A new charity has been launched to help protect one of Scotland’s most iconic coastal landscapes—the West Sands in North Berwick—amid growing concerns around coastal erosion and long-term environmental change.

The North Berwick West Sands Coastal Erosion Charity has been established to support efforts to protect the West Sands, preserve the historic North Berwick West Links Golf Course, and safeguard the area for future generations.

Few places in the world combine natural beauty, sporting heritage and community amenity in quite the same way. The sweeping West Sands shoreline, its fragile dune system, and the worldrenowned West Links golf course together form a landscape recognised globally. However, this environment is now under increasing pressure.

The coastline is gradually changing through erosion, caused primarily by rising sea levels and more frequent and severe storm events. These changes pose a growing risk to the valuable amenities of the West Sands, including golf, walking, birdwatching and nature.

Stuart Bayne, General Manager of The North Berwick Golf Club, said:

“West Sands is a truly special place—valued by the local community, members, and visitors from around the world. It’s an area of the town that generates and provides so much – economically, socially and environmentally. The challenges we face are significant, but by working together, we can take meaningful steps to protect this landscape and ensure it can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

The charity has been formed in response to this growing challenge, bringing together a shared commitment to:

• Protect and stabilise the dune system
• Preserve the natural coastal environment
• Safeguard the historic setting of the West Links
• Support sustainable approaches to long-term coastal resilience

This is about more than protecting land—it is about preserving a globally recognised landscape, protecting an important part of North Berwick’s heritage, and ensuring continued public enjoyment of a place that belongs to the wider community.

Through collaboration with local authorities, environmental specialists, and stakeholders, work is already underway to better understand the challenges and identify sustainable solutions. However, wider support and funding will be essential to delivering meaningful, long-term outcomes.

Individuals, businesses, and organisations are now being invited to get involved—whether by supporting the charity through donations, partnerships, or helping to raise awareness of the issue.

Gil Hanse, Retained Course Architect, North Berwick West Links, said:

“The West Links is one of the most consequential golf courses in the history of golf course architecture. Its relationship with the West Sands—particularly the beach line and dune systems—is fundamental to the course’s character and identity.

Protecting these natural systems from the advancing pressures of the sea is therefore critical, not only for the future of the course, but for the wider coastal environment and community who value and enjoy this landscape.

I am delighted to see this charity established and would strongly encourage support in its work to safeguard the West Sands and the West Links for generations to come.”