News
Sneak peek: inside Craighall and Blindwells primary schools
A back to school 'to do' list for most people means new uniform, new school bag and new stationery.
For our Strategic Asset and Capital Project Management service, this year's list has been more extensive - delivering two brand new primary schools in time for the start of the new term.
Blindwells and Craighall primary schools will open their doors to learners for the first time on Wednesday 13 August. It’s an exciting day for the school’s staff and children, but particularly for our teams who have been responsible for the delivery of the new buildings.
Working across services
Our Strategic Asset and Property Management Service led on the buildings’ design and interior design and monitored and managed both schools to ensure they meet the required quality and cost levels. They also worked closely with other services, such as education, finance, IT and facilities management colleagues, and the two Head Teachers when appointed, to coordinate all aspects essential to the establishment of a new school ready for staff and children.
Throughout the process, our teams have worked with our development partner, Hub South East, to take the projects from initial designs to completion. JM Architects worked-up designs created by our in-house architects with Balfour Beatty appointed as main contractor.
Variety of environments
Both schools have been designed with the shared accommodation of a multipurpose hall, dining, social stair and library placed centrally and classrooms and supporting spaces wrapped around them. The entire buildings are viewed as learning spaces, not just the classrooms, allowing teachers to embrace the variety of environments to deliver their teaching in alternative and more informal ways throughout the school.
A flexible approach means that areas can be used for multiple functions both by the school and external groups, helping to promote the schools as focal points in their newly-established communities.
Natural light and inspiration
Extensive glass provides plenty of natural light and views outside to keep the buildings bright and promote wellbeing, while external spaces offer opportunities for structured outdoor, free and imaginative play and woodland exploration.
The interior design has been carefully considered to echo the natural environments surrounding each school and provide a warm and calming atmosphere for children, staff and visitors. Craighall’s palette of sage greens, soft taupes and heather tones complements the natural landscape while deep teal, soft blues and gentle earth tones at Blindwells reflect the area’s mining heritage and the new town’s proximity to the coast. Unique supersized graphics in both schools installed in the multipurpose halls root the buildings firmly in their locations inspired by undulating coastal patterns (Blindwells) and layered geological formations (Craighall).
Our Interior Design and Facilities Officer Lynda Wightman commented: "It's been great to be part of the project design team delivering two new primary schools. It’s been a huge team effort not only from the Design Team, external consultants and across our many council departments working collaboratively to deliver these new buildings."
The new schools will be enjoyed by learners for generations to come.
Transport Secretary officially opens new rail bridge
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop visited East Lothian to officially open a new bridge replacing the Markle Level Crossing.
The bridge and accompanying diversionary road near East Linton opened to traffic last month following completion of the construction project.
The ceremony on 31 July was also attended by East Lothian's Provost Councillor John McMillan (pictured below with Fiona Hyslop), council representatives including chief executive Laurence Rockey, project manager Peter Forsyth and head of development Keith Dingwall alongside Innis Keith, health, safety and environment director at Network Rail Scotland, and Glen Henderson, project manager for Balfour Beatty.
Safer crossing
The works saw the construction of a bridge to replace the level crossing along with the creation of a diversionary road at Markle Steading.
Markle Level Crossing had been one of only two remaining level crossings on Scotland’s East Coast Main Line. Its closure removed the risk to road users and the national rail network.
The new bridge will also benefit pedestrians and road traffic by removing delays caused by lowered level crossing barriers when trains are approaching.
Council-managed project
Planning permission for the works, which were fully funded by Transport Scotland and undertaken by Balfour Beatty, was granted in 2023; our council managed the project's delivery.
Ms Hyslop said: “It is great to see that the construction of a new overbridge replacing the Markle Level Crossing on the East Coast Main Line is now complete.
“The successful partnership of East Lothian Council, Transport Scotland, Network Rail, and Balfour Beatty as principal contractor has been vital, and I would like to thank all partners involved for their work in delivering this important project.”
Attainment gap narrows as exam results announced
Significant progress has been made to narrow the attainment gap between pupils in the county’s most and least disadvantaged areas at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels according to analysis of Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Attainment Statistics for 2024/25 published earlier this month.
'Results day' is keenly awaited by learners, their families, school and education staff alike. The national statistics give an insight into work to address key issues such as the attainment gap and achievement in schools.
