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The Area

East Ayrshire is a landscape of contrasting land uses. Opencast coal sites sit amongst lowland farmland, blanket bog and upland grouse moors, whilst at its heart is a 263km2 Special Protection Area (SPA), designated as one of the most important places in Europe for the rare birds that breed there.

The CEIs focus is the East Ayrshire coalfield, principally the areas around Cumnock, New Cumnock, Muirkirk, Drongan and Dalmellington.

These communities have been affected by the decline of the deep mining industry, resulting in environmental dereliction, unemployment, and depopulation. They are now also affected by opencast mining.

Click here to see the East Ayrshire coalfield in a Scottish context.

To find out more about the Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands SPA visit SNH or JNCC.