EAST LOTHIAN COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE Annual Report 2017/18 47km coast managed WELCOME FOREWORD >2.5million “I am delighted to present Countryside Service’s Annual Report for 2017 – 18. seaside awards visitors welcomed to our sites This report captures and highlights both the range and depth of work completed by East Lothian Council’s 7 Countryside Service within the past financial year.” 348km £229,000+ grants/income secured of d c ne ore tai Eamon John paths main Manager Sport, Countryside & Leisure protected species 9,322 conserved volunteer hours given 31 countryside sites looked after Feedback on how you find the report, how easy it is to follow and depth of information should be directed 168 to; [email protected] schools 118 other groups/events ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 | 1 CONTENTS 1. SUMMARY 4 2. THE COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE - WHO WE ARE 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 1. OUTDOOR ACCESS 10 2. BIODIVERSITY 14 3. EAST LOTHIAN COUNTRYSIDE RANGER SERVICE 16 4. OTHER COUNTRYSIDE PROJECT WORK 20 5. EXPENDITURE 24 8. APPENDICES 25 1. THE COUNTRYSIDE ESTATE 25 2. ADVISORY GROUPS 26 3. PHOTOGRAPHS 31 2 | EAST LOTHIAN COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 | 3 1. SUMMARY 2.2 STRUCTURE The Countryside Service exists to protect East authority networks of core paths providing Eamon John Lothian’s biodiversity and promote sustainable active travel alternatives as well as health and Manager; Sport, Countryside & Leisure management, responsible use, access and recreation opportunities. enjoyment of the countryside. The Service raises awareness of the importance The Service delivers a number of Statutory Duties, of biodiversity, implementing the East Lothian together with a number of national targets Biodiversity Action Plan, assessing Local Neil Clark identified by the Single Outcome Agreements Biodiversity Sites, conserving wild plants and Principal Countryside Officer (SOA), in conjunction with 4 objectives of the East animals, and promoting land management that Lothian Council Plan. benefits wildlife. The Service owns and or manages 31 sites These functions are carried out by Countryside, Countryside Office Team Countryside Squad covering 2,400 hectares that have international, Biodiversity and Outdoor Access Officers and the national and regional designations for their East Lothian Countryside Ranger Service (ELCRS). wildlife. There is an obligation to ensure these Duncan Priddle Stuart Alister White Gordon Reid sites are maintained in a favourable condition. This, 8th Countryside Report, provides a summary Countryside Macpherson The Service ensures that access is taken and of a series of individual reports, available upon Officer Biodiversity Officer 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 2017 to Paths. This is one of the most extensive local 31st March 2018 period. Nick Morgan Jennifer Lothian Outdoor Access Outdoor Access Officer (E) Officer (W) 2. THE COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE - WHO WE ARE 2.1 PERSONNEL Countryside Ranger Service The Countryside Service comprised 10 countryside July, to recoup her position that had been covered rangers, 2 countryside operatives and 5 office- temporarily by Catherine Cumming. based staff. Roger Powell Secondly, at the end of March 2018, Jennifer Senior Countryside Ranger There were a couple of staff changes this year. Lothian moved to take up another position within Leigh McCrumb returned from maternity leave in East Lothian Council. Richard English Countryside Ranger Roger Powell Senior Countryside Leigh McCrum/ Richard English Dave Wild Laura Douglas Sam Leigh McCrum Countryside Ranger Ranger Catherine Countryside Countryside Countryside Ranscombe (July 2017 onwards) Alister White Countryside Squad Cumming Ranger West Ranger Ranger East Countryside Catherine Cumming Countryside Ranger Gordon Reid Countryside Squad Countryside Yellowcraig/ Ranger East (April - Jun 2017) Nick Morgan Outdoor Access Officer Ranger West Archerfield Sam Ranscombe Countryside Ranger Jennifer Lothian Outdoor Access Officer Nick Aitken Countryside Ranger (0.6fte, to Mar 2018) Jen Newcombe Countryside Tara Sykes Countryside Ranger Stuart Macpherson Biodiversity Officer Tara Sykes Ranger West Dave Wild Countryside Ranger Duncan Priddle Countryside Officer Nick Aitken John Harrison Countryside Ranger JMCP Laura Douglas Countryside Ranger Neil Clark Principal Countryside Countryside Aberlady Bay