About the East Ayrshire COALFIELD ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE (CEI)

What is the CEI?

The CEI wants to make the countryside in and around coal mines a better place for animals and plants to live in.

Why is coal mining important?

Coal mining is one of the biggest industries in East Ayrshire. Coal is a very valuable resource because it is used in our power stations to make electricity.

How does coal mining affect the countryside?

Coal mines reduce the amount of land available to wildlife, making it difficult for some animals to find a home. Some plants find it difficult to grow in the soil that coal mining leaves behind.

After coal mining is finished, planting trees and creating wetlands can make the coal mine a place that animals and plants want to return to.

Why is East Ayrshire so important for wildlife?

East Ayrshire is home to lots of exciting rare animals and plants. Lapwings, oystercatchers and swallows are not common everywhere in Scotland, but there are lots of them in East Ayrshire. Around Muirkirk you might catch sight of the rare hen harrier or short-eared owl. Walking along the Lugar water, at Cumnock, you might see sand martins swooping for flies over the river, and if you’re very lucky you might even here the “plop” of a water vole as it dives into the water.

How can the CEI help?

The CEI can help by introducing conservation projects that give wildlife a chance. Throughout the next year the CEI will be planting trees and putting up bird boxes, planting grassland to provide birds with food and shelter, and creating ponds and reed beds that will attract insects, frogs, toads and wading birds.

Most of our work takes place in and around open cast coal mines once all the coal has been extracted. This helps to make these areas much friendlier for plants and animals to find a home.

Coalmining facts…

The coal in East Ayrshire started to form around 300 million years ago, when decaying plants turned into peat, which after many years gradually turned into coal.
Scottish Coal is the largest coal producer in Scotland, producing 4 million tonnes per year – This is the same weight as 2.5 million cars!
Coal produced in East Ayrshire is LOW in sulphur, which means it produces less acid rain, which makes it more environmentally friendly!
40% of our electricity is produced by burning coal.

Wildlife facts…

East Ayrshire has some of the best heather moorland in southern Scotland. This makes it a great place for black and red grouse, because they not only eat heather, but also use it for nesting in.
Have you seen an owl flying during the daytime? Short-eared owls can be seen hunting during the day, whilst barn owls are best seen at dusk.
Did you know that the peregrine is the fastest moving bird in the world reaching speeds of around 180 km/h.
Ratty from wind in the willows is not a rat, but is in fact a water vole.

Test your coal mining and wildlife knowledge with our online quiz – Click here!