NATURAL RESEARCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director and Senior Project Ecologist
Blair is a Senior Project Ecologist who joined NRP in 2011.
He is responsible in NRP for project management of ornithological assessment work, involving the preparation of EIAs and Habitat Regulations Appraisals (HRAs) for development proposals, principally onshore wind farms, and providing advice on planning constraints, mitigation and monitoring. He advises clients on a range of ornithological issues including interpretation of data and highlighting relevant legislative obligations. Blair has been an expert witness on ornithological issues for a renewable energy developer at public inquiry.
With a particular interest in interpreting and analysing complex ornithological data, Blair has developed bespoke models, accounting for behavioural differences between species, evaluating collision mortality and its effects using Population Viability Analysis. These models include an oblique approach Collision Risk Model, revisions to SNH predictable and unpredictable Collision Risk Models, a bespoke goose Collision Risk Model; and corncrake and hen harrier population models (incorporating mortality interactions).
Since graduating from SAC Auchincruive with a Diploma in Conservation Management, Blair has over 25 years' experience working with birds and their conservation. This includes over 15 years of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and renewable energy experience, both as a consultant and as a renewables casework advisor for Scottish Natural Heritage. Acting as SNH's lead for certain complex, contentious or novel renewable energy casework, he provided statutory advice and guidance on the impact of renewable development on birds. This included providing advice for public inquiry. He also contributed to the development of SNH guidance in relation to birds, their interaction with wind energy developments and impact assessment.
Job Titles:
- Field Ecologist
- Member of South Strathclyde Raptor Study Group
Bob has been employed full-time as a Senior Field Ecologist with NRP since 2003.
He is involved in conducting generic day to day surveys and species-specific surveys at a range of potential and constructed wind farm sites, mainly across Central Scotland. He has also participated in specialist studies for NRP which have taken him to Shetland, Wales, Ireland, Poland & Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan he was involved, over three breeding seasons, in collecting field data for a Natural Research-funded PhD study on Pallid Harrier and Montagu's Harrier. In Poland and Ireland, he was involved in training local field surveyors in SNH-based methods of recording flight activity and other survey protocols, prior to commencement of work on potential wind farm sites in those countries.
He has attended the many NRP training courses, including height-distance estimation and first aid and is trained to mountain leadership standard.
Bob has a life-long interest in birds, specializing in moorland & upland communities. Bob is a long standing member of South Strathclyde Raptor Study Group and currently Merlin co-coordinator for the group. He has been studying upland raptors under licence from SNH since 1983. Prior to joining Natural Research (Projects), Bob carried out bird survey work for Scottish Coal and various consultancies.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director NR Group
John joined NRP as a Field Ecologist in March 2013.
He is involved in conducting generic day to day surveys and species-specific surveys at a range of potential wind farm sites, mainly across southwest Scotland. John has received appropriate training through NRP courses, such as height and distance estimation, and use of SPOT messenger, to complement his considerable field skills and experience.
Since graduating with an Ecology degree from Edinburgh University in 1976, John has worked continuously in nature conservation in the UK and abroad. This commenced with a series of contracts for various conservation bodies including the Nature Conservancy Council and the RSPB, mainly involving ornithological survey work and research, and later in nature reserve management. During this period, John travelled and worked extensively in southern and eastern Africa and Nepal. In Nepal, John carried out forest bird surveys for Birdlife International involving organising expeditions to remote forests in eastern Nepal as well as bird surveys in various national parks including Chitwan.
Eventually John settled down and secured the post of Reserve Manager with Scottish Natural Heritage in Argyll, a position he held for 23 years. During this period highlights included managing habitats for rare butterflies and developing three National Nature Reserves for visitors to enjoy. At home in Argyll, John continues to pursue his special interests in raptor monitoring and Lepidoptera.
Josh joined NRP as our GIS & Data Officer in February 2021. Josh graduated from Aberdeen University in 2020 with First class honours degree in Ecology; which included an honours project on assessing the impacts of management practices on vegetation at a NatureScot NNR. During his degree Josh worked on various projects, all of which enhanced his data handling and analysis skills. In 2020, Josh was involved in an ecological project undertaking woodland vegetation surveys and providing advice on how to manage the ground flora. Other previous jobs include lab technician and teaching assistant at Aberdeen University.
Lynda joined the company in 2009 and has more than 20 years' experience in finance and administration roles.
Lynda oversees the administrative function of the business including HR and payroll. She is also responsible for operational financial planning, monitoring and reporting; and project financial management and client invoicing.
Lynda has a CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting and is a Fellow Member of the International Association of Bookkeepers.
I am a retired Police Sergeant from Lothian and Borders Police. One of my roles in the police was Wildlife Crime Officer, a position I held for 15 years.
I have had a lifelong interest in birds and in particular in raptors and owls
I am a member of the Lothian and Borders Raptor Study Group and have a particular interest in Goshawks and am the Goshawk coordinator for the group.
Rhodri Evetts joined NRP in April 2020.
He is involved in conducting generic day to day surveys and species-specific surveys at a range of potential wind farm sites across Scotland. Rhodri has undertaken appropriate training with NRP including height and distance estimation as well as use of SPOT messenger services, which compliment his existing background in ecological surveying.
Rhodri graduated with a degree from Bangor University in environmental conservation in 2017 and completed a masters by research in biology in 2020 at the same institution. During this period Rhodri has undertaken both long and short term contracted work for organisations including GWCT and RSPB. Much of this work has focused on monitoring populations of upland breeding avifauna including waders and raptors. He has also undertaken fieldwork monitoring mountain hares throughout the Cairngorms in conjunction with the James Hutton Institute.
While gathering data for his masters, Rhodri lived in South Africa for 10 weeks. During this time, he conducted daily fieldwork involving the collection of high-quality images of zebra to address the question of the origin of their stripes. While there, he also kept detailed notes of sightings of rare fauna which were reported to SANParks.
Rhodri has had a lifetime interest in wildlife, especially ornithology and ecology. He is also a keen climber and mountaineer who enjoys spending time in some of Scotland's wilder landscapes.