Meet the Team
Giles Manners MIEEM CEnv (BSc Biol. Sci. hons zool., MSc Env. Sci.)
I have been involved in wildlife conservation and the environment from an early age. My career in Yorkshire began when I started work for the Stewardship Department of the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (now Natural England), where I was responsible for the management of Environmental Stewardship agreements in North Yorkshire.
I became self-employed in October 2000. I now spend the majority of my time surveying bats and dealing with Protected Species Legislation. I have been licensed by Natural England as a bat consultant since 2005. I provide training services to landowners and farmers, under a sub-contract with ADAS. I am increasingly involved in mitigtion plans and advice to developers concerning protected species and the Habitats Regulations. I also take on a number of Environmental Statements, Impact Assessments and Environmental Audits.
I have received professional training in many environmental fields, including: bat surveying, bat mitigation, and bat handling; pond creation and renovation; wildflower meadow restoration techniques; moorland management (including restoration techniques); vegetation analysis and classification; native woodland management; grazing for conservation.
I am a Chartered Environmentalist, as well as being a full member of the Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management since 2001.
Ione Bareau MIEEM (BSc Biol. Sci. hons. Zool.)
I managed a 400 acre mixed estate in North Wales for 4 years, after graduating as a zoologist. The estate consisted of ancient woodlands, limestone grassland, species rich hay meadows, base-rich flushes, heather moorland, acid grassland and limestone cliffs. There were also very large numbers of visitors, an economic hill farm, and a historic 16th century Manor House. My contract involved drawing up a full management plan; a Phase 1 habitat survey was undertaken and management prescriptions were established for each of the different habitats. A large proportion of the estate was SSSI. With targeted reduction in sheep numbers, carefully controlled grazing levels, and active management (including footpath creation, scrub clearance, selective felling and thinning, hedge laying, woodland enclosure, coppicing, and rhododendron clearance), the habitats and associated species were all enhanced. I controlled a budget of over £30K p.a., and employed and managed contractors, staff, visitors, and volunteer groups.
After a break in employment while having children, I have furthered this experience in the last few years in my role as a self-employed Countryside Conservation Consultant with MAB Environmental Management. I provide most of the invertebrate survey, botanical and landscape support services for MAB. I am increasingly taking on most of the Farm Environment Plans that our clients require in order to join the Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme. I have received training in newt and reptile surveys, bat surveys, grass and sedge identification, pond creation and management, Phase 2 habitat surveying, and landscape design.
I also worked for 4 years as a part-time Nature Reserves Officer for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. With YWT I obtained a wealth of experience in large-scale project management as well as general management for conservation and wildlife.
I am also a full member of the Institute for Ecology and Environemtal Management, which binds me to a professional code of conduct, and assures clients that I recieve continuous professional development.