Gordon Haycock - CEcol CEnv FCIEEM

As a Director and Principal Ecologist at Haycock and Jay, Gordon’s role as a specialist Ecologist has continued whilst he also takes responsibility for delivery and quality control in a number of large-scale ecological projects. As a practising Ecologist in northern England and Scotland for over twenty years, Gordon is particularly familiar with the suite of habitats and protected species present in upland environments and has established a solid reputation as a specialist in upland vegetation survey, completing many thousands of hectares of survey in the uplands of England and Scotland since 2009.

Gordon is a recognised soft cliff vegetation expert undertaking survey and assessment of maritime cliff and slope vegetation for Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage and Natural Resources Wales. In 2017 he was contracted by NE to develop the evidence base for natural regeneration of vegetation following soft cliff recession providing better ecological knowledge of how vegetation develops on newly exposed slopes and cliff tops following cliff recession. This work has helped communicate the value of these habitats and supports effective site protection and management measures.

Gordon has experience of extensive amphibian and reptile survey and of managing large scale multi-disciplinary projects. He is talented at engaging successfully with clients, statutory agencies and others to promote project outcomes on time and on budget.

Gordon undertakes a number of voluntary roles including Secretary and Bryophyte Recorder for Wharfedale Naturalists Society (WNS). Gordon represents the Society at Yorkshire Dales Biodiversity Forum which co-ordinates delivery of the Biodiversity Action Plan for Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Park has Species Action Plans for five bryophytes, and monitoring populations of each species is key to this process. Working with Tom Blockeel, the Yorkshire Naturalists Union bryophyte recorder, Gordon has organised these surveys and also a national event for British Bryological Society (BBS) in Upper Wharfedale. He also assisted in delivery of the more recent BBS event in Swaledale.