Highlights from 24/25 include:
- young people gained more qualifications than in the previous year. 2757 candidates achieved 14,365 awards compared with 2679/13964 in 23/24
- the attainment gap narrowed at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels and more than in the previous year. The largest reduction was recorded at Advanced Higher level where it narrowed by 21 percentage points
- more young people achieved National 2, 3 and 4 levels than in the previous year and the total number of awards also rose
- the pass rate at National 5 and Higher increased from 23/24 and was above the national average. The number of learners taking Advanced Higher was lower than in 23/24 and the pass rate was slightly lower in comparison
- Maths attainment rose by 5% at National 5 and 6% at Higher levels compared to 23/24, both above the Scottish average
- English attainment remained consistent with the previous year at National 5 and Higher levels which, again, were both above the Scottish average
School level analysis has been shared with all secondaries to support their own work and future planning. The full national results are available from SQA's website.
'Tackling inequality'
While congratulating young people on their results, Cabinet member for Education and Children’s and Family Services Councillor Fiona Dugdale also praised families, school teams and education colleagues for the support they provide. She added “I am absolutely delighted to see significant progress in closing the attainment gap between learners in our most and least deprived areas and the improvements in performance at both National 5 and Higher. Academic success should not be determined by postcode and tackling this inequality is vitally important to give all of our young people the best start in life."
Interested? Find out more about:
Annual procurement survey results
In September 2024, our Procurement Service launched a customer satisfaction survey to better understand how well they're supporting their internal customers and how they can improve. Here, Linzi Halpin and Jemma Oliver share the results of the survey as well as next steps.
The customer satisfaction survey was part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and was sent to 16 service areas, with 11 responding - a strong 69% response rate.
The survey featured 15 questions across five key categories, exploring:
- effectiveness and ease of the procurement process
- satisfaction with team interactions
- changes in demand and their impact
- communication quality
- opportunities to address knowledge gaps
What You Told Us
Effectiveness and support
Customers reported high confidence in knowing when and how to seek advice, where to access information, and praised the team’s responsiveness. Overall satisfaction in this area reached an impressive 93%.
Ease of process
While 87% of respondents said they understood the procurement process, 13% highlighted challenges with completing forms and navigating the steps. We’re actively working to simplify these areas, especially form completion. We plan further improvements once new Microsoft 365 capabilities are available.
Team interactions
This category revealed strong customer confidence, with 97% satisfied with the team’s professionalism and feeling assured that their feedback is heard and valued. To build on this, we’ll be introducing monthly drop-in sessions to make it easier for you to share feedback and ask questions. Share feedback with us
Communication
Communication scored highly, with 93% satisfied overall and 100% happy with the quality and accuracy of information received. However, some customers noted they weren’t always kept up to date on procurement policies and legislation. We’re taking steps to improve this and ensure consistent updates.
Training and upskilling
45% of respondents expressed interest in further training. Key areas identified include:
- contract management
- community benefits
- general procurement processes
We’ll be arranging training sessions in the coming months. Please get in touch if you would like to attend. Service managers will also be asked to nominate staff who they would like to attend the training alongside anyone who was unable to attend last time.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the survey. Your feedback is invaluable and helps us shape a better, more responsive procurement service for all.
Interested in finding out more about procurement? Attend one of the upcoming drop-in sessions in person or online.
Lost in Pace top Spring Step Count Challenge
Some healthy competition saw a team from Planning and Development take top spot in this year's Spring Step Count Challenge.
'Lost in Pace' topped our council mini league and finished 54th overall out of 764 teams across Scotland.
Scott Robertson, Thelma Barson, Gail Laird, David Allan and Graeme Marsden achieved a total of 4,409,439 steps over the course of the eight week challenge. Team captain Scott said: "I'm really proud of our team's efforts in the Step Count Challenge, especially Thelma who went above and beyond everyday to help us win."
The 'Lost in Pace' team (l-r): Thelma, Graeme, Scott, David and Gail
Second place went to 'the Step Sisters' from Children's Wellbeing. Captained by Frances Chapman who was joined by Lisa Shine, Kari-Ann Johnston, Jillian Peart and Natalie Andrews, the team are happy with their results. "I’m so proud of our team – good-natured competitiveness kept us going and we’re all absolutely delighted to finish second place in East Lothian," said Frances.
Third place was taken by 'the George Johnstone Gals' from Communities and Housing. All based at the George Johnstone Centre, Tracey Redpath (captain) and Jude Henderson from Connected Communities were joined by Sarah Jones, Carly Pryde and Claire Mcnulty from Community Housing to make up the team.
