Spring 2012 East Lothian Countryside News
Mud in your eye! Out & About 1-4
Wildlife & Countryside 5-8
How you can help – Volunteers 9-12
Making the Link
Abbey Bridge to Hailes Castle Looking for ways to burn off the excess calories from Christmas? How about walking from Haddington to East Linton, taking in the recently completed River Tyne Path? The new path runs from the charming early 16th century Abbey Bridge to the 13th century Hailes Castle along sections of riverbank that were previously impenetrable. The path is made of earth or grass to help it blend in with the surrounding environment. It passes various mills, weirs and takes you to tranquil parts of the river away from the hustle and bustle of traffic. (Continued on page 2)
Out & About
Out & About
(Continued from page 1)
Starting in Haddington, cross the Victoria Bridge and then follow the existing path beyond the cemetery to cross over the Tyne again on the footbridge to Riverside Drive. Turn right and then just follow the river downstream. At Abbey Bridge climb the stile, cross over the sheep field and the rest of the path should be obvious. You pass by Sandy’s Mill and Hailes Mill from where you get a great view of Hailes Castle. From here on the existing path links you to East Linton, two miles downstream. We have already received reports of people seeing otters, kingfishers and goosanders and depending on the time of year, there is also a great variety of wild flowers and butterflies along the route. Some sections of the path could become muddy after wet weather, so wear boots. Our thanks go to all of the landowners on this route, without which this project could not have gone ahead, as well as the project funders, being part-funded by the Scottish Government and the European Community Tyne Esk Leader 2007-2013 programme. Once at East Linton there are plenty of opportunities to assuage your hunger, or thirst! Perryman’s and First Bus both have services running between Haddington and East Linton. Nick Morgan, Outdoor Access Officer 2
POOCHES IN PARTNERSHIP Dogs are a central part of many peoples’ enjoyment of the countryside. They can, however, be the source of much annoyance and distress if not responsibly looked after. You may be the perfect dog walker, but what happens if you place your pet into the hands of someone else? East Lothian Council has recently been working with a number of Professional Dog Walking companies to ensure a system of best practice is developed via the establishment of an approved user scheme. Each company, upon application, is thoroughly assessed and, if successful, is given a badge to demonstrate they have met strict criteria – e.g. that they will always clean up after the dogs they are
walking and that they will exercise them in a responsible manner. So, good for your dog, good for the general public and good for us as we try to manage the countryside effectively. We shall happily promote the ‘approved users’ on our website, should you wish someone to exercise your dog. With the numbers of responsible dog owners on the increase, let’s hope that those who remain the cause of annoyance and distress will now start to take note. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact dogwatch@eastlothian.gov.uk Tel: 01620 827310
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Out & About
Wildlife & Countryside
RANGER HIKES INFORMATION Sunday February 26th
Coast and Kettles A four mile winter’s walk along a stretch of spectacular coastline, followed by a fire and a brew, whilst learning the skills of managing fires under the ‘leave no trace’ principle.
Sunday March 25th
There’s no Escaping the Law! This circular walk will take in some of the ‘bread basket’ countryside and wildlife inland from North Berwick. Returning we will skirt the shoreline before ‘topping out’ on the Law – for those who still have some energy left. Terrain – easy – moderate, on roads & footpaths. Ascent of Law optional. No dogs please.
A New LocAL NAture reserve? A proposal is underway to designate Levenhall Links as a Local Nature Reserve, in order to safeguard its long-term security as a place for wildlife and public enjoyment. An extensive public consultation resulted in over 100 questionnaires being returned. These highlighted both support for the scheme, along with some concerns and fears. Given this high level of interest, a workshop on the proposal is due to take place in Musselburgh in the near future. Please look out for the event, which will be widely advertised. At this workshop, it is envisaged that the hopes and fears of the project can be explored in greater detail. If you would like to complete a questionnaire, but missed the initial deadline, copies can still be obtained by contacting Katy Green, Coastal Projects Officer at kgreen2@eastlothian.gov.uk
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Wildlife & Countryside
Wildlife & Countryside
WANTED:
DEAD OR ALIVE (BUT PREFERABLY ALIVE)
WDCS/Hal Sato
A few years ago a minke whale was washed up at White Sands and a dead sperm whale was beached near North Berwick. It is sad to see such large sea creatures wrecked on the shore. Their size and condition upset the seaside surroundings which normally ring to the sound of family holidays. On a brighter note, in November an adult hump-backed whale (an extremely rare visitor to our shores) was successfully freed after having become entangled in fishing creel lines.
In January a young pilot whale was washed onto the Ravensheugh beach near Tyninghame. Although quite common around the world, pilot whales are an unusual sighting along our coast. They are small, by whale standards and the one at Ravensheugh was only about 8 foot long so was quite young. It may have become separated from its mother, perhaps during a storm or through sickness. Although huge efforts were made to save the whale, ultimately, it had to be put down. 6
Fortunately, it is more common to see marine mammals in their element, either from a boat or simply walking along the coast. The Ranger Service keeps a record of whale and dolphin sightings and over a dozen species have been seen, including killer whales and dolphins. The largest was the majestic fin whale, seen off Belhaven Bay, which can grow to an amazing 60 feet in length. Other unusual creatures such as basking sharks and even a leather-back turtle have also been recorded. If you see any marine mammals along the East Lothian coast, please let us know by sending an email of what you saw, when and where to ranger@eastlothian.gov.uk.
