A MUSSELBURGH bird reserve and recreational area has been likened in its importance to the natural world to one of Africa’s most famous ecosystems.

Councillors at a meeting agreed that more needed to be more done to promote East Lothian to entice tourists.

Councillor Peter MacKenzie said he had been speaking to a leading ornithologist, who had highlighted the significance of the ash lagoons at Levenhall Links, Musselburgh, famed for the wide variety of birdlife it attracts.

He said: “Those sites are very, very important: the ornithological Serengeti of Western Europe.” And he added: “There are a huge number of people who go to Edinburgh for holidays and we need to be able to tell them there is something special to see in East Lothian.

“The trick we need to do is highlight that it is the place of castles and beaches and something really special.” The discussion took place at a meeting of the local authority’s policy and performance review committee. Members heard that a seasonal visitor information centre at Old Craighall was shut by VisitScotland in 2007, with an information service then enhanced at The Brunton in Musselburgh.

Tom Shearer, the local authority’s head of communities and partnerships, said staff received training to help provide visitors with information about places of interest in the county.

He highlighted there was also the museum on Musselburgh High Street, which could help point tourists in the right direction. Councillor John Caldwell acknowledged that but added The Brunton was “a very, very busy place”.

The Musselburgh venue operates a ticket system where visitors take a number and wait for it to be called.

He added: “They have got a queuing system and I cannot imagine visitors to the town waiting on their raffle number to get called to get information.” But the local authority highlighted there was now a greater emphasis put online, with an extensive social media presence and website visiteastlothian.org The Serengeti, primarily located in northern Tanzania, hosts the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world.

It may boast lions, zebras and buffalos, but Musselburgh Lagoons – land that was reclaimed from the sea by using pulverised fuel ash from Cockenzie Power Station – is the destination of choice of many sea ducks and rare visitors such as marsh sandpiper and citrine wagtail.

A MUSSELBURGH bird reserve and recreational area has been likened in its importance to the natural world to one of Africa’s most famous ecosystems.

Councillors at a meeting agreed that more needed to be more done to promote East Lothian to entice tourists.

Councillor Peter MacKenzie said he had been speaking to a leading ornithologist, who had highlighted the significance of the ash lagoons at Levenhall Links, Musselburgh, famed for the wide variety of birdlife it attracts.

He said: “Those sites are very, very important: the ornithological Serengeti of Western Europe.” And he added: “There are a huge number of people who go to Edinburgh for holidays and we need to be able to tell them there is something special to see in East Lothian.

“The trick we need to do is highlight that it is the place of castles and beaches and something really special.” The discussion took place at a meeting of the local authority’s policy and performance review committee. Members heard that a seasonal visitor information centre at Old Craighall was shut by VisitScotland in 2007, with an information service then enhanced at The Brunton in Musselburgh.

Tom Shearer, the local authority’s head of communities and partnerships, said staff received training to help provide visitors with information about places of interest in the county.

He highlighted there was also the museum on Musselburgh High Street, which could help point tourists in the right direction. Councillor John Caldwell acknowledged that but added The Brunton was “a very, very busy place”.

The Musselburgh venue operates a ticket system where visitors take a number and wait for it to be called.

He added: “They have got a queuing system and I cannot imagine visitors to the town waiting on their raffle number to get called to get information.” But the local authority highlighted there was now a greater emphasis put online, with an extensive social media presence and website visiteastlothian.org The Serengeti, primarily located in northern Tanzania, hosts the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world.

It may boast lions, zebras and buffalos, but Musselburgh Lagoons – land that was reclaimed from the sea by using pulverised fuel ash from Cockenzie Power Station – is the destination of choice of many sea ducks and rare visitors such as marsh sandpiper and citrine wagtail.