Seabird Members' magazine spring 2018

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wonders of nature Scottish Seabird Centre Members’ magazine

Marine plastics:

Now is the time to act 06 Year of Young People 08 Easter events 16 North Berwick Wildlife Watch

Scottish Seabird Centre and the environment Sustainability and the environment are at the heart of everything we do. We have produced this magazine in an environmentally-friendly way. However, to help save trees and to reduce costs, you can receive your magazine by email – just contact membership@seabird.org or call +44(0)1620 890202.

Also, sign up to our enewsletters to be kept up-to-date with our latest news. You can do this at www.seabird.org

News

05 Five-star 06 Year of Young People 07 SQA 08 Easter activities 10 Centre developments

Features

18 Plastics 20 MCS 22 Project Seagrass 24 WDC 26 Keith Broomfield 30 Photography competition

Regulars

12 Education 14 Holiday Club 16 Wildlife Club 28 Volunteers 34 Seabird Café 36 Gift shop 38 Boats 40 What’s on 42 Legacy 44 Kids

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February, March, September and October Monday – Friday 10:00 –17:00 Saturday & Sunday 10:00 –17:30 April – August Monday – Sunday 10:00 –18:00 November – January Monday – Friday 10:00 –16:00 Saturday & Sunday 10:00 –17:00

Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick, EH39 4SS W: www.seabird.org E: info@seabird.org T: +44(0)1620 890202

Design: Wordpicturestory / www.wordpicturestory.co.uk

03

Welcome from Tom It has been a very busy start to 2018 with lots of exciting initiatives. We have a lot taking place linked to Scotland’s Year of Young People, a fantastic campaign which increases opportunities for the next generation and nurtures young talent.

I am delighted that the problem of marine plastics has been high on the news agenda and the Centre team has continued its work to communicate the importance of environmentally-friendly practices, in a fun and engaging way.

The gannets are back! It was brilliant to see them start returning to the Bass Rock in February and each day we enjoy seeing what they get up to via the interactive live cameras in the Discovery Centre and on our website.

As well as great support, we have also faced some challenges with our plans for the future, but we remain committed to our vision to deliver more education and conservation, and explore the importance of the marine environment and wildlife. Project Director, Grace, provides an update on page 10.

We look forward to seeing you all at the Seabird Centre soon and, as always, thank you for your continued and valuable support.

Tom Brock OBE Chief Executive

Update from Laura Welcome to the Spring edition of wonders of nature. Partnership and collaboration continue to be the name of the game for the team and we have been working hard on a wide range of activities with organisations across Scotland.

Some of the people who are very much #Seabirdfriends feature in this season’s magazine. A big thanks to Catherine, Charlie and Richard for their articles, which are a must-read.

We have a couple of new blogs which highlight all the work we get up to. For those interested in our YOYP activities check out seabirdyoungpeople.wordpress.com while all the info on our environmental practices is here; sustainableseabird.wordpress.com

We welcome contributions to these, so if you would like to get involved, then please get in touch. We have also created some hashtags, so you can join in the online chat with #puffinsnotplastic #gogreenforgannets #sustainableforseals Read on to find out more.

Laura Adamson Magazine Editor and Marketing Manager

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

04 Special thanks The Scottish Seabird Centre is an independent charity dedicated to inspiring people to appreciate and care for wildlife and the natural environment. Registered Scottish charity no.

SC025837. Registered in Scotland no. 172288.

Special thanks and editorial contributions

Our thanks go to all who have helped to support our education and conservation work over the last year. Like all charities, we are reliant on the generosity of our members and supporters.

Hamish and Doris Crichton Charitable Trust Heritage Lottery Fund JTH Charitable Trust Lindsays Charitable Trust Mackintosh Foundation N. Smith Charitable Settlement Robert Barr Charitable Trust Robertson Trust Scottish Enterprise Scottish Natural Heritage Seton Sands Holiday Park Seven Pillars of Wisdom Trust Shirley Pugh Foundation Sir James Miller Edinburgh Trust Stafford Trust St. Mary’s Charity Tay Charitable Trust TD Paton Trust Tesco: Bags of Help Tori Ratcliffe Art William Dean Countryside and Education Trust Wolfson Foundation

Any grants or donations we receive help us to develop and deliver our important activities in the field of wildlife and conservation. Some of those who have committed support over the last twelve months are named below. This list is in no way comprehensive; we are grateful to all who have supported us, many of whom choose to remain anonymous.

You know who you are, and you know we are grateful!

AEB Charitable Trust Bothwell Charitable Trust Castansa Trust Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust Cray Trust Cross Trust Cruden Foundation David Doig Foundation Dulverton Trust Eda Lady Jardine Charitable Trust Ellem Foundation Forth Ports Gannets Deli The Gannet and Guga Garfield Weston Foundation Geoffrey Clark Charitable Trust

Photography credits Images bring our magazine to life! We would like to say thanks to the following: Laura Adamson, Sean Bell, Keith Broomfield, Gareth Easton, Jan Ferguson, Catherine Gemmell, Andrew Grieveson, Colin Hattersley, Richard Lilley, Tony Marsh, Frederica Mentasti, Rosemary Oberlander, Charlie Phillips, Maggie Sheddan, Phil Wilkinson.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Editorial contributions Catherine Gemmell As the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Scotland Conservation Officer, Catherine’s work covers education and public engagement to campaigns and policy. Over the past two years, she has been focusing on their beach cleaning and litter surveying project, Beachwatch.

She has held several public engagement roles including Field Studies Instructor with PGL. She studied Marine and Coastal Resource Management at Aberdeen University and is very happy to be working for a marine conservation charity to help promote clean and safe seas for all.

Richard Lilley Richard has a BSc in Natural Sciences from Durham University, a PGCE in Secondary Science from Warwick University, an MRes in Aquatic Ecology and Conservation from Swansea University and an MSc in Social Science Research Methods from Cardiff University. At both Swansea and Cardiff, he was part of the Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group. His research focuses on the role of seagrass meadows in providing food security and the implications for the future of fisheries as extractive industries in the creation of sustainable places.

05 News The latest from the Seabird team and what we have been working on!

Soaring to the stars

the waves, and highlighting the many threats that they now face, we will continue to maintain the highest standards and seek to further enhance the experience for all our visitors.

We are delighted to announce that the Seabird team has once again received a five-star grading from VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance (QA) Scheme in recognition of its exceptional standards. The QA Scheme is a benchmark for quality in the tourism industry and operates across accommodation, visitor attractions and food sectors.

The Seabird Centre opened in 2000 and has since seen significant enhancements and developments to ensure the best visitor experience, customer service and hospitality possible.

The Seabird Café, offering stunning views across the Firth of Forth and the Bass Rock, uses the very best locally-sourced East Lothian produce and has received Taste Our Best accreditation from VisitScotland.

Tom Brock OBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Seabird Centre, said: “We are incredibly proud to have retained our five-star status from VisitScotland. As both an environmental charity and a visitor attraction, we aim to deliver a high-quality experience for all our visitors as well as undertaking our vital conservation and education work.

“We have a great team of passionate staff and volunteers that consistently deliver excellent customer care for our visitors who come from near and far. As we look to the future, developing our plans to diversify our focus to cover marine life above and below

“We would like to thank VisitScotland for recognising our achievement as well as thanking all our staff, volunteers, members and supporters.”

Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland Chief Executive, said: “My congratulations go to everyone at the Scottish Seabird Centre on retaining their five-star grading. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication put in by the team to maintain such exceptional standards.

“Our Quality Assurance Schemes are worldleading and provide a trusted, independent and impartial source of information for visitors. The star rating reflects the entire visitor experience, as well as the investment in the business to make it as economically sustainable and profitable as it can be. The team at the Seabird Centre can be justly proud of their achievement.”

Tom Brock:

We are incredibly proud to have retained our fivestar status from VisitScotland.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

06 News

Year of Young People

Open invitation:

We are looking for young people with a passion for nature, education, conservation or wildlife to contribute to our blog, create video content and support our work.

In celebration of Scotland’s Year of Young People, the Seabird Centre team is undertaking a range of activities as we all recognise the importance of the themed year and the need to engage the next generation.

There is an open invite for young people to become Young Seabird Ambassadors.

We are looking for young people with a passion for nature, education, conservation or wildlife to contribute to our blog, create video content and support our work.

This is a rolling programme and we welcome applications from anyone who supports our charitable objectives. Our Young Seabird Ambassadors get free entry to the five-star Discovery Centre and a free trip on the Seabird Catamaran Cruise. If you know someone who might be interested, all the info is here: https://seabird.org/visit/what’s-on/year-ofyoung-people/10/23/226 We have some very special SOS Puffin trips planned, where young people will assist in cutting down the tree mallow on the island of Fidra. All the info on our SOS Puffin project can be found at the Conservation section at www.seabird.org. We will share photos from these conservation trips in the next edition of the magazine.

We also appealed for a young person to join our Board of trustees. Applications were sought from those working in the conservation, environmental education or the wildlife tourism sector who are aged between 18 and 35 years.

The appointed applicant will contribute to building on the Centre’s success and its exciting plans for the future, working with the diverse and experienced Board to create a world-class facility and activity programme dedicated to marine conservation and education.

The successful applicant will have a position on the Board for one year. This will involve attending meetings in North Berwick and actively contributing with ideas on engaging and attracting young people to the Centre now and in the future. They will act as an ambassador for the Scottish Seabird Centre, attending events as required throughout the year.

We are very keen to demonstrate our ongoing support for Scotland’s Year of Young People and look forward to introducing our new Board member in the next edition of the magazine.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

07 News

Collaboration with SQA The Seabird Centre’s education team has worked in collaboration with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to develop approved coursework linked to the Curriculum for Excellence.

The coursework, which is suitable for National 5 Environmental Science students (and also Biology and Geography teachers), focuses on assessing species distribution (zonation) down a rocky shoreline. It was developed by the Scottish Seabird Centre’s Education Officer, Andrew Grieveson. A former secondary school teacher, and with a Zoology degree, Andrew was wellplaced to develop content he knew would work for the target age group. Also contributing was Project Director, Grace Martin, and Head of the Centre’s Marine Advisory Group and Principle Adviser for Marine at Scottish Natural Heritage, Professor John Baxter.

Both teacher and pupil guides have been developed. The teachers’ guide features details of mandatory course key areas as well as suggested learning activities, encouraging

students to undertake their own research along the shoreline. There is a fieldwork guide, methodologies and information on further resources. The video content features Professor John Baxter who provides a step-by-step guide on how to undertake the practical research: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5W89iYt6h8 Robert Quinn, Head of Qualifications at the Scottish Qualifications Authority, said: “This is a fantastic addition to the resources available to both teachers and learners undertaking the National 5 Environmental Science course. In particular, these materials will encourage learners to research the shoreline as a potential context for their assignment.”

For more information visit the Learning section at www.seabird.org

Teacher and pupil guides have been developed:

The coursework, which is suitable for National 5 Environmental Science students (and also Biology and Geography teachers), focuses on assessing species distribution (zonation) down a rocky shoreline.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

08 News

Easter fun

This Easter, the Discovery Centre team is taking inspiration from a whole host of super-heroes, with a brand new interactive science show and family-friendly puppet performances.

Avengers: Animal Division 30 March – 15 April 14:00, 45 mins Interactive science show for age 6+

There are two puppet shows for little ones aged 2+ and an interactive science show is for older children, recommended for age 6+.

What’s for Snack?

30 March, 6 & 13 April 11:15, 30 mins Puppet show for age 2+

What’s for Snack? is back by popular demand, as Craig the Crab enjoys sing-a-long fun, exploring the issue of marine litter. Craig also features in a brand-new story. He is Lost!

Can he find his way back home? Travelling across the beach and rockpools with help from friends old and new, finding out about the beach as he goes. But there is danger from above!

Older kids are invited to attend Avengers: Animal Division. Egghead returns showing audiences how animals can defend themselves from attack in weird and wonderful ways.

From exploding ants, squirting octopi and spitting birds. The audience will decide who is the best Animal Avenger!

Malcolm Watson, Science Communicator at the Scottish Seabird Centre, said “Kids and adults alike love a super-hero and there are some amazing animal super-heroes, from both land and sea, that we are looking forward to exploring with our visitors this Easter. As ever, all our shows are interactive, educational and fun, guaranteed to get the kids giggling.”

Lost!

31 March, 2, 7, 8, 14, 15 April 11:15, 30 mins Puppet show for age 2+

Included with admission to the Discovery Centre: adult £8.95/ child £4.95/ family (2+2) £25. Free for Seabird Members. Request your tickets for the show on arrival at the Centre.

Tickets to each event are limited. Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.

M alcolm Watson, Science Communicator at the Scottish Seabird Centre:

As ever, all our shows are interactive, educational and fun, guaranteed to get the kids giggling.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

10 News Project Director, Grace Martin, provides an update as we look forward with our vision to explore life above and below the waves.

Our plans for the future

We received the disappointing news at the end of last year that planning permission was not granted for the national marine centre project.

Whilst this is a major setback, we aim to build on the significant amount of work we have undertaken to-date, taking into account the comments made. We greatly appreciate the significant support for the project.

We have been especially grateful to volunteers, members, funders and supporters during this challenging period and remain committed to delivering the vision for a centre that will inspire, educate and inform people about the marine environment and wildlife in Scotland. We are keen to meet current needs and aim to work with partners to progress our delivery programme focusing on education and outreach, public engagement events and volunteering.

A range of workshops and science shows were delivered to schools in East Lothian to pilot our planned new educational outreach programme that aims to provide more opportunities for young people to learn about the marine environment and wildlife. We received very positive feedback from both primary school children and teachers who learned about wildlife including whales, dolphins and sharks as well as issues such as plastic pollution.

Check out this video featuring feedback from Prestonpans Infant Primary School: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ISjDR4EAsUQ&t=41s Children also shared feedback through ‘scribble sheets’ enabling them to share what they wanted to learn more about.

Our first ‘Meet the Scientist’ pilot event was hosted at the Centre and was fully booked.

Professor John Baxter (Scottish Natural Heritage) and Dr Lea-Anne Henry (The

University of Edinburgh) shared fascinating insights from satellite seal tagging research projects to monitoring sharks, skates and rays around Scotland.

Evaluation highlighted that all those in attendance were interested in attending future events, so as we go to print we are arranging different events to take place throughout the year.

The pilot events and workshops reinforced the high level of interest in the marine environment.

Our planned new programme will focus on delivering more opportunities like this at schools and venues across Scotland, enabling more people to learn and care about the marine environment.

