A diverse range of plants and animals is an important indicator of a truly sustainable metropolis; the key to creating biodiverse towns and cities is ensuring gradual urbanisation not only replaces lost habitat, but diversifies and increases habitat opportunities.

This session from Blythe Jopling and Rachel Crookes of Eight Associates will provide an overview of the importance of urban biodiversity, highlighting protected species and their habitats, helping to integrate ecological enhancements into projects without detriment to timelines or available floor area.

We will discuss the ecological value of common urban sites and methods for maintaining and enhancing this value through the development process, ensuring existing trees and habitats are considered from design stage through to implementation. Following this, we will present a worked example of a proposed site, identifying existing habitats and measures to reduce the impact on existing features, before running through an exemplary ecologically enhanced development.

About the speakers

Blythe Jopling

Blythe completed an MSc in Managing the Environment at Aberystwyth University in 2007. Prior to joining Eight Associates he worked within BREEAM at the Building Research Establishment, and completed an internship with the Zoological Society of London. Her interest in sustainable development began during the environmental assessment work at university.

Blythe is now combining her experience in both ecology and sustainable development as a Sustainability Consultant at Eight Associates. Blythe has also travelled to a number of countries in Europe to raise awareness of BREEAM and highlight the benefits of certification.

Blythe is a BREEAM Accredited Professional, and a LEED Green Associate. She has worked on a wide variety of building projects ranging from multi-residential care homes, schools, commercial buildings, hotels, and domestic properties.

Rachel Crookes

Rachel has a BSc in Zoology from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Conservation and Biodiversity from the University of Exeter. She has a wide range of ecological knowledge, with a particular interest on bats and their ecology in urban environments. She has experience surveying a number of protected species such as bats, reptiles, amphibians and water voles.

Rachel produces ecology reports for planning and BREEAM assessments such as desk studies, Phase 1 habitat surveys, BREAAM Ecology reports and long-term biodiversity management plans. She also is highly proficient at bat call analysis, and has carried out a number of dawn and dusk bat surveys with the aim obtaining a Class 1 bat survey licence.

What did delegates say about previous Bite Size sessions?

"The micro session idea is brilliant as full days can be very, very difficult"
"Excellent coverage for both established Green Register members and novices"
"Informed recommendations and some myths debunked"
"Lots of stuff I didn’t know! Enjoyed the interactive format"

More about Bite Size sessions

The Green Register's Bite Size sessions offer an alternative, flexible route to Green Register membership through a series of shorter training sessions designed to give concise training at a time to suit busy working professionals. Attend 6 sessions to qualify for membership.

All sessions start at 16.45 for registration with training running 17.00 - 19.00.