David R. Mitchell is a veteran horticulturist and cultural steward whose career spans more than four decades across Scotland’s most respected natural‑heritage organisations. He currently serves as Vice‑President of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), helping to shape the charity’s strategy for protecting historic sites, landscapes and built heritage throughout the country.
He began his professional journey at the renowned gardens of Threave and Inverewe, gaining hands‑on experience with native Scottish flora before moving to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where he rose to the position of Curator. In that role he oversaw plant collections, contributed to research projects and mentored emerging botanists. He remains affiliated with the garden today as a Research Associate, continuing his scholarly work on plant conservation and ecology.
In parallel with his institutional duties, David runs his own consultancy, Muddy Feet Consultancy, where he acts as Director and Curator. The firm delivers environmental‑education services, landscape assessments, project development, horticultural design and interpretive exhibitions for a mix of private clients, charities and public bodies. His consultancy work has supported organisations such as the National Archives of Scotland, the National Galleries of Scotland, the Royal Collections Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
David’s influence extends beyond the garden and boardroom. He has presented horticultural and environmental segments for the BBC, STV and Channel Four, and has acted as an Expedition Lecturer for Noble Caledonia, the National Trust for Scotland and Ivy‑League universities—including Harvard, Dartmouth and Brown—bringing Scotland’s natural heritage to international audiences. Since April 2017 he has chaired Scotland’s Gardens, championing garden tourism, education and preservation across the nation.
His commitment to the arts also includes a long‑standing trusteeship of the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, a role he has held for nearly fifteen years, helping to guide one of Scotland’s premier cultural venues.
At the heart of David’s work lies a simple credo: “Inspire a sense of wonder for the land and its future in all generations.” Whether shaping conservation policy, curating a garden exhibition or speaking on television, he consistently seeks to connect people, particularly younger audiences, to Scotland’s living landscapes.
A guide track for ‘David R Mitchell’ is available below for listening: -
You can download a PDF of the sheet music here
- or braille format here.
The track is additionally available within the following collections and sets: -
Associated Collections: -
4/4
National Trust for Scotland
Not Yet Recorded
Strathspey
The Unsorted Collection
