Meet the Consultant - Lorna Cole
Hi, I’m Lorna Cole, a Senior Ecologist with SAC Consulting. While I am based in the Ayr office I work with farms across Scotland in my role. I am never happier then when I am out on farm, looking at plants, identifying birds, or watching bumblebees to see what plants they are visiting. I always find something fascinating no matter where I am or what type of farm I am visiting.
I have always had a fascination for wildlife, particularly insects, and this led me to study Zoology at Glasgow University. I then went on to do my PhD in soil ecology at SRUC, where I spent far too many hours counting springtails (tiny soil critters that play an important role in nutrient cycling). After that I worked at Stirling University exploring key factors that have driven declines in farmland birds. I finally returned to SRUC almost 25 years ago.
My time at SRUC, focused on practical ways to support biodiversity within productive agricultural systems. I looked at how different habitats support pollinators and natural predators, and how we can alter management to enhance these beneficial insects. I explored how enhancing populations of beneficial insects could provide direct benefits to production through pollinating crops or controlling pests such as aphids and slugs.
Just over three years ago, I moved to SAC Consulting. I felt it was important to put the knowledge I gained through research into practice working directly with farmers and land managers. It is an exciting time to be an agricultural ecologist with regenerative agriculture gaining momentum as farmers and crofters are interested in how regenerative practices can build resilience into their farming enterprise, while the wider sector are exploring how it can help them disclose and mitigate against climate and nature-based risks.
At SAC Consulting I work with a range of clients to help them explore how to quantify farmland biodiversity and provide recommendations on how biodiversity can be enhanced without adversely impacting on food production. Having undertaken research on farms across Scotland, I have gained an insight into the different farming systems Scotland supports. This has helped me to understand the opportunities and challenges faced, helping to ensure that advice is tailored to meet the needs of individual landowners. Consultancy has been challenging and delightful in equal measures. Every day I am faced with new challenges, and the work is very varied. One day I could be out surveying meadows for insect pollinators, the next filming a technical video for the Farm Advisory Service (FAS), and the next giving evidence to parliament (scary!). I work closely with my academic colleagues at SRUC providing agroecological support to a range of projects. I have co-supervising four PhD Studentships and have fully enjoyed watching them grow in confidence and knowledge.
Reoccurring questions I often get asked include how do we accurately measure biodiversity on farms? How do we know which changes are making a real difference? Farmers, the supply chain and the government are all increasingly interested in answering these questions. Monitoring biodiversity is, however, tricky. Unlike carbon there is no simple way to measure biodiversity. You could monitor soil health, or pollinators, or birds, or plants … the list goes on. However, it is important that we give it a go and often a variety of measures paints the best picture.
Through monitoring biodiversity, we begin to understand what wildlife and habitats are on a farm, and this can help us recognise the benefits they provide; not just for schemes and policy, but in building farm resilience to climate and environment change.
Farming has a crucial role to play in tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security. These challenges are closely linked, and I believe Scotland is well placed to find practical, balanced solutions that support productive farming while looking after our natural resources.
Outside of work, I like to experience new things and love to travel to new places. I like to be outside walking or cycling in the countryside.
Dr Lorna J Cole, Senior Ecologist, Lorna.Cole@sac.co.uk
Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/02/2026
