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Countryside Annual Report 2016-17

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Countryside Annual Report 2016-17 EAST LOTHIAN COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE Annual Report 2016/17 47km coast managed WELCOME >2.5million 8 seaside awards visitors welcomed 348km £100,000+ grants/income secured of d c ne ore tai paths main protected species 9,253 conserved volunteer hours given 29 countryside sites 117 looked after 182 other groups 5,994 schools people at Big Nature Festival FOREWORD “I am delighted to present Countryside Service’s Annual Report for 2016 – 17. This report captures and highlights both the range and depth of work completed by East Lothian Council’s Countryside Service within the past financial year.” Eamon John Manager Sport, Countryside & Leisure Feedback on how you find the report, how easy it is to follow and depth of information should be directed to; [email protected] ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 | 1 2 | EAST LOTHIAN COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE CONTENTS 1. Summary 4 2. Staff 4 3. Where we operate 6 4. Why we do it 7 5. What we do 8 6. Weather summary 9 7. What we did 10 8. Appendices 23 ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 | 3 1. SUMMARY The Countryside Service exists to protect East authority Lothian’s biodiversity and promote sustainable networks management, responsible use, access and of core paths providing active travel alternatives enjoyment of the countryside. as well as health and recreation opportunities. The Service delivers a number of Statutory Duties, The Service raises awareness of the importance together with a number of national targets of biodiversity, implementing the East Lothian identified by the Single Outcome Agreements Biodiversity Action Plan, assessing Local (SOA), in conjunction with 4 objectives of the East Biodiversity Sites, conserving wild plants and Lothian Council Plan. animals, and promoting land management that benefits wildlife. The Service owns and/or manages 29 sites covering 2,400 hectares that have international, These functions are carried out by Countryside, national and regional designations for their Biodiversity and Outdoor Access Officers and the wildlife. There is an obligation to ensure these East Lothian Countryside Ranger Service (ELCRS). sites are maintained in a favourable condition. This, 7th Countryside Report, provides a summary The Service ensures that access is taken and of a series of individual reports, available upon managed responsibly. It is responsible for an request (appendix 8.2), prepared to record the extensive core path and rights of way network actions and events occurring within the defined including the John Muir Way and National Cycle remits of the Service during the April 1st 2016 to Paths. This is one of the most extensive local 31st March 2017 period. 2. STAFF 2.1 PERSONNEL The Countryside Service comprised 11 countryside Similarly, in September, Leigh Shearer left on rangers, 2 countryside operatives and 5 office- maternity leave, and her position was covered by based staff. the appointment of Catherine Cumming. There were a couple of staff changes this year. Lastly, Bobby Anderson, Senior Countryside Laura Douglas returned from maternity leave in Ranger (East area), retired, after completing 30 August, to recoup her role as Dunbar (East area) years with the Service. At the time of writing, the countryside ranger, a position that had been post is being left vacant whilst the Countryside covered temporarily by Brian Dawkins. Service undertakes a Service Review. Richard English Countryside Ranger Brian Dawkins Countryside Ranger Leigh Shearer Countryside Ranger (maternity cover to July (to September 2016) 2016) Catherine Cumming Countryside Ranger Laura Douglas Countryside Ranger (from (Jan 2017 – current) August 2016) Sam Ranscombe Countryside Ranger Jen Newcombe Countryside Ranger Nick Aitken Countryside Ranger John Harrison Nature Reserve Tara Sykes Countryside Ranger Warden Dave Wild Countryside Ranger Roger Powell Senior Countryside Ranger 4 | EAST LOTHIAN COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE Bobby Anderson Senior Countryside Stuart Macpherson Biodiversity Officer Ranger (retired August Duncan Priddle Countryside Officer 2016) Neil Clark Principal Countryside Alister White Countryside Squad Officer Gordon Reid Countryside Squad Eamon John Manager Sport, Nick Morgan Outdoor Access Officer Countryside & Jennifer Lothian Outdoor Access Officer Leisure (0.6fte) 2.2 STRUCTURE Eamon John Manager; Sport, Countryside & Leisure Neil Clark Principal Countryside Officer Countryside Office Team Countryside Squad Duncan Priddle Stuart Alister White Gordon Reid Countryside Macpherson Officer Biodiversity Officer Nick Morgan Jennifer Lothian Outdoor Access Outdoor Access Officer (E) Officer (W) Countryside Ranger Service Roger Powell Senior Countryside Ranger Leigh Shearer/ Richard English Dave Wild Laura Douglas / Sam Catherine Countryside