HARDEN-based STRI has appointed a new consultant to its ecology services UK team.

Rowan Rumball has joined the sports turf research company as ecological consultant.

He previously worked with engineering firm AECOM as a specialist in bats and great crested newts and carried out protected species surveys and data management on high-profile projects including HS2 and the M6 'smart' motorway.

Mr Rumball said he was "very excited" to join STRI.

"After a walk around the office and talking to my new work colleagues I can see myself getting involved in lots of interesting projects," he added.

"STRI will give me the opportunity to use my specialist skills in a direct and practical way on projects that make an immediate, positive change to the conservation of a site.

"The most important lesson I have learned in my career so far is that it's very rare for there to be no solution which is not beneficial for both the client and nature – whether that is in terms of abundance, diversity or habitat creation."

His appointment is welcomed by Bob Taylor, the company's head of ecology and environment.

He said: "Rowan's specialist knowledge and extensive project experience will be of major benefit to our diverse client group in the sports industry."

STRI has expanded in the past five years to provide ecological and environmental services to the global sport, amenity and aviation industries.

It works with top sports governing bodies such as the R&A, for which it is official ecological consultant to the Open Championship and Open qualifier venues.