Meet our team
White Horse Ecology is a collective of freelance consultants with extensive experience in wildlife conservation, land management, ecological consultancy as well as project management and evaluation.
Mike Phillips - MCIEEM
Founder
With over 25 years of experience in nature conservation, Mike is the main contact point for White Horse Ecology. His work focuses on land management advice and surveys, project evaluation, project management and working with local communities and landowners to help them manage spaces for wildlife. He has worked for The Conservation Volunteers, Kent County Council and Dover District Council managing projects that conserve special habitats. He is an active volunteer and committee member of the Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group since 2004 and currently serves as the president of the Kent Field Club. He is passionate about the natural environment and loves playing a part in its conservation and enhancement.
Polly Mathewson
Associate consultant
With a background in development work in East Africa, Polly brings a wealth of experience in managing, assessing and evaluating large projects. Her work has also included managing change in the charitable sector. Since returning to the UK, Polly has turned her attention to the conservation of the natural environment and running an organisation dedicated to dog rescue in Spain. Her background of working with international NGOs is a huge boost to White Horse Ecology and has enhanced the skills that we can offer our clients. She has recently been working on the organisational review of a local eNGO and how organisations can reflect on their working practices to become more adaptable to an ever-changing funding environment.
Lesley Mason - ACIEEM
Associate botanist
Lesley is an experienced FISC Level 5 botanist, ecologist and trainer, with a particular interest in vegetation survey and condition assessment. Services include full botanical survey, habitat condition assessment, UK Habitat Classification (UKHab) for Biodiversity Metric/Net Gain calculations, Phase 1 habitat survey, National Vegetation Classification and hedgerow survey. Previously employed by Kent County Council, as a field surveyor for the ARCH Kent Habitat Survey, Lesley now has clients including Kent County Council, Kent Wildlife Trust and many national and local ecological consultancies. She is also the Honorary Meetings Secretary for the Kent Field Club as well as being a committee member for the Kent Mammal Group.
Fiona Groves
Associate consultant
Fiona has over 20 years' experience in supporting public, voluntary and third sector organisations with their work in natural environment, heritage and community settings and specifically in regards to trees, woods and forests. Fiona is skilled at strategic and operational programme delivery, review and forward planning, and leading change and transformations. She is a well-practised chair, facilitator and trainer, bringing stakeholders and staff together to find ways of working and engaging with diverse audiences from a variety of backgrounds. Her specialisms include safe, enjoyable and accessible visitor experiences; young people, education and learning as well as creating guidance and resources to support environment, people and community engagement.
