Tuesday October 20th 2026
Tree planting which features Councillor Colin McGinn, members of East Lothian Council’s Countryside Rangers team, and representatives from NatureScot, Wild About West Barns, Sustaining Dunbar, the East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists’ Society, the community councils of Dunbar, West Barns and Dunpender, and other volunteers.
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
John Muir Country Park has marked 50 years since it was established with a commemorative tree planting involving East Lothian councillors, countryside rangers and community volunteers.
Five trees – three silver birches and two Monterey pines – were planted at the park on Tuesday, October 20, with each representing a decade of its history.
Located near Dunbar and West Barns, the 1,763-acre country park stretches along eight miles of coastline and was officially designated a Country Park on October 12, 1976.
It was named after naturalist and conservation pioneer John Muir, who was born in Dunbar in 1838 before emigrating to the United States.
The anniversary event was attended by Councillor Colin McGinn, East Lothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, and members of the John Muir Advisory Groups. Representatives from NatureScot, Wild About West Barns, Sustaining Dunbar, the East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists’ Society, local community councils and other volunteers also took part.
Cllr McGinn said: “For half a century, John Muir Country Park has provided the public with an invaluable opportunity to enjoy its stunning land and seascapes. The park welcomes 600,000 visitors each year, sustaining young and old with the benefits of being close to nature and experiencing first-hand the beauty which the county has to offer.
“The park also plays a pivotal role in the protection, conservation and restoration of many species and habitats as part of East Lothian’s Local Biodiversity Action Plan. By maintaining this environmentally important site for the future and ensuring its resilience to climate change, the legacy of John Muir will continue.
“I feel privileged to be here today to celebrate this amazing success story.”
The park is recognised for its environmental importance, with designations including Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site.
Its varied habitats include saltmarshes, mudflats, sand dunes, woodland, scrub, grassland and rocky and sandy shorelines. Around 400 plant species have been recorded at the site, which also supports a wide range of wildlife and birdlife, including little terns, lapwings, ringed plovers, skylarks and gannets.
Managed by East Lothian Council under an agreement with the landowners, the park is an important part of the John Muir Way, the long-distance walking route between Dunbar and Helensburgh.
Muir became one of the most influential advocates for wilderness conservation in the United States. His writing and campaigning helped shape the modern conservation movement and contributed to the creation of several national parks, including Yosemite, before his death in 1914.
To mark the anniversary, John Muir’s Birthplace museum on Dunbar High Street is hosting a free photography exhibition featuring reflections from park staff, volunteers and Junior Rangers.
The exhibition runs until January 10, 2027. The museum is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and on Sundays from 1pm to 5pm.
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