Nigel studied landscape architecture at Edinburgh College of
Art and, on graduation, won a Fulbright scholarship to study for
a master’s degree at Harvard. He then worked in New York
before returning to the UK in 1985.

He spent the next six years in the private sector, gaining
experience in landscape planning, design and management
projects, historic landscapes, contract management and site
supervision.

In 1991 he was appointed as landscape planner and design
advisor to Thames Chase Community Forest, a joint initiative
between the Forestry Commission, Countryside Commission
and several local authorities. His work included a landscape
character assessment (LCA) of the 38 square mile forest area
and collaboration with local residents on a range of landscape
improvement projects.

He joined Scottish Natural Heritage in 1993 where, initially, he
managed the national programme of LCA, working closely with
local authorities, the Forestry Commission, Historic Scotland and
the other countryside agencies. He developed the project brief
and ran contracts for several of the LCA studies within the
programme.

In 1997 he became landscape group manager, managing nine
landscape advisers who provided landscape advice on statutory
consultations throughout Scotland. He contributed to a number
of best practice guidelines and statutory documents and was
responsible for advice on designed landscapes.

In 2000 the landscape team at SNH received the RTPI Award for
Quality in Planning for the use of LCA in development planning.

In 2003 Nigel was appointed as Landscape Assessor to the South
Downs National Park Inquiry, attending inquiry sessions, making
site inspections and preparing a report for the Planning
Inspectorate (DEFRA).

He established Buchan Landscape Architecture in April 2006.

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- South Downs National Parks Inquiry - Who's Who