Jude said: "Being part of a team definitely gave me that extra push to get outdoors and stay active. It was a fun and motivating experience from start to finish. Fantastic news that 'The George Johnstone Gals' secured third place for East Lothian Council, we’ll have to plan in a few extra laps around Polson Park next time to see if we can move up the rankings!"
There are two Step Count Challenges a year, one in spring and one in autumn. The walking challenge for Scottish workplaces was launched by Scottish walking charity Paths for All in 2011. Since then, they have had over 69,000 participations in the challenge and logged more than 30 billion steps and counting. From commuting to work on foot, to escaping the desk for a lunchtime walk, or going for an active meeting, the Step Count Challenge gives staff the opportunity, support and motivation to get active.
Congratulations to all the teams who took part and look out for news later in the year on the Autumn event.
New guidance for council committees
New templates have been created for reports to all committee meetings.
Committees play a vital role in our council's decision-making process, scrutinising performance and ensuring effective governance. Reports provide crucial detail to elected members, communities and stakeholders on council business and decisions.
Along with the new templates, guidance has been created for writing reports and presenting to committee. The templates and guidance provides consistency while supporting colleagues who are new to the process.
The committee templates and guidance are available from our intranet. Follow the 'committees and meetings' tab in the Most Popular bar.
Are you planning an engagement or consultation this year?
Join colleagues for a learning and sharing event online on Wednesday 27 August 2pm to 3.30pm.
Our council and the East Lothian Partnership are working to improve our strategic approach to consultation and engagement. This includes making sure we connect colleagues who are planning an engagement or consultation process to make sure that we are sharing ideas, connecting with existing data and reducing duplication.
As well as sharing your own plans and hearing from other projects and services, at this session you will:
- hear from communications colleagues about the support they can give when engaging with communities, sharing details about your consultation, and when to include them in your timeline
- hear from our Equalities Officer on what you need to consider from a tackling inequality perspective and engaging groups with protected characteristics
- find out what consultation tools we have available, who to contact to access them, and peer support on how to make the most of them
- find out how to collaborate with Third Sector colleagues to benefit from their community expertise and grassroots links
This is an informal online session for colleagues to share ideas and what they’ve learnt from our communities so far.
Please email Lucy Higginson lhigginson@eastlothian.gov.uk to sign up or get in touch with Lucy if you have any questions.
John Muir House building update
August will see a number of council teams move into John Muir House as part of the ongoing relocation of staff from the Brunton Hall.
The East and Midlothian Public Protection Office and Bereavement team will move on 14 August while Arts service will transfer on 21 August. All contact telephone numbers will be transferred to provide continuity for customers and colleagues.
The new layout sees the Bereavement team in rooms next to Registration service, with whom they work closely, while the Arts service will be located close to the Brunton at Haddington Corn Exchange venue.
A new lease agreement is in the process of being agreed with the Fisherrow Trust for Criminal Justice Social Work Service to move to that building in the coming months.
The Mental Health team move to John Muir House was completed on 14 July. The team is now in the former first floor community housing office opposite the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership offices.
Signage across the building is presently being reviewed and will be updated in the coming months as part of the next phase of works.
John Muir House car park reminder
To promote safety, colleagues using the car park at John Muir House are reminded to observe the speed limit and the one-way systems. Your cooperation on this matter is appreciated.
What's On
What's on at the Brunton: Ed Byrne, Radio Gaga and Kathryn Williams
The Brunton continues to bring a rich and varied programme of entertainment to Corn Exchange Haddington.
The Brunton at the Corn Exchange is growing as a popular venue in the heart of the town, drawing audiences from across East Lothian. Recent visitors to the sold-out Fish event were impressed: “A vastly underused venue, as guid as any in Edinburgh, there needs to be more gigs here!”
Here’s what’s coming up in Haddington…
Radio Gaga is the ultimate celebration of one of the biggest bands to have ever graced the stage – Queen! This tribute recreates two magical hours live on stage, celebrating the magic, fun & showmanship of the band’s touring days.
Thursday 28 August 7:30pm
Radio Gaga
Des Dillon entertains and educates on the religious origins of Celtic-Ranger conflict. The hilarious yet powerful award-winning play, Singin' I'm No A Billy He's A Tim explores bigotry and ethnic identity on both a microcosmic and macrocosmic scale.
Saturday 27 September 7:30pm
Singin' I'm No A Billy, He's A Tim
Join Ed Byrne, star of Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week & Dara and Ed’s Great Big Adventure, as he headlines an unforgettable comedy show featuring three more top-tier comics. His razor-sharp wit and hilarious storytelling guarantee a side-splitting evening of jokes, banter, and fun.
