2 10 156 https://glenkensarchive.scot/glenkens_archive/files/original/1/292/GlenkensGazette145.pdf 7c3ebbc0d54cb1a5727e4eda3959a952 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 145 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Description An account of the resource <p>Find out more about the Gazette: <a href="https://glenkens.scot/gazette-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenkens Gazette home page</a> If you would like to submit an article or take out an advert, please email the editor Sarah Ade: <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:glenkensgazette@hotmail.com">glenkensgazette@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is a member of, and regulated by <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.impressorg.com/">Impress</a>.</p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of Glenkens Community &amp; Arts Trust (SC032050) and represents the voice of the community (not necessarily the views of GCAT).</p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document December 2024/Janary 2025 ISSUE 145 Dalry featured on seasonal special of BBC Landward S ome may have spotted Dalry librarian, Angela Miller, on TV when she featured on a Halloween special of the BBC Landward programme. FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Gazette joins Indie News Forum in Glasgow The topic was the local Glenkens story of Adam Forrester and Lucky Hare, and how this tale was likely the inspiration behind Robert Burns' famous poem, Tam o’ Shanter. ...turn to p3 Angela hosts the YouTube channel Galloway Retold, and had been contacted by the TV show as a result of their team having seen her video 'St John's Town of Dalry and the Witches Sabbat'. Pictured is Angela Miller with Landward presenter Dougie Vipond by Dalry kirkyard © BBC Continued in the History section on p25... Wright's shop awarded best independent retailer in Galloway A new era for the Glenkens Medical Practice ...turn to p7 C ongratulations go to Bill and Val from Wright’s grocery shop in Dalry as winners of the Best Independent Retailer of the Year at the Dumfries & Galloway Life Awards 2024. "When we were first nominated, we were really pleased," said Val. "But we didn’t think we would win. It feels great to have that recognition from our customers; that they notice and appreciate what we do to provide a service for everyone." Bill added: "When we bought the village shop and moved here two-and-a-half years ago, we had no idea what lay ahead. We wanted a better life and innocently thought that owning a business like this would be straightforward! Val, Bill and Tibo at Wright's shop proudly display their D&G Life award for Best Independent Retailer "Little did we know how much hard work it takes to keep a shop like this going. We’ll never get rich doing this job and we haven’t had a holiday in all the time we’ve been here, but we love making a difference and helping people." Continued on p7... Moving forward with Glenkens education ...turn to p9 Readers' thoughts on the proposed Galloway National Park ...turn to p17-21 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry GAZETTEnews Mystery of New Galloway's phantom gorillas Glenkens Gazette page 2 T his year Halloween night in the Glenkens was marked by the appearance of a trio of gorillas loose in New Galloway. Seeming to originate from the McGaw household, there is speculation that perhaps the creatures had been hiding out after escaping from a zoo or exotic animal collection. As children made their way through the village guising, the gorillas followed in what generally seemed to be a friendly manner. However, sometimes things took a more sinister turn with the hairy apes egging each other on; in one instance they were seen chasing terrified teens out of the village in the Mossdale direction. One child said: “At first I was scared but then I gave them sweets and they were friendly,” while another young person had had sweets given to them by the curious creatures. The mystery continues as, after Halloween, the trio of apes seem to have vanished into thin air. Could they perhaps have been just Halloween phantoms? Spooky fun with Bairn Banter C hildren from across the Glenkens joined Carsphairn's Bairn Banter for a haunting Halloween party. Taking a Halloween twist on the usual party games, there was wrap the ‘mummy’, musical statues, the 'hanging donut game' (which even the adults couldn’t resist) and a tricky to beat piñata. There were also a range of Halloween-themed activities such as gruesome sensory play, a spooky soft play area, face painting, ‘dookin’ for apples, pumpkin bowling, black cat hoopla, and a buffet-style feast laid on for everyone. Bairn Banter founder, Melissa Ade, commented: “It was wonderful to see so many children and adults dressed up in their spooky gear to come together and celebrate with us here in Carsphairn... thank you to everyone who came along and to the very helpful parents whose help and support made this such a spook-tacular event!" Funds raised at the Carsphairn Community Market in September helped to support this fun, free party for local families to enjoy. Fundraising and fun with Friends of Dalry School F riends of Dalry School (FoDS) once again held a fun-filled Halloween party for the children of the Glenkens. Dalry Town Hall was filled with spooky characters having a ball, dancing and participating in all kinds of games. There were also hotdogs and snacks on offer for all, and a goody-bag to take away that children could use for guising. Emily Wall, one of the key organisers, said: "Around 80 children turned out, and through donations on the door and towards face painting, a fabulous £172 was raised for FoDS. "Special thanks go to the Glenkens Community Shop for their donation of decorations, Mike for DJ-ing and organising the lights and Sarah for facepainting - and so many other people who helped in all kinds of ways which I don't have room to name here; you know who you are - thank you!" FoDS is a charity which raises money to support Dalry school, both the primary and the secondary. They are members of the Easy Fundraising scheme, which enables a donation to be made each time you shop online with hundreds of well-known high street brands. Through this scheme you can sign up and raise money for the school without having to spend a penny - visit www. easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/ fodalry to find out more. On another fundraising note, FoDS has had some Christmas trees donated from the local Christmas tree farm outside Dalry, Fir Forestry. If you’d like to buy one please drop into the primary school – at the time of going to print there were five smallish trees left, selling for £30 each. Grab a festive bargain and support your local school! Friends of Dalry School Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 3 Gazette joins Indie News Forum in Glasgow T his October Gazette editor, Sarah Ade, attended the two-day Indie News Forum in Glasgow. The Forum was run by the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF) and held at Glasgow Caledonian University. Around 50 independent news providers attended, from as far afield as South Devon, Shetland and every point in between. The aim of the event was to forge connections and share ideas with other independent local news outlets, gaining insights into how other publications operate. Friday involved talks by industry experts such as spokespeople from the BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting scheme, Ofcom and philanthropist David Graham who has put £100,000 forward to created the Tenacious Journalist Awards, aiming to spark original journalism that "makes a difference". Along with other members of the Scottish Beacon journalism collaborative, the Gazette is applying to the award with a topic of ‘No Going Back’, focusing on how the sell-off of land leaves Scotland’s communities short, how corporate ‘land grabbing’ is irrevocably changing Scotland’s communities and how the renewables sector takes from Scotland’s communities and leaves too little behind. On Saturday, the floor was opened up to participants who discussed questions like: How do we encourage people to value journalism? How do we make it pay? How can we raise core funding? How do we stay sane as solo operators? "All in all it was a highly informative, engaging weekend with lots of useful networking. It was incredibly interesting to meet so many other hyper-local news editors and teams, and to A few of the attendees at the Indie News Forum in Glasgow, October 20204 hear about the similarities, and the differences, in how people get their message out there," said Sarah. "One thing which struck a note for me was speaking with a journalism student from Venezuela who is currently studying in Edinburgh. She talked about how independent news in her country is censored, and it made me realise how lucky we are to have independent news outlets and how much we take for granted with regard to free speech. "Our grassroots news sources are so undervalued here in the UK, and yet so vital to our local communities and getting people's voices out who may otherwise go unheard." Coming Soon: The Bodega Social's Wonky Burns Night at New Galloway Town Hall G alloway is rich in nature, culture and great folk of all types. Sometimes, though, it takes a trip to the big city to find that winning combination of funky, diverse live music, delicious cocktails and tasty food which come together to make a top night out on the town. A year ago this thought brought together a bunch of friends from Laurieston village and Laurieston Hall. Over some smokey chips and even smokier mescal we imagined our perfect night out, and planned how to make it happen on our doorstep. Luckily, the group came with a whole host of skills. Meredith (long-time event and festival organiser), Tom (DJ with the Desiato Crew and steward of the most colourful PA this side the Tweed), Ewan (bar/cocktail supremo), Willie (graphic design demi-god and member of Samson Sounds), Rosie (Queen of the craft and decor), Larissa (rock solid organiser and top cook), and Ben (bringer of the world food flavours and spreadsheet whizz). The first theme was Latin. The great psychedelic cumbia band Los Chicanos were booked, tacos were made, margarita recipes trialled and our first night packed-out, sold-out and rocked-out Laurieston Village Hall. The Latino vibe also helped our group get a name; something to reflect the friendly, diverse DIY scene we’re creating...the Bodega Social was born. Now a year-and-a-half in, we've run top gigs in Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston and Moniaive with African, Caribbean and America themes. Not to mention building and hosting our own cabaret cocktail bar, ‘The Bodega’, at the Eden music festival (we’ll be back there next year, come find us!). We take no profit, but the nights mean hard working bands get a gig and village halls get a solid booking. Any extra money we make has been ploughed back into expanding our collection of colourful decor and elaborate plans for exciting bands and events to come. Our nights couldn’t happen without an amazing crew of volunteers and without all of you for coming along for a dance! It’s the love we get back that makes the many hours of work worth it. Some comments from revellers at past events are: "hHge thank you for another fantastic evening"; "Crazy fun, what amazing food and music!"; "You transformed our village hall! It’s never been so lively" and "So great to see everyone out looking so joyous". Our next event is a Bodegastyle Burns night; we’ll be transforming New Galloway Town Hall with our usual funk, and welcoming the amazing Yoko Pwno to rock the joint with their renowned folktronica. Join us on Saturday 25 January in New Galloway Town Hall - tickets available now from www. bodegasocial.co.uk The Bodega Social Crew Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 4 Glenkens charity raising funds for schools in Afghanistan T he Afghan Schools Trust is a Glenkens-based charity founded in 2002 by Robin Ade and the late Godfrey Smith. Set up initially to support education in the remote Afghan province of Nuristan, the Trust has developed over the years and provided support in a variety of ways. It has built schools, funded teachers, organised women’s health programmes, trained teaching staff and health workers, set up women’s centres, initiated exchange programmes for educating Afghan girls in Scotland, funded wells for drinking water, vital repairs to a bridge to a remote community and more. Today the charity channels funding direct from grassroots donors in Scotland and the wider UK to projects in Afghanistan. No admin costs are taken – the only thing money is spent on is accountant’s fees and printing an annual newsletter to keep people up to date with the trust’s work. "The situation in Afghanistan remains difficult and many are struggling to earn a living, with hunger being a key ongoing issue," said Afghan Schools Trust chair, Robin Ade. He continued: "Due lack of funds it has been impossible to provide wages for the teachers so instead we have funded, for three years in a row, the planting of wheat which the community has overseen and then is given to teachers as their wages. "We recently opened a new Turkman secondary school in the north of the country for girls, which currently has around 70 pupils. The Taliban are still trying to work out a national curriculum for older girls." What are the plans for the future? "Going forward, we will continue to support the Arsari Turkman school, which teaches around 400 students, both boys and girls," said Robin. "We also support education of women in Lal through our Women’s Centre. The facility is currently unable to open but education continues in homes and mosques for the 50-60 students. How can you support the charity? For the last two years the charity has sold handmade Afghan carpets. The schools' administrator and his family, along with the majority of families of children attending the Asari Turkman school, are from a traditional carpet-making community. In order to support the local economy, the Trust has bought carpets, providing a vital income stream to local families while offering high quality handmade rugs at very competitive prices here in Scotland while raising much-needed funds for the Trust. If you would like to buy a carpet, please get in touch - you can view the carpets on the 'Afghan Schools' Facebook page, or arrange a visit to see them in Carsphairn; we have had a new shipment come in recently so have beautiful new designs in larger rugs. Contact Robin on 07952 280 902 or email trustee Sarah Ade on sarah.ade@gmail.com or, to view the latest newsletter at www. afghanschools.org Name the Place I n each issue a photograph will be taken somewhere in the Glenkens by local photographer Ted Leeming and readers have to guess where it is. The answer can be found on p24, with a bit of information and food for thought about that location. GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 5 Pamela Young Trust housing update T he Pamela Young Trust (PYT) is a charity providing affordable housing in the Glenkens. Over the past few years, the Trust has been working on expanding in a sustainable way in order to help address the housing shortage in the area. previous one but the way it is set up does reflect the requirements of the modern funding environment. There is plenty of legal paperwork to get it all set up but it should be noted that there will be no change for any of the PYT tenants. The first step has been to change their structure to a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) and this has now been approved by OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator. Following a recruitment campaign for a volunteer to join the PYT Board, the trust is now in the process of assuming a new trustee. Allan McMillan, BSc, MRICS, is Managing Partner at GM Thomson & Co, chartered surveyors, valuers and land and estate agents. The new constitution is not markedly different from the Allan comes from a local farming family, and is born and bred in the Glenkens. Alan Smith, PYT chair, says: "We feel Allan’s skill set is a good fit for us, adding to the abilities of the existing trustees - Steve Davie, Nicolette Wise and myself. We are delighted that he is joining us." Lastly, the Trust is excited to report that the proposed Balmaclellan project has moved to the next stage. Collective Architecture, the firm of architects who drew up the plans for the development, have now been instructed to take the plans to RIBA Stage 3. They estimate that, if all goes to plan, the planning permission application should be determined by July next year. The PYT still needs to source additional funding for the project and it is hoped that becoming a SCIO will help with funding applications. Learn bridge at Dalry community cafe D alry Community Cafe hosted a special fundraiser for Cancer Research as part of the Festival of Bridge. The community event was part of the Scottish Bridge Union's week of fundraising which aims to raise funds whilst also raising awareness of the game of bridge. In excess of £300 was donated which was a great achievement. The Community Cafe is an important part of our community and tables will continue to be available at the monthly event to play bridge, alongside other residents enjoying the usual friendly chat and refreshments. Building on this enthusiasm, we hope you will join us for a beginners course starting on Monday 2 December and running weekly. It will be held at the Lochinvar Hotel from 7 -9pm, initially playing 'minibridge' before progressing on to bidding skills in the New Year, once we are all up to speed with the jargon and other parts of the game. To find out more, please email Rosie at rosiemoffat@btinternet.com or call Rebecca on 07979 150 671. Rebecca Arnold Dalry Community Cafe Festival of Bridge fundraising session for Cancer Research Carsphairn becomes a Biosphere Commmunity Biosphere Communities benefit from a close working relationship with the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire (GSA) Biosphere Partnership and are supported to develop community-led tourism, nature and heritage projects, and low carbon living ideas. C arsphairn joins Dalry as the second designated ‘Biosphere Community’ in the Glenkens. They are also promoted internationally as part of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail, the award-winning collaboration between Biospheres, World Heritage Sites, Creative Cities, and Global Geoparks. The programme for Biosphere Communities includes developing walking trails, adventure itineraries, and outdoor interpretation for landmarks and historic sites. Events led by the Biosphere team range from ecology walks and wildlife recording to workshops for local enterprise. The support available for community-led tourism builds on international attention drawn by features in National Geographic Traveller, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and Wanderlust magazine, all of which acclaimed the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere as a must-see destination in 2024. Faith Hillier, the Biosphere’s Community Officer, said: “We have already created some fantastic connections with people who live and work in and around Carsphairn and are particularly proud to showcase the area’s local history. "Carsphairn has a fascinating past rooted in agriculture and industry which is still being actively explored by the Carsphairn Heritage Initiative. This is one of a wonderful variety of volunteer-run organisations and for a small village with one main street Carsphairn hosts an incredible calendar of events, not least the internationally renowned Knockengorroch Festival of music and arts. We are delighted to be working with so many residents and community groups and look forward to making the most of our partnership with Carsphairn in the months and years to come.” To find out more about the GSA Biosphere visit www. gsabiosphere.org.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 6 Busy times at New Galloway Golf Club N ew Galloway Golf Club celebrated an excellent season when it held its annual prize presentation. in playing on such a well-kept course. A highlight of the year was Captain’s Day, which raised over £2,000 split between the Army Benevolent Society and the club. Members will be looking forward to the 2025 Captain's Day and hoping the weather is as good. Prizes were awarded after a social game of golf. Gill Warnock was this years Ladies Club Champion and Sandy Harvie the Gents Club Champion. Phil Lancaster won the Coronation Cup whilst his father won the Captains Trophy. The Memorial Bench which was erected by Guy Pumpr has been appreciated by all who have played on the course. The bench is in memory of our longstanding greenkeeper, Brian Porteous, who sadly died in 2023 and is dearly missed by all who knew him. Visitor numbers were up on previous years; even though the weather was not particularly good, the course has been in superb condition thanks to the work of the green staff. Visitors have reiterated their pleasure Social membership has been very successful this year, with residents of New Galloway attending on a Saturday evening for a quiet drink, a game of bingo or quiz evening. There is also a group using the clubhouse to Memorial bench in memory of greenkeeper Brian Porteous play bridge on a Wednesday, which has proved very popular. Winter membership is available from January to the end of March - just contact the Club Secretary on 01644 420737. Individual coaching can also be arranged. Why not come and try golf out; you never know, you might like it! Or what about membership for a friend or family member as a Christmas gift? Jeff Sutcliffe, Club Secretary Glenkens Get involved with GCAT! Community & A t the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT), volunteers are a core underpinning of what we do. Some of them cheer up our garden, a lot steward at events, our Galloway Community Transport (GCT) Patient Transport drivers are invaluable, and one volunteer even volunteers to coordinate the other volunteers. But there's a big group of volunteers that don't often get seen. They are our board members (also known as directors or trustees), and their contribution is critical to assuring our current path and future success. We'll be calling for new board members at our AGM on 27 January, so if you live in the Glenkens or surrounding area and have a keen interest in the wide and varied impact that GCAT has on our communities, do get in touch for a chat. We're looking for people who can commit to quarterly meetings where they will provide assurance on the work the staff team is doing and determine the strategic direction looking forward. If you've got a background in strategy or community development, then we'd particularly love to hear from you - but we're also looking for people who are committed to helping the Glenkens be all that it can be, no matter what your life experience (or age) is. Drop me a note on helen@ catstrand.com and myself and Peter Fryer, chair of GCAT, will be Arts Trust AGM 27 January 2025 7pm for 7:30 start at the CatStrand Come along for a glass of wine and to hear how the year went and future plans. All welcome! happy to have a chat about the role of a GCAT board member any time. Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager Get cosy at the CatStrand café A s the colder months approach, CatStrand is delighted to be able to offer some support for people struggling with bills over the winter. Thanks to D&G Council's Tackling Poverty Initiative, we 're offering a free ‘winter warmer’ to people who want to come and spend some time in a warm and welcoming space, but can't always afford to eat out. Throughout December, January and February (while funding lasts) head over to the CatStrand for a free bowl of soup and filled roll between 11.30am and 2pm, Tuesday to Saturday. CatStrand will also be hosting a Cost of Living Advice Day in January, signposting all the support that is out there, so look out for details of that. Over the winter months the CatStrand is open 11am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday, closing from Friday 20 December to Tuesday 7 January for the Christmas break. However, some planned electrical work may delay the opening by a few days, so please check the website for updates. GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 7 Galloway's best independent retailer Continued from front page... "We have won some very loyal customers who always come to us first – that feels very satisfying. People living here have embraced us and made us feel welcome, for which we're very grateful," said Bill. "There are a lot of perhaps less wellknown skills needed to run a shop in a rural area like the Glenkens. The shop is a hub of the community, so you’re not just a shop keeper; you’re a sounding board, sometimes an adviser and a bit of a social worker as well as a manager of staff. And we have to stay neutral about anything contentious. "So don’t ask me about wind farms or the National Park - I’m not going to give you a view! And at times we end up doing some unusual things to keep customers happy; for instance, as the first shop after Portpatrick for walkers on the Southern Upland Way, I’ve cut a pack of babywipes in half for a walker who didn’t want to carry the extra weight!’ continue doing what we do well for people, we’d like a better work-life balance. So that’s what we’re aiming for – a bit more time off." Bill added jokingly: "And, as in the quote from Jaws, for all those customers who shop locally, 'we’re going to need a bigger fridge!’" One thing both Bill and Val feel sad about is that, because they work long hours, they haven’t yet had time to explore the Glenkens, or go to local events. "We start early and we’re usually in bed by 8pm," said Val. "So we don’t have a lot of energy at the end of each day. At least Tibo, our Cockapoo, needs a daily walk so that gets us out a wee bit." Bill and Val would like to wish all their customers a happy and prosperous festive season. The shop will be open throughout, except on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when they’ll be taking a well earned rest. When asked what their plans are for the future, Val said: "Although we want to As one customer delighted that the award brings the recognition they deserve for contributing so much to our village, I’m sure everyone will join me in wishing them a happy holiday period! Nikky Wilson A new era begins at the Glenkens Medical Practice D r Robbie Grieve hasetired after 20 years at the Glenkens Medical Practice. He has been a fantastic colleague, a popular and excellent doctor and remains a very good friend. Dr Grieve qualified at the University of Edinburgh in 1989 and is a fifth generation ‘Dr Grieve’. After working in a number hospitals and practices across the country, he joined us in New Galloway in 2004. He will be very much missed and I would like to take this opportunity to say a very grateful "thank you" to Dr Grieve, from myself and on behalf of the practice and the local community, for his dedication and service and we all wish him well in his retirement. As well as saying farewell to Dr Grieve, the practice has welcomed a new member of the team, Dr David Svolkinas. David is a knowledgeable and good-humoured doctor who wanted to work in a rural setting. The Glenkens appears to be an ideal fit for him. ‘Dr David’ qualified as a pharmacist at Liverpool John Moores University in 2011 and after a few years working as a community pharmacist embarked on a career change. He undertook his medical training at the University of Glasgow and qualified in 2019. David worked in hospitals in the west of Scotland and undertook his GP training at a practice in Paisley before relocating to Dumfries and Galloway earlier this year. We are all very happy to have him on board and wish him well for the future at the practice. Mrs Kelly Lamont has also joined the practice on a permanent basis as our Advanced Practitioner. Kelly has a background and wealth of experience from Community Nursing. She undertook her Advanced Practice training through the University of Cumbria with a two-year placement at the Glenkens Medical Practice and qualified this year. Advanced Practitioners are experienced health care professionals who manage complete clinical care for patients. Kelly can diagnose, prescribe and refer patients in a similar way to a GP. She is a valuable asset to the team. Glenkens Medical Practice welcomes new practice partner, Dr David Svolkinas, and advanced practitioner Kelly Lamont (photographs by Samantha Hunter) So, we have been fortunate in recruiting two new, excellent colleagues, particularly when set against the challenges with GP recruitment which are widely experienced. Alongside our relatively new Practice Nurse, Linzi Knowles, and our dedicated receptiondispensary staff, I am proud of the team we have assembled here. The practice could not ask for a more sound footing on which to continue to provide our services to the Glenkens for future years. Dr Bernard Jones, Principal GP, Glenkens Medical Practice To find out more about the Practice you can visit www. glenkensmedicalpractice.co.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople page 8 Glenkens Youth Correspondent Joshua Wells, aged 15, is our Gazette youth correspondent and in each edition he will be writing about topics which interest him. In this issue Joshua discusses the Galloway Levellers. A couple of months ago I went to the Fullarton to watch a performance about the Galloway Levellers called '1724'. It could easily engage any audience and was thoughtprovoking, had brilliant acting and really brought this monumental series of events to life. But I'm not writing this to talk about how great the play was, I am more interested in writing about the crazy legend of the Levellers that holds a place in the history of Dumfries and Galloway. In the 1700s, many local landowners were interested in removing tenants from their land to make space for cattle, putting profit above the wellbeing of another human being. This obviously aggravated the tenants, who began to revolt and literally tore down dykes. The demolition of these dykes allowed the cattle that replaced these tenants to escape. Tactics became more reckless and violent. After a while, the Levellers began to level every dyke they came across, whether it was owned by the landowner who evicted them or not. The Levellers allegedly also slaughtered nearly 200 cattle. The Levellers seemed to be just a nuisance to landowners in the beginning, as the landowners could just build the dykes again. However, with multiple dykes being destroyed every day and cows being killed, landowners began to put guards out to ensure their dykes were safe from destruction. The Galloway Levellers grew to such numbers as 1,000-2,000 people, which is between two and four times the current population of New Galloway. They had armies of armed tenants marching to level the dykes that marked the borders of the land they once lived on. Even tenants’ children took part in the destruction of dykes in Galloway. One of the few dykes that remained was that of Robert Johnston from Kelton. The reason these dykes were saved from destruction was that the minister reassured tenants that there would be no eviction taking place. After years of revolting with no change, the leaders of the Galloway Levellers were taken to court, where they were found guilty and fined or sentenced to imprisonment or being sent to the colonies. As we say we are going to tear down walls in our society metaphorically, these rebellious groups of men women and children alike tore down walls in their society literally. Even though they did not see success, the Levellers most definitely made a great impact on the history of Dumfries and Galloway, considering we are still interested in them to the extent that we make plays about them. WRIGHTS STORE & POST OFFICE DALRY DALRY DALRY SWEET TREAT SATURDAY DALRY INFORMATION FRESH CREAM CAKES AVAILABLE TO ORDER OPENING TIMES OPENING HOURS Mon-Fri 7.30am-5.30pm MONDAY – FRIDAY Sat 8.30am-5pm Sun 8.30am-3pm 7.30am – 5.30pm POST8.30am OFFICE– 5pm SATURDAY Mon-Fri 10am to 3pm SUNDAY 8.30am – 3pm Sat 9am to 12noon Sun closed * closed xmas day & boxing day * LOCAL SUPPLIERS LOCAL SUPPLIERS Transform your workflow - hire a virtual assistant today! Are you overwhelmed with tasks and need more time to focus on what really matters? 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POP IN FOR A CHAT AND A BROWSE Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEeducation page 9 Moving forward in education discussions I t finally feels like real progress is finally being made with regard to finding a constructive way forward for Glenkens education. This comes after months of work from community groups and individuals across the Glenkens – years for some parents and members of the community. What is so encouraging is that the conversation has grown to more than (although of course including) the future of Dalry Secondary - it is the acknowledgement that a highquality, accessible educational offering is key to thriving rural communities and their ability to attract and retain families. Over the past couple of months the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan Steering Group (CAPSG) and the Dalry School Parent Council have met with Gillian Brydson, Executive Director of Education Skills and Community Wellbeing (E,S&CW) at Dumfries & Galloway Council. At the Parent Council meeting, Stephen Foster, the new head teacher for Dalry Secondary and Castle Douglas High School, was also present. Discussions were constructive and focused on creating the best outcomes for current students whilst also planning for the future. Stephen will be working over the course of this academic year on consulting and planning on possible options, including that of an all-through school running Nursery to S3. (A summary of these meetings can be found on the Glenkens Hub 'Education and Learning' page at www.glenkens.scot/educationand-learning). Compromise is a natural and necessary part of any process where there is more than one perspective at play and no outcome will be a perfect fit for everyone. However, for the first time it really feels like the community is ‘at the table’ with regard to decisions being made on the future of our schools. Much effort continues to be put in both from the communities of the Glenkens and the E,S&CW department to find outcomes that are achievable and that work effectively for our young people and our community, both now and going forward (to keep up to date with how things are progressing visit the Glenkens Hub Education & Learning page). communities are vibrant and thriving” as the school roll criteria will of course be mostly relevant to rural primary schools. In light of the changing situation of Glenkens education, highlighted by the plight of Dalry Secondary, the Glenkens & District Trust (GDT) commissioned a report into 'innovative models of rural education'. This is now published and it is hoped will help guide current and future plans with regard to rural education. As an aside, and looking as we do through our rural lens, it is interesting to note that none of the cost-saving options reference three of the Dumfries high Do have a look at the budget consultation if you can - it affects us all and the more rural voices which can be raised, the less urban-centric the outcomes will be (we hope). Another Council initiative coming soon is a report into the causes of rural depopulation – the CAPSG have been advocating for the Glenkens to be case study and/or key partner in this work. Most of the work being done in support of the Glenkens and District Community Action Plan could be boiled down to mitigating rural depopulation, so we will continue to follow this work with interest and will report back. ...for the first time it really feels like the community is ‘at the table’ with regard to decisions being made... There will be an online event to discuss the report and ask questions of the authors – keep an eye on social media, the Glenkens Hub and posters for more information. Expanding upon the topic of Glenkens education, something that has grown out of these discussions is an exciting prospect of a broader education and skills offering being initiated in terms of lifelong learning linked to local need. The CAPSG, through the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, is pursuing the fledgling idea of a 16+ learning campus in the Glenkens (which would work closely with the new Carsphairn Community Woodland’s Rural Skills Centre as well as other partners), offering skills key to industry and employment in the region, such as renewables, forestry, agriculture, social care and hospitality. This is an extremely ambitious idea but it is hoped that, with the right partners in place, it could be realised - watch this space! In yet more education-related news, D&G Council's budget consultation, www.dumgal.gov. uk/budget, is live now and will run until Friday 6 December. Suggested education-related money saving options which are worth noting include cutting the Additional Support Needs (ASN) support in classrooms by 50% and mothballing all schools with a roll of less than 25 – changes which, if implemented, could have huge ramifications for our rural areas. These sweeping proposals seem to be at odds with the Council's 2023-2028 Vision that “rural schools which are situated no more than a 10 minute drive from each other and all of which have huge recent or ongoing capital investment programmes, plus annual running costs in the £millions, yet run at an average 57% capacity between them (December 2023 figures). The recent D&G Council's School Model Consultation outcomes stated that a school functioning below 60% capacity was not sustainable. So why is it only our small rural schools that face this scrutiny and a constant risk of closure? We feel proud that the Glenkens, with our strong community voice, united organisations and our willingness to work together and look to the future, seems to be ahead of the game with regard to issues facing rural areas; we just need to keep beating our drum and make sure that we are both heard and listened to. Sarah Ade & Helen Keron GAZETTEeducation Glenkens Gazette page 10 What's happening at Dalry Secondary Pupil Council All of the young people at Dalry contribute to class discussions and set their own agenda, with chosen representatives Piri, Lena, Archie J, Eleanor and Rosa planning to meet with the Head Teacher on a monthly basis. Youth Awards Nominations for the Youth Awards 2024 are now open! This night promises to celebrate the achievements and effort of local Youth Groups and Individuals from across Dumfries and Galloway. Youth Work Services are looking for nominations for 11 categories and should really highlight individuals or groups that are recognised for their efforts within their communities and outstanding achievements. If you would like to put forward a nomination, click on the link below. If you want more information about the nomination categories, please see the attached guidance document. www.dgyouthawards. wpcomstaging.com/nominate Wednesday afternoons Wednesday afternoons sees Dalry S1-3 learners working towards achieving their Dynamic Youth Awards with youth worker Victoria Townsend. They contributed their ideas and came up with tan exciting schedule of activities that they have been enjoying over autumn, from outdoor skills such as camp craft, fire building and T survival tips to creative cooking in the form of 'Ready, Steady, Cook' team challenges and creating their own 'fakeaway' meals; so much tastier and healthier than boring old 'takeaways'! Dalry Secondary School is now a RRSA Bronze: Rights Committed School Watch this space as the school starts its journey towards Silver. You can visit the website RRSA for more information. Using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as a guide, the school will be working to embed the school values of Respect, Responsibility and Equality in all aspects of school life, to ensure that everyone is valued and respected. Exciting visits Pupils enjoyed welcoming award-winning chef Fraser Cameron, who is head chef at The Globe Inn in Dumfries. Fraser is a former pupil of Dalry School, and first discovered his his term we enjoyed going outside and learning outdoor / camping skills. we would pack for our "trip". The youth worker Vicky showed us what was inside a survival kit - there was lots of cool stuff like flints for lighting a fire. We had great fun setting up tents in groups, although our tent was on a slope. We enjoyed it very much. Luckily the sun was shining... On sheets of paper we had to plan for what Piri Whitty (S2) love of cooking in the Home Economics department. As well as inspiring students with a unique and exciting cooking demonstration, Fraser talked about his own pathway to becoming a top chef. Young people are looking forward to a festive trip to Glasgow on 19 December, which includes visits to the Christmas market, a Spanish tapas restaurant and culminating in a performance of 'The Nutcracker' ballet at the Theatre Royal. Youth Group A fter school on a Monday evening a selection of different people go to youth group. The youth worker, Sue, waits there for us with the latest fantastic activity. The last one before the holidays was making apple turnovers with experts, and if you don't want to make an apple turnover there is a selection of board games, friends to play with, and drawings to do. It's wonderfully fun and definitely brilliant. Lena Whitty (S3) MATTHEW PAJO Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - pain management - women's health - men's health - fatigue - sleep - stress - anxiety - needle-free laser acupuncture- The Old School, Crossmichael info@matthewpajo.co.uk 07786 079 845 Amber Dunlop-Pajo Health Psychologist - women's health - stress - depression - anxietyThe Old School, Crossmichael info@gallowaycounselling.co.uk 07389 713 106 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 11 The Optimistic Environmentalist Reducing your home energy bills - Part Eight Examples of energy-efficient technology Space heating continued Infra-red heaters radiate the heat down or towards people or surfaces rather than inefficiently heating the air around them. Thus, they are placed on the ceiling or the walls. They can be used in small areas, large open spaces like hotel reception areas, or outside. Herschel, for instance, try to make them fit into the environment, so as well as flat panel heaters, they make mirrors and picture frame heaters. They even make a candelabra heater, called the halo, often sold to churches. Having a number of these around the church which can be turned on separately means that the infra-red heating is focused depending upon the size of that day's congregation. They also manufacture some heaters in the UK from British steel and Welsh insulation that are designed so that the component materials are easily recyclable. Unlike other technologies, any electrician can fit these as they don't need any extra skills. Most of the radiators, though, can be fitted by anyone as they just need plugging in and/or hanging up. Herschel provides up to a ten-year warranty and no maintenance is necessary, and components like heating elements, are easily changed. Portable bidirectional heat-pumps that you can move around the house to where you want. They can generate hot or cold air so it can be used in the winter and summer. They output more energy than they use so are very efficient. We have one and I'm afraid it is noisy but when you are bathing in your favourite temperature, you can forgive it. It is quite heavy so you may not want to keep carrying it up and downstairs, but it's on wheels for easier movement on the same level. For water heating Mixergy hot water cylinders – these are very efficient because unlike traditional water cylinders which heat the same amount of water whenever they work, the Mixergy tanks heat the amount of water you need, when you need it. For instance, usually it heats a small amount of water for people, to wash their hands after the toilet or to wash up, etc. However, it can be set to heat a larger amount for a bath, say. You can have these set at different times throughout the day so you can set it to suit your lifestyle as Family and friends coming to stay? N ew Galloway Golf Club Founded Foun ded 1902 www.ng www.n g gc.co.uk Country cottage set in beautiful gardens available for holiday lets all year round (sleeps 5) Call Fiona on 07789 903127 - 01644 420737 - www.covenanters-holidaycottagescotland.co.uk Buggies now available for hire Licence no DG00824P VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS WELCOME well as for low-priced electricity tariffs, saving you money. The new Mixergy Cuboid works with a solar diverter and contains a heat pump so that with its ergonomic shape that enables it to fit into a cupboard, efficiently converting energy into hot water at higher temperatures than would be needed for space heating. Similarly, Qvantum makes a 6kw heat pump which heats water to 70°C. This is exciting because it can fit under a sink. Current and future changes • Current eco building materials eg straw are enhanced by new materials to reduce carbon input into buildings like recycled bricks and blocks reducing use of new concrete which accounts for 8% of the world's carbon emissions • New battery designs and materials like sodium help to meet the growing demand for a variety of needs • Policies and incentives like the boiler upgrade scheme and electricity producers' low-cost EV tariffs will be encouraging people to change their behaviours and tastes (see Part 9 next issue for income generation) Denise MacDonald-Kiernan Advertisement Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 12 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment Hanging out with the Bats in Crossmichael Community Woodland Loch Ken Trust was delighted to be involved with Crossmichael Primary School's first ever Bat Walk, held in Crossmichael Community Woodland. The event was organised by pupils at the school from ‘Livingstone House’. To start things off we played a fun game of ‘Bat and Moth’, a blindfold game representing the bat’s echolocation, before heading into the woodland with bat detectors to hear the bats hunting for their prey: moths and midgies! "Amazing fun – it was a good walk, good exercise and it was interesting to hear the bats and use the bat detectors; I have never used one before." The weather was extremely kind and there was a great show of local wildlife. We saw, and heard, a range of bats including some of the less common soprano pipistrelles, as well as a hedgehog, two deer and at least one owl calling out in the dark. It was a fun evening with lots of laughter, full of information and discoveries. Hanging out with bats and a wild goose chase... page 13 LOCH KEN TRUST RANGER 07539 029 175 / 07918 300 889 The event was very popular, with over ten families - 40 people in total - attending. Head Ranger Leanne Pumpr said: “It was fantastic to see so many families outdoors enjoying nature." We hope to be involved with other community events planned throughout the year. Some comments from attendees were: “I liked it, it was really, really fun. My favourite part was learning how bats communicate, it’s so cool!” and “The best part was seeing a bat. I have walked in the woods with my family before but never in the dark!” A huge "thank you" to Mrs Stevens and Mrs Glover for inviting us to support with this event. Wild Goose Festival Event We were also excited to host our first ever Wild Goose Above: Greenland white-fronted geese flying overhead, photographed by Gavin Chambers Below: Crossmichael Primary School's Bat Walk Festival event, a talk by Jack Barton from the local RSPB, on Greenland white-fronted geese. Loch Ken is home to a small population of Greenland white-fronted geese, one of only a handful that winter in Scotland. The event was well-attended and Jack Barton gave a fascinating insight into the amazing journey of this endangered species to winter in Galloway, and the work being done to help support and protect the species. With the 2024 season ending, it has been nice to reflect on a successful year for the Loch Ken Trust ranger service. As always, if you are interested in any of our work you can get in touch to find out how you can get involved by emailing office@lochken.org.