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About Us

From Little Acorns ... 

Acorn Ecology was established by Sue Searle in 2003.  She is a licensed bat worker and has 6 years experience of ecological consultancy.  Sue is a lecturer in Ecology and Conservation with both Exeter and Bristol Universities and runs courses for The Mammal Society, FSC and IEEM.  She also runs her own professional development courses through Acorn Ecology Ltd.  In 2009 she won a National Training Award. She is a full member of IEEM and subject to a professional code of conduct.  She takes personal responsibility for all projects that the team undertakes.  The team are fully insured.

About the Team

Sue Searle BSc (Hons), PGDip (Ecology), MIEEM, Senior Ecologist and Managing Director.

Since changing from a career in nursing, Sue has completed a degree in biological sciences at Exeter in 2001 and a post graduate diploma in ecology and conservation at Bristol in 2003 when she also set up Acorn Ecology Ltd.  She has worked for the East Devon Heathland Heritage Project, Dartmoor National Park and the Barn Owl Trust.  Sue is a licensed bat and dormouse worker, bat trainer, and full member of IEEM.  In 2000 she won an Earthwatch Millennium Fellowship, in 2002 she won a David Bellamy Award and in 2009 she won a National Training Award. Sue is the managing director and senior ecologist at Acorn Ecology.  During her (limited!) spare time, she enjoys photography, art, walking the south west coast path, keeping chickens, dog walking and gardening. 

Sarah Candlin (was Painter) BSc (Hons), Assistant Ecologist

Sarah completed an environmental biology degree at the University of Wales, Bangor in 2006. During her holidays she spent several months volunteering for the RSPB as a residential warden on Ramsey Island.  She joined Acorn Ecology at the beginning of 2007 and is currently Assistant Ecologist and the Training Manager in charge of organising our professional development courses. She is also licensed to work with bats and dormice. In her free time, Sarah enjoys painting, hill walking and surfing.

Adam Bratt BSc (Hons), Assistant Ecologist

Adam is a zoology graduate of Aberdeen University completing his degree in 2006.  He started at Acorn Ecology during the summer of 2007 and is now Assistant Ecologist.  He is also licensed to work with bats and dormice.  Adam has previously participated in scientific projects studying sheep tick ecology, seabird diet, and pink-footed goose grazing interactions on Svalbard.  In his spare time Adam enjoys cycling and running.

We also have volunteers:

Full time - Sue Vickers and Roger Gravestock

Recent full timers -Sophia Priddle, Nigel Wood and David Blakemore Stephanie Clark, Sophie Conway, Nichola Streets, Stephanie Marker, Sophie May, Katherine Bubb and Sarah Muddell.  

Other volunteers - Simon Dowell and David Rolls.

Our volunteers work with us to gain valuable experience and they help us enormously with various tasks including assisting with bat and reptile surveys.

If you are interested in volunteering* then please get in touch by email and send your CV.  info@acornecology.co.uk

 *You can either help with evening bat surveys if you are local or you can join our volunteer trainee ecologist scheme where you work full-time for one month shadowing the team (usually only available during the summer months).