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Ecologist

Ms Heather Ridgway


Heather graduated in 2020 from the University of Hull with a degree in BSc (Hons) Zoology.

Since graduating, she has been working as an ecologist across the UK at various consultancies, whilst further building up conservation skills through regular volunteering in Scotland (Conservation Volunteers / Lothian Conservation Volunteers / Butterfly Conservation).  Heather joined GFT in 2024 for an initial 6 month internship position (which was then extended to 12 months) as part of the ongoing INNS phase 2 control programme.  Following the internship she took up the position of Ecologist at GFT in 2025 with a particular focus on delivering biodiversity restoration projects.  Heather plays an important role in the delivery of the GFT 'Flowing Forward - Restoring Galloway's Rivers' programme.  

Heather has extensive experience in protected species surveys, phase 1 habitat surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain and habitat restoration.    

In her spare time, she loves hiking, camping and drawing. 

Heather Ridgway

Ecologist

Latest News


Smolt sampling on the Bladnoch

GFT are presently sampling smolts caught in a fyke net at the inflow to Torhouse Fish Farm on the lower River Bladnoch. The fyke net also helps provide data on various other fish species within the Bladnoch catchment.

Temperature loggers downloaded this month

GFT are currently in the process of downloading data from temperature loggers which are in 20 sites across the river Bladnoch. The data gets downloaded twice a year; once in April and once in October.

The New Sparling Model Has Arrived!

GFT commissioned a Bolton based taxidermist, Phillip Leggett to create a realistic sparling model. This model accurately represents three adult sparling, which grow up to 30cm and are still present in the River Cree.

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