A LANDSCAPE architecture studio established in Chester has expanded and launched a new ecology division.

The new department at Land Studio is being headed up by director of ecology Val Gateley, who has more than 16 years of experience as an ecologist, including specialist knowledge in habitat survey and assessment.

The new service will offer clients a wide range of ecological services including Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments in support of their projects.

Land Studio was established in the city in 2016 and is based in The Old Rectory on St Mary’s Hill.

The company works on projects across the UK and its clients include The National Trust.

Last year, it became the first nature led landscape architecture practice of its size in the UK to have its own in-house civil engineering and sustainable drainage design division.

Simon Richards, managing director of Land Studio, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Val to our growing team and to launch our Ecology design and management division.

“As a studio that champions a nature led design approach through our expertise in landscape architecture, sustainable drainage design and Building with Nature, ecology is a fundamental part of our approach and a key service that we have been keen to integrate.

“We look at all our projects from a holistic perspective that considers both the built and natural environments in equal measure, so we’re excited to expand into providing ecology design."

Director of ecology, Val Gateley, said: “It’s great to join the Land Studio team and to be part of a forward-thinking business bringing landscape architecture, engineering and ecology all together in one practice."