Mauchline farmer Bryce Cunningham says he was shocked to learn of the scale of past and future population decline in the area - but not surprised.
The 37-year-old father of four, who has has lived in the area all his life, is among the business owners putting, and keeping, the area on the wider map through his work running the award-winning Mossgiel Organic Farm.
Mossgiel, which already supplies fresh milk to schools across East Ayrshire, and does so without utilising any single-use plastic, won ‘Best Overall Product’ at The Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards for their organic whole milk - which was also judged the best Scottish dairy product of 2023.
With a staff of 43 people, Mossgiel, on the outskirts of Mauchline, is one of the main employers in the area.
Bryce is backing calls for the town's railway station to be reopened, to join existing stops at Auchinleck and New Cumnock, and improve connections with Kilmarnock and Glasgow.
He told the Chronicle of his belief that that one single initiative would give Mauchline a vital boost and help arrest the area's population decline.
Of the three East Ayrshire Council wards in the southern part of East Ayrshire - Ballochmyle, Cumnock and New Cumnock, and Doon Valley - it's Ballochmyle, which takes in Mauchline, Auchinleck, Catrine, Sorn, Lugar and Muirkirk, that's expected to see the biggest population decline by 2028, with a nine per cent drop forecast - equating to the loss of 1,280 people from those communities.
Bryce says he's seen an overall decline in the town in the past 15 years, including the loss of facilities such as Mauchline's library and games hall.
He would also like to see more done to highlight the area's cultural heritage and history to attract more tourists and visitors.
He says such initiatives, along with the station reopening, are vital in encouraging more people to move to the town and remain there.
Robert Burns famously farmed Mossgiel Farm with his brother from 1784-86.
The farm was also where he met his wife, Jean Armour, and where he composed two of his most acclaimed poems, To A Mouse and Holy Willie's Prayer.
Bryce added: "Mauchline has a very rich history, with the connection to Rabbie Burns, and also has a lot of walks and scenic countryside.
"There was also a lot of industry, which has now gone.
"I definitely believe that there needs to be more investment in the area. That should go hand in hand with better transport links and tourism."
Bryce would also like to see more local initiatives like those spearheaded by Dumfries House, which he believes has helped regenerate the local economy, both through its status as one of Ayrshire's biggest and most popular visitor attractions and through the wider community work led by the Prince's Foundation, now the King's Foundation.
Bryce admits to struggling to find people in the area with the skillset he is looking for and believes that could be linked to the population decline.
He also thinks that the local road network could be improved, particularly to Kilmarnock and Glasgow.
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Bryce added: "My preference is to employ local people. The majority that work for me do live in the area and I would like that to continue."
Mossgiel was the first dairy farm in Britain to eliminate single-use plastics as well as switching to electric delivery vans and biomass energy.
It has a heard of 40 cows supplying two million litres of milk a year to homes, schools and businesses across Scotland.
Bryce, however, finds it hard to get funding for his award winning and eco friendly business from the banks because of where he is located.
He added: "We are looking for £1million to build new facilities and create a better working environment but struggling hard to get that.
"If we were down in London that would not be a problem."
There has also been talk of a bypass for Mauchline and neighbouring towns but Bryce would prefer to a new train station which he says is a priority.
He added: "Unless you have a car, the only way you can in and out of the town at the moment is by bus.
"That is not helpful in attracting people to the area or persuading them to stay."
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