Levenhall Links
Description
Levenhall Links is an 134 hectare area of mixed grassland, woodland, scrub and wetland situated on the East Lothian coast on the eastern side of East Lothians’ largest town, Musselburgh. The site is a former landfill site, on reclaimed intertidal foreshore, originally used for disposal and of pulverised fuel ash (PFA) from Cockenzie Power Station. The area has been designed and landscaped to provide land with both recreational and nature conservation value.
Natural history
Grassland
Much of the grassland is maintained as amenity grassland and is cut regularly throughout the year. Other areas, around the boating pond, lagoons 8, 6 and woodland edges, remain uncut. Lagoon 7 has, since 2001, been managed as a hay-meadow. Over summer the vegetation is allowed to develop naturally and a single cut is taken in late August. The area has also been the site of wildflower seeding trials.
The amenity grasslands are important alternative terrestrial feeding grounds, occasionally supporting feeding oystercatcher, curlew and wigeon. In addition, areas of short grassland provide valuable winter roosts for waders, particularly when other on-site roosts suffer disturbance.
Insects
Of the 25 resident butterfly species in East Lothian 19 of them are present at Levenhall. Other invertebrates are under recorded on the site but it would be desirable to allocate more time to recording their presence. Lagoon 6 was surveyed in 2015 and 346 species were recorded. 5 species were identified which were new to Scotland. The capsid bug Sthenarus rotermundi, the leaf beetle Bruchidius villosus, the weevil Mecinus labialis, and two Dipterans, the parasitic fly Phasia obesa, and the Picture-winged fly Sphenella marginata. A further 84 species were identified that were first records for East Lothian.
Birds
The Links and neighbouring areas are well known for their bird life, sufficiently so for the wader scrape and Number 8 lagoon, as well as adjacent shore to be included within the Firth of Forth Site of Special Scientific Interest. These areas have also been included in the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar designations.
Fisherrow Sands, between the Harbour and the mouth of the River Esk, is an important low tide feeding ground for wetland birds:
- The exposed sands and mussel beds support both migratory and an overwintering assemblage in excess of 8000 birds and at times up to 20,00, comprising 31 species, including 25 qualifying species of the Firth of Forth SPA.
- Large numbers of bar-tailed godwit, knot and oystercatcher are regularly recorded at low tide.
- Winter low tide populations of, ringed plover, grey plover, redshank, turnstone, curlew, Slavonian grebe, goldeneye, velvet scoter, teal and wigeon are also significant.
- Despite the limited availability of roosting habitat, Fisherrow Sands can support significant numbers of turnstone, redshank and wigeon at high tide.
Facilities
- A full-time Countryside Ranger Service co-ordinates the day-to-day management of this site
- There are no public toilets at Levenhall Links but they can be found in Musselburgh town centre to the West or Prestonpans to the East.
- Find a campsite and read about how to camp
How to get there
By bicycle / car
At the Levenhall roundabout take the B1348 and turn left at the wooden sign for Levenhall Links, this is approximately 100m after the last houses in Levenhall. The track immediately turns to the left. Follow it along until you are next to the racecourse railings. Just after this the track turns to the right between two lots of trees. Follow the track to the right and after 200m you will come to the car park.
Parking charges
There are no parking charges at Levenhall Links.
By train
ScotRail services operate between Edinburgh and Wallyford, which is the closest stop. From here it is a a 20 minute walk to Levenhall Links.
By bus
East Coast Buses and Lothian Buses operate bus services between Edinburgh and Musselburgh. Get off just after the roundabout at the Hope Place bus stop on Ravensheugh Road B1348.