Ecology Services

What Ecology Services does

Ecology Services Ltd is a privately held ecological consultancy founded in 2002 by Lyn Eccles-Sargeant and headquartered in Longton, Preston (registered office at 5 Ribblesdale Place, Preston). The firm delivers professional ecological surveys, assessments, mitigation, and habitat management services to private developers, construction companies, utilities, local authorities, and government bodies across Northwest England. Its service catalogue spans protected species surveys (great crested newts, bats, badgers, otters, water voles, reptiles, breeding birds, and dormice), habitat classification (Phase 1, Extended Phase 1, and National Vegetation Classification), Ecological Impact Assessments, Habitat Regulations Assessments, Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, BREEAM LE1–LE6 assessments, Ecological Clerk of Works, and Environmental DNA (eDNA) testing.

The company's underlying technology stack is methodological rather than software-based — it relies on accredited survey techniques, Natural England-licensed fieldwork, and conventional field equipment such as bat detectors (heterodyne, frequency division, Anabat broadband), infra-red video surveillance, camera traps, MEWPs, endoscopes, and confined-spaces certification. The competitive edge is grounded in personnel: the team holds multiple Natural England European Protected Species mitigation and survey licences, MCIEEM/CEcol/CEnv qualifications, and NEBOSH safety credentials, with one principal serving on Natural England's great crested newt district licensing advisory panel.

Ecology Services operates a direct, project-based professional services model with no public pricing disclosure. Revenue is generated through fee-based quotations for individual surveys and assessments, sourced via direct enterprise engagement (United Utilities, BAE Systems, Persimmon Homes, George Wimpey), mid-market developer relationships (Brindle Homes, Morley Estates, Fairclough Homes), local authority contracts (Lancashire County Council, Environment Agency, Wigan Council), and inbound sub-contractor referrals from peer consultancies. The firm is CHAS-accredited, ISO 9001:2015 certified, and registered on the Achilles Utility Vendor Database.

Name

Ecology Services

Legal name

Ecology Services Ltd

Website

https://ecologyservices.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ecology Services Ltd is a privately held UK ecological consultancy, founded in 2002 and based in Preston, delivering protected species surveys, Ecological Impact Assessments, habitat management, and BREEAM support to private developers, utilities, and local authorities across Northwest England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecological Consultancy

NAICS

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Terrestrial Ecology & Habitat Surveys (EUAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Threatened & Endangered Species (TES) / Protected Species Surveys & Compliance (EUAHAHAD), Ecological Restoration Planning & Monitoring (Habitat, Wetland, Stream) (EUAHAHAF), Aquatic Ecology & Fisheries Assessments (EUAHAHAB)

Keywords

• Ecological consultancy services
• Protected species surveys
• Habitat impact assessments
• Ecological mitigation work
• Biodiversity survey services

Headquarters

HQ city

Preston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Ecological Consultancy Services: Professional ecological survey and consultancy services provided to private and commercial sectors. Services include biodiversity surveys, protected species surveys, Ecological Impact Assessments, habitat management plans, and mitigation works. Revenue generated through project-based professional service fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ecology Services Ltd provides professional ecological consultancy including survey, assessment, mitigation, and habitat management services for development, construction, infrastructure, and public-sector clients. The firm holds multiple Natural England protected species survey licenses (great crested newt, bat, badger, otter, water vole, barn owl, white-clawed crayfish) and is CHAS accredited and ISO 9001 quality assured. Services span Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, EcIA, NVC, eDNA testing, BREEAM assessments, and Ecological Clerk of Works duties.

Product overview

Ecology Services Ltd is a professional ecological consultancy offering a comprehensive suite of survey and assessment services for protected species and habitats. The company operates as a unified consultancy practice rather than a software platform, delivering services including great crested newt surveys, bat surveys, badger surveys, otter surveys, water vole surveys, bird surveys, reptile surveys, invasive species surveys, river corridor surveys, hedgerow surveys, and National Vegetation Classification assessments. These services are supported by Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), Habitat Regulations Assessment, Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA), and Extended Phase 1 Habitat Surveys. Additional offerings include BREEAM sustainability assessments, Environmental DNA (eDNA) testing, confined spaces bat surveys, and Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) consultancy services. The company was established in 2002 and is based in the Northwest of England, serving private and commercial sectors across the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully completed 550 ponds surveyed in a single season for United Utilities pipeline project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• British Herpetological SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcology Services Ltd has strong links with the British Herpetological Society. The company has particular expertise in herpetology and all survey and mitigation work for great crested newts follows best practice guidelines set out by Natural England.
• Natural EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Ecology Services' expert ecologists serves on Natural England's advisory panel for great crested newt district licensing. Company holds multiple Natural England European Protected Species (EPS) mitigation licences and follows Natural England survey guidelines.
• Achilles (Utility Vendor Database)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegistered with Achilles which audits health and safety, quality and environment. Received 100% for Quality during 2018 audit.
• Sub-contractor NetworkminorOthersSub-contractors are carefully chosen, either qualified to degree level in relevant subject, listed as accredited agent by Environment Agency or similar body, hold CV with at least 3 years experience, or are trained by Ecology Services Ltd.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tyler Grange LLP: Independent UK ecological consultancy providing protected species surveys, EcIA, BREEAM, and biodiversity net gain services to developers, utilities, and local authorities. Comparable service mix, customer base, and professional accreditation profile.
• Penny Anderson Associates Ltd: UK ecological consultancy offering protected species surveys, habitat assessments, and Ecological Impact Assessments. Ecology Services Ltd is an existing sub-contractor to Penny Anderson Associates, indicating direct service-line and methodology overlap.
• Thomson Environmental Consultants: UK-wide ecological consultancy delivering protected species, marine, and habitat surveys with similar CIEEM-aligned methodology. Direct competitor for the same protected-species licensing and EcIA work in development planning.
• The Environment Partnership Ltd: Northwest England-based ecological and environmental consultancy providing protected species, arboriculture, and landscape services. Named as a sub-contractor partner of Ecology Services, with comparable customer base in planning-led development work.
• ECOSA: Independent UK ecological consultancy offering protected species, habitat, and arboricultural surveys with CIEEM membership. Comparable scale, methodology, and developer/council client base to Ecology Services.
• Cass Associates: UK ecological and arboricultural consultancy serving planning and development clients with protected species and habitat survey services. Listed as a sub-contractor counterparty of Ecology Services, suggesting directly overlapping capabilities.
• Baker Consultants: UK ecological consultancy providing protected species surveys, eDNA testing, and ecological clerk of works services. Directly comparable offering, including eDNA and licensed great crested newt work.

Broad incumbents

• SLR Consulting: Global environmental and ecology consultancy with a significant UK ecology practice serving infrastructure, mining, and development clients. Overlaps on protected species and EcIA work but at much larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• WSP: Global professional services firm with a UK ecology and environmental team serving infrastructure, property, and planning clients. Overlaps on EcIA, protected species, and biodiversity net gain but as part of a much wider portfolio.
• RSK Group: UK-headquartered environmental and engineering consultancy group with a sizeable ecology division. Overlaps on protected species, EcIA, and habitat work but operates across many more disciplines and geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Ecology_UK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecology-services-limited

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ecology Services