Countryside Brain Dawkins Ranscombe Cumming Ranger West Ranger Countryside Countryside Countryside Yellowcraig/ Ranger East Ranger East Ranger West Archerfield Jen Newcombe Countryside Tara Sykes Nick Aitken Ranger West John Harrison Countryside Countryside Aberlady Bay LNR Warden Ranger JMCP Ranger West ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 | 5 3. WHERE WE OPERATE The Countryside Service operates throughout East 348km of Core Paths. This work is undertaken by Lothian, with extensive focus given towards the the Countryside Ranger Service in conjunction sustainable management of the coastline. East with the Outdoor Access Officers. Lothian Council owns and / or manages 80% of the county coastline – 75km. The Countryside Lastly, there are other duties delivered by Ranger Service provides day-to-day management, the team – through the work of Biodiversity / specifically at the sites identified in the map Access and Countryside Officers which involve below (Map1). working with private landowners, NGOs, and other stakeholders in the advancement of nature In addition to the coast, the Countryside Service conservation and access management interests. manages a number of inland sites, together with Principal Sites Managed by the Countryside Service. NORTH BERWICK GULLANE DIRLETON ABERLADY DUNBAR COCKENZIE/PORT SETON PRESTONPANS EAST LINTON HADDINGTON MUSSELBURGH TRANENT EDINBURGH PENCAITLAND 6 | EAST LOTHIAN COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE 4. WHY WE DO IT • Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. • EU Habitats Regulations 1994 and Habitats Directive; “...to protect rarer wildlife species; ...to further the conservation and enhancement of the natural feature specified.” 4.1.2 ACCESS • Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 “...to assert, protect and keep open any right of way”. In the delivery of on-site management of • The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 Countryside sites, the wider access network and “...to uphold access rights, biodiversity issues and the sharing of knowledge to publicise the Scottish Outdoor Access about the countryside; the Countryside Service is Code, prepare, adopt and review the Core meeting and contributing towards a number of Paths Plan, establish a Local Outdoor national, regional and local duties and objectives. Access Forum.” These are a combination of; 4.1.3 LAND MANAGEMENT • Statutory requirements - section 4.1 • Dog fouling Act, 2003 (Scotland); Control • Requirements of the Single Outcome of Dogs Act 2010, 2012 (Scotland). Agreements and East Lothian Council The Countryside Ranger Service actively Objectives – section 4.2 promotes responsible dog ownership. 4.1 STATUTORY DUTIES FULFILLED BY • Environmental Protection Act (1990) Local Authorities have a duty to keep THE COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE roads, highways and public spaces free from litter. The following Statutory duties are delivered by the work of the Countryside Service; 4.2 REQUIREMENTS OF THE SINGLE 4.1.1 BIODIVERSITY OUTCOME AGREEMENTS AND EAST • Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. LOTHIAN COUNCIL OBJECTIVES “It is the duty of every public body and office-holder, in exercising any functions, Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs) represent to further the conservation of biodiversity the mechanism for delivery of Scottish so far as is consistent with the proper Government aims for local communities. The exercise of those functions”. over-arching priority to reduce inequalities across and within communities cuts across • Wildlife and Natural Environment 10 individual outcomes. In turn, these 10 Scotland Act 2011. SOAs operate in tandem with the 4 objectives “ ...a public body must prepare and of East Lothian Council’s own plan; publish a biodiversity report ... on the actions taken by the body in pursuance of • Growing our Economy its duty.” • Growing our Communities • Growing the capacity of our Council • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. • Growing our People. ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 | 7 SOA1 – East Lothian has a growing, sustainable economy. SAO3 – Communities in East Lothian are able to adapt to climate change and reduced finite natural resources. SOA4 – All of East Lothian’s young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. SOA5 – East Lothian’s children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed. SOA6 – In East Lothian we live healthier, more active and independent lives. SOA8 – East Lothian has high-quality natural environments. During 2016-17 the Countryside Service delivered on a number of these Council SOA10 – We have stronger, more resilient, supportive, Objectives, together with the following SOAs: influential and inclusive communities. 5. WHAT WE DO The operations of the Countryside Team are that have the potential for leisure, informal divided up between an office-based team, recreation or nature conservation are covering
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