Highlands and Islands Enterprise
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Case study

Angus Davidson

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Protecting our landscape and growing skills for the future

Angus Davidson Ltd (ADL) is a team of rural consultants who work closely with owners or custodians of land and our environment across the Highlands and Islands.

Working primarily with farmers and land managers, the ADL team offers guidance and specialist services to help plan and deliver nature-based projects that combine both commercial and sustainable viability.

One of ADL's specialisms is in delivering peatland feasibility and restoration programmes – working with all kinds of landowners – including communities – to return damaged peatlands to their natural state so that they can serve as a valuable resource in the fight against climate change.

Founded by Angus Davidson in 2010, ADL now employs a total of eight people including three graduates recruited through our Graduate Support Programme.

We employed our first graduate in 2015, and he's now our Environmental Lead and has been fantastic for the business. Since May 2021, we’ve doubled the size of our team by recruiting three more. We’re absolutely delighted with HIE’s talent support.

Angus Davidson, director, Angus Davidson Ltd,
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Business and community benefits of sustainable land management

ADL has more than a decade’s experience of working to conserve, enrich and protect the natural landscape of the Highlands and Islands.

They're working with farmers, landowners, and in crofting with occupiers and shareholders to support sustainable development, collaboration on peatland restoration projects and to help clients benefit from the opportunities from carbon credits.

ADL is also committed to regional skills development and social improvement. They are actively seeking to create more opportunities for people in rural areas to get involved in the delivery of nature-based solutions for Highland companies and communities.

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Talent benefits business and the planet

ADL has previously employed a number of graduates through the Graduate Support Programme and similar initiatives.

Kirsty Hedderwick was recruited as ADL’s new Carbon Capture and Audit Graduate to explore how ADL can best support clients. She's working with them to assess their carbon footprint and find ways to eliminate and offset any residual emissions.

Originally brought up on crofting land in the hills above Beauly, Kirsty studied Environmental Geography at Stirling University where her dissertation looked at the impact of glaciation and other geological and landscaping processes in the formation of three mountains in Assynt: Cul Mhor, Cul Beag and Stac Pollaidh.

Angus says: “Kirsty really has hit the ground running. Not only with her focus on carbon auditing and looking into soil carbon and the role that farmland has to play in sequestration, but right through to using Trimble survey tools to accurately record survey locations and support real-time reporting via the Cloud into our mapping software. She has quickly become a valuable member of the team. I’d like to hope that she, along with our other graduates will remain with us for the long term.”

It is fulfilling knowing my work will have a positive impact in helping to reduce carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. It’s great getting to work in an place that I love and realising I’m helping to benefit the area too.

Kirsty Hedderwick, Carbon Capture and Audit Graduate, ADL
Sphagnum Moss

Cutting edge opportunities for talent in the region

Kirsty heard about the opportunity with ADL from one of the other graduates employed by the business. The post looked particularly interesting as not only did it build on her existing skills, but allowed her to further develop her experience in peatlands and the importance of peatland restoration. 

She says: “I started in November 2021, and I’ve really enjoyed the post. There has been a lot of learning, but it has been great mix of field work, site visits and desk research too.”

A key area of focus for Kirsty has been her research into carbon auditing – and talking to a wide range of land-based businesses – farmers, crofters, estates – to try and establish what a baseline method for carbon auditing that works for everyone might look like.

She has also been involved in a number of feasibility studies for peatland restoration projects, looking at both the potential benefits and the challenges.

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