LNR Warden Jen Newcombe Countryside Ranger Officer Ranger West John Harrison Nature Reserve Warden Eamon John Manager Sport, Countryside & Leisure 4 | EAST LOTHIAN COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 | 5 3. WHERE WE OPERATE 4. WHY WE DO IT • Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. • EU Habitats Regulations 1994 and Habitats Directive; NORTH BERWICK “...to protect rarer wildlife species; ...to further the conservation and GULLANE enhancement of the natural feature specified.” DIRLETON ABERLADY DUNBAR 4.1.2 ACCESS • Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 COCKENZIE/PORT SETON “...to assert, protect and keep open any PRESTONPANS right of way”. EAST LINTON In the delivery of on-site management of • The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 HADDINGTON Countryside sites, the wider access network and “...to uphold access rights, MUSSELBURGH to publicise the Scottish Outdoor Access TRANENT biodiversity issues and the sharing of knowledge EDINBURGH 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.” PENCAITLAND These are a combination of; 4.1.3 LAND MANAGEMENT Location of principal sites managed by the Countryside Service. • Statutory requirements - section 4.1 • Dog fouling Act, 2003 (Scotland); Control • Requirements of the Single Outcome of Dogs Act 2010, 2012 (Scotland). The Countryside Ranger Service actively The Countryside Service operates throughout East Agreements and East Lothian Council promotes responsible dog ownership. Lothian, with extensive focus given towards the Objectives – section 4.2 sustainable management of the coastline. East • Environmental Protection Act (1990) Lothian Council owns and / or manages 80% of 4.1 STATUTORY DUTIES FULFILLED BY Local Authorities have a duty to keep the county coastline – 47km. The Countryside THE COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE roads, highways and public spaces free Ranger Service provides day-to-day management, from litter. specifically at the sites identified in the map The following Statutory duties are delivered below (Map1). by the work of the Countryside Service; In addition to the coast, the Countryside Service 4.1.1 BIODIVERSITY manages a number of inland sites, together with • Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. 348km of Core Paths. This work is undertaken by “It is the duty of every public body and the Countryside Ranger Service in conjunction office-holder, in exercising any functions, with the Outdoor Access Officers. to further the conservation of biodiversity so far as is consistent with the proper Lastly, there are other duties delivered by e x e r c i s e o f t h o s e f u n c t i o n s ”. the team – through the work of Biodiversity / Access and Countryside Officers which involve • Wildlife and Natural Environment working with private landowners, NGOs, and Scotland Act 2011. other stakeholders in the advancement of nature “ …a public body must prepare and conservation and access management interests. publish a biodiversity report ... on the actions taken by the body in pursuance of its duty.” • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 6 | EAST LOTHIAN COUNTRYSIDE SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 | 7 4.2 REQUIREMENTS OF THE SINGLE SOA1 – East Lothian has a growing, sustainable OUTCOME AGREEMENTS AND EAST economy. LOTHIAN COUNCIL OBJECTIVES SAO3 – Communities in East Lothian are able to adapt to climate change and reduced finite natural Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs) represent resources. the mechanism for delivery of Scottish Government aims for local communities. The SOA4 – All of East Lothian’s young people are over-arching priority to reduce inequalities successful learners, confident individuals, effective across and within communities cuts across 10 contributors and responsible citizens. individual outcomes. In turn, these 10 SOAs operate in tandem with the 4 objectives of SOA5 – East Lothian’s children have the best start in East Lothian Council’s own plan; life and are ready to succeed. • Growing our Economy SOA6 – In East Lothian we live healthier, more active • Growing our Communities and independent lives. • Growing the capacity of our Council • Growing our People. SOA8 – East Lothian has high-quality natural environments. During 2017-18 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 Outdoor Access, Biodiversity and managed in a sustainable manner. over-arching Countryside Projects; together with a site-based, Countryside Ranger team. 5.2