About Us
Rooted in a shared respect for woodlands and the people who steward them, BIOS Rural brings together decades of practical experience in sustainable forestry. Based in Sussex, we serve landowners, estates, and communities across the South East and beyond. From ancient woodland restoration to modern woodland creation, our journey has always been shaped by a deep commitment to ecology, craft, and community.
Our Journey
​What began as two independent teams with a passion for nature-led woodland management has grown into a single, comprehensive service offering that spans every stage of the forestry cycle — from planting and maintenance through to harvesting, marketing, and regeneration.
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Our expertise covers everything from timber felling and thinning, to specialist felling and continuous cover forestry. We manage complex restoration projects in PAWS and ancient woodland, tackle invasive species, and deliver thoughtful ride and coppice management to increase biodiversity.
Our work supports the long-term health of both woodlands and the landscapes they shape.
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We work alongside private landowners, estates, public bodies, and environmental partners to create woodland management plans, secure felling licences, access grants and incentives, and build infrastructure that lasts.
Our team brings technical excellence in everything from deer management and rhododendron control to carbon strategy, investment advice, and timber marketing.
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As forests evolve, so do we — adapting with new policy, new technologies, and new ways to care for woodlands in a changing world. Through every project, we hold fast to the belief that forestry done well can be productive, profitable, and ecologically sound.
Meet The Team
Andrew Wright Director
Andrew Wright has over 20 years experience in the forestry sector in England and Wales and has been a Chartered Forester for over 10 years.
Educated at Bangor University with an honours degree in forest management Andrew has worked for the Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust and English Woodlands Timber/Forestry. Andrew has experienced the forestry sector from the regulatory, conservation and commercial angles, as a manager and as a contractor.
Andrew also has the perspective of a landowner himself having been brought up on his family's farm and been actively involved in looking after that property, which he now co-owns, for many years.
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Click here for more details on Andrews qualifications and experience
Nick Shanks
Director
Nick has been working in forestry since 1996, starting as a volunteer with a love for
trees and woodlands. Having spent many years in the woods as a contractor, gaining an intimate understanding of the importance and sensitivities of woodland management, he is now a highly experienced woodland surveyor and manager, with a deep understanding of the balance between biodiversity, amenity and productivity.
Nick is a surveyor and consultant for a variety of public and private landowners and is proud to work on long term contracts with Forest Research, Local Authorities and
The Woodland Trust.
Nick says: “I am very fortunate to be able to consider a walk in the woods as work! I am passionate about silviculture, woodland creation and woodland improvement for biodiversity and amenity. I am very grateful to those who trust me to look after their
woodlands and I endeavour to leave them in a better condition for the next
generation.”
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Click here for more details on Nicks qualifications and experience
Mark McCallum
Director
Mark has over 25 years experience in the forestry industry, with a focus on Ancient Woodland Restoration, Conservation Management and Arboriculture.
This has led him to work closely with private landowners, local authorities and conservation organisations such as The National Trust, The Woodland Trust and the Wildlife Trusts.
Having gained a BSc (Hons) degree from the University of London’s Wye College in the mid-nineties, Mark then embarked on a professional forestry contracting and consultancy career that continues to this day.
This has formed a unique basis of knowledge, driven by a love of trees and a passion for their careful management.
He now offers Professional Tree Inspections and Surveys, BS5837 Arboricultural Planning Reports and advice on the management of Ancient and Veteran Trees.
Tim Martindale
Ecologist & Woodland Surveyor
Tim has a lifelong interest in the countryside, having been brought up on a farm in
Cornwall, and is passionate about nature conservation. He has been involved in
ecology and countryside management for eight years, ever since training to be a
ranger with the National Trust.
In that time, he has helped conserve World Heritage sites in Cornwall, carried out
woodland management for biodiversity, assisted with bat surveys, and helped to
restore rare chalk downland and fen habitats.
Tim is a qualified ecological surveyor, trained in habitat surveying, GIS and Biodiversity Net Gain, with experience of advising on a range of development projects from new farm buildings to rural social housing projects. He is also a
surveyor for Forest Research, carrying out Natural Capital and Ecosystems Assessments.
Prior to this, Tim trained as an anthropologist, carrying out and publishing research
with an environment and sustainability focus. He brings to all his projects not only a
wealth of practical experience but a deep understanding of how the needs and
histories of people and nature are intertwined and can be balanced.
Rob Coltman
Woodland Manager
Rob Coltman is a passionate and committed forester who has been in the woods for well over a decade. He began his woodland career as a Forest School leader, harnessing a lifelong love of bushcraft and campfires to (sometimes) inspire Secondary School students to appreciate the forest.
A desire to know more about trees led him to study at Plumpton College (University of Brighton) and the National School of Forestry (University of Cumbria), graduating with a First Class Degree in Forestry.
“Following his studies, Rob has spent the rest of his career in the south east of England, dearly loving its chalk, sand, and even at times, clay soils. He has worked for Tilhill Forestry, the Forestry Commission, and Maydencroft. His experience in the commercial and regulatory sectors provides him with a rounded skillset, able to deliver the best for client and woodland alike. He continues to practice his passion for forest education as the Chairman of the Royal Forestry Society South Eastern Division.
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Click her for more details on Robs qualifications and experience
Jamie Kirkman
Senior Forestry Consultant
Jamie Kirkman began his journey in forestry in the wake of the great storm of 1987, a pivotal moment that ignited his lifelong passion for woodland management. With nearly 40 years of experience, Jamie has become a highly regarded expert in private forestry and woodland management, perfectly positioned to advise clients on a wide array of forestry aspects.
Over the decades, Jamie has honed his skills in woodland management planning, silviculture, and biodiversity enhancement. His extensive knowledge and hands-on experience have allowed him to assist clients in developing thriving ecosystems that deliver both ecological and economic benefits. He understands the intricate relationship between sustainable practices and the needs of woodland owners, enabling them to make informed decisions about their forests.
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Jamie is dedicated to fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of our natural landscapes. He works collaboratively with individual landowners and organizations alike, tailoring solutions that meet the unique needs of each client. Jamie’s commitment to sustainable forestry not only supports the health of woodlands today but also ensures that they remain viable for generations to come.