Mike has been associated with despoiled landscapes all his working life. He gained a BSc in Geography from University of St Andrews in 1983 and then gained a Postgrad Diploma in Land Surveying from University of Glasgow in 1986 before joining British Coal Opencast. 8 years there cultivated a keen interest in land restoration and community forestry and privatisation gave him the chance to complete an MSc at Aberdeen’s forestry department. This led to him joining what was then the Central Scotland Countryside Trust in 1986, where his knowledge of urban woodlands and restoration techniques were an ideal match. He has now enjoyed over 20 years working at the Trust on a variety of projects and programmes that have culminated in his leading the vacant and derelict land thematic at CSGNT. Mike is a Chartered Environmentalist and a keen cyclist to the extent where he has commuted well over 50,000 miles to work and back by bike in his time at the Trust.
Mike Batley