Vegetation, Ecological Assessment & Landscape Management

Types of service:

Wild, semi-natural or cultivated vegetation together with native, naturalized and alien species occur in our countryside. Numerous human impacts affect the vegetation directly or the fertility of soils with impacts upon the vegetation, e.g. cutting, grazing, drainage and nutrient enrichment through dry and wet deposition of nitrogen and other minerals, species introductions etc... these will impact the diversity of plant species. These plant species provide the food and shelter for many species at the lower and higher ends of the food chain/web. A loss of diversity of plants will have direct and indirect effect upon insects, soil biota, fungi, birds, amphibians and higher animals, as well as other ecosystem processes. We provide services to assess habitats, provide advice on future management and we provide the services or assistance to carry out such management.

Email us to discuss your query, site or situation. All issues whether concerning methodologies, technology, or scientific developments both applied and pure are welcome.

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Ecological Advice

send a query/question: online contact point for the public, growers, researchers, professionals and All involved in or interested in matters relating to the sciences behind plants, ecology, landscapes and horticulture.

NO CHARGE Applies to one simple query and to several questions over time.

email
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Vegetation Management, Restoration, Assessment & Study

  • Biodiversity of plant species - survey and assessment. Sampling of habitats to determine species present and populations.
  • Landscape Ecology - Assessment of ecological factors in an ecosystem/habitat: species present, population numbers, present or future management practices & their impacts.
  • Restoration projects - Land & Vegetation Management services to restore or maintain a habitat such as a woodland or grassland habitat to retain or increase its diversity.
  • The cost of a study and report will depend upon the nature of your request (e.g. subject matter, availability of information, amount of detail wanted and time required).
  • Email us to begin online discussions (no charge will be levied for these discussions). Charges will ONLY begin upon commissioning of the study and agreement of cost.
email
     
contact & who we are
previous work
environmental policy
Experience & Qualifications
Dr. Michael Alexander, B.Sc., M.Sc., has a Ph.D in Ecology (2006) from the RijksuniversiteitGroningen (RuG), The Netherlands, specifically in Plant Ecology, through the study of Plant Species Coexistence and the Role of Soil Nutrient Heterogeneity. This research was a collaboration between Dr. Alexander, Prof. J.van Andel & Dr. D. Pegtel (Plant Ecology) and Dr. I. Stulen (Plant Physiology) (RuG) with Prof. J.P.Grime (UCPE) at the University of Sheffield, U.K. This work was carried out in experimental gardens, glasshouses, climate chambers and in the field, looking at grassland plant species, management practices, soil nutrients and mycorrhizal fungi.
Research summary Photographs & Brief details of projects/work see previous work (left column for gardens and landscaping and right column of images for horticultural and ecological research). Horticultural experience see Gardens
Polylepis woodland, Ecuador
Drentse A Valley, Netherlands
Climate Chamber & Ragged Robin (Lychnis)
7 species mesocosm experiment

Other ecological work and studies have involved the influence of fire and grazing upon vegetation composition and physical environment in Ecuadorean High Andean Polylepis species woodlands in collaboration between the University of Wales (Bangor), The Ecuadorean Ministry of Agriculure, The University of Cuenca and the Herbarium at Kew Gardens; Advances in ecology course 1999 (Imperial College) and studies on Botany in summer meadows in the Swiss Alps, Seedling regeneration in oak woodland in Wales, survival strategies and fire resistance in Portugese woodland and grassland habitats.

Peter Alexander has over twenty years experience in the fisheries industries and has worked extensively with fresh and salt water life, whether fish, crustaceans and plantlife. Familiar with the habitat requirements of species and the pressures upon them across Ireland. Many years working in particularly Strangford Lough as well as along coasts, rivers and fresh water loughs. He has a vast knowledge of the ecology of our water systems and the practical matters involved in conserving and utilising these resources. Over the last 8 years he has also specialized on the practical and technical aspects of horticulture, vegetation and land management.

We work with several other trained and skilled self-employed colleagues specialized in tree surgery, environmental toxicity and various other skills and trades.