The East Ayrshire Coalfield Environment Initiative is a successful partnership between the local authority, conservation bodies and industry, which has been working over the last 10 years to enhance, conserve, and promote the environment in East Ayrshire. The initiative aims to support communities in the Coalfield region to live and work within a high-quality environment and derive a sense of pride from their local landscape.
By hosting regular events and offering volunteering opportunities, the public has been invited to take part in nature conservation and spend time outdoors. The CEI is an environmental charity which works with the local community to enhance, conserve and promote the environment in East Ayrshire.
The CEI completed the first round of peatland habitat enhancement in 2017 near a farm in Cumnock, East Ayrshire. The habitat enhancement took place at three areas of peatland on the farm by specialist contractors. The work involved ditch-blocking using peat dams, installation of bunds to hold water, targeted tree felling, scrub control and rush cutting.
The goal of the work was to slow water loss, raise the water table and rebuild the peatland by encouraging the growth of Sphagnum moss. Restored peatlands offer an enormous carbon store, greater than that offered by forests, which contributes to the fight against climate change. In addition, restored peatlands are a natural flood protection system and provide a safe habitat for wildlife and uncommon species including Black Grouse, Hen Harrier and invertebrates. Scotland’s very high rainfall this year tested the effectiveness of the habitat enhancement measures with promising results as peatland elements were not washed away.
The project has created new and improved habitats which include native woodland, farmland and wetlands and can be located on restored surface mines or elsewhere.
CEI encourages healthier communities by encouraging people to spend time outside in their local greenspace and by working with volunteers to engage with the environment through practical projects. Through environmental education programmes, schools and youth groups are supported via classes on conservation and native wildlife, gardening workshops and opportunities for young people to work towards the John Muir awards.
Community projects and events also take place which aim to include people from many demographic groups. The events explore topics such as local species, local history, access, climate change and gardening. Through community projects and interpretation, CEI hopes to increase understanding of the environment in East Ayrshire.
CEI works in partnership with organisations, landowners and communities to create better local environments. Responding to enquiries and requests from the local community, the charity is keen to hear from local groups about new project ideas and regularly holds public consultations to liaise with local people, stakeholders and the wider community.