Whitcher Wildlife Ltd, founded in 1998, is an ecological consultancy based in Barnsley.

Mitch has worked in ecology since 2018 and took over Whitcher Wildlife alongside Ruth in the summer of 2022. As Managing Director, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations and strategic direction of the business, with a particular focus on rail and infrastructure projects. He has a plethora of experience in leading and designing surveys and mitigation for significant rail projects nationwide. Mitch is committed to growing the company in a sustainable way and places strong value on building long-term relationships with major clients, supporting both their needs and the continued organic growth of the business.

He holds a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Leeds and is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). Mitch is a well-rounded ecologist, with particular technical strengths in botany and habitat assessment, alongside bats. He holds survey licences for bats and great crested newts, as well as class licences for a range of invertebrate species. 

Outside of project work, Mitch is a strong advocate for encouraging young people to engage with nature and is the founder of Whitcher Wildlings, a free, inclusive children’s club aimed at nurturing their natural curiosity in the outdoor world. He is also a keen padel player and loves to combine his passions of travel and wildlife with exciting holidays around the world.

Ruth joined Whitcher Wildlife in 2004 and has over 22 years’ experience as an ecologist. Having been part of the business since its early years, she has seen both the profession and the consultancy develop over time. Ruth took over ownership of Whitcher Wildlife alongside Mitch in July 2022. As Director of Ecology, she leads the planning side of the business and is responsible for the technical oversight of projects across the consultancy, including Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), survey design, impact assessment, mitigation and licencing. She plays a central role in ensuring the quality, consistency and robustness of the consultancy’s technical output.

Ruth has been involved in conservation and ecology since the age of thirteen, when she was a junior member of the South Yorkshire Badger Group, before heading off to study Environmental Science at the university of Aberystwyth where she gained her BSc. Upon her return, she continued gaining experience before taking a role as an ecologist at Whitcher Wildlife. Since then, she has gained experience working across projects of all scales, from complex large quarry extension and restoration projects to individual householder schemes. She holds survey and mitigation licences for bats and great crested newts. In addition, she holds a survey licence for white-clawed crayfish. Ruth is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and is accredited to undetake River Condition Assessments (RCAs).

Outside of work, Ruth enjoys spending time with her two daughters, as well as with family and friends. She makes the most of her free time with walks, gardening, day trips and seeking out new restaurants. 

Derek founded Whitcher Wildlife Ltd in 1998 as a specialist badger and water vole consultancy following many years championing badger protection and conservation as Chair of the South Yorkshire Badger Group. He established the business as a one-person operation, which grew into a small family-run consultancy and then, over more than 25 years, developed into the established ecological consultancy it is today. Through this period, Derek became a nationally recognised ecologist, particularly for his work with badgers, and played a significant role in shaping professional practice within the sector. Drawing on a strong background in management alongside extensive field experience, Derek nurtured the business from its early beginnings into a highly respected consultancy built on a pragmatic, client-focused approach with conservation at its heart.

Derek’s main passion and technical specialism is in badgers for which he holds a CL35 licence. He helped create the artificial sett design still in use by NatureScot today and has acted as an expert witness on numerous occasions. With over 28 years’ experience in ecological consultancy, and many more in a voluntary capacity, he brings a depth of knowledge across a wide range of projects. Since selling the business in 2022, Derek has taken on a reduced role (or at least reduced in comparison to previous), but remains actively involved, carrying out surveys and licencing work, particularly for local clients. He holds survey and mitigation licences for bats and great crested newts. Derek is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Derek's personal hobbies have always significantly overlapped with his professional ones, particularly in regard to badgers and protected species conservation, but he does also have a love of gardening, with most fair weather days spent tending his well-manicured garden, and travel, having ventured across the globe from China to Peru and many other countries in between. 

Rachael has supported Whitcher Wildlife in a variety of roles since 2021 and took on the permanent position of Office Manager in 2022. Since then, she has become a central part of the business, bringing energy, organisation and a genuinely caring approach to everything she does. Rachael’s positive attitude and approachable nature make her a natural fit at the heart of the office and a key point of contact for both staff and clients.

Rachael’s role covers a wide range of responsibilities that help keep the business running smoothly day to day. She manages the company’s accounting, drawing on her background as a self-employed accountant, and also oversees general administration and HR functions. Her ability to balance financial oversight with the practical needs of the team ensures that systems run efficiently and that staff are well supported. Rachael plays an important behind-the-scenes role in allowing the consultancy to operate effectively, particularly during busy periods, and is an integral part of the Whitcher Wildlife team.

