Biodiversity Advanced Ltd is a small dedicated ecological consultancy. Our size means that our skilled and experienced team will work directly on your project to provide net gains for biodiversity alongside development.
Dr Katy Read CEcol MCIEEM CEnv DipSM, Director
Dr Katy Read has spent over 20 years working as a professional ecologist and habitat creation expert. She has a proven record of working closely with a range of clients to achieve biodiversity gains for their projects. She is an experienced ecological Expert Witness and throughout her career has worked closely with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure that biodiversity is a key project design element.
Katy has extensive experience of ecological assessment, has produced numerous shadow Habitat Regulations Assessments and acted as Expert Witness at various planning appeals (including Public Inquiry, Hearings and EiPs) illustrating her comprehensive understanding of biodiversity within the planning system. She was a member of the drafting committee for the draft British Standard BS8683 ‘Process for designing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain’.
Katy is a Chartered Ecologist (CEcol) and Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) who adopts a professional approach to science-led ecological assessment and habitat creation projects, specialising in wetland and lowland terrestrial habitats. Katy is an Approved Building with Nature Assessor, helping clients to create high quality places for people and wildlife. She is a full member of CIEEM and her Diploma in Safety Management (DipSM) is reflected in her professional approach to health, safety and welfare.
Dr Philip Fermor CEnv MCIEEM, Director
Dr Philip Fermor is a highly qualified and enthusiastic habitat creation specialist with 30 years experience in the design and delivery of high-quality habitat restoration, rehabilitation and creation schemes throughout England and Wales. Highly qualified, with a PhD in ecological engineering related to the creation of wetland habitats within former industrial land, Phil has extensive experience leading client teams towards biodiversity-positive outcomes, ensuring that costs are balanced with sustainable large-scale biodiversity gain opportunities.
Notable projects have included: the design of the Cardiff Bay Barrage Scheme mitigation wetlands; assessment, design and monitoring of a CIWEM Living Wetlands award-winning wet grassland re-creation scheme at Aston Hall Farm; and most recently the 2019 Mineral Planning Association Cooper-Heyman Cup award-winning fen and reedbed creation project at Ripon City Wetlands. These examples clearly illustrate Dr Fermor’s ability to apply cutting-edge biodiversity knowledge in an engineering context and deliver the recovery of nature.
As a full member of CIEEM, a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) and member of the British Hydrological Society, Phil promotes sustainable habitat design through the application of a detailed understanding of site-specific requirements (sediments, topography, hydrology, and existing biodiversity features) and local biodiversity strategies. His proven ability to work closely with commercial and corporate clients, third-sector organisations and government bodies, as well as having an in-depth understanding of business-needs and the science of the natural environment, is key to delivering successful biodiversity net gains.
Wetland habitat creation at North Cave Wetlands Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire