What we do

East Lothian Countryside Ranger Service is a long‑established and nationally significant service responsible for managing, protecting, and enhancing East Lothian’s coast and countryside. Rangers come from diverse backgrounds but share strong knowledge of wildlife, natural history, and environmental issues, along with a commitment to public engagement.

East Lothian was the first council in Scotland to establish a countryside ranger service, and today a team of eight rangers manages 31 sites across 2,400 acres and 47 km of coastline, many of which are nationally or internationally designated for their natural importance.

Core roles and responsibilities

1. Visitor Engagement and Public Enjoyment

• helping visitors enjoy and appreciate East Lothian’s landscapes, both coastal and inland
• providing interpretation on wildlife and environmental issues through:
  • regular patrols
  • guided walks and talks
  • natural history events
  • school activities (e.g., rock‑pooling, woodland walks, geology)

2. Conservation and monitoring

• conducting surveys of visitor numbers, birds, and plant species
• managing habitats to improve biodiversity, including removing non‑native species
• working with hundreds of conservation volunteers who carry out tasks such as:
  • clearing giant hogweed
  • maintaining paths
  • litter clean‑ups
  • building small bridges

3. Site Management

• ensuring effective day‑to‑day management of council‑owned sites used for recreation or nature conservation
• implementing management plans and providing advice to the council regarding site development, environmental issues, and public safety

4. Access and outdoor rights

• managing access issues, including rights of way, path maintenance, and liaison with landowners and community groups

5. Coastal pressures and landscape protection

• responding to increasing pressure from:
  • visitor overuse (e.g., 175 tents in one night at Yellowcraig in 2022)
  • climate‑change‑driven erosion (e.g., loss of 80‑year‑old dunes in 2023)
  • rising dog ownership and informal wild camping
     
• educating wild campers about responsible behaviour, fire safety, and waste

6. Education and community involvement

The service plays a major role in environmental education, offering:

• school visits
• community events
• interpretation materials

We also support the East Lothian Countryside Volunteers, offering opportunities for group and lone volunteering across various conservation tasks.

View the outdoor access rights and responsibilities