THE SEABIRD Centre opened a new marine learning hub on Friday (29 November).

The team have been working in partnership with Glasgow Science Centre for 18 months to transform all aspects of the five-star visitor experience and educational resources at the centre, which will reopen completely on Saturday 21 December followed by a formal launch in January.

The learning hub will provide a more engaging and flexible space for inspiring and educating visiting schools, youth and further education groups.

The new look learning hub and marine workshops are now available to book and it continues to be used by the charity’s weekly wildlife watch groups, which are supported by the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

All of the furniture from the old education classroom has been given to Zero Waste Dunbar, a non-profit social enterprise which aims to keep good things in local circulation, rather than sending them to landfill.

Launching the new hub, with young people from the centre’s Wildlife Watch Group, Provost, John McMillan said “The Scottish Seabird Centre has been a key part of East Lothian’s tourism and education offering for nearly 20 years. The new learning hub offers a high quality and flexible space that can be used by both East Lothian schools and residents, and those from further afield.”

Susan Davies, CEO of the Scottish Seabird Centre, added: “Scotland’s marine environment is exceptional and diverse. There is a growing awareness of both its importance and the pressures it is under – not least from the climate crisis, invasive non-native species, underwater noise and marine pollution. Our new learning hub will help us deliver on our purpose to inspire and educate people about Scotland’s marine environment.

Following the launch of the learning hub, the final space to be completed is the discovery experience, an interactive visitor experience which will enable people to learn more about Scotland’s marine habitats and wildlife, and use the interactive live cameras to watch seasonal wildlife on the Firth of Forth islands. The formal launch in January will coincide with the start of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters.