferring pollen between plants as they visit each flower.

"All bees need a balanced diet, much like humans," Dr Lucy Capstick presented. Nectar, which is full of sugar, is not enough for the bees to be healthy; they need the protein and carbohydrates provided by pollen too. Providing a variety of flowers through spring, summer and early autumn is essential to support a diverse community of bees. This community will be able to provide their pollination services to crops and wild plants alike the following year.

John Szczur emphasised the need for varied and often underappreciated nesting sites for bees during his farm tour. Adjacent to the farm, in Loddington church graveyard, there was one grave with slate toppings, home to the only known colony of big-headed mining bees in the county. Next to it, a rather crumbly-looking wall of the church, home to hairy-footed flower bees, among others.

To preserve and improve pollination services for the future of farming, the economics of maintaining these habitats must be feasible. Ian Fraser, a BEESPOKE project partner from the University of Kent, has been creating a matrix to address this. Saya Harvey also discussed at the Allerton open day the costs, savings and benefits of implementing agri-environment schemes (AES). Using her own farm to give examples, she showed that many areas, particularly around the edges of her fields, do not yield enough crop to even cover the cost of sowing seed there, and so she saves herself the cost and instead earns money through AES in these patches. A local farmer who attended the open day talked about how he has cut costs on his farm by reducing how frequently he cut his hedges. In this way, he makes less work for himself and helps wildlife by allowing hedges such as hawthorn to flower and fruit, providing food for pollinators and farmland birds.

Brussels policy meeting

The opportunity to translate the needs of farmers to politicians in Brussels came on the 30 May at the Policy Influencer event.

Key recommendations were:

Affordable seed mixes that incorporate locally adapted flower species for the area and soil type are needed.

AES payments must incentivise farmers and make implementation and management of the schemes economically viable. Moreover, these AESs need to be flexible so that they are accessible and achievable for farmers to implement depending on their needs. For example, AES areas must be flexible in size and shape to allow for differences in machinery.

Movement towards a culture where tolerance of some weeds that provide high nectar and pollen resources for pollinators is needed.

Food for pollinators can have multiple benefits if selected based on research. For example, BEESPOKE partners at NIAB created crop-specific wildflower seed mixes that provide nectar and pollen but also encourage beneficial insects and discourage pest species depending on the fruit. Research-based wildflower seed mixes can have great success for pollinators.

Pesticide drift is a concern that must not be overlooked.

Training is needed - farmers need the scope and opportunity to try new things as well as learn from each other.

Despite the BEESPOKE project coming to an end, its advice and resources are available to anyone wishing to be inspired and informed by the project's work. For more information and guides so you can help farmland bees, visit the website.

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The BEESPOKE project has created a hive of knowledge - now let's reap the rewards

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By Jayna Connelly, Farmland Ecology Research Assistant When your think of "robbers", who comes to mind? Surely not a cute little honeybee. Over the course of the BEESPOKE project, this is a revelation that has stuck with me from the beginning. As the project draws to a close, there are a number of crucial messages to take away.

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This outreach event hosts many key researchers from the BEESPOKE project and puts forward crucial findings and messages to those who can make a difference including land managers, farmers and growers.

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"What's your favourite flower?" might seem like a strange question to ask a bee, but this is what researchers from across Europe have been studying in a bid to increase farmland bee numbers - and they are ready to share their findings.

To share this research, the BEESPOKE project is hosting an open day at the Allerton Project to discuss the benefits of encouraging pollinators, provide advice on the countryside stewardship options available to do so, and help outline the kind of outcomes you might see as a result.

What would you say if you were told you could only eat for one month of the year? You might think that growing flowering crops is doing a favour for the bees, and while that is correct it is more complex than this. Pollinator dependent or not - flowering crops can provide a vast resource of pollen and nectar for an inconceivable number of bees. However, these crops only flower for a few weeks of the year and bees need other flowers to feed, so they can survive the winter and pollinate crops again.

The UK alone is home to a staggering 270 different species of bee which provide a wide range of benefits but have diverse habitat requirements. The BEESPOKE project researchers have been surveying the types of bees found around crops and nearby habitats, assessing if non-cropped habitats can promote higher numbers of bees in crop fields.

As UK farming has to contend with an increasingly unpredictable climate one thing is for sure, we need bees. Not just any bees, hardy, effective bees and lots of them to ensure no one wastes time and money trying to grow flowering crops that won't produce the yields they are looking for. We seem to be constantly reminded that we need to #savethebees, but this is often misinterpreted as talking about honeybees. These are not really the ones that need saving, it's our wild bees!

Some may still remember when insects were much more abundant and you had to wipe a cloud of them off your windscreen as you drove down a country lane, but with that issue removed, many more have been added. The BEESPOKE project partners are working with farmers and others who manage land in the countryside to tackle the issue of bee declines head-on.

If you are confused by the endless options of flower mixes to sow in your margins or unclear about the benefits of applying pollinator friendly measures, this open day is an opportunity to workshop your concerns and find some clarity on these matters.

The open day is being hosted at the Allerton Project on 24 May 2023 and lunch is provided. Book your free place on Eventbrite below:
BOOK YOUR PLACE >

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Feed the bees and they'll feed you: Learn from the experts at the Allerton Project this May

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"What's your favourite flower?" might seem like a strange question to ask a bee, but this is what researchers from across Europe have been studying in a bid to increase farmland bee numbers - and they are ready to share their findings.