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 14 sponsored by Decarbonising CatStrand I t's an exciting time at CatStrand as we take the next steps on our environmental action plan. Thanks to funding from Local Energy Scotland through CARES and the Community Led Local Development Fund from the Scottish Government, we are about to replace our oil boiler with a carbon neutral alternative. Installation will include the replacement of our existing oil boiler with air source heat pumps and solar PV panels mounted on the cafe extension roof to generate electricity for the new pumps, plus a battery storage system and a new smart heating controller. The CatStrand is eminently suitable for these modifications, which were highlighted in a 2023 Natural Power feasibility report, as it already has underfloor heating, is well insulated and is often open to the public. The report calculated that the work will remove nearly 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, which is excellent news for us all. We will also be replacing the nearly 20-year old light fittings throughout the CatStrand building with new energy efficient versions, including the very power-hungry ones in the T he Gazette asked Lesley at the Galloway Food Hub if their producers might offer a recipe each issue, linked to seasonal local produce. Here is the first in what we hope will be a regular feature - a recipe for a perhaps slightly unusual brussels-sproutcentred festive treat. A auditorium - so that's going to make a big difference as well. On top of the support from funders, two key volunteers have helped hugely with this project: John Crallan and Dave Stewart. They are both well-versed in delivering extremely highquality capital projects for the CatStrand, and we are most grateful for the huge amounts of work they have put in, enabling this project to become a reality. Thanks as well to the planning department of D&G Council for their sensible approach to such important upgrades. The installation is planned to start in early January, and will result in some days without heating, so we may need to shut the cafe and public spaces briefly at that point, but we will post updates about that as the timetable becomes clear. We’re planning an event, supported by the D&G Climate Hub, to celebrate this energy use moving close to Net Zero. Expect talks, entertainment, and food - keep an eye on on our social media channels for details. Here's looking forward to an emission-free CatStrand in 2025! Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager Galloway Food Hub Christmas canapé seasonal treat to tempt the taste buds of even the most adamant sprout nay-sayer! minutes, depending on size All the ingredients can be found on the Galloway Food Hub (except the cocktail sticks). • Top the sprouts with a mini slice of Fleet Valley Blue and return to oven for a further few minutes until the cheese starts the melt Ingredients • As many sprouts as you’d need for your guests; allow at least 2-3 sprouts per person • Block of Ethical Dairy Fleet Valley Blue (or Laganory if you prefer a non-blue), cut into sprout sized mini slices • Pack of Low Auldgirth streaky bacon, cooked and cut into sprout-sized pieces • Jar of Glenkens and Dee Runny Honey (optional) Pack of cocktail sticks. Method • Pre-heat oven to 1800C • Parboil the sprouts for 2-3 • remove from water/steamer and halve • Coat sprout halves in a little oil, place on a baking tray flat side up and roast for 10-15 minutes, till starting to crisp at the edges • Remove from oven and, taking care to handle if very hot, top with a pre-cooked slice of bacon and skewer with a cocktail stick • Drizzle with a thin stream of runny honey for a salty, sweet and savoury sensation. • Serve warm (you can keep these warm in a low oven for 10-15 minutes before bringing them out) Thank you to Low Auldgirth for the recipe idea. We hope you enjoy your sprouts! See ad on p11 for how to order from the Galloway Good Hub... Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 15 sponsored by If you would like to list something on this page, please get in touch on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk FREE Siemens IQ500 dishwasher. A few years old but works well (just doesn't fit our new kitchen). Contact: 07748 631 820 Kids bike, suitable for child learning to ride a bike – maybe 4-6 years old. Blue, nearly new (a bit dusty from being stored in the shed). Contact: 07727 127 997 Lakeland food dehydrator. Electric. Good for apples, mushrooms, peppers, etc. Almost new. Contact: 07563 718 011 Horse manure, rotted and fresh, no weed killers used. Dig your own - bring sacks or trailer. Contact: 07889 229 340 Metal bunk bed frame, double bottom, single top. Contact: 07952 280 902 Pair of upholstered bar stool chairs, (light wood, with red, removable covers), IKEA. Good condition. Contact: 07748 631820 Toshiba TV, 26" screen with remote control. Contact 07974 026380 32” Samsung TV. Contact: 07908 195 942 Rabbit hutch and all rabbitrelated bits to go with it (indoor hutch, litter tray, water bottle, some food and hay and treats. Contact: 07727 127 997 WANTED Victorian/Edwardian tiles. Standard 6” square, the kind used in entrance lobby or fireplace. Not modern reproductions as they are a different thickness. Wanted for random tiling project - they don’t have to match. Contact: Sue on 07563 718 011 Old lawn mowers/strimmers/other small machinery. Nonrunners/broken welcome. Contact: 07845 562 217 FOR SALE & OFFERS Shed clearances - any shed cleared, large or small; get in touch to for further info or to arrange a visit. Contact: 07765 034 841 Are you looking to plant trees this winter? We have grants available for small-scale native planting schemes. For full info, visit: www.dgwoodlands.org.uk Registered as a SCIO, no 052525 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 16 Lothlorien nature connection project L othlorien is a residential therapeutic community for people experiencing mental health difficulties and is situated near the village of Corsock. for developing complementary projects on the Lothlorien site to offer access to day visitors and the wider community for both green social prescribing activities and nature-based events. Set in seventeen acres of woodlands, gardens and meadows, it has been a quiet sanctuary for healing for over four decades. Built in 1974 by the Haughton family, it has been run since 1989 by the Rokpa Trust, an international charity founded by Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche of Samye Ling Tibetan Centre in Dumfriesshire. Inspired by the enthusiasm highlighted in this study, Lothlorien has secured funding to bring these ideas to life. In September, Lesley Atkins started her new role as Lothlorien outreach coordinator and aims to help foster connections between the community and local groups. Buddhist values of compassion and tolerance are the basis of our approach however we are not a religious community and are open to all. A recent study, commissioned by Lothlorien and conducted by Propagate, revealed a clear case The activities envisaged are not limited to mental health support, but cover a broad range of nature connection, food growing and wellbeing - which can have educational, social and therapeutic outcomes. For Lothlorien’s vibrant community of residents, volunteers, and staff, this new chapter is an opportunity to broaden their connections and support network, whilst also welcoming others in, to benefit from their tried and trusted therapeutic methods. I nterested in land use in your area? Enter a five-minute online survey for a chance to win a £25 voucher for the Clachan Inn, Dalry. Hello, my name is Lucy Jenner and I am a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh working with Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. My research focuses on environmental land use change. Whilst many local community groups working in mental health may already be in contact with Lothlorien, if you work in this area and are interested in connecting, please reach out to Lesley. Nature-based practitioners are also welcome to get in touch should they wish to enquire about running outdoor workshops in this beautiful, peaceful space. Together a unique, communitycentred approach can be created to provide healing and prevention that goes beyond I am conducting a survey to explore how residents in and around the Glenkens engage with local place planning and land use. Your insights are valuable and will contribute to a research project focused on different approaches to accessing data and information about land use. As spring approaches, Lothlorien is preparing to host open days, to which groups and potential partners can experience firsthand the transformative power of nature and all this community has to offer. To find out more about the open days or to discuss how you might get involved in the community, please get in touch at lesley@ lothlorien.tc. You can also follow Lothlorien on Facebook or Instagram or visit www.lothlorien. tc for more information. voucher for the Clachan Inn. Please use the link below or scan the QR code to take part. Thank you! Lucy Jenner This survey is anonymous and will take approximately five minutes to complete. Participants will be entered into a competition to win a £25 Eileen Campbell HOUSE TO LET 1 BEDROOM Wylie's Brae, New Galloway large bedroom, bathroom, livingroom, kitchen To arrange a visit in the comfort of your own home please contact 07515 168 963 or empathyfoothealth@gmail.com traditional therapy. For further information contact Alistair on 07783 869 686 or smithalistair355@gmail.com HOUSEKEEPER & CARETAKER VACANCY Seeking a housekeeper and caretaker/site manager for a family home in Galloway. Ideal for a couple. Duties include cleaning, laundry, bed-making, security and maintenance of the property, driving and dog walking/sitting. Some weekend work. Two part-time roles plus 2.5 bedroom flat and garage in stable block. Apply by email to Mrs Ingall at corsockhouse@gmail.com explaining how you would fulfill the role and attaching CVs. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 17 Considering the Galloway National Park proposal for the Glenkens A t the Gazette we work hard to ensure that we don't shy away from issues impacting the people living within the communities of the Glenkens, however delicate they may be to navigate. Currently, the issue of the moment, on the tip of many tongues, is the proposed Galloway National Park. In light of this we felt that in the spirit of sparking discussion, debate and participation in the consultation process regarding this proposal, we would print a selection of readers' submissions on the topic. These submissions range in perspective and will likely inspire strong feelings in some, whether it's agreement or outrage. The Gazette, as always, endeavours to ensure we take no stance on issues which may polarise our communities, and aims always to facilitate discussion in the hope of unifying rather than fragmenting our communities. Sometimes reading about a topic from a perspective which doesn't necessarily gel with our own can in itself be a catalyst to introspection, potentially inspiring research and broadening knowledge bases. So we hope you enjoy the articles and information you will find on the following pages, and that it inspires thought and provokes discussion. In light of the ongoing consultation, it's important that as many people as possible who wish to be involved make sure their voices are heard at the consultation stage; please make sure that you have your say - nobody knows our area as well as you, the people who live here, and your opinions are valuable and vital to getting the best outcome for the Glenkens. General information from the NatureScot consultation hub H ere are a few key statements from the NatureScot information hub for the Galloway National Park proposal. What are National Parks and what do they do? The ground rules for all of Scotland’s National Parks are provided by the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. This states the four aims of Scottish National Parks as: communities. The term National Park is used throughout the world to describe protected areas of land or water of outstanding national significance. The title means different things to different people, but all National Parks have some key features in common: • To conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area. • They are areas of land or water which are of the very highest value to the nation for their scenery and wildlife, and often for their cultural heritage too. • To promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area. • They are managed in a way that safeguards their special qualities for the long term. • To promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public. • They are usually highly attractive places to visit, and they provide opportunities for people to enjoy them. • To promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s Scotland’s first two National Parks have performed well as models of sustainable Why is a new National Park being proposed? development, delivering conservation alongside rural economic development and recreation. The Scottish Government considers the time is now right to establish at least one further National Park. It also wants to see all our National Parks contribute more to tackling climate change and protecting and restoring nature, whilst supporting the local economy, creating jobs and opportunities for local businesses and attracting investment. Further information can be found at on the 'Consultation Surveys' page at www. newnationalparkgalloway. commonplace.is, considering questions such as: Would a third National Park be similar to the current ones? What a new National Park Authority could do? What would be the make-up of a National Park Board? What difference could a National Park make? On the 'Further Information' page, there are some of the most commonly cited pros and cons listed and NatureScot's response. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment A Galloway National Park? T he proposers of a national park in Galloway claim that its establishment will result in a better future for people, communities, economy, culture and the environment in the area. Is this likely? What are the real issues that need to be addressed during this consultation? Who is best placed to provide the solutions we need? How can the friction and concern in our communities be minimised? And what’s the hurry? All these are legitimate questions to be put in dialogue with NatureScot, the official statutory Reporter on the proposals. And remember, it is just a proposal and our views as communities and individuals in the Glenkens really matter. What are the real issues in our area? It is obvious that availability and cost of housing, jobs for young people, continuation of locally provided schools education, access to the vital services that people need, especially health and welfare, as well as continuing concerns about the extent of commercial afforestation and wind farms, and the future of farming, and the lack of effective consultation are all issues concerning us. What do we expect government bodies to be doing about them? In the Glenkens a lot of thinking has been done and action taken about our futures, more than in most rural areas in Scotland. We want to build on these excellent local initiatives, but it needs adequate resources to bring benefits locally. Dumfries and Galloway Council is responsible for social services, transport, education, housing and more. How can it be more effective in addressing our needs and concerns? For example, we should expect them to work with the NHS for the care services, with Loreburn Housing Association for the provision of affordable homes and with further and higher education providers for training and skills development of locals. deal on state owned land, for example on Cairnsmore of Fleet and in the Galloway Forest Park, respectively to improve the natural environment and promote community interest, so what more is needed? And why can’t the agriculture support regime be tweaked to help local farmers more in looking after the land as well as producing the elections to the Scottish Parliament to be held in May 2026. To achieve this it plans to update the basic national parks legislation approved in 2000 and to have the Designation Order for the new park approved by the parliament before the elections. All of this is very worrying to many of us in the area. From my experience of establishing national parks around the world, rushing creates disputes and disagreements within communities that can take many years to repair. Many people are asking why the rush to complete the consultation on these far ranging proposals. There is a relatively new government agency, South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE), with its broad remit to support not just the economy but to play a formative role on social provision and environmental care. They should be challenged to do more given their sizeable budget and remit. The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere with its locally appointed Partnership Board has passed the 10 year test from UNESCO. However, it is struggling to find guaranteed long-term support to continue and expand its activities. Surely, the Scottish Government directly, or as currently via SoSE, should be helping with the modest sums that are needed for its work. NatureScot and Forest and Land Scotland are doing a great food? Do we really need another government body? Put this way, there is already activity and the potential for more to address our area’s problems. So do we really need a separate agency? Even the government group who scrutinised the proposals by the Galloway National Park Association questioned the duplication and confusion that would occur with another authority being established. Furthermore, that group questioned the role of a national park authority compared with the clear mandates that existing bodies should have. All fair questions which need to be addressed. Who would be in charge? page 18 Is there another way forward? Yes, there is another way. In the early 1990s, the government in Edinburgh agreed to the establishment of working parties for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and for the Cairngorms. This allowed time for debate, sharing of common concerns, gradual resolution of disagreements and identifying the most appropriate solutions. A similar approach could be undertaken in Galloway bringing together the government bodies locally and regionally and nationally – the Council, SoSE, NatureScot, Scottish Forestry, Forest and Land Scotland and the Biosphere Partnership, and most importantly the local interests around this large area, to carefully identify what the issues are and the options for moving forward. A national park authority established under an Act of the Scottish Parliament would be a government agency without independence of action as its terms of reference, strategies and funding would all be determined by the Scottish Government. A concerted approach like this would put the communities and the people of the area at the heart of the matter. It is worth a try. Actions and resources to help resolve them are needed, but a single new agency is hardly going to solve then all. Although some of its members would be locally elected, the First Minister would appoint others. Is this what the area needs? Roger was CEO for Scottish Natural Heritage leading on the establishment of Scotland’s two National Parks, chair for Europe of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas 2000-2008, chair of the Durban Accord World Parks Congress 2003 and a recipient of the Fred M Packard International Parks Merit Award 2016 What’s the rush? Many people are asking why the rush to complete the consultation on these far ranging proposals. The answer is simple. The Scottish Government has decided it wishes to establish a new national park before Roger Crofts, Dalry Pictured is the view over Dalry from the Mulloch Hill by Roger Crofts Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 19 Finding the best solution for Galloway G alloway faces an existential crisis. A trio of demographic, economic and environmental decline risks turning this jewel of Scotland into little more than a giant power generating facility accompanied by plantations of cheap wood. border in Ayrshire the former mining towns are depressed and forgotten, offering little economic incentives for people to build lives. The factors driving this decline are many, but fundamentally it comes down to economics and plantation forestry and energy production to tourism and regenerative agriculture - and the increased employment such industries bring. This is the sort of economy many people want to see: a diversity of permanent and temporary Major changes are needed, and - perhaps - one such major change would be the establishment of a national park. Population loss has been a problem for decades, but only appears to be getting worse. National Records Scotland estimate that the population of Dumfries and Galloway declined by 0.4% year-on-year from 2022 to 2023. In terms of age structure, the region is increasingly a retirement home, with the population of over 75s growing by a relative 49.3 percent since the turn of the century, versus a 25.2 percent decline for those aged 25 to 44. Indeed, it’s with primary schools like that in Carsphairn being 'mothballed', and even successful secondary schools like Dalry under threat or forced to offer reduced programmes, it’s no wonder that the critical 25-44 age group - those who want to have children and raise them in the area - have left in droves. Such difficulties are especially pronounced in remote areas like the Glenkens, while across the against these global interests working hand in glove with national lawmakers. Galloway’s 'forests' destroy peat bogs in the name of carbon capture, obstruct ancient paths, clog up natural springs and turn ecologically diverse hills and moors into monoculture agricultural deserts. Carsphairn Parish is the most afforested area in the entire UK - almost all of it Sitka, planted dense and harvested by clear felling (rather than continuous cover like they use in Germany). Wind farms, offering owner corporations untold riches, march across the hills, diminishing potential tourism. This has to stop, or it will ruin Galloway forever and drive out its remaining population. William walking the Rhinns of Kells between Carlin's Cairn and Corserine politics: when the only jobs are in forestry and wind farms, and most of them are temporary, there is just not enough keeping communities together. jobs, many opportunities to start a business, that help young people and families make their lives in the area. When the population starts to decline, an already distant government has still less incentive to invest in the area, and school closure starts to become inevitable. A vicious circle that is hard to break. As we all know, Galloway is beautiful, a treasure of Scotland and the world. Yet because of its remoteness, low population, and the structure of land ownership, its hills and glens are being slowly ruined by vast nonnative Sitka spruce plantations. A national park could provide the way out. By providing a realignment of the area from Community councils, representing a few hundred people each, are powerless A national park, with a board partially elected by local people who understand these problems, would be a step in the right direction. I know a national park is not a panacea that will solve the interlinked crises facing Galloway, and I understand that there are concerns about congestion on our fragile, single track roads, about house prices, and about the overdevelopment of key sites, but I firmly believe that a park is the best chance we have to preserve both Galloway's people and nature for the future. William Dunbar, Carsphairn Considering Cairngorms National Park Feedback from an Evening with Cairngorms National Park CEO by Ted Leeming I t was great to have at least 150 courteous local people listen to the experiences of Grant Moir, CEO of Cairngorms NP (CNP), and his responses to questions. The following are my summary (as convener of the meeting) of his thoughts, in no particular order, which can be debated in the coming months. different and needs to address local issues. Overview He felt a unique strength of a National Park is that it can give focus to strategies and campaigns to deliver focused objectives, often otherwise performed in a more siloed environment. Board Composition and Governance The CNP has 19 Board members, most of whom live locally. Twenty percent are elected from permanent residents in the regions invested in the CNP. (In the Galloway consultation, it is suggested that the Board should have 12 or 15 members, with 33% elected from the local population and another third nominated by the Regional Councils). He was clear that the CNP is autonomous and has very little Government input on a day-today basis. He stated that every NP is When the CNP was approved, it spent some two years developing the National Park Plan (NP Plan), which decided, following an extensive consultation with the local people, the future strategy for the Park. The NP Plan is delivered by the CNP staff and is updated every five years. He noted that Scottish National Parks are very different from their neighbours south of the border. Continued over the page... Glenkens Gazette Continued from previous page... Community Engagement He emphasised that working with the community should be core to all thinking in any NP. He said that, as with any entity, the CNP is an ongoing project; they don’t always get it right but seek to work with the local communities to address problems as they arise. We should know how successful they have been when their community satisfaction survey on the CNP is published in January. Economic Impact and Job Creation He noted the CNP brings an additional £400 million a year into the local economy. On jobs, he explained that they have brought new jobs to the area GAZETTEcommunity and work with local businesses to offer apprenticeships. Tourism The CNP actively encourages visitors across the year to minimise summer pressures and provide an extended ‘season’. They do not seek to increase summer visitors but focus on the 'shoulder' months to help yearround employment. Some 50 full-time and 80 volunteer rangers help manage the pressures, acknowledging that seasonal rangers are taken on for the summer period when pressures are at their height. They have introduced various measures to address tourism pressures, including facilities and strategies to draw people around the Park to reduce pressures on honeypot locations. They are working on public transport options to help reduce car numbers but recognise more needs to be done. Planning The CNP ‘calls in’ some 8% of planning applications when it becomes the decision-making body. Otherwise, the Regional Councils retain authority in this area. Most of the ‘called in’ applications are approved (94.7% according to LINK). page 20 Housing He recognised that housing was complex and that prices within and outside NPs have risen dramatically. On second homes, he noted that this was a matter for the Regional Councils and could be discouraged through rates within and outwith NPs. On affordable housing, he said that the latest CNP Plan targets delivering 75% of new housing as affordable, primarily to accommodate the local workforce. He noted that the CNP seeks to promote economic development, citing examples of infrastructure, services and business projects delivered over the years. It is a statutory consultee on forestry applications. Traffic and Access On traffic, he noted that this was not within the gift of the CNP but that they worked with the relevant authorities to deliver solutions. However, the CNP is responsible for recreational access. form of a growing chorus of quiet voices simply delivering urgently needed change. Inspirational land managers, interest communities and individuals working on anything from their back gardens to landscape scale projects, proactively striving to deliver a solution based future rooted in sharing and are real whether we agree with them or not. Journeying towards a positive future S ometimes, a journey leads you down paths never contemplated when you first set out. Such paths, however, though challenging and at times daunting, often hold the most significant rewards. Since I last wrote, my adventure has unexpectedly shifted from exploring land use issues on the bike and with my camera to listening to the voices of others. I have even become drawn into the vortex that is the proposed Galloway National Park. My project's aim has always been to explore our various rapidly changing land use types and how they balance - or otherwise; biodiversity, community, climate, society, and commercial needs. My method initially involved a series of immersive cycles around Scotland, including Galloway, capturing examples through the lens of my camera. Without any prior intent, somewhere down the line this has led to running two workshops (so far) to gather insights and wisdoms from others. Before the first workshop I asked the question “‘What three words describe land use in Scotland today?” and from the 70 odd replies I produced the accompanying word cloud. The workshops then focused around the theme of "Who has rights to live, grow, and pass through any given place?", with the idea to develop a collaborative ‘toolkit’ that can be shared with any person or entity exploring land use. We are still considering the feedback, but my immediate thoughts following the responses from the first workshop consolidated into a 'Charter of Rights' for all global life. Quite a revelation! But what I have I discovered from all this? Over the past months, I keep returning to two core threads, the first being that, as a nation, we have 'improved', commoditised and industrialised many of our landscapes, often at the expense of our climate and the myriad beings with whom we share this planet. And of 'shadows' that drive individual agendas with little apparent consideration of the whole. The word cloud suggests I may not alone in this thinking. My second thread provides a glimmer of hope, in the We must play our role as the community in offering solutions-based thinking and work together to agree the strategies to address the very real issues already facing us, with or without a National Park, including housing, tourism, jobs, infrastructure, an ageing population and increasingly fewer of our young staying in the area. There must be a way these could be agreed before any final go-ahead for a Park is given, so everyone knows what they are getting. There will always be compromises, for nothing comes for free, but doing nothing also has a cost. interconnectedness. As these voices grow in number they are becoming louder, harder to ignore, and increasingly united in wisdom, encouragement and evidence. I am pondering where this leaves my thinking regarding the proposed National Park. I am still asking ‘if’ and ‘how’ rather than ‘yes’ or ‘no’. I believe we need to start listening to each other's concerns, for they As I ponder these thoughts, I realise they rather uncannily mirror my thinking on the bike. Instead of arriving at a destination, however, I merely find myself at the next turning, which leaves me both anxious and hopeful about what lies ahead. But as Martin Luther King Jr once famously said, "You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." Ted Leeming Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 21 Turning a blind eye to biodiversity loss J ust how does the Scottish Government’s commitment to planting 45,000 acres of forest each year between now and 2050 work to mitigate the biodiversity crisis? How does planting single species monoculture forest using a non-native, highly invasive tree like Sitka spruce (in the south of Scotland 85% of all trees planted over the last decade were conifers) support our environment and our ecosystems? These genetically manipulated trees smother out all other forms of plant life, ‘invade’ peatland areas and acidify our waterways to the extent our burns are left “devoid of life” (Galloway Fisheries Trust, GFT) as electro-fishing surveys frequently record. These forests also decimate ground nesting bird populations of “international conservation importance” (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, RSPB). First among these birds is the Eurasian curlew who, along with its other curlew cousins (two species of which are already extinct), were recently described as “the most threatened group of birds on the planet” by one of largest conservation charities in the world, Birdlife International. In the UK the eminent conservationist Derek Ratcliffe estimated 5,000 breeding pairs of curlew were lost from the south of Scotland due to the afforestation of the Galloway and Border hills – “in addition many more pairs were lost on surrounding farmland due to forest edge effect”. Yet the Scottish Government pays millions of pounds of taxpayers money to the forest/ tax avoidance industry to destroy thousands of acres of breeding habitat every year of this bird dubbed “the panda of UK conservation”. Derek Ratcliffe, described as Britain’s finest field naturalist and the man at the forefront of the creation of the Nature Conservation Review (the bible of UK conservation) did much of his fieldwork on the hills around Lochinvar in the Glenkens, an area he loved and frequently visited, and an area he considered had the greatest population density of curlew he’d ever come across. Ironically, the last significant area of open land around Lochinvar that hasn’t been decimated by plantation forestry (yet), and an area still used by curlews, is under imminent threat of afforestation by yet another Sitka plantation at Duchrae farm, Dalry. The really ironic part is Derek Ratcliffe was an instrumental figure in the setting up of Nature Conservancy, the body that after W e hope you have found these articles interesting and thought provoking. You can find out much more about the proposal at the NatureScot info hub (www. devolution became Scottish Natural Heritage and which has subsequently been rebranded as NatureScot. Yet this supposed public body that Ratcliffe did so much to bring into creation under the terms of an agreement/ gagging order which it was forced by government to sign with Scottish An eroded water course runing through a Sitka Forestry spruce plantation outside Dalry - nothing but moss - is now grows in the dim undercanopy and there is an essentially eerie silence and noticeable lack of birdsong forbidden to comment on or raise an objection third of Galloway is the very to any forest plantation forestry that has so project unless the land has a much poisoned our hills and specific designation such as SSSI left our burns and rivers “devoid status. of life” on which NatureScot is How can this toothless, gagged forbidden to comment upon, and neutered organisation it would seem this role will that can neither speak up require of NatureScot, a pretty for the Glenkens’ curlews or amazing ability to ‘look the other comment on forestry matters way’. Perhaps they’ll just add a be trusted to run an impartial blindfold to their consultation consultation process on the kitbag! Jim Ramsay, Dalry proposed Galloway National Park? Considering at least a newnationalparkgalloway. commonplace.is ) and by attending the consultations dates of those can be found on the info hub, along with proposed boundaries, etc. Whatever your views are, the main thing to get them heard by filling in the survey, which is open until 14 February 2025. And please remember - let's keep the conversation about this important topic civil, constructive and respectful of differing views. We've achieved so much in the Glenkens over the years by working together - we don't want to lose all that over one contentious issue. The Glenkens Gazette, Glenkens Hub and Glenkens Community & Arts Trust do not have a view for or against the National Park proposal. We are, however, committed to helping our communities find the information they need to make up their own mind. To support this, we host an information page on the Hub and are publishing articles in the Gazette periodically. If you have any questions about the proposal do get in touch and we will see if we can find the right people for an answer! Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity SEASONS GREETINGS TO EVERYONE AND THEIR DOGS Advertisement An update from Border Collie Rescue at Corsock We progress... The extent and speed, as always, is dependent on funds and available volunteers. We always need more of both! We have set up security around the yard so dogs can run free (but not too free) and there is double height stock fence around the exercise paddock and the assessment paddock. Sheep we keep for working dog assessments are doing well and as a side-line also mowing the grass for us! We are working on a small scale at the moment. ’Steady away’ as they say in Yorkshire but we are talking to architects and builders about developing some of the outbuildings to provide a wider range of accommodation for dogs with different needs. A big project – did we say volunteers needed? The facility at Corsock is not intended for re-homing with people coming to look at and take away dogs. It’s for dogs we take in from Scotland to come through for various assessments, particularly around livestock, and also for recovery after surgery, trauma or behavioural problems. Somewhere they can have fun and peace and quiet! It’s working well. No sound of fireworks here for the sound sensitive. There is nothing like a quiet environment to allow a hyped-up dog to relax or an injured one to recover. The process we use has proved to be healing for many years. Then, when ready, dogs go south of the border, mainly to Yorkshire but also to foster homes in other parts of the country for further assessment before matches to new homes are made . We have also finished moving up our library of books on Border Collies, shepherds, sheep husbandry and care and animal welfare. We have some rare and interesting books on a range of subjects. Fresh hay – come on girls, form an orderly queue and let’s hope this year Santa doesn’t leave anything else behind... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Our thanks to the volunteers and supporters who have helped at Corsock. May 2025 be a good year for everyone and their dogs. Border Collie Rescue. Reg’ charity SC040796 and 1128983 www.bordercollierescue.org page 22 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 23 ...People,Places and Outdoor Spaces... What is a community larder? H ave you heard about the larder yet? Have you been to see it? You may wonder what it is all about... All change for LING Lunches L ING Lunches has been a part of the New Galloway community for some time, and we thought it was time for an update... We now have a new name – the name Community Cafe lets everyone know it's open for all, whether Glenkens resident, visitor to the area, or passer-by. We also have a new day, moving to Monday instead of Tuesday means that there is somewhere open for a meal when the CatStrand is closed for the day. Lunches are served from 12.30pm until 2pm Finally, we also have a new menu! A new, more varied menu is being introduced, with different soups, mains and desserts each week. Follow the LING Facebook page to see what's on offer, or pop by and see the poster outside New Galloway Town Hall. There'll be a special Christmas -themed lunch on Monday 16 Dec - we hope you'll join us! In September Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING) opened the Glenkens’ first Community Larder in the Town Hall. Helping the climate and reducing waste is at the heart of our idea of a place where the community will share with each other what is not needed to stop waste going into landfill. One of the larder’s users is Catrin who shared her experience: “I went to visit the Community Larder on Thursday. I took frozen fresh tomatoes and bread rolls from the freezer and made 18 potions of roasted tomato and lentil soup and eight portions of bread and butter pudding. I also made croutons for the soup and breadcrumbs to top pasta bakes. The total cost for making all this was less than £7. I am very pleased with it!” Catrin also volunteers and bakes crumbles and other bakes, even making jams for the community larder. Do you like cooking, baking? Or do you have excess fruit eg fruit trees you cannot pick yourself? If so, we would love to hear from you! Any fresh food donations are currently being cooked and baked into delicious meals to be shared with the community during our Thursday Hubbub lunches as well as being made available in the community freezer. No time to cook healthy meals? Can’t be bothered cooking? Always eating ready meals? Forgot to get stuff in? Like to try new food you have never tasted? Just fancy some nice food? Or, like Catrin, want to pick up some ingredients that would otherwise be going to waste and make something yourself? It’s not like a food bank; the idea is that this is for everyone to share! The larder is from the community, for the community. It will only work if we use it both ways. So do, please, donate spares and surpluses, but also please help yourself to some of what’s on offer. Give and take! We would love to hear from you so please be in touch with what you would like to see and eat from the larder. We are open Mon 9am–4pm, Tue 7-9pm, Wed 6.30-8pm, Thu 9.30am-6pm Your Hubbub Team Welcoming a new Trustee M any Glenkens residents may Carol Salsbury, at least by sight. Carol is pictured here celebrating her win at our recent Cheese & Wine event – a red squirrel going by the unlikely name of Rosemary! We are delighted that Carol has agreed to be co-opted onto the LING Board, bringing, as she does, a wide range of skills – along with great enthusiasm and good cheer. Below is her personal statement for the Board. I have lived in New Galloway since 1998, and feel privileged to call it home. The community spirit I find here is second to none, and I want to be able to contribute in whatever way I'm able. Before moving to Scotland, I lived in Nottingham with my family, now grown with families of their own. I was a teacher of Religious Education (I have also collaborated in writing a series of RE textbooks), was responsible for Personal & Social Education, and operated as School Counsellor. On being made redundant, I helped to set up and run a city centre restaurant and discovered my true passion – cooking and presenting my food to others. Due to several dietary restrictions in my children, I undertook extensive personal research in nutrition, something that I continue to this day. I feel that LING is in the best position to make sure our residents are catered for in every sense of the word, and would welcome the opportunity to aid the delivery of the many and varied ways that this is achieved. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity Carsphairn Burns night C arsphairn will host its annual Burns Supper on Friday 17 January 2025. This cultural event has taken place within the village’s iconic hall for 54 years and is wellattended by visitors from both near and far. Last year’s attendees enjoyed a splendid evening of fine foods brought to us by page 24 the local catering company Caterbirds, accompanied by some renowned entertainment from local speakers. There is also a wellstocked bar to help you raise a glass ‘tae a haggis!’ Book your tickets now to save disappointment by emailing lagwynehallbooking@gmail.com An update from the Glenkens scouts A fter the summer holiday we ran the Cub Scout disability activity badge alongside the Paralympics. The activities we tried included making a sandwich using one hand. Hamish ended up with quite a lot of butter on his. We also tried foot and mouth painting, with good results. A parent helper gave a talk on her work; she helps other people with different disabilities. We held discussion groups on physical disabilities, deaf and sight awareness. Our Halloween party was full of fun; the Cubs were dressed up. First prize went to Elliot, Second to Dylan and Third to Pippin. We then played all the usual party games. Dylan and his dad brought in two fantastic cakes they had made – the Cubs weren’t long demolishing them. We wish Freya all the best in her role at a Glasgow Panto – she is playing a monkey in The Wizard of Oz – and also Caitlin, who is in the choir at the CatStrand panto, King Arthur. Good luck to both. The Cubs are looking forward to visiting the CatStrand panto. The Cub Scout Pack will be attending the Remembrance Day parade and church service at St Margaret’s, New Galloway. We have been learning about ‘From Flax to Flight’, the importance of seed. Scouts started in 1907 and seven years later, when the First World War broke out, the skills the youngsters learned through their activities and badge programme were tested like never before. They were called upon to help in many areas on the Home Front, including coast watching, carrying messages and working on the land. During the war, the need for help increased. Many Scouts converted their traditional summer break into assisting local farmers. Farmers were asked to grow flax, a plant vital to the war effort. Flax is also known as linseed, and is a flowering plant cultivated as a food and a fibre crop. As a fibre crop, flax fibres are used to produce linen which was then stretched and treated with chemicals and used to construct the wings of fighter planes. We are so proud of Hannah and Doug, who have recently had two of their pieces of pottery in no other than the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where they are now on display. What a wonderful accolade, and so well deserved. Congratulations! The Cub Scout Pack and Leaders would like to wish everyone in the Glenkens a happy Christmas and a good New Year. Yours in Scouting, Heather Name the place (from page 4) Site Name - Balmaclellan Location - The Glenkens Description - Nestled in the heart of the Galloway Hills, Balmaclellan is a charming village that embodies the serene beauty and rich history of Scotland.” The village is rich in local culture and traditions that reflect deep historical roots. Known for its strong connections to the Covenanter movement, it has several historical sites commemorating this period, including the Parish Church and the grave of Robert Paterson, commemorated by Sir Walter Scott as "Old Mortality". Paterson dedicated much of his life to restoring maintaining the graves of Covenanters, who in the 17th century played a crucial role during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, aligning with the English Parliament against the Royalists. Their commitment to Presbyterianism led to severe persecution, especially during the reigns of Charles I and Charles II. Many Covenanters faced imprisonment, torture, and execution for their beliefs. The churchyard also contains the only civic Crimean War Memorial in Scotland, honouring five soldiers who died in that war. With the Smiddy, a Men’s Shed, community hall and shop, the village lies at the core of Glenkens identity. Interesting fact - A statue of ‘Old Mortality' is also carved into the Scott Monument in Edinburgh. Whilst fairly easy to grow and tolerant to the Galloway climate, watering can present a few problems during dry spells. Fortunately it has not been necessary this year. Sue Wiseman GAZETTEhistory Glenkens Gazette Robert Burns and the tale of Adam Forrester Continued from front page... "It was a bit of a whirlwind!" said Angela. "I was contacted on the Tuesday about doing the filming on Friday that week. "It wouldn't have been possible without the support of my colleagues at D & G Libraries, and Laura and Phil at the Clachan Inn for the use of the bar for some of the filming, so a big thank you to them!" Angela will be featuring a Glenkens story in each upcoming edition of the Gazette, taken from her Galloway Retold YouTube channel. The first of these is included here, and is the tale of Adam Forrester which featured on the BBC Landward Halloween Special (to watch the show, visit BBC iPlayer, and look for Episode 20). If you were lucky enough to be at Dalry Secondary during David Brown’s tenure as English teacher at the school, you will probably recall comparing and contrasting the story of Adam Forrester with that of Tam o' Shanter. Mr Brown would also take his English classes on a walk over to see the Witch's Score, on the far side of Waterside Hill, a very effective tool for encouraging students to remember the story. For those unfamiliar with the tale, let me recount it for you... Adam was the farmer at Knocksheen some time in the late 1600s. He had a great fondness for the inn keeper of the Inn in Midtown at that time, who went by the name Lucky Hare (which might be a little bit of a clue..) and frequented her Inn regularly. One evening, Lucky Hare slipped out early, while he continued drinking quite heavily until it was time for the inn doors to close for the night. Hopping on the back of his faithful (and tolerant) steed, Adam made his way down through the kirkyard towards the old ford in the River Ken. However, on his way past the kirk he stopped to peer into the windows, as they were blazing with light and the sound of music and revelry was pouring out into the night. As he looked in, Adam spotted Lucky Hare among the revellers, dancing with the Devil himself. So shocked was he that he forgot all caution and shouted in through the Kirk window, "You'll no' deny this the morn, Lucky Hare!" As his words rung out, the music stopped and the kirk was plunged into darkness. With howls and screeches, the erstwhile revellers from inside the Kirk came flooding out to tackle the intruder. Adam was chased over the ford, then up the side of Waterside Hill. The poor horse (whose name I haven’t been able to find) was blown by the time Adam got over the summit, heading for Knocksheen, and Adam had to make a desperate choice. Leaping off his horse's back, he took out his sword and cut a circle around them both, declaring by God Almighty that the witches would not cross it which they could not. Lucky Hare is said to have got a hand onto the back haunches of the horse, leaving a white print on it that remained for the rest of its life, but no further damage was done to either man or horse, and when the dawn came, the witches were forced to leave Adam. This story was passed on to Robert Burns by the doctor in New Galloway, Dr Trotter, who was the famous Muir Doctor and also a keen antiquarian. Most likely this story was told when he made his visit to Kenmure Castle. Not being terribly familiar with the area, Robert made the decision to transpose the tale to Alloway in Ayrshire, an area he knew far better as it was where he grew up. Now, interestingly, according to David Bartholomew, author of The Covenanters of the Glenkens and former Glenkens Church of Scotland minister, Grierson of Lagg stabled horses in the Dalry kirk during the Covenanting times, and he was referred to often as ‘the Devil’ by locals. It’s not inconceivable that he might page 25 have thrown parties in the Kirk, out of sheer disrespect to the Presbyterian locals. Dalry was also famed at the time not only for its history of 'witches’, like the Witch of Hanniston, and the Witch of Drouth (a hamlet that used to exist near Lochinvar) but also for hosting Witches Sabbats, so there is definitely plenty of opportunity for Adam’s tale to have more than a wee grain of truth in it. The fact that the Forrester grave is actually placed where he would have been peering in the window of the old kirk also gives a wee bit more credence to the veracity of the tale. It is clear that the folk of Dalry still believed in the power of witches until comparatively late on, as Elspeth McEwen of Cubbox was sent by the kirk session of Dalry to the Tolbooth in Kirkcudbright as a witch, becoming one of the last women in Scotland to be executed for this ‘crime’ two years later, in 1698. Angela Miller is the librarian at Dalry Library and a keen local historian. You can view her YouTube channel by searching YouTube or Google for 'Galloway Retold'. Dalry kirkyard headstone repairs R eaders will remember the previous features on the Carson, Mather and Keenlyside headstones in Dalry kirkyard. Attached is a picture of the cleaned Mathers headstone that stands proudly opposite the church entrance door. This has been another great project brought to completion, especially as family came forward having read earlier articles about the headstone in the Gazette. The small cross is the repaired Keenlyside infant grave which is on the path that leads to the suspension bridge. This wee grave has been adopted now by a member of the community and bulbs have been planted for the spring. The Gazette reached out to local amateur historian and regular Gazette contributor, Paul Goodwin, to see if he could find out a bit more information about this grave. Paul said: "Jacob and Rebecca Keenlyside lived on Main St, Dalry, in 1921, and were the grandparents of the infant in question. "Their son, Tom Hall Keenlyside, was the father of the child and in 1911 was living with his mother in Blyth, Northumberland. Tom married the child's mother, Eva W Keenlyside (nee Robertson), in Pickering in 1918." Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 26 CatStrand nominated venue of the year C atStrand has been nominated as Venue of the Year, in the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. It's great to be recognised, it says a lot about the warm welcome CatStrand audiences give to artists performing here that we have been considered in the same category as some much bigger venues. The winner will be announced at the end of November, after this edition of the Gazette has gone to print, so keep your eyes peeled on the next issue for an update! Along with 281 other Scottish cultural organisations, we are still waiting on the result of Creative Scotland’s Multi Year Fund. Our future ability to sustain a live arts programme is very much dependent on this decision. This decision has been delayed from October until the end of January, to allow for more certainty on the national funding available. The good news is that the delay is primarily to allow the Scottish Government time to meet its public promises to put more money into the system. The bad news is that there is still no certainty over the funds available to Creative Scotland to distribute, and so no certainty about the decisions they will make with this funding. In light of this, although we expect and hope for positive news, there is no real certainly over the future programme until at least the end of January. We have applied to the Creative Scotland Open Fund for some additional funding to tide us over to April 25, and we will shortly be re-applying to the Heritage Lottery for some more support for our amazing Cultural Glenkens projects, but we will have to wait and see with those as well. They're all very oversubscribed. Despite the funding challenges, 2024 has been a very successful year for CatStrand Arts. We've maintained ticket sales, matching the best we have on record, and have presented a solid mix of live music, theatre, touring work and representation of regional artists. We’ve got some excellent December concerts lined up: Mercury nominated jazz pianist Fergus McCreadie returns with an international quartet on 1 December and there are festive frolics from two foremost folkies, Anna Massie and Hannah Rarity, on 13 December. We hope to see you at some of these events - thanks very much to everyone for your support through 2024 and here's to a successful 2025! Firewood logs & Wood Products for Sale From Carsphairn Community Woodland A range of products are available from our community sawmill Contact us with your requirements ï Free local delivery ï Enquiries to: Tel: 07710 124 255 Carsphairn Community Woodland Limited is commi�ed to acquiring, developing and managing local woodlands in a sustainable and environmentally sound way for the long-term benefit of the local community. Website: www.carsphairn.org/CCWL Company Limited by Guarantee SC591976 GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 27 News from the CatStrand Young Creatives C atStrand Young Creatives (CYC) has had a great few months, and we're excited to be able to share lots of good news with you. We were delighted to be nominated by supporters as both Culture Champions and Community Project at the D&G Life Awards. While we didn't win, it was an honour to be in the company of so many amazing projects from across the region, and a huge "thank you" to the people who nominated us. Some really excellent news is that the Holywood Trust has renewed their support of us, meaning that we will definitely be able to carry on the Young Creatives work until at least March 2027. This is fantastic news and we are so appreciative of all their support - it's so exciting to know we will be able to continue supporting our young people into the future. The Holywood Trust primarily supports young people aged over 12, so you will see that reflected in the programme, but it does mean lots of opportunities coming up for young people looking to make their career in the Arts watch this space! We held our annual Musical Showcase in November, expertly hosted by CatStrand intern Ella Campbell. As ever, it was a fantastic evening highlighting the breadth and depth of talent in our young people. The performers from our Make Some Noise inclusive music sessions with Paragon were a particular highlight, and it was just great to see the older performers growing in confidence and skills. Some of them have been on the CatStrand Young Creatives stages since they were little, so to see the whole age range represented was fantastic. Creative Scotland supports our music lessons through their Youth Music Initiative, and you can see it is really paying off. Speaking of the CYC stage, we're very much looking forward to the Youth Players Christmas panto in early December - hope Paragon performing at the CYC Musical Showcase you've already got your tickets. It's always a highlight of the CatStrand year - oh yes it is! Thanks as ever to all the funders, deliverers, volunteers, families and of course the young people who make CatStrand Young Creatives what it is. Cat Campbell, Young Creatives Project Lead Young writers' short story competition Y oung writers in Dumfries and Galloway are again being given the opportunity to show their talent by entering a short story competition. The competition, which is running for the second year, is one of the events for young writers and readers linked to the annual Kirkcudbright Book Week which runs between 3 and 9 March 2025. Entries close on February 10, 2025, and entrants between the ages of nine and 15 are asked to provide examples of 'flash fiction', a style of short fiction writing. The competition is being run jointly by book week organisers the Kirkcudbright Book Week Society and Kirkcudbright Library, which is operated by Dumfries and Galloway Council. There is no entry fee. The judges are Lesley Garbutt, of Kirkcudbright Library, and crime writer John Dean, both of whom are on the Society's committee. John said: “We ran the inaugural competition for young writers last year and were impressed by the enthusiasm and energy with which the stories were told. Combined with the terrific imagination and skills which the entrants displayed, judging the stories was a sheer delight. I suspect that this year’s competition will be the same.” You can read the rules and conditions, and more about Flash Fiction, at the Book Week website at www.kirkcudbrightbookweek.org Invitation to Screen Your Work Galloway Shorts is a celebration of films made by amateur and emerging filmmakers, hosted by CatStrand and Dalry Film Club. It will be a chance to see work by others and meet other filmmakers. Galloway Shorts welcomes participants of all ages and levels of experience. Regrettably, there is no financial incentive to take part. Films can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make them, but should fit within the time limits set out below. Submissions are invited from any filmmaker aged 12+ in the following categories: Drama (5-10 mins), Documentary (3-5 mins), Digital Animation (1-4 mins), Stop Animation (1-2 mins). Deadline to Register Interest: January 6th, 2025. Films should be sent by: February 20th, 2025 Galloway Shorts Screenings will take place on 19 March 2025 at Dalry Town Hall See gcat.scot/Galloway-shorts/ for full details and the registration form. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 28 Songs for the turning of the year G lenkens audiences are in for a treat as SongWave Community Choir brings their winter concert series, 'Wassail! Songs for the Turning of the Year' to local venues. Led by musical director Kate Howard, SongWave is a Castle Douglas based community choir which is known for its joyous acapella renditions of a varied repertoire of songs. This winter, the choir will focus on the Wassail, which is the Anglo-Saxon word to wish someone good health. The group will perform carols from around the British Isles and through the centuries. From a 14th Century Hogmanay song 'Hagman Heigh' from West Yorkshire to Sheffield pub carols; a rediscovered bell carol from Barnsley to luck visiting songs from Somerset, SongWave offers good cheer and plenty of good luck for the year ahead. “We're looking forward to bringing Wassail! to the Stewartry," said the choir's chairperson, Jo Gallant. "The choir has been working hard to prepare for these concerts, and we're excited to share our passion for singing with the local community”. Performances in and around the Glenkens and district are Kirkpatrick Durham Village Hall on Saturday 14 December at 4pm and New Galloway Town Hall on Sunday 15 December at 4pm. SongWave presents Wassail! Songs from down the ages to celebrate the turning of the year, led by musical director Kate Howard. Friday 13th December 2024 Twynholm Village Hall 7.00 pm Saturday 14th December 2024 Kirkpatrick Durham Village Hall 4.00 pm Sunday 15th December 2024 New Galloway Town Hall 4.00 pm To find out more and book tickets please visit songwavechoir.org.uk. Tickets are £10, or £5 for those aged under 26, with refreshments being served in the interval. Don’t miss this unforgettable musical experience that celebrates songs marking the turning of the year. Tickets: £10, £5 under 26s, including refreshments, from www.songwavechoir.org.uk 07747 623036 Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP Solicitors and Estate Agents Dumfries & Galloway 01556 503744 www.ggblaw.co.uk All legal advice Offices in Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 29 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. In this edition Robin takes a look at some Palestinian writing... I t isn’t surprising that the Palestinian people have an enormously rich culture, given that they’ve inhabited the fertile and welltravelled bridge between Africa, Asia and Europe since long before human history began. Inheritors of three religions, and of Canaanite, Aramaic, Israelite, and Arab civilizations (among others), their culture is manifested in embroidery, jokes and oral history, music and dance, films, poetry and novels. I immersed myself in all of these forms during two visits to Palestine – once to teach a writing workshop at al-Najah University in Nablus, and once with the Palestine Festival of Literature, or Palfest. Michael Palin was with me on that one. He and I and a group of other writers went for a beautiful (surrounded by rolling hills and olive trees) and frightening (surrounded too by checkpoints, watchtowers and soldiers) walk with Raja Shehadeh, author of Palestinian Walks. A lawyer, human rights activist, and prize-winning writer, Raja has produced a string of works of creative non-fiction, which I highly recommend. I also recommend Minor Detail by Adania Shibli, which I’ve just finished reading. It’s a novella of two parts. The first is narrated by an Israeli officer stationed in the Naqab desert shortly after the Nakba, or Catastrophe, of 1948, when Palestinian society was razed and uprooted to make way for the new Jewish State. He and his troops are stationed there to apprehend ‘infiltrators’. They come across a Bedouin family, and kill the men. Then, after a period of indecision, they rape and kill the surviving young woman. The officer, meanwhile, is tormented by a spider’s bite, which provokes him to repeated Lady Macbeth-style washing around the edges of the wound. In his narration, what is left unsaid and unexamined is as impactful as what he chooses to notice. The second part of the novella is narrated by a woman who appears to stand at some point on the autism scale. Fascinated by the date of the crime, exactly 25 years before her birth, she David Tallontire CHIMNEY SWEEP borrows a car with a registration plate that allows her to travel beyond the West Bank, and journeys in search of further information to the scene of the crime. As she drives, the reader learns a great deal about maps and boundaries, about the architecture of oppression and the geography of domination. Further connections than the crime itself link the two parts of the story – spiders, barking dogs, the smell of petrol – and these collapse time, creating a sense of eternal recurrence for those trapped in the nightmarish web. The end of the story is abrupt and unexpected. Adania Shibli’s curt, forensically precise, emotionally devastating prose is reminiscent of JM Coetzee at his best. For a larger novel, I recommend British-Palestinian writer Isabella Hamad’s highly accomplished The Parisian. (Isabella has also written a more recent book – Enter Ghost – which I haven’t yet read.) Poetry fans should look for work by the late Mahmoud Darwish, called ‘the national poet of Palestine’, and by the contemporary young poet Mosab Abu Toha, recently escaped from Gaza. Gordon McAdam 07709 144 299 Plumbing & Heating - wood burners - multi-fuel stoves - open fires - Agas - Rayburns - birds nest removal with CCTV inspection - certificates issued - feel free to call for advice - 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry Covering the Glenkens & further afield Find me on Facebook 01644 430 393 07834 321 789 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 30 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 31 USEFUL GLENKENS CONTACTS DOCTORS’ SURGERY Glenkens Medical Practice - 01644 420 234 COMMUNITY CONTACTS • Balmaclellan: Martin Warnock - 07939 261 391 • Carsphairn: Liz Holmes - 07718 358 160 • Corsock: Julie Garton - 07769 647 702 • Kirkpatrick Durham: Heather - 07551 639 629 • Crossmichael: Richard Middleton - 01556 670 691 • Dalry: Michele Owen 07940 313 445 • New Galloway: 07741 656 601 FOOD DELIVERIES • Galloway Foodbank 07730 788 335 • Galloway Food Hub - glenkens.scot/localdirectory-listing/glenkensfood-hub • Ballards Butchers 01556 502502 (they also deliver groceries) • Parton: Tom - 07835 821 976 • Grierson’s Butchers: 01556 502 637 • Henderson’s Butchers: 01556 502 654 • Mitchell’s Greengrocers: 01556 502 077 • Fleet Fish: call 07966 103 912 to find out about Glenkens delivery days • Roan’s Dairy - 01556 620 374 • Harris & Co: www. harrisandco.uk LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Helen Crowther on 0790 467 8599 or drop by the shop on Main Street, Dalry Glenkens Scout Group: Contact Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375 Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING): Contact info@ling.org.uk Dalry Communities Properties Trust (DCPT): Contact Michelle Owen at sjtdalrycc@ gmail.com Dalry Town Hall: Contact Lesley Blissett at lesleyblissett52@gmail.com Glenkens Community Centre: Contact Sarah McAdam on minimac01644@gmail.com Lagwyne Hall: Contact lagwynehallsecretary@outlook.com for info, or to book email lagwynehallbooking@gmail.com New Galloway Community Enterprises (NGCE): Contact ngce5000@gmail.com or pop into New Galloway Community Shop Balmaclellan Community Trust: Contact Julia Higgins at julia.higgins55@outlook.com CatStrand: Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or pop in to the CatStrand Schools: Visit the school office or call Dalry Primary on 01644 430 105 (for Nursery/ELC too), Dalry Secondary on 01644 430 259 or Kells on 01644 420 340 Carsphairn Heritage Initiative: Contact Ben Ade at carsphairnhi@gmail.com Galloway Food Hub: Contact Lesley Atkins on lesley@propagate.org.uk or 07587 122 151 Bairn Banter: Contact Melissa on bairnbanter@outlook.com or 07979 492 791 If you would like to add your community organisation to this list please get in touch with the Gazette - contact details are on the back page. GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Sunday Services Balmaclellan: 1 Dec (11am service and also the vote on the new Union and Linkage), 5 Jan, 2 Feb - 11am Carsphairn: 8 Dec (morning worship & communion), 25 Dec (Christmas day service), 12 Jan, 9 Feb - 11am Kells: 8 Dec (6.30pm Carols by Candlelight), 15 Dec, 24 Dec (11.30pm Watchnight service), 19 Jan - 11am Dalry: 29 Dec (songs of praise), 26 Jan - 11am For further information contact Rev Pam Bellis on 07751 379 249 or pam@ bellisconsultancy.co.uk SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH St Margaret’s Church, New Galloway, DG7 3RP The Rev Dawn Matthew Sundays:10.30am, Holy Communion with refreshments after the service. Tuesdays: 10am-12noon, look for the ‘church is open’ sign and pop in for private prayer or to chat with Dawn. Thursdays: 7.30-8pm, evening prayers via Zoom shared with our sister church, All Saints’ Challoch. Please contact Dawn for the link. CHRISTMAS SERVICES: Sun 22 Dec, 4pm, Community Carol Service followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Tue 24 Dec, 4-4.30pm, Family Nativity: come dressed as your favourite nativity character and hear the Christmas story told in rhyme! Wed 25 Dec, 10.30am, Christmas Day service with Holy Communion. For further information call Dawn on 01644 420 431 or visit www.stmargaretsnewgalloway.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Glass Recycling Points • Balmaclellan Stores, Balmaclellan • Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road, Crossmichael • Kirkland Street, St John's Town of Dalry • New Galloway, Carson's Knowe Car Park • St David Street, Kirkpatrick Durham USEFUL NUMBERS ● Pothole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 page 32 MINUTES/REPORTS OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT SPENDING ● Police, non-emergency: 101 or email stewartryCPT@ scotland.police.uk GLENKENS DISTRICT TRUST (GDT) www.glenkenstrust.org.uk/gdtcorporate-information ● Doctor: 01644 420 234 CARSPHAIRN RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND LTD (CREFL) www.carsphairn.org/CREFLArchive ● NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 ● D&G Council: 030 33 33 3000 Local Job Vacancies SEE AD ON PAGE 16... Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot GARDEN WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE You can now apply for a Garden Waste Collection Service permit at £40 per bin. for regular collections from March to November 2025. Apply online at www.dumgal.gov.uk/ wasterecycling or in person at a customer service centre such as Dalry Library. The Glenkens Gazette is a member of independent UK press regulator, Impress. To find out more about our complaints process you can visit www.glenkens.scot/ complaints-and-corrections or scan the QR code here. ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE Advanced Massage Practitioner (price per issue incl VAT) SMALL: 6cm x 6cm, £50 1/4 PAGE: 9cm w x 13cm h, £108 1/2 PAGE: 18cm w x 13cm h, £200 FULL PAGE: 18cm w x 27cm h, £332 Please get in touch further details including small business/ charity rates and series discounts. Email glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07727 127 997 VAT Reg. No. 334 0905 24 THE STEWARTRY VETERINARY CENTRE CASTLE DOUGLAS SURGERY HOURS GLENKENS MEDICAL PRACTICE DALBEATTIE SURGERY HOURS General Medical & Dispensing Services FOR APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH SURGERIES OR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY The Surgery High Street New Galloway Mon-Fri 2.00-2.30 pm & 5-6 pm Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm Sat 2-2.30 pm Mon, Wed, Fri 3-3.30 pm Tues & Thurs 6-6.30 pm  01556 502263 VETERINARY SURGERY OAKWELL ROAD CASTLE DOUGLAS  FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 01644 420234 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 33 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation WHAT'S ON page 34 December/January DECEMBER The Food Hub is running weekly throughout December, (see ad on p7 for QR code to shop). Galloway National Park consultation open until 14 February - www. newnationalparkgalloway.commonplace.is Sun 1, New Galloway Christmas Lights-on with mince pies and mulled wine, walk down from golf club car park to CatStrand New Galloway Town Hall Tue 10, GCT Bus Trip: Christmas Shopping, 8.45am-8.45pm, see p33 Wed 11, Make Do and Mend, 7-9pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Wed 11, POSTPONED National Theatre Live Prima Facie, CatStrand Fri 13, Hannah Rarity & Anna Massie, 7.30pm, CatStrand Fri 13, Quiz Night, 7-9pm, Balmaghie Public Hall Sun 1, Fergus McCreadie: From Scotland to Italy to Lithuania, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 14, Glenkens Children’s Christmas Party, 2-4.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Mon 2, Beginners Bridge Class starts, runs weekly, 7-9pm, Lochinvar Hotel Sat 14, Christmas Family Bingo, 4-5.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall Wed 4, Joint Guild Christmas Coffee Morning, 10.30am-12noon, Dalry Town Hall Sat 14, Wassail! Songs for the Turning of the Year, 4-6pm, New Galloway Town Hall Wed 4, Film: Billy Connolly Big Banana Feet , 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 14, Mix Tape Dance Night, 8-11pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 5, Carsphairn SWI, 7.30pm, Lagwyne Hall Sun 15, Christmas Quiz, 6-9pm, Dalry Town Hall Fri 6 & Sat 7 at 7.30pm, Sat 7 & Sun 8 at 3pm, CatStrand Players Panto: King Arthur, CatStrand Fri 6, New Galloway & Kells Senior Citizens Christmas Lunch, 12noon, New Galloway Town Hall Sat 7, Kirkpatrick Durham Christmas Fair, 10am-4pm, KPD Village Hall Sat 7, Carsphairn Community Woodland volunteer day, 10am-3pm, Muirdrochwood forest Mon 16, Community Café Christmas-themed lunch, 12noon-2pm, New Galloway Town Hall Tue 17, Carsphairn Music Concert, 8-10pm, Lagwyne Hall Wed 15, Film: The Holdovers, 7-9.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Fri 17, Carsphairn Burns Supper, 7-11pm, Lagwyne Hall Sat 18, Community Garden Consultation, 12noon-3pm, New Galloway Town Hall Sat 18, Family Bingo, 4-5.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall, all ages welcome. Sat 25, Bodega Social’s Wonky Burns Night, New Galloway Town Hall, see p3 Mon 27, GCAT AGM, 7pm, CatStrand Sat 1 Feb, CatStrand Burns Supper, 7.30pm, CatStrand HOUSE TO LET AND CARETAKER VACANCY - see p14 for details Sun 19, National Theatre Live: Nye, 3pm, CatStrand Sat 21, Christmas Carols at Barwhillanty, 6.3010pm, Barwhillanty Estate, Parton Tue 31, Community Hogmanay Ceilidh, 7pm12.30am, New Galloway Town Hall Sat 7, Mossdale Xmas Craft Fair, 11am-3pm, Mossdale Village Hall JANUARY Sun 8, Christmas Craft Fair, 11am-2.30pm, Sat 11, Risto’s Pop-up Restaurant – A Finnish Smorgasbord Feast, NG Town Hall Wed 18, Film: Wonka, 7-9.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 7, Dalry Community Café, 10am-1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 7, Dragon Boats fundraising Party Night & Supper, 7.30-11pm, Dalry Town Hall CatStrand for a free bowl of soup and filled roll between 11.30am and 2pm, Tuesday to Saturday. See p6 Throughout December, January and February (while funding lasts) head over to the Glenkens & District Community Councils Balmaclellan Community Council: Bi-monthly, 7.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall - contact Martin on 07939 261 391 Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham Communty Council: contact mcnabblaurie@hotmail.com or 01644 440 200 Carsphairn Community Council: Last Monday each month, 7pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn - contact carsphairncc@gmail. com or 07531 035 824 Balmaghie Community Council: contact secbalmaghiecc@ btinternet.com or 01644 450 621 Dalry Community Council: First Monday each month, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall - contact sjtdalrycc@gmail.com or 07940 313 445 New Galloway & Kells Community Council: Second Monday each month, 7.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall Parton Community Council: contact ericaporteous@hotmail. co.uk or 01644 470 277 Crossmichael Community Council: Second Wednesday every month - contact richardandjane@phonecoop.coop or 01556 670 691 Full minutes of local Community Council meetings can be viewed at Dalry Library or online at www.glenkens.scot For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 35 REGULAR EVENTS & OPENING TIMES Balmaclellan Village Hall Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, 2.30-4pm, warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Exercise Class, Tue, 6-7pm Tai Chi, Wed, 2-3pm Zumba, Fri, 6.30-7.30pm Glenkens Crafters, Wed, 10am-12noon, julia.higgins55@outlook.com Community Library, Wed, 10.30am– 12.30pm; Sat, 10am-12noon Make Do & Mend, fortnightly from 14 Feb, 7-9pm Stewartry Birdwatchers, 2nd Thu each month Sep to Apr (Sep & Apr, 7.30pm; Oct-Mar, 2.30pm) Soup & Sandwich, Sat, 12noon-2pm, Oct-Mar Men's Shed, Balmaclellan General Opening Times: Mon, Wedn & Fri, 9.30am–12noon Stick Making - Mon, 7-9pm Art Group, Thu, 2-4pm Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Monday Morning Social, 11am-2pm, 07710 124 255 Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu of the month, 7.30pm Craft Group, Fri, 10am-12noon, includes tea & coffee, carsphairncraftgroup@ gmail.com Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, Sat, 10am CatStrand, New Galloway Art Ambassadors (age 11+), Mon, biweekly, 4.30pm Behind the Scenes, bi-weekly, Mon, 5.30pm Energising Yoga Flow, Tue, 9.30am, booking essential, 07733 111 466 Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Tue, 10am-4pm Weekly Bus Service to Tesco, Wed, 7pm Dramarama, (age 6-10), Wed, 4pm Up Skills: Musical Theatre, (age 15+), Wed, 5pm Young Writers Cafe, (age 12+), Wed, 6pm, monthly Piano Lessons, weekly, term time 4–6.30pm Morning Flow Yoga, Thu, 9.30am, booking essential, 07733 111 466 CatStrand Singers, Thu, 11am Dance Steps (age 10-18yrs), Sat, monthly, 12.30-3.30pm Art Explorers, (age under 10yrs), Sat biweekly 10am Art Club, (age 11-16yrs), Sat, bi-weekly 11.30am Musical Misfits, Sat, bi-weekly, 10am Youth Players Panto rehearsals, (10yrs plus), weekly, Sun, 3pm The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Taste of Music, monthly, 10am (under 10yrs) Mini Music Makers, family session, monthly 11.45am (under 7yrs) Weekly Ukuele, guitar & keyboard lessons, 12.30–4pm (6-16yrs) Art Explorers, Sat, 10.30am, fortnightly New Galloway Town Hall Community Larder, side door open for access Mon 9am–4.30pm; Tue 7-9pm; Wed 6.30–8pm; Thu 9.30am–6pm Men’s Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.30-11am Dance for Wellbeing (adults), Mon 2.30pm Creative Movement for Children, 4pm LING Community Cafe, Tue, 12.30–2pm Sports Evening, Tue, 7–9pm, carpet bowls or table tennis Zumba, Wed, 6.30pm Ukulele Group, Wed, 6.30pm Hubbub, Thu, 12noon–5.30pm, drop-in Martial Arts, Thu, 7.30pm Babies & Toddlers, Fri, 10am For further info email info@ling.org.uk, phone 07749 249 781 Glenkens Community Centre Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Mon, 10am-4pm Glenkens Youth Group, Mon, 7-8.30pm Dalry Good Neighbours Club, Tue, 2pm, 07795 613 148 Wee Wonders, Thu, 9-10am Clachan Crafters, Thu, 2pm, 07500 861 041 Kickback Martial Arts, Thu, 5.30-7pm, kmabrian@gmail.com or drop-in Song Share, 1st Friday each month, 8-11pm, anne.chaurand@btinternet. com Yoga For All, Fri 9.30am, drop-in, 07733 111 466 Friendship Group, Sat (excluding Glenkens Producers Market days), 1011.30am, 01644 430 052 Table Tennis/Badminton, available to hire by arrangement, 07500 861 041 Glenkens Charity Shop Opening Times: Mon 10am-1pm, Tue 6-8pm, Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-4pm Dalry Library Main St, Dalry - 01644 430 234 Library Opening Times: Tue 2-5pm, Fri 12noon-5pm with the first hour for NEC Bus Pass & Blue Badge appointments, etc. Book at the library or call 01387 260 196. Bookbug and Parent & Toddler Session, Tue, 10.30-11.30am Glenkens Book Group, last Fri each month, 2pm, 01644 420 361 Lego Stay N' Play, every 3rd Sat of the month, 1-3pm, contact Michele Owen on Facebook Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, Mon, 2pm Dog Training, Tue, 7pm, 07831 590 822 Song Share, 1st Fri each month, 7.3010.30pm Mossdale Village Hall Mossdale Painters, Wed, 9.30-11.30am Yoga, Fri, 2.15pm Soup Saturday, last Sat each month, 1-3pm Various Bumps, Babies & Beyond, every 2nd Mon, 10.30am, Kirkpatriack Durham Village Hall Learn to Play Bridge, Mon, 7-9pm, Lochinvar Hotel Keep Fit with Alex, 7.15-8.15pm, KPD Village Hall Strictly Get Dancing, Mon, 7pm, Loch Ken Activity Centre, Parton Spalding Bowling Club Sweep Nights, Mon, 7pm, shazfish1@gmail.com Cosy Corner, Tue, 1-5pm, Crossmichael Church Hall, 07889 016 963 Glenkens Oil Painters, Wed, 10am, Corfield House Art Studio Crossmichael Heritage Centre, Wed 2-4.30pm Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Patchwork Workshop, Thu, 1-3pm, Crossmichael Church Hall Dragon Boats on Loch Ken, Sun 9.30am, Galloway Activity Centre Knockvennie Hall Heat Bank & Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona on 07500 554 751 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, contact Gary on 01644 430 521 Mum & Baby MovementThu, 9.3011.30am, Laurieston Village Hall Crossmichael Youth Club, Fri, Crossmichael Memorial Hall For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette page 36 Community membership model for Galloway Food Hub T he Galloway Food Hub, which gives people the on-line opportunity to buy local produce from local farmers, growers and producers, is set to become a membership organisation. In its first thirty months of operation the Food Hub has grown rapidly and boasts widespread support. Food Hub co-ordinator Lesley said: “We feel very supported by our customers and producers who tell us they love what we do. They appreciate the connection to farmers, growers and makers who produce food in a nature- friendly way in our region. Offering membership to our customers, producers, and anyone else who wants to support us, will allow them to have a say in how we run. We hope to have the membership scheme in place in January 2025 when we’ll be inviting people to join.” The Galloway Food Hub started as a project of Propagate (Scotland), a Community Interest Company (CIC) to fulfil a need in the local Glenkens economy for a hyper-local online marketplace, connecting communities to local producers. Now the Food Hub has branched out on their own to become incorporated as an independent CIC, limited by guarantee. The previous steering committee is now a board of nine directors, comprised of producers, customers, volunteers and staff members. The connection to Propagate remains strong. If you want to find out more about the Food Hub, or start to purchase the range of delicious, ethically produced, mostly locally sourced produce then visit www.gallowayfoodhub. org.uk, email hello@ gallowayfoodhub.org.uk or call Lesley on 07587 122 151. The Food Hub is running weekly throughout December - order one week Food Hub volunteers modelling some of the local veg on offer for collection or delivery the next. The last order window before Christmas is 13-17 December for collection on Friday the 20 December. Taking a break over Christmas and the New Year, the Food Hub reopens on its usual fortnightly cycle from the 10 January with the first collection date being Friday 17 January 2025 (see ad on p7 for QR code to shop). Photo of the Issue Sponsored by This issue’s winner is Jackie Wells with a stunning shot of the Northern Lights photographed from Balmaclellan church Jackie wins two portions of mac 'n' cheese from our competition sponsors, the Balmaclellan-based Stockbridge Mac & Cheese Co. Company owner and competition judge, Hannah Gould, said: "We just really love the Northern Lights!" To enter you can send in any photograph taken in the Glenkens to glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit events, activities, news stories, cartoons, reviews, tips & techniques, fiction, photos, ads or ideas... Contact Sarah Ade on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Editing & Design: sarah.ade@gmail.com FEB/MAR COPY DEADLINE: 5 JAN The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, a Registered Scottish Charity No SC032050 The role of the Gazette is to represent the voice of the community and does not represent the views of GCAT.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. 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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Description An account of the resource <p>Find out more about the Gazette: <a href="https://glenkens.scot/gazette-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenkens Gazette home page</a> If you would like to submit an article or take out an advert, please email the editor Sarah Ade: <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:glenkensgazette@hotmail.com">glenkensgazette@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is a member of, and regulated by <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.impressorg.com/">Impress</a>.</p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of Glenkens Community &amp; Arts Trust (SC032050) and represents the voice of the community (not necessarily the views of GCAT).</p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document October/November 2024 A focus on ISSUE 144 FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE T he Glenkens has traditionally been a farming area, so a focus on, and understanding of, local food production is a familiar field. However, in recent years there has been a real upsurge of interest in growing and producing food locally. The value in terms of the health benefits as well as impact on the environment of locally produced food is widely acknowledged. The Glenkens has had a producers' market for some surge of interest in local food. years now, which is a great success, and with the creation of the Glenkens Food Hub (now the Galloway Food Hub) in 2021 and Glenkens Food Month, which was started by New Galloway Community Enterprises in 2019, there is a wealth of enthusiasm for that which is grown or made in our neck of the woods. This year has seen a massive Glenkens Food Month offers myriad local food-connected events, activities and projects for all ages, from the Glenkens Gardeners to Bairn Banter's Seed-to-Soup-Spoon project and the creation of a permaculture garden at Dalry School. 