Land & Habitats Consultancy
Professional Advice for Resilient Landscapes
Land & Habitats Consultancy restore and manage peatlands and wetlands.
Our professional advice and on-site management brings together local knowledge, specialist advice and science.
We work with corporate businesses, landowners and managers, trade organisations, specialist contractors, consultants and NGOs.
Our clients value their business interests and nature.
We create resilience within landscapes, to reduce biodiversity losses and the impacts of climate change.
Where natural habitats flourish - wildlife find them.
Land and Habitats' Core Team
We believe in making decisions from the ground up.
Land and Habitats Consultancy offers a range of services across Scotland and Northern England.
Working with landowners and businesses to create landscapes of high conservation value.
These landscapes often influence water quality and reduce flood risks.
The success of Suntory Global Spirits' Peatland Water Sanctuary™, Peatland ACTION and other projects, demonstrates our ability to engage and collaborate with land managers, contractors, consultants, agencies, NGO’s, Government and community groups to form strong and productive working relationships.
Land and Habitats Consultancy was co-founded by Andrew and Ellen McBride, building on their earlier experience of land management and crop production as commercial growers, deciding to study at university as mature students and setting up their first environmental consultancy ‘McBride Habitats’ in 1997.
We place an emphasis on habitats, as when in optimum condition, these sites allow both business and wildlife to prosper.
Andrew McBride CEnv.MCIEEM / Principal Consultant
Andrew specialises in managing and restoring peatlands and wetlands.
His experience spans over 30 years, working both as a private consultant and as a wetland and then peatland advisor for NatureScot.
Involved with the restoration of peatlands since the 1990s, Andrew advises whisky distillers, other businesses and organisations at sites across Scotland.
Whilst at NatureScot, Andrew advised on windfarms, roads infrastructure (including the Queensferry Crossing and Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route), agri-environment schemes, including habitat and species management, scientific research and habitat restoration.
Andrew has also contributed to the development of Scotland’s National Peatland Strategy. He established the Scottish Government-funded Peatland ACTION programme and was the Chief Editor of the Fen Management Handbook.
In addition, Andrew has surveyed juniper in the Scottish Borders and has experience of surveying and managing species rich meadows and native woodlands.
Ellen McBride Managing Director / Consultant
Over 28 years, Ellen has engaged with ecologists, clients, businesses and communities in her roles as business manager and consultant.
Ellen has interviewed businesses and communities to write feasibility reports and educational publications.
She edits and proof-reads the reports and publications produced by Land & Habitats Consultancy and has organised demonstrations to showcase the techniques we use.
For a number of years, she was the coordinator for 'The Living Garden' at Scotland’s Garden Show (Ingliston), for NatureScot and the Scottish Government.
Ellen studied Industrial Design (Textiles) at Heriot Watt University, gaining technical skills, with a creative twist and the ability to write specifications.
She studied commercial horticulture and botany at Pershore College of Horticulture.
Services
Making decisions from the ground up
We value
- Local knowledge
- Professional experience
- Science
Project Design & Development
Habitat Creation & Restoration
- Feasibility scoping.
- Site assessments.
- Engage with councils & other organisations.
- Organise appropriate site surveys.
- Contractor engagement and supervision.
- Create productive working relationships.
Quality Control
Maintaining high standards
- Considered at all stages of a project.
- Surveys and monitoring.
- Where applicable, we engage the services of specialist providers.
Wider Community Engagement
Business, locals & community
- Feasibility studies.
- Educational publications.
- Professional guidance notes.
- Liasion with illustrators.
- Steering committees.
- Small scale demos and events.
Funding and Grants
Finding a way forward
Our experience includes making applications and managing funding budgets.
Funding opportunities presently include:
- Scottish Government Nature Restoration Fund (NRF)
- Peatland ACTION
- FIRNS – The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland
Resources
Additional information
Project Information: Peatland Action
Video: What wetlands can do for you (SNH/NatureScot)
Video: Peatland Restoration in Scotland (SNH/NatureScot)
Video: The Importance of Scotland Peatlands (SNH/NatureScot)
Video: How ‘sinks’ regulate the climate (CNN)
For more information
hq@landandhabitats.co.uk
We are happy to set up an introductory meeting.
It is helpful for us to know at an early stage:
- Size of project
- Location
- Timescales
- Deadlines