We will continue to update the marine centre section on the website, so please visit www. seabird.org or get in touch to find out more: nmcproject@seabird.org

Great feedback: Fascinating speakers – full of interesting and new facts.

Excellent science communication, speakers not too technical.

Amazing research going on.

Pilot events and workshops reinforced the high level of interest in the marine environment.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Range of workshops and science shows:

We received very positive feedback from both primary school children and teachers.

12 Education Education Officer, Andrew, gives us an update on everything he has been up to, including a search for the next David Attenborough!

The growing awareness of issues relating to marine conservation, helped by many online campaigns and widely viewed documentaries such as Blue Planet II, has placed education at the heart of efforts to make a difference.

Here at the Seabird Centre, education is central to our mission to help conserve and protect seabirds and marine life in general.

Over the autumn term, we were pleased to see an increase in school visits, with children heading out to explore our coastline, whatever the weather. We welcomed a number of classes from a diverse range of schools, with many children getting the chance to experience education out on our beaches and taking away lots of wonderful memories!

We were also pleased to welcome Kincardine and Menteith Primary School. This is a small school located near Aberfoyle, and every year the entire school visits North Berwick to clean our beaches. This year, in collaboration with the Marine Conservation Society, we were able to help out with their beach clean as well as provide an educational workshop as part of their day with us. We are now looking forward to continuing to work with them each year.

We always enjoy our visits from schools, and often struggle to choose just one each month to win our School Trip of the Month certificate.

In November, this proved impossible and we had to award the certificate jointly to both West Barns and Whitecraig Primary schools! Both groups were very positive and well-engaged throughout their time with us, and clearly gained a lot from their visits. We certainly enjoyed welcoming them to the Seabird Centre and allowing them to learn in our Discovery and Education Centres, and out on our beautiful coastline.

At the end of 2017, we saw a rise in interest in the future of our seas thanks to the wonderful Blue Planet II. We wanted to help schools get involved by launching a competition to find the next David Attenborough!

Primary schools from across the Lothians, Fife and the Borders were invited to send in scripts or recorded voiceovers for a short clip of the Bass Rock gannets. The children had to research the lives of the birds and write an interesting narration of the behaviour that could be seen in the video. We received lots of excellent entries and the winner was Fraser from Armadale Primary School in West Lothian.

The judges, photographer Jeff Carter and STV’s Kaye Nicolson, joined me in visiting the school to get a formal recording from Fraser and then he, and his class, will be invited to the Seabird Centre for the premier of the video and a workshop.

To see the video Jeff created at the Bass Rock, visit our YouTube channel: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=tHFLqmWNOrs If any teachers are interested in an educational visit with their class, please get in touch as soon possible – these visits are very popular and book up quickly.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Education is central to our mission to help conserve and protect seabirds and marine life in general.

Engaging with schools

14 Holiday Club Education Officer, Andrew, gives us an update on all the fun and games the Club has been getting up to.

Body Blitz: biology is another big science subject and in a recent Holiday Club the children learned about the human body.

They tested their eyes with optical illusions, their pulse rate before and after exercise, and their balance by standing on one leg with their eyes closed! We also had a go at making paper models of the body, trying to get the organs in the right place, and learning what they all do.

Our very first Seabird Holiday Club was launched over a year ago now, in October 2016. Since that time, we have seen over 40 different children join in the fun during the February, Easter and Summer breaks.

We began our second school year with the October half-term holiday last year and we have now been able to involve children from across East Lothian in all sorts of nature and science-related activities, games, arts and crafts.

We also make sure the children learn lots about the environment and wildlife around them and encourage them to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible. To this end, we always take the children out to the beach for a number of popular activities. Rockpooling is always great fun as we never know what we’re going to find each time, and the children can also see how the species change as you move through the different tidal zones.

So far this year, our activities have included:

When we’re on the beach, the children go beachcombing and enjoy a sandcastle competition, voting for their favourite castle at the end (but not their own!). They also test their survival skills by constructing their own shelters, using tarpaulin, wooden sticks and twine, working in small teams to design them and making sure they stay standing on their own. We always like to finish our survival skills session with a camp fire, where the children can toast marshmallows whilst learning about fire safety and enjoying being out in the natural world.

Crazy Chemistry: as a science centre, we are always keen to expose children to the wonders of science and experiments from an early age.

One afternoon, our Holiday Club got to try out a range of colourful, bubbly and slimy chemistry experiments to see what happens during a reaction. They learned about density by mixing together differently coloured liquids with different densities and watching them separate into a column of coloured bands.

They discovered how acids and alkalis react together and turned liquid into slippery slime that could be bounced like a rubber ball.

Super Sonics: the Holiday Club has also learned a lot about physics, and this included how sound worked. They discovered that vibrations travelling to the ear are detected as sound, and that these vibrations travel in waves. We experimented with making different sounds, and then put this to the test by making shoe box guitars with differently sized elastic bands for strings. The children decorated their instruments, and we had some amazing rock stars by the end!

Since it began, the Holiday Club has seen lots of different activities and workshops. But the important thing is that the children enjoy what they are learning about, and take away a passion for science and nature, as well as the great outdoors, that will be with them for many years to come. We believe we have succeeded in this mission, and we look forward to welcoming many more children in the future!

To find out more about Holiday Club visit the Learning section at seabird.org or email education@seabird.org

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Science and sandcastle fun

16 Wildlife Watch Our Wildlife Club has been getting involved with all sorts of exciting activities over the last few terms.

Andrew, who leads the group, gives us an update on some of the highlights.

Exciting education:

Art, amoebas and amazing animals The Wildlife Club has been very busy! It was fantastic to be involved with the Marine Conservation Society’s annual coastal tidy, the Great British Beach Clean. Our Senior Branch group helped out with this, collecting litter that had washed up on the beach and recording what they found. We submitted our results online. Whilst we don’t have the dirtiest beach in the UK, we still sadly found lots of plastic rubbish.

Our younger groups learned about some tiny lifeforms with some small hand-held microscopes. Taking a small sample of soil, they searched through looking for nematodes, amoebas and the children’s favourite, the tardigrade!

During the winter, the Wildlife Club decided that we should prepare to help garden birds as much as possible by creating bird feeders that the members could take home and hang up in their gardens. Others created boxes that birds would be able to nest in during the spring. Hopefully our efforts will mean there are far more healthy songbirds around North Berwick this year.

Another treat the Wildlife Club enjoyed was a visit from a wildlife artist, Leo du Feu, from Fife. He ran a wonderful workshop with our Wee Buds and Junior Twigs, teaching them how to draw animals using oil pastels and craft paper. The children made some fantastic works of art that they could hang with pride at home.

Wildlife Club:

It was fantastic to be involved with the Marine Conservation Society’s annual coastal tidy.

One of our most popular activities was dissecting owl pellets. We managed to obtain a small batch of these strange regurgitated objects, so the Senior Branch were all able to get hands on and examine the bones and fur from an owl’s recent meal! The children were all provided with guides to different bones and were able to identify lots of tiny jaw bones, skulls and legs from voles, mice and shrews.

A popular activity during the autumn months is leaf art, using colourful fallen leaves collected from woodland or parks to create pictures that the children can take home with them. The children created pictures of animals, using their leaves to make feathers, scales, spines, or even bushes and trees for their animals to hide behind.