'New Scots' at the CatStrand ...turn to p3 All in all, there's no shortage of fresh, local food on the table! For more on local food turn to pages 18 and 19 at the centre of this issue... Scottish Alternative Games Glenkens Men's Shed turns 10 ...turn to p5 T he renowned Scottish Alternative Games, held each July in New Galloway, was another roaring success, with crowds attending to compete for prestigious world champion status. The usual quirky events were enjoyed, especially the everpopular snail racing, and the threatened rain held off until late in the afternoon, just as the events were coming to an end. Congratulations go to Alexander McKenna for reclaiming the Gird ‘n’ Cleek World Championship title for the fourth time. He last held the title in 2018, but this year, against fierce competition from Ralph Spernagel, he won the final once again. Alexander’s triumph has equalled the record of four title wins also Carsphairn Community Woodland takes on new pre-apprentice ...turn to page 10 held by two of the Games' other repeat champions, Jayde Devlin and Neil Armstrong. Can he manage a fifth year...? Huge thanks to everyone who came along to support the Games and to everyone who helped to organise and run everything on the day. See you all next year! Brian Edgar Pictured are Gird 'n’ Cleek World Champion, Alexander McKenna (centre) with, left to right, Brian Edgar (commentator), Ralph Spernagel (2nd place), Benny Seed (3rd place) and Ollie Rigg (Games piper), photographed by Hayley Edgar Questions on the proposed Galloway National Park ...turn to page 21 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 2 A glorious day at the Glenkens Show A nother excellent event was hosted by the Glenkens Agricultural Society with their annual Glenkens Show. The number of entries in the livestock and horse classes were a credit to all involved, putting the show firmly in the spotlight for not only the number of entries but also the standard of stock shown. A couple of rain showers soon passed and allowed the judging to get by without any of the usual weather-related problems. In the cattle section, a total of 55 animals went forward; the sheep section saw 227 animals, alongside 22 goats. Some highlights in the sheep section included classes of 23 mule ewe lambs, 17 crossing bluefaced Leicester ewe lambs and 16 blackface ewe lambs. The show committee would like to express a heartfelt thanks to all the exhibitors who took the time to come along and show. The conclusion of the day saw the judging of the Champion of Champions take place, whereby the winning animal from each section goes up against each other to be crowned the overall winner. This year’s judge was Mr Donald Smith of the Lowes Farm, Corsock. A local man, Donald has attended a grand total of 71 Glenkens Shows and was very impressed with the line-up of livestock. He found his champion in the Clydesdale winner, a two-year-old filly, Holmhead Apple Blossom, who is out of a homebred mare, Holmhead Molly, and by Single Limited Edition. The filly is owned by William Gemmell, Holmhead of Boreland, Kirkcowan, and was shown on the day by his niece, Arlene McKie. This horse was champion at Glenkens Show last year and also champion at this year's Stranraer and Stewartry Shows. Taking the reserve spot was a blackface ewe lamb belonging to R Jardine & Son, Upper Hardland, Balmaclellan. She was out of a homebred ewe and by a Dudlees-bred tup bought from Kirkmabreck. The overall beef winner was from Miss Jodie Caig, Tarbreoch, Kirkpatrick Durham. Finally, thank you to all the show sponsors and trade stands who support the show. Judith Cowie Top: Champion of Champions, Holmhead Apple Blossom with, left to right, Donald Smith (judge), William Gemmell (owner) and Arlene McKie (William's niece). Left: Judging of the bluefaced Leicester ewe lamb class with judge William Barrowman Corsock Show unfazed by soggy summer E xhibitors and visitors came from far and wide to attend the Great Corsock Show, a vital fixture in the Stewartry’s event calendar. Concerns had been raised over the poor growing weather this summer, but entrants turned out to make the show a success across all 57 categories. The show was opened to the public at 1pm, with the ribbon cut by Jane Ingall, village resident and long-term show stalwart. Visitors were welcome to tour the categories, eat at the BBQ, take part in the bottle stall and enjoy some home baking. At 2.30pm, the cups and prizes were awarded, the remaining produce was auctioned off and then the raffle took place. Judi Shaw, a member of the organising committee, said: “This year, due to poor growing conditions and unpredictable weather, we felt there wouldn’t be many entries for the show. We were very wrong! "Folks rose to the challenge and supported the Great Corsock Show making it a huge success. It was wonderful to see people of all ages coming together and having fun. The standard of entries continues to exceed expectations. It's hard work but worth it. Now we can look forward to doing it all again in 2025!” Funds raised will go to a variety of local good causes. McNabb Laurie Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 3 New Galloway's fundraising plant stall A milestone has been passed this year as New Galloway’s ‘Navrig’ cottage plant stall raises a recordbreaking £650 for charity.” Over the last five years the stall, run by Carol Salsbury, has typically raised from £200 to £400 for different local charities. This year, the story is more personal with the money going to LACE (Life after Cancer Essex). Bill and Carol’s daughter, Joanne Hammond, founded LACE five years ago when she thought she was clear of cancer. The aim was to set up a walkand-talk group for cancer survivors who needed solidarity. When Joanna’s cancer returned, this time diagnosed as terminal, she continued to work tirelessly for LACE, re-naming it ‘Lives Affected by Cancer Essex’. LACE became a Community Interest Company so that her husband Steve could continue the work after her death. Jo did so much for her expanding group that members nominated her for an MBE. Steve received the letter of confirmation from the palace five months after Jo’s death. Jo’s pioneering work has meant so much to many people, and still continues, supported entirely by funds raised by its members. Previous Navrig plant sales have been in aid of local charities but Bill and Carol wanted to participate in LACE’s work, despite the fact that they are unable to take part in fundraising activities down south. They are delighted by this year’s success - £650 will keep LACE going until Christmas. Carol didn’t let Jo’s husband Steve know just how much the stall had raised until he unfurled the cheque. The Navrig plant stall began in a small way when Carol had a few spare plants and sold them outside her house to raise money. New Galloway Town Hall, New Galloway shop and other local initiatives have benefitted in their turn. Carol never grew flowers until a few years ago, but now she says she’s "an obsessive flower gardener". All the plants in her garden are friendly to pollinators Bill and Carol presenting the cheque for funds raised at the Navrig plant stall to Steve, who runs the charity LACE and she’ll only buy plants for the stall if they’re good for bees. Much The Navrig plant stall is now part of our of her stock comes local scene, operating from April through from dividing her perennials, with some to August. For those who’ve spotted it bought-in baby plants come from bargainand not yet bought, you’ll have another bin sales. Carol often chats to buyers and chance next year. Supportive of important passers-by to explain the gardening ethos causes near and far, the plant stall is also behind the plant stall. an asset to our community in its own right, She said: “I’d like to thank everyone who providing affordable, locally-grown plants, purchased flowers from the stall; they’ve so the thanks go both ways. contributed to something really important Margaret Elphinstone and close to our hearts.” Book Week Scotland at the CatStrand New Scots: Old and New Connections T he CatStrand will take part in a special event in next month’s Book Week to celebrate writers who have made Scotland their home after being forced out of their native countries. Thanks to a successful bid for Book Week Scotland funding, CatStrand will be hosting two distinguished writers on Saturday 23 November for a 'New Scots: Old and New Connections' event. Sawsan Al-Areeqe is a Yemeni poet and film-maker who received an international Artist Protection Fund Fellowship hosted by the University of Glasgow. She has received international acclaim for her poetry, in Arabic and English, and her filmmaking has brought her numerous awards. Iyad Hayatleh is a Palestinian poet and translator. He was born and grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria and has lived in Glasgow since 2000. He describes his poetry as discussing “themes of exile and identity, torn between the many places I call home and the struggle to build up a new mixed identity of cultural diversity.” The writers will speak about the journeys which have brought them to Scotland and will read from their work. It is also planned to hold a workshop event where the guest speakers will work with members of local writing groups including WriteOn and Ken Words. Keep an eye on the Glenkens Hub and the CatStrand website for further details of this exciting venture. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 4 Call to reinstate the Clachan Fair T he Clachan Fair was a much-loved local event, bringing the communities of the Glenkens together in a weeklong celebration. Since 1977, the fair had run on a biannual basis, offering events and activities over the course of a week with the main celebration being on 'parade day' when stalls lined the streets and various events and activities were organised in celebration of the village and surrounding area. The parade included a variety of floats from across the Glenkens - the special float to carry the Clachan Fair Lad and Lass (a much-coveted local title among Glenkens teens) was provided from Crossmichael and the fire engine from New Galloway Fire Station was brought out. As can be seen from the programme to the right, the fair played a significant role in uniting the community and giving a strong element of community cohesion, with all of the Glenkens schools being involved, as well as other local organisations, clubs and members of the community. Andrew Metcalf, one of the last members of the Clachan Fair committee, is reaching out to anyone who would like to reestablish this traditional event, which sadly folded due to internal politics some years ago. He said: "I would like the fair to continue; there is still time to get it underway for June next year, if someone was keen and started organising things now. "There is a significant sum in the kitty - not just a few hundred, but enough to reconstruct the fair. Please get in touch if you feel you can rally a group of folk together to get this excellent, and much missed, local event going again!" If you, or a group you're involved with, would like to bring back the Clachan Fair please get in touch with Andrew at am460249@yahoo.com Pictured is the 2013 Clachan Fair programme along with some photographs from, left to right, the 2011, 2016 and 2013 fairs Name the Place I n each issue a photograph will be taken somewhere in the Glenkens by local photographer Ted Leeming and readers have to guess where it is. The answer can be found on p23, with a bit of information and food for thought about that location. GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 5 Summer at New Galloway golf course T he summer (oh... did we have one?!) has been very busy at New Galloway Golf Club. The green staff have worked extremely hard during the summer in keeping the course in excellent condition, even though the weather has been challenging. We are pleased to say that visitor numbers are well up on the previous few years, which is obviously good for the finances of the club. The junior coaching sessions were run during July were wellattended and we hope to have a budding professional golfer from the group. A quiz night proved popular, with over 34 people taking part. The club also held a coffee morning and secondhand sale in September which was well attended by members, friends and residents, for which the club is particularly grateful. Over £400 was raised which will go towards improvements to the clubhouse. The number of social members is growing; the bar is open every Saturday evening and once a month it is proposed to have a quiz night or other entertainment. Memberships, both social and full, are still available as well as coaching for both juniors and adults. For further information please contact the club secretary on 01644 420 737. Jeff Sutcliffe A moment of sunshine for the fundraising coffee morning and secondhand sale Glenkens Men's Shed celebrates ten years G lenkens Men’s Shed, the first 'Shed' in Dumfries & Galloway, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Started by Brian Jones in the forerunner to the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust's hugely successful Connecting In Communities project, the Shed went on to become a constituted group and has gone from strength to strength. From its humble beginnings in the empty old agricultural workshop attached, at that time, to the derelict Smiddy (that turned out well too), it has gone on to be one of the best equipped and most diverse Sheds in the UK. The Shedders are forever indebted to Alan Smith, former chair of the Glenkens Communty & Arts Trust (GCAT), for the continuing use of his premises. Without his generosity there would be no Shed, so cheers Alan, we owe you! Since its initial seed funding the Shed has been self-funded, raising money through grants, donations, subscriptions and sale of works. We’re also grateful to Tesco, the Co-op, Age Scotland, LEADER, the Galloway Association of Glasgow, GCAT, the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership, Glenkens Community Shop, Balmaclellan Community Council and a myriad of other benefactors and donors who’ve all supported us on our journey. Men’s Sheds were established to “combat loneliness and isolation in the elderly male population” but ours has expanded and proudly diversified. We are both accessible and open to all adults, irrespective of gender, and indeed some of our sub-groups have more women than men! Apart from our open sessions for woodwork, metalwork and project work, we also host a stick-making group and an art group. The Shed has also supported numerous groups and individuals through work to make or repair items needed; from pine marten boxes to bench renovations, PAT testing to fixing bikes, water sampling equipment, planters and fairy houses...the list goes on! In parallel to the renovation of the Smiddy, the Shed itself also underwent a transformation. It now sports a new roof, external cladding, solar panels, battery storage, electric heaters, a mezzanine floor and even electric vehicle charging points in the tarmac carpark outside the building - so the space is pretty much unrecognisable from its 2014 origins. The Shed is affiliated to the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association to which we pay a fee of £20 a year, and so is free to join for members. We will be hosting an open day on Tuesday 19 November - which coincidentally also happens to be International Men’s Day - from 10am to 1pm. Why not pop in and see for yourself what goes on? You’ll be more than welcome and the kettle will be on. Or if you just can’t wait that long? Feel free to drop in at one of our weekly sessions for a cuppa and a chat (opening times below). In keeping with the overall Men’s Sheds ethos, there’s no requirement to take part in any specific activities at the Shed, just turn up for a brew, a biscuit and a banter - many do! But if you have something to make, mend or upcycle, you’ll find all the tools you need, and plenty of experienced Shedders to help and guide you if needed - come on in, you’re very welcome. To get in touch you can email mensshed@btinternet.com or simply pop in. Chris Jowsey OPENING TIMES ARE: General Sessions - Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 9.30am–12noon Stick Making Group - Monday 7-9pm Art Group - Thursday, 2-4pm Glenkens Men's Shed attending ShedFest - an annual event by the UK Men's Sheds Association (UKMSA) that celebrates and connects Men's Sheds across the UK. Pictured with some winning exhibits are John and Michelle Fagan, Tom Leach, Ali Stewart, Brian Jones and Chris Jowsey Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 6 Britain's first rock 'n' roll show is back SIX FIVE SPECIAL Britain’s first Rock n Roll show  Vintage film clips & photo’s Dance, Dance, Dance or you can watch films on the screen T he Six Five Special, Britain’s first rockand-roll TV show, is back on the tracks and touring the South of Scotland. Come along to New Galloway Town Hall on Friday, 18 October at 7.30pm and watch the full story of this groundbreaking show. The Six Five Special started on the BBC in 1957, but it nearly didn’t happen. This is the story of behind the scenes at the BBC plus film clips of the show live on stage in 2015 and interviews with the stars from the TV show. After watching, there will be music from the 1950/60s, with films of the times, so you can sit and listen to the music and watch the films or you can put on your dancing shoes and rock 'n' roll the night away! Entry on the door with a donation bucket with funds raised being split between Prostate Scotland and the New Galloway Town Hall. Alan McLellan Glenkens parish churches harvest lunch Friday 18th October at 7.30pm New Galloway Town Hall T Entry on the night, Donation bucket Proceeds to Prostateparish Scotland & the Town12 Hall October, from 2pm he Glenkens onwards. The church 07562398253 churchesContact will celebrate will be open for people to come and visit, talk to the season with a harvest church members, study the thanksgiving lunch open unusual communion table to all. and just generally have a look around in an informal On Sunday, 13 October, the four parishes of the Glenkens will come together for a harvest setting. Tea and biscuits and thanksgiving service at Carsphairn Parish will be provided and, again, all are welcome. Church, at 11am, followed by a 'Soup & Sweet' lunch at Lagwyne Hall, with anyone For further details please who wishes welcome to attend. contact Irene McCreath on 07974 861 927. Carsphairn Church will also be hosting an open afternoon the day before, on Saturday, H yper-local online community news collaborative The Scottish Beacon (of which the Glenkens Gazette is a member) believes in the power of community-driven solutions and aims to amplify these stories to show that a greener, fairer Scotland is possible – and already taking shape. And they have a brand new project in the pipeline on the heels of their successful Citizens Agenda project, which asked people to define the issues Collaborative reporting that mattered most to them in the run-up to the General Election. Climate change and green energy were the top two issues that emerged across the board. Through a partnership with Local Storytelling Exchange, a UK-based organisation dedicated to showcasing the stories of the green transition, Scottish Beacon members will participate in bringing attention to local actions that are shaping Scotland’s future, offering inspiration and practical examples of how progress is being made. Over 100 days, Scottish Beacon members aim to collectively publish more than 50 stories that highlight community solutions that are already making a difference. Some initial stories being shared include the Gazette's article on Kendoon's new solar defibrillator, along with contributions from other Beacon members across the country... Keep your eyes peeled for more over the coming months! Visit https://www. scottishbeacon.com to find out more and read articles from other hyper-local publications across Scotland. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople Pedalling to the Black Sea J ust before Covid Heidi and I had about five days in Vienna with Heidi’s parents and our two boys, and one day we took a boat down the Danube to Bratislava. We saw people enjoying cycling along cycle paths on the riverbank and thought it might be fun to come back and have a cycling holiday in the area when I retired. In March last year, Heidi had been browsing on the internet and she turned to me and asked, ‘How about it if, rather than just having a cycling holiday in the Vienna area, we were to cycle the Eurovelo 6?’ She went on to explain that the Eurovelo 6 was a long-distance cycle route from the mouth of the Loire on the Atlantic coast to the Black Sea. She knew I am always up for an adventure and the idea immediately caught my imagination. Within a fortnight, Heidi had purchased cycling guides covering most of the route and had acquired a solar panel to go on the back of her bike so that we could charge our mobile phones! She began making detailed plans for the journey. And so it came about that in April this year, after leaving our dog with Heidi’s parents in Wiltshire, we took a ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo and then local trains down to St Nazaire. We then cycled across the large, arched suspension bridge over the Loire to get to our first campsite on the south side of the river. The next day (13 April) we started out from the beach on the Atlantic coast and began heading east. Our expedition was beginning and we tried not to think too much about the distance that lay ahead. There were doubts about whether we had been a bit too ambitious in what we had taken on. We planned to cycle 40 to 50 miles a day – mostly camping overnight but with the option of a B&B or hotel if we felt we needed a little more comfort or refuge from the weather. It had been a challenge deciding what to take and what not to take, and we both ended up with about 25 kg in our panniers. There weren’t many things that we could have done without, but we were certainly well loaded! We met some challenges as we cycled up the Loire – flooding near the river and frosty mornings which made us seek refuge in Airbnbs. We cycled over 800 miles through France before reaching the Rhine near Basle. We then followed the Rhine up to Lake Constance through Germany and Switzerland, before heading north to the Danube at Tuttlingen. After that we were never far from the Danube as we traversed another seven countries. The western part of Eurovelo 6 has many cycle paths and in other parts tends to follow quiet country roads, though it does also pass through cities. Particularly in France and Germany there are many more bicycles on the road than here in the UK, and they put us to shame in the way they treat cyclists with thoughtfulness and respect. After Austria, we entered Eastern Europe when we reached Bratislava in Slovakia. In many ways I found the second half of the trip the most interesting. There were far fewer cyclists, especially once we got past Budapest, and we had more of a sense of being adventurers off the beaten track. There were some cycle tracks, but also many quiet roads to follow as we made our way through Slovakia, Hungary and on into Croatia and Serbia. We only had two nights in Croatia and, after passing through Vukovar, which was flattened in the Balkan conflict, we spent the second night in Ilok at a B&B in a block of flats. The owner had had to run for her life with all the inhabitants of the town, which was surrounded by Serbian territory on three sides, and she and her husband got back home seven years later to find their flat gutted. But I was presented with a cold beer on arrival and she gave us a wonderful breakfast in the morning. I had always felt a bit ambivalent about passing through Serbia on account of the Balkan conflict and the fact that it was the only country that we were passing through that wasn’t a member of the EU; and that feeling was heightened as we crossed over into Serbia the next morning. But I have to say that Serbia was one of the highlights of the trip. We found the people most hospitable. We spent quite a bit of time traversing Serbia, as we kept to the south side of the river as it passed through the dramatic Iron Gates gorge. After that we stayed on the south side of the river and continued on into Bulgaria, as we had been advised that the roads on the Romanian side were flat and boring and very busy. Bulgaria was more scenic, though also more hilly. At that point the temperature was climbing above 30 degrees C every day and there was a lack of campsites, so we ended up staying in hotels and B&Bs instead. At the end, we had two days cycling through Romania to reach Constanta on the Black Sea, which we reached on 16 June. There we had a few days to get our bicycles boxed and arrange a taxi to the airport for our flight back to Luton. I've often found that some of the most rewarding experiences page 7 in life come when you step a bit beyond your comfort zone. Cycling across Europe through ten countries carrying all you need on your bicycle might seem a little daunting. But any long journey is best accomplished one step at a time, or by focussing on one day at a time. That way it becomes more attainable. I was fortunate at nearly 68 that I had good enough health to consider taking on such a challenge and I was keen to grasp the opportunity while it was still there. I am also fortunate to have a wife who was up for such an adventure and willing to live out of cycle panniers and in a small tent for several months. Heidi was really the brains behind the trip. She excels at meticulous planning, poring over maps, working out realistic mileages for each day and the availability of suitable campsites or accommodation. Also her technical skills in bicycle maintenance are far ahead of mine. The trip couldn't have happened without her! We cycled 2,883 miles across Europe. When I think back on all the hills climbed and countries traversed I have a kaleidoscope of memories of chateaux and cathedrals and ruined Roman cities, of precious encounters with some lovely people and beautiful scenery to enjoy all along the way. And it was remarkable how few days we ended up cycling in the rain! We have a treasure of experiences to look back on for the rest of our days. David Bartholomew Pictured above are David and Heidi upon arrival at the Black Sea and to the left, Schloss Werenwag above the Donautal gorge in Germany Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Youth Correspondent page 8 Joshua Wells, aged 15, is our Gazette youth correspondent and in each edition he will be writing about topics which interest him. In this issue Josh describes the Glenkens Youth Group summer holiday trip to the Galloway Activity Centre. O n 11 July the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) youth group ran a trip to the Galloway Activity Centre. To eliminate a player you must shoot one of the sensors on a player’s head; if the player gets hit 10 times they are out until the next round. The arena contains multiple wooden barriers, blocking you from gunfire, and a wooden castle in the middle provided to us for free. We spent an hour in the lovely Waterfront Cafe. to get the hang of it and started getting closer and closer to the bullseye. Following this appetising lunch, we were taken to the archery ground. Once we arrived, we were taught how to hold a bow, Finally, we went to our last activity, 'the wobbly waterpark'. We suited-up in our wetsuits, pulled on our buoyancy aids, and strapped on our helmets. Once we got to the dock, we jumped off and swam towards the first inflatable, which had a slide on both sides. The next one that we swam to was a large slide - it was less steep than the last but was just as fun. The last one we got to go on was a trampoline connected to a very hard obstacle course. Even though it was hard to jump on the trampoline, due to the amount of water contained inside it, it was still ridiculously fun. The trip was completely free, thanks to funding from the Glenkens & District Community Fund and Dumfries & Galloway Council's 'Amazing Summer' fund. It allowed and allowed young people from across the Glenkens, from P7 to S3, to participate in activities such as laser tag, archery and the ‘wobbly waterpark'. To start the day, I had to arrive at the CatStrand at 10am so we would get to the activity centre for 10.15am. Getting there early let us have more time for each activity. People could have also been picked up at Dalry, making it easier for people who are just a bit too far from New Galloway. Once we arrived, we had the plan for the day explained to us. After this, we were taken straight to laser tag (an hourand-a-half activity), put into two teams of seven (blues and reds) and given out guns. The guns were connected, with a wire, to headbands, with three sensors on each one. which blocks you from getting shot from all sides. Even though I was not very good at it, I found it fun. After that action-packed activity we collected our lunch, which consisted of a roll, crisps and a chocolate bar, all of which were how to aim and what to and what not to do. Once we had learned how to use the bows, we started shooting. Just like laser tag, I was bad at archery, but I still enjoyed it. At the start of the session I couldn't even hit the target, but after a couple of tries, I started This terrific trip allowed younger people to get some once-ina-lifetime experiences and allowed for any family from any background to get their children a good trip for the summer, as it was free and very accessible. If this trip was held again, I would recommend to everyone to try to get their spot. Pictured are young people on the Glenkens Youth Group trip on the 'wobbly waterpark' at the Galloway Activity Centre photograph courtesy of Beata, Glenkens Youth Group lead GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 9 CatStrand's new youth intern E lla Campbell, the CatStrand's new youth intern, tells the Gazette a bit about herself and why she's so excited to take on the role. Hi, my name is Ella Campbell and I’m a 16 year-old girl living in Dalry. Many of my achievements have been thanks to the CatStrand. When I moved here from Leeds three years ago, I was worried I would lose my love for drama and music, as it is a small area, but my passion has only expanded since I moved here. During my time at the CatStrand, I have been given many incredible opportunities from the team. I gained a Saltire certificate for doing 20 hours of volunteering whilst helping with the 6-10 yearold drama group when I was 14, which I really enjoyed doing. I also had my first ever gig when I was 14. This was the first ever time that I got to sing my own lyrics in front of an audience which opened up more opportunities like working with Dumfries Music Collectives, who kindly helped me to start a songwriting mentorship with Sarah Jane Scouten, who is the nicest lady to work with on my music ever, and I would love to do that again. I also got to perform at Youth Beatz with Dumfries Music Collectives (DMC) in 2023 and 2024, which was a joy and I loved it, mostly because of how kind the people who work at DMC are, and I will always take any opportunity that they give me. I also do the CatStrand Youth Players pantomimes which are an annual thing that Brian Edgar does, and the pantomimes are only expanding and getting bigger and better each year. Last year I was lucky enough to get to play Cinderella and I got to write a song for the pantomime too, and perform it. I am now starting my new internship at the CatStrand as Youth Music Coordinator, which I applied to because I just know it will be amazing to work with more young people and share my ideas. Thank you for reading this and see you at the CatStrand! Best wishes, Ella :) Another new face at LING L Active Schools and Community Sport Officer, and Stewartry Rugby Club, where he holds the position of director of rugby. A resident of New Galloway, John brings over a decade of experience in community engagement, volunteer management, and the development of health and wellbeing programmes. In his new role, John looks forward to working with the LING trustees and local volunteers to drive the trust’s project work forward, fostering stronger connections within the community and enhancing access to health and wellbeing activities. ocal Initiatives in New Galloway (LING) have welcomed a new member onto their team - John Muir, who will has taken on the role of Community Inclusion Leader. He has worked extensively with local organisations, including Dumfries and Galloway Council where he served as an MATTHEW PAJO Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - pain management - women's health - men's health - fatigue - sleep - stress - anxiety - needle-free laser acupuncture- The Old School, Crossmichael info@matthewpajo.co.uk 07786 079 845 John has successfully collaborated with external stakeholders such as NHS Social Health teams, local businesses, and charities to deliver impactful community programmes. He is particularly passionate about mental health initiatives and has worked on projects that promote inclusion and wellbeing. If you would like to get in touch with John, you can contact him at john.muir@ling.org.uk Amber Dunlop-Pajo Health Psychologist - women's health - stress - depression - anxietyThe Old School, Crossmichael info@gallowaycounselling.co.uk 07389 713 106 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople page 10 Carsphairn Community Woodland welcomes their third pre-apprentice C arsphairn resident Shaun McClune is the newest forestry pre-apprentice to benefit from the training scheme offered at Carsphairn Community Woodland (CCW). Shaun has started a six month contract with the CCW team and will be working in a whole variety of woodland jobs, with access to a range of certificated training opportunities. He is the third pre-apprentice to train with CCW, under the supervision of Andy, our community forest supervisor. Both his predecessors completed their training successfully and moved on to positive destinations. With previous experience of planting with his uncle (who pointed out the opportunity for the pre-apprentice programme to Shaun when he saw it advertised), Shaun says he is enjoying the role so far and appreciates the emphasis that CCW puts on providing opportunities for younger people as he has found employment options limited in the rural areas he has always lived in. He's hopeful that the training provided by CCW will provide a foundation for a career in forestry. Shaun brought his two younger brothers to help with tree planting at our recent volunteer day, which resulted in a good number of young trees in the ground at Muirdrochwood. Shaun’s role is funded thanks to support from Glenkens & District Community Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland, and is part of the 'Woodlands Plus' project managed by McNabb Laurie through his role with Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands. Alison McLeod, CCW Development Officer McNabb Laurie of D&G Woodlands, visited the woodland to meet with Shaun Are you looking to plant trees this winter? We have grants available for small-scale native planting schemes. For full info, visit: www.dgwoodlands.org.uk Registered as a SCIO, no 052525 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEeducation page 11 Positive momentum as local education discussions continue T alks on education have progressed after last issue’s well-received Education and Learning event. Hosted by the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT), the event was set up in support of the Community Action Plan (CAP) to have people think differently about education in the Glenkens. As a direct result of this event, members of the CAP Steering Group and Stewart Gibson, chair of Dalry Schools Parent Council, met with Gillian Brydson, Executive Director of the regional council's Education Skills & Community Wellbeing Department, in late July. It was an honest but productive meeting about the challenges of rural education, and came out with a commitment to working constructively and pro-actively together to achieve the best outcomes for our young people. You can find the full note of the meeting on the 'Education and Learning' page of the Glenkens Hub www.glenkens.scot, but the key actions were for Gillian and the Dalry School Parent Council to continue the conversation about what education provision for children aged two to sixteen in the Glenkens could look like, and for the CAP Steering Group, through GCAT, to pursue conversations about a 16+ 'Skills Campus' in the Glenkens. This is very ambitious and would be very hard to achieve but with the right partners on board, the Glenkens is a great place for such a facility. We are in the centre of the region, we have decades of work on land-based industry coming into the area, whether agriculture, wind or forestry, and of course we are a very committed community, dedicated to putting things in place to ensure our local economy and people can thrive. While it is a long journey ahead, there is a commitment and a degree of momentum now that is very encouraging and will AI-generated rendition of an eco-build learning campus in the Glenkens hopefully be fostered on both sides. More updates to come so watch this space! Helen Keron, Executive Manager, GCAT Our Glenkens primary schools Clockwise from top left: At Dalry Nursery this term have been baking biscuits, looking at bugs and visiting Dalry library enjoy Bookbug sessions. The Kells P5/6/7 class have been creating games to help them develop their mental maths strategies and researching WW2. Children in the P1/2/3 class at Dalry enjoyed collecting apples for the Soup Social event. The P1-5 pupils at Kells have set up a cafe to learn about money. In the P4/5/6/7 class at Dalry they are learning about 'Incredible Inventions'. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEeducation page 12 All change for Glenkens schools T his academic year sees a complete reshuffle for our local schools with a new acting head teacher for the Glenkens Primaries Partnership of Kells and Dalry, as well as a new head teacher for both Dalry Secondary and Castle Douglas High School. We spoke to Stephen and Brogan to learn a little about them and heir new roles: Stephen Foster, Head Teacher, Dalry Secondary What brought you and your family to the Glenkens? My family and I were excited to move to the area because of the rural experience offered that is different to the experience of living in Ayrshire for most of my life. We wanted to buy a house with character and renovate it whist feeling part of a community. the community spirit, the friendliness of people and how welcome we have been made to feel. My experiences with the pupils and parents in school and outside of school have been so positive. It is now the norm to see people that we know when we are out and about and it is great to chat and mix with the community. We had wanted to move to the area when I first started teaching but circumstances didn't align to allow us to do so. We were excited to move into the Glenkins area nearly five years ago. The learning curve has been steep but in addition to teaching I have learnt new skills such as roofing, joinery, plumbing and brick laying that I have had to employ within my house. Where/what were you teaching before taking the post as Head at Dalry/CD? I came into teaching after a career in ASDA and my first permanent job was at the Douglas Ewart. I then worked in a number of authorities before returning to Dumfries and Galloway when I started at Dalbeattie High school. This is when we permanently relocated. What do you guys like most about it? Last year I was the acting Headteacher at the first school I worked which felt like a full circle when I returned to the I have been impressed with Douglas Ewart. The opportunity then arose to apply to be Head teacher at schools I was already part of the community with and I jumped at the chance of a permanent post. What are your aspirations for the post; are there any key changes/improvements you plan to make? My aspiration as a Head Teacher is for my schools to be the difference for my pupils. I believe the strength of the positive relationships that we have with our pupils gives them the platform to be successful and it is very important to me that their voices are heard. I am excited to grow my school community to reach their potential in partnership with my staff, pupils and my parents and carers. And for the Secondary, how does the next term look - any key topics, trips, partnership Brogan Murray, Acting Head Teacher, Glenkens Primaries Partnership Hi, I am Mrs Brogan Murray, the current Acting Head Teacher of Dalry Primary and Nursery and Kells Primary School. I have really enjoyed joining the Glenkens partnership and getting to know the communities a bit better. I grew up in the Stewartry so have many links to the area already. I received a warm welcome from children, staff, and families, which was great. This year we will be focusing on improving our school community further, by improving communication between home and school and aiming to raise attainment and engagement in Numeracy and Literacy. If any parents or members of the community working, etc coming up? I am currently working on engaging with our wider community to secure partnerships that will be of benefit to my pupils. I would request that local businesses please make contact with the school so that we can explore mutually beneficial ways to support each other and develop our communities. My door is always open. To get in touch you can call the school office on 01644 430 259 or email Stephen at gw12fosterstephen@ea.dumgal. sch.uk would like to get in touch, please call the school office on 01644 430 105 and I'd be happy to meet with you, or you can email me at gw12murraybrogan@ea.dumgal.sch.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 13 A look back over summer on the loch A s the Summer comes to an end, the Loch Ken Trust's seasonal ranger, Jason Wilding, reflects on the 2024 season. Well, as the summer starts to fade away, two less minutes every day, kids of all ages have all gone back to school, work, back to the normal daily grind. For those that live and work around Loch Ken we are left with a little breathing space; quieter roads, parking space on the lay-bys, fewer tents and tourists. The small hope of an Indian summer still exists - just a few more days of sunshine to enjoy the beautiful outdoors before autumn really kicks in. We can’t claim it’s been a summer of any great note, just a few nice days here and there. The season has been quiet in comparison to previous years on visitor numbers; factors to consider are weather and the rise in cost of living. The Loch Ken Trust Ranger Service has carried out over 200 patrols this season, along with launching our Volunteer Scheme. We can proudly say we’ve run a series of successful events over the year, starting with the Loch Ken 'meet the ranger service' event in March, our Youth Water Safety Awareness Programme at the Galloway Activity Centre (recognised nationally as an example of best practice), a Ranger Education Programme for local primary schools, collaborating with Propagate on a Bio Blitz (where people work together to identify as many species of wildlife as possible in a given area within a set time frame) at Lochhill Farm, Crossmichael, our highly successful Loch Ken Family Fun Day, where the weather was fantastic, and our Ranger Cookout, a part of the fantastic Glenkens Food Month. We must thank everyone who has supported the ranger service over the spring and summer by giving their time, energy, experience and enthusiasm to help keep the visitors and residents safe, the loch clean and the wildlife and habitats protected for future summers to come. For the ranger service, as our visitor management focus lessens, we are moving towards our autumn and winter work programmes and, with the invaluable help of our volunteers, hope to be working on more ecological themes, considering how external factors are likely to affect the wildlife, plant life and aquatic life in and around the Loch. LOCH KEN TRUST RANGER 07539 029 175 / 07918 300 889 we can look back on some of the stunning views of Loch Ken we have captured over the past few months. More of that in the future - for now in this little breathing space Helping young people to stay safe on the water O ur Youth Water Safety Awareness Programme draws to a close for 2024, with the final sessions being held this October before the water temperatures start to cool. To date over 200 young people have received this free training, learning vital skills for keeping safe on the water and also how to paddle board. We would like to thank our funders, the Holywood Trust, Drax Group UK and Dumfries & Galloway Area Committee Youth Fund for supporting the programme, without whom this would not be possible. The demand for these sessions has far exceeded our expectations and we are grateful to have been able to provide sessions to each of our local high schools and various organisations and groups. We would like to thank the fantastic team at the Galloway Activity Centre and everyone involved in the programme. We are proud to be promoting the Water Safety Code to young people in our region. SAVE THE DATE The Loch Ken Trust AGM will be held on Tuesday 12 November at 7pm in the Smiddy, Balmaclellan. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 14 sponsored by Observations from the saddle T he overwhelming sensation as as I continue my cycle rides exploring Scotland's rapidly changing landscapes, is that the more I see the less I know. I am becoming the ignorant observer. But as I meander through our incredible and varied countryside, it is slowly dawning on me that a lack of knowledge is not always the weakness one might imagine, but that perhaps it is something to embrace. This might seem at odds with a societal norm where expertise and science are held in the highest esteem, but allow me a moment to indulge my thesis before concluding I’ve simply spent too long in the saddle! My reasoning goes something like this... On this trip I am often travelling through unknown environments for the first time, seeing through fresh eyes and witnessing as an observer, rather than a participant. It’s the same sensation you get when arriving on a plane or stepping off a train in a new country. For those special first few hours everywhere you look, and everything you witness, is somehow exaggerated and enhanced, as if seeing with heightened awareness. A few days later, those elements which initially enchanted are simply subsumed into the background, however hard you look. They become the familiar, the normal, the "how it is". But is the accepted norm always right? On the bike, I have no option but to experience using a range of senses that most often lie dormant, or at best repressed, when cosseted in the blurred cocoon of a car, train or bus. From your seat, as in a movie, you are detached from and pass through the landscape, rather than exploring from within. By literally smelling the land (not always pleasant!), tasting the air, and feeling the wind on my cheeks (or hopefully my back), cycling connects me to my surroundings, with each new bend re-stimulating and invigorating, inviting investigation. I remain constantly free of the burden of familiarity and the accustomed, where things "just are", and find myself questioning rather than accepting. By way of example, whilst cycling through a horrendously hagged peat bog, horribly eroded through overgrazing for decades, I asked a local expert why it was like that. Her reply was that folk simply state "it’s always been thus", as though the devastation was not only how things have always been, but why nothing needs doing about it now. There are endless examples of the depletion of our lands, some of which are openly visible, while you have to learn to spot others even though the damage might be greater. There are many shades of green. I am yet to fully rationalise where this slow contemplation of place leaves me, but as I transition between different land uses and management approaches, I am left with a overwhelming sense that our land and seas are becoming increasingly commoditised and commercialised. Siloed and simplified. Managed from behind a desk by an accountant’s spreadsheet. Neat. Each individual modification incrementally small, but together resulting in generational changes that quickly become the accepted norm. The "how it is". I cannot simply undo these feelings. They don’t just resolve themselves. But when I see inspirational exemplars of positive future thinking (of which there are an every increasing number), it allows me to question. As the pedals keep turning and I continue my descent into ignorance, I will be exploring these and other themes in a visual talk of my cycles to date, together with a workshop, at the CatStrand on 9 November. I don’t offer answers, for they lie within the hands of others, but together we might provoke a conversation or two. Ted Leeming Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 15 sponsored by If you would like to list something on this page, please get in touch on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk FREE Horse manure, rotted and fresh, no weed killers used. Dig your own - bring sacks or trailer. Contact: 07889 229 340 Floor tiles, approx 65 cream coloured tiles, 31cm x 45cm. Free to uplift. Contact: 07709 929 482 Metal bunk bed frame, double bottom, single top. Contact: 07952 280 902 Separate fridge and freezer, kitchen waste bin - self closing, electric kettle, ottoman storage for bedding, pick axe, sledge hammer. Contact: 07952 507 108 or 01644 420 852 WANTED Comfortable swivel chair, black, a little worn in places but very serviceable. Contact: 01644 460 516 2 x two-roll wall-hanging commercial toilet roll dispensers by Kimberley Clark, grey colour, we also have spare toilet rolls Contact: lesleyblissett52@gmail.com or 07710 525 927 10 litres Greenox AdBlue for diesel engines. Contact: 01644 420 834 Delonghi microwave, free to a good home, although donation to New Galloway Town Hall appreciated. Contact: info@ling.org.uk or 07749 249 781 Single electric under blanket, VGC, washable, VHS videos, approx 130, vinyl LPs and singles from 60s, 70s and 80s, around 100 in total. Collect from Carsphairn. Contact: 07909 652713 Old heavy mountain-style bike with new tyres, chain and seat, Apollo brand. Single mattress, hardly used. Contact: 07901 207 179 Big long fold up table (similar to those used at craft fairs). Contact: 07749 087 699 Old lawn mowers/strimmers/other small machinery. Nonrunners/broken welcome. Contact: 07845 562 217 Pre-loved field shelter. Happy to dismantle on collection. Contact: 07745 775 480 FOR SALE 2017 iMac 21.5”, donation to GCAT of £150 ono would be appreciated, contact finance@catstrand.com for info V-Fit Tornado rowing machine, very good condition, £150 ono. Contact: 07521 902 567 Shed clearances - any shed cleared, large or small; get in touch to for further info or to arrange a visit. Contact: 07765 034 841 Apply to the Galloway Glens legacy scheme T he Galloway Glens Scheme came to an end in September 2023 after a fantastic five years supporting the communities of the Ken/ Dee valley. The legacy of the Galloway Glens can be seen in many concrete ways, such as the Watson Birds Trail, a suite of new footpaths across the area and in revitalised community buildings and assets. However, it also supported communities in many other ways and made a very real difference to the lives of the people who live here. It was a Dumfries and Galloway Council Environment Team project, administering more than £6 million of National Lottery Heritage Funding and other funds over the five years, supported by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere. To further this legacy, the Galloway Glens Scheme is offering small maintenance grants to ensure that legacy Galloway Glensfunded projects can continue to deliver great outcomes for the communities they serve. £45,000 is available to be spent over the next three years, with the first round closing for applications on the 4 November. Applications can be made for revenue or capital funding, and the amount requested should be under £5,000 and proportional to the size of the initial Galloway Glens funding. This legacy funding is intended to extend delivery of the outcomes of projects originally funded, and this will be the main criteria for assessment. The application process is being managed by the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT), one of the key Galloway Glens legacy partners. Applications and enquiries should therefore be sent to Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager, at helen@catstrand. com Details about the application process can be found on the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens. scot/galloway-glenslegacy-fund Ed Forrest, GSA Biosphere director and member of the Galloway Glens legacy fund steering group, said: “Galloway Glens was an incredible five years of place-based activity that brought together communities, agencies and local organisations around a common theme of protecting, enhancing and understanding our unique natural and cultural heritage. Whilst the project itself may now be over, this funding offers an opportunity to ensure the legacy lives on by revisiting activities that created some of the shared memories and ensuring the upkeep of the infrastructure that was created.” Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 16 The Optimistic Environmentalist Reducing your home energy bills - Part Seven: Examples of energy-efficient technology Passive technology or housing This is where energy is not used to maintain heating or lighting; for instance, insulation helps to maintain a comfortable temperature in buildings; stove fans move heat around a room for a more consistent temperature. We have sun tunnels in our garage that passively carry light from the outside in; this works surprisingly well. These are good for rooms without windows, north-facing, etc. Technologies for generating space heating and hot water (a) Electric combination ('combi') boilers are a traditional way of space and water heating in your house. Just like gas or oil combiboilers, you can set either water or heating when needed and are fairly efficient. The downside with electric combi-boilers is they can use electricity at peak times and may be costly to run. In contrast, Tepeo's zero emission boiler (ZEB) can easily be installed just like a gas or oil boiler but uses electricity at off-peak times to charge up a 'heat battery' to supply heating during the day. (b) Air-source or ground-source heat pumps for water and heating (ASHP/GSHP). These take heat from the air or ground and use it in your house or building so the running costs are minimal. They work well in the right circumstances but may need widerbore water pipes or larger radiators so may be more cost effective as part of a refurbishment rather than an add-on unless you have some funding. They can also be harder to install in some buildings, eg some flats, although this is improving. If you want to heat a single flat, a subset of rooms in a building, or a building that is not used often, you might be better to use an alternative efficient heating systems (see ideas further on in this article). For maximum efficiency, heat pumps work at lower temperatures than boilers and are really good at maintaining a fairly constant temperature. People are uncomfortable when the temperature in a building goes up and down; keeping it consistent increases comfort. Some people that have heat pumps have small additional heating equipment for particular rooms, situations, relatives or visitors. Heat pumps are currently expensive to buy and install but costs are reducing, eg Octopus Energy have designed a lower cost pump which they install themselves. Specific technologies Different technologies can fit into your lifestyle. For instance, you can have separate heating and water systems so that if one breaks, the other still works. If you live in a room, bedsit, part of a building or a building that is difficult to install bigger systems into, you have a limited budget or rent your accommodation, you can get different pieces of technology to suit you. (a) High heat retention storage (HHRS) heaters. These are particularly efficient and thus economic storage heaters. Traditional storage heaters often leaked heat during the day and ran out in the evening when heat is needed. As the name suggests, HHRS heaters are very well insulated, minimise heat losses, and often have thermostats and timers so you can have the heat level you want, when you want it. Some also have 'landlord' settings so that the temperature cannot be pushed up too high accidentally or by a non-bill payer, eg in holiday accommodation. As advised in Part Five of this series, contact the Energy Saving Trust and Dumfries & Galloway Council for advice for loans and grants. Denise MacDonald-Kiernan (see Part 8 for more technology) Family and friends coming to stay? N ew Galloway Golf Club Founded Foun ded 1902 www.ng www.n g gc.co.uk Country cottage set in beautiful gardens available for holiday lets all year round (sleeps 5) Call Fiona on 07789 903127 - 01644 420737 - www.covenanters-holidaycottagescotland.co.uk Buggies now available for hire Licence no DG00824P VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS WELCOME Top: Sun tunnel external Above: Sun tunnel in a windowless garage Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment The Garroch walled garden T he Garroch Walled Garden is one of the Glenkens' hidden gems. Nestled within the ancient oak woodlands of the Garroch Estate, the garden is a unique and special place. It has been brought back to life by a group of local volunteer gardeners. The project to restore the walled garden, under the support of Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING), began in 2018. It was made possible by five years of funding from the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership and the dedication of the volunteer gardeners known as the Garroch Garden Group. In its heyday during the 1920s (or thereabouts) the Garroch Walled Garden would have been the envy of any modernday grower. Garden produce was sent by train from New Galloway station (in Mossdale) to Covent Garden in London. The original garden plans show that the southfacing wall of the garden was covered in heated greenhouses which were used to grow fruits such as melons and even peaches! Plans like this are of course a little ambitious, and the Garroch Garden Group has sought to adopt a light-touch approach that has ultimately page 17 bountiful crop. Several fruit bushes such as blackcurrants, raspberries and blueberries have also been planted. The group garden organically without the use of synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilisers and we encourage wildlife around the garden with abundant wildflower areas, log piles and nest boxes. Jack Barton, from New Galloway, joined the Garroch Garden Group in 2022 with his partner Katy and has since become group coordinator. “When I discovered the walled garden it quickly became one for a small annual fee of £25, which goes towards buying communal tools and plants, etc. “We are very keen to welcome new members to the group who enjoy gardening and good company,” says Jack. “You do not need to have a garden plot to be a member of the group - some members come to help out with other garden tasks. On the third Saturday of each month we hold a garden get-together. We have a picnic and work on various tasks around the garden such as pruning, planting and repairs. These get-togethers are a chance to make new friends and contribute to a fantastic local project which keeps the garden a place for everyone to enjoy.” On the third Saturday of each month we hold a garden get-together. We have a picnic and work on various tasks around the garden such as pruning, planting and repairs. When the project first began, the garden was overgrown, wild and drastically in need of some care. One of the first steps was for the landowner Nick RoperCaldbeck, to let his pigs into the garden to help break up some of the vegetation and loosen the soil in the area where the vegetable plots now are. The gardeners were then able to get to work designing and building the vegetable beds, a large polytunnel and a small greenhouse. There are now approximately 10 plots where a large variety of flowers, vegetables and herbs are grown. created a lovely, peaceful atmosphere in the garden. The centerpiece of the garden is the long pergola, planted with twenty-four roses and climbers, which put on a fabulous display during the summer months. of my favourite places to spend time," says Jack. "On a sunny summer’s day the garden is bursting with flowers, bees and butterflies and it is always such a peaceful and relaxed environment in which to unwind.” All around the garden are a selection of apple trees, some of which are very old but still hang heavy with apples in the autumn. The garden has its own apple press, allowing us to make the most of the The Garroch Garden Group has now become a small group of people growing flowers and vegetables together in a convivial and beautiful environment. Plots of various sizes can be rented For more information about joining the group please contact Jack Barton on 07530 529 192 or jhbarton97@gmail.com A focus on food Dalry School permaculture garden Glenkens Gazette O ver the summer a group of Permaculture Design students, as part of a course run by Propagate, developed page 18 a plan to revitalise the Dalry School garden. Propagate is a community interest company specialising in local, community and sustainable food projects. The Permaculture Design course in Galloway is a collaboration between Propagate and permaculture educator, Lusi Alderslowe, who is author of the book Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share in Education: the Children in Permaculture Manual. The group’s brief from the Dalry Schools Parent Council was to design a food growing and maintenance plan for the garden that would best make use of the polytunnel and raised beds already situated in the garden. The group were also asked to develop ideas for how the wider garden space could best be used for outdoor learning. The detailed design, pictured here, includes plans for a flexible annual food-growing calendar that can be adapted to the needs of the school. It includes suggestions for soil improvement, composting and planting for biodiversity and pollinators. There are also ideas for creating spaces within the garden for Bairn Banter seed to spoon T he Carsphairn children’s group, Bairn Banter have had a very productive and hands-on learning experience focusing on producing their own food for free. Children and parents began the garden project in the beginning of the year, when they took responsibility for a section of disused ground beside the village hall and looked into purchasing a raised bed and bags of compost (funded by Blackcraig Windfarm Fund through Carsphairn Community Council). This then allowed the children to begin sowing pea, carrot and cabbage seeds, plus onion sets and donated potato tubers. Each Saturday the reflection, play and outdoor learning. The next step is to consult children, teachers and parents to gauge wider needs and aspirations for the garden. These findings will feed into a working action plan to be taken forward by the school's Parent Council. With a renewed focus on the garden, our hope is to create a vibrant, productive outdoor place for the children to call their own and look after. This will be a safe space for children of all needs and sensitivities to play, learn and grow, and be nurtured by nature. If you would like to get involved please either call the school office on 01644 420 259 or email the Parent Council at dalrypcchair@gmail.com group of children and parents would carefully tend to the micro-vegetable-patch by weeding, thinning and watering to ensure the best plant growth throughout the spring and early summer months. The children engaged in a wealth of learning opportunities from bughunting, colour-matching, plant identification, soil structures and overall soil care and plant welfare. Come harvest time, the children were thrilled to be able to savour the fruits of their labour, feasting on the tasty peas and strawberries picked fresh from the plants. The group also dug up some of the plants so they could share the produce amongst families, to take home for them to enjoy. The children collectively decided that they would like to make some soup from their garden veg, so parents helped the children to make this happen. Vegetables were dug up or picked, washed and then prepped ready for the pot. And it was certainly worth it, as it was the “most delicious soup that I have ever tasted,” according to one happy Bairn Banter attendee (aged four). Melissa Ade, Bairn Banter in the Glenkens Glenkens Gazette page 19 G lenkens Food Month showcased a feast of local foodie events and activities over the month of September. There were community Pop Up Burger BBQ’s across all the Glenkens communities, an Open Bar Night at the CatStrand with Brian Edgar shaking up storm of local gin cocktails. Carsphairn Community Market was well attended with loads of local produce, home made preserves, fresh vegetables, home baking, plants and crafts, on offer, and the Ukrainian and Syrian Buffet at Dalry Town Hall was fully booked with an incredible 67 diners enjoying a wide variety of delicious, colourful dishes. The Famous Fungal Forage was also a sell-out event, taking place on the Garroch Estate, and the Feast and a Film at the Glenkens Community Centre saw a packed- out room enjoying incredibly cooked Galloway Food Hub produce before settling down to watch Rooted, a film produced by Propagate, featuring many of our local producers. A big thank you goes out to Dumfries and Galloway Council who provided the funding to coordinate and organise this year’s Food Month. Jo Jackson, Glenkens Food Month Coordinator, GCAT Carsphairn Community Market A s part of the Glenkens Food month, Carsphairn held their annual community market in Lagwyne Hall. The event took place in collaboration with the local children’s group Bairn Banter and hosted a wide selection of stalls from Carsphairn and beyond. There were local producers of fruit and vegetables, honey, jams/preserves, skilled crafters, fundraising stalls, baked goods, a mini leather workshop, a brica-brac table, information stalls and exotic hand-made rugs. To accompany the exclusive shopping experience, a wide variety of delicious refreshments were available to buy and enjoy within the popup café/lounge area or outside at picnic tables in the garden area. Proceeds from the Bairn Banter fundraising table and the tea/ coffee and cake sales came to a fantastic total of £168.16. This will go towards the annual children's Halloween party which will take place on Saturday 2 November from 10-11.45am (all children welcome!). “We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made this fun community event such a great success, and to all those who helped us to raise funds for the children’s Halloween party,” said Bairn Banter organiser, Melissa Ade. Famous fungal forage T his year's much-loved fungal forage took place in the Garroch Estate woodland, by kind permission of Nick Roper Caldbeck. Under the guidance of Emma from Balmaclellan, we meandered through different habitats finding and identifying all sorts of wonderful mushrooms edible and non-edible alike! Some attendees had opportunities to share their knowledge and everyone went home wiser. A fabulous day, thanks to all who took part. Abi Mordin Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity Scouting in the Glenkens B eing involved in Scouting develops skills for life, builds confidence, offers new challenges and the opportunity to experience adventurous activities. Youngsters from six years of age can join a Beaver Colony, moving up to Cubs at eight years of age and then into Scouts from 10½. A very active Cub Scout Pack has been running in New Galloway for many years under the expert Leadership of Heather McIntosh and ably assisted by Hannah Fitch. Sadly, there currently is no Beaver Colony or Scout Troop in the Glenkens. This means youngsters are not getting an introduction to Scouting in their early years. In addition, those attending and enjoying Cubs who would like to continue in the Scouting movement, taking advantage of the benefits and skills developed as part of Scouting, cannot continue do so. The nearest Scout Troops are in Castle Douglas and Minigaff, both of which have waiting lists, even if participants could arrange to travel the distance. Adults are urgently required to become involved so that a Beaver Colony and especially a Scout Troop can be reestablished. All training and support will be given to anyone willing to come along and give it a go. There is a purpose-built scout hut in New Galloway, owned and maintained by Glenkens Scout Committee. Whether you're able to offer occasional help or a regular commitment, please do get in touch. We want young people to have the chance to dream big, give it a go, and build skills for life. But it’s not just the young people who benefit from Scouts. Volunteering is good for boosting your wellbeing, developing CV-friendly skills, making friends and building memories. If you want to support young people or if you’re more comfortable planning an adventure from the sidelines, we’ve got space for you. Our purpose and method Scouts actively engages and supports young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society. In partnership with adults, young people take part in fun indoor and outdoor activities. They learn by doing, by sharing in spiritual reflection and by taking responsibility. They make choices, undertake new and challenging activities, and they page 20 live their Scout Promise. For further information or to get involved please contact Christine Rankin at dalgowantraining@ aol.com or 07749 212 201/01644 4202 59, or Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375. You can also find further information at www. scouts.org.uk/volunteer Christine Rankin Pictures are of Scouting trips and camps, to illustrate the potential opportunities Glenkens Cub Pack Forty years in T he Glenkens Cubs have been on holiday over the summer but have still been busy. Alba received the Thomas Ferguson Cup at Carsphairn Show for gaining the most points in the juvenile class. Freya played her part in the violin concert. The Jardine family were successful at the Stewartry Show, showing sheep, and Cole won a prize at the Corsock Show for his entry of eggs. Pippin helped plant trees at Glaisers, Corsock, and won a cup at the Great Corsock Show for her miniature garden. Well done all! We had a sales table at the Scottish Alternative Games and raised £90.43. Thank you to those who bought and to thos e who donated, especially Agnes, who made delicious tablet for us; it just flew off the table. Agnes has been a supporter of Scouting for many years and we thank her for her kindness. A great deal of work goes into the Games and we thank Brian and his team for making the day so special each year. Changes in Scouting during 2024 have left us looking for one Trustee and one young person to join our team. If you would be interested, please get in touch with eitherHeather (01644 420 375) or Hannah (mcandrew. hannah@yahoo.co.uk). Yours in Scouting, Heather and Hannah the Glenkens N ew Galloway resident, Robin Hood, who is experienced with fundraising in the charity sector, is offering to give talks to local groups on how to initiate a successful fundraising campaign. Robin said: "I am offering to give an informal talk about my life in the Glenkens over the last 40 years, the challenges I have faced, my ups and downs including the birth of my daughter, Alex in 1989 and a near-fatal car crash that changed my life in 1992. Also how the wonderful people of Dumfries and Galloway have supported my family and helped me raise millions of pounds for two different charities." The talk, which he has titled '40 years in the Glenkens', would be free and Robin asks for a time slot of at least 45 minutes. If you feel your group or club may benefit from one of Robin's talks you can contact him at robin150656@gmail.com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 21 Questions about the proposed Galloway National Park W ith some pretty strong opinions quickly forming on the proposed Galloway National Park, I thought I might carry out a little research to help me make up my own mind, noting that as I write this I have yet to decide my position. Whilst still in the early days of information gathering, my initial findings suggest that, above all else, not all National Parks (NPs) are the same. The way they are structured and run varies significantly and is unique to the attributes of each and the communities that lie therein. Here’s a few initial discoveries as I continue my search. On tourism, the Northumberland NP, with about 1.2 million visitors a year is very different from the Lake District NP with 22 million. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs has 4.1 million (with 150 volunteer rangers) whilst the Cairngorms NP has 2.1 million visitors a year (with 14 full time and up to seven additional seasonal rangers). Tourism generated £300m into the local Cairngorm economy in 2019, up 30% since 2009. On housing, a report due shortly concludes that having NP status has not inflated house prices in the Cairngorms NP compared to outside (prices have, however, risen through the Covid years both inside and out). A recent article shows that raising rates on second homes in Wales makes them less attractive. But to make this happen does not require National Park status, any local authority can deliver this. with 40% allocated by the local authorities and the remainder centrally. Does this mean 50% could be locally elected? And who decides? Could a NP in Galloway be structured and run by the people, for the people, the land and our future? Once elected, one of the first duties of the Board (over 18-24 months) would be to consult locally to understand what locals want from their park. This would form the basis from which a National Park Plan is written before being authorised by the Minister, after which all Governments advisors and bodies are required to help deliver that plan. The extent to which local opinion influences the Plan I am yet to determine. I am having to seriously ask myself if the additional funding for a national park would benefit the long term sustainability of our communities. As an example, the Cairngorms National Park has a budget of £16.2 million for 2024, of which 41% is for staff costs (Cairngorms total budget is for 2024 is nearer £28 million according to one report). To give this local context, over five years the Galloway Glens Park. These must be contrasted with what happens within our communities if we do not. developing voluntary partnership approaches for the greater benefit of all? Before I decide which is better (not just for my own interests but for those of the wider community), it would be useful to know whether a Galloway National Park would be… • A park that thinks towards the future and not just today or yesterday? • A park run by and with local people, supported by experts in their various fields? • A park that improves the potential of real job opportunities and training, allowing our young to remain in, and return to, our amazing local area? • A park that can protect against house inflation, help deliver for known housing shortages and protect against ‘second home syndrome’? • A park that delivers a yearround sustainable tourism strategy, with infrastructure, services and management in place from day one to protect and enhance our unique local environments? • A park without ‘ivory towers’, where the staff are embedded in, and part of, the community? ...right now I am neither yes or no, but asking “what” and “how”? On how a National Park is run, the Act of Parliament states a minimum 20% of Board members must be locally elected, Landscape Partnership delivered some 40 community led projects on £1 million a year. I hear some saying that the money should be given to existing entities, and to this I simply ask if this is possible, how, who is looking into this and why hasn’t this already happened? I want to hear these alternatives as I am sure others do. I know that there will be costs, compromises and consequences if we get a transport? • A park with a truly sustainable transport policy, focussed towards public and low carbon • A park that recognises local uniqueness, for both land and sea? • A park that incentivises new thinking and innovation, without being afraid to fail? • A park with soft borders and sensible buffer zones? • A park that recognises all elements of our landscape, The formal consultation on the National Park starts in November and continues until January 2025. I look forward to finding answers in the coming months that will allow me to decide one way or the other. As such, right now I am neither yes or no, but asking “what” and “how”? I am hoping to arrange an open meeting with Grant Moir, chief executive of the Cairngorms National Park, on 20 November. If any readers have questions they would like me to ask, please email them to me at tedleeming@ me.com and I will try to include them. Or please feel free to come along. Ted Leeming, Dalry resident Don't take anyone else's word for it - do your own research. Here are few pointers to get you started: Galloway National Park information hub and consultation portal run by Nature Scot - www. newnationalparkgalloway. commonplace.is A new report has just been published looking at the socioeconomic benefits of NPs for Scotland through asessment of the two existing NPs, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs and the Cairngorms, over the last two decades - this can be found at www.scotlink.org Scottish Government info on National Parks - www.gov. scot/policies/landscape-andoutdoor-access/national-parks The Glenkens Gazette, Glenkens Hub and Glenkens Community & Arts Trust do not have a view for or against the National Park proposal. We are, however, committed to helping our communities find the information they need to make up their own mind. To support this, we host an information page on the Hub and will be publishing articles in the Gazette periodically. If you have any questions about the proposal do get in touch and we will see if we can find the right people for an answer! Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 22 New Galloway community larder launch ' From the community, for the community,’ is Local Initiatives in New Galloway’s (LING) focus on helping reduce food waste and make healthy food more accessible. At the community larder launch, visitors were introduced to the community freezer, filled with freshly cooked takeaways of soups, mains, breads, puddings and cakes. People were also shown the larder shelves stocked with dried food donations and homemade jams, chutneys, etc. As intended, most people did not leave empty-handed! The community larder is open for anyone to pop in, browse and help themselves on Mondays from 9-11.30am, Tuesdays from 11am-3pm, and Thursdays from 9am-6pm. Everything is free, but of course donations are always welcome. The idea of the larder grew out of the initial concept of offering a warm space with some tea, cake and a chance to socialise. Since last September, our hub hosts have been creating sit-in lunches and tea-time takeaways, making use of food donations and some low-budget staples. Recipes demonstrating how meals can be made from surplus or foraged food are available in the larder. People drop in on Thursdays to ‘Hubbub’, as it has come to be known, sometimes bringing a donation, and often stay around for a chat over coffee or to share some lunch. The larder was the next step, bringing it all together. We are using food, not only from individual donations of unwanted cupboard staples, etc, but also donations from New Galloway Community Shop, local businesses like Galloway Pasta, the Ethical Dairy, the Galloway Food Hub and even the Castle Douglas Food Bank. Our own Garroch Estate Walled Garden project also offers a source of donations of fruit and vegetables at times of plenty and growers there are keen to support the community larder. Things have already begun evolving beyond the larder to the creation of essentially a sharing hub that goes beyond food. A popular feature at Hubbub is the sharing table, where you bring any unwanted items for others to take away, and in turn take what you like from what others have brought. We’ve had all kinds of things, from children’s toys to a microwave oven. Visitors can also take, borrow, share or swap a book from the bookshelves in the lesser hall, which are stocked up with a large variety of books – always fun to browse and already being used regularly. The Town Hall is also a Period Dignity Building, with a range of free period products available. We are always looking for donations or ideas for sharing in whatever form possible - be it your time to help out, unwanted food or other items or even a monetary donation. Every little helps to make this project a lasting one - for everyone. Support from D&G Council has enabled our Hub Hosts to gradually put in place all that has been needed to open up the doors of the community larder. Thanks to a very successful book sale and coffee morning in January, with a generously supported raffle, we were able to buy our community freezer. This fundraiser was made possible entirely through volunteer input; volunteers have been a very important part of what has helped this project to grow and to thrive. A small grant from the council’s Climate Hub fund, administered by the Biosphere, will be enabling us to begin an outdoor venture. We plan to make a small-scale and resources into one place. It includes links to the official consultation being carried out by NatureScot - www.glenkens.scot/ galloway-national-park-proposal. W Crossmichael Community web pages e've made a few new additions to the website to help readers keep up-to-date with what's going on in our communities. the news to help readers keep up with developments in local education. At the bottom of the page there is also a resource section for extra-curricular activities, life-long learning, courses and jobs - www. glenkens.scot/education-andlearning. Education & Learning page To help promote discussion about the new National Park proposal, we've set up a new page to help gather information As well as details of our local schools, the page now includes education reports, current consultations, and education in Galloway National Park page We're delighted to have been able to provide a new home for Crossmichael community's web site - www.glenkens.scot/ Crossmichael. Please get in touch if you'd like to add to your community's general information page (www.glenkens.scot/ glenkens-communities) or to create further pages for your community as Crossmichael have done. Community Spaces Google Calendars If you've set up a Google contribution to New Galloway’s outdoor spaces, adding to the work that has already been done by others. At the crossroads, there are already flowers and a plant table. There are raised herb beds. There is a walled-off patch of grass, owned and mown regularly by the council, at the foot of Wylie’s Brae. Our plan is to develop these as attractive community spaces, improving biodiversity. We are again very lucky for so many donations - of seeds, cuttings, plants, and of course of skills too. In particular, we will be working to engage children and young people in this, enriching their understanding of the importance of holding onto traditional methods of growing, harvesting, and feeding ourselves. So why not join the revolution! Help us, help your community, and help the climate by reducing food waste. Through using food that would otherwise end up in land-fill to sustain our communities, both in body and soul, seems like a perfect solution for these trying times when the cost of living is rising ever higher. So let's share - our time, our resources, our skills; the more people who make use of the larder, and whatever else is on offer, the more successful the project will be. And the more our community will thrive. If you would like to know more or get involved please email info@ling.org.uk Ann Glaister Calendar to help with booking your village/town community space, we can include this in your page on the Hub. Have a look at Glenkens Community Centre and Parton Village Hall's pages - www. glenkens.scot/community-spaces Hosting Community Council Minutes Glenkens Community Councils are very welcome to distribute their meeting minutes and agenda via the Glenkens Hub. We'll add the minutes to your Community Council page, and add the agenda to the meeting's calendar entry. Please get in touch if you'd like to know more about any of the above at glenkenshub@hotmail. com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity Afternoon tea anyone? B almaclellan Village Hall comes alive with events like our afternoon tea. This event has become a cherished tradition, bringing together residents and visitors alike for an afternoon of socialising, delicious treats, and a taste of local hospitality. This modest yet well-loved venue serves as the focal point for many community events. The hall is a cozy haven where locals and visitors can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy the simple pleasures of good company and homemade food. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with tables adorned with white tablecloths and vases filled with freshly picked flowers from our wonderfully kept garden. The village hall is renowned for its spread of homemade goodies, lovingly prepared by local bakers. The selection typically includes an array of sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, and a variety of cakes that would rival any professional spread. The scones, in particular, are a highlight; still warm from the oven, and accompanied by generous dollops of cream and jam, they are a favourite among attendees. The cakes, ranging from light Victoria sponges to rich chocolate, are not only delicious but also beautifully presented, showcasing the bakers' attention to detail and passion for their craft. A community affair is what sets the Balmaclellan Village Hall page 23 afternoon tea apart - a sense of community that pervades the event. It is not just about the food - it is about the people. The event is organised and run entirely by volunteers, many of whom have been involved for years. Their dedication is evident in every aspect of the afternoon, from the careful planning to the warm service provided to guests. The afternoon tea is also an opportunity for the community to come together and to do some fundraising, with the proceeds going towards the upkeep of the village hall. This adds a sense of purpose to the gathering, reminding everyone of the importance of contributing to the collective wellbeing of the village. A tradition worth preserving In an age where modern life often feels rushed and impersonal, the Balmaclellan Village Hall afternoon tea stands as a testament to the enduring value of community and tradition. It is a celebration of the simple joys of life - good food, good company, and the pleasure of being part of a fantastic community. Afternoon tea is held on the first Tuesday of the month - please call to book a place 07828 185 289. Jackie Wells Alternative Games tombola Name the A s in past years, the St Margaret’s Guild held a tombola stall at the Scottish Alternative Games in New Galloway in August. This year the Guild voted to send any money raised to the CatStrand Young Creatives programme – this includes a wide variety of activities that are offered to young people, such as art, drama, dance, singing or music lessons for piano, violin, ukulele or guitar. The weather on the day looked less than promising but luckily the rain held off for most of the afternoon and the park was packed with people, locals and visitors alike. Despite the attractions of gird 'n' cleek, snail racing and the tractor pull, we were mobbed people really do love a tombola! Several people came round again and again, and it was non-stop until the prizes ran out. The best moment was when a little girl, who had set her heart What's the story? W ell we can’t quite offer you Oasis in New Galloway but we ‘definitely maybe’ have the next best thing. Do you play an instrument but struggle to find a Noel or Liam to share your passion? Why not give the Glenkens Ukulele Group a try! If you play (or would like to play) ukulele, that’s great, but we would also welcome a bit of guitar, harmonica, percussion or anyone who can sing. We’re a mixed bunch of ages and musical influences and we don’t take ourselves too seriously, so as the autumn comes around, why not join us; ‘some might say’ you’ll even enjoy it! on a Paddington bear she had spotted on the stall, won it with the first ticket her mother bought – the joy on her face was wonderful. Many thanks to everyone for their generosity in donating the large and varied selection of prizes. We are delighted to report that £250 was raised for the CatStrand Young Creatives. Linda and Nicolette, St Margaret’s Guild See article on front page for more on the Alternative Games... It’s fine just to rock up to New Galloway Town Hall on a Wednesday evening from 6.308pm, or you can get in touch on jason.wilding@gmail.com or 07969 379 762 Also if you’re a passing musician, whether camping nearby or on a world tour feel free to ‘be here now’ and drop in for a jam. Jason Wilding place (from page 4) Site Name - Whether Hill Wind Farm Location - Between Carsphairn and Moniaive Description - Whether Hill was the second commercial wind farm in the Glenkens after Windy Standard, its neighbour to the northwest. Windy Standard was the first wind farm to receive planning consent in Scotland, ahead of Hagshaw Hill in Lanarkshire, which was the first to be constructed way back in 1995. Consisting of 14 turbines and with an installed capacity of 18.2MW, the Whether Hill site has been operational since 2007 and is owned by Scottish Power. Interesting fact - In 2022, 78% of Scotland's electricity came from wind energy (the figure was zero in 1995), with 113% from combined renewables including hydro, making the country a net exporter of renewable energy. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory The Reverend James Mather page 24 I n previous editions of the Gazette readers might remember our feature on the three headstones in Dalry Kirkyard. Articles spoke about how the Carson headstone was restored by relatives from Tasmania, and the latest, on the Reverend James Mather (located opposite the entrance to the Kirk), describing how ancestors got involved after the Gazette article and have generously contributed to its repair. The final stage for the Rev Mathers headstone is that it is being cleaned later this month, and there will be a follow-up story on this in the next edition of the Gazette. I n March 2024 my husband Stanley and I visited the grave of the Reverend James Mather, the great-great uncle of my husband, brother of his great grandfather William, in Dalry kirkyard. At that point we had no idea that a benefactor was making efforts to have the now unstable headstone preserved. My husband last saw it in 2011 whilst walking the Southern Upland Way. We mentioned our visit to friends who were holidaying with us in Gatehouse of Fleet at the time. On a more recent visit they saw a copy of the Glenkens Gazette and pointed out the article on the Dalry kirkyard headstone repairs to us. We are so pleased to read about the repairs and will be visiting in early October to see the finished work. James Mather was born in Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, in 1839, the eldest of six children of William Mather, a farmer, and his wife Marion Carswell. He was ordained at Langbank in 1867 and shortly afterwards he married his first cousin, Henrietta Monteith Mather. They had two sons and two daughters, but sadly the girls had intellectual disabilities, probably inherited. The death of Henrietta, in 1877, left him with four young children to raise and he left the ministry in 1882 and moved to Lasswade for their education. His mother Marion, by now a widow, came to live with her son until her death aged 94 in 1902. In 1885 James re-entered the ministry and was called to St John's Town of Dalry. He was the minister of St John's United Presbyterian Church, later the United Free Church, of Dalry for 22 years from 1885 to 1907. farming with his uncle. The boy, William, fell through the ice and disappeared; father William fell into the same hole trying to rescue him and then James also fell in a few yards away trying to help them both. James struggled desperately for some time and rescuers tried to help him, but all three drowned. William's wife had three young children and was pregnant at the time. The baby, who was born four weeks later, was my husband's grandfather, also named William. Six months later the Reverend James married his housekeeper, Agnes Nivison, but five years on she died of a brain tumour, leaving him with his two disabled daughters and his elderly mother. At some point his elder son William went to farm in Alberta, Canada. Less than two years later tragedy struck. On Christmas eve 1887 there was an ice-skating accident on a reservoir near his brother William's farm in Ayrshire. William had bought skates for his 11-year-old son William and for the Rev James's 18-year-old son James, who was learning The Reverend James was very active, enjoying walking and climbing. An intrepid traveller, climbing Mont Blanc without a guide, cruising to Norway with three friends, touring Europe and visiting the USA and Canada for five months, where he climbed in the Rockies. He also violence, military occupation and persecution. Tickets are available online at www.gcat.scot or by calling 01644 420 374. walked the whole coast of Arran, 63 miles, in 20 hours. He loved the countryside and wrote two volumes of poems, many of which extolled its beauties. Other poems described his travels, his friends and acquaintances, his horses and so on. They make interesting reading as an insight into his life, but I would not describe them as great poetry. The new church in Dalry was completed in 1901, free of debt. He was well thought of in the parish and was presented with several generous gifts on his retirement to Castle Douglas in June 1907, but he only survived another nine months, dying of heart failure on 1 March 1908. After that his two daughters moved to the care of the Crichton Royal Institution in Dumfries, where Henrietta died in 1922 and Marion in 1935. Margaret Franklin Persecution, families and feuds T he Glenkens in Covenanting times – persecution, families and feuds is the subject of the next Glenkens Story event on Saturday 30 November. The Glenkens were at the heart of the 17th century conflict between supporters of the Crown and Covenanters battling for religious freedom when the people endured decades of Following publication of his book The Covenanters of the Glenkens last year, the Rev Dr David Bartholomew has continued to research the subject, focusing on the people and families involved. In his talk he will describe the impact of the conflict on the people of both sides, on those who changed sides, and the feuds which festered on for generations between and within families. The talk will be held at the CatStrand, New Galloway, at 3pm on Saturday 30 November. There is also a Glenkens Story event on 9 November, titled The Woodlands of Galloway. In a full-day event we hope to explore how our woodlands have developed and how humans have related to them and used them - and how we may want to see them in future. Mike Brown The covenanter memorial in Dalry Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEads page 25 Firewood logs & Wood Products for Sale From Carsphairn Community Woodland A range of products are available from our community sawmill Contact us with your requirements ï Free local delivery ï Freiya, from Carsphairn, sent in this snap of her cat Butterbean who just can't wait to get her paws on the latest issue when it comes through the door... Enquiries to: Tel: 07710 124 255 Carsphairn Community Woodland Limited is commi�ed to acquiring, developing and managing local woodlands in a sustainable and environmentally sound way for the long-term benefit of the local community. 