EDM 733: Eco-Museum of Scottish Mining Landscapes

That this House recognises the cultural, historical, and environmental significance of Scotland’s mining landscapes and welcomes the creation of the Eco-Museum of Scottish Mining Landscapes; commends the work of Dr Catherine Mills of the University of Stirling, in collaboration with local communities and heritage partners, in preserving and celebrating the legacy of coal mining across the Midland Coalfield, which stretches from Ayrshire to Fife; notes that this project builds on the success of the Landscape Legacies of Coal initiative, saving and expanding a collection of over 180 miles of walking routes with more than 1,000 points of interest, illustrated with historical images, maps, oral histories, poetry, song, and art; acknowledges that coal mining once played a vital role in Scotland’s economy and social fabric, employing 150,000 workers at its post-war peak, yet the rapid decline of the industry led to the erasure of much of its industrial archaeology; further recognises that, despite this loss, mining landscapes remain rich with memory, identity, and potential, serving as spaces of heritage, ecological transformation, and green energy transition; further welcomes the community-led approach of the Eco-Museum, which ensures that local voices shape the narrative of Scotland’s industrial past; and calls on the Government to support the preservation and promotion of Scotland’s mining landscapes through heritage funding, community engagement initiatives, and the integration of these landscapes into national education, conservation, and tourism strategies.