The children also enjoyed a visit to the Scottish Owl Centre. We all had a wonderful time, looking at owls from around the world and learning all about these amazing and important animals. The children all really enjoyed the owl ‘fly by’ at the end, when we got to see a barn owl called Lofty and a snowy owl called Fetlar up close and flying above our heads. Our next visit to another attraction will be tough to beat!

There is a waiting list for the Wildlife Watch groups, but if you would like to find out more email education@seabird.org

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Wildlife Watch groups:

There is a waiting list, but if you would like to find out more email education@seabird.org

18 Feature With single-use plastics high on the news agenda, Trustee, John Hunt, explores some of the facts and changes we can all make.

Unless you have been hibernating this winter, you cannot be unaware that marine plastic pollution is a major environmental problem. The media has been awash with stories about this issue.

Over eight million tons of plastic enter the oceans every year mostly as larger items such as fishing gear, drinks bottles and packaging but microplastics less than 5mm in size in the form of beads and fibres are an important component. Once in the sea plastic can move huge distances and is now found throughout the world – not just on the surface but down to the deepest seabed. Over time it breaks down progressively into tiny particles which are eaten by marine organisms such as zooplankton and corals and passed up the food chain to the largest marine mammals. One unfortunate aspect of microplastics is that they are very good at absorbing toxic chemicals from the water and then becoming toxic themselves.

Numerous marine species are affected by plastic through entanglement in fishing nets and by eating plastic particles mistaken as food. Most seabird species are ingesting plastic with the surface feeding birds such as fulmars and shearwaters at greatest risk. As yet, we do not know what impact this is having on populations, but it is clearly highly undesirable. Humans too are unwittingly eating plastic with one estimate that anyone who regularly eats seafood is taking in 10,000 particles of plastic every year.

Governments are at last waking up to this problem and most countries have signed a recent UN resolution to reduce the amount of plastic in the sea, though some countries blocked the setting of specific targets including the two worst offenders, China and India. It is encouraging that microbeads used in cosmetics and other personal products are being banned in the UK and further measures are under consideration to reduce the amount of single-use plastic. We also need improved standards in the manufacture and transport of plastic pellets which are used to make plastic products to prevent these reaching the sea.

It is easy to feel powerless but there are things which we as individuals can do. On average 5,000 items of plastic are found on every mile of beach and helping clean this up is very worthwhile, ensuring plastic does not get back into the sea.

We should minimise and recycle our own plastic waste as much as possible and encourage supermarkets and others to use less plastic packaging. Do we really need to buy all this bottled water? Studies suggest that tap water is just as healthy as well as a lot cheaper! The Seabird CafĂŠ no longer stocks plastic bottles, straws or other plastic items. We can all play our part by minor changes to our lifestyle.

Learn more about the Seabird Centre’s environmental practices at sustainableseabird.wordpress.com

Making a difference:

We can all play our part by minor changes to our lifestyle.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

An awful legacy:

The plastic tide

20 Feature Catherine Gemmell, Scotland Conservation Officer for the Marine Conservation Society, explores the work she has been undertaking and her partnership work with the Seabird team.

People from across the country have been getting involved in beach cleans and it is thanks to volunteers like these that we are starting to feel the tide turning on ocean plastics.

Last September, we had over 1,500 volunteers across Scotland head to 111 beaches, not only to pick up all the litter they could find over a 100m stretch, but to use our survey form to count how many different pieces of litter they were finding.

This information is crucial to our marine litter campaign and policy work as we use it to identify trends in litter over the years and present it as evidence to Government for policy changes to stop these items getting into our seas and onto our beaches in the first place.

Make change happen:

With the help of volunteers like you, we can stop this plastic tide for good.

A huge success of this data is that it helped secure the 5p carrier bag charges across the UK which saw a 40% decrease in the amount of carrier bags our volunteers were picking up in 2016. We didn’t stop there though, and we joined the ‘Have You Got The Bottle?’ campaign asking the Scottish Government to put in place a deposit return system for drinks bottles and cans as our volunteers had recorded a rise in these items on the beach. We were delighted when the Scottish Government committed to implementing a deposit return system in September last year – another win for our volunteers doing the hard work collecting information out on Scotland’s shores!

Now we are turning our attention to other ‘on the go’ litter items such as plastic cutlery, cups and straws.

Our data showed that the litter from eating and drinking out and about makes up 20% of all the rubbish found on our beaches! So, on the back of this we launched our ‘Stop the Plastic Tide’ appeal. We are calling on the Governments of the UK to put in place levies on these single-use plastic items to reduce the amount of single-use plastic being offered to us in the first

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

place. We are also asking businesses and supermarkets to replace the millions of plastic cups, stirrers, straws and cutlery with plastic-free alternatives or to stop handing them out altogether!

Just this year we have seen a huge shift on these items, especially single-use plastic straws. Sunnyside Primary School in Glasgow launched their #NaeStrawAtAw campaign last year which has seen businesses and now councils going plasticstraw-free. MSP Kate Forbes has launched her ‘Final Straw Scotland’ campaign to take the issue to Parliament and the Sunday Mail has joined the fight to take the message to the whole of Scotland.

With Scottish Government already announcing action on single-use plastics this year, with their proposed ban on plastic cotton bud sticks, we can see the tide starting to turn and, with the help of volunteers like you, we can stop this plastic tide for good.

For more information please head to www.mcsuk.org or contact Catherine on catherine.gemmell@mcsuk.org

Partnerships:

Marine Conservation Society A very busy year:

Our Education Officer, Andrew, worked with MCS on a range of projects over the last year.

Partnerships:

Project Seagrass

23 Feature Richard Lilley, Director of Project Seagrass in Scotland, delves under the waves to explore the importance of the hidden seagrass meadows.

Project Seagrass is an international marine conservation charity which was established in Wales in July 2013. However, it wasn’t until three years later, in July 2016, that Project Seagrass really began to gain traction in Scotland.

It was in that month that I was interviewed by The Scotsman in an article entitled ‘Seagrass meadows to be saved around Scottish coasts’.

Later that year I wrote a comment piece for The Scotsman, highlighting the importance of our seagrass meadows in both the fight against climate change, and in providing vital nursery habit for several commercially important seafood species.

Since Project Seagrass arrived in Scotland, our push has really been to get the public engaged with helping us to map our seagrass meadows.

Both in 2016 and 2017, we conducted seagrass education and awareness at the Glasgow Science Festival, and this year we also had a stand at the Edinburgh International Science Festival in Summerhall. In May, we were in Skye with the South Skye Seas Initiative mapping seagrass meadows around the village of Ord, and this last July we were in Ullapool at the ‘Round the Pier Day’ celebrating the seagrass meadows of the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area. Most recently we attended the World Forum on Natural Capital in Edinburgh where I engaged with the Green Economy Coalition on raising the profile of seagrass meadows as Natural Capital amongst big business.

The BBC series Blue Planet II has really helped us in raising the profile of seagrass meadows. In particular, in the ‘Blue Planet, Green Seas’ episode, we were introduced to some Australian seagrass meadows. Prior to this, seagrass ecosystems have scarcely been in the media, at least when compared to coral reefs, mangroves and even kelp forests. Yet in this episode we learnt about the vast potential of these underwater grasslands to sequester carbon from our atmosphere, and to provide habitat for charismatic marine life, such as sea turtles, seahorses and sharks. But seagrass meadows are much more than this. Indeed, we would need a whole new landmark series to truly convey how vitally important these habitats are for biodiversity, people and the planet.