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Contact me today: freelance.jackie.uk@gmail.com 07828185289 LOCAL SUPPLIERS DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY BUTCHERS UPPERBUTCHERS DULLARG EGGS MITCHELL'S FRUIT EGGS & VEG UPPER DULLARG SWEETCAKES BAKERY MITCHELLS FRUIT & VEG GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY SWEETCAKES BAKERY CREAM O' GALLOWAY GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES CREAM O GALLOWAY IRVINGS BAKERY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES GALLOWAY SCOTTISH PASTA IRVINGS COWS BAKERY & CO THE CRESS COMPANY PASTA (GF & SCOTTISH GALLOWAY VEGAN OPTIONS) GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY POP IN FOR A CHAT AND A BROWSE Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEads page 26 Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP Solicitors and Estate Agents Dumfries & Galloway 01556 503744 www.ggblaw.co.uk All legal advice Offices in Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 27 Dundeugh community art project T his community art project was derived from The Book of Surrealist Games by M Gooding & A Brotchie. The idea was to turn the games into photography games, asking residents of Dundeugh to participate. Dundeugh is a small community set in the forest of the Glenkens with just fourteen houses, built a number of years ago to house Forestry Commission workers. I have been carrying out research for two years on the rise and fall of rural communities. One of the key areas I focussed on was looking at ways to unite residents, creating a sense of community, in small villages and scattered communities where residents must, often unwillingly, face change due to cutbacks and how this can affect the people that reside in that area. The age range of the participants in the art project was between 60 and 70 years, which is where rural isolation can have a significant impact on people's mental wellbeing. Dundeugh residents involved were Anne Dobbing, Margaret Anderson, Andrew Johnston and Mora Macbeth; as a collective they are The Dundeugh Artists. I decided that it was important to undertake the project as a group, to bring people together outside, and connect humans and the environment. Working alongside each other, outdoors, using the materials that nature has to offer us in these beautiful surroundings was key to the outcomes. With the connection of rural life and the environment, it was important to include a video, which was created by Kaelan Johnston, a Dundeughbased film student of a slightly younger demographic. Kaelan's film looked at rural sustainability, linking to our project, and this was shown alongside the artworks at an exhibition at the CatStrand in New Galloway. This video included interviews with local artist and historian, Robin Ade; local farmer and estate worker, Joe Wray; and local student and pasta maker, Sophie Tulloch. Showing the interviews with local people alongside the art created a tangible connection Dundeugh Community Artists, left to right, Anne Dobbing, Margaret Anderson, Andrew Johnston and Mora Macbeth between people and place. If you would like to view Kaelan's film, you can find it at www.tinyurl.com/ ruralsustainability. I would like to thank CatStrand and their team for making the project possible by displaying the final results and hosting the local artist workshops. Without their help, we would not have had the chance to showcase the The Mossdale painters E very Wednesday morning, a lively group of folk arrive at Mossdale Village Hall, get themselves a mug of coffee, and chat amiably as they sort out the various materials they will be using over the next couple of hours. producing art, in its many and various forms. There's some who love watercolour, some who prefer pastels, or inks, textures as well as colours. Every person is encouraged, regardless of experience, and there's always someone around the table willing to offer tips, if asked. The emphasis is not necessarily on producing perfect 'works of art', but rather on enjoying the opportunity to experiment, to play, to have fun. And we do. They are folk from all over the Glenkens, with different backgrounds, and a fair range of ages. We welcome additions to the group, whether they have been painting for years, or have never picked up a paintbrush - the ability to draw is not necessary, as the The one thing they all have in common is a love of wealth of ideas, materials, and techniques will give everyone the opportunity to express themselves. If you're intrigued, or even just mildly curious, please feel free to drop in for a coffee and chat, and see what kind of things we do. Our new 'term' begins Wednesday 11th September, and runs until 11 December. You'll be very welcome. If you don’t have transport, a lift may be possible. For further details contact Carol Salsbury at mothermalarky@hotmail. co.uk or 07785 277 708. group's work to the public, which was a key part, offering a real sense of worth to the work as the artists gained a huge amount from seeing and hearing about people's reaction to the works. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase art by people who have never before had the chance to express themselves through this medium, and it was a real success. Vanessa Johnston BA(Hons) Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 28 CatStrand Young Creatives 2024 T he CatStrand Young Creatives summer programme recently concluded, leaving a trail of inspiration and creative energy in its wake. The programme, designed to engage and nurture young talents in various artistic disciplines by providing fun and engaging activities, proved a real hit with our Glenkens young people. The workshops catered to a diverse range of interests and age groups. For the under-12s, activities included sessions on storytelling, drama, flower pressing, eco art, needle felting, dance and animation. Meanwhile, older young people delved into more specialised workshops such as music technology, where they learned to use industrystandard equipment like Logic Pro to produce their own tracks from scratch. There were also painting and textile workshops designed to give them new skills and confidence in different art mediums. One of the highlights of the programme was a trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We watched the musical Legally Blonde and immersed ourselves in the vibrant festival atmosphere. Despite some unfavorable weather conditions, the experience was memorable for all involved. Noteworthy success stories emerged from the programme, including the collaboration with young musician Josh White, a talented singer and songwriter, and a five-piece band RHELM. Through the Young Creatives ‘Stranded Cat’ project, they worked alongside professional artist and tutor to develop their music, culminating in plans to record their debut album in the studio in the coming months. The programme bid farewell to Fiona Edgar as she heads of to University in September. Fiona has been a fantastic intern who contributed significantly to the Youth Music Initiative project. She will be missed but we wish her all the best. Ella Campbell will be the next intern – welcome Ella! The CatStrand Young Creatives 2024 summer programme not only offered a platform for budding talents to thrive but also facilitated valuable experiences and connections that will resonate with participants for years to come. Thanks as ever to our funders, The Holywood Trust and Creative Scotland for their support, and here’s to next summer! Catherine Corfield, CatStrand Young Creatives Project Lead Glenkens Jazz Weekend J azz is back! And not just in the Glenkens, either. With the 2023 Mercury Music Prize going to jazz ensemble Ezra Collective, and Dumfries boy, Liam Shortall, being nominated for the 2024 Mercury Music prize for his group corto.alto, jazz is well and truly on the comeback trail. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow "explores jazz in the broadest possible terms", and so it proved at the 2024 Dark Skies Jazz Weekender, held at the CatStrand, where several of its alumni performed to appreciative audiences. Friday night saw the visit of the five-piece, Modern Vikings. Led by composer and drummer Stephen Henderson, and featuring Jazz royalty Fergus McCreadie on piano, and Konrad Wisziewski on saxophone, Modern Vikings played with a sensuous commitment to melody, together with the added urgency of grooves redolent of the American jazz tradition. The sheer volume of sheet music everywhere, especially on Fergus McCreaddie's piano, was testament to just how hard these guys work at their craft. Their new album, Tales of the Scald, is a must-listen. Saturday was party night, as Glasgow singer Kitti came to the CatSrand. Winner of the 2020 and 2022 Scottish Jazz Awards Best Vocalist, Kitti put on Composer and drummer Stephen Henderson with a fulsome The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow display of her vocal dexterity, vibraphonist Miro Herak, from through a range of jazz, soul and Slovakia, but now resident in RnB bangers, nearly all penned The Hague, Netherlands. This by herself. The unerring ability trio tour the globe, matching to sound like Janis Joplin and up with local rhythm sections then Aretha Franklin in the same in each locality, to unearth new breath, never mind the same sonic pleasures. Their ability to song, had the crowd roaring for take simple melodies, twist and more. Kitti and her band built warp them out of shape before to a stunning encore, saving the bringing them all back together best of the show right at the again, was simply magical. end, leaving the audience utterly My guests from London, both thrilled. committed classical music Sunday night saw innovative and buffs, were dragged along to talented globetrotters, Atlantic each evening, but thanked Road Trip. A trio from Scotland, me for doing so.afterwards! Chicago and The Hague, they "I had no idea music could consist of Scottish composer be so interesting in so many and saxophone player Paul different ways", was the agreed Towndrow, a member of verdict, as the curtain came Scotland’s flagship jazz down on another stunning orchestra, the Scotland National and successful Dark Skies Jazz Jazz Orchestra, Trumpeter Chad Weekender. McCullough from Chicago, and Anthony Bird GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 29 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. In this edition, however, Robin discusses a little of his current work with the newly-created ISIS Prisons Museum... I n 2017, as soon as ISIS retreated from its positions in Syria and Iraq, a small group of local journalists entered all the buildings which the organisation had used as prisons. They were looking for their colleagues who, like tens of thousands of other people, had disappeared into these dark sites. They never found them, but they did find over 70,000 documents. And the buildings themselves were documents leaving clues as to the fates of the missing, not least because prisoners had sometimes scratched their names on the walls. ISIS had repurposed every conceivable kind of building as a prison: family homes, churches, a secondary school, a gym, a shopping centre, a sports stadium. When the team explored these structures, they found some bomb-damaged and at risk of collapse. Others were being reclaimed by their owners, and restored. The buildings provided evidence of crimes committed, and this evidence was about to disappear. So the team filmed every inch of every room. Then it tracked down survivors of these prisons, and filmed hundreds of hours of interviews. These included ‘security’ prisoners, people ISIS considered a military or political threat. But many other people who had nothing to do with politics or fighting were detained and tortured for their personal behavior – for smoking cigarettes, for example, or wearing tight trousers. Based on the 360 degree photography and the witness interviews, the journalists built virtual 3D tours of every prison. These are crime scene reconstructions to be used in war crimes trials, and also by the general public. On October 11th they will be available for view on the internet. Look up the ISIS Prisons Museum after that launch date. The website will publish special investigations too. These cover topics ranging from the ISIS massacre of the Shaitat tribe, and its genocide of the Yazidis, to the destruction of Old Mosul’s David Tallontire CHIMNEY SWEEP architectural heritage. And the IPM is gathering a library of accounts written by former detainees in a variety of prison systems, from Moscow to Guantanamo Bay. Because ISIS didn’t arrive from nowhere. Its terror came as part of a cycle of oppression and social breakdown in the region and globally. Its surveillance, detention and torture techniques are intimately linked to those of the Baathist regimes in Syria and Iraq, and even to American prisons like Abu Ghraib. Specific forms of abuse can be traced back from ISIS to Assad to the East German Stasi to the Nazis… These horrors cross ideological borders very easily. I’m the chief English editor of the project. That’s why I keep writing here that my work reading is grim. I edit traumatic texts, and read reports of abuse, and write to bring darkness to light. And as background I read endless books about ISIS specifically and prisons in general. Including recently Foucault’s Discipline and Punish (more readable and less academic than expected) and Tahir Hamut Izgil’s Waiting to be Arrested at Night: A Uyghur Poet’s Memoir of China’s Genocide. But I’m going to line up some comical, light-hearted books to balance things out, I swear… Gordon McAdam 07709 144 299 Plumbing & Heating - wood burners - multi-fuel stoves - open fires - Agas - Rayburns - birds nest removal with CCTV inspection - certificates issued - feel free to call for advice - 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry Covering the Glenkens & further afield Find me on Facebook 01644 430 393 07834 321 789 Glenkens Gazette EST. 2007 GAZETTEarts page 30 CatStrand AUTUMN JOHN MCCUSKER TRIO “ONE OF THE UK’S MOST GIFTED AND VERSATILE MUSICIANS IN ANY GENRE” - THE GUARDIAN SIMON THOUMIRE AND DAVE MILLIGAN A MIXTURE OF REELS, JIGS, STRATHSPEYS AND AIRS MAINLY FROM THE SCOTTISH TRADITION. KRIS DREVER DREVER’S SOUND IS ROOTED IN THE EARTHY AND HYPNOTIC RHYTHMS OF MUCH OLDER MUSIC. HELD ON THE HIGH WIRE BALANCING URGENCY, REFLECTION, HUMOUR AND WONDER WITH MYSHKIN'S HAUNTING FOLK/JAZZ MUSIC. ROB HERON & THE TEA PAD ORCHESTRA TRAMPLING OVER GENRE BOUNDARIES INCLUDING ROCKABILLY, BLUES, COUNTRY, SWING AND SOUL. High St, New Galloway 01644 420 374 GCAT.SCOT Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 31 USEFUL GLENKENS CONTACTS DOCTORS’ SURGERY Glenkens Medical Practice - 01644 420 234 COMMUNITY CONTACTS • Balmaclellan: Martin Warnock - 07939 261 391 • Carsphairn: Liz Holmes - 07718 358 160 • Corsock: Julie Garton - 07769 647 702 • Kirkpatrick Durham: Heather - 07551 639 629 • Crossmichael: Richard Middleton - 01556 670 691 • Dalry: Graham West 01644 430 503 • New Galloway: 07741 656 601 • Parton: Tom 07835821976 FOOD DELIVERIES • Galloway Foodbank 07730 788 335 • Galloway Food Hub - glenkens.scot/localdirectory-listing/glenkensfood-hub • Ballards Butchers 01556 502502 (they also deliver groceries) • Grierson’s Butchers: 01556 502 637 • Henderson’s Butchers: 01556 502 654 • Mitchell’s Greengrocers: 01556 502 077 • Fleet Fish: call 07966 103 912 to find out about Glenkens delivery days • Roan’s Dairy - 01556 620 374 • Harris & Co: www. harrisandco.uk LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Helen Crowther on 0790 467 8599 or drop by the shop on Main Street, Dalry Glenkens Scout Group: Contact Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375 Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING): Contact info@ling.org.uk Dalry Communities Properties Trust (DCPT): Contact Michelle Owen at sjtdalrycc@ gmail.com Dalry Town Hall: Contact Lesley Blissett at lesleyblissett52@gmail.com Glenkens Community Centre: Contact Sarah McAdam on minimac01644@gmail.com Lagwyne Hall: Contact lagwynehallsecretary@outlook.com for info, or to book email lagwynehallbooking@gmail.com New Galloway Community Enterprises (NGCE): Contact ngce5000@gmail.com or pop into New Galloway Community Shop Balmaclellan Community Trust: Contact Julia Higgins at julia.higgins55@outlook.com CatStrand: Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or pop in to the CatStrand Schools: Visit the school office or call Dalry Primary on 01644 430 105 (for Nursery/ELC too), Dalry Secondary on 01644 430 259 or Kells on 01644 420 340 Carsphairn Heritage Initiative: Contact Ben Ade at carsphairnhi@gmail.com Galloway Food Hub: Contact Lesley Atkins on lesley@propagate.org.uk or 07587 122 151 Bairn Banter: Contact Melissa on bairnbanter@outlook.com or 07979 492 791 If you would like to add your community organisation to this list please get in touch with the Gazette - contact details are on the back page. GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Sunday Services Balmaclellan: Oct 6, Nov 3, Dec 1 - 11am Carsphairn: Oct 13, Harvest Festival & Lunch, 11am. Nov 10, Remembrance Sunday, 10.30am, Dalry 12 noon Kells: Oct 20, Nov 17 - 11am Dalry: Oct 27, Nov 24 - 11am. Nov 10, Remembrance Sunday, 12noonRemembrance Sunday, 10 Nov: joint service with St Margaret's Church - see right For further information contact Rev Pam Bellis on 07751 379 249 or pam@bellisconsultancy.co.uk SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH St Margaret’s Church, New Galloway, DG7 3RP The Revd Dawn Matthew Sundays at 10.30am: Holy Communion with refreshments after the service Tuesdays from 10am-12noon and Thursdays from 2-4pm: the church will be open for visitors or private prayer. Look for the ‘church is open’ sign on the road outside. Thursdays from 7.30-8pm: evening prayers via Zoom shared with our sister church, All Saints' Challoch. Please contact Dawn for the link Remembrance Sunday, 10 November: joint service with Church of Scotland, 10.55am at the New Galloway War Memorial followed service at St Margaret's Church. For further information call Dawn on 01644 420 431 or visit www.stmargaretsnewgalloway.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Glass Recycling Points • Balmaclellan Stores, Balmaclellan • Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road, Crossmichael • Kirkland Street, St John's Town of Dalry • New Galloway, Carson's Knowe Car Park • St David Street, Kirkpatrick Durham USEFUL NUMBERS ● Pothole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 page 32 MINUTES/REPORTS OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT SPENDING ● Police, non-emergency: 101 or email stewartryCPT@ scotland.police.uk GLENKENS DISTRICT TRUST (GDT) www.glenkenstrust.org.uk/gdtcorporate-information ● Doctor: 01644 420 234 CARSPHAIRN RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND LTD (CREFL) www.carsphairn.org/CREFLArchive ● NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 ● D&G Council: 030 33 33 3000 Local Job Vacancies Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot The Glenkens Gazette is a member of independent UK press regulator, Impress. To find out more about our complaints process you can visit www.glenkens.scot/ complaints-and-corrections or scan the QR code here. ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE Advanced Massage Practitioner (price per issue incl VAT) SMALL: 6cm x 6cm, £50 1/4 PAGE: 9cm w x 13cm h, £108 1/2 PAGE: 18cm w x 13cm h, £200 FULL PAGE: 18cm w x 27cm h, £332 Please get in touch further details including small business/ charity rates and series discounts. Email glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07727 127 997 VAT Reg. No. 334 0905 24 THE STEWARTRY VETERINARY CENTRE CASTLE DOUGLAS SURGERY HOURS GLENKENS MEDICAL PRACTICE DALBEATTIE SURGERY HOURS General Medical & Dispensing Services FOR APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH SURGERIES OR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY The Surgery High Street New Galloway Mon-Fri 2.00-2.30 pm & 5-6 pm Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm Sat 2-2.30 pm Mon, Wed, Fri 3-3.30 pm Tues & Thurs 6-6.30 pm  01556 502263 VETERINARY SURGERY OAKWELL ROAD CASTLE DOUGLAS  FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 01644 420234 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 33 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation WHAT'S ON page 34 October/November OCTOBER Tue 1, Cooking for Health & Wellbeing (runs every Tue), 6.30-8pm, Glenkens Community Centre Wed 2, LKT Ranger Group meeting, 6.308.30pm, The Crannog, Lochside Park, Castle Douglas Wed 2, GSA Biosphere Sense of Place workshop, 6.30-8pm, New Galloway (NG) Town Hall Thu 3, UP: Visible Fictions, 7.30-9pm, CatStrand Fri 4, Galloway SangStreams, 7.30-9.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Fri 4, Kells School coffee morning, NG Town Hall Sat 5, Café Bridge, 10am-1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 5, CCW Volunteer Day, 10am-3pm, Muirdrochwood, Carsphairn Mon 7, Coffee Morning, 10.30am-12noon, Parton Village Hall Wed 9, Dalry Film Club: Napoleon (Cert 15), 8-10pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 10, Batsűkh Dorj - Workshop, 2pm, CatStrand Thu 10, Batsükh Dorj & Johanni Curtet, 7.30pm, CatStrand Fri 11, LING AGM , 7– 7.30pm, NG Town Hall Fri 11, Cheese & Wine, 7.30–10pm, NG Town Hall Sat 12, GCT excursion: Dawick Botanic Gardens, see p33 Sat 12, Bob’s Bingo, 4–5.30pm, NG Town Hall Sat 12, Glenkens Producers' Market, 10am1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 12, Lady Maisery, 7.30-9pm, CatStrand Sun 13, Glenkens Churches Harvest Lunch, 11am, Carsphairn Parish Church then Lagwyne Hall, see p6 Mon 14, Dalry Town Hall Management Meetin, 7-9pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 17, Carsphairn SWI: Hands-on Crafting, 7.30pm, Lagwyne Hall Fri 18, Six-five Special, 7.30-10.30pm, NG Town Hall Sat 19, Glenkens Crafters Stash Busting Sale, 10am-2.30pm, Balmaclellan Hall Sat 19, John McCusker Trio, 7.30-9pm, CatStrand Fri 15, 70s/80s Half 'n' Half DISCO, 7.30-10pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 26, Simon Thoumire & Dave Milligan7.309pm, CatStrand Oct 26, Pop-up Pub, 7pm, Balmaclellan Hall Wed 30, Dalry Film Club: Poor Things, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 30, FoDS Kids Halloween Party, Dalry location tbc NOVEMBER Fri 1, Botanical Casting Workshop, 6-9pm, £55, Balmaclellan Hall Sat 2, CCW Volunteer Day, 10am-3pm, Muirdrochwood, Carsphairn Sat 2, Bairn Banter Halloween Party, 1011.45am, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Mon 4, Galloway Glens legacy scheme applications closes, see p15 Nov 5, Afternoon Tea, Balmaclellan Hall, see p23 Tue 5, Kris Drever, 7.30-9pm, CatStrand Thu 7, LT Lief, 7.30-9pm, CatStrand Sat 9, Glenkens Producers' Market , 10am1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 9, Exploring Land Use Change Workshop, 2-5pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 9, Exploring Land Use Change Talk, 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 9, Sew Special Saturday, book ahead julia.higgins55@outlook.com Sat 9, Glenkens Story: The Woodlands of Galloway, CatStrand Mon 11, Dalry Town Hall Management Meeting, 7-9pm, Dalry Town Hall Tue 12, Loch Ken Trust AGM, 7pm, The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Thu 14, Anthony Fidler: Heart Touch Workshop, The Smiddy, Balmaclellan, £90, email to book – lucy@lothlorien.tc Thu 14, Family History & Heritage, 7-9pm, Crossmichael Church Hall Fri 15, Rebecca Carson & Anne Chaurand: Flute & Guitar Recital, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 16, Bob’s Bingo, 4–5.30pm, NG Town Hall Sat 16, Evie Ladin & Sophie Wellington, 7.30pm, CatStrand Tue 19, Men’s Shed Open Day , 10am- 1pm, Glenkens Men’s Shed, Balmaclellan, see p5 Wed 20, Dalry Film Club: Dune Part 2, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 21, Carsphairn SWI: Wreath Making, 7.30pm, Lagwyne Hall Sat 23, Risto’s Pop-up Restaurant – A Finnish Smorgasbord Feast, NG Town Hall Sat 23, Book Week Scotland - New Scots: Old and New Connections, 1pm, CatStrand Sun 24, Held on the High Wire, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sun 24 & Sat 30 Nov & Sun 1 Dec, Make Your Own Christmas Wreath Workshop, Galloway Flowers, Balmaclellan, 01644 420 407 Sun 24, Wreaths & Rushes workshop, 11am3pm, Corsock Village Hall Sat 30, The Glenkens Story: The Glenkens in Covenanting times – persecution, families and feuds, 3pm, CatStrand Sat 30, Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 30, Yuletide Fair, Balmaclellan Village Hall Sat 30, St Andrew’s Day ‘The Motte’ pop-up pub, Balmaclellan Village Hall Glenkens & District Community Councils Balmaclellan Community Council: Bi-monthly, 7.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall - contact Martin on 07939 261 391 Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham Communty Council: contact mcnabblaurie@hotmail.com or 01644 440 200 Carsphairn Community Council: Last Monday each month, 7pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn - contact carsphairncc@gmail. com or 07531 035 824 Balmaghie Community Council: contact secbalmaghiecc@ btinternet.com or 01644 450 621 Dalry Community Council: First Monday each month, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall - contact sjtdalrycc@gmail.com or 07940 313 445 New Galloway & Kells Community Council: Second Monday each month, 7.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall Parton Community Council: contact ericaporteous@hotmail. co.uk or 01644 470 277 Crossmichael Community Council: Second Wednesday every month - contact richardandjane@phonecoop.coop or 01556 670 691 Full minutes of local Community Council meetings can be viewed at Dalry Library or online at www.glenkens.scot For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 35 REGULAR EVENTS & OPENING TIMES Balmaclellan Village Hall Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, 2.30-4pm, warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Exercise Class, Tue, 6-7pm Tai Chi, Wed, 2-3pm Zumba, Fri, 6.30-7.30pm Glenkens Crafters, Wed, 10am-12noon, julia.higgins55@outlook.com Community Library, Wed, 10.30am– 12.30pm; Sat, 10am-12noon Make Do & Mend, fortnightly from 14 Feb, 7-9pm Stewartry Birdwatchers, 2nd Thu each month Sep to Apr (Sep & Apr, 7.30pm; Oct-Mar, 2.30pm) Soup & Sandwich, Sat, 12noon-2pm, OctMar Men's Shed, Balmaclellan General Opening Times: Mon, Wedn & Fri, 9.30am–12noon Stick Making - Mon, 7-9pm Art Group, Thu, 2-4pm Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Monday Morning Social, 11am-2pm, 07710 124 255 Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu of the month, 7.30pm Craft Group, Fri, 10am-12noon, includes tea & coffee, carsphairncraftgroup@ gmail.com Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, Sat, 10am CatStrand, New Galloway Art Ambassadors (age 11+), Mon, biweekly, 4.30pm Behind the Scenes, bi-weekly, Mon, 5.30pm Energising Yoga Flow, Tue, 9.30am, booking essential, 07733 111 466 Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Tue, 10am-4pm Weekly Bus Service to Tesco, Wed, 7pm Dramarama, (age 6-10), Wed, 4pm Up Skills: Musical Theatre, (age 15+), Wed, 5pm Young Writers Cafe, (age 12+), Wed, 6pm, monthly Piano Lessons, weekly, term time 4–6.30pm Morning Flow Yoga, Thu, 9.30am, booking essential, 07733 111 466 CatStrand Singers, Thu, 11am Dance Steps (age 10-18yrs), Sat, monthly, 12.30-3.30pm Art Explorers, (age under 10yrs), Sat biweekly 10am Art Club, (age 11-16yrs), Sat, bi-weekly 11.30am Musical Misfits, Sat, bi-weekly, 10am Youth Players Panto rehearsals, (10 yrs plus), weekly, Sun, 3pm The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Taste of Music, monthly, 10am (under 10yrs) Mini Music Makers, family session, monthly 11.45am (under 7yrs) Weekly Ukuele, guitar & keyboard lessons, 12.30–4pm (6-16 yrs) Art Explorers, Sat, 10.30am-1.15pm, fortnightly New Galloway Town Hall Men’s Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.30-11am Dance for Wellbeing (adults), Mon 2.303.30pm Modern Dance (children), 4-5pm LING Lunches, Tue, 12.30–2pm Sports Evening, Tue, 7–9pm, carpet bowls or table tennis Zumba, Wed, 6.30pm Ukulele Group, Wed, 6.30-8pm Hubbub, Thu, 12noon–5.30pm, drop-in Martial Arts, Thu, 7.30-9pm Babies & Toddlers, Fri, 10-11am For further info email info@ling.org.uk, phone 07749 249 781 Glenkens Community Centre Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Mon, 10am-4pm Glenkens Youth Group, Mon, 7-8.30pm Dalry Good Neighbours Club, Tue, 2pm, 07795 613 148 Clachan Crafters, Thu, 2pm, 07500 861 041 Kickback Martial Arts, Thu, 5.30-7pm, kmabrian@gmail.com or drop-in Song Share, 1st Friday each month, 8-11pm, anne.chaurand@btinternet.com Yoga For All, Fri 9.30am, drop-in, 07733 111 466 Friendship Group, Sat (excluding Glenkens Producers Market days), 1011.30am, 01644 430 052 Table Tennis/Badminton, available to hire by arrangement, 07500 861 041 Tue, 10.30-11.30am Glenkens Book Group, last Fri each month, 2pm, 01644 420 361 Lego Stay N' Play With Your Child, every 3rd Sat of the month, 1-3pm, contact Michele Owen on Fb Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, Mon, 2pm Dog Training, Tue, 7pm, 07831 590 822 Song Share, 1st Fri each month, 7.3010.30pm Mossdale Village Hall Mossdale Painters, Wed, 9.30-11.30am Yoga, Fri, 2.15pm Soup Saturday, last Sat each month, 1-3pm Various Bumps, Babies & Beyond, every 2nd Mon, 10.30am, Kirkpatriack Durham Village Hall Strictly Get Dancing, Loch Ken Activity Centre, Parton, Mon, 7pm Spalding Bowling Club Sweep Nights, Mon, 7pm, shazfish1@gmail.com Cosy Corner, Tue, 1-5pm, Crossmichael Church Hall, 07889 016 963 Crossmichael Heritage Centre, Wed 2-4.30pm Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Patchwork Workshop, Crossmichael Church Hall, Thu, 1-3pm Dragon Boats on Loch Ken, Sun 9.30am, Galloway Activity Centre, Parton Knockvennie Hall Heat Bank & Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona Ramsay on 07500 554 751 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, contact Gary on 01644 430 521 Baby & Toddler Group, Thu, 9.3011.30am, Balmaghie Public Hall, Laurieston Crossmichael Youth Club, Fri, Crossmichael Memorial Hall Glenkens Charity Shop Opening Times: Mon 10am-1pm Tue 6-8pm Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-4pm Dalry Library Main St, Dalry, Tel: 01644 430 234 Library Opening Times: Tue 2-5pm, Fri 12noon-5pm with the first hour for NEC Bus Pass & Blue Badge appointments, etc. Book in the library or call 01387 260 196. Bookbug and Parent & Toddler Session, For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette page 36 Dung Beetles Won't Vote For You Dear Politicians I need your help. This is an emergency. Please listen to my concerns and take action. That’s what you’re employed to do. To whom else can I turn? I want you to represent me. I want you to represent every constituent you have, including the ones who arrived yesterday after their dangerous and terrible journeys. In fact listen to them the most. They know what it’s already like out there - what it’s going to be like here if no one acts. Ask them what they went through after their village had no more water. Ask them what it was like when their crops failed and their flocks starved. Ask what it’s like to live in a world where there’s no more food. Ask how it was when fires or floods swept away their homes. Ask them how they started walking, who they carried, and who died along the way. Ask who violated them and tried to kill them on their journey. Ask them a lot about the bombs, the raiding parties. Find out what the soldiers did. These are your constituents. They can tell you where we’re headed. you’ll get more simple honest answers from them than you will from all your colleagues in the corridors of wealth. I live in a country, which you represent, whose fertile land is being sold off to foreign investors as part of a carbon-offset hoax. Why are you allowing this to happen even as our climate inexorably changes? How can we adapt in time if you don’t do anything? In your constituencies ordinary people can’t find a home to live in, local schools for their children, or get work that is crying out to be done. As people leave the land generations of knowledge leaves with them. What are we going to eat when global markets collapse? This is an emergency. Who will lead us through it, if not you? I’m writing on behalf of those who have no voices that you can hear: the ones who are wholly innocent, who have never colluded with any of humanity’s disastrous mistakes. I’m speaking of all the other living beings who live here too. How many species inhabit your constituencies, do you think? They were here long before you. Trillions? Zillions - you haven’t even heeded the ones creating the soil under your feet right now. We can’t live for a day without them - how can you possibly ignore your responsibility to care for them? I’m asking you to think about the children. They’ll be here long after you’ve gone, if they survive the coming times. Ask them what kind of world they want. Would they like to have food, water, shelter? Would they like to find a living here? Would they even like to learn and grow in peace? I think Dung beetles won’t vote for you; bees won’t promote you; worms won’t donate to your party funds, but without them, we’re dead. Yours truly a concerned citizen MNE Photo of the Issue Sponsored by This issue’s winner is Joe Ade with this late summer shot of 'tiny hammocks'. Joe wins two portions of mac 'n' cheese from our competition sponsors, the Balmaclellan-based Stockbridge Mac & Cheese Co. Company owner and competition judge, Hannah Gould, said: "Since we're on holiday at the moment, the thought of lazing in the sun in a hammock really appealed...I hope those spiders are soaking up some much needed sunshine!" To enter you can send in any photograph taken in the Glenkens to glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit events, activities, news stories, cartoons, reviews, tips & techniques, fiction, photos, ads or ideas... Contact Sarah Ade on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Editing & Design: sarah.ade@gmail.com DEC/JAN COPY DEADLINE: 5 NOV The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, a Registered Scottish Charity No SC032050 The role of the Gazette is to represent the voice of the community and does not represent the views of GCAT.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 144 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GG_144 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GCAT Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 Description An account of the resource Editor: Sarah Ade https://glenkensarchive.scot/glenkens_archive/files/original/1/290/GlenkensGazette143.pdf ad8f61a43680de46ed318e8ee9e4ad3d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 143 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Description An account of the resource <p>Find out more about the Gazette: <a href="https://glenkens.scot/gazette-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenkens Gazette home page</a> If you would like to submit an article or take out an advert, please email the editor Sarah Ade: <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:glenkensgazette@hotmail.com">glenkensgazette@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is a member of, and regulated by <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.impressorg.com/">Impress</a>.</p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of Glenkens Community &amp; Arts Trust (SC032050) and represents the voice of the community (not necessarily the views of GCAT).</p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document August/September 2024 ISSUE 143 Pioneering education and learning event W ith a focus across Scotland on the loss of rural amenities, schools and rural depopulation, the Glenkens is taking the reins in engaging our communities to figure out what we need and want in terms of education and learning. The Glenkens Community and Arts Trust (GCAT) hosted an event on behalf of the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan Steering Group. The event was designed to inform and inspire, and welcomed six excellent speakers who gave up their time to move this important subject forward. There were two areas on which the speakers focussed; 'industry' and 'education'. On the ‘industry’ panel, Richard Nash of Natural Speakers at the education and learning Power, event addressed a packed auditorium Matthew Bacon of previous Head of the Argyll & Vattenfall and Abi Mordin of Bute Education Department Propagate gave fascinating and now researcher into insights into the pipeline rural small schools, and of skilled jobs that will be Andrew Pyle, Head of the needed in the land and energy Kilquhanity Children’s Village industries in the Glenkens over near Kirkpatrick Durham. the next 20 years. Continued on page 11... The ’education’ panel comprised Anne Paterson, A National Park for Galloway? I n July 2024 the Scottish Government selected Galloway as a possible location for a new National Park. The region, which came out top from a shortlist of five, will be the subject of a consultation and an investigation into its suitability. The Glenkens Gazette and Glenkens Hub don't have a position on the National Park itself, but we think that the best outcome will be achieved through wide and wellinformed discussion. To support the public's meaningful engagement with the issues, we have brought together the relevant official documents on this a new page Proposed area for the Galloway National Park under the 'Good to and will update it as we get Know' section of the Glenkens more information in the months Hub at www.glenkens.scot/ ahead. galloway-national-park-proposal FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Galloway Riding for the Disabled ...turn to p4 Eco Feature: Lochhill Bioblitz ...turn to p14 Support package for Glenkens childminders ...turn to page 23 The mysterious history of Kenmure burial isle ...turn to page 27 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews Carsphairn's Big Lunch C arsphairn's inaugural Eden Project Communities Scotland Big Lunch, intended to bring communities together, was a success. The event was well attended with a buffet lunch supplied by Carsphairn Tearooms. Finlay Carson MSP and his family joined residents for the buffet-style meal, supported by Carsphairn Community Council and organised by Cathy Cockburn. Also present was children's group Bairn Banter organiser, Melissa Ade, with a page 2 host of fun things to do for the younger attendees. Cathy said: "A big thank you to all who assisted in making this event a success and let's look forward to doing it annually." Name the Place I n each issue a photograph will be taken somewhere in the Glenkens by local photographer Ted Leeming and readers have to guess where it is. The answer can be found on p22, with a bit of information and food for thought about that location. Loch Ken Dragon Spalding open Boats party night triples competition J oin the Dragon Boats on Loch Ken club for a fundraising party night on Saturday 7 December at Dalry Town, with music from Glasgow-based Vintage Vinyl. Last year we held the party night at Balmaclellan Village Hall and it was a great success. More information will be available from October regarding tickets; they sell fast so make sure the date is in your diary. You can reserve tickets by calling or 0751 431 7578 or emailing pflssw@gmail.com S palding Bowling Club held the annual Open Triples competition at the end of June. Congratulations to Stewart Crossan, Bert Little and Melvin McTaggart on winning the open triples, beating Stevie Johnston, Tom Rogers and Davy McHenry in the final. A big 'thank you' goes to Kate Bone for presenting the prizes on behalf of our sponsor, William Bone, of Upper Dullarg Eggs. The club would also like to thank everyone for coming along to the event and all those members who helped out, making it a fantastic day. Garry Priddy Dragon Boats on Loch Ken is based at the Galloway Activity Centre. We paddle on Sundays from April to October, meeting at 9.30am - do come along, we'd love to meet you! Joyce Thacker Left to Right: (runners up) Tom Rogers, Davy McHenry, Steven Johnstone, Kate Bone (Upper Dullarg Eggs), Garry Priddy (President); (winners) Stewart Crossan, Melvin McTaggart and Bert little Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 3 Galloway Community Transport: Goodbye, hello and expanding the fleet G alloway Community Transport (GCT) bade a fond farewell to Sue McMinn. Good news - we have a new member of the team joining us on 1 August; Jason Wilding has been selected as the new GCT coordinator. Some of you may recognise him from the GCT driving work he has been doing for us. Welcome Jason! All the team will miss her cheery personality and hard work but respect her need to spend more time with family. More good news - we were recently in receipt of a generous anonymous donation which allowed us to purchase an almost-new T encouragement to visitors and tell them one of his many jokes. Ford Transit 16-seater minibus at the end of May. It has already been used for several excursions, with the response being very positive. Even more good news - due to a combination of funding and another anonymous donation, we have been able to order a brand-new wheelchair accessible 16-seater minibus. We are expecting delivery of that at the end of August. We have also been in very productive discussions with Dumfries & Galloway Council about the installation of a DC (direct current) charger in the Glenkens over the next few months, which will allow us to get our e-Bus fully up and running. More news on that next time... Jon Betts, GCT Manager In memory of Brian here was an excellent turnout of members to honour and remember Brian Porteous, the New Galloway Golf Course greenkeeper of longstanding. Brian tragically died whilst working on the course a year ago and is sadly missed by all the members and visitors to the club. He was always working on the course, making it one of - if not the - best 9-hole courses in Scotland. This high standard of maintenance on our course drew in many visitors from all over the world. Brian was also always on hand to offer Members played a competition for the Brian Porteous Trophy, a stunning wood turning made by club member, Rex Dressler, from the sycamore tree which had stood next to the clubhouse. Brian was an excellent putter and also had a lovely sense of humour. It therefore was very appropriate that the format of the competition involved the players using the longest club in their bag to putt on the green. Three players scored 30 points - Ewan Kelly, Mark Evans and Jeff Sutcliffe - but there can only be one winner, and with a better inward half of 17 points, Ewan won the trophy. A prize draw was organised and raised enough money for the Seniors to purchase a plaque for the memorial seat which had been built from stones taken from the dyke on the 3rd hole and built by member Guy Pumpr. The seat stands next to the 9th tee and looks across the glen to the east. Jeff Sutcliffe Three new homes for Balmaclellan T plans for the new houses to members of the community. the PYT trustees were delighted to have positive feedback from the public. The Smiddy venue, situated directly opposite the site of the proposed development, was the ideal place to showcase Drawings were available to view and people got to talk to the architect and hear from representatives of South of Scotland Community Housing, who have been instrumental in helping PYT develop the plans. Approximately 40 members of the community attended and Alan Smith, chair of PYT, said: “We are now moving towards sourcing funding for this project which will provide three new homes, designed to be aesthetically pleasing with an element of green space, and of a scale that is suitable to their location in the centre of the village”. he Pamela Young Trust (PYT) held a drop-in session to showcase their plans for the old filling station site in Balmaclellan. GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 4 Galloway Riding for the Disabled M any people may not be aware that there is a riding group for people with disabilities in this area, but Galloway Riding for the Disabled (RDA) has been in existence for many years. We were originally the Machars Group but moved to Barstobrick, Ringford, in 2007 and became Galloway RDA. Last year we moved to our new home at Gelston where we are lucky to have access to some lovely horses and ponies and, thanks to Mr and Mrs Scott at Gelston Castle, we are able to take our riders out safely through the castle grounds. Our group is led by volunteers, apart from one paid qualified instructor. We cater to groups of children, usually three to a group, from local schools, groups from Loch Arthur Community and groups of adults who come independently. We operate in term-time only and also have a winter break from December to February to avoid the worst of the weather. Many of our adult riders have been coming for several years and thoroughly enjoy their sessions, but it is the children who show the most marked difference in behaviour. It is astonishing how calm they are near the horses and how they absolutely love the experience; one little boy said to me “it’s been the best day of my life". Contact with horses is known to have a therapeutic effect and they can certainly work their magic. In order to have this ‘magic’ we need volunteers, which is proving difficult in modern times as more and more people are working longer hours, looking after grandchildren or are generally busy. We meet on Wednesday mornings, starting at 10am and finishing about 1.30pm to allow groups to ride for approximately one hour each. We need volunteers who can help for either one, two or three hours at a stretch to assist riders in organising getting their hats and boots on, leading the horses or preparing the arena. No experience is necessary, either with horses or disabled people; just a willingness to help. We are a friendly group and try to make everyone feel welcome. We have a social get-together in the summer to thank our volunteers and also another one at Christmas. If anyone wishes to do a first aid or Safeguarding course, we can provide these. So if you can spare an hour or two any Wednesday morning, please do come and join us volunteering is good for you! We have a training day on Wednesday 28 August before we start the new term in September and would love to meet you. Please get in touch to find out more - you can call or email Galloway RDA chair Sue Cooper at 01644 450 201 or gallowayrda@gmail.com Keith Cooper Riders enjoying a Galloway RDA session at Gelston Bowled over again Sense of place workshop C ongratulations to David Grieve as winner (yet again!), and Eddie Cruikshank as runner-up of the carpet bowls competition at New Galloway town hall. LING’s Tuesday sports evenings, offering table tennis upstairs as well as the carpet bowling downstairs, are on pause for the summer but reopen on 3 September at 7pm. All are welcome – just drop in (it's £4 a head). Clare McKenzie T he Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere will be holding a Sense of Place workshop at New Galloway Town Hall on Wednesday 2 October from 6.30-8pm. This will be an informal, interactive workshop looking at what it means to become a Biosphere Community and to discuss what is special about the New Galloway and Kells Parish, covering topics such as heritage, recreation and wildlife. Refreshments will be provided and there is no need to book in advance - everyone is welcome. For more information please contact Biosphere community officer Faith Hillier at faith@ gsabiosphere.org.