Meet the NWS team

John Harris BSc (Hons) MCIEEM – Senior Ecologist 

John received a BSc (hons) in Environmental Conservation and Management with Biology from Nottingham Trent University in 2000. After returning to Norwich, he was employed by Reed Elsevier as an editor for the ecological section of Geobase. John left this position to start work as an ecological consultant with RPS Group, and after a period of working with RPS Group, John worked as a consultant ecologist for Wild Frontier Ecology for over 12 years. 

John has worked on numerous projects, from construction of individual dwellings and barn conversions to large-scale, multi-phased projects such as housing developments, pipelines and wind farms. He has developed a well-rounded knowledge of ecological surveys and impact assessment, and with ensuring compliance with industry standards.  John is skilled in the use of Geographical Information Systems and has an interest in new technologies that can assist in consultancy work. 

John is very experienced in designing and conducting protected species surveys and mitigation to ensure that the surveys meet the current guidance, including for bats, great crested newts, reptiles, natterjack toads, water voles, otters and badgers. He holds Natural England survey licences for bats, great crested newts and natterjack toads. John also has held a range of mitigation licences for bats, great crested newts, badgers and natterjack toads. John’s work with natterjack toad mitigation makes him one of a few consultants in the country experienced enough to hold a natterjack toad mitigation licence. 

Ben Christie BSc (Hons) MCIEEM – Senior Ecologist 

Ben joined Norfolk Wildlife Services in 2014. He has over 12 years of experience in ecology and conservation management since graduating from the University of East Anglia in 2011 with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Sciences. 

Ben manages the feasibility and design stages of the BNG process for both development and conservation-oriented projects at NWS. He is accomplished in the use of the Biodiversity Metric, including condition assessments for rivers and is accredited on the Modular River Survey methodology. 

Ben regularly carries out Ecological Impact Assessments for development. His technical species specialisms are in bats and great crested newts. He also has substantial experience with breeding birds, badgers, water voles and reptiles. He holds a Level 2 Class Licence for bats and also acts as the Named Ecologist on over ten active mitigation licences. He also holds a Level 1 Class Licence for great crested newts and has extensive involvement in licensed mitigation projects for this species.  

Ben is experienced in project managing, including Ecological Clerk of Works for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (off-shore windfarm on-shore works), EPS mitigation licences for large housing developments, and Ecological Impact Assessment for water utility pipelines. 

Ben is very passionate about wildlife and conservation, and often spends his own time carrying out voluntary work. For example, he is a member of the Norfolk & Norwich Bat Group and through contacts made there he has acted as an assistant under S&R licences in Norfolk (Norfolk Barbastelle Study Group, National Nathusius Pipistrelle Project, Norfolk Small Myotis Study Project).   

Ben Moore BSc ACIEEM – Ecologist 

Ben graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2015 with a BSc in Ecology and joined the team at NWS in May 2017. He is currently an Associate member of CIEEM and has experience in surveying a wide range of protected species such as badgers, bats, water voles, birds, reptiles and great crested newts. Ben holds Level 1 survey class licenses for bats and great crested newts. 

Ben also has experience in habitat surveys and regularly assesses habitats as per the UK Habitat Classification system. Ben also has experience in managing a range of habitats for conservation such as grassland, woodland and wetland habitats, where he uses this knowledge to inform habitat management plans and appropriate Biodiversity Net Gain recommendations. 

In his spare time Ben likes to pursue hobbies such as bird watching and photography. However, Ben’s interests extend beyond terrestrial ecology, and as an ex-SCUBA diver he also enjoys snorkeling around the coastline and rivers of Norfolk.   

Lucy Llewellyn BSc (Hons) MSc – Assistant Ecologist 

Lucy graduated from University College London with an MSc in Conservation and has a BSc (Hons) in Geography with Ecology from the University of Sussex. She has a background working and volunteering in conservation roles in the UK and abroad, including supporting local and national scale environmental and ecological initiatives, surveying moths, farmland birds, invasive plant species and ground beetles. 

Before joining Norfolk Wildlife Services, Lucy worked at a Norfolk-based nationwide animal welfare charity for seven years, managing and supporting an award-winning visitor and education centre. She is passionate about the work of wildlife and animal charities and has over 15 years’ experience promoting and sharing their work. 

While with NWS since 2019, Lucy has developed her survey experience with bats (emergence surveying, roost inspection and acoustic identification), great crested newts (identification, torching and eDNA sampling), water voles and reptiles.  

James Allitt BSc TechArborA – Senior Arboriculturist

Jim studied a BSc in Outdoor Studies at St Martins College in Ambleside, Cumbria, and holds the Level 6 Diploma in Arboriculture. He also holds the Lantra Professional Tree Inspection award and a City and Guilds level 2 in AutoCAD, and is a professional member of the Arboricultural Association. Through his volunteering and professional work, Jim has obtained a Level 1 class licence for bat surveying and can perform aerial bat roost surveys on trees.

Jim has a background in nature conservation and over 15 years' Arboricultural experience. Before working for NWS, he spent 8 years with Natural England working on the nature reserves in North and West Norfolk.  He has also worked in Ireland with Coillte, the Irish Forestry Board, as an arborist. 

Outside the tree world, Jim divides his time between family outings and combining sea kayaking with enjoying wildlife on the North Norfolk coast. 

Ben Carter - Assistant Arboriculturist

NWS is steered and advised by a Board of Directors currently consisting of the following members: 

Lyndsay Whiteman – Chair and Director of NWS, and Treasurer of NWT 

Glen Houchell – Director of NWS 

John Sharpe – Director of NWS 

Eliot Lyne – Director of NWS and CEO of NWT