About us
Torc Ecology is a Norfolk based ecology consultancy established in 2008 to provide a professional consultancy service in East Anglia and across the UK. The company consists of three senior members of staff who are all Full members of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), and a dedicated team of assistant ecologists, field ecologists and professional associates.
Louise Brown
BSc (Hons) MSc MCIEEM
Director Ecology since 1994Louise is a Director at Torc Ecology and has been working within the ecology field since 1994. Specialising in bat and barn owl surveys, European protected species licencing, Paragraph 79 applications and habitat enhancement, she has worked within the public and private sector, as well as for a local wildlife trust consultancy.
Louise holds Natural England survey licences for bats, barn owls and great crested newts and is also a Registered Consultant under Natural England's Bat Mitigation Class Licence.
Louise helps run Forest School activities at the local infant school every week where young pupils are encouraged to enjoy and engage with their natural surroundings.
Shaun Baker
BSc (Hons) PDip MCIEEM
Director 20+ Years ExperienceShaun is a Director at Torc Ecology and has over 20 year's professional experience of ecology and nature conservation in both Britain and Europe. Areas of expertise include European and UK protected species and managing large scale projects with multiple ecological issues.
Shaun holds a Natural England survey licence for bats and great crested newts and is a Natural England Registered Consultant for the both the Bat Mitigation Class Licence and the Great Crested Newt Low Impact Class Licence.
Since 2001 Shaun has been involved in the population monitoring of a reintroduced beaver population in the Czech Republic with his PhD research focusing on beaver dispersal through sub-optimal environments.
Independent Planner
Hilary Lock BA (Hons)
PlanningHilary is a chartered town planning consultant with over 20 years planning experience in both the private and public sectors. Hilary provides the necessary planning advice and completes the Reasoned Statement section of our European Protected Species License applications.
Her invaluable input significantly reduces the risk of delays in this complex application procedure. Hilary runs HJL Planning.
Arborists
Ravencroft Arboricultural Services
Established 1992Established in 1992 Ravencroft Arboricultural Services offer a range of arboricultural assessments including tree condition and hazard reports, pre-development and arboricultural implication surveys.
Torc Ecology works closely with Ravencroft Arboricultural Services where risk assessment for bats are required. Clients include both the public and private sector. For more information visit www.ravencrofttrees.co.uk
Ornithologist
Neil Bostock BSc (Hons) MCIEEM
10+ Years ExperienceNeil is an accomplished bird surveyor with over ten years experience of conducting large-scale breeding and winter bird surveys.
Neil's work has largely focused on proposed wind farm developments throughout the UK since 2002 enabling him to have a thorough understanding of the potential ecological issues associated with these types of development.
Invertebrate Specialist
Andy Jukes BSc (Hons)
Site ConservationAndy is an invertebrate specialist with extensive experience in carrying out invertebrate surveys and providing practical site conservation/management advice for invertebrates.
Torc Ecology works closely with Andy on sites where there is the potential for significant invertebrate interest. Andy runs his own consultancy Conops Entomology Ltd.