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 5 Lottery supports LING to provide 'a space for everyone' F or many charities, the National Lottery’s Community Fund is one of the biggest grant opportunities available, and excitement reigns at Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING) as we have been rewarded £148,902 over three years. This money is given to enterprises that the National Lottery deem to be ‘good causes’, particularly where they champion inclusivity and environmental sustainability. This fits neatly with LING’s aim to promote rural regeneration, both through maintaining recreational facilities, and providing a regular programme of activities for the public in those places – particularly for those who bear the brunt of rural isolation, marginalised by reason of their age, infirmity, disablement, or socio-economic circumstances. The grant itself covers a lot of behind-the-scenes work and a percentage of the running costs for LING, but most importantly it offers funding for our community inclusion leader and other supporting roles, alongside identified training and development, travel and expenses. Having some of our core costs covered is key to sustaining LING and allows us to develop and grow in its mission to make daily life in New Galloway and the Glenkens community affirming to everyone. And there is plenty to look forward to on the LING calendar, all made possible through this funding! As well as our regular programme of events we have a craft ale tasting and pizza night coming up in September as part of Glenkens Food Month (see article below), a Halloween event in October, and the return of Risto’s pop-up restaurant in November. So a variety of events for a variety of people! LING’s annual general meeting and cheese and wine event for friends of LING take place on 4 October at 7.30pm. Thanks as always go to our tireless board of trustees, made up of volunteers from the community, who worked hard to obtain the grant which will allow LING to provide a range of support and opportunities. A charity such as LING relies on the generosity of local people giving their time to help, fully Fifth Glenkens Food Month coming soon! G lenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) is delighted to have secured some funding from Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Region Wide Communities Fund to be able to coordinate Food Month again this year. We have been extremely busy behind the scenes coordinating a varied and exciting programme celebrating the marvellous food and produce on offer in our glorious part of the world. Gala days, ceilidhs, hog roasts, community hall afternoon teas and pop-up pizza nights, plant & seed swaps, buffets, talks, discussions and foodie films are all on the cards during September in the Glenkens. A brochure is now available at outlets and you can also finds events listings on the Glenkens Hub calendar at www.glenkens.scot/glenkens-food-month-2024 or please don't hesitate to email me to find out more - jo@catstrand.com We look forward to seeing you in September; thanks, as ever, to all the community organisations and local businesses for hosting Glenkens Food Month events and activities – this delicious celebration of local food wouldn’t exist without you. A particular 'thank you' goes to the Galloway Food Network and Propagate who work year-round on these important local food issues. Jo Jackson, Glenkens Food Month Coordinator Pictured above are the LING board of trustees with the Lottery cheque representing the diversity of our local community. If you are interested in getting involved either as a member or a trustee please get in touch at info@ling. org.uk Dominique Pope Glenkens Cub Scouts G lenkens cubs had an exciting visit when Freya’s dad came and took them through the Air activity badge, Stages 1 and 2. We are very lucky Stewart is a pilot and his presentation was amazing. Some of the things learned were to write our names using the phonetic alphabet, and all the different countries Stewart flies to. Thank you Stewart for a wonderful evening. Glenkens Cubs teamed up with Loch Ken Trust rangers, Lianne and Lindsay, to learn about water safety. We were shown how to build a responsible camp fire and to leave no trace of our fire. We then had a talk on water safety and were given a chance to try water rescue. We had a fabulous time and have learned skills for life. A big "thank you" to Leanne and Lindsay, and also to Hannah for organising the event. Heather and Christine had a display to promote Scouting in the Glenkens and beyond at the volunteer fair organised by LING in New Galloway Town Hall, supported by families and youngsters who came along in their uniforms. Harriet received her Chief Scout's Silver Award. This badge is the highest award you can get in Cubs and we are very proud of you – well done! Cub Pack meetings restart on 4 September from 6.15-7.30pm at the New Galloway Scout Hut. If you are eight years or older and would ike to come along and give it a try, please give Heather a ring on 01644 420 375. Heather and Hannah GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette Carsphairn Show S ince 1875 Carsphairn Pastoral and Horticultural Society has hosted Carsphairn Show. You can find lots of wonderful historic photographs, like the one below, depicting events on Show Day over the last 147 years at the Carsphairn Archive (www.carsphairn. org/CarsphairnArchive). Here are a few snaps from this year's show, taken by Chris Caygill, 'Shepherd with a camera' - for more of Chris' photos visit @Cjcaygill Fuzzyfotos on Facebook. There was a great turnout, with lots on offer including a kids' area hosted by local page 6 stay-and-play children's group, Bairn Banter (see article below). Pictured below right are winners of the pet show: Cherice Clark-Kennedy took first prize with miniature dachsund Evie and Keita Holmes took first place in the Best Pet category and second in the Best Dog category with miniature schnauzer cross French bulldog, Moine. Out and about with Bairn Banter Y oungsters from near and far visiting Carsphairn Show enjoyed Bairn Banter's new touring tent and trailer for fun, free children's activities throughout the day. Some of the activities on offer were sheep-themed crafts, water play, bubbles, soft play and sensory activities. There were a variety of snacks on offer, and a nice cool area to take a rest away from the glorious summer sunshine. Back at the Bairn Banter home base in Carsphairn's Lagwyne Hall the children have been turning fingers green, planting and looking after their small garden. The wee garden has now reached the point that children can enjoy the fruits of their labours, with young pea shoots and sweet strawberries able to be picked and eaten. As the summer holidays are now upon us, members of Bairn Banter warmly welcome all children and families to come along and enjoy the weekly group. Alongside all kinds of fun activities, the group continues to provide free healthy snacks for children (and parents), helping combat food poverty and promote healthy eating for youngsters and their families. If you would like to get involved with the group, perhaps to offer a skill, share a story, or anything else, please get in touch by emailing bairnbanter@outlook. com or feel free to join our Facebook page to keep up to date with news and upcoming activities Melissa Ade Pictured are Bairn Banter's new trailer and tent, funded through GCAT by the Scottish Government through CoDeL (see p11 for more on CoDeL), set up at the Carsphairn Show, and strawberries in the children's garden next to Lagwyne Hall Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Youth Correspondent page 7 Joshua Wells, aged 15, is our Gazette youth correspondent and in each edition he will be writing about topics which interest him. In this issue Josh takes a look at train routes through the Glenkens. T he walk from Gatehouse of Fleet train station to Mossdale goes along a former railway line. The approximately nine-mile journey takes around four hours to walk and for the most part it is flat, making it easy for any walker. As you walk along what used to be train tracks you'll see lovely landmarks, including the little Gatehouse station which has been turned into a house, the Big Water of Fleet Viaduct which, as the name states, is large, the calm Loch Skerrow, and the tall Clints of Dromore. Most of the paths are wellmaintained and easy to walk along. However, some sections have become overgrown or boggy, so I recommend bringing your wellies. The last time I walked it, I ended up with wet feet. A perfect spot to take a break is what used to be Skerrow station, which can be found halfway along the walk. Here you can enjoy a leisurely lunch and keep an eye out for wildlife such as lizards or snakes. You may still see an old railway viaduct when driving along Loch Ken, and on the same road, you may spot the former Parton station that is now a shed; just look out for a red shed with a sign that says ‘Parton Station’. The old railway line, which used to be called the Paddy Line, went from Dumfries to Stranraer via Castle Douglas, Dalbeatie and Kirkcudbright. Unfortunately, this useful line was closed in 1965 due to Richard Beeching calling for the closure of one-third of the country's 7,000 stations after he identified in his report "profitable and unprofitable services and revealed great unevenness in the use and effectiveness of railways". The tracks were removed somewhere between 1967 and 1969, but bizarrely the stations were not removed. Weirdly, when the railway line was first constructed, many of the stations served only a handful of residents. Despite its name, Gatehouse station was built a fair distance (approximately six miles) from the town of Gatehouse of Fleet. Many people wish for this lovely railway to be re-opened, so people can commute to work from a local train station, instead of having to travel to Dumfries to get the train. However, if these wishes are granted, many changes must be made for trains to be able to run. For example, train stations should be moved closer to towns, so it may be just a walk away to get to the station, saving money on fuel and making it more convenient for locals. A railway line could also be useful for younger people, as they would not have to rely on the local inconsistent buses for free public transport. I believe that bringing back the train would be a good idea and with public transport growing due to eco-friendly efforts, it could bring Dumfries and Galloway to a greener future. GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 8 Meet the LING trustees T his is the second instalment introducing the trustees for LING. If you are interested in finding out more about trustee opportunities, please see the information at the end of the article. Barbara Barker – Chair The Town Hall always played a major part in my life growing up in New Galloway. From parties to pantomimes, dances to discos, church sales, jumble sales - it all happened there! Advertisement Having spent many years living around Dumfries and Galloway, and working in health and social care, I was looking forward to retiring ‘back home’. My family have lived in and around New Galloway since the 18th century and have been involved with the Town Hall and the old burgh council over several generations. My father was one of the last town councillors when burgh and county councils were abolished in 1975. I was delighted to be invited to join LING in their quest to restore the Town Hall to its former glory. It’s a great honour to head up a team of hard working and talented individuals who have taken on the task of making sure we have a building the burgh can once more be proud of, and to ensure it can be enjoyed for many more generations to come. Ann Glaister – Secretary Ann became ‘accidentally’ involved in LING back in 2015 when she and her husband Bob found themselves sitting around Ros Hill’s kitchen table agreeing to be secretary and treasurer respectively ‘just to get a business plan agreed’. Ros had a way of engaging people which has become almost legendary. Eight years later, Ann is still in the same role. Previously she had been enjoying a relaxed retirement from an academic job with the Open University, where she had worked for 25 years. An NHS psychologist initially, she had made the transition to the field of health and social welfare, and loved the challenges and interest of working in multi-disciplinary teams. That is something she still enjoys - working as a trustee with others who bring different perspectives and skills. Her academic role had involved some fundraising, but she had not anticipated how useful that experience would be, until she found herself fundraising for LING. The improvements to New Galloway Town Hall suggest it has indeed helped, although, as ever, success has depended on community support for the project. At LING, our trustees are the backbone of our Charity, ensuring we stay true to our objectives and deliver meaningful change in our community. Each trustee is supported to bring: integrity; commitment to our goals; teamwork spirit; understanding of their legal duties; strategic vision; independent judgement; creative thinking; willingness to voice opinions. We currently have opportunities to join the LING trustee team; if you would like to know more please email info@LING.org.uk with your details for an informal chat. Pictured are Barbara Barker (top) and Ann Glaister An update from Border Collie Rescue - progress at Corsock We still have a lot to do here but things are progressing well thanks to local volunteers who have given their time to help us get things up and running. JSF have installed stock fencing and gates to divide our 12 acre field into 6 areas. We now have two large grazing fields, 3 paddocks for exercise and training and a set aside perimeter around the whole which, in the long run, will become a nature walk and conservation area for the use of school groups visiting the centre. So far we have planted over 250 native species trees in this area with more planned for next year. Grass is growing fast this year so its been topped and 25 sheep are keeping it grazed. Our 3 paddocks have been top fenced as extra security and the whole 12 acre perimeter is either deer fenced or double height to keep dogs in and deer out. We are now making the yard secure, after which we will move on to converting some of the outbuildings to set up accommodation and support facilities for a small number of dogs. Until then any dogs we take in from, or rehome into Scotland, like those below, will go into foster homes in Yorkshire and be re-homed from there. There are all sorts of jobs to do, skilled and unskilled so if anyone out there wants to get involved, please give us a call on 07548 258886. We and our dogs look forward to hearing from you. Mike and Nicki. Dogs shown here are rehomed Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople page 9 BUSINESS in the SPOTLIGHT and the lanes were slowing down and filtering off to the slip lane. M y wife Sharon and I are often asked locally what we do since moving our business here some 18 years ago. We started our company, TransK9, in 2003, designing and manufacturing dog transport crates. Over the years the business has grown and we now sell worldwide, supplying numerous police forces, HM Prison Service, HM Customs & Excise, various local authorities and literally thousands of individual dog owners for whom the safety of their pet in transit is of the utmost importance. A customer recently contacted us to thank us and share their experience, and we thought Gazette readers may find it an interesting story, so we've included it here. Rob Marshall Hello TransK9, I just wanted to say a massive thank you. Today, the unthinkable happened; I was rear-ended on the M25 by a van going at 70mph. Me and my spaniel Mitch were on our way back from work (on a school farm) Ken Bridge Hotel Opening Times Sit-in and takeaway, seven days a week Evening Meals: 5.30-8pm Bar Service: from 4-11pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 11pm Saturday and Sunday * all meals must be booked in advance * • Pool table and darts board • Terrace/beer garden • • Venue available for hire for functions and events • • Campsite with river views *hot tubs coming soon* • - Dogs on leads welcome on outdoor terrace - For bookings, orders or any other enquiries call 01644 420 211, 07826 382 552, 07825 237 627, email mail@kenbridgehotel.com or message on Facebook @ Ken Bridge Hotel & campsite or visit www.kenbridgehotel.com I heard the sound of a horn and a screech, held my breath, and thought "this is it!", hoping we’d go quickly with no suffering. To my amazement, I crawled out with merely a scrape and Mitch not even a scratch - the dog crate took the impact! The police, paramedics and Highways England commended the crate, saying my dog would have not survived without it. The police said that not only did the crate save my dog’s life, it took a lot of the impact which prevented further damage to myself too. So I just wanted to get in touch and say, thank you; your product saved my dog's life and I will not hesitate in a heartbeat to buy another for my next car. Best wishes, Hayley (and Mitch) Pictured is Hayley's car after the accident, showing the TransK9 dog crate in the boot which took the majority of the impact GAZETTEeducation Glenkens Gazette page 10 Finding a way forward for rural education A s humans, learning is as much a part of us as breathing; from the moment we open our eyes until we take our last breath, we are learning. Over the years, with schools a core service in every community in Scotland, we have perhaps become complacent with regard to the learning process. There is an innate assumption that children go to school and come out with ‘an education’. Until, that is, we find our schools at risk of closure. Then, bathed in the stark light of loss, we are forced to reassess what schools and education mean for our communities. Here in the Glenkens, as with all rural communities, our vital amenities are core to the health, wellbeing and future sustainability of our area. In a town or city, if a school or doctor’s surgery or Post Office closes, it likely doesn't have a huge impact on those within that community as there will be another one within a reasonable distance. Not so in rural settings. The Glenkens Community Action Plan Steering Group (CAPSG), along with Dalry School Parent Council, have been working in partnership to highlight the value of education in our communities; across the board, not just for families with children. With the very real risk of losing Dalry Secondary, there is a need for community-wide discussion on where the future of education and learning in the Glenkens lies, and also a need for the community voice to be heard by D&G Council. The talk held at the CatStrand on 11 July was well attended by a wide range of members of the Glenkens communities, and has hopefully opened the doors on this conversation. With a Glenkens & District Trust funded report on rural education in the pipeline, and real interest being shown from the D&G Council education department with regard to engaging with our communities, there is hope that we can move forward with optimism towards fit-for-purpose learning opportunities for our unique rural communities. On the following pages are a selection of articles considering the topic of education and learning in the Glenkens. Discussions about Carsphairn school A meeting was held in Lagwyne Hall to discuss potential options for Carsphairn Primary School in providing education for the community. The event was well attended, with over 30 members of the local community present as well as a number of children and young people. Organised by Emily and Tom Wall, the meeting showcased two presentations of potential community-led options for the school. The first saw the Walls present an idea for an education and learning centre, and the second was a presentation by Fiona McQuinn considering ways the community could work in partnership with the council to offer early child care and primary school education. With the new Rural Skills Training Centre at Carsphairn Community Woodland, and conversations happening with regard to lifelong learning across the Glenkens, education is the hot topic of the moment. The event was well attended, with tables set up to accommodate discussion, and a selection of biscuits, snacks and drinks to ensure everyone was content. Those in attendance were invited to note their thoughts down and engage MATTHEW PAJO Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - pain management - women's health - men's health - fatigue - sleep - stress - anxiety - needle-free laser acupuncture- The Old School, Crossmichael info@matthewpajo.co.uk 07786 079 845 There was a full house for discussions on ideas for future education and learning options in Carsphairn in discussion on the potential options. Comments from attendees at the meeting will be compiled and further discussions had once potential funding opportunities have been investigated - watch this space! Amber Dunlop-Pajo Health Psychologist - women's health - stress - depression - anxietyThe Old School, Crossmichael info@gallowaycounselling.co.uk 07389 713 106 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEeducation page 11 A Glenkens focus on education & learning Continued from front page... Matthew highlighted the increase in operational positions needed on wind farms, which is predicted to rise by 250% by 2030 in Dumfries & Galloway - from 112 to 395 positions. These are longterm, well-paid roles. Similarly, Abi highlighted that the changing agricultural subsidy regime will require new skilled roles in a variety of areas including nature restoration and enhancement. Richard drew on his nonexecutive role at Dumfries & Galloway College to highlight how joint working between the college and Natural Power had led to a new course in wind turbine maintenance that was training technicians in the relevant skills, ready to enter the industry directly. Anne discussed her previous research into the issues and possible solutions associated with small rural schools, and reflected on the importance of such schools both to the communities they are embedded in and to a local authority’s vision for rural sustainability. Her own research highlighted the need for due consideration of context and place when implementing national policy, the need for mutual understanding between local authorities and communities and the need for innovative thinking to find new solutions. Andrew gave an insight into an entirely different model of education, as embodied by Kilquhanity Free School from 1940 to 1997 - one that prioritised learning over education and embraced radical democracy for and by the children (see Andrew's article on p12). Finally, Theona Morrison, a founding director of community development organisation CoDeL, based on Uist, and chair of Scottish Rural Action, gave some inspiring examples of the Uist communities working in partnership with their local authority. New courses were designed, giving young people the skills needed to stay on the island - including entrepreneurship and leadership - instead of educating them to leave. As a result of this and other efforts, the depopulation of Uist has been significantly mitigated. She also highlighted the research work that they have been commissioned to do by the Glenkens & District Trust. They plan to publish a final report on the Glenkens Hub by the autumn and will be engaging with Glenkens community members as well as other rural communities world-wide during the summer. The event was extremely well attended, with more than 60 people coming along including children and young people. Representatives from local businesses, Dalry School Parent Council and D&G Council directorate for Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing were in attendance along with information stands from Carsphairn Community Woodland, the Scottish Childminding Association and the now-completed Galloway Glens project on their incredibly successful internship scheme. Caroline Reeves, a member of the CAP Steering Group and Crossmichael resident, chaired the evening. She said: “As ever in the Glenkens, the level of engagement, creative thinking and knowledge in the audience was inspiring in itself. Added to the fantastic presentations and insights, it all made for a most interesting and thoughtprovoking evening that we hope helped everyone look at education and learning in the Glenkens, and other rural areas, in a new way. Many thanks are due to GCAT, who hosted the event.” Helen Keron, executive manager of GCAT, said: “Many thanks to all the speakers, manned stands, Caroline, GCAT staff and all the volunteers who made this event such a success. It’s always inspiring to see the communities of the Glenkens come together about issues that mean a lot to them, and I am optimistic that we can continue to keep working in partnership with all members of the community, local businesses and the council to find a great solution to education and learning in the Glenkens; one that is fit for modern rural living”. As a result of the event, Dumfries & Galloway Council representatives have reached out for further meetings with Glenkens communities and businesses and have offered to share relevant data, which is very welcome. A written report from the event is available on the Glenkens Hub at www. glenkens.scot/education-andlearning Photographs taken at the Glenkens Education & Learning Summit © Ian Biggar Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEeducation page 12 Kilquhanity House School The relevance of an alternative education model for the Glenkens I was asked to speak at the Education Forum held at the CatStrand along with six other speakers, some online and some in person. Sadly, the timescale of the evening was such that speakers were only allocated 10 minutes in which to share their thoughts. As is often the case, the shorter the time, the more one tries to cram in facts and information and raise specific points of view. In my case – poorly put across. However, hopefully some words here will help to put the case I had hoped to share on the night! We started with a quiz along the line of ‘Who Said?’ noting some important perspectives relevant to the Glenkens today and for the future: Who Said..? "If you live in Scotland, you are Scottish" - William McIlvanney "Small is beautiful" - Ernst Schumacher "Education is the generation of happiness" - William Godwin "Learning by doing" - John Dewey "The Glenkens is awash with talent" - Me! Apart from myself, all of the above have made significant, sometimes huge, contributions to our understanding of – well, life! Kilquhanity House, near Bridge of Urr, was founded in 1940 by two couples; John and Morag Aitkenhead and Argyle and Felix Sturgeon (the Sturgeons swam away in 1941!). As we know in 1940 the German Luftwaffe were bombing UK cities and ports like London, Glasgow, Newcastle and Barrow. Many children were evacuated from these places and Galloway was considered one of the safe places to access. Many of the big houses were commissioned for such use. Kilquhanity survived financially for its first few years due to the placement of several evacuated children. Both John and Morag had been influenced by the words of AS Neill, founder of the Summerhill School – lastly in Leiston, Suffolk. Neill famously wrote many books on ‘free school’ education. At Kilquhanity ‘free school’ was interpreted as a community of children and adults living and learning together. The daily routine would include 'useful work' where every individual would undertake chores and responsibilities for the benefit of everyone – chopping firewood, gardening, peeling spuds, preparing sandwiches and tea or coffee for morning break, cleaning bathrooms and toilets, sweeping, etc. This period would last for about 40 minutes. As repetition could become tiresome everyone could ask to swap 'useful work' jobs through the Council Meeting, which was a meeting held once a week on a Thursday afternoon, attended by everyone and at which everyone had a vote – staff and pupil alike. As pupil numbers were higher than staff, it could be possible on occasion for staff to be outvoted. The meeting was the forum to discuss ALL issues in the school – bullying, theft, bedtimes, menus, toilet paper, celebrations, visitors seeking permission to visit, etc. Each item would be discussed with the level of detail required, points of view shared and, if necessary, votes taken to determine outcomes. The meeting was chaired by a pupil and scribed by a pupil, so a permanent record was kept. Often this record would be a point of reference at a future meeting to remind the meeting of a decision taken. Often, rather than a ’punishment’, individuals would agree an undertaking to behave in a particular way to show that they had ‘changed their ways’. Beyond basic literacy and numeracy, the majority of lessons could be considered free choice and often the content of a lesson would be negotiated between teacher and pupils. As the school was small – remember small is beautiful – a class of four or five kids in a particular subject area could follow individual routes to learning. For myself, in Science I spent a term exploring the design and fuelling of rockets, culminating in a two-kilogram rocket flying approximately 200 metres into the air, fuelled by a mixture of methylated spirits, zinc and sulphur ignited through the main electricity socket. This project somewhat annoyed the Ministry of Defence who sent an angry letter demanding cessation of the project. My woodwork project was designing and building a loudspeaker cabinet. Other kids my age were interested in motor vehicles, taxidermy and wildlife – several trips to A&E following bites by adders stick in my mind. So there was no National Curriculum, Highers or The front of the original Kilquhanity equivalents. However, school prospectus, highlighting the pupils could choose fact that it was a safe place to send to study for public your children in wartime Britain examinations if they wanted to. I remember so well Bett Kelso, from along with many other ‘free Kirkpatrick Durham, invigilating school’ establishments across the and bringing homemade tablet, world. He is now a world leader tea and coffee around to keep us in this type of education. going through the exam period. To close my talk, I was going to That is not to say ‘free school’ make a comment on the recent education is for everyone. My Dalry School student protest, as son attended Kilquhanity; my reported in the Galloway News daughter said she did not want and Glenkens Gazette. Contrary to to; she enjoyed her state school, the Government's Section 11 Act had a large friendship group and concerning the right to assembly enjoyed being successful in her and protest in a public place, the subjects. comments made – as reported Ex-pupils have entered many in the papers – by the outgoing professions and work lives: headteacher to the striking pupils musicians, artists, therapists, are, in my opinion, outrageous. joiners, architects, teachers, To say the pupils had no right to tax inspector, professor of protest where they had chosen, mathematics, dentist, breadto state they were truanting, and maker, taxi-driver, actors, lifeboat telling them it would be on a coxswain, mechanics, yoga permanent record, is really not teacher – and there have of a positive educational message course been some rascals too! to give young people about Just like any other school – state democracy. I would certainly not or private. send any of my kids to his school! Sadly, the school closed The Universal of Education is in 1996/7. The estate was about learning to be human, purchased by Kinokuni Childrens humane and sociable as well Village Trust (KCVT) and reas learning about self. The opened in 2007 as a Scotltish Individuality of Education is base for the five schools of about choice of learning. the Trust in Japan. Shinichiro To find out more about the history Hori, the director of KCVT, of Kilquhanity you can visit www. was previously an academic kilquhanity.blogspot.com professor of education in Osaka. Andrew Pyle, His specialism was Western Former Head of Kilquhanity progressive education and for Children's Village (2007-2024) many years he was a visitor to Kilquhanity and Summerhill, Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 13 Kendoon's lifesaving solar solution W ith only a small number of permanent residents, the tiny hamlet of Kendoon is one of the more isolated rural communities within the Glenkens. In June last year, residents started the long journey of sourcing funding for a defibrillator. Raising funds to purchase this lifesaving equipment turned out to be the easier part of the process; the difficulty lay with the power supply required to maintain the defibrillator batteries and temperature control unit. Due to the rural location, the work involved in taking power from existing outlets was estimated at around £17,000. Therefore, alternatives had to be looked at. With the help of various parties and the support of SP Energy Networks, Kendoon now has a fully-funded top-of-the-range defibrillator in a solar-powered box (one of only a handful currently in use in Scotland). Jamie Rose Some Kendoon residents alongside members of the St John Scotland team during a defibrillator training session Find out more about our feathered friends with the Stewartry Birdwatchers S tewartry Birdwatchers commence their monthly meetings on Thursday 12 September with nonmembers always welcome. This first meeting in Balmaclellan Village Hall starts at 7.30pm when the speaker, Crystal Maw, who worked for the RSPB from 2006 until early this year, will talk about Ailsa Craig and its seabirds. She moved to Galloway in 2012 and has helped to organise and carry out surveys on the island for over ten years. The island has a very large and important nesting colony of gannets as well as nesting fulmars, black and common guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins and razorbills. Pictured are gannets nesting on the cliffs of Ailsa Craig (photograph by Joan Howie) Crystal is an amusing and extrovert speaker who says her talk “will celebrate how awesome island life is!” As usual, about halfway through the talk there will be a break for refreshments which gives the audience a chance to chat, mix and put any questions to the speaker. After this our monthly meetings will all be in the afternoons, starting at 2.30pm. Our October talk is about the greylag goose, November is about the horrors of wildlife crime, and December is about birds of southern Texas. For further information you can contact me on 01644 420 280. Joan Howie Help boost the Glenkens native tree population T he Dumfries & Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme is now open for applications. The scheme provides grants of up to £1,000 for purchase of trees and tree protection on a small scale (less than 0.25 hectare) projects across the region. There were grant recipients last year located across the Glenkens, with farmers to community groups planting trees from aspen to yew. The scheme is administered by Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands - to find out more visit www.dgwoodlands.org.uk or contact Phil Dowling on 07301 052793. Phil can provide advice on species selection or planting plan. It is said that the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, and the second best time is now… McNabb Laurie McNabb Laurie of D&G Woodlands with Phil Dowling, Richard Smith (grant recipient last year) and Doug Howieson Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 14 sponsored by A dynamic Bioblitz at Lochhill Farm I n early July a highly successful Bioblitz was held at Lochhill Farm near Crossmichael. A Bioblitz is a way for citizen scientists to get out in nature, find and identify species, learn about flora and fauna and add to those important data records. Over 40 people visited Lochhill on the day. The event was co-ordinated by Propagate in partnership with the Loch Ken Trust – and some help from Cath Seeds, a Crossmichael resident and Wildlife and Conservation Lead at SRUC's Barony campus. Small groups trekked off across the land with a trained group leader, armed with sweep nets and sample jars. On their return, the books came out and the microscope was deployed to identify the plants and creatures. Over 80 species of all types of living organism were recorded – all of which have been added to the national data records. Feedback from the event has been universally positive, with several people asking when the next one is! Big thanks to Cath and to Barney and Lindsay from the Loch Ken Trust for their help on the day, and to Mitchells, Irvings Bakery and Marchbanks Bakery who all donated refreshments. The Bioblitz was just one element in a longer-term eco-agricultural plan for Lochhill. The farm sits above Crossmichael, on the road leading to Clarebrand. Home to Richard and Jane Middleton who have lived there for 13 years, managing the land organically and planting thousands of trees, the farm extends to about 75 acres and like much of the area includes a mix of different habitat types. As early members of Propagate’s Regenerative Farming Network, Richard and Jane had been inspired by the knowledge sharing between farmers and by the farm walks they went on. Accepting that they are maybe of an age when some farm tasks are more challenging, they have been looking for a way to still be involved in the farm while sharing tasks with others – and making sure the land is managed in a way that is in keeping with their ethics and principles, including contributing to a sustainable future for the local community. In April this year, Lochhill and Propagate officially began a new adventure. The aim is to explore ways that Lochhill can: • Maximise ecological diversity • Support sustainable livelihoods • Be a place for education and learning These elements are influenced by agroecology – which includes social and political ideas alongside environmental and economic drivers for the farm. This year a big push is underway to generate a full ecological baseline for Lochhill. Earlier this year, a group of farmers met at Lochhill for a biodiversity recording training session, led by Malcolm Haddow from South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre. Malcolm showed the group how to use the iNaturalist app to identify and record individual species of plants, invertebrates, fungi, mammals and more. This is important to help add to the national records held on various species – which tell us how well nature is doing in our area. Soil samples have also been taken and sent to a qualified Soil Food Web Lab Technician in North Ayrshire. This produced a report not for soil carbon and organic matter, which have already been analysed, but for beneficial bacteria and nematodes, mycelium, protozoa and other microorganisms that have important functions in the soil. The Bioblitz was a further step in the exploration process. The next stage is to look at the viability of farm enterprises. A roundtable event was held in May where ten other farmers came together to brainstorm different ways that Lochhill could meet its aims. Possibilities include a cow-with-calf micro dairy, pastured poultry for layers and broilers, a rare breed beef enterprise with adaptive grazing, a market garden and orchard, and maybe a venue for workshops and events. The project team is currently working through cost/benefit analysis and identifying the inputs and outputs – financial, social and ecological - for each enterprise. There are a number of experts in these fields lined up to share their knowledge and experience. The idea is that these can happen in an ‘enterprise stacking’ approach – with different people taking responsibility for different elements. Next year, we hope, will see some of the different enterprises get underway. Watch this space – and get in touch if you’re interested! Abi Mordin (Propagate) and Richard and Jane Middleton (Lochhill Farm) abi@propagate.org.uk Top: Participants on the BioBlitz before they set off. Left: Biodiversity training session for farmers at Lochhill Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 15 sponsored by If you would like to list something on this page, please get in touch on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk FREE 2 x two-roll wall-hanging commercial toilet roll dispensers by Kimberley Clark, grey colour, we also have spare toilet rolls Contact: lesleyblissett52@gmail.com or 07710 525 927 Old heavy mountain-style bike with new tyres, chain and seat, Apollo brand. Single mattress, hardly used. Contact: 07901 207 179 Horse manure, rotted and fresh, no weed killers used. Dig your own - bring sacks or trailer. Contact: 07889 229 340 10 litres Greenox AdBlue for diesel engines. Contact: 01644 420 834 Metal bunk bed frame, double bottom, single top. Contact: 07952 280 902 Delonghi microwave, free to a good home - although donation to New Galloway Town Hall appreciated. Contact: info@ling.org.uk or 07749 249 781 WANTED Single electric under blanket, VGC, washable. VHS videos, approx. 130. Mostly films and a few box sets, full collection of Only Fools and Horses. Vinyl LP's and singles from 60's,70's and 80's. Approx. 