diversity
environmental consultants ltd
Established 2000

what we're about

Diversity provides a bespoke environmental consultancy service enabling clients to fulfil their project aspirations whilst protecting and improving the natural environment.

Being a small independent company we're not driven by a need to generate work for a large number of staff but are able to focus on projects that have the objective of being socially and environmentally sustainable. This also means we give clients the personal attention they need to see their project through to a successful conclusion.

focusing on what's important

Legislation and planning policy relating to the natural environment can be confusing. But we can help...

With over 20 years experience as an environmental consultancy and fielding just a small team of dedicated specialists, we provide you with the targeted environmental services you need based on up-to-date published guidance and what is most relevant to the location and your project proposal. Our focus is on serving the client and nature.

our services

ECOLOGY

Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA)
Phase 1, preliminary, and 'walk-over' ecology surveys
Phase 2 surveys for bats, birds, badgers, crayfish, reptiles, amphibians, water vole, otter, dormouse and other protected species
Licensed for protected species including Low impact Class Licence (fast track) for great crested newts
Botanical surveys including NVC
Biodiversity Net Gain metrics
Habitat management and Ecological design of new habitats
Habitats Regulations Assessment
Expert witness

landscape architecture

Landscape Character Assessment
Visual Impact Assessment
Landscape Design
Garden Design & Planting Plans
Landscape and Ecology Management

arboriculture

Arboricultrual Appraisal
Tree and Woodland Management

Services provided by qualified Ecologists (members of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management) and Chartered Landscape Architect (member of the Landscape Institute).

for who?

We have worked with local authorities, schools, colleges, charities, landowners, hotel operators, glampsite owners, campsite owners, farmers, builders, business managers, architects, major utilities, civil engineers, social housing bodies, landscape architects, environmental consultancies, shopping centres, multinational companies, national television, conservation bodies, castle owners, carehome providers, and private householders.

Whether or not you fit into one of these categories we're always delighted to hear from new potential collaborators. Take a look at our project examples.

What our clients say

Sally Gilbert, United Communities
"I have worked with Rob Craine for more than 10 years. He is an absolute delight to work with, he loves coming up with solutions which ensure compliance with statutory requirements but may also involve working with young people, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm in all areas of ecology and nature. Rob is able to communicate with a broad range of people and is trusted by the professionals in the planning departments, a great asset when projects have challenges that need a joined up approach. He communicates equally well in other less professional settings. I work in affordable housing and Rob has shown commitment to working positively in communities, giving up his own time showing residents how to encourage wildlife into gardens and working with local schools. I cannot recommend Rob more, he understands the challenges of projects and development and is able to balance often conflicting priorities in a way that works for wildlife and nature but still enables development."
Derrick Whittaker, Architect
"In my role as Architect I am frequently appointed as agent undertaking planning applications, many of which require specialist reports. Diversity is one of a very short lift of consultancies I am comfortable in recommending to clients as I find their reporting and recommendations to be very clear, concise and practical. This clarity is coupled with their ability to deal with difficult projects and sometimes demanding local authorities."
Robert Cole, Robert Cole Civil Engineering Ltd
"We turned to Rob Craine of Diversity to guide us through the process of converting two barns in the Forest of Dean with sensitive ecology. Rob's professional advice was invaluable with his helpful and pragmatic approach. He understood the challenge of a commercial development and we were able to work together to complete the project leaving the ecology and habitat enhanced. We have no hesitation in recommending Diversity and look forward to working with their team again."
Daryn Willington, Independent builder
"Rob's depth and breadth of knowledge was immediately apparent as he read the site, correctly anticipating species finds and exposing corroborating signs hitherto thought unrelated. His timeley advice and quick turnaround for the report greatly helped, creating a benchmark and goals for the client as well as engendering confidence witht the relevant authorities, creating a route for the project."
Chris Roe, Hedge Roe Properties Ltd
"Rob Craine and his team undertook an ecology survey across the land on our site. Rob was a pleasure to work with, he explained exactly what needed to be done and helped us understand the outcome and impact on our development project. He provided a full report that was submitted to the Council and also helped us deal with subsequent requests and clarifications from the Council."
Griff Hughes, Householder
"Rob provided us with his expertise to support a residential planning application. All went through perfectly and was turned around in days to the planner's satisfaction."

examples

Bat licensing, Mullion, Cornwall

Holiday barn conversions affecting lesser horseshoe bats
Community engagement, Social Housing, Bristol

Community engagement for social housing redevelopment scheme
Bat survey, Wadebridge, Cornwall

Bat survey for Cornish rag-slate grade II listed building prior to refurbishment
Great crested newt survey, Herefordshire

Relating to housing development near Ross-on-Wye
Glamping nr. Helston, Cornwall

Landscape / ecology design & management
Conservation Management Plan, Osterley House (NT)

Ecology chapter for National Trust Conservation Management Plan
Pond restoration, Worcestershire

Nature conservation work relating to housing development
Ecology surveys, Sutton Hoo (NT), Suffolk

Ecology survey for new visitor access route to Saxon burial mounds
BBC SpringWatch

Adviser to BBC SpringWatch, Autumn and WinterWatch tv series
Eco-pods, Bristol

Wildflower green-roof and garden at residential study centre
Badger monitoring, South Gloucestershire

Badger monitoring for highways engineering project
Wildlife mitigation, barn conversions, Forest of Dean

Habitat creation & management for barn redevelopment project
Ecology surveys, Affordable housing, South Gloucestershire

Ecological surveys and Clerk of Works for Housing Association project
BREEAM assessment, Aston Martin

Phase 1 survey and BREEAM for new research facility, Warwickshire
Botanical survey, Rhosneigr, Anglesey

Pre-application investigation for proposed housing development
BREEAM assessment, Business Park, Nottinghamshire

Ecological assessment and advice for maximising BREEAM score
Landscape architecture, Georgian Manor, Cotswolds

Topiary parterres, waterfeatures & rose garden
Adviser to 10 Local Authorities

Inc. Bath & NE Somerset, Cotswolds, West Berkshire, Poole, Wokingham
Landscape design, Holiday Lodges, North Yorkshire

Ecological survey and design
Landscape architecture, Business Park, Devon

Landscape design incorporating low maintenance stoney wildflower meadow
Phase 1 survey, Stoke Park, Bristol

Feasibility study for introducing beef cattle to public land
Habitat management plan, Newark Park, Gloucestershire

Ecological impact study for increasing public access
Clerk of Works, Croyde Bay, Devon

Ecological Clerk of Works for water quality improvement scheme
Dormouse survey, National Grid, Wiltshire

Relating to flood prevention works around regional sub-station
Habitat translocation, Oxfordshire

Method Statement and Clerk of Works for meadow translocation
Wildlife protection, Gloucestershire

Mitigation for birds, reptiles and amphibians
Landscape & ecology, housing development, Malverns

Relating to creation of habitats in and around new housing development
Preliminary survey, Camping pods, Northumberland

Ecological survey of land around fishing lake for fishing accommodation
Ecological planning, Newbury, Hampshire

Ecological surveys and method statements for housing development
Private garden design, Gloucestershire

Garden design and hard materials detailing for domestic garden

ARTICLES & TALKS

Article on garden design for OpenAir Business magazine
Magazine piece on garden design for Whitaker Seager estate agents (click to link)
Keynote speaker at Farm Business Innovation Show

SUSTAINABILITY

We operate an Environmental Management System... Apart from avoiding printing (or only using only recycled paper), our transport is with electric vehicle (in some instances bicycle), our office is heated with biomass, and our computers are powered by wind and solar energy.

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