Nominee Summary
ADLnature is a family-run Highland environmental consultancy committed to developing the next generation of rural and environmental professionals. Through our partnership with RHET Highland and Peatland ACTION, we deliver a Peatland Restoration Education Programme, helping young people understand peatlands, sustainable land management and rural career opportunities. Over the past year alone through this programme, we engaged 786 pupils across 13 schools throughout the Highlands and Islands. Alongside this, we support careers events, work experience placements, internships, university partnerships and graduate development opportunities. Six of our 14 employees joined through HIE graduate programmes and all progressed into permanent roles.
The preservation of skills
Scotland aims to restore 400,000 hectares of degraded peatland by 2040. Achieving this ambition requires not only restoration on the ground but also investment in the future workforce needed to deliver it. Recognising this challenge, ADLnature worked with RHET Highland to help develop the Peatland Restoration Education Programme. Following the success of the pilot, we delivered the first full year of the project, engaging 786 pupils across 13 schools throughout the Highlands and Islands. The programme introduces pupils to peatland habitats, climate regulation, biodiversity and sustainable land management, while highlighting the careers and skills needed within the environmental sector. Where possible, pupils visit peatland sites to experience restoration first-hand and connect classroom learning with the landscape around them. Beyond schools, ADLnature supports work experience placements, summer internships, graduate opportunities and university engagement activities. We work closely with UHI to provide students with practical experience and insight into environmental consultancy, peatland restoration and land management. Of our current workforce of 14 permanent employees, six joined through year-long placements funded by the HIE Graduate Programme, with all six remaining within the business and progressing their careers. By connecting education with practical experience and employment opportunities, ADLnature is helping preserve and develop the specialist skills needed to support Scotland's environmental future.
Increasing awareness
Through the Peatland Restoration Education Programme, ADLnature is helping raise awareness of peatlands, sustainable land management and the wide range of careers available within Scotland's rural and environmental sectors. Over the first two years of the programme, ADLnature has engaged more than 1,000 pupils across the Highlands and Islands, including schools throughout the Highlands, Orkney and the Western Isles. Sessions combined classroom learning with practical activities and peatland site visits, helping pupils understand the importance of peatlands, sustainable land management and the role these landscapes play in Scotland's future. Each session highlighted careers in peatland restoration, land management, environmental consultancy, surveying, GIS mapping and ecology, helping pupils understand how these skills contribute to the sustainable management of Scotland's rural landscapes. The sessions also demonstrated that rewarding careers can be built within the Highlands and Islands, supporting communities and the rural economy. The impact has been recognised by schools and partners. Teachers reported: "Pupils can more confidently explain the importance of peatlands and have increased knowledge of the range of jobs in the peatland industry." "Pupils can explain what peatland is, why it is important and the reasons for protecting the environment." A representative from DYW commented: "Team members from ADLnature were so knowledgeable and able to explain the information at a level pupils understood, meaning they were able to link their learning to the school curriculum." Beyond the RHET programme, ADLnature supports careers events, UHI workshops and student activities, helping raise awareness of rural career pathways and future learning opportunities.
Ethical/environmental standards
As a family-run Highland business, ADLnature is committed to creating positive environmental and social outcomes through education, community engagement and environmental restoration. Our Peatland Restoration Education Programme helps young people understand the importance of biodiversity, climate resilience, sustainable land management and environmental stewardship. By combining classroom learning with practical experiences, pupils gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing Scotland's landscapes and the role they can play in addressing them. We work closely with RHET Highland, Peatland ACTION, NatureScot, DYW, UHI and local schools to ensure our activities are accessible, relevant and beneficial to communities across the Highlands and Islands. This includes supporting ASN learners through RHET's Food, Farming and Countryside Learning Days, where ADLnature delivered inclusive and engaging learning experiences on peatland restoration, helping a wider range of young people connect with Scotland's natural environment and rural landscapes. Alongside our educational activities, ADLnature has restored 9,128 hectares of peatland to date, helping improve biodiversity, water quality and carbon storage. Through this work, we promote the importance of sustainable land management and demonstrate how environmental restoration, farming, crofting and responsible land use can work together to support Scotland's rural landscapes. We continue to invest in innovation, digital technologies and sustainable working practices to reduce environmental impact and improve efficiency. By developing local talent and encouraging young people to pursue careers within environmental consultancy, peatland restoration and land management, ADLnature supports both environmental sustainability and the long-term resilience of rural communities.
Noteworthy improvements
The most significant improvement has been the successful development and expansion of the Peatland Restoration Education Programme. Following involvement in the pilot scheme, ADLnature, in partnership with RHET Highland, was selected to deliver the first full year of the project. During this period, 786 pupils across 13 schools participated in peatland education sessions and practical learning experiences. Due to the success of the programme and positive feedback received, ADLnature and RHET have been selected to continue delivery through 2026/27. The programme has strengthened links with schools, universities and industry partners, creating further opportunities to engage young people and promote careers in land management, peatland restoration and the environmental sector. Teacher feedback demonstrated clear learning outcomes: "Pupils were able to discuss peat as a carbon sink with me, which we hadn't discussed in class. They are able to describe peatland formation." Alongside the schools programme, ADLnature supports work experience placements, summer internships and graduate opportunities. Working closely with UHI, we provide students with practical experience and industry insight, helping create pathways into environmental careers. Six members of our workforce joined through HIE graduate programmes and progressed into permanent roles, demonstrating the long-term impact of our investment in local talent. "The HIE Graduate Programme provided a pathway back to the Highlands and into a career I was passionate about. Since joining ADLnature as a graduate, I have progressed into a management role, demonstrating the long-term opportunities available through investing in local talent." Richard Breach, Technical Programme Manager
Overcoming Challenges
One of the biggest challenges facing Scotland's environmental and land management sectors is the shortage of skilled professionals needed to deliver future restoration ambitions. As Scotland works towards ambitious peatland restoration, biodiversity and climate targets, demand for specialist skills continues to grow. Within the Highlands and Islands, there is also a need to develop and retain local talent, ensuring communities have access to the workforce needed to support the rural economy. For ADLnature, this challenge is compounded by the geography of the Highlands and Islands, where many communities are remote and opportunities to engage directly with environmental careers can be limited. There is also a need to help young people understand the landscapes around them, how they are managed and the role they play in supporting biodiversity, climate resilience and rural communities. To help address this, ADLnature works with RHET Highland to deliver environmental and land management education directly within schools and communities. Wherever possible, pupils visit peatland sites close to their school, allowing them to see how these environments are managed, restored and protected. By linking classroom learning with familiar places, the programme helps develop a stronger understanding of local landscapes, sustainable land management and the opportunities available within their own communities. We complement this through careers events, engagement with UHI, work experience placements, summer internships and graduate opportunities, helping young people gain practical experience and understand sector pathways. These activities raise awareness of rural careers while helping develop the future workforce needed within the Highlands and Islands.
