Land & Habitats Consultancy

Professional Advice for Resilient Landscapes

Land & Habitats Consultancy brings together local knowledge, professional advice, specialist site management and science.

Our approach is holistic and strategic.

We work with corporate businesses, landowners and managers, contractors, consultants, agencies, NGO’s, Government and community groups, to form strong and productive working partnerships across Scotland.

Our work enhances and restores the interconnected entities of land, water and natural habitats.

We aim to create landscapes and enhance habitats, so they are better placed to face the challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change impacts.

Where there are habitats, wildlife will find them.

Land & Habitats' Core Team

Andrew and Ellen McBride co-founded Land & Habitats Consultancy in 2021, building on experience gained from their earlier environmental consultancy ‘McBride Habitats’.
Sharing an ethos for combining ecological land management advice and specialist project management to form productive working relationships, creating landscapes for the future.

Andrew McBride

Chartered Environmentalist and full member of the CIEEM, with over 30 years’ ecological experience of projects across Scotland and the UK. With specialist knowledge of wetlands and peatlands, Andrew provides ecological and project management advice across Scotland. He also has experience of woodland, juniper and meadow management. For additional information about Andrew's experience, please see below.

Ellen McBride

Land & Habitats' manager and consultant, with over 11 years’ experience of managing an environmental consultancy. Ellen studied Industrial Design (Textiles) at Heriot Watt University, where responding to a client brief to meet their specifications was paramount. Ellen has written educational publications, produced feasibility reports, edited and proof-read reports and publications. She has been a project coordinator, for small scale events and projects.

Land & Habitats Services

Connecting Businesses & Land Managers

Exploring the opportunities for projects that work for both people and the natural world. Bringing together businesses and individuals who share complementary aims.

Project Design & Management

Specialist site management, collaborating and working with a range of interests to enhance and restore natural habitats and provide opportunities for rural employment.

Management & Restoration

Provision of habitat management and restoration advice to find optimal solutions to aid astute decision making.

Assessment & Quality Control

Surveys, assessments and monitoring to help land managers optimise outcomes and aim for best results. We work with specialists to get the best results.

Assessments for Grant Schemes

With experience of multi-million pound/euro schemes, we offer an assessment and evaluation service.

Supervision of Grant Schemes

Management services for a range of grant schemes, whether large or small, including those of a bespoke nature.

Peatlands

Involved with the restoration of peatlands across Scotland since the 1990s.

Working with Suntory Global Sprits to create and develop the Peatland Water Sanctuary™ at sites across Scotland.

Whilst working for NatureScot, Andrew established the award-winning Peatland ACTION project, building a team of Project Officers across Scotland.

Wetlands, Fens & Basin Mires

Wetland management advice, including surveys and monitoring.

For nine years, Andrew was NatureScot’s Wetland Advisor, providing policy and management advice and Chief Editor of the Fen Management Handbook.

Fifteen years provision of specialist site management at the Whitlaw Mosses SSSI and other sites in the Scottish Borders and West Lothian.

Andrew McBride's
Ecologial Experience

Chartered Environmentalist
Full Member of CIEEM

BSc Hons (Ecology), Agriculture, Forestry & Rural Economy - Edinburgh University

Over thirty years' experience of providing ecological advice, both in private consultancy and working for Scottish Natural Heritage.

An extensive project portfolio of projects across Scotland and the UK, covering habitat and species management, scientific research and habitat restoration.

Andrew has provided advice for windfarms, roads infrastructure, (including the Queensferry Crossing and Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route) and agri-environment schemes.

The success of Suntory Global Spirits' Peatland Water Sanctuary™, Peatland ACTION and other projects, demonstrates Andrew and Ellen's collaborative ability to engage with staff, land managers, contractors, consultants, agencies, NGO’s, Government and community groups to form strong and productive working relationships.