Thursday 18 September 7:30pm
Ed Byrne and Friends
The Brunton’s next Haddstock collaboration concert features Mercury Music prize nominated Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand, who joined together to produce the beautiful album, Willson Williams, shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Awards 2024. Support by Meursault and Battle of The Bands Winner Sixteen Again.
Saturday 4 October 7:30pm
Kathyrn Williams and Withered Hand
In Musselburgh, National Theatre Live returns to Loretto Theatre with Inter Alia. Oscar nominated Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Saltburn) is Jessica in the much-anticipated next play from the team behind Prima Facia
Thursday 24 September 7pm
NT Live: Inter Alia
Visit www.thebrunton.co.uk for full listings of events in Musselburgh AND Haddington.
Book online 24 hours a day at www.thebrunton.co.uk or call our Box Office on Monday to Friday 11am to 3pm: 0131 653 5245.
Ed Byrne, Kathryn Williams and Withered Hand, and Radio Gaga will all be appearing at The Brunton at the Corn Exchange
East Lothian Walking Festival 2025
The fourth East Lothian Walking Festival starts on 29 August giving you the perfect opportunity to explore our beautiful county.
Here, the East Lothian Walking Festival team, offers a brief summary of some of the activities on offer:
- join a small group for a gentle stroll around some of our favourite places, Blooming Garden walk, Lost Haddington, and lots of health walks around the county🌻
- got more time? Pick from some of the festival's half-day walks, Forth to Farne, East Linton, Gullane, Pencaitland 🌳
- if you're seeking a more challenging all-day adventure Skills for the hills, Twin Peaks, Gifford, Vogrie to Glenkinchie and the new five day cross county challenge may be just what you're looking for ⛰️
- all abilities welcome at a walk in Butterdean Woods🐕🦺
- perhaps history is your thing? Explore Prestongrange museum, North Berwick, Prestonpans mural trail, Battle of Prestonpans, War comes to the Forth ⏳️
- being outdoors, connecting with nature, is hugely beneficial to our health. Check out the Road to Ruin, Hike and swim, John Muir sketch and wander, outdoor yoga 🧘♂️
- there are even events for young people only - NightTime Explorers Bat Detectors, mini expedition🦇and for families - Fisherrow, coastal walk 🐚
- want to try walking as a sport? Nordic walking taster sessions plus football, hockey and netball ⚽️
The festival's county-wide programme has something for everyone, all ages and abilities. Book your place now at www.walkfest.org.uk
All the walks and events are free of charge thanks to the support of our own Active Travel team, Community Windpower, Scottish Mountaineering Trust, Scottish Forestry and North Berwick Trust.
Happy walking!
East Lothian Archaeology & Heritage Fortnight 2025
This September the spotlight will be on East Lothian’s rich heritage, as East Lothian Archaeology & Heritage Fortnight will take place from 30 August to 14 September. This year the programme is bigger than ever, with more than 60 events taking place throughout the county for a chance for everyone to dig into the past.
The programme features talks, guided walks, excavations, re-enactments, exhibitions and workshops, or you can tune in to a series of online presentations.
Join in with archaeologists
The 1722 Waggonway Project are digging again this year. The team will be looking to answer further questions about Scotland’s earliest railway. On Friday 5 and Saturday 6 September the project team is inviting members of the public to come along to help out with finds, test pits and other essential archaeological tasks, or just drop by to see the archaeologists at work.
Explore iconic historic buildings
Loretto: Pinkie House (image by Loretto School)
There will be a chance to explore some of East Lothian’s most iconic historic buildings, including guided tours of Lennoxlove House, Pinkie House and Loretto School Chapel, St Mary’s Church Haddington, and an open day at the newly conserved Preston Tower and Doocot. Or visit Preston Mill where the National Trust for Scotland will be shedding light on the work that goes on behind the scenes at the Trust in a series of talks.
Walks, talks and skills demonstrations
Pinkie Battle Walk by Angus Bathgate
There are a number of guided walks on offer exploring the history of Haddington, North Berwick, Musselburgh, Aberlady, Gullane and Drem Airfield in two world wars, or trace the events of the Battle of Prestonpans and the Battle of Pinkie. The focus will be on historic buildings at the Mini Traditional Skills Weekend at Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery with walk and talks, skill demonstrations, a live fresco painting workshop and more.
