Meet the Team
Jay Allen · BSc (Hons) ACIEEM
Principal Ecologist / Director
Holding European Protected Species licenses for Great Crested Newt, Dormouse, Sand Lizard, and Smooth Snake with both Natural England and Natural Resources Wales, Jay has been a part of numerous large and often intricate projects, working closely alongside developers and forestry consultants.
Jay’s strength lies in offering a pragmatic yet compliant service to clients, ensuring adherence to wildlife legislation and planning policies.
His years of hands-on experience in ecological mitigation uniquely position him to provide technical support, ensuring smooth project execution during the construction phase.
Suzie Melhuish · BSc (Hons) · ACIEEM
Principal Ecologist / Contracts Manager
Having close to twenty years of experience in ecological consultancies, Suzie brings a wealth of expertise to our team. Her extensive background in protected species fieldwork provides excellent grounding for her to oversee surveys and devise mitigation strategies for sites of diverse complexity.
As an accomplished herpetologist, Suzie holds Natural England licenses for both Smooth Snakes and Great Crested Newts. Additionally, she possesses a Natural England Class License and has obtained numerous Badger Sett Interference Licenses for development purposes.
In addition to her individual contributions, Suzie plays a pivotal role as a mentor for our early career ecologists. She provides comprehensive, in-house training year-round, ensuring the continuous professional development of all staff members.
Ned Parker · BSc (Hons)
Ecologist
Ned has been an integral part of BlueJay Ecology Ltd for over 5 years, contributing to a range of projects during this time. With a specialization in large-scale forestry implementation projects, Ned’s role as an Ecological Clerk of Works presents him with intriguing challenges on a daily basis, which he thrives on!
As our in-house ornithologist, Ned spends much of the winter months in the cold conducting wintering bird surveys, followed in spring by territorial bird surveys and pre-clearance nesting checks.
Drawing from his background in landscape contracting, Ned is perfectly positioned to manage our habitat creation projects and provide hands-on assistance whenever needed.
Camille Tellier · BSc (Hons)
Ecologist
Now in her third season with Bluejay Camille is an experienced Ecologist with five seasons’ experience working in ecological consultancy.
Camille is experienced in conducting protected species surveys and holds a Great Crested Newt License. She has managed numerous small-scale projects, including energy and infrastructure schemes, alongside habitat enhancement endeavours.
In addition, Camille’s passion for landscape history and habitat restoration drives her dedication to expanding her skills and expertise in this field, with a specific focus on integrating climate change resilience into implantation and mitigation strategies.
Tom Lock
Assistant Ecologist
Tom joined BlueJay Ecology following a career change from IT, bringing a fresh perspective and a keen eye for detail. His passion for conservation led him to gain experience through volunteering with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, South Downs National Park Authority, and Hampshire Dormouse Group.
He has since built experience in bat emergence surveys, Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, and Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, with a particular interest in protected species surveys and mitigation.
Tom also holds a CL51 beaver licence, an unusual one to have, allowing him to assist in the monitoring and conservation of this reintroduced species. With beavers playing an increasing role in habitat restoration and natural flood management, he is keen to contribute to their long-term success. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, gardening, and looking after his chickens, when he’s not making sloe gin that is!
Ian Salisbury · BA
Field Ecologist
At the beginning of the 2024 field season, we were thrilled to welcome Ian to our team as a field ecologist. With seven years working as an archaeological supervisor, his expertise in site and plant management will be a great asset to our team.
Ian’s lifelong fascination with birds, reptiles, and bats has guided his transition from archaeology to ecology. Now, as he embarks on this new chapter as an ecologist, Ian is driven by personal interest and passion for understanding and protecting these species.
This dedication to understanding and the natural world, will make Ian a valuable addition to Bluejay.