Botanæco: the company
Botanæco was established in August 2015 by Dr Andy McMullen after 20 years as a professional botanist. His intention was to establish a cutting-edge consultancy producing high quality, cost-effective outputs. This is now being realised with recognition of "excellent" & "impressive" outputs by clients & the regulators, and invitations to share this practise.
A network of engineers, faunal ecologists, foresters, geologists, hydrologists & ornithologists provides technical support on multi-disciplinary projects.
The services provided by Botanæco are described elsewhere on this website and a concise capability statement is available for download below.
Philosophy
Botanæco aims to provide cost-effective solutions based on a robust baseline and scientific principles. This reduces the use of energy & materials to be more sustainable for the client and the environment. As a result, pragmatic & reliable outputs have been provided to repeat clients in the construction, educational, energy, forestry, health & local government sectors.
The antifragility of solutions is considered to ensure they are adaptable (such as responding to monitoring) and able to withstand extremes (rather than being conceptualised under average conditions). This is crucial in a changing and increasingly extreme environment.
Botanæco understands its responsibilities and can take the lead when appropriate to provide the outputs with as little or as much direction or involvement with the client or other parties as required. Projects can therefore be delivered in isolation; as part of a multidisciplinary team; or across conflicted land uses & user groups where Botanæco's particular combination of an objective ear, proactivty & humour has brought resolution.
Key to achieving positive outcomes, especially in contested situations, is Botanæco's belief that coming up with a solution is indicative only of a lack of effort & imagination. A range of solutions is always sought to provide choice & adaptability to clients.
Clients
Experience includes plans & projects in the academic, construction, educational, energy, health & transport sectors. Since establishment in August 2015, Botanæco's clients have included the following with repeat work extending to over thirty projects with some:
- Aberdeen City Council
- Aberdeenshire Council
- Alba Ecology
- Angus Estates
- Arcus
- Balnaboth Estate
- Bidwells
- Bowland Ecology
- Brifor Ltd
- Caledonian Climate
- Cairngorms National Park Authority
- Communities 4 Coul
- Coriolis Energy
- Coul Links Ltd.
- East Dunbartonshire Council
- East Point Geo
- ECUS
- Energised Environments
- EnviroCentre
- EP Ecology
- Fiona Chalmers Associates
- Forest Carbon
- Forestry & Land Scotland
- Future Woodlands
- Gavia Environmental
- Glen Lyon Estate
- Glenwhargen Estate
- Goldcrest
- Green Energy International
- Gresham House
- Highfield Forestry
- Innogy Renewables
- Ironside Farrar
- ITPEnergised
- Kilchoan Estate
- Landfor
- Locogen
- LUC
- MacArthur Green
- MacRobert Estate
- Managed Estates
- National Trust
- National Trust for Scotland
- NatureScot
- NESBReC
- NewLeaf Forestry
- North West Mull Community Woodland Company
- Ocean Winds
- Peel Energy
- Reforesting Scotland
- RPS
- RWE Innogy
- Scottish Countryside Rangers Association
- Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
- Scottish Forestry
- Scottish Gamekeepers Association
- Scottish Government
- Scottish Land & Forestry
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- Scottish Woodlands
- South Lanarkshire Council
- Secret Herb Garden
- SLR
- Stanley Wright
- Sweco
- TaylorWimpey
- Tetrix Ecology
- The Farm Environment
- TNEI
- TreeStory
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
- Wildlife Consulting
- Woodland Trust
- Zulu Forest Science
Insurance & quality control
Botanæco has Professional & Employer Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance and maintains quality control through adherence to best practice guidance and review by associated consultancies.
Health & safety
Botanæco maintains construction site, outdoor leadership & first aid training; and protective clothing & communications equipment, including SPOT satellite messengers.
Company details
Botanæco is a private limited company registered with the Registrar of Companies for Scotland.
The Company Number is 622339 and the registered address is 3 Vayne Cottages, Fern, Angus, DD9 6SB.