Alex joined Whitcher Wildlife Ltd in 2016 and has been working in the environmental sector since 2013. She holds degrees in Zoology and Environmental Management (Landscape and Wildlife Conservation) and, as Principal Ecologist, plays a key role in the delivery of complex projects across the business. Alex provides technical leadership, supports junior staff, and is closely involved in survey design, assessment and licencing across a wide range of project types.

Alex holds survey and mitigation licences for bats, hazel dormice, great crested newts, barn owls and white-clawed crayfish, alongside class licences for white-clawed crayfish and beavers in England. She is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), a full member of the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES), and a Chartered Environmentalist. She is also accredited to undertake River Condition Assessments (RCAs) and is FISC level 4.

Outside of project work, Alex is passionate about ecological education and inspiring future conservationists. She supports alumni volunteering at the University of Sheffield, speaks at Women in STEM events, and regularly engages with schools, often combining teaching with hands-on field experience. Away from work, Alex enjoys travelling and exploring wildlife across the world, as well as developing her interest in rare and exotic houseplants, even creating her own unique hybrids.

James joined Whitcher Wildlife in 2003 as the company’s first non-family hire and has been a key part of the team ever since. With more than two decades at Whitcher, he has played a major role in the growth of the consultancy and brings a depth of practical experience that few can match. James has a strong affinity for hands-on fieldwork and is most at home on site, delivering complex survey and mitigation work across a wide range of projects.

James leads the majority of the company’s badger work and is widely relied upon for his expertise in protected species surveys, conservation and mitigation. He holds a CL35 licence for badgers and has extensive experience across multiple protected species, regularly advising on survey design and mitigation approaches. James also plays an important mentoring role within the team, sharing his knowledge and experience with junior ecologists. He holds survey licences for bats, great crested newts, white-clawed crayfish and barn owls, alongside class licences for white-clawed crayfish and beavers, as well as a water vole displacement licence. James is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).

Outside of work, James enjoys mountaineering, with many weekends spent in the Lake District, Snowdonia and similar upland areas, often with his daughter, Summer. His holidays are frequently spent hiking and wild camping in the more remote parts of the Scottish wilderness.

Jess joined Whitcher Wildlife in 2022, bringing with her several years of experience gained across both the conservation and ecological consultancy sectors. Since joining the team, she has become a key part of the business and plays a leading role in the delivery of complex projects. Jess is a skilled ornithologist and leads much of the company’s bird work, drawing on her strong professional background, including previous experience with the RSPB.

Jess manages a wide range of challenging projects, using her technical knowledge and practical experience to guide schemes through survey, assessment and mitigation stages. She is particularly valued for her ability to balance robust ecological outcomes with pragmatic solutions that work for clients. Jess holds survey licences for bats, great crested newts and barn owls and is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), as well as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS).

Outside of work, Jess enjoys spending time birdwatching and is an active member of the RSPB, reflecting her long-standing interest in ornithology beyond her professional role. She also enjoys crafting in her spare time, particularly knitting and crocheting, and is involved in the development of commercial knitting patterns.

Xanthe joined Whitcher Wildlife in 2022, initially as a seasonal bat surveyor, and quickly stood out for her enthusiasm, commitment and natural ability within the role. Her energy, curiosity and willingness to get involved across all aspects of the work made her progression into a permanent position an easy decision. Following a six-month period shadowing James, Xanthe developed rapidly and is now a confident and capable ecologist, able to contribute independently to complex projects while also supporting junior members of the team.

Xanthe continues to progress quickly across all areas of ecological consultancy and brings a genuine passion for the work she undertakes. She has particular strengths in botany and biodiversity net gain work, and is also confident working with badgers and other protected species. Xanthe holds a BA in Wildlife Media from the University of Cumbria and is a qualifying member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), working towards Associate membership.

Outside of work, Xanthe enjoys spending time in nature and continues her interest in wildlife through birdwatching. She also enjoys gaming and crocheting, and values time spent relaxing and socialising with friends.

Lewis joined Whitcher Wildlife in late 2024, having already gained several years’ experience working in ecological consultancy. Based remotely from his home in Stoke-on-Trent, Lewis supports projects across the business and has quickly become an integral member of the team. Since joining, he has proven to be an adept, committed and pragmatic ecologist, with a natural ability to take on complex work, ranging from large-scale infrastructure projects to biodiversity net gain assessments.

Lewis is confident handling both minor and major projects and is particularly skilled at helping clients navigate challenging sites through clear, proportionate advice. He contributes across survey, assessment and reporting stages of projects and rapidly continues to develop his technical expertise. Lewis holds a BSc in Zoology from the University of Nottingham and he is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). He holds protected species survey licences for bats and great crested newts.

Outside of work, Lewis enjoys spending time at local nature reserves birdwatching, often exploring different sites in and around the Midlands. He is also a keen piano player.

