From first principles
to first survey
Meet the bats, understand the methods and prepare for supervised fieldwork.
Free first-survey block plannedExplore the pilot
A NEW WAY INTO ECOLOGY
Find your feet.
Then find your field.
Practical ecology knowledge, made accessible. Get to grips with the theory, understand the methods and arrive at your first survey better prepared.
Built for early-career ecologists. Open to curious minds.
LESS GUESSWORK. MORE UNDERSTANDING.
FIELD NOTES / 01Your next chapter
starts outdoors.
Learn at your own pacePractical, plain-English explanationsKnowledge you can take into the field
THE GAP WE’RE HERE TO CLOSE
You don’t need to know
everything to begin.
You need a place to start.
Between studying ecology and stepping onto a survey site, there can be a lot left unexplained. What does the equipment do? What should you record? And what does “elevation” actually mean?
EELH brings those foundations together in structured, affordable learning. Clear explanations, practical examples and opportunities to check your understanding — without assuming you already know the language.
A foundation for field experience.
Our learning supports supervised practice. It does not replace field training, demonstrate professional competence or grant a wildlife licence.
THE FREE STARTING POINT · COMING SOON
Your first bat survey.
A little less unknown.
A focused introduction to preparing for your first supervised bat survey. Dip into the essentials before you head out, then return when you need a refresher.
- What to bring, wear and check before you leave
- Survey methods and what your role involves
- Building features, bat emergence and recording observations
The first-survey block will be free. The wider bat course is in development.
A TASTE OF THE LEARNING01 / 03
THE LANGUAGE OF A SURVEY
“Watch the west elevation.”
An elevation is a face of a building. The west elevation is the side that faces west — not a measure of how high up you are.
TAKE IT INTO THE FIELD
Ask the survey lead to show you your assigned view before it gets dark.
GROW YOUR UNDERSTANDING
A starting point.
Then room to grow.
Begin with the basics. Build your knowledge across species, habitats and the work ecologists do.
From first principles
Make sense of
newt surveys
An introduction to the species, its ecology and the purpose of survey work.
In development
Keep your
curiosity growing
Planned topics include badgers, reptiles, crayfish and vegetation identification.
On the roadmap
WHO’S IT FOR?
A different route in.
The same curiosity.
Starting your career
Connect what you’ve studied with what happens on a real survey.
Changing direction
Build a foundation without needing to understand every term on day one.
Supporting a new starter
Give early-career colleagues a shared starting point before supervised practice.
GOOD QUESTIONS
A few things
worth knowing.
Do I need an ecology degree?
No. The introductory material is designed to explain the foundations in plain English. It is also useful for graduates who want to connect theory with practical survey work.
Will this qualify me to survey on my own?
No. EELH provides theoretical learning and preparation. Independent survey work depends on appropriate experience, competence, supervision and any licences required for the work. Follow your employer’s and survey lead’s requirements.
What will be free?
The first supervised bat survey block is planned as a free starting point. It focuses on preparation, equipment, survey methods and observations. The full bat course and other learning modules are being developed separately.
Can I start learning today?
You can explore the short field notes on this page now. The pilot course is being prepared for release; this page will be updated when it is ready.
Is EELH accredited or affiliated with a professional body?
EELH is an independent learning project. No professional accreditation or endorsement is claimed. The learning is intended to complement practical experience and established professional guidance.
KNOW A LITTLE MORE. STEP OUT A LITTLE SURER.