Objectives:
To maintain good relations with the owners of the ground.
To consider revision of the eastern landward boundary of the Reserve.
Factors:
Revision of the Eastern Boundary
(a) General: When the Reserve was declared in 1952, the boundaries were
not based on any scientific knowledge of the biological or educational
nature of the terrain. During the last fifteen years, much more has
been learnt of the ground to the east of Aberlady Bay and from this it
appears that a revision of the eastern (landward) boundary of the
Reserve would be beneficial to conservation and education. A number of
points can be listed as:
1. The existing boundary is not demarcated in various places, existing
as a line on a map or along the line of a feature that no longer
exists. A clearly defined boundary would allow for more precise
management.
2. Many people have considered areas outwith the Reserve to be
included. As an example, the Bye-Laws are posted on the concrete blocks
at Maggie's Loup, some 320 yards to the east of the actual boundary.
3. A large proportion (60-70 per cent) of visitors to the Reserve spend
most of their time on paths to the east of the reserve boundary.
4. The sites most noted for their wild flowers, those with the grass of
parnassus, with the frog orchid or with the spring flowering annuals,
are to the east of the boundary.
5. The sites of special research interest, both for higher plants and
fungi, are outwith the Reserve.
(b) Procedure: It, therefore, seems that an attempt should be made to
re-declare the eastern boundary. An approach should be made by the
County Council to the owners of the ground for their views on this
slight enlargement of the Reserve.
If the new boundary can be agreed, the Bye-Laws will require amendment.
Bye-Law l(b) would have to be reworded so as to include this extra
strip of land.
(c) Proposed Boundary: The suggested eastern boundary is marked in Fig.
10.2. From north to south, the boundary follows the following features:
1. The line of concrete defence blocks at Maggie's Loup and their
projection seaward (approx. 105 yards on land).
2. A straight line, undefined on the ground, from the southernmost
block at Maggie's Loup to the northernmost block in the sea buckthorn
clump to the south of the Hummel Rocks (approx. 450 yards).
3. The eastern and southern boundary of this clump of sea buckthorn
until its junction with a partially metalled track (approx. 145 yards).
4. The metalled track from the sea buckthorn clump until it curves
sharply eastwards at the junction of a small path (approx. 1490 yards).
5. This small path from its junction with the track to a golf green
just beside a small clump of sea buckthorn (approx. 480 yards).
6. The west boundary of this sea buckthorn clump and along a small path
running south-east to a larger golf green beside another clump of sea
buckthorn (approx. 240 yards).
7. The east boundary of this sea buckthorn clump and along a straight
line to : the nearest point on a sunken wall (approx. 115 yards).
This wall forms part of the existing boundary of the Reserve.
(d) Area: This revision of the eastern boundary of the Reserve would
increase the area of the Reserve by 59 acres. This can be divided as
follows:
1. The triangle between the Hummel Rocks, Maggie's Loup and the sea
buckthorn clump south of the Hummel Rocks
Area added -11-8 acres
Area excluded - 1-0 acres The area that is lost is part of the golf
course.
2. The narrow strip between the metalled track and the line of concrete
defence blocks from the above- mentioned sea buckthorn clump to just
north of the sea buckthorn clump where the track and the line of blocks
diverge Area added — 4-1 acres
3. The area of grassland from the above defined point to the wall at
the south of the revised boundary (this includes the large clump of sea
buckthorn near the Yellow Mires, and the sea buckthorn clump on the
east of the Marl Loch)
Area added - 44-2 acres
(e) Preservation of Hawthorn: In Chapter V, section l(b) (vi), it was
prescribed that the hawthorn should be cleared from the grasslands of
the Reserve. In order that the development of a hawthorn scrub (Plate
14), and possibly the natural establishment of tree species, can be
studied, an area of approximately 15 acres at the southern end of the
area added to the Reserve by re-declaration should be
reserved for
hawthorn. In this Reserve no hawthorn is to be cut. In this situation,
the outline of a hawthorn thicket will merge with the nearby Scots pine
plantation and will not destroy the open character of the Reserve. The
area is demarcated in Fig. 10.2.
