Ecologist has high hopes for new role
 South West Water is hoping its latest recruit is going to ruffle a few feathers – before providing some nice new birdhouses to re-home them in.
Kate Stokes, the new Ecologist and Environmental Planner, has been employed to help minimise the impact of South West Water's activities on the environment, wildlife and archaeology, recognising the company's commitment to conserve biodiversity.
Although careful consideration towards the environment has always been applied to new works, this is the first time a dedicated role has existed to work as a single point of contact between South West Water and the environmental stakeholders within the region.
Kate has worked with South West Water for 10 years as the Water for Wildlife Manager at Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Having also worked for Devon Wildlife Trust, she has an in-depth understanding of the effects development can have on the environment.
The role is divided into two key elements: Acting in an advisory capacity to engineers and specialists for all new works and assessing and seeking to improve the biodiversity on South West Water's sites.
One of the first environmental projects Kate will work on involves both the Devon and Cornwall Wildlife Trusts, who have been invited to carry out habitat and ecology assessments of 20 sites across the region to identify areas where opportunities exist to benefit wildlife.
"Many of our sites are undisturbed and will provide prime habitat for wildlife," said Kate. "However, to maximise their potential, we need to know what species are present to determine how we can manage the site more effectively.
"This may involve changing grassland management or erecting boxes to encourage birds and bats."
Kate added: "I'm looking forward to developing biodiversity projects and to supporting the delivery of ecological aspects for major construction works."
Ends
Notes to editors
Sites assessed in Devon:
Waste water treatment works at Thorverton
Tiverton
Crediton (Lords Meadow)
Yeoford
Dawlish (Timaru)
Lustleigh (Eastern edge of Dartmoor)
Bratton Fleming (North Devon)
Water treatment works at Tottiford (Eastern edge of Dartmoor)
Bratton Fleming (North Devon)
Burrows service reservoir
Sites assessed in Cornwall:
Waste water treatment works at Bodmin (Scarletts Well)
Luxulyan
St Cleer
Launceston
St Gennys
Menagwins
Fowey
Water treatment works at De Lank and Bastreet
Published on: 09 December 2008
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