Presentations and what lies beneath
Other activities are online presentations, talks and exhibitions including Golden Days, the Life of Charlie Horne, a local D-Day veteran, fisherman, husband, father and a great dancer; and The Story of the Battle of Prestonpans. Discover the Roman archaeology of Inveresk at a Geophysical Survey open day at Lewisvale Park whilst Historic Environment Scotland find out what lies below the turf.
Find out more and book
There are lots of other events, so have a look at the programme and see what’s on offer. Some events require to book places so please check and try to book early to avoid disappointment.
View the full East Lothian Archaeology and Heritage Fortnight programme
Did you know? Archaeology & Heritage Fortnight is organised by East Lothian Council Archaeology Service with the support of the local history and heritage societies, the National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Battlefields Trust and is sponsored by AOC Archaeology Group. The fortnight is part of Archaeology Scotland’s annual Scottish Archaeology Month. For more information visit www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk
Staff golf competition: enter now
The East Lothian Staff Golf Competition is back for 2025!
All golfers are invited to enter the competition, which is only open to council colleagues, and which will take place as follows:
- venue: Musselburgh Old Golf Club (Racecourse)
- date: Friday 29 August
- time: times start at 1pm until approximately 2:15pm
- Format: Individual stableford played over 18 holes (18 handicap maximum unless a player has an official CONGU handicap higher than 18)
The cost of the event is £5 per person which includes your round of golf and prizes payable on the day.
The deadline for entries is Friday 22 August. After this date, confirmation of the draw will be sent out.
This year the top five placed players will qualify to play in the Musselburgh Corporation Medal which takes place at the end of September.
For further information and to enter, please contact Gwen Stewart, gstewart@eastlothian.gov.uk with the following information:
Name
Council department
Handicap
Home Club (if applicable)
Our People
Thank you! Celebrating staff compliments
Individuals, teams and departments across the council regularly receive compliments from residents, visitors, staff and businesses. Here's a selection:
Comment from supplier: Road Services and Planning. We work across various council authorities and subsequently numerus colleagues in planning and roads. You and your colleagues will not appreciate, or possibly even be aware of this, but as a group you are second to none in terms of communication and willingness to attend meetings to keep the projects moving forward. Makes my role so much easier and is hugely appreciated.
Local resident: Corporate Communications. I wanted to give feedback on the Be Nice campaign. Absolutely brilliant! When you see signs about abuse in Dr's surgeries, garages etc they come across as hostile. But the human touch and, indeed, nice notice at the end of your email would resonate much more, in my opinion. Well done East Lothian Council! Please pass this on. Thank you.
Local resident: Waste Services. Ricky at Wallyford recycling area was wonderful! We needed to dispose of some windows and could not do so in Dunbar. I rang the council who gave me Ricky’s number. He was a delight, cheerful and helpful. When we arrived today he guided us to the best parking spot and then worked with is to unload the items. A true gentleman and I hope you treasure him!
Local resident: Libraries and customer services. My wife and I had very positive and helpful support today from Dr Hanita Ritchie today. Thanks to her for digging into the history of old buildings at North Berwick. She left no stone unturned and has given us several pointers towards achieving our goal of finding facts. We are grateful for such a service in our county.
Local resident: Registration services. We just wanted to say a huge thank you for our marriage ceremony on Saturday 19th July 2025. It was very straight forward, and Jim made us feel at ease and made the whole experience very memorable and special. Please pass on our thanks to Jim. We also wanted to say that the room is simple but beautiful. it was just amazing.
Donna and Jen organise Brownies Disney trip
East Lothian’s Brownies are preparing to travel internationally for the first time with a trip to Disneyland Paris in 2026.
Homelessness team colleagues Donna Gibson (pictured right) and Jen Gentle are both Brownie Leaders; Donna joined Brownies aged 7 and, as she explains “never left!”. After progressing through Guides and returning to the same unit as a Young Leader, she started her qualifications and started as a Leader 24 years ago.
Making dreams a reality
The Disneyland trip was originally to take place in October 2020 but cancelled due to Covid. Now, Donna and Jen are more determined than ever to make this dream trip a reality. The trip brings together Brownies from across East Lothian’s units with 28 children due to attend and fundraising has begun in earnest.
“Our trip to Disneyland Paris will encourage the Brownies to step outside their comfort zone, gain confidence and make new friends. It’s an amazing opportunity for the girls to experience international travel something they may never get the chance to do themselves,” says Donna.
