Our vision
“Thriving Coalfield Communities will share in the benefits of a renewed and resilient landscape, welcoming visitors from afar to celebrate their unique heritage, promote stewardship of the land and create new opportunities to enjoy the landscape, shaped by understanding of the past and needs of the future.”
We hope that you find the information interesting and informative. If you are interested in any of the projects and want to get involved then please
Become a Biosphere guide
This four-day course is designed for aspiring tour guides: people who are passionate about our UNESCO Biosphere and want to share their knowledge of local culture, nature, and heritage with others. Kirroughtree near Newton Stewart as the principal venue.
SESSION 1: March 12 & 13
SESSION 2: March 26 & 27
For more information on how to apply for the Biosphere Guide Training Course or to schedule a chat in advance of applying, please
‘Gi’e me a spark o’ nature’s fire; that’s a’ the learning I desire’ - Robert Burns 1785
 |
|
Attainment through Archaeology (Archaeology Scotland) |
Last December, the second 5-week course at Robert Burns was completed. Both Primary 6 at Auchinleck Primary and a recovery group in Cumnock had a taster session.
This month, Auchinleck primary pupils started two 5-week courses. The programmes will be back-to-back and students will explore some of their local heritage, including visits to the old Auchinleck cemetery and the site of an old curling pond. The projects will contribute to Heritage Hero Awards the pupils already have underway.
Credit Archaeology Scotland
The pupils from Robert Burns Academy recorded stones in Cumnock Old Cemetery and created interpretation panels and posters as part of a workshop on Heritage Interpretation. During the session, the group critically analysed a set of interpretation panels and other forms of interpretation from sites around Scotland, discussing the merits of different forms of interpretation.
They then used the elements they liked from the different panels to design their own, focusing on one of the sites they had visited earlier in the programme (everyone chose to focus on the cemetery), presenting their creations to the rest of the group at the end of the session. They all worked really well on this task and had some great ideas - including interactive parts of their poster to entertain young people, and timelines of the site.
More information on the
 |
|
Coalfield Place Names (University of Glasgow) |
The key output of the project, the online resource which will allow people to interact with the place-name database for the main parishes of the Coalfield Communities, has been a bit delayed, and we now expect it to go live in the late spring. We continue to refine it behind the scenes, adding analysis and early forms of names, working towards a launch. There has been further work on several place-name walks, and the advent of better weather and longer days should allow us to finalise a few of these, including one starting and finishing at Highhouse Bing, Auchinleck; and one using a core path starting and finishing in the centre of Dalmellington.
In October, one of the project team, Simon Taylor, made a fieldwork trip to Cumnock and New Cumnock. This included a memorable walk and drive around New Cumnock with Francis Lopez and a group of retired miners, visiting former villages of Connel Park and Burnside. You can read more about this occasion in this
For future blogs and more information, see our
Project team members Eila Williamson and Simon Taylor with Andy McKinness at the big wheel at Mill Affleck Farm, on fieldwork scoping out potential place-name walks in September 2021
This project is part funded by Historic Environment Scotland through their Organisational Support Fund.
 |
|
Connecting Communities (Coalfields Regeneration Trust) |
CRT organised a Coalfields Communities Network Day for the partners, hosted by Ochiltree Community Hub. It was a great day to meet in person (finally) and share progress and plans for 2022.
Credit Coalfields Regeneration Trust
If you would like to take part in the project then please email
To learn more about their work, visit
 |
|
Landscape Apprentices (East Ayrshire Woodlands) |
East Ayrshire Woodlands will shortly be seeking applications from young people living in East Ayrshire Coalfield Communities interested in pursuing a career in forestry, arboriculture, or estate maintenance. Landscape Apprentices will be given the opportunity to undertake a 12 month placement working towards their Trees and Timber apprenticeship. Many additional accredited vocational courses are delivered in support of the MA which are highly valued by employers in the land based sector.
Work experience takes place on woodland and other important habitats throughout East Ayrshire. Ensuring that these valued local green spaces will meet community aspirations in terms of public access, landscape amenity and biodiversity long into the future.
More information
Credit East Ayrshire Woodlands
‘O’ would some power the giftie gi’e us; to see ourselves as others see us’ - Robert Burns 1786
 |
|
Doon Valley Railway (Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group) |
Good news! 2022 Open day dates!
We are pleased to announce our schedule for 2022 open days at the Doon Valley Railway.
Visitors can travel behind our industrial steam and diesel locomotives on the former NCB line along the beautiful Doon Valley, enjoy light snacks in our Signal Box café and see numerous pieces of rolling stock from a variety of industries.