What we need now is to ride that wave of enthusiasm generated by Blue Planet II and convert that public engagement into positive change. As scientists, we can’t be everywhere and so that is why we are trying to harness the power of citizen science in Scotland to help map our meadows, so they can be protected for future generations.

All people need to do is download our smartphone app ‘SeagrassSpotter’ and get out mapping seagrass meadows in their area, that’s surely a cause for #OceanOptimism to help us kick start 2018!

Help us help the planet:

Download our smartphone app ‘SeagrassSpotter’ and get out mapping seagrass meadows in your area.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

24 Feature Charlie Phillips is our go-to person for all things dolphin. He is a brilliant friend of the Seabird Centre.

The Bottlenose dolphins that inhabit the Moray Firth and north east coast of Scotland are a species living at the northerly extreme of their known range. ‘On a Rising Tide’ is a coffee table style book written and photographed by Charlie Phillips telling of the twenty plus year dolphin ‘love affair’ that he has had with these remarkable wild animals through this collection of images, observations and stories.

The Moray Firth and north east coast of Scotland is home to a resident population of Bottlenose dolphins, around 200 or so in number and I am fortunate to spend my working life studying and photographing these big, charismatic predators.

I am again fortunate in that boat access is not always necessary to get access to these dolphins, as they can hunt for seasonal migratory salmon only a few metres from the shore of one particular peninsula – Chanonry Point on the Black Isle near Inverness.

I am able to monitor which individual dolphins are using the area by recognising them through their very individual dorsal fins – a technique called ‘mark recapture’ and I often share pictures and data with my friends at Aberdeen University’s Lighthouse Field Station at Cromarty who run the official Photo ID project and whom I sometimes accompany on full-day boat surveys.

These dolphins are also highly individual in nature, not just in dorsal fin appearance, and have very distinct characters that you get to know when you study them for an extended period – we are talking decades here though as these are long lived mammals – 50 years or so for females isn’t uncommon.

I have the honour of having a young male dolphin named after me; ID#1025 ‘Charlie’ who is the son of ‘Kesslet’ who I have studied for most of her 23 years. The work that I do for the charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation (formerly WDCS) is to study six individuals that the public can ‘adopt’ and support us financially, constantly supplying my support team at head office with the raw ingredients to keep the programme going.

To photograph these dolphins from the shore I use some of my professional photography top-grade ‘toys’ to get as good images as I can. You will see me throughout the year maybe standing at Chanonry Point with my huge white Canon 500mm lens and high frame rate IDX camera body mounted on a big carbon fibre tripod getting pictures of the dolphins and observing their behaviour as they move in and out of the area. But if I am lucky enough to get out with Aberdeen University, or maybe one of the local tour boats in good weather, then I can top up my image bank of dolphins out at sea using much smaller zoom lenses. When out on the Moray Firth I can come across individuals that I might not encounter around Chanonry very often as some of these dolphins have their own favourite areas and might not visit my ‘office’ that frequently. Its great fun catching up with other dolphins that I haven’t seen for a while, especially the females if they have had new babies. Although I have been doing this for a long time now, I still feel my heart rate increasing whenever I see a dorsal fin and I never get tired seeing them – I just love being in the company of my dolphins. www.whales.org

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Partnerships:

Whale and Dolphin Conservation

Loving the job: Although I have been doing this for a long time now, I still feel my heart rate increasing whenever I see a dorsal fin and I never get tired seeing them – I just love being in the company of my dolphins.

26 Feature Our friend, PR guru, and wildlife expert, Keith Broomfield, explores the world of the sanderling and other coastal creatures.

By the edge of this sandy bay at Earlsferry, the sanderlings dodged in amongst the surf on pattering feet, following the flow of the sea as it receded and quickly retreating up the beach again as the rolling water surged back.

Up and down this East Neuk shore skipped these little sanderlings, quickly snapping up tiny crustaceans and worms that had been revealed by the waves. They are such attractive waders with their pearly pale plumage and continual frenetic activity.

Unusually for a bird, sanderlings lack a hind toe, which is an adaptation that enables them to quickly run on sand. It also means that when it is windy they are a bit unstable on their feet, suddenly being blown sideways before alighting back onto the beach again.

The tide was out so I moved onto an exposed rocky shelf and started to explore the rockpools, where I soon found a hermit crab.

Hermit crabs lack their own shell, so they protect themselves by using vacant whelk or winkle shells, which they corkscrew their way into – a process aided by their slightly spiral-shaped bodies.

Keystones of our natural world:

Nature at its most dynamic and resourceful; a place full of danger yet rich in food.

There were hermit crabs in other pools too, one of which was rather bizarrely holding another hermit in its claws. I’m not sure why this was so, but they do often square up to each other, and dominant hermits can force weaker crabs to vacate their shells which they then takeover as their own new home.

At the foot of a barnacle encrusted rock I came upon a yellow spongy-cluster that looked like a congealed clump of Rice Krispies. These were whelk eggs, which are frequently found on the lower shore in winter. In Scotland, whelks are often known as ‘buckies’ and in the past sailors used these egg clumps as sponges for washing, hence the folk name ‘sea wash-balls’.

I headed back up the beach where a rock pipit flickered along the strandline. These robust grey songbirds are specialists of the rocky shore, taking advantage of the abundance of insect life, sand-hoppers and other tiny creatures found in such places. Indeed, these pipits can even behave like sanderlings, feeding close to the sea-edge.

Visiting the coast is so addictive; it is a place where every creature has evolved their own special characteristics to cope with such a unique environment – somewhere that is submerged and then exposed to the elements each passing day. It is a continuum of pounding waves, searing sun in summer and penetrating frosts in winter.

This is nature at its most dynamic and resourceful; a place full of danger yet rich in food – risk and opportunity, the very keystones of our natural world.

This article previously featured in The Courier.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Exploring the shoreline

Keep an eye open:

At the foot of a barnacle encrusted rock I came upon a yellow spongy-cluster that looked like a congealed clump of Rice Krispies.

28 Volunteers Our update by Chairperson, Sandy Forrest.

The Group of Volunteers continues to amaze me with their enthusiasm and ability to find new ways of assisting the Centre.

Two of our members have investigated, researched and collated as much information as they can find, of past events at the Scottish Seabird Centre, from its inception in the 1990s to the present day. These articles and photographs fill several folders and make fascinating reading as well as creating a documented history of the Centre. This will help ensure that all the hard work by many people to ensure the Centre’s success is never forgotten.

Members of the group have become involved in the Green Team meetings, inputting ideas from the Volunteers with the aim of making the Centre more green. As the worldwide campaign to avoid plastics destroying our wildlife and the planet is beginning to grow in strength, we are already working together to limit our use of unsuitable materials and look at how we dispose of waste.

Others assist our Education Officer with Wildlife Clubs, school visits and Holiday Clubs, ensuring that children learn through play and gain an early understanding of conservation and the environment.

Sociable and useful:

If you are interested in joining our group, please contact the Scottish Seabird Centre office and we will be in touch.

Our programme of fundraising activities is designed to fill the year with varied events, with the proceeds particularly planned to assist Education and children’s activities.