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Wildlife & Countryside (Continued from page 7)
What should I do if I find a live stranded whale or dolphin? Call the professionals. Whales and dolphins are wild animals. They can carry diseases which are transferable to humans, and can cause injury by thrashing their tails. If you come across a whale or dolphin on the shore you should take great care and wait for help. If the animal appears alive please call the SSPCA – 03000 999 999. If the animal is dead please call the Scottish vet service at either 01463 240 030 or 07979 245899. The UK has a ‘strandings network’ of experts who are specially trained in how to deal with stranding emergencies and have vets on hand to help. Their involvement will help to ensure that the stranded animals are treated properly. Never drag the animal back to the water as this may cause it a serious injury, and keep people and dogs away to reduce any stress that the animal may be experiencing. WDC S/Tim Stenton
Why do whales and dolphins end up on the shore sometimes?
Wildlife & Countryside
Some animals die at sea and wash up, others come ashore (strand) alive. Whatever the circumstances, a live whale or dolphin beached on the shore is almost always in danger. They are used to the support of water and helpless on land, and usually die within a few hours or days if not attended to in the right way. In the case of species that live in groups with strong social or ‘family’ bonds, a lead animal in trouble may put the whole group into danger. Pilot whales are a good example. If one animal in the group is ill they may come in to help, but end up in trouble themselves. Live stranded animals may seem to be healthy but could be old or unwell. Others may have suffered injury from boat propellers or entanglement in fishing nets and gear. Nets and fishing gear are the biggest killer of whales and dolphins, causing terrible injury and drowning. Noise from military exercises or from exploration surveys at sea for oil and gas could also cause whales and dolphins to strand on the shoreline. Remember, these animals live in a world of sound – using it to communicate, find food, and navigate. High levels of noise disrupt this world.
SETON FIELDS COMMUNITY RIGHT TO BUY Do you live in Cockenzie, Port Seton or Longniddry? Your community now has the chance to buy two fields in your area. A community company set up by local residents has six months to raise the cash to buy the land, which lies between Port Seton and Longniddry. This is a brilliant opportunity to create community countryside resources such as woodland, vegetable plots, proper paths etc. This will not cost you a penny, but your support is crucial. The community company has to complete certain tasks before they can buy the land. This includes public consultations followed by a vote by local people in early March.
Useful Links; The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) continues to support efforts to rescue stranded marine animals around the world and you can find out more at www.wdcs.org
If you are interested in this proposal and want to know more, please contact Lucy Bryden on 01875 853704 or visit www.setonfields.com. If you are not able to help directly, please show your support by voting in the ballot in March.
The UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) coordinates the investigation of all whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans), marine turtles and basking sharks that strand around the UK coastline. http://ukstrandings.org/
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How you can help – Volunteers
How you can help – Volunteers
There’s no doubt about it, our volunteers are thriving! So much is being achieved through the efforts of you all – right across the county. We now have ‘Friends’ groups at Aberlady Bay, John Muir Country Park and Yellowcraig with further groups planned for Gullane and perhaps even Levenhall this year. We also are working closely with the Friends of the Law & Glen on various projects within North Berwick Then there are the path wardens. Now numbering 27 these individuals help keep the extensive footpath network in good condition, but you’ll be pleased to know there are still paths around towns and villages waiting for their own dedicated warden! So, why not join in with these countryside volunteers and help do your bit for the environment, there’s plenty to choose from… Tasks start time 10.00 If you want to come along contact Duncan Pridd le, countr yside officer at
Path Wardens
dpriddle@eastlothian.g ov.uk or on 01620 827459
9.30am-3pm unless otherwise stated
Upcoming team tasks March 15th April 17th
Woodhall picnic site North Berwick the Glen
Friends of Aberlady
Formalise path link to PRW (begun by Green team)
Date
Event
Wed 7th March
Beach clean
Sun 25th March
Electric fencing
Wed 4th April
Electric fencing
Sun 15th April
Sea buckthorn control
Wed 2nd May
Giant hogweed removal
Fri 4th May
Newt and moth survey (6.30pm)
Repairs to sections of path Sat 5th May
Newt and moth survey (9am) Fencing removal and wildlife
May 15th
Wallyford - Inveresk
Path surface repairs
Wed 6th June
July 12th
Balgone, JMW
Replace washed out material
Fri 15th June
Moth and bat survey (8pm)
Sat 16th June
Moth survey (8am)
walk
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To join the Friends of Aberlady please contact jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk
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How you can help – Volunteers
Friends of Yellowcraig
Meeting point for all Yellowcraig events is Yellowcraig car park. 9.30-3pm To join the Friends of Yellowcraig please contact dwild@eastlothian.gov.uk
Date
Event
Thurs 1st March
Tree removal/boundary wall repair (weather dependent)
Thurs 5th April
Wall repair/path work
Thurs 3rd May
Pirri survey and beach clean
Thurs 7th June
Wall repair/pirri seed removal
Friends of John Muir Country Park Date
Event
Meeting point
Sat 25th Feb
Buckthorn clearance on Spike Island (cutting back dead buckthorn)
10am - 2pm Meet at Linkfield Carpark next door to East Links family Farm Park
Sat 24th Mar
Beach clean beneath clifftop trail starting at old pool
9.30am - 12.30pm Meet at Leisure Pool car park
To join the Friends of JMCP please contact tsykes@eastlothian.gov.uk
Mud In Your Eye is produced by East Lothian Countryside Ranger Service. For more information please contact: Duncan Priddle, Countryside Officer, 01620 827459 dpriddle@eastlothian.gov.uk