Fundraising to support families
Although families are paying towards the trip, Donna is keen to raise as much money as possible through fundraising events to reduce the financial impact, recognising the challenges that some families face. “Many of the Brownies on the trip are from deprived areas and will never be able to have an experience like this outwith Girlguiding,” she says. “They’ll not only have great fun but also learn about a different culture, try new experiences and make memories that will last a lifetime.”
Jen (pictured right) is also currently running a ‘Guess the Bear’s birthday’ competition to win a cuddly Stitch toy from the Disney movie Lilo and Stitch. Stitch is suitable for age 0 onwards so could be regifted to a baby or toddler. If you would like a guess, contact Jennifer Gentle - each date costs £2.
Brownies units meet across East Lothian welcoming girls aged between 7 and 10 years old. It provides a safe and inclusive environment for girls to build confidence, develop leadership skills and explore new interests through a variety of activities and challenges.
Get involved!
To find out more about the trip or want to hear about forthcoming fundraising events, please contact Donna Gibson.
Donate to Donna and Jen’s JustGiving page now
Team manager honoured for "exceptional" career
A team manager in Protective Services Trading has been honoured by her peers for her “exceptional” career.
Alexandra Connell was recognised with a fellowship of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) at its recent conference.
Alexandra, who is the Team Manager for Business Compliance (Trading & Licensing Standards), has been a member of the Institute for nearly two decades.
Exceptional contribution
Fellowships are only awarded to members of at least ten years standing who have made an original and exceptional contribution to trading standards, and/or have rendered outstanding and distinguished services to the objectives that the Institute serves.
Alexandra’s award citation praised her “passion” and “commitment”, adding: “She leads, motivates and walks the talk, forever looking to do more and always wanting improvement.”
Since earning an HND in Consumer Studies in 1987 from The Queen’s College, Glasgow – now part of Glasgow Caledonian University – Alexandra went on to notch up a string of professional qualifications and then joined the Institute's Qualifications Awards Board in 2014, becoming Lead Officer for Education & Training in 2019.
Her past roles include working as a Consumer Adviser with the Central Regional Council in Falkirk in the early 1990s and a Trading Standards Officer in Lincolnshire while living in England with husband Alastair and their two daughters.
Alexandra joined the Institute’s East Midlands Branch in 2006. Qualifying as a Trading Standards Officer, she later served as the branch chair.
'Extremely honoured'
After returning to Scotland in 2019, Alexandra joined East Lothian Council as a Trading Standards Manager and was elected chair of the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) in 2024.
Alexandra said: “I was extremely honoured to be awarded fellowship of the CTSI at our annual conference. I’m incredibly humbled that colleagues feel that I am worthy of this and believe I’ve made significant contributions to the profession.”
Congratulations!
Green Corner
A Ranger Writes: wading birds
Our Countryside Rangers have a wealth of knowledge on the places, plants and species that call Est Lothian Home. Ranger Richard English offers some insights into wading birds and explains why these elegant birds are worth looking out for.
We’re fortunate in East Lothian to have coastal areas and river estuaries that provide great habitats for wildlife. These habitats are exploited by all manner of species – plants, animals and fungi. Better minds than mine will also be able to point to the many millions of single-celled organisms that thrive in these areas, but that’s a bit beyond the scope of this humble column.
'Summer finery'
A Barwit. Image by Ian Andrew
Wading birds, or waders, are a common sight along the coast, particularly near the mouths of the Esk, Peffer Burn and Tyne. As the name suggests, these birds spend much of their time in shallow water, or on mudflats, seeking out the rich and varied food resources found there. At this time of year, it’s worth looking out for waders that are still in their summer plumage, having recently returned from their breeding grounds. Winter plumage waders are generally a rather drab bunch, but in their summer finery they can be spectacular.
Godwits are a group of waders which consist of only four species worldwide. Two of these, the marbled and Hudsonian godwits are found in the Americas, but the other two are regular visitors to East Lothian. Both of these species, the bar-tailed and black-tailed godwits, are long-legged, long-billed birds. They can be tricky to tell apart, but at least they’re fairly easy to distinguish from other waders.
Blackwit photographed by Mike Pennington
The bar-tailed godwit is the more common of the two – it’s not unusual to see flocks of several hundred at a time. They breed in Scandinavia and northern Russia, but will pass through the UK during spring and autumn migration, and many will over-winter on our coast. By contrast, black-tailed godwits have a (very) small breeding population in England, but in this part of the country they’re only really seen as migrants passing through on their way south from Iceland.
