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Meet Eleanor Pawley, one of our dedicated Ecologists based in the Windsor office, though she works nationally and often meets up with the wider Ecology team. Eleanor’s journey at Maydencroft is a brilliant example of the career progression we’re so proud to support — from apprentice to ecologist, she’s experienced almost every side of the business.

“No two days are ever the same,” says Eleanor — and that couldn’t be more true for our Ecology team, especially during the busy survey season between May and August.

5:00 am – Early Start
Eleanor begins her day calmly before the chaos — breakfast and a morning yoga session to stay strong and stress-free. “You need a decent fitness level for this job,” she says. “It’s not unusual to clock over 10,000 steps daily when you’re out on site.”

7:00 am – Office or On the Road
Her day officially starts in the Windsor office (or out in the field), prepping for surveys or getting stuck into reporting. In peak season, she might search for great crested newts, reptiles, dormice, bats, or breeding birds. With a tablet in hand (and waterproofed just in case), she’s ready for whatever the weather throws her way — sun cream and raincoat are always on standby.

Out on Site (2 Days a Week)
Fieldwork is a massive part of Eleanor’s job. She's hands-on with nature, from habitat assessments and protected species surveys to setting out reptile mats, acoustic bat detectors, and collecting water samples for eDNA analysis. “It’s amazing to visit some wonderful and untouched parts of the UK,” she says. “That’s a perk of the job.”

Back at the Desk (3 Days a Week)
When she’s not out in the wild, she’s in the office preparing Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, writing up reports, working on GIS maps, and inputting data into spreadsheets. “It’s a real mix,” she says. “That balance of field and office work attracted me to the ecology team.”

A Unique Journey to Ecology
Eleanor started as an apprentice in the Landscape and Environment team, later working in Grounds and Estates, and even supporting the Arb team with admin. She's always been passionate about the natural world, with a BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology and Oceanography. After an injury, she moved into office-based roles, including the Nature Recovery team, before stepping into ecology. “I’ve been able to work with so many departments, and that broad knowledge helps, especially when working with contractors and understanding construction language.”

Challenges & Rewards
One of the toughest parts? Delivering bad news. “Sometimes the survey results aren’t what the client hopes to hear, which can be hard.” But it’s all part of maintaining ecological integrity. Working solo on site can also be isolating, but the positives far outweigh the challenges: “I feel like I’m making a real difference. And the people at Maydencroft are genuinely lovely — it’s such a supportive work culture.”

5:00 pm End of the Day
After a long day, Eleanor returns home tired but fulfilled. “I usually eat lunch out in the field or at the office, and by the time I get home, I’m ready to relax — but I always feel like I’ve done something meaningful.”

Eleanor says:
“I love working with nature and the opportunities I’ve had at Maydencroft. I’m looking forward to one day progressing to Senior Ecologist — and continuing to grow in a career that I find truly rewarding.”