Objectives:
To encourage public usage of the Reserve for appreciating natural
history, and to inform and interest the public in all aspects of the
Reserve.
To encourage schools, particularly in Edinburgh and the Lothians, to
take an interest in the natural history, physiography and geology of
the Reserve.
Factors:
(a) General: Three categories of people visit the Reserve. Firstly,
there are organized parties from schools, universities, or societies,
and these would normally be supervised. They would usually be
interested in some aspect of the natural history, physiography or
geology, and would probably require no special information about the
Reserve.
Secondly, there is the general public who comes on to the Reserve with
the purpose of following some aspect of field studies. To the regular
visitor (e.g. the bird-watcher, wildfowler) no provision is required
for education. However, a large number of people in this second
category visit the Reserve without any clear idea of what they will
see, but nevertheless they come here to look for birds and flowers
since it is a Nature Reserve. Such people have expressed the wish for
some guidance, and this would have to be provided at or near the
Reserve.
Thirdly, there are the people who visit the area for recreation -
walking the dog, swimming near the Point, picnicking in or by the car
park, etc. Many of these people are not interested in the Nature
Reserve, some in the 'sense of space' and quietness, and some in
finding a free car park.
It should be stressed that the Bye-Laws apply to any person entering
the Reserve, and that parties of persons using the Reserve do require a
permit to collect any plants or animals (Bye-Laws 10, 11 and 14).
(b) Aspects of Education:
(i) BOOKLET OR LEAFLET: Most people who visit the Reserve for a natural
history excursion consider that this is essential. A small publication
that describes the land form of the Reserve, discusses the plant
communities and some of the plants, possibly in relation to the
physiography, and describes the animals associated with the Reserve,
particularly some of the species of birds, and in general concentrating
more on ecology than listing species, should be prepared. This could
probably be put on sale in a shop in Aberlady, and it might be possible
at some time to sell copies of this to visitors entering the Reserve at
the footbridge over the Peffer Burn. Schoolmasters feel that it has
some potential use in schools, and the local schools should be
encouraged to buy copies for field teaching. The presentation should
not be too specialized, and it should probably be pitched at fourth or
fifth year school level.
(ii) NATURE TRAIL: There is already a nature trail at Yellowcraig,
about three miles to the east of the Reserve. School teachers have
expressed the view that a nature trail is only of limited use to them.
At the present time, therefore, there appears to be little need to lay
out a nature trail on the Reserve.
However, this should be kept under constant review. When a booklet
about the Reserve is prepared, there might be a demand from the public
for some of the aspects of the natural history and physiography of the
Reserve to be demonstrated. This could be achieved either by a nature
trail or by informative notices (see Chapter V, section 2(b) (iv)). A
nature trail can effectively keep a high proportion of people away from
parts of the Reserve that require special attention, e.g. nesting areas.
If a trail is eventually laid out on the Reserve, an explanatory
leaflet, sold in conjunction with the booklet, would be required.
(iii)piLM STRIPS: School teachers have expressed their opinion that
film strips, on selected subjects, are the most useful aid to teaching
prior to a field visit. The preparation of film strips or loop films is
expensive, and falls outwith the scope of a prescription of the
Management Plan. However, if the Education Authorities of Edinburgh or
the Lothian County Councils consider that the Reserve has a
sufficiently great teaching potential, they could be encouraged to
finance the preparation of suitable educational films. All filming work
of this nature on the Reserve should be encouraged and a record of any
films made should be kept with the management Plan.
(iv) INFORMATIVE NOTICES: Notices informing the public about the dune
reclamation work at Gullane have proved successful, and it is possible
that informative notices could be used to advantage at Aberlady. For
example, a notice on the highest point of the Reserve, just south of
the sea buckthorn clump near the Hummel Rocks, could demonstrate the
physiography of the dune system. Relying on natural curiosity it might
serve to keep people off the dune paths and on to the metalled track,
thus reducing erosion danger. A similar informative notice by the Marl
Loch, demonstrating some of the plants growing there, would provide
interest.
These notices should be situated beside paths, and should be marked on
a map, possibly with the Bye- Laws, and also in the booklet.
(v) ADVERTISING: Talking to people who use the Reserve, it has been
suggested that the Reserve should advertise itself and that periodicals
and newspapers should sometimes carry short articles about the Reserve.
There is no doubt that Mr. N. Tranter has stimulated an interest in the
Reserve by his short articles discussing both the biological and
historical aspects of the area.
