Nature Skills Academy

https://www.nature.scot/nature-skills-academy

Our Nature Academy is a one-stop shop for you to find out about the full range of learning events that NatureScot supports.

Details of all our planned/future upskilling events are set out below, as well as some past events where it is still possible to access recordings or other resources. 

NatureScot has a clear mission – to help halt the decline in biodiversity by 2030, and see nature recover by 2045. To do this, we need people in Scotland with the knowledge and skills to help us transition to more sustainable and regenerative ways of managing our land and seas. This is why we continue to support a range of learning opportunities including workforce and skills development, volunteering and citizen science. 

All the opportunities listed are either events we are:

  • delivering directly
  • delivering in partnership with others, or
  • commissioning others to deliver on our behalf

Events and learning opportunities

Theory and Principles of peatland restoration for practical contractors

Booking is available via Eventbrite:

Tuesday 7 July 2026 - 1 x day course
Wednesday 8 July 2026 - 1 x day course

This course is aimed at machine operators who are interested in the restoration of Peatland.

Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland

Sunday 28 June 2026: Beginner Botany Walk – Holyrood, Edinburgh
Thursday 16 July 2026: Beginner Botany Walk – Inverness
Sunday 19 July 2026: Wildflower families, Doune Ponds
Saturday 25 July 2026: Identifying Composites Workshop, near Stirling
Saturday 1 August 2026: Grasses, Sedges and Rushes with Ben Lawers

NatureScot and Improvement Service

NatureScot and Improvement Service are hosting two upcoming trainings on Habitat Regulations Appraisal (HRA) to provide planning officers a better understanding of the HRA processes. 

The first session will cover an introduction to HRA, and in the second session, we’ll review the technical aspects of HRA. More information on each session is provided below, along with some recommended background reading.

Please note, these webinars are for Local Authority, Key Agency and Scottish Government staff in planning and related fields of work only.

For any queries relating to this training, please contact the event organisers before booking at [email protected]

Royal Botanic Gardens

Royal Botanic Gardens - Nature-Positive Amenity Grasslands course

A Professional Credential highlighting nature-positive approaches to managing and maintaining amenity grasslands.

This course is ideal for you if you are a land-based professional such as a horticulturist, landscaper or nature conservation practitioner who manages amenity grasslands. It is also available to you if you just want to learn about the subject. 

You can sign up at anytime, but please note that there is a charge of £50.

Working with Nature Conference: 24 June 2026

  • Wednesday 24 June 2026 (4pm to 8pm at The Lodge Visitor Centre, Aberfoyle, FK8 3SX)

An event for local communities, land managers, farmers and businesses to explore how working with nature can address challenges.

  • Learn about nature-based solutions and how to get involved
  • Hear about real rural landscape case studies, including the Eddleston Water Project
  • Discover NatureScot's Community Landscape Monitoring Programme

For more information and to register your place, please visit the Forth Rivers Trust website.

Working For Waders

  • Thursday 4 June 2026 – Virtual Fencing for Cattle
  • September 2026 – Incorporating Herbal leys for Wildlife and Livestock benefits
  • December 2026 – Improving Wetlands for Plant Species Diversity and Waders
  • March 2027 – Virtual Fencing for Sheep and Electric Fencing

Find out more at WorkingforWaders.com

All four events below are open to Clyde Valley Wader Group members only. 

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