Cairngorms National Park Authority
Supporting CNPA’s Switch from ArcPro to QGIS with Bespoke Training for the Peatland Action Team
Client Background
The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) oversees conservation, land management and ecological restoration across the UK’s largest national park. As part of their work, the Peatland Action team restores valuable peatland habitats that rely heavily on accurate spatial data, mapping and field collection.
Cairngorms National Park Authority
Supporting CNPA’s Switch from ArcPro to QGIS with Bespoke Training for the Peatland Action Team
The Problem
The CNPA were transitioning from ArcPro to QGIS and the Peatland Action team needed the right skills and training to make the switch confidently. Across the group, experience varied widely, from total beginners to highly competent GIS users.
On top of this:
NatureScot provided standardised templates that project officers must use when gathering, analysing and submitting data for restoration work
Officers and contractors working across the National Park also needed to understand field data collection methods
So, they needed training that would bring the less experienced up to speed with their experienced peers and be delivered in a way that aligned with the workflows already in use.
A challenge?
Oh yeah!
The Result
The Peatland Action team now uses QGIS as part of their active restoration workflow. They understand the NatureScot template, how it was built and how to use it correctly to analyse and submit project data.
But what’s even better is this:
The training brought the team to the same basic level, giving them a shared starting point for ongoing learning
Working together in the sessions encouraged the team to discuss (and agree on) collaborative approaches rather than working in isolation
While the organisation hadn’t yet chosen its long-term field data collection software, experiencing QField firsthand gave the team clarity on its strengths, limitations and practical use in the field They now have the foundations they need to transition fully from ArcPro to QGIS and be well prepared for whatever field-collection tool CNPA chooses next.
What I Did
Working systems don’t appear on day one, so to make sure the project was successful from idea to implementation, here was my process:
1. Review & Assessment
Before delivering any training, I reviewed:
The NatureScot Peatland Action template workflow
How officers were expected to collect, analyse and submit spatial data
The practical demands of peatland restoration projects
The team’s varied starting skill levels
This ensured the course aligned with real workflows rather than theoretical exercises.
2. Design their tailored training
I created a two-day training programme for the CNPA, which consisted of:
Training Day 1: QGIS for Beginners
This was a full-day session designed to:
Bring beginners up to the knowledge level of more experienced peers
Help the team convert their existing mindset and habits from ArcPro into QGIS equivalents
Build confidence with the core QGIS tools and interface
Establish shared working practices for the software transition
Training Day 2: The NatureScot Peatland Action Template Deep Dive
On the second day, I worked with the whole team, covering:
How the workflow was structured
Why it was built in a particular way
Opportunities for improvement, especially for collaborative teamwork
How to use the template for project assessment and reporting
Creating static map outputs
Creating atlas mapping (multi-map exports) for project packs
The team learned not just what to click, but also why they clicked it, helping build long-term confidence and understanding.
But that’s not all.
To prepare the team for mobile data collection, I walked them through an export to QField & Field Workflow demonstration, which showed them how to:
Export the template into QField
Use it in the field
Bring updated datasets back into QGIS
And we also discussed QField’s strengths and limitations so the team could make informed decisions before choosing a preferred field solution.