About Us

What we do

From our office on Deeside, just west of Aberdeen, we carry out arboriculture and ecology surveys. This includes guidance and consultation for housing projects, road construction, golf courses, estate management and utilities infrastructure. Since 1974, we have been involved in a huge variety of ecology surveys all over Scotland. As a result, our clients include landowners, developers, planning authorities and environmental bodies, and of course, individual homeowners.

Tree surveys and bat surveys for private home extensions and new builds make up a significant part of our business.

We work closely with organisations such as NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage), Forestry & Land Scotland, Bat Conservation Trust and other species protection bodies. In addition, The Chartered Institute of Environmental and Ecological Management (CIEEM) is the professional body which represents and supports ecologists and environmental managers, and provides the standards to which we work.

The team

The ecology team are trained in ecological surveying techniques and work to British Standard and CIEEM standards. They are assisted during the summer months by a team of enthusiastic bat surveyors, all of whom are pursuing a career in ecology.
All our ecologists, surveyors and support team share our passion for preserving and enhancing our native ecology, while recognising the need to enable development to take place in a way that minimises harm to areas that may be environmentally sensitive.

Nigel Astell, our senior ecologist, has 45 years’ experience in providing ecological and arboricultural services. Nigel holds degrees in Botany and Zoology and is a member of the Arboricultural Association and CIEEM. He is a trained bat surveyor and holds a bat roost survey licence.
Nigel can draw on his many years’ experience on successful projects all over Scotland. Because of this, he is able to provide reliable and practical advice for solving the many complex, and sometimes conflicting, ecological issues that can arise from major developments. Due to his experience, Nigel has, on many occasions, been called on as a Special Witness at Public Enquiries.

Liz Petchell is project manager for the company. She has a comprehensive knowledge of the standards expected by regulatory bodies and planning authorities. This ensures that the advice we provide and reports we submit on your behalf provide all the information required. In turn, this speeds up the process of getting you the permissions and licences needed for your project.
Liz is a qualified bat surveyor, and during the busy bat season she co-ordinates the bat surveys.

Other interests

Eastland Foresters, Nigel’s tree surgery and forestry company, grew out of his early interest in tree surgery, landscaping and gardening. Consequently, he has had years of hands-on experience working with trees and managing woodlands in different environments. As a result, he fully understands the interactions between flora, fauna and the natural ecology.

Nigel is also a board member of the Maryculter Woodlands Trust, a charity that manages the community woodlands in the Parish of Maryculter. In this role, he provides consultancy advice and takes an active hands-on approach in the ongoing development of the woodlands. They are gradually being replanted with indigenous species.