Maria has been working at Smeeden Foreman since spring 2014 as an ecologist and holds Natural England species licences for surveying great crested newt, bats and barn owl.

 

Maria specialises in ornithology and manages in-house breeding/wintering bird surveys as well as undertaking nesting bird checks and barn owl building/tree inspections. As a generalist ecologist, she also co-ordinates extended Phase 1 habitat surveys and undertakes a range of protected species surveys including bats, water vole, otter, reptiles, great crested newt and badger. Maria has also compiled mitigation plans, BNG/BREEAM/CfSH assessments and has been involved  securing of EPSM licence applications as well as acting as Ecological Clerk of Works on a variety of projects. Maria is an Associate member of CIEEM and is a qualified CS38 tree climber.

 

Outside of work Maria voluntarily surveys for the BTO and holds a C ringing permit. She has previously undertaken a range of survey work across the UK for various organisations, including the Wildlife Trust, RSPB and the BTO.