BSc (Honours) Environmental Conservation
Three years full-time or four years full-time (including one year work placement or year of study abroad)
UCAS code • F912
Location • City Campus
Subject area • Environment
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At a glance
The state of the environment is a global political issue, and there is a growing demand for ecological consultants and environmental managers. Make a difference to the world around you by pursuing a career managing landscapes and wildlife in the rapidly expanding conservation industry. You learn from respected industry figures and gain experience by applying what you have learnt with placements in the UK and overseas.
Key points
Learn from lecturers with links to industry and national conservation bodies.
Take the opportunity to study abroad.
Develop your skills and CV by completing a one-year placement with an organisation.
Take part in field visits to national parks and industrial areas in the UK and abroad.
What is environmental conservation?
This course is for people interested in the conservation of wildlife and landscapes, in both urban and rural areas. Environmental conservation is the active management required to conserve habitats and landscapes for their own sake and for the natural services that they provide, both to human society and for the Earth.
This course
This course is for people who recognise that the Earth's resources are finite and want to actively take part in the developing global agenda for conservation of healthy environments. It provides the professional skills and knowledge that you need to take advantage of the increasing need for graduates with the ability to evaluate and manage sites for nature conservation.
You study the policies and principles behind the integration of potentially conflicting land uses, both globally and locally. You also consider the benefits to society and individuals of contact with nature, and explore how we can encourage more people to enjoy and care for the environment.
The interdisciplinary nature of this subject encourages an understanding of principles from the natural and the social sciences. You develop analytical and professional skills needed for a career in ecology and nature conservation areas.
Many of the lecturers have worked in nature conservation or landscape management and retain strong links with the industry, and some sit on the committees of national and local conservation bodies including Natural England, the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management and the Peak District National Park Authority. That means course material is kept up to date and you benefit from their practical experience and up-to-date knowledge.
Field visits and project work are frequently at sites in and around Sheffield, the Peak District National Park and across the UK. There are also opportunities to take week-long residential field-courses in Central Europe and on the Mediterranean Coast.
You can also attend a work-based learning placement during year two, either locally or overseas. This is an excellent opportunity to increase your industry knowledge and your employability after you graduate.
You can then further develop your industry experience with an optional one year work placement. We help you find your placement with companies in the UK and overseas. You can apply for placements with organisations such as Peak District National Park Wildlife trusts Natural England National Trust local government development agencies and consultancies.
You might choose to widen your international horizons even further, with opportunities to study abroad at one of our partner universities. If you study at a partner university in the EU, Erasmus grants are available.
Key areas of study
Key areas include ecological processes wildlife and landscape management past, present and future human environmental influences and concerns the causes and impacts of climate change field survey skills trends and expectations in the human use of landscapes for leisure, industry and conservation environmental law and policy sustainable development.
Related courses
You apply for this course through UCAS.
2013/14 academic year
For 2013 entry, membership of professional bodies and mandatory UK field trips are included in the course fee.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £10,680 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,250 a year
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
coursework examinations
Find out about work placements and how we can support your placement experience.
Optional year-long work placements are normally gained by competitive interview and are not a guaranteed part of a course.
This course is accredited by the Landscape Institute (landscape management category) and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management
Key Information Set 
Facilities
Networked PCs with specialist software
High quality facilities have helped us to establish an excellent reputation for our research and teaching. They include
three computer suites running specialist software
networked PCs with Autocad software, and an artificial sky for daylight testing with miniature model photography
specialist laboratories for research and study, supported by technicians and academic staff
specially designed, state-of-the-art environmental and soil laboratories, as well as plant preparation and growing facilities
Extensive use is made of relevant technology to ensure students are fully versed in the latest techniques, including global positioning systems (GPS) and geographical information systems (GIS) to map and analyse environmental data
Environmental and soil labotatories
We also complete field work throughout the region, the Peak District National Park and overseas. This enables students to study a range of habitats and environmental issues, and take part and organise different outdoor activities.
Dr Mike Heath
Senior lecturer
Mike joined Sheffield Hallam University in March 2005 as a senior lecturer in environmental management. He is a chartered geologist who, prior to joining Sheffield Hallam, worked for 20 years in geoenvironmental consultancy, research and training in the UK and overseas and, since 1996, lectured at Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter.
