Six months ago I arrived on site carrying a clipboard, a pair of binoculars and a hard hat. I left with a renewed respect for the people building our infrastructure, the wildlife that shares those landscapes and the value of good communication in bringing the two together. Conservation doesn’t just happen in nature reserves—it happens wherever people choose to make space for nature.
Six months ago, I swapped expedition gear and dry bags for steel toe-capped boots, a hard hat and high-vis clothing. After finishing a contract with ATMOS Consulting as an Ecological Consultant and Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW), I’ve been reflecting on what has been a rewarding period of my career.
Most people know me as an expedition guide, first aid trainer or outdoor educator. Fewer know that I originally trained as an environmental biologist and spent much of my early career working in conservation. This contract was an opportunity to return to those roots and see how ecological consultancy has evolved.
The short answer? It’s far more interesting—and far more important—than most people realise.
So, what does an Ecological Clerk of Works actually do?
Whenever major developments take place—whether it’s a new power line, housing development or infrastructure project—there are often legal requirements to protect wildlife and sensitive habitats.
That’s where an Ecological Clerk of Works comes in.
Our job isn’t to stop development. It’s to help make sure it happens responsibly.
That means advising contractors, checking that ecological protection measures are followed, identifying problems before they become serious and finding practical solutions that work for both wildlife and the project.
In reality, every day is different. One morning might begin with a breeding bird survey at dawn.
The afternoon could involve standing beside an excavator discussing how to prevent sediment entering a watercourse. The following day might involve checking badger setts, searching for water voles, assessing habitat for bats or monitoring areas used by pine martens.
No two days are quite the same.
The wildlife doesn’t read the construction programme
One thing I quickly learned is that wildlife works to its own timetable. Construction schedules may say work starts on Monday. Nature has other ideas.
During the contract I was involved in surveys for bats and breeding birds, advised on protected species including badger, pine marten and water vole, and monitored a range of bird species including osprey, buzzard, red kite and goshawk around active nest sites.
Sometimes protecting wildlife simply meant putting temporary restrictions in place.
Sometimes it meant altering how work was carried out.
Occasionally it meant stopping work altogether until the issue could be resolved safely and legally.
Those aren’t popular conversations to have—but they’re essential.
It’s not just about wildlife
One of the biggest surprises for many people is that ecology isn’t only about animals. Habitats matter just as much. Much of my work involved power line projects crossing peatland—one of Scotland’s most valuable habitats.
Healthy peatlands lock away enormous amounts of carbon, store water, reduce flooding and support specialised wildlife. Drive heavy machinery across wet peat at the wrong time and the damage can last for decades. Part of my role was advising contractors when ground conditions were becoming unsuitable, identifying damage early and recommending restoration measures where needed. Sometimes the best environmental decision is simply waiting for the ground to dry.
Small problems become big problems surprisingly quickly
Environmental incidents often begin with something that seems insignificant.
A vehicle creates a rut. Heavy rain arrives. Water follows the track. Sediment washes into a burn.
Or disturbed soils release iron-rich water, creating orange staining downstream.
Neither looks dramatic at first. Left unchecked, both can affect water quality and aquatic habitats.
Occasionally during the contract, work had to pause while issues such as silt runoff or peatland damage were addressed. Stopping work isn’t about being difficult. It’s about fixing problems before they become much bigger—and much more expensive.
Communication is everything
If there’s one lesson I’ll take away from the last six months, it’s that communication is the most important tool an ECoW possesses.
Good ecology starts long before anyone steps onto site. It begins with professional well informed ecological surveys clear reports, practical management plans and straightforward advice that contractors can understand.
Paperwork alone isn’t enough. Some of the most valuable conversations happened standing beside an excavator, chatting with site supervisors or delivering toolbox talks before work started.
Explaining why something matters is often far more effective than simply quoting legislation.
The vast majority of contractors wanted to do the right thing. They simply needed clear, practical guidance delivered at the right moment.
When ecologists and contractors work together, everyone benefits.
Learning never stops
Like most industries, construction has its own language, procedures and qualifications.
To work safely and effectively on active sites I completed a BORDA Level 4 Off-Road Driving course, gained my ROLO (Roads and Utilities) qualification and obtained a CSCS card.
Those qualifications weren’t simply about access—they helped me understand how construction projects operate, making it much easier to communicate with site teams and appreciate the challenges they face.
Looking ahead
This contract has reminded me that conservation isn’t something that happens only in nature reserves or national parks. It happens on construction sites, along new power line routes, around housing developments. Wherever people and nature share the same landscape.
The experience has refreshed old skills, taught me plenty of new ones and reinforced something I’ve believed throughout my career. Conservation works best when people work together.
Whether you’re an ecologist, contractor, engineer or local community member, everyone has a role to play in protecting the places and wildlife that make Scotland special.
My thanks go to everyone at ATMOS Consulting for the opportunity, the support and the warm welcome over the past six months. The hard hat may be going back on the shelf for now—but I’ll certainly look at every construction site a little differently in future.
Five Things That Surprised Me
1. Most of the job is about people, not wildlife
You might think an Ecological Clerk of Works spends all day looking for rare species. In reality, much of the job is about working with people—site managers, machine operators, engineers and planners—to find practical solutions that protect nature while allowing work to continue safely and legally.
2. Contractors usually want to do the right thing
There’s a stereotype that construction and conservation are always in conflict. That wasn’t my experience. Most contractors took genuine pride in protecting wildlife and habitats. The key was giving clear advice, explaining why something mattered and being available when decisions had to be made quickly.
3. Tiny issues can become expensive problems
A small rut across peatland. A blocked drainage ditch. A little muddy water leaving a track after heavy rain. Left unchecked, these can quickly develop into significant environmental incidents. Spotting problems early is one of the biggest values an ECoW brings to a project.
4. Good communication is worth more than a long report
Reports, licences and management plans are essential, but they don’t stop an excavator. A five-minute conversation beside a machine or a toolbox talk before work starts can prevent mistakes that no amount of paperwork ever could.
5. Ecology isn’t about stopping development
Before this contract, many people I spoke to assumed ecologists existed to delay projects. The reality is quite the opposite. Good ecology helps developments proceed while protecting wildlife, restoring habitats where possible and ensuring legal responsibilities are met. It’s about making development better, not preventing it.
