Land & Habitats Consultancy

Professional Advice
for Resilient Landscapes

Land & Habitats Consultancy restore and manage wetlands and peatlands.

Our clients value both business and nature.

Where habitats flourish - wildlife will seek them out.

We believe in making decisions from the ground up

Andrew and Ellen McBride established their first consultancy McBride Habitats in 1997, providing professional advice with practical land management, with each informing the other.
Land & Habitats Consultancy builds on this approach and operates across Scotland to create resilience within landscapes and enhance biodiversity.
To facilitate solid knowledge transfer, we provide a service that spans on-site management and professional advice, local knowledge, specialist contractors, researchers and advisors.
We work with corporate clients, landowners and managers, contractors, consultants, Government agencies and NGO’s to form strong and productive working relationships, to facilitate the successful delivery of projects.
Our clients include whisky distillers interested in restoring peatlands and wetlands – creating landscapes of living water.
We place a strong emphasis on natural habitats, as places for both business and wildlife to thrive.

Project Management Services

Decisions from the ground up

We value

Local knowledge
Innovative approaches
Professional experience
Science and research
Strong working relationships

Project Design & Development

Habitat creation and restoration

Feasibility scoping
Site assessments
Organise site surveys and research
Engage with councils & statutory bodies
Contractor engagement & supervision

Quality Control

Maintaining high standards

Surveys and monitoring
Risk Assessment
Regular site checks
Liaison with contractors
Engagement of specialist providers

Funding & Grants

Finding a way forward

Our experience includes funding applications and managing budgets.

Present funding opportunities include:

Scottish Government Nature Restoration Fund (NRF)
Peatland ACTION
FIRNS – The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland

Wider Community Engagement

Business and community

Feasibility studies
Professional guidance notes
Educational publications
Liaise with illustrators
Steering committees
Small scale demos and events

Land and Habitats Core Team

Working together to create resilient landscapes

Andrew McBride CEnv.MCIEEM

Principal Consultant

Andrew has over 30 years’ experience of private consultancy and working for NatureScot, advising on ecology, policy and project management for habitats and species management, scientific research and habitat restoration. With specialist knowledge of lowlands wetlands and peatlands, plus experience of woodland, juniper and meadow management. Collaborates with a network of experienced associates and specialist ecological service providers.

At NatureScot, Andrew established Peatland ACTION, building a team of Project Officers across Scotland. At NatureScot, he also provided policy and specialist advice for windfarms, roads infrastructure and agri-environment schemes. Andrew was part of the team that developed Scotland’s National Peatland Strategy. The success of Peatland ACTION and other projects, demonstrates Andrew's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders to form strong and productive working relationships.

Ellen McBride

Managing Director / Consultant

With over 28 years’ experience of liaising with ecologists, clients, business and communities, Ellen is responsible for running Land and Habitats Ltd and provides consultancy support, working closely with clients and associates, to facilitate sound decision making and optimum outcomes for all involved. She regularly visits sites to maintain a realistic overview of the habitat management and restoration work.

As a writer, Ellen has produced feasibility reports and educational publications and regularly edits consultancy reports. She has organised demonstrations to showcase management techniques and for a number of years, was the co-ordinator for the ‘Garden for Life’ at the Gardening Scotland Show (Edinburgh), working with the show ground manager, NatureScot and Scottish Government.