- April 18 Easter Monday - Easter egg hunt
- May: Sunday 1 and Sunday 29
- June: Sunday 19 and Sunday 26
- July: Sundays 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31
- Aug: Sundays 7, 14, 21 and 28
- Sep: Sundays 4, 11, 18 and 25
The Fireless steam locomotive will be in steam on the last Sunday of June, July and August.
***All passenger trains will be steam hauled SUBJECT TO LOCOMOTIVE AVAILABILITY***
In the event our steam locomotive is unavailable services will be hauled by one of our heritage diesel locomotives.
Please keep an eye out for more updates in the coming weeks and months.
To find out more about the Doon Valley Railway and how to sign up as a volunteer please visit:
 |
|
Sense of Place (Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere)
|
The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere have recently welcomed two new team members, Faith Hillier in the Communities Team and Mary Berry in the Land Use & Biodiversity Team, giving us even more capacity to reach our CCLP communities. We are here to support communities who are interested in sustainability, celebrating local heritage and identity, and boosting their profile as a destination.
We will be hoping to start delivery again before the end of March so please email Jenna if you would like to receive one of our interactive community workshops through CCLP or just to hear about what is available.
Ochiltree is now officially a Biosphere Community.
Find out more
 |
|
Lugar Heritage Centre (Lugar Parish Church)
|
Floor being removed at the Lugar Church
The Lugar Heritage Centre is taking shape! The floor has been replaced, the brand new kitchen and glass partition are fitted. It’s very exciting to see the future café developed. Next step is the exhibition space.
New floor, glass partition and new kitchen fitted at the Lugar Church
They are teaming up with the Lost Villages Team to offer drop in sessions for oral history so if you want to record your story, please get in touch!
Find out more
‘the voice of nature loudly cried, and many a message from the skies, that something in us never dies’ - Robert Burns 1790
A Musical Celebration of the Coalfields Heritage (The Cumnock Tryst)
Credit Stuart Armitt
In April 2022, it will be all systems go, and we will begin working in our community for the first time. The Cumnock Area Musical Production Society, Auchinleck’s Strings N Things and our very own Cumnock Tryst Festival Chorus will be joined by James MacMillan and leading songwriters and composers who will support the groups as they write new music about their environment, its people and its history.
All of the work created will be performed at The Cumnock Tryst Festival 2022 and will also form part of the final performance of A Musical Celebration of the Coalfields at our Festival in October 2023.
Learn more about their project
Ploughing up our Past
(Cumnock History Group)
Cumnock History Group is busy writing up their findings and planning the forthcoming exhibition. Keep your eyes open for the dates.
They have researched 422 farms in the four parishes and conducted 15 interviews. They’ve also investigated tenancies and ownership, the families and the farm workers, changes over the years and outside influences and collected lots of old photographs.
Find out more and get involved in Ploughing up the Past
‘I’m truly sorry man’s dominion, has broken nature’s social union’ - Robert Burns 1785
 |
|
Coalfield for Pollinators (Coalfield Environment Initiative)
|
Over winter, CEI focused on funding applications and they received £8,000 from the Nature Restoration Fund (Nature Scot) to extend their pollinator planting work!
Despite the weather, Emily is still out and about. Emily helped out with the polytunnel at the Zone in Dalmellington with the assistance of the Landscape Apprentices.
|
This month, she worked with Patna Primary School to clear out old flower beds (Spring is coming!) and learn about some wee beasties (New Zealand flatworms who eat earthworms).
Read more about their project
Pictures Credit Coalfield Environment Initiative
Hedgerow Habitats (Netherthird Community Action Training)
NCAT have been concentrating on extending and adding to the hedgerows in our community nature walk area in Netherthird.
We have also spent time developing a large shrub bed which has been planted up with over 100 shrubs so far including Darwins Barberry, Oleaster, Wintergreen Barberry and Pyracantha.
We have ordered over 200 additional shrubs to complete this large bed. This has been helped by Colin MacDonald who has managed to secure £3000 grant from the Nature Restoration fund for perennial shrubs and plants.
We've also planted 2000 hedge whips within this area. Increasing the length and width of current hedgerows. We have also recruited three trainees with additional needs through partnership working with Enable and East Ayrshire Council employability service.
We have two trainees on work trials and we are looking to recruit one trainee through the young person’s guarantee funding.
If you know anyone interested in this opportunity please
Credit Netherthird Community Action Training
We have plenty of exciting projects to get involved with, either to help or to take part in. Please go to our website and complete the online form and you will be linked up with the projects you are interested in.
|