Research interests
hazardous and nuclear waste disposal
natural radiation environment
geothermal energy
mining environmental management
environment and development
participatory development
geohazards
hazard-resistant housing
Teaching interests
environmental management systems
environment and development
contaminated land
solid and hazardous waste management
atmospheric pollution control
energy management
Author of
Heath, M J (2002) Environmental aspects of geothermal energy resources utilization in: Chandrasekharam D and Bundschuh J (eds) Geothermal Energy (Resources) for Developing Countries. AA Balkema, Rotterdam
Lynn Crowe
Professor of environmental management
My main interests are in the field of environmental policy development, particularly access and countryside recreation, and landscape management. I am particularly interested in the contribution the natural environment can make to the quality of people's lives, and how we can encourage more people to enjoy the countryside and green spaces more often.
I have worked for Sheffield Hallam University for 20 years. Before that I also worked for the Countryside Commission, local authority countryside services, and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). I have also had extensive involvement in regional and national government organisations, having been a Member of the Peak District National Park Authority for ten years, and a government appointed board member of both English Nature and Natural England.
At Sheffield Hallam, I manage two important national networks
the Countryside Recreation Network is a network of 26 government agencies and other organisations in the UK and Ireland who wish to promote good practice and co-ordinate research in the countryside recreation sector
the Sustainable Communities Network is our online gateway to all the professional development services we provide for the planning, housing, architecture, and environmental management sectors
I also work closely with related professional bodies, such as the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, the Landscape Institute, and the Countryside Management Association.
Selected recent publications
Crowe, L. and Leckie, S. (2007), Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change, report of the annual workshop proceedings of the Association of National Park Authorities.
Crowe,L. and Bennett,L. (2008), Landowners' Liability?: Is perception of the risk of liability for visitor accidents a barrier to countryside access?, a study undertaken on behalf of the Forestry Commission, Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland), the Scottish Government, and Sport Northern Ireland.
Crowe, L. (2010), Chapter on Leisure and the Natural Environment in Torkildsen's Sport and Leisure Management, edited by Peter Taylor, to be published by Routledge.
Geoff Cartwright
Senior Lecturer
Currently Geoff teaches on a wide range of environmental topics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Geoff has a diverse background in habitat and visitor management having worked as a senior ranger at a country park, as an ecologist for a local authority and as a countryside management officer. He has been involved in both strategic and practical management and, during his time as a countryside management officer, he was responsible for the creation of a major urban, wetland nature reserve through a difficult reclamation project. He also acted as the chairperson of the Trust that runs the visitor and education service at the reserve.
Geoff also has a background as a course director in providing nationally-acclaimed training services for in-service countryside professionals. In view of his recognised experience and expertise in the compilation of management plans he was asked to take responsibility for developing and running an annual residential course on countryside management planning attended by people from diverse geographical locations (including Malaysia, Malta and the Netherlands) and diverse professional interests. Other courses included countryside ranger training and integrated woodland management.
Research interests
habitat and species management
interaction of people and wildlife in the landscape
historic effects people have had in shaping the visible landscape.
Teaching interests
land management for wildlife
restoration and habitat creation
health and wellbeing effects of contact with nature
management planning
visitor management
dynamics of community and voluntary groups.
Selected publications
Cartwright, G.A. (2004)Wetland enhancement on an urban river: Issues of social and economic regeneration. M.Phil. Sheffield Hallam University.
Rotherham I. D. and Cartwright, G.A. (2006) Water and wetlands: their conservation and re-creation in a social landscape the vital role of project champions. Proceedings of the IALE Conference, Water and the Landscape: The Landscape Ecology of Freshwater Ecosystems, 321-326
Suzanne Leckie
Postgraduate programme leader
Suzanne began her career working for the Peak District National Park as an environmental educator, trainer and education service manager. Tasks ranged from creating nature areas in school grounds, to delivering training courses about how to design exciting and inspiring educational events, to forging partnership projects with organisations such as the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) and Water Companies.
After 10 years she moved to Sheffield Hallam, where she has been teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate courses for over 14 years. In addition to teaching, Suzanne acts as the postgraduate programme leader for a wide range of MSc courses in the postgraduate sustainable communities and environments programme.
Suzanne maintains her connections with vocational practice through her position as a trustee for Whirlow Hall Farm Trust (acting as chair of the education committee), and by undertaking consultancy work for environmental organisations.
