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East Lothian Council Countryside Service quarterly environmental magazine
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Mud in your eye!
Winter 2012East Lothian Countryside News
Out & About 1-3 Wildlife & Biodiversity 4-5 How you can help – Volunteers 6-8
YOUR GUIDE TOGETTING OUTAND ABOUT
“East Lothian is a county of manycontrasts. Wild and rugged coastlinesleading to sheltered inlets and beaches.Long-distance pathways wind throughurban areas that eventually take you toremote moorlands. The colourful ruraltapestry of rich arable farmland isbordered by thriving hedgerows. Thecountryside is ever changing, shaped byhuman needs and interaction.”
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Did you know that you can now walk fromHaddington to Gifford to Garvald on paths? Or fromMusselburgh to Longniddry to Haddington to EastLinton to Dunbar?
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Out & About
Here are some pathsto try ….Follow the county’s long-distance path,the John Muir Way, which extendsacross the county for 73km and linksto the City of Edinburgh and theSouthern Upland Way. Discover andexplore spectacular coastal views,wildlife, historic towns, villages andJohn Muir Country Park.
The Pencaitland Railway Walk is on theroute of a disused railway and makesfor a pleasant walk or cycle along its11km through farmland andwoodland.
The Haddington to LongniddryRailway Walk is a popular 7km pathalong the former branch line, (it alsoforms part of National Cycle Route76).
Nick Morgan, tel: 01620 827671,Jennifer Lothian, tel: 01620 827419
East Lothian Council’s Outdoor AccessOfficers:[email protected]
Why not get out and about in East Lothianand explore the county’s path network? Wehave both long-distance routes linkingcommunities, together with extensive localpath networks that allow everyone to getout and explore the wildlife, countrysideand heritage in their area.
This path network has been developed overmany years. The Council’s Outdoor AccessOfficers have worked with landowners andmanagers, without whose help and co-operation this would have been impossibleto achieve.
The path network is detailed in our newpublication Public Access to East Lothian’sCountryside including the Core PathsPlan. It can be viewed and purchased at allEast Lothian libraries (price £5.00.) Theguide includes 22 detailed maps of thecounty, showing key paths in each area.
The booklet is your definitive guide on howto access East Lothian’s countrysideresponsibly, as you walk, cycle or horse-ridethroughout the county.
Many routes go to, or pass, vantage pointsthat give views of the surrounding rollinglandscape. Amongst the features are manyhidden gems – river valleys, woodland,secret bays and historic sites.
Out & About
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RANGER HIKESINFORMATIONSunday 25th November 2012
Winton WonderlandThis is an easy six mile (9.5km) circular walk around the villagesof Ormiston and Pencaitland, taking in the historic Winton Estateand sections of the Pencaitland Railway Walk.
Sunday 27th January 2013
Midnight MadnessClimb up into the Lammermuir hills for some superb views overlowland East Lothian. This circular 5.5 mile (9km) walk is all ontracks. There is a fairly severe, but steady climb at the start witha similar section on the return leg.
Sunday 24th February
A Hidden HistoryThis is a chance to explore part of the Haddington to Hailesfootpath along the River Tyne. We also discover the hiddenhistory of the surrounding countryside as we come acrossremains of forts and castles on this 10 mile (15km) circuit. Amoderate walk on grass tracks, footpaths and quiet roads. NoDogs please.
Info and booking: places are limited so bookings must bemade prior to each walk. To book a place and for furtherinformation please call 01620 827421. Cost: £4 per person.
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Wildlife & Biodiversity
The Butterfly
You may remember the really warm fortnight that we had way back in March, but that wastoo early in the year for butterflies. Since then, it seems, even if it were dry it was cloudyand cool.
We could hope to see butterflies from late winter to late autumn. In a good year, somespecies of butterfly could even hope to breed in the late summer and again in mid to late
If you feel this summer has been a bit of a wash out, begrateful you are not a butterfly. Like other insects theyneed warm dry weather to fly around. Without thetraditional hot summer, butterflies have not had much flyingtime and that means they can’t feed as much or, moreimportantly, find a mate.
Dark-green fritillary
Painted lady
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Wildlife & Biodiversity
Summerautumn. That has not happened in East Lothian this year and it meansthat our gardens have lacked that touch of fairy sparkle.
It may also mean that butterfly numbers next year are affected,especially those such as the orange tip that appear earlier in theyear. But all is not lost. Enough caterpillars will survive to allow thebutterflies to continue and the brief spells of good weather that wehad will have boosted numbers quite well, despite the flooding.Some butterflies also migrate northwards through the spring so a goodsummer elsewhere will help us too.
So it may not have been a barbecue summer this year but we can stillhope for a butterfly summer next year. Visit www.butterfly-conservation.org/ for more information on butterflies and ideas forhelping them in your garden. It also has Lothian butterfliesidentification guide which is great.
Small tortoiseshell
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How you can help – Volunteers
Path Wardenteam tasks
Date Event
Thur 17th Jan Details uponenquiry
Tue 12th Feb Details uponenquiry
If you want to offer one or two days a monthof your time as a path warden, or want tojoin in a team task, please get in touch withme at [email protected]
Now numbering 38 individuals, pathwardens are individually looking afternumerous walkways around the county.
Also, there are path warden team tasks heldonce per month. You don’t have to be a pathwarden to join in the team tasks.
A programme of events is being prepared and will include work days andguided tours. Anybody interested in associating with FLAG should [email protected].
FLAG
North Berwick Law and the Glen are popular recreational areas for both residentsand visitors. The Friends of the Law and the Glen (FLAG) are individuals whovalue these areas and want to be involved in their maintenance, developmentand management.
Over the years we have taken part and arranged many projects such as litterpicking, tree planting and scrub clearance. The refurbishment of the historicbuildings on top of the Law is a new project on which the group is taking a lead..
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Date Event
Wed 5th Dec Sea buckthorn removal
Sun 16th Dec Sea buckthorn removal
How you can help – Volunteers
9.30am-3pm unless otherwise stated
To join the Friends of Aberlady please contact
Date Event
Friday 23rd November TBC
Friday 7th December TBC
Friends of Gullane are a newenvironmental group, which hasbeen set up by the East LothianRanger Service, for young peopleaged 11-18. There is a range ofactivities that the group has beeninvolved in including practicalconservation work, wildlifemonitoring and environmentaleducation.
The group will take place everytwo weeks on Friday afternoons,between 2pm and 4pm, duringterm only.
Expect some destruction, someconstruction and some fun!
For more information please contact
Friends of Gullane
Friends of Aberlady
Mud In Your Eye is produced by East Lothian Countryside Ranger Service.For more information please contact:
Duncan Priddle, Countryside Officer, 01620 827459 [email protected]
How you can help – Volunteers
Meeting point for all Yellowcraig events is Yellowcraig car park. 9.30-3pm
Date Event
Sat 24th Nov Hoof Stomping on the Salt Marsh
Date Event
Thurs 6th
Dec
pirri-pirri (bur removal
/ wall repairs) sea
buckthorn removal
To join the Friends of Yellowcraig please contact [email protected]
For more information please contact [email protected] or visit the Friends of John Muir
Country Park web-site: http://edubuzz.org/friendsofjohnmuircountrypark/
Friends of Yellowcraig
Friends of John MuirCountry Park
Yellowcraig achieved its SeasideAward for 2012, which is judgedin part by cleanliness of the site, soa big thank you to all of ourvolunteers for helping to achievethis.