We will be serving refreshments at three of the monthly Artisan Fairs in the Abbey Church hall; holding two Coffee Mornings in the Hope Rooms; showing the Bryan Nelson Memorial lecture film in the Centre’s Wildlife Theatre; promoting a Jazz Evening; we re-established the Photography Competition (which produced some amazing images and made a wonderful display in the Discovery Centre). A display of the winning images follow. This highlights just a few of the events that we get involved in. We meet informally over coffee once a fortnight to discuss potential future events, and hold, once a month, a more formal minuted meeting with reports on activities, events and fundraising results!

At the same time, we operate in our most important activity of meeting and greeting visitors to the Discovery Centre. Most Volunteers do one session of two hours per week, chatting to visitors, introducing them to the cameras and answering questions (or finding out the answers). Some do more than one session, others just cover odd sessions for illness or holidays – the programme is very flexible.

Of course, as we cover all these activities, we are working pretty hard, and would really like to increase our number to ‘spread the load’.

If you are interested in joining our group, please contact the Scottish Seabird Centre office and we will be in touch.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Volunteers

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31 Feature In 2017, our Volunteers coordinated a photography competition, only for members, staff and volunteers. Here are the results!

Volunteers’ Nature Photography Awards

Seascapes, stunning gardens and wildlife wonders were all winners for the Volunteerrun Nature Photography Awards. In its inaugural year, the relaunched competition was open to amateur photographers who are members, staff or volunteers of the Scottish Seabird Centre.

Judged by Ian Goodall of North Berwick Photographic Society, the shortlisted images were on display in the Discovery Centre, with a range of photos in the following categories: Wildlife; Landscape – British; Landscape – Overseas; Environment. The images were open to public vote until 20 January, with a whole host of fantastic prizes up for grabs from organisations including the Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa, Royal Yacht Britannia, ScotRail, Edinburgh Zoo and Blair Drummond Safari Park.

The winners in each category are: 01

Landscape – British Murray Roden from Aberlady (member) 02

Environment Dora Roden from Aberlady (staff) 03

Wildlife Abbie Marland from Longniddry (member) 04

Landscape – Overseas Dawn Kane from Dunbar (staff) 05

Public Vote Sue Green from Gorebridge (member)

Ian Goodall said: “The quality of the images submitted for the competition was quite outstanding and it was tough selecting the winners. I have been inspired by many of the photographs submitted and congratulations to all the winners. A big thanks to the Seabird Volunteers for organising this excellent competition.”

Sandy Forrest, Chair of the Seabird Volunteers Group, said: “The photography competition was initially the idea of one of our long-standing volunteers, Mary Buglass. For this year’s competition, we wanted to take the competition back to its roots, just open to Seabird volunteers, staff and members. Thank you to everyone who entered and who has supported us with prizes.”

02

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

03

04

Sandy Forrest, Chair of the Seabird Volunteers Group:

We wanted to take the competition back to its roots, just open to Seabird volunteers, staff and members.

05

34 Café The Seabird Café embraces environmental practices and supports local suppliers.

Welcome to Spring

We are all pleased to wave goodbye to the chill of the winter months and welcome with open arms the brighter, longer days. Why not take advantage of everything we have on offer here in North Berwick and challenge yourself to a bracing walk up the Law or a stomp along one of the beaches finishing up at the Seabird Café for a tasty lunch.

New chef Next time you pop in to the café, you may spot a familiar face in our kitchen, Alasdair Macgregor. Alasdair joined us as a café assistant over seven years ago and, after many years behind the till and assisting in the kitchen, we are delighted to have appointed him to the position of chef.

Our soups are always home-made, fish and chips always on offer, lighter bites available and many other tempting treats to follow. If the weather is fine, you can enjoy your lunch with the wonderful views over the Forth and out to the Bass Rock from our seaside sun deck.

Alasdair is very pleased in his new role and delighted to prepare for us all the trusted favourites on offer at the Seabird Café. His favourite dish to cook here at the Seabird Café is all things haddock-based, because the fish is so fresh.

Lovely grub:

Our soups are always home-made, fish and chips always on offer, lighter bites available.

At home Alasdair loves to cook pasta dishes and, inspired by the recent TV show featuring the Hairy Bikers, he is keen to travel abroad this summer and sample some Mediterranean dishes. Perhaps he’ll bring back some wonderful recipes to try out at the Seabird Café?! Alasdair’s favourite pudding is hazelnut meringue gateau – we’re with you there, Ali!

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Environmentally-friendly In the Seabird CafĂŠ, there are a range of environmental practices in place.

We have minimised plastics – there are no plastic straws, only recyclable glass bottles and jars, plus sauce dispensers with compostable pots are on the way There is a 50p discount for hot drinks when you bring your own cup for takeaways We offer free water refills to cut waste Recycling is a top priority

We aim to be green in all areas of the Centre!

Our Education Officer, Andrew, leads a range of environmental workshops from nursery to secondary, with plans being made for an outreach programme.

These encourage children to be more environmentallyfriendly We oppose plastic cotton buds and the unnecessary use of plastic, supporting and working in collaboration with the teams at the Marine Conservation Society and Fidra We host fun, interactive science shows that have environmental messaging, to instil environmental values from a young age We encourage people to reduce, reuse and recycle We support changes in legislation to reduce plastic entering our seas and littering our beaches.

Track our hashtags for news and developments and if you have any suggestions for anything else we can do to be more sustainable, please let us know! #puffinsnotplastic #gogreenforgannets #sustainableforseals Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

36 Gift shop Our Retail Manager, James highlights a few favourites in the gift shop this year.

Always keen to support Scottish manufacturers…

Retail therapy:

Scottish, scrumptious, satisfying, simply lovely.

McKenzie’s Biscuits Owned and managed by Gerry McKenzie, son of the founder of McKenzie Bakers, the family’s first bakery opened in Turriff, Aberdeenshire,

by Gerry’s father in 1952, and it is still in existence today!

The range started with sweet cookie-type biscuits – but has been gradually expanded to include a range of savoury biscuits incorporating a variety of flavours and new twists, enhancing the more traditional recipes. Thyme, rosemary, basil and sesame seed are examples of the delicious ‘Oval Albert’ oatcakes on offer.

To follow these savoury bites, there’s the chance to tuck into crumbly sweet cookies; chocolate chip, cornflake and spiced ginger. All delicious with a cup of tea.

Gin Bothy A striking looking bottle, this is a gorgeous premium gin with a simple story. The Bothy, nestled in the Angus Glens of Scotland, is the home to Gin Bothy premium gin. Inspired by bothies of the past, Gin Bothy favour the old-fashioned approach.

Their gins are infused with local seasonal fruits in extremely small batches, working through the process by hand at each step.

Examples of the flavours we have on offer in our Gift Shop include raspberry, strawberry, amaretto and chilli. An addition to this range is Gin Bothy ‘Infused Liqueur’, with rose and raspberry, available in small 20ml bottles.

Perfect for a gift.

They guarantee ‘great taste and will leave you with a happy glow’. Several of the range have won gold medals at the annual Guild of Fine Food Great Taste awards – described as the ‘Oscars’ of the food industry.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Book corner Just a reminder of the wonderful selection of books we have available in our Gift Shop.

Tucked in the corner, you can lose yourself in wildlife books, Scottish cookery books and a fantastic selection of local history books.

We also have a super selection of children’s books, for the very young through to older readers.

