Smarter Surveying: Digital Solutions for UKHab and BNG Surveys

Discover how digital innovation is streamlining habitat surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) delivery in this free webinar with environmental professionals. Learn how Coreo, a digital survey platform, can enhance data accuracy, reduce admin time, and improve collaboration through real-world consultancy experience and cutting-edge digital tools.

This session is ideal for ecologists, environmental consultants, local planning authorities, Local Environmental Record Centres and anyone involved in UKHab or BNG workflows.

Speaker Programme

This ecoTECH webinar will feature 2 presentations followed by speaker Q&As:

1. Streamlining UKHab & BNG Surveys with Coreo with Dave Kilbey (Natural Apptitude)
2. From Field Notes to Fully Digital: Embracing Coreo for UKHab & BNG Surveys with Owen Crawshaw (The Ecology Co-op)

The presentations will be recorded and shared with those who booked, alongside Q&A transcripts and lists of useful links via a website article following the event.

Streamlining UKHab & BNG Surveys with Coreo

Dave Kilbey (Natural Apptitude)

Dave Kilbey demonstrates how Coreo transforms UKHab and BNG surveys by boosting accuracy, ensuring compliance, and saving time. Learn how to seamlessly export data into the Biodiversity Metric and Defra’s condition assessment workbook, and discover how full data transparency with LPAs and clients can reduce follow-ups and build trust.

Dave Kilbey is the Founder and CEO of Natural Apptitude. Natural Apptitude is the UK’s leading producer of data collection software for the ecology and conservation sectors. Its citizen science orientated projects include the Big Butterfly Count, Mammal Mapper and INNS Mapper. Its data collection platform, Coreo, supports hundreds of ecological consultancies and other organisations with field-based surveys, including the UKHab Survey/BNG. Dave has always been passionate about conservation and believes technology has a key role to play in reversing the loss of biodiversity. Outside of work his main interests include birds, botany, bugs and his two white, miniature schnauzers.

From Field Notes to Fully Digital: Embracing Coreo for UKHab & BNG Surveys

Owen Crawshaw (The Ecology Co-op)

Join Principal Ecologist Owen Crawshaw as he explores a consultancy’s journey from traditional methods to a streamlined digital workflow using Coreo. Discover the key benefits of going paperless for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and UKHab surveys, illustrated with real-world project examples. The session will also address current technological limitations and spark discussion on the future of digital ecology.

Owen Crawshaw is a Principal Ecologist at The Ecology Co-op and a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), specialising in ornithology. He has extensive experience in bird surveys and broader ecological work, including BNG assessments, EPS licences, and bat roost inspections. Outside of work, he’s a passionate birdwatcher, photographer, Master Scuba Diver, and keen cricketer.

ecoTECH Webinar Series

This event is part of the ecoTECH webinar series delivered by the Biological Recording Company. This webinar is funded by Natural Apptitude.

Check out previous ecoTECH webinars via our website: https://biologicalrecording.co.uk/ecotech/