Dougie Cockburn

“I was the oldest in the class, but the other students didn’t see age - they just saw ‘Dougie’.”

As a boy, Dougie spent much of his time outdoors, climbing trees and exploring, which sparked a lifelong love of nature. He confesses that he ‘hated school with a passion’ so, after a 30-year career as a Network Engineer with BT, the idea of returning to education felt quite daunting.

“My wife is a lecturer, and she suggested I consider college. I explored what Oatridge had to offer and came across the NC in Countryside Management. I thought—who knows where it might lead?”

Although Dougie knew this experience would be different to school, he still felt a little apprehensive due to his age. As it happened, there were two other mature students on the course, including one who lived in the next street, so they were able to car share.

“The lecturer introduced the course and then sent us off for coffee, which helped everyone relax. My fears about being the mature student quickly disappeared.”

As a hands-on, visual learner, Dougie found the course especially engaging. The practical elements, from nature trips to plant identification, really brought the subject to life. In the first week, Dougie recalls the class going up Binny Craig, a prominent landmark in the grounds of SRUC Oatridge.

“I remember turning to the lecturer and saying, ‘See if this was my classroom as a boy, I would be a professor by now.’”

After completing the NC Countryside Management course in 2021, Dougie spotted an opportunity for a two-year Trees & Timber Apprenticeship with Forestry and Land Scotland. Encouraged by his wife and a friend, he applied and was offered a place—an opportunity he believes might not have come his way without his time at college.

After sixteen months, Dougie felt ready for a new challenge that would allow him to grow further. He came across a full-time Landscape Operative role at Heriot-Watt University and decided to apply. Following an interview, he was delighted to be offered the position the very same day.

Now, Dougie works across the university’s 400-acre campus on the outskirts of Edinburgh. His role is varied and fulfilling, from maintaining landscapes to supporting local wildlife. No two days are the same—one moment he might be helping rescue pipistrelle bats from offices, the next pruning shrubs or working on tree care.

A keen photographer, Dougie often returns to SRUC Oatridge to walk and capture images, bringing back fond memories of his time there. Being a local lad makes those connections even more meaningful.

“There’s the footpath I helped to build, the wildlife garden I worked on. Seeing those projects and knowing I played a part in them is incredibly rewarding. It’s not just what I learned—it’s the people I met along the way.”