For local planning departments, planning permission applicants, ecologists and anyone needing a reliable third party review and quality verification.

You need Report Check

Our fast, expert and cost-effective solution to verify ecological aspects of planning submissions.

Why use this service?

Over the quarter of a century’s history of our Practice, we have written hundreds of ecological reports and seen many hundreds more. Some of those that are shown to us are excellent, many are adequate but a large number fall very far short of what is necessary to enable clear understanding and confident decision-making. There are now more ecological consultants than ever before but there is still little rigorous quality control despite the sterling efforts of IEEM and other professional institutes. It remains the case that anyone can set themselves up in the business without qualifications or experience. Unfortunately for the credibility of the science, many have done just that.

Above all, Betts Ecology are independent of any environmental group, strive to maintain a reputation for excellence and offer clients the highest high quality service possible in the professional marketplace.

• We are in business for the long term and have invested for tomorrow;
  
• We aim to meet all best practice and industry standards;
  
• We know and enjoy good relationships with the wildlife authorities and licensing agencies;
  
• We employ skilled and experienced staff and train them thoroughly;
  
• We research new fields and develop new techniques;
  
• Our team members and our company belong to professional institutes and are supported by them.

What are the commonest faults in reports?

This is a subject we and others have researched carefully. Here is a distillation (in no particular order):

• Inadequate or even non-existent statement of objectives;
  
• Absence of a full description of methods which thus prevents a judgement on the suitability or thoroughness of the procedures employed in sampling, survey, analysis or statistically based deduction;
  
• Poorly presented or inadequate, unsupported results which therefore precludes an allocation of any confidence level to the findings;
  
• Little or no discussion of the limitations of methods used;
  
• Poor handling of uncertainty and probability and a lack of predictive analysis;
  
• Lack of appreciation of what is relevant to those making decisions from the results and neglect of key issues;
  
• Absence of stated criteria on which conclusions have been drawn and a lack of appropriate, quantified data, or sometimes of any numerical data at all;
  
• Failure to mention presence of notable/protected species or designated habitats, and lack of consideration of important groups such as bryophytes, lichens, fungi and invertebrate animals;
  
• Little, no or incorrect use of biological indicators or indices;
  
• Confusion between "nature conservation" and "ecology";
  
• No consideration of adjacent, down-stream or remote ecosystems which might be directly or indirectly affected by the project;
  
• Absence of mention of or enforceable commitment to mitigation and monitoring of negative effects;
  
• No statement of the qualifications and experience of those undertaking the work;
  
• Inappropriate or inadequate surveys;
  
• Lack of allowance for limitations of seasonality;
  
• Absence of references or support for statements made or data used;
  
• Poor use of English to such an extent that the report is confusing and does not properly convey the findings and their consequences.

Our competence

The Christopher Betts Practice (“Betts Ecology”) was founded in 1985 but has a family tradition in business and industry stretching back to 1760. We are well known in the UK for the quality of our reports and our work as expert witnesses in Planning Inquiries, Judicial Review, etc. We are members of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. Scientific staff belong to appropriate professional bodies such as the Institute of Biology and Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.

REPORT CHECK - INDEPENDENT REVIEW SERVICE
for ecological reports

A confidential service provided by Betts Expert Services

There are many circumstances in which you may want an independent expert to have a look at an ecological report - to give confidence, verify best practice, provide a second opinion on conclusions or sometimes just to advise on use of English in science writing.

One of the most frequent reasons is quality control in Town & Country Planning, either for the Planning Department or the Applicant, that an ecological report submitted in support of a planning application is adequate.

Whatever the reason, Betts Expert Services offer a fast, reliable and fully confidential service at very low rates - from as little as £95 plus VAT. Reports submitted will be read by a senior, fully qualified, respected and experienced ecological scientist in professional practice. You will receive positive and helpful feedback with comments and suggestions on, for example, science content, written style and conformity with recognised standards and common practice.

Ideal for:

• Bat reports and other protected species surveys accompanying planning applications;
  
• Ecological survey reports and ecological site audits generally;
  
• Fauna and Flora chapters of Environmental Statements;
  
• Proofs of Evidence and expert witness statements;
  
• Nature Conservation Management Plans;
  
• Biodiversity Action Plans;
  
• Ecology and Biodiversity in Strategic Planning and Policy Statements

and similar documents.

Please note this service is restricted to reports in English. All business conducted is subject to our terms of trading.

Simply fill in the on-line order form below and make your payment, emailing the report to us. Alternatively, you can print out the order form if you prefer, and post or fax it to us with a hard copy of the report and your remittance.

SPECIMEN REPORT REVIEW TOPICS

Comments will be made, as may be appropriate, on the following matters.

Adequacy

Does the report meet the requirements of the case? Summary of deficiencies; best practice, policy and regulatory compliance; grade attributed.

Report structure

Sufficiency of objectives; scoping; legislative background; third party consultations; adequacy of explanations/discussion; appraisal/impact analysis; sufficiency in meeting stated objectives; conclusions and their stated criteria; suitability/range of mitigation/enhancements; enforceability and monitoring of recommendations/ prescriptions; conformity with recognised standards and professional practice.

Science content

Statement of methods; background research; inclusion of appropriate groups of organisms, communities, ecosystems; suitability/thoroughness of the procedures employed in sampling, survey, analysis or statistically based deduction; results, limitations, handling of uncertainty/probability, quantified data, numeracy, use of biological indicators/indices, predictive analysis and confidence level of findings; use of references and substantiation of statements.

General

Presentation; relevance to target readership; style (use of English, grammar, spelling, clarity, accuracy and efficiency of writing, appropriate vocabulary, quality of tables, plans and illustrations).

Independent Review Service - Online Order Form *=obligatory Title: Mr Ms Miss Mrs Dr Other Other title *Full Name Address line 1 Address line 2 Address line 3 Country *Postal/Zip code *Telephone (work) Telephone (home/mobile) Fax *E-mail Web site address Report type (i.e. “Bat Survey”) Length in words* Cost:** Please select... Up to 10,000 words £95 (includes VAT) 10,000 to 20,000 words £190 (includes VAT) 20,000 to 30,000 words £285 (includes VAT) For documents larger than 30,000 words, please contact us. * Please use your word processor’s word count facility. As a manual guide, calculate Plans, Diagrams, Figures, Graphs or Tables at 250 words per A4 page or part thereof. ** Please be as accurate as you can but we will allow a margin of 10% before charging the next higher rate. The right is reserved to refuse material for any reason, in which case payment will be refunded in full and the report returned by email. Reports can only be accepted in UK English at this time. Reports can usually be reviewed within five working days but may take longer during busy periods. If you have an urgent situation or wish to check current turn-around time, please telephone or click CONTACT and email your question to us on the form provided. We are often able to offer a next day or even same-day service for which extra charges may apply. THIS SERVICE IS ONLY AVAILABLE BY EMAIL AND ON-LINE PAYMENT THROUGH OUR WEB SITE.