Stuart has been working in the ecological field for ten years.  Following his degree, he spent 18 months working for the Shrewsbury Countryside Unit undertaking habitat surveys, practical management and re-drafting management plans.  He then spent over three years (two as Assistant, one as Head) as a Warden for the National Trust on the Farne Islands NNR monitoring the breeding seabirds and grey seals.  A spell working for the US Fish & Wildlife followed in Alaska carrying out breeding bird surveys, large mammal tracking, water quality studies, amphibian studies and marine mammal surveys.

In 2002, he became joint Site Manager for Noss NNR on Shetland working for SNH. Then, after a year working for the Manx Wildlife Trust as Site Manager on the Ayres NNR he became a freelance ecologist in 2004.

He now works UK-wide and has carried out significant ornithological surveys for on and offshore wind farms as well as bat, badger, otter, water vole and reptile surveys. He is also a great crested newt survey licence holder.