Suzanne's main consultancy and research interests relate to the interface between people and the environment. She has recently undertaken consultancy work for Sheffield Wildlife Trust to develop an evaluation system to measure the benefits of their people focused projects, and has organised conferences for the Association of National Park Authorities. She was also commissioned to lead a project for the Department of Foreign and International Development in designing an environmental education curriculum for the Silistra region of Bulgaria.
Selected publications
Swarbrooke, J., Beard, C., Leckie, S., Pomfret, G. (2003), Adventure Tourism - the new frontier, Butterworth Heinemann
Crowe, L., and Leckie, S. (2006) Recreation in National Parks, report of annual workshop proceedings of the Association of National Park Authorities
Crowe, L., and Leckie, S. (2007) Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change, report of annual workshop proceedings of the Association of National Park Authorities
Dr John Rose
Course leader for MSc Environmental Managament
John has taught at Sheffield Hallam University for ten years. Prior to joining the University he worked for two years as an ecologist with Sheffield City Council and for five years as an ecologist with Land Use Consultants, a multidisciplinary environmental consultancy.
During the time at Land Use Consultants he worked on a range of projects including research for government bodies, environmental impact assessments for several major projects and the production of management plans for sites such as Cannock Chase and Hampstead Heath. He has retained an involvement in ecological consultancy through his role with the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM).
John is chair of the Training Education and Career Development Committee and also sits on the Institute's Council.
John is actively involved in nature conservation outside of the University. He is a founder member of the South Yorkshire Bat Group and is a licensed bat worker undertaking voluntary roost visits on behalf of Natural England.
Research interests
habitat management
ecological impact assessment
IT in ecology and ecological teaching
Teaching interests
ecology
nature conservation management
ecological survey and evaluation
environmental impact assessment
ecological impact assessment
soil science
geographical information systems (GIS) in environmental management
Selected publications
Rotherham, I.D., Rose, J.C., Handley, C. and Goodman, K. (2000) Restoring urban wet meadows: five years of recovery of a major floodplain in urban South Yorkshire, UK. In: Abstract Proceedings SER 2000, Liverpool, Unpaged.
Effects of the management of field scale releases of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops on the abundance and diversity of farmland wildlife. - Evaluation of the monitoring programme. For Friends of the Earth. 2002
Magali Fleurot
Lecturer
Prior to joining the University, Magali worked in the private sector with an emphasis on marketing and sales, and in the education sector where she taught French and Spanish in the secondary and higher education sectors. She has held a variety of roles in administrative support, research and business development within the University.
Magali is the Countryside Recreation Network (CRN) manager at Sheffield Hallam University. The CRN is a network of 29 government agencies and national organisations from the UK and Southern Ireland who work to promote good practice and disseminate research in countryside recreation management. Sheffield Hallam University have managed this contract since 2003.
Magali is responsible for supporting the business, communications and marketing of the Network. This includes organising and promoting CRN seminars and conferences, editing and publishing the CRN journal (Countryside Recreation) three times a year, managing the CRN website, and implementing the marketing and communications strategy in line with the business plan.
Dr Douglas Fraser
Senior Lecturer
Douglas previously worked in ecological research, with a specific interest in fungi. He has also worked for a National Park Authority, developing and providing environmental education for children and adults. This involved activities suitable for school, university and professional groups, including the EUROPARC-accredited English Language for Professionals and international training courses. He has also been a self-employed, consultant landscape interpreter.
His current role at Sheffield Hallam University includes working with international organisations, professionals and students.
Research and teaching interests
habitat creation and landscape rehabilitation
habitat management
landscape development history
international conservation perspectives
environmental education and interpretation
Publications
Rotherham ID, Spode F and Fraser D (2003) Post Coal-mining Landscapes: an under-appreciated resource for wildlife, people and heritage in: Moore HM, Fox HR & Elliott S (eds) Land Reclamation: Extending the Boundaries (Balkema).
Baker S, Fraser D and Kostkan V (2006) 'A New Method for Assessing the Suitability of Sites for Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) Colonisation' Journal of Practical Ecology.
Profiles
Dr Mike Heath
Senior lecturer
Lynn Crowe
Professor of environmental management
Geoff Cartwright
Senior Lecturer
Suzanne Leckie
Postgraduate programme leader
Dr John Rose
Course leader for MSc Environmental Managament
Magali Fleurot
Lecturer
Dr Douglas Fraser
Senior Lecturer