A particular favourite is ‘Polly and the Puffin’ by Jenny Colgan. The reader joins the adventures of Polly and her puffin, named Neil. Two further adventures in this series are ‘The Stormy Day’ and ‘The New Friend’, perfect for bedtime stories or for early readers. We enjoyed a visit from Jenny recently which was a great experience for the team.

New layout Following members’ feedback, the retail team recently worked with a merchandiser to learn more about the technical aspects of presenting stock. New suppliers were sourced to find different displays as one of the key elements of the feedback was that there isn’t enough space! To keep things fresh, the layout will continue to evolve, but we hope everyone likes the changes we have made so far.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

38 Boats As boat season begins, Senior Bass Rock Landing Guide, Maggie Sheddan, gives us an insight into what is involved with a Bass Rock landing experience.

Heaven:

Surrounded by these magnificent birds, observing and capturing that moment in time, three hours pass in a flash.

04:40. Cocooned in my duvet, the rising sun reflects around my room. I listen.

Silence! Although wind and swell reports are scrutinised, mother nature on occasion can throw the unexpected. Lucky enough to have a sea view, a quick look confirms (or not) if conditions are good for landing.

Rucksacks, tripods, appropriately-clothed individuals meet at North Berwick harbour, all with a look of anticipation. At times, familiar faces return to capture the developing young, during this long breeding season.

To land on the largest Northern gannetry in the world is overwhelming, inspiring and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Harbour-side a very explicit safety talk is given as landing at the Bass is not easy.

Guidance is also given, not only to protect the birds but to try to bring the best for the photographer. The overwhelming urge once landed is to unpack, ‘glue’ the camera to the eye and potentially miss so much! It is a challenge as ‘Bass Rock deafness’ overtakes.

Emerging from the darkness of the prison entrance, the awesome reality of the gannetry is realised. We stop before the final corner before the chapel area. I head up alone to assess the colony and lay out the boundary chains. During this time, I suggest; “Take time to really observe, not just with your eyes but your ears too.

Embrace, but don’t be blinkered.”

You are now surrounded by gannets. Dependant on the wind, opportunities may present for that flight shot that so many desire. Restrictions apply to the short narrow pathway at the final turn. Armed with your ‘gannet shield’ and a little nifty footwork, the area opens up and you have reached base, and the hub of the gannetry.

Put your bag down and really look!

Every photographer has a desired image they want to capture: a gliding flight; seaweed (or plastic) carried in for the nest; bill fencing; territorial disputes; sky pointing. There are comical moments as well as images of despair.

These shots are continuous throughout the season from that first egg in April to fleeting glimpses of a newly hatched reptilian chick being fed in June. In August and September, fledging gugas take that first faltering flight.

That is a challenging shot and takes patience.

August and September are my favourite months as there is such diversity and softer light. Surrounded by these magnificent birds, observing and capturing that moment in time, three hours pass in a flash. ‘Bass deafness’ again takes over as I say time is up.

This trip is for the dedicated naturalist and photographer. Flies, poo and mud are minor irritations. This is just a tiny snap shot of a truly magical experience. The memory will last a life time.

To book your Bass Rock Landing, visit the Boats section at www.seabird.org

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

All about the Bass

Spring events:

Fun and education

Alex Turnbull, Discovery Centre Manager:

This year’s fun packed programme is probably our best yet!

41 What’s on There are lots for young and old in the Discovery Centre this season.

3D Wildlife Theatre Film Experience Daily, 12:00 Included with admission / free for members Hosted daily in the Wildlife Theatre, the 3D film experience allows visitors to see a range of films throughout the year, which explore different marine environments and wildlife. This theatre experience is in addition to the 3D TV we have in the Flyway Tunnel. Tickets for the 3D experience should be requested on arrival. Ideal for age 3+.

Badge trail Daily, opening hours Included with admission / free for members Take part in our seasonal trail to collect one of our wildlife badges. Complete all the trails and collect all the badges, with certificates awarded and prizes to be won.

Seabird Easter Holiday Club 9 – 12 April All day – £100 per child Don’t miss the chance to book your space(s) for the Seabird Holiday Club during the Easter holidays! Primary-aged children will have the chance to join in a whole host of indoor and outdoor activities with Education Officer, Andrew, including rockpooling, outdoor survival skills and art workshops. 10% discount for siblings and Seabird Members. Check out the Learning section on our website for all the details.

Avengers: Animal Division 30 March – 15 April 14:00, 45 mins, age 6+ Older kids are invited to attend Avengers: Animal Division. Egghead returns showing audiences how animals can defend themselves from attack in weird and wonderful ways. From exploding ants, squirting octopi and spitting birds. The audience will decide who is the best Animal Avenger! Included with admission and free for Seabird Members. Please request tickets on arrival. Spaces are limited.

What’s for Snack?

30 March, 6 & 13 April 11:15, 30 mins, age 2+ What’s for Snack? is an interactive puppet show with Seabird team member, Craig the Crab. With sing-a-long fun, young visitors will be asked to help Craig who has eaten some marine litter by mistake. He will be joined by some of his seaside friends who will aim to help him get rid of his sore tummy. Included with admission. Please ask for tickets on arrival. Spaces are limited.

Lost!

31 March, 2, 7, 8, 14, 15 April 11:15, 30 mins, age 2+ Craig the Crab also features in a brand-new story. He is Lost! Can he find his way back home? Travelling across the beach and rockpools with help from friends old and new, finding out about the beach as he goes. But there is danger from above! Included with admission. Please request tickets on arrival.

Spaces are limited.

Beach Clean Saturday 7 April 10:00 – 12:30 Help us turn the tide on litter and keep North Berwick beaches a great place to enjoy, as well as protecting our wildlife. Join the Scottish Seabird Centre, East Lothian Countryside Ranger Service, Surfers Against Sewage and North Berwick in Bloom for a fun and rewarding community beach clean.

No need to book – join us on the day.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

42 Feature Fundraising Manager, Charlotte, explains how a legacy left to the Seabird Centre can really make a difference.

The impact of leaving a legacy

Since our charity started, almost 20 years ago, the Scottish Seabird Centre has remained dedicated to our charitable mission: to inspire people to understand and care for wildlife and the environment.

Being able to continue with our services was a challenge, not only because of the time and effort required of our staff, but also the limited amount of funding available for the environment.

Competition for funding is higher than ever.

Our charitable activities include education programmes and events for all ages, as well as practical conservation volunteering and engaging in environmental initiatives and debates.

We were delighted to receive a surprise legacy early in the year. This unexpected gift proved vital in helping us continue with our important education and conservation work while we develop our future vision to achieve more in the future.

Every year we develop and extend our work, responding to both the needs and interests of those we engage with, including members and volunteers, as well as ensuring we remain relevant to the cutting-edge environmental issues of the day.

Like all charities, we face considerable challenges in the current climate and rely on the support of our donors to be able to carry out our charitable mission and deliver our activities. The Seabird Café, gift shop and boat trips help towards our costs with any financial surplus reinvested in the work of the charity. However, income from these areas is seasonal and we are dependent on fundraising, particularly in funding our education work.

Leaving a legacy is the ultimate way to ensure the charity you love can continue delivering its important work in the future. An unexpected, unrestricted gift like a legacy can make a significant difference.

2017 was a milestone for the Scottish Seabird Centre as staff, volunteers and partners were all heavily involved in developing our plans to increase our work in the future. Meanwhile, we had to continue with our important current education and conservation activities. The pressing need to conserve our environment does not stop while we make our plans.

