Why choose NWS?

Competence & Reliability

NWS was established in 2000.  We have served clients ranging from domestic level (e.g. house extensions and barn conversions), small to large scale housing developers, county and district councils (e.g. schools, highways), non-governmental organisations (NGO), large-scale infrastructure projects and regional utility suppliers. 

NWS is a Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management (CIEEM) ‘Registered Practice’, which is a certification demonstrating our commitment to high professional standards.  All NWS’s ecologists are CIEEM members committed to continuing professional development requirements and adhering to the CIEEM Code of Professional Conduct.  

NWS ecologists hold the necessary Natural England protected species survey licences needed (both legally and as evidence of competency) to conduct surveys for roosting bats, great crested newts and natterjack toads. NWS also has established the capability to secure mitigation licences for developments that will impact roosting bats, great crested newts, natterjack toads and badgers. 

Our ecologists stay abreast of relevant professional guidelines, for example:  

• CIEEM (2018) Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in the UK and Ireland: Terrestrial, Freshwater, Coastal and Marine version 1.1. Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, Winchester. 

• Collins, J. (ed.) (2023) Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines (4th edition). The Bat Conservation Trust, London. 

NWS full Ecological Impact Assessment reports are prepared to the criteria of the relevant British Standard, BS 42020:2013 Biodiversity — Code of practice for planning and development.  Adherence to current survey guidelines and best-practice report standards is key to avoiding further information requests from local planning authorities and Natural England.   

Our arboriculturalists carry out Arboricultural Impact Assessments (Tree Surveys) to the British Standard, BS 5837:2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition & construction – Recommendations.  Tree safety surveys are done to BS 3998:2010 Tree work – Recommendations. 

NWS is ISO 9001:2015 (quality management systems) and ISO 45001:2018 (occupational health and safety management systems) certified, and Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) accredited.

The Wildlife Trust Connection 

NWS is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) and a member of the Wildlife Trust Consultancies (WTC) network.  All net profits earned by NWS are annually donated to NWT, to be invested in NWT’s goal of making Norfolk’s nature abundant, thriving and valued.   

Protected species surveys and ecological impact assessments can amount to significant expenditure (sometimes unanticipated by the developer).  Carrying out the proper ecological/arboricultural surveys and assessments prior to development is, in itself, a commitment to nature.  However, commissioning a WTC as the consultant provides an added bonus of knowing that the fees will be used towards an ultimate goal of benefiting wildlife. 

Our connection with other WTCs provides access to a wide pool of resources and talents spread across England and into Wales. 

 See the Wildlife Trust Consultancies