A HALLOW based environmental consultancy is helping to shape the future of wildlife monitoring thanks to a pioneering new bat survey technology developed with support from an Innovation Worcestershire grant.
Focus Environmental Consultants, founded in 2010, specialises in ecological and arboricultural reports to support planning applications across England and Wales.
As the business has grown, it identified a need to innovate its approach to nocturnal wildlife surveys, particularly in relation to bats.
With funding from Worcestershire County Council’s Innovation Worcestershire programme, the company has developed an automated thermal camera monitoring system designed for long-term, real-time monitoring of bat activity.
Developed in collaboration with a specialist software engineer, the system can be tree- or tripod-mounted to safely record bats emerging from roost sites over extended periods.
The technology enables continuous, low-disturbance monitoring, improving data capture while reducing the number of surveyors required on site.
The system is currently undergoing field testing and is expected to strengthen ecological evidence gathering while supporting both conservation and planning requirements.
The innovation forms part of wider business growth supported by Worcestershire Growth Hub, which also helped the company access funding to expand its night-vision and infrared survey equipment.
Focus Environmental Consultants has additionally invested in staff training and wellbeing initiatives, ensuring its growing team is skilled, supported and resilient.
Coun Alan Amos, cabinet member with responsibility for business and skills at Worcestershire County Council, said: “This is an excellent example of how targeted innovation funding can help local businesses develop practical solutions with real environmental benefits.
“By combining ecological expertise with new technology, Focus Environmental Consultants is strengthening wildlife protection while supporting sustainable development across Worcestershire and beyond.”
Fern Fellowes-Day, Founder and Director at Focus Environmental Consultants said: “Working with the Growth Hub has been a real turning point for us.
“They took the time to understand our business and pointed us towards funding and support we didn’t even know existed.
“It’s been like having a knowledgeable partner by our side their help has made a genuine difference to how we grow and move forward.”