Gabby joined Whitcher Wildlife in 2022, having previously worked for an ecological consultancy in Suffolk, where she originally comes from. Since joining the team, she has proved herself to be an extremely reliable, hard-working and committed ecologist, and has quickly become a highly valued member of the business. Gabby spends much of her time supporting rail and infrastructure projects, where her consistency, attention to detail and dependable approach make her a trusted part of delivery teams, while she continues to develop her skills across more complex aspects of the role.

Gabby is experienced in carrying out protected species surveys and in producing clear, proportionate recommendations to help guide clients through challenging sites. She approaches her work with care and professionalism and is known for seeing tasks through to a high standard. She continues to progress steadily across all areas of ecological consultancy and is a qualifying member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and an Associate member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). Gabby holds a degree in Environmental Science from Northumbria University.

Outside of work, Gabby enjoys spending time outdoors, walking and travelling, and values time spent relaxing and socialising with friends and family.

Lauren joined Whitcher Wildlife in 2024 as an Assistant Ecologist, having previously gained experience working seasonally for other ecological consultancies. From the outset, her genuine passion for both the role and for nature conservation has been clear to see and is embedded in the way she approaches her work. Lauren’s enthusiasm, commitment and natural aptitude for ecology have seen her flourish within the business, leading to her promotion to Ecologist. She continues to develop rapidly within the role.

Lauren is capable of undertaking a wide range of survey work and reporting and is confident in providing clear, accurate recommendations to help guide clients through their projects. She approaches her work with care and professionalism and brings a thoughtful, conscientious approach to every task. Lauren holds a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Liverpool and is a qualifying member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).

Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time outdoors, particularly walking and birdwatching, which reflects her wider interest in nature and conservation. She also enjoys quieter evenings, often spent playing board games and being creative through art with friends, valuing time to relax and unwind away from work.

Joe joined Whitcher Wildlife in 2024 as an Assistant Ecologist, having previously gained experience with another ecological consultancy. From day one, his enthusiasm, positivity and energy have been infectious, and he has quickly become a well-liked and valued member of the team. Joe is always keen to get involved and try new things, and his eagerness to learn and develop has seen him progress rapidly within the role, earning him a well-deserved promotion to Ecologist. His genuine passion for nature conservation is clear in both his attitude and the care he brings to his work.

Joe is confident in carrying out a wide range of protected species surveys, with particular experience supporting rail infrastructure projects. He has a natural ability to communicate clearly and help clients understand ecological constraints, guiding them through their projects in a practical and supportive way while ensuring legislative requirements are met. Joe holds a degree in Zoology from the University of Cumbria and is a qualifying member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). He also holds survey licences for great crested newts.

Outside of work, Joe enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, birdwatching and fishing, and is also a keen football fan, both watching and playing when he gets the chance. He is actively involved with local natural history groups and enjoys supporting their conservation projects whenever he can.

Saffron joined Whitcher Wildlife Ltd in early 2026, following a successful season with the company in 2025 as a seasonal assistant, where she quickly demonstrated her commitment, enthusiasm and strong work ethic. Since joining the team permanently, Saffron has become an energetic and reliable Junior Ecologist, making a valuable contribution both through her own work and by supporting more senior colleagues across a range of projects. Her genuine passion for ecology and conservation is clear to see, and she has proven to be an excellent fit for the culture and values of the business. Saffron continues to develop rapidly and is expected to progress confidently into more complex project work as her experience grows.

Saffron holds a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Liverpool and is a qualifying member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), working towards the next stage of her professional development.

Outside of work, Saffron enjoys creative pursuits including graphite illustration, gouache painting and woodburning. She is an avid reader, with a particular interest in science-fantasy literature, and enjoys spending time birdwatching with friends. She also enjoys playing board games, including nature-themed favourites such as Wingspan.

Samuel has supported Whitcher Wildlife on a seasonal basis since early 2024, providing vital assistance during the busiest times of year. He plays a key role in the smooth running of bat survey work across the business, carrying out all bat call analysis and managing data efficiently and accurately. Samuel has completed the BatAbility analysis course and is trusted with handling large volumes of survey data to tight turnaround times.

In addition to analysis, Samuel looks after all bat survey equipment, including static detectors, cameras and associated hardware, ensuring equipment is downloaded, maintained and redeployed promptly. His organised and methodical approach helps maintain an efficient workflow throughout the peak season and takes significant pressure off the wider team. Samuel is also highly capable when it comes to technical and IT-based solutions, regularly assisting with troubleshooting and improving processes where needed.

Outside of work, Samuel is a keen musician and enjoys spending his Wednesday evenings at karaoke, putting his musical interests to good use.