A brief snapshot of some of HDA’s key personnel
Adrian Meurer oversees HDA’s ecology team as ecology Director and has considerable experience of providing ecological enhancement and mitigation advice to clients for a wide variety of projects, often combined with landscape proposals. Adrian has appeared as an ecology expert witness at a number of successful planning inquiries.
Bob Goldsmith joined the HDA ecology team in 2023 and carries out a full range of habitat and species surveys, and assessment work including Biodiversity Net Gain.
After co-founding HDA in 1998, Brian Duckett retired from full time practice in 2023, but remains on hand for his sage advice in his role as a trustee of the trust which now owns HDA.
Having relocated from the north of England, Cherry Tian joined HDA in 2022 as a landscape architect with extensive experience of private sector design and analysis projects including leisure, healthcare, education, residential, public realm and hospitality.
Christine Marsh joined HDA in 2010 with over 20 years experience in landscape design, and environmental impact assessment.
Christine’s key skills lie in landscape and visual impact assessment, particularly for highways, the waste industry, overhead power transmission lines, minerals, and for urban extensions.
Claire Cornhill joined HDA in 2024 to initially undertake mostly ecology survey and analysis work. Claire has a keen interest in all fauna and flora but has particular expertise in bird identification.
Clare Bird joined the HDA ecology team in 2013 and carries out survey work, ecological assessment including EIA, site supervision, development of mitigation strategies, and habitat management.
Clare has experience of managing rail projects for an extensive number of clients, including emergency, upgrading and electrification works.
Cleo Lewington joined HDA following completion of a landscape architecture degree in 2023, and is working full time prior to undertaking post graduate studies. Cleo is an invaluable member of the landscape team but also undertakes work across the breath of services which HDA provides.
Don Newling is an arboriculturalist with professional tree inspection certification. He joined HDA in 2014 to lead its arboricultural services.
Don has a wealth of experience in both the private and public sector, including health and safety inspections, planting schemes, and hedge and woodland management plans. His experience as a Local Authority Tree Officer is a valuable asset when providing advice on TPOs and planning applications.
Filippo Faraone began his HDA career hauling ecology equipment to and from sites in 2017. He rejoined in 2021 after university and is now highly accomplished at specialist survey work, site supervision and providing ecology advice in general.
Glen Walker is an essential part of HDA’s landscape team, involved with most aspects of the profession. Glen joined HDA in 2024 with a keen interest in sustainable drainage systems.
Karen Jensen originally joined HDA as a PA to Moira Hankinson and still uses shorthand from time to time.
Karen is now the Practice Manager and Company Secretary, and has been dealing with the accounts at HDA for as long as any of us can remember.
Having originally qualified at Merrist Wood College, Kate Ashley joined HDA in 2025, and quickly established herself as an essential part of HDA’s arboriculture team.
Following a background in research and education, Kate Thatcher joined HDA’s ecology team in 2025.
Lydia Taylor joined HDA in 2024, and carries out a wide range of ecology survey work.
Melody Gillman joined HDA in 2018, following completion of a Masters Degree in landscape architecture at Gloucestershire University, and time working in the construction industry. Melody routinely carries out site analysis, and design, utilising her specialist software and hand drawing skills, and is experienced at site work and inspections.
Neve Phillips joined HDA’s ecology team in 2025, with particular skills in botanical and zoological identification and surveying, habitat creation/management and data processing.
Nick Chambers joined HDA in 2021 having previously worked in the property industry, and is an experienced ecologist with a particular interest in bird and botanical surveys, skills honed by years volunteering for county wildlife trusts.
Sarah Thornton-Mills joined the HDA ecology team in 2024 with 13 years of experience in ecological consultancy. Sarah carries out a range of survey work and ecological assessments in addition to providing technical support to the wider team. Sarah has experience in project management, impact assessment and protected species mitigation across a range of sectors from residential to utilities.
Only Karen knows Simon Elswood’s real age, but Simon claims to have been 7 years old when joining HDA in 2000. Simon has particular interest in strategic scale projects such as landscape character and sensitivity assessment, ranging from National Parks and National Landscapes to parishes and individual sites. Simon performs a number of roles within the company and is a director of the trust which owns HDA.
Suzanne Absolom joined HDA in 2013 and undertakes various administrative and support roles, including dealing with accounts.
Su is an advanced first-aider.
Following a period of working in the north of England, Tanya Kirk returned to HDA in 2012 and is now a landscape Director. Tanya enjoys all aspects of the landscape profession, working for both private and local authority clients. Tanya’s skills include landscape and visual assessment, Green Belt studies, illustrative masterplans, and detailed design work including hard and soft landscape detailing. Tanya has undertaken many public consultation events and has presented at Examinations In Public.
Will Emberton joined HDA in 2019, having converted to a career in landscape architecture from a background in geology. Will is involved with the design and visualisation of a broad range of projects including developing proposals for housing schemes and the leisure industry. Will often undertakes field survey work, from both landscape and ecology perspectives.
Yiling Cao joined HDA in 2024 having studied landscape architecture at Sheffield University. Yiling has a keen interest in strengthening the connection between people and nature, particularly through rewilding and community development.