Not only were we able to continue delivering programmes like Seaside School, North Berwick Wildlife Watch and SOS Puffin, we were also able to introduce new activities like our out-of-school Holiday Clubs, new interactive science shows, the Bryan Nelson Memorial Lecture (in conjunction with RSPB Scotland) and ‘Meet the Scientist’ events.

We have produced a new leaflet, which we hope will inspire some of you to consider leaving a legacy to the Scottish Seabird Centre and the conservation and education work that we undertake. We are extremely grateful to all those who have given this ultimate gift to date.

The leaflet and further information can be viewed via the Support section on the website or posted on request. For a confidential chat please call me 01620 890202 or you can email me: fundraiser@seabird.org Thank you for your support. Together we can secure a bright future for Scotland’s marine heritage and wildlife.

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Charlotte Bray:

For a confidential chat please call me 01620 890202

We were delighted to receive a surprise legacy early in the year. This unexpected gift proved vital in helping us continue with our important education and conservation work while we develop our future vision to achieve more in the future.

44 Kids Activities for big ones and little ones alike. Enjoy!

Finding Nemo:

Fish Finder

Y V L Q H M C A I G D A I X Z

Z X E S C S N O N Y N U S H O

K S R D A U I I D C D T T D B

L M E S T N R F H D X F I D Q

C U K R P R D O R Q Y F F H H

O M C D E Q V E O E Y R G E A

U G A H M Y W V E E L Z Z X L

Q Q M E S S A R W L C G O B I

H S I F N O I P R O C S N W B

R H A D D O C K Y H P L C A U

E R O J H P R T B N L Q J W T

V I L E K L H C G E N F D B F

A I Q K T W R Q K F X E F X F E Q Y H U Z Y I R L I D L Q R

W S C R K I W G O B Y P X B D ANCHOVY ANGLERFISH BLENNY COD GOBY HADDOCK HALIBUT

HERRING MACKEREL SANDEEL SCORPIONFISH TUNA WEAVER WRASSE Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

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Rainbow Fish Colour the scales of the fish below lots of different colours to create a beautiful rainbow fish!

Cut out and build your own octopus Step 1: Colour in both octopus templates below (or trace them onto paper or card if you wish to colour both sides).

Step 2: Cut them both out.

Step 3: Cut along the dotted lines on each one, being careful not to cut them in half!

Step 4: Slot the dotted line cuts together to create a single, eight-legged octopus.

Step 5: If you want, you can glue on eyes, colourful stickers or anything else you have to decorate your new sea creature friend!

Scottish Seabird Centre magazine

Travel, discover, explore with East Coast Buses – getting you around East Lothian

Travelling to or from Edinburgh or around East Lothian?

Plan your trip in advance using the East Coast Buses journey planner at: www.eastcoastbuses.co.uk

East Coast Buses connects communities across six zones, from Edinburgh City Centre to North Berwick, via Aberlady and Gullane, and to Dunbar passing through Tranent, Haddington and East Linton on the way. The important services bring the delights of East Lothian’s villages, beaches and golf courses within the reach of city dwellers and visitors, and provides residents of this popular commuter belt with easy access to Edinburgh and the further highlights of East Lothian. Whichever direction your journey’s taking you, there’s plenty of opportunity to ‘travel, discover and explore’ the area on the way to your destination.

Depart from Edinburgh and explore the whole of East Lothian on a County Day Ticket for just £5 per adult. Single fare and day tickets are available from the driver and there are also savings to be made through m-ticket bundles available on the Lothian app (TfEapp.com), offering a 25% reduction on the individual price.

If Edinburgh is included in your day’s exploring, the CountyPLUS day ticket for £7.50 covers the entire network including the City Centre and can be used on all Lothian day services and trams (except to airport). East Coast Buses offer child and family ticket options too providing even more ways to save.

East Coast Buses have regular timetables with departures on most services from early morning until late evening, and the NightHawk services providing links between Edinburgh and East Lothian up until 0430 hours. What’s more, you can travel on East Coast Buses knowing that you are doing your bit for the environment. The fleet includes 15 Euro 6 buses with engines designed to reduce C02 emissions by 25 per cent, and with approximately 60,000 customers using the buses every week, travelling by bus goes a long way in keeping cars off the road and improving air quality in the county.

The investment in new buses also provides customers with a more comfortable experience, with more space on board (capacity for 89 passengers), 40 high-backed leather seats, free Wi-Fi, USB chargers and on-board state-of-the-art announcement screens.

East Coast Buses also provides an express link to Scotland’s Capital City. Why not venture in and see the sights of Edinburgh from a different view? Step aboard an open top bus tour with the five-star rated Edinburgh Bus Tours. The hop on hop off tours, showcase the best of the city, with a choice of multilingual commentary or a specially trained live guide. Sights include Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse, The Royal Yacht Britannia and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

www.eastcoastbuses.co.uk

Edinburgh

Glasgow

North Berwick

9 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh EH3 6AT

9 Royal Crescent, Glasgow G3 7SP

Glen Orchy, 15 Glenorchy Road, North Berwick EH39 4PE

Tel: 0131 226 5822 mail@whitelawwells.co.uk

Tel: 0141 332 5499 mail@whitelawwells.co.uk

Tel: 01620 892090 infonb@whitelawwells.co.uk

CA CA

www.whitelawwells.co.uk

Party time!

Stand out from the crowd with a party that will inspire!

From £15 per child www.seabird.org 01620 890202 The Harbour, North Berwick EH39 4SS Image © Sean Bell / Scottish Charity no SC025837

DISCOVERY CENTRE · BOAT TRIPS · CAFÉ · GIFT SHOP V661-18-269-aw-01.indd 1

02/03/2018 19:02

ick...perfectly at North Berwexplore the located to ntryside Perfect Holidays and Coast & Cou othian L t s a Holiday Home Ownership of E Lodges with Hot Tubs Caravans • Camping Cabins For Families • For Golfers For Walkers or just for getting away...

Grange Road, North Berwick EH39 5JA 01620 893 790 • 07779 167 253 carlene@gilslandpark.co.uk • www.gilslandpark.co.uk

01620 860 657 foxlake.co.uk

ziptrail

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foxfaLl Over Water

Ropes Course

Ringo Rides

Wakeboarding Off-Road Segways &

Boardside Cafe

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– North Berwick’s newest Bistro / Wine Bar offering quality fresh food and drink in a comfortable, relaxed environment.

– Extensive wine list with a selection of draught and bottled beers, spirits, rare whiskies and gins.

– Comfortable, flexible seating areas means we can cater for parties of any size.

– Large party bookings available.

– Eat, drink and relax! info@thepuffin.co.uk www.thepuffin.co.uk 01620 248240 V661-18-268-aw-02.indd 1

06/03/2018 21:32

Discover the plane that can take off from here Amazing aircraft. Unforgettable stories. One incredible day out.

East Lothian, just 40 minutes from Edinburgh. www.nms.ac.uk/flight

Dirleton Gullane

Princes Street

Aberlady

Abbeyhill

124 X24

Portobello

Semple Street

Musselburgh Prestonpans Longniddry

X2 4

Duddingston Park South

12 4

124 X24 X5

The Jewel A1

X5

X5

Edinburgh City Centre

Seabird Centre North Berwick 124 X24 X5