Dramatic plumage
One of the main distinguishing features between the species is, not surprisingly, the pattern of the tail. In the bar-tailed godwit, the tail feathers form a series of dark and light bars (yes, it’s that simple), topped by a long white wedge that runs up the bird’s back. The black-tailed version has a single broad black band on the tail, with a noticeable white square above it. The latter also has white wing bars which are very obvious in flight. In summer, both species have dramatic orange-red plumage about their throat and chest, but this fades as autumn approaches. In winter both species appear grey-brown, although the bar-tailed godwit shows more streaking on its head, neck and back. The black-tailed tends to be a much more uniform grey.
The genus name for godwits is Limosa, derived from the Latin limus, meaning mud, reflecting the birds’ preferred feeding habitat. Godwit itself may be imitative of the bird’s call, although an alternative derivation is from the Anglo-Saxon god and whita, indicating an animal that is good to eat. Whatever the source of the name, both of these godwit species are attractive and elegant parts of our local wildlife and well worth searching out.
More on our Countryside Rangers
Meet Robbie! Find out more about a Ranger's role in summer season and what an average day looks like (spoiler: there's no such thing).
Meet Countryside Ranger Robbie
Countryside Ranger Robbie MacEwen is busy all year round, but summer presents a unique set of challenges.
The 39-year-old is based at Yellowcraig and Archerfield where residents and visitors flock to the county’s beautiful coastline during the warmer weather.
Describing the sites under his care as “magical”, Robbie is dedicated to both their preservation and encouraging people of all ages to enjoy them safely.
He said: “I genuinely love my job. I really look forward to going to work and I often wake up with a spring in my step about the day ahead.
“I feel I’m making a difference and I’m passionate about protecting the environment and enhancing biodiversity while helping everyone to experience the outdoors in a responsible and sustainable way.”
"Established and knowledgeable team"
Robbie joined our Countryside Rangers Service just over three years ago. Before that he’d spent eight years as a Park Ranger with Historic Environment Scotland.
He said: “The East Lothian Council Rangers have a great reputation as a very established and knowledgeable team who were the first council-funded Rangers service in Scotland. It was a wonderful opportunity to join them and I’ve learned so much. No two days are the same in my job which is something I relish.”
Robbie, who lives in Musselburgh, divides his work into three broad categories - interpretation, monitoring and maintenance.
“Interpretation can take the form of talks and outdoor learning for groups ranging from nursery classes to retirees," explained Robbie. "We do a lot of educational work on topics like ecology, geography, sustainability, and biodiversity. Then there’s the informal education with people we meet on patrol where we stress the message of ‘leave no trace’ - the idea that you should leave nothing but your footprints to help preserve our countryside.
“Monitoring involves counting plants and animals to keep our finger on the pulse of what’s happening. We monitor our Sites of Special Scientific Interest to check on biodiversity levels and factors which might threaten the ecology of an area.
“With maintenance we deal with health and safety issues, check woodlands for wind-blown trees or storm damage, maintain paths, and record signs of erosion. We carry out litter picking and clean up fire sites as well as getting involved in more specialised habitat management. That might be looking after grasslands and coastal dunescapes, some of which need extra TLC to keep the plants, animals, and fungi happy.”
Promoting safety
During the busy summer months, Robbie spends a great deal of time promoting safety and helping to reduce risks for those visiting Yellowcraig and Archerfield.
He said: “Irresponsible camping can presents various issues, including threats posed by fires. In the nicer weather we ask the question of whether visitors need to have a fire at all. If someone is determined to have a fire, they should have it on the beach, which is tough and resilient, and keep it attended at all times. Once finished, put the fire out with water, don’t just cover it with sand which traps in the heat and conceals a hazard for others. We have special metal bins at our big sites like Yellowcraig and Gullane where disposable barbecues can be safely discarded.
“With regards to water safety, if you’re in trouble or see someone in trouble, don’t hesitate to call 999 for the Coastguard. We try to raise awareness on riptides and where they can be found. People should also be aware of offshore winds which can take you away from the coast. Check the weather forecast and have a ‘buddy’ if you’re involved in activities on the water – someone who knows where you are going and when you’ll be back so they can raise an alarm. More information is available on the Water Safety Scotland website and they really know their stuff.”
Thanks to Robbie and all our Countryside Rangers for the brilliant work you do.
Partnership
Win! Golf at Gullane
Calling all golfers!
The East Lothian Champions Board is celebrating its tenth anniversary. To mark the occasion, they are fundraising to offer a residential trip for Champs members.
The group is holding a silent auction where you can bid for a four ball round of golf for a brilliant cause. All funds raised will go towards the Champs' trip.
The voucher is valid until 31 May 2026 and can be redeemed seven days.
To get involved, email your bids directly to Neil Findlay at Who Cares? Scotland: nfindlay@whocaresscotland.org
Bidding ends on Thursday 21st August at midday.
Neil will keep all bidders updated and notify the winning bidder before 3pm on Friday 22 August. Payment is required before 4pm on Friday 22 August.
Neil will share WCS bank details immediately so the payment can be made. Only when funds are received and confirmed will the voucher be issued.
The winner will be announced at the Champs’ 10-year celebration event. All bidders are warmly invited to attend the event on Saturday 23 August, 1pm – 4pm, Ross High Rugby Club, Blawearie Road, Tranent EH33 2DB.
Good luck!
Information event comes to North Berwick: 21 August
Are you looking for advice, support, or ways to get more involved in your community? Drop by the Information Hub at North Berwick Library on Wednesday 21 August, anytime between 4pm and 6pm. No appointment needed — just come along for a chat, a cuppa, and plenty of helpful guidance.
A wide range of organisations will be on hand to offer support and answer your questions. Attending alongside East Lothian Works, Active Travel, Safer Communities and Sports Development teams will be:
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Ageing Well
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CAB Energy Advice Service
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Change Works
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Citizens Advice
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Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
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East Lothian Climate Hub
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East Lothian Foodbank
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North Berwick Coastal Community Connections
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North Berwick Connected Communities
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North Berwick Youth Project
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Skills Development Scotland
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Sustaining North Berwick
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Volunteer Centre East Lothian
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Youth CAB
This event is organised by the East Lothian Information Hub Group, a partnership of teams from our authority, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, and third sector organisations including Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL). The group's mission is to bring vital information and support directly to communities across East Lothian.
Following successful pop-up events in Port Seton and Haddington, the group is excited to bring the Hub to North Berwick.
“Whether you’re facing a challenge or simply want to connect with your community, Information Hubs are here to help,” says a spokesperson for the group.
“We understand that people often have more than one issue to deal with — whether it’s benefits advice, job hunting, home energy support, staying active, or improving wellbeing. Having multiple organisations under one roof makes it easier to get the help you need.
“It’s also a fantastic opportunity to discover local activities and services — from sport and leisure to volunteering, tackling climate change, and reducing social isolation.
“Young people are especially welcome. Skills Development Scotland, East Lothian Works, Youth CAB, and North Berwick Youth Project will be there to talk about education, training, employment, housing, budgeting, and the wide range of youth clubs and activities available.
“We’ve chosen the 4–6pm time slot to make it easier for families and young people to attend after school. Whether you’re looking for specific advice or just curious to see what’s on offer, we’d love for you to drop in and say hello.”
You're invited: fun run to raise funds
Would your team like to take part in an afternoon of fun, fitness and fundraising in Haddington? You can also take part as an individual or with friends of course.
Our Community Kitchen (OCK) exists to reduce loneliness and isolation by bringing people together around a large table each day to enjoy fresh and nourishing food followed by activities such as exercise classes, bus trips and intergenerational activities with schools.
Their Haddington Fun Run will take place on Saturday 20 September from 12 noon to 3pm at Haddington Rugby Club, sponsored by Garden Stirling Burnet Solicitors and Estate Agents.
You can do as many laps of the rugby pitch as you can. All ages are welcome to take part and fancy dress is optional!
Additionally, teams of four people can take part in the Joe Forte Memorial Relay Race in memory of the late, great Joe Forte, who was an enthusiastic and generous supporter of all Haddington community and sporting endeavours (arrive at 12.30 pm for a pm start). Taking part in the relay race costs £10 per person and each person completes one lap. The winning team will be presented with a trophy.
Join for the cause, stay for the fun! All donations, whether you are taking part or not, will be very much appreciated.
Sign up for the fun run
Make a donation via Just Giving
OCK has also developed a community garden in Haddington where they grow food which is used in their cooking and enjoyed by everyone. They welcome around 160 people each week and have 56 volunteers and a staff team of five. People who join OCK include the elderly, people living with dementia, people with lifelong conditions, wheelchair users and people experiencing loneliness, perhaps after the loss of a partner, family member or friend. More recently, they have been joined by people who have more profound and complex learning difficulties. OCK is completely accessible with ramps on all entry points, and they can mash and puree food for people who have swallowing difficulties.
For more information, visit the Facebook page.