100+ LP's and Singles. Collect from Carsphairn. Contact: 07909 652713 Old lawn mowers/strimmers/other small machinery. Nonrunners/broken welcome. Contact: 07845 562 217 Big long fold up table (similar to those used at craft fairs). Contact: 07749 087 699 Pre Loved Field Shelter. Happy to dismantle on collection. Contact: 07745 775 480 Exploring Scotland's land use M y project exploring our use of land across Scotland which was introduced in the last Gazette is now well underway. As you slowly pass through the landscape on a bike, all senses awaken and you truly begin to feel within the landscape rather than simply passing through. On Orkney and the Shetland Islands one of the sustained sensations throughout each day was the exquisite beauty of birdsong. I asked why, and was told a reduced use of pesticides and herbicides on the fields, less intensive agricultural practices and fewer predators are the reason. I began to wonder what we as a nation would have to do without to enable such a heart lifting luxury as this to be part of our daily lives. On the outer isles, whilst the birds are ever present, it is the incredible flowers of the machar that ultimately overwhelm; field of orchids a simple dream. Different again as I cross Skye, where it is that of sheer geological scale that hits you. It has a faint Icelandic feel but with rocks slightly more smoothed with age. It dawns on me that each island might have its own personality, not only physically but culturally, and I realise that it was but a generation or two ago that easy movement became a norm. Nowhere did I sense this more than on Skye, which due to the bridge (completed in 1995) feels less remote than the other islands, and even to when I was last here some 20 years ago; the roads are congested and fast and drivers wave and stop to chat far less. I get the feeling that for all the advantages it brings to modern life, that maybe this is ultimately at the expense of its unique islandness. Having grown up by the sea, and for part of my childhood on an island, the smell of salt and seaweed on the air and the rise and fall, rise and fall of the tides feel homely. The sound of gulls and the oyster catchers and the curlews. My mind empties and feels free. On the islands I somehow sensed a greater connection between the people and the land. An unspoken respect for nature and the weather. Or maybe it’s the values held by locals who, to survive, have to work together as a community. Whatever the reason, throughout the trip the islands had a less commercial feel and, whatever the cause, it lightened my soul. Thoughts and ideas flow and are carried off on the breeze. Within a few days I feel absolutely at peace with my cycling regime. Many of life’s normal bells simply don’t ring and what is left is a profound simplicity and calm. I am at peace. But I also have time to ponder how I might share what I am feeling and learning as the project continues and, as the pedals turn, thoughts begin to form as to how this might develop. I am already giving a talk at Go Falkland, a regenerative agriculture conference in July, and running a workshop in October where we will be exploring issues surrounding how we manage and use land. I am also wondering if I can develop a toolkit that could be shared with others, exploring how we can more positively relate to the land. The ideas are in there somewhere but yet to solidify, so more on that another time. For now, the adventure simply continues... Ted Leeming Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 16 Considering Glenkens land use A very interesting event was held in Balmaclellan to update on progress on the Glenkens Land Use Vision. This Vision document was created through community consultation in 2023, responding to widespread concern about the rapid rate of change in our landscapes at the moment. The Vision doesn't seek to mandate what should happen where, but it does set out a set of principles and expectations for how our community voice should be heard during any changes. The headline is that 'everyone who takes value from our land returns value to it', with value being expressed in many different ways - biodiversity, access, housing, skills and jobs, as well as community benefit funding. The event was to present and discuss the findings of two reports on this subject and the Dalry Local Place Plan, all of which were researched and written by Glenkens residents. One recommendation from the Vision was the creation of a Glenkens Land Use Forum. After research and consideration by Dr Stephen Connelly, his report in fact recommends the creation of a facilitated Glenkens Land Use Network and a Land Use Map both ways of bringing together a wide range of interested parties in a constructive manner, designed to move the issues forward not just talk about them. It will require funding to support the position of Facilitator, but the idea was well received by the engaged and well-informed audience at the event. Another aspect of this topic is how we all respond to our landscapes. We are all very lucky to live in an area of such outstanding beauty, and many of us are very attached to either big or small natural areas around us. Dr Kerry Morrison considered the creative responses to our landscapes that are already happening all around us - often by people who wouldn't describe themselves as 'artists'. Her main recommendation was for a Festival of Lands, to bring all this work together and to catalyse more. This idea again was very well received by the event audience, and Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) has included it in their pending application to the Heritage Lottery for a new post of 'Cultural Glenkens' project officer. Lastly, Becca Nelson, the Glenkens Community Spaces Network facilitator, updated the audience on her work with Dalry Community Council on Local Place Planning. Thanks to the work by Steve, Kerry and Community Council volunteers, the Dalry LPP has a substantial section on land use, in recognition of the fact that for us, developments in the wider parishes affect us just as much as developments within the villages themselves. This prompted a surprisingly lively discussion of national planning policy, but again was very positively received. Becca and the wider GCAT team are available to support Glenkens Community Councils with their Local Place Plans, if they would like to build on the learnings from Dalry in these matters. The Glenkens Land Use Vision, plus Steve and Kerry's reports, are published on the Glenkens Hub on the Land Use page (www. glenkens.scot/land-use) and the Dalry Local Place Plan will be out for final consultation shortly. Thanks very much to NatureScot and SOSE for funding these three projects through GCAT, to Steve, Kerry and Becca for all the work that has gone into them and to all the Dalry Community Council volunteers who have given huge amounts of time to make this happen. The Land Use Vision is an addendum to the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan, and consideration is currently being given for how to move this work even further forward under the Community Action Plan Steering Group. All ideas or expressions of interest in this are very welcome - contact me on helen@ catstrand.com Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager Getting busy at Glaisters Bridge community woodland site A fter more than a year of negotiation and discussion behind the scenes, tangible progress is underway on the new Glaisters Bridge community site, near Corsock. New paths have been cut enabling access around the site and 250 trees were planted by a band of volunteers. These are the first steps in the creation of a local landmark, with ambitions in coming months for signs, seating, wildlife scrapes and a wide range of public and biodiversity benefits. This work is only possible thanks to an innovative partnership between the site owner, Foresight Sustainable Forestry Company, and The Upper Urr Environment Trust. The site forms part of a 20-year lease, established to formalise a partnership between the partners, delivering community and biodiversity benefits. The lease is thought to be the first of its kind, supported by national agencies including the Scottish Land Commission, and is being seen as a useful tool to deliver community benefits in response to the land use revolution underway. A variety of government agencies and public bodies have been visiting the site in recent months. For more information about upcoming events and activities, follow ‘Upper Urr Environment Trust’ on social media. Coming months will see installation of signs, seating, reptile habitats, car parking and further broadleaf planting. In years to come, it is hoped that Glaisters Bridge community woodland will become a muchloved asset for locals and could even inspire a new revolution in how communities can work with landowners across the UK. McNabb Laurie Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment O ver 100 young people in the region have received vital water safety training through the Loch Ken Trust’s Youth Water Safety Awareness Programme. The programme, launched last year, offers free water safety training to young people at the Galloway Activity Centre on Loch Ken. Thanks to funding from the Holywood Trust and Drax Group UK, this has expanded for 2024, with local high schools bringing pupils to take part in this water safety workshop and gain experience of enjoying water activities safely. During National Drowning Prevention Week, the S6 year group from Castle Douglas High School came along to take part. Andy McNay, principal teacher of Health & Wellbeing at the school said: “I’d like to thank Loch Ken Trust and Galloway Activity Centre for a wonderful day. The young people all had a great time, while learning important lessons to keep themselves safe on the water. "These are great skills to learn prior to the summer break when, hopefully, we will be enjoying some lovely weather.” The workshops cover the water safety code and Loch Ken Ranger Service gears up for the summer practical experience on paddleboards, where the young people learn paddleboarding skills and get the opportunity to rescue themselves back on to their board. This session also had a visit from Scottish Fire & Rescue Newton Stewart crew, who talked about ways to keep yourself safe, and what you can safely do to help if you see someone in trouble on the water. Water safety is a major issue for our young people, with the abundance of accessible lochs, rivers and open water in the region. Some of the pupils have volunteered to become Water Safety Ambassadors, and have presented what they have learned at year group assemblies, promoting water safety to the younger year groups in the school. With the season well underway, water safety has been a major focus for the Loch Ken Ranger Service this year, aiming to promote key water safety messages. Improvements have been made to the safety signage on and around Loch Ken, page 17 and Loch Ken Trust is currently working with partners on a full signage proposal to improve safety for all loch users. The ranger service regularly carries out patrols on and around Loch Ken. Tragically, there was an accidental drowning on Loch Ken last year. 07539 029 175 / 07918 300 889 Subsequently, the Loch Ken Trust has increased its work of cold-water shock and the on water safety and raising Water Safety Code. awareness of the dangers. The education programme LOCH KEN RANGER The Youth Water Safety Programme is the first of its kind in the region and has featured as a case study in National Guidance on Open Water Experiential Learnings, published by Water Safety Scotland. The programme has also received recognition from the Scottish Parliament. This year our head ranger, Leanne Pumpr, delivered Ranger Education sessions to local primary schools, giving the children the opportunity to try scenario rescues and learn all about the dangers also included a competition to design our new ranger water safety badge, with the winning design adopted for the Loch Ken ranger uniforms. The ranger service regularly carries out patrols on and around Loch Ken. Leane said: “We would ask all loch users to take time to consider safety before entering the water. Loch Ken is a wonderful place with lots of opportunities to enjoy all it has to offer safely.” If you are interested in the work of the Loch Ken Trust and Ranger Service, check out our website www. lochken.org.uk for details on how you can get involved. Pupils from Castle Douglas High School took part in the Loch Ken Trust’s Youth Water Safety Awareness programme this summer Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 18 The Optimistic Environmentalist Reducing your home energy bills - Part Six Solar generation The cost varies depending on how much you want, but you make your money back much more quickly than you might think. Don't believe people when they say that Scotland does not get enough sun. We have solar at home and it works well; in two years there has not been a single day that we have not generated something, even in the depths of winter. The myth that solar panels shut down or don't work properly when it gets hot is not true. For every 1° over 25°C they lose typically between 0.3 and 0.5% of their output, depending on the panels. For example, if the panels were in full sun on a calm hot day and they reached, say, 60°C they would lose between 10.5 and 17.5% of their output. This sounds significant; however, as they are in full sun so are likely to be at or near full power. If your system was rated at 4kW, it would still produce 3.2-3.5kW; enough to run your kettle and microwave simultaneously and continuously which is much more than you might think. If you install solar panels, get the maximum number you can. People often regret not getting a bigger system as they start altering their lifestyle. However, you can always add panels later, so it is better to get some than none. You can use your generated power directly or store it in a battery for later; or via a solar diverter like the Myenergi Eddi, which can be used to heat your hot water or to charge your electric car with something like a Zappi charger. These technologies can automate their coordination and use at cheaper or greener times. If you still have power spare, you can sell it to an electricity provider. This does not have to be the same one that you buy your power from. Don't just check how much they will pay you, but also look at how flexible they are and what notice period you need to give them. Some pay you more for your generated power if you buy power from them, but some do not. found it was significantly cheaper than a conventional slate roof. He says it generates electricity very well (see photographs below - these tiles look very different to conventional solar panels). Maintenance for solar electricity is minimal. The panels may need cleaning every year or two depending upon the number of birds and trees around you, for instance. You can buy specialised soft brushes on extendable poles so you don't need to climb onto the roof. Wind generation A relatively new solar generation technology is solar tiles/slates. It covers the roof with solar generation tiles and they are connected to a hidden metal frame. Ordinary tiles are put around the very edge of the roof. The solar tiles/slates are a little bit more shiny than conventional slates but the difference cannot really be seen from the ground. A friend of ours had this done recently in Dumfries & Galloway as he needed a new roof and If you have a big enough garden or field, you can buy wind generation systems eg from Britwind. Their small wind turbines are available in 5kW, 12kW and 16kW models. Ironically, Britwind is made in the UK but sells more of their products in Japan. Denise MacDonald-Kiernan (See part 7 for examples of energy efficient technology) Currently there is the Eco4 grant available to both tenants and homeowners on qualifying benefits. The grant offers insulation, solar panels, heat pump and central heating - visit www. ofgem.gov.uk Are you looking to plant trees this winter? We have grants available for small-scale native planting schemes. For full info, visit: www.dgwoodlands.org.uk Registered as a SCIO, no 052525 Photos showing solar tiles being fitted and then a finished installation illustrating how they blend in Glenkens Gazette Y oung people from the Glenkens Youth Group have been having a great time at their regular Monday evening meet-ups, as well as on special summer trips! The group has fun enjoying each other’s company, sharing their music tastes, playing guitar, dancing and singing. We are very grateful to the Glenkens Community Centre for providing us with fantastic facilities where the young people can explore various creative tasks and make use of the kitchen for cooking. GAZETTEcommunity page 19 Glenkens youth summer fun Talking of cooking, the group organised their own 'taco night' activity. They prepared a delicious salsa from scratch and tucked into taco snacks. The group has also created some other tasty meals over the past few months, from pizza to pancakes. We look forward to seeing what else is cooked up in the kitchen next term! On a pleasant June evening, the Glenkens Youth Group participated in a fantastic Loch Ken Trust responsible camping and water safety session. They built their own campfire and were rewarded for their attention to safe and responsible fire making with toasted marshmallows! The group also showed off their water rescue skills after learning how to use a throw-line to rescue someone in trouble on the water. It a very enjoyable session, and a big "thank you" goes to Leanne Pumpr and Lindsay Stewart from the Loch Ken Trust Ranger Service for an excellent evening. Finally, we were thrilled to be awarded funding from Dumfries & Galloway Council through their ‘Amazing Summer’ programme. As a result, we were able to offer two free activities in July for our young people. The first was a session at the Galloway Activity Centre with an action packed day of activities. The second session was a beekeeping taster collaborative event with the Glenkens and Dee Honey Company. Professional beekeeper Raeburn Thomson will introduce the young people to the fascinating world of honeybees and beekeeping. during term-time on Monday evenings in the Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry, from 7-9pm. The group is free to attend thanks to funding from the Glenkens & District Community Benefit Fund. It’s a Glenkens Community & Arts Trust project, linked to CatStrand Young Creatives. To find out more email Beata at glenkensyouth@gmail.com Beata, Youth Group Lead At the Glenkens Youth Group we strive to create a safe, nondirected space for young people from P7–S3 to be themselves, make friends and develop new skills. Sessions run Captain's Day at New Galloway Golf Club F or New Galloway Golf Club Captain’s Day an impressive 50-plus members and guests were in attendance. The number attending was boosted by army pals of club captain, Alan Thorburn, who came to support him on his special day. The weather was beautiful and the course looked exquisite. The day started with Alan informing the players about the format of the competition, playing for the Jack McQueen Quaich (named after a former greenkeeper). It was a shotgun start, meaning that all the players were allocated a starting hole. Once they heard the hooter then play commenced. The green staff had worked hard on preparing the course and compliments were flowing from the competitors about the excellent condition of the course. The winner of the competition was Terry Haine and Best Lady was Fiona McQueen. Both were presented with their prizes by Jane McQueen. Other winners on the day were David Aitken, Gill Warnock and Phil Lancaster After the game a raffle was held together with an auction which raised over £2,000 to be shared between the Army Benevolent Fund and New Galloway Golf Club. Alan’s wife, Julie, provided the buffet which was enjoyed by those attending. Thanks were given to all the volunteers, sponsors, donors for making the day so successful, after which members and friends enjoyed a drink at the bar. New Galloway Golf Club shows what can be done in a small club and is an asset to the village and the community. The volunteers who contribute so much to the club enjoy the satisfaction that comes from caring and nurturing the golfing landscape and one so unique with its views and terrain. We are pleased that the club is seeing an increase in visitor numbers and feedback is always complimentary. The club offered free coaching sessions for under-16s during July, which was a great success. Memberships are available for both full membership and social membership. To join, or for more information, please ring the club secretary on 01644 420 737. Jeff Sutcliffe Pictured, left to right, are club captain Alan Thorburn, Fiona McQueen, Jane McQueen, Terry Haine and Janette Davidson (lady captain) Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 20 Putting the 'great' into the Great Corsock Show... S aturday 24 August sees the arrival of age-old Galloway tradition of the Great Corsock Show. Plan your entries now! Show programmes are available online by searching for the ‘Corsock Hall’ website or can be collected from local shops or Corsock hall porch. Categories vary from the ever-competitive Lemon Curd category, through to Carrots and Crafts - and that's only for the Cs! New categories this year include Upcycled Item and the judges' challenge will be a Cake Containing a Vegetable. Competitors are welcome to drop off their items on the Friday night or Saturday morning, and the show opens to the public at 1pm on Saturday. There will be a BBQ, raffle, bottle stall and café so do come along; it's a great chance to assess the competition for next year, and good fun for all the family. This year's show will not be televised. McNabb Laurie Some of last year's winners in the flower and vegetable categories Help for Kirkcudbright lifeboat station T he Glenkens Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) fundraising group is delighted to report that over £900 was raised at its coffee morning in Dalry Town Hall. Money raised from the sale of lifeboat souvenirs is sent back to central funds, but the remaining £740 has been sent to the Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station Appeal. The current Lifeboat Station in Kirkcudbright has not changed much since it was built in 1893 – it is unheated, cramped, cold and damp. Space is limited for maintaining the lifeboat or fixing any faults and the last half-mile from the boathouse to the water is a dirt track which slows down launches. This appeal will fund work to modernise the 130-year-old lifeboat station. Some key areas are to upgrade the changing facilities, providing somewhere to warm up after responding to a 'shout', and building a dedicated workshop for maintaining the lifeboat. Work would also be done to improve the access track and create a new parking and turning area. John Collins, lifeboat operations manager and station mechanic at Kirkcudbright, said: “We’re a harbour town, a fishing town. The lifeboat is really important to the local community and we’re here to answer the call whenever we’re needed”. The Glenkens RNLI group is pleased to be able to support this important appeal, which will bring the Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station into the 21st Century. Many thanks to all who helped at the recent coffee morning, and for all those who supported the fundraiser. Nicolette Wise New Galloway community larder L ocal Initiatives in New Galloway is delighted to report success in gaining a grant of just over £3,000 from D&G Council’s Regionwide Community Fund to help with the planning and development of creating a community larder. Along with our Lottery funding, this will provide some valuable time for Bianca and Heather (our hub hosts) to get everything in place by the autumn. There are some excellent models around showing how this kind of idea can work really effectively. Planning also needs to be tailored to work best for our community, which in turn means working closely with other organisations such as the Galloway Food Hub. There is a lot of energy already going into ensuring that we can draw on local resources, reduce waste and meet the needs of local people for healthy and affordable food and we want to make sure that we will play a positive part in all of that. We look forward to being able to update you with more detail over the next few months. In the meantime, Bianca and Heather will continue to be at New Galloway Town Hall on Thursdays from 12noon till 5pm for the Hubbub drop-in sessions. Anyone is welcome for tea, coffee, biscuits – just make yourselves at home, have a chat, browse our books, meet a friend. Food, largely cooked on the premises from donations or leftovers, is available for a bit of lunch or for Thursday tea-time take-aways 4-6pm (just help yourself at the side door). It’s all free, although donations are always welcome. If you have excess garden produce to donate please contact Bianca at bianca. hubhost.ling@gmail.com. Ann Glaister and Bianca Leder Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 21 Showcasing our Glenkens volunteers W ith such a small and dispersed population, onlookers might be forgiven for thinking that life in the Glenkens is sleepy and uneventful. Regular readers of the Gazette of course know this to be far from the case, and so do those who attended the Volunteer Fair, hosted on a sunny afternoon in New Galloway’s Town Hall as part of Scotland’s annual Volunteers’ Week. Organisations in attendance ranged from the nationally recognised, such as the Scouts and Citizens Advice, to the regionally specific such as the community shop and the afternoon’s hosts, Local Initiatives in New Galloway. What was intended as an exercise in volunteer recruitment also became an effective way for organisations to become aware of each other, finding common difficulties – and, in some cases, common solutions. It might go without saying that even the day’s refreshments – including copious amounts of cake – were provided by volunteers, but that in itself can be the very nature of volunteering: that it often does go without saying. Volunteer work is not often something that is done for one’s own benefit. It is not something that is done with the expectation of reward. On paper this hardly sounds attractive, and you might be justified in wondering why anyone turned up to the volunteer fair at all. But giving up something like a sunny Saturday afternoon is just one of the ways in which we can sustain a commitment to the collective wellbeing and shows an awareness of how we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality and interdependency. If you are interested in volunteering with Local Initiatives in New Galloway, please get in touch at info@ling.org.uk Dominique Pope You can also find contact details for other community organisations across the Glenkens on p31 if you may be interested in more volunteering opportunities. what we offer. We'd also love to hear your ideas for anything else you'd like to see happening in village. There is an enormous amount of equipment available to hire; from all sizes of plates, cups, mugs, serving dishes, cutlery, chairs and tables, to outdoor lighting and heating, gas barbecue, gazebos... So if you need something for a party or event, get in touch. The whole hall is also available for hire of course. On Saturday 21 September, as part of the Glenkens Food Month (see article on p5) and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Balmaclellan Village Hall, we’re holding a Gala Day with hog roast and pop-up pub. This will be be following in November with a St Andrew’s Day pop-up pub and, during the day, a Christmas plant sale. Crafting, make-do-and-mend and fitness classes will continue through the summer. Please get in touch at julia.higgins55@ outlook,com or wellsjackiea@ gmail.com or btllynnstewart1@ icloud.com Lynn Stewart Plants, sunshine and pop-up pubs at Balmaclellan Village Hall F or our third, now annual, Plant Sale, the weather smiled on us, showing off the enormous number of plants to their very best. We had more stalls this year but still managed to clear almost everything, so it was a huge success. The teas were as popular as ever, and this year the Church Guild provided a cake stall. As the afternoon progressed, the bar opened and the BBQ began, and so the day mellowed into early evening with lots of contented locals enjoying the sunshine in the garden. We rely on volunteers to make our events successful - but we need more help. If you are interested in helping keep this little gem of a hall working for the community, please consider volunteering. We are not looking for huge commitment, but help organising or running events makes it possible to broaden Family and friends coming to stay? N ew Galloway Golf Club Founded Foun ded 1902 www.ng www.n g gc.co.uk Country cottage set in beautiful gardens available for holiday lets all year round (sleeps 5) Call Fiona on 07789 903127 - 01644 420737 - www.covenanters-holidaycottagescotland.co.uk Buggies now available for hire Licence no DG00824P VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS WELCOME Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 22 All hands on deck at Dalry School garden T hanks to all the parents and children who came along to help tidy up the Dalry School garden. All the beds have been cleared, the polytunnel is almost ready for use and a new compost bin and fire pit have been built. We're hoping to get another few days organised over the summer to get it looking amazing and ready for use by children of all ages before school returns. The next step will be to set up a gardening club to oversee planting and harvesting all kinds of exciting things. If you have any ideas of things which could be done in the school garden please send the Parent Council a message on Facebook at the Dalry Schools Parent Council page. Left: before the tidy; where are the raised beds?! Carsphairn community market C arsphairn's community market will be held in Lagwyne Hall on Saturday 7 September from 10am-2pm. Part of the Glenkens Food Month calendar (see article on p5) the event is free and will host stalls with home-grown and homemade produce including baking, preserves, plants, vegetables and crafts. (from page 2) Traders who would like a table (for which there is no charge) please email lizholmes21@gmail.com or carsphairnmarkets@outlook.com to book. Description - With the Rhinns of Kells as a backdrop looking north and a transition zone between hills and lower watershed of the river Dee lie the winding waters of the nine-mile long Loch Ken - the heart of the Glenkens. Last year's community market in full swing Summer arts & crafts fair D On Sunday 25 August, from 11am-3pm, creative Name the place For younger visitors, Bairn Banter will have a children's play area set up, and there will also be refreshments and information on what it means to be a Biosphere community. For further information see ad on p27... alry Town Hall will once again play host to a summer arts and crafts fair, giving locals and visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the work of local makers. Above: Some of the helpers at the school garden tidying session after lots of hard work artists, designers, makers and producers from southern Scotland will be in attendance, offering beautifully crafted creative items produced in our corner of Scotland, or linked to Scotland in some way. Why not get a head start on your Christmas shopping, getting ideas and inspiration for gifts for loved ones? After enjoying the fair, you round off your visit relaxing at one of our picnic tables in the (fingers crossed!) sunshine, or under cover of one of our marquees, and sample some home baked cakes accompanied by tea, coffee or a cold drink. The event is run by members of the hall management team, who are all volunteers. Please do come along - we are looking forward to welcoming residents and visitors to this very popular event. All proceeds go towards the upkeep and maintenance of the historic town hall building, a much valued local rural asset. Lesley Blissett, Chair, Dalry Townhall Management team For further information see ad on back page... Site Name - Loch Ken Location - The heart of the Glenkens Centre of natural beauty, cultural heritage and recreation for the community and visitors alike, it is one of our unique and precious assets. The loch and its environs have been managed by the Loch Ken Trust since 2020, with the vision “…to promote the natural, cultural and recreational assets of the Loch Ken area for the benefit of the public and to support sustainable local communities.” If you want to know more, visit their website at www.lochken.org.uk and you will be amazed at the number of community functions and services they offer, including the exemplar ranger service and Loch Ken Plan, for the benefit of us all. Interesting fact - This natural feature became part of the Galloway Hydro Scheme in the 1930s, when the Glenlochar barrage raised its level by approximately one metre, allowing for increased storage and water control for the Tongland power station further downstream. GAZETTEcommunity Glenkens Gazette page 23 Kickstart for Glenkens childminding The Scottish Government has committed funding for a three-year national childminder retention and recruitment programme which aims to grow the workforce. The Glenkens is one of the specific areas targeted through the programme, as well as as being supported through the Glenkens and District Community Benefit Fund through Foundation Scotland. An important part of the package is one-to-one support from dedicated Scottish Child Minding Association (SCMA) workforce officer, Claire Ward, who is assigned to the Glenkens. Claire attended the education and learning event held at the CatStrand where she spoke with local people, highlighting ways in which the programme aims to support economic and community development through increased provision of local childcare places and job creation. with over 40 enquiries from parents, some from over 30 miles away. Along with support and training, the recruitment package also includes a minimum £750 startup grant. Claire said: “This is a fantastic springboard to starting a career working with children; we’re here to support candidates every step of the way through the registration process and in establishing their new business. Childminders enjoy the flexibility of being able to run their own business from home and earning an income while bringing up their own children. No previous childcare experience is required, but it is essential to Left to right: Helen Keron, Executive Manager have a passion for the Glenkens Community Arts & Trust; for working Claire Ward, Workforce Officer for the Scottish with children. Childminding Association; Caroline Reeves, Professional Glenkens CAP Steering Group member who was childminders chairing the Education & Learning event also undertake ongoing development to For further information ensure the highest of standards visit www.childminding.org/ within their childminding setting. getstarted or email claire. ward@childminding.org Half of Scotland’s local authorities, including Dumfries & Galloway Council, are participating in the first year of the recruitment campaign. "I was really delighted to meet with local people in the Glenkens at the education event, and to see how we can work together. I’ll be returning for the Glenkens Agricultural Show in August where I'll have an SCMA information stall - so if you have any questions come and have a chat!” Simone McDonald, who lives with her husband on a working farm outside Dalry, applied to become a childminder through one of SCMA's previous pilot schemes. When she opened her service, Simone was inundated Free Benefits Support Photo of the Issue Sponsored by the Stockbridge Mac & Cheese Co This issue’s winner is Paul Goodwin with this stunning sunset shot taken from his bedroom window in Dalry. Do you self-identify as disabled? Voice and rights charity VoiceAbility is providing free, independent advocacy support across the country to help you to understand and access Social Security Scotland benefits. Paul wins two portions of mac and cheese from our competition sponsors, the Balmaclellan-based Stockbridge Mac & Cheese Co. Company owner and competition judge, Hannah Gould, said: "What could be more breathtaking than a gorgeous Glenkens sunset...". Are you aged between 16 and 65, identify as disabled or have a condition that effects your daily life? If so, then we can support you. Support is also available for parents, guardians, or carers who are accessing benefits for a disabled child. Local Voice Advocate, Maureen Jardine, is hoping to visit locations across the Glenkens to let people know about this free advocacy service. Please get in touch if you would like Maureen to come to your community. For more information please email maureen. jardine@ voiceability.org, call our helpline on 0300 303 1660 or for further information visit www.voiceability.org To enter you can send in any photograph taken in the Glenkens to glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 24 From Schoolhouse to Community Hub: The Glenkens Community Centre’s Remarkable Journey B uilt in the late 19th century as a school, the Glenkens Community Centre in St John’s Town of Dalry has weathered challenges, closures, and transformations. The building has played a key role in St John’s Town of Dalry for almost a century and a half. However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing and during the last 50 years the building has faced closure three times, each time being pulled back from the brink through the commitment and dedication of volunteers. St John’s Town of Dalry (known locally as Dalry) is situated roughly in the centre of Dumfries and Galloway. With a population of around 500, the village formed around a strategic river crossing point on the pilgrim route to St Ninian’s Chapel in Whithorn. The layout of Dalry dates back to the development of a planned village by the Earl of Galloway in the 1700s, leading to a compact settlement roughly triangular in shape. The land for the community centre was purchased in 1878 for the building of a school, as a consequence of the 1872 Education (Scotland) Act introducing mandatory education for children aged five to 13. It was actually the third school building in Dalry, with the first records of a school in the village dating back to 1639. The 1878 building was a simple rectangular hall constructed of granite and whinstone; with just one classroom with a high ceiling, heated with a single coal fire, with vents in the ceiling to let out the smoke. The school had one teacher, whose desk was positioned squarely in front of the fireplace, ensuring he was nice and warm, even if his students shivered. Some went to school barefoot all year round, even through to the 1920s and 30s. The original building had no plumbing; loos were earth closets, with the soil being utilised to fertilise the kitchen garden of the headteacher. The building was expanded and remodelled over the years, with a house for the headteacher built out to the side of the original school, and the back wall of the school taken down to allow the building to be extended to form a second classroom. In the early 20th century, a third classroom was added which served both as science lab and home economics room. In the 1920s the fireplace was bricked up and radiators were fitted, powered by a coke-fired boiler. This was during the 30-year incumbency of headteacher Sandy Singleton, who lived in the adjoining schoolhouse with his wife and family. The fact secondary school was built, although the old school was pressed into use when the roof blew off the new school (this happened on more than one occasion!). The village is very hilly, with level ground mainly being confined to the flood meadows alongside the water of Ken (from which Dalry – meaning ‘meadow of the king’ in Gaelic – gets its name). Local legend has it that a resident with a demolition licence was tasked with blasting all the knowes on the piece of undulating land bought from the Church of Scotland for the new school, leaving a level piece of ground for the school and playing field. Following local government reorganisation in 1975, the now rarely-used building became the responsibility of the Community Education Department. Renovations were carried out in the late 1970s as part of Scotland’s Youth Opportunities Programme, and the building was repurposed as a community centre. The Regional Council owned the building but the management was tasked to a management committee made up of representatives from each of the centre’s user groups. This committee were charged an annual rent of £900 to cover The secondary school was attended by pupils from the primary schools of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Kells, Polharrow and Stroanfreggan, as well as Dalry. that the family had two servants demonstrates the relatively high status of teachers at that time. During the Second World War, evacuees from Glasgow boosted the school roll in Dalry. In the mid-1930s a separate primary school was built, leaving the old school as a secondaryonly site. The secondary school was attended by pupils from the primary schools of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Kells, Polharrow and Stroanfreggan, as well as Dalry. It was not uncommon for pupils from outside the village to struggle to get to school in the wintertime, as the diesel in the school buses would freeze. In 1965, Dalry’s new (current) the cost of a cleaner, heating and any repairs to the building. When the council subsequently embarked on a regional programme of closing community centres, the management committee put up a spirited battle to keep the centre open. This was successful but led to a change in the management structure in that council still owned the building, but the management committee took full responsibility for funding all costs apart from maintenance of the outside of the building – an arrangement which continued for more than four decades. With user groups including a playgroup, Brownies, art and craft groups, martial arts, the Good Neighbours club and the Glenkens Children’s Club, the building was well-used by residents of all ages from across the communities of the Glenkens. The building also hosted ballroom dancing lessons, French classes, art exhibitions and history days, as well as being let commercially. However, in 2014/15 the building was again threatened with closure and the only option to keep it open was for a community body to take on ownership. To facilitate this a charity called the Dalry Community Properties Trust (DCPT) was set up and the transfer into community ownership was finalised in 2017. Continued over the page... Glenkens Gazette Continued from previous page... The new setup saw the management committee covered running expenses, paying DCPT a rental fee for any major works. User groups continued at the centre, with a local childcare provider (Bright Stars, formerly the Glenkens Children’s Club) becoming the main user overall, renting the space four days a week. Changes in the funding of childcare provision and disruption through the Covid pandemic resulted in this formerly vibrant and well-used facility standing empty and unloved. The UNESCO Galloway and South Ayrshire Biosphere partnership investigated converting the building into office space, but this did not come to fruition. In August 2022 a crisis point was reached and a public meeting was called to see whether new volunteers would step forward to take responsibility for the building. GAZETTEhistory residents, the Good Neighbours club has rekindled and there are weekly digital literacy dropin sessions. Martial arts and Yoga for All groups offer an opportunity to keep fit, and the weekly Glenkens Youth Group is a hit with local teens. There is an outreach service of the local Citizens Advice Bureau every fortnight and art and craft groups take place regularly. The old science lab/home economics room at the back of the building is now the home of the Galloway Food Hub – a local, producer-led online farmers’ marketplace which an online shopping experience, including delivery, from producers based within 30 miles of the Glenkens. A community garden has been set up in the front garden of the building, with grant funding received to construct raised flower beds, and the Glenkens Gardeners group meets here regularly. trustees have plans to futureproof the building, creating a warm and welcoming, as well as economic, venue that flaunts its eco credentials. Community engagement for the Local Place Plan has demonstrated strong support for the creation of a café run as a community enterprise; this extra income could enable the community centre to offer free room hire to groups of benefit to the rural communities of the Glenkens. After a turbulent few decades, at present the future of the now community-owned Glenkens Community Centre looks bright. Hopefully this space will continue as a beacon of grassroots community activity; a hub of local activity and a vital community resource in these times of tightening council purse strings where rural amenities seem to be disappearing at an alarming rate. Becca Nelson, Glenkens Community Spaces Network Facilitator Not content with bringing the building back into use, the new management team have big ambitions for the future. With its high ceilings and minimal insulation, it is an expensive building to run and DCPT Thankfully new faces stepped forward to take up the baton and, almost two years on, the building is once again a thriving community venue. For older Music of the Glenkens at Parton Village Hall F ollowing on from the success of concerts and symposia about traditional music held at the Catstrand and Dalry Town Hall, we are pleased to host another such event at Parton Village Hall. On the evening of 24 August, Dr Jo Miller, will begin the evening with a discussion and lecture based on traditional music of the past in the Glenkens, and offering an insight to the future. This will then be followed by a concert featuring musicians and singers from the Glenkens and surrounds, finishing with what would be a typical session such as those held in the Clachan Inn, Dalry and various pubs in and around the Kirkcudbight area. Dr Jo Miller began her studies in Glasgow, with a BA in Music Education and a BMus. she then went to Edinburgh as an MLitt student, doing a study of music making in the Glenkens where she grew up, based on fieldwork with all age groups. During the 1990s, first in Glasgow and then in Stirling, she brought up a young family, many of whom have performed at the CatStrand, and taught at the RSAMD. She returned to academic research at the University of Sheffield, where in 2016 she completed her PhD in the learning and teaching of traditional music. Peter Standing Robbie Murray, a Glenkens shepherd who played and wrote fiddle tunes around the beginning of the 20th century (www. carsphairn.org/CarsphairnArchive) page 25 The Glenkens Community Spaces Network was created by GCAT in 2023 to provide a forum for the management committees of Glenkens village halls, community centres and other community spaces to enable sharing of information and experiences - find out more at www.glenkens.scot/ glenkens-community-spacesnetwork Glenkens Food Hub volunteers outside the Glenkens Community Centre WRIGHTS STORE & POST OFFICE DALRY DALRY DALRY SWEET TREAT SATURDAY DALRY INFORMATION FRESH CREAM CAKES AVAILABLE TO ORDER OPENING HOURS OPENING TIMES MONDAY – FRIDAY MONDAY-FRIDAY 7.30AM-5.30PM 7.30am – 5.30pm SATURDAY - 8.30AM-5PM SATURDAY 8.30am – 5pm SUNDAY - 8.30AM-3PM SUNDAY 8.30am – 3pm LOCAL SUPPLIERS LOCAL SUPPLIERS DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY BUTCHERS UPPERBUTCHERS DULLARG EGGS MITCHELL'S FRUIT EGGS & VEG UPPER DULLARG SWEETCAKES BAKERY MITCHELLS FRUIT & VEG GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY SWEETCAKES BAKERY CREAM O' GALLOWAY GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES CREAM O GALLOWAY IRVINGS BAKERY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES GALLOWAY SCOTTISH PASTA IRVINGS COWS BAKERY & CO THE CRESS COMPANY PASTA (GF & SCOTTISH GALLOWAY VEGAN OPTIONS) GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY POP IN FOR A CHAT AND A BROWSE Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory Dalry Heritage Group book page 26 A fter a lot of hard work over the last couple of years, the Dalry Heritage Group has now got its next book, Auld Memories Frae The Clachan o’ Dalry, away to the printers. Unfortunately, the complications of copyright law means that we were not able to include many of the photographs we had initially chosen, but this does mean that many of those in the book are new to most people. Thanks to all those who have contributed their memories, and especially to those who provided their own family photos for use in the book. There will be a book launch in Dalry Town Hall on Sunday 1 September from 2-4pm. Please keep a look out for posters advertising this free event and come along to join us - all welcome. The book is for sale at £10 and enquiries about pre-ordering can be made by email to dalryheritagegroup@ btinternet.com Hilda McAdam, Chairperson, Dalry Heritage Group Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP Solicitors and Estate Agents Dumfries & Galloway 01556 503744 www.ggblaw.co.uk All legal advice Offices in Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 27 The mysteries of Kenmure burial aisle A longside Dalry Church lies part of the former pre-Reformation church. It was a side aisle of the earlier church, and the reason it was not demolished when a new church was built on the site in 1771 was because in the vaults beneath it were buried the Gordons of Kenmure. It was known as the Kenmure burial aisle or the Gordon aisle. Within the roofless remains there is a stone plaque informing us that: "This aisle and the vaults below were built by Sir James and Lady Gordon 1546. Restored by their descendants Charles and Jean Forbes 1939. 'Ora Pro Nobis'." Most likely this side aisle was added to the rectangular pre-Reformation church in 1546. Sir James Gordon was the fourth Lord of Lochinvar and was probably the first to be buried in the vaults, for he was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. You can still see the arched entrance into the main church which was filled in with stonework in 1771 to stabilise and help preserve the retained aisle. There is an old Glenkens rhyme about the Gordons which runs: “In the sainted kirk of aul’ Dalry, Their coffins will stand and their banes will lie.” I’ve not been able to discover the first written record of this rhyme, but Jean Gibson in her 1974 booklet, Around Dalry: A Guide to St John’s Town of Dalry, quotes it. his sword in the name of God around the place where he stood. And within that circle he and his horse were protected from attack - though in the encounter his horse lost its tail, which had been grabbed by one of the witches! When they heard a cock crow on a neighbouring farm, heralding daybreak, the witches suddenly departed. That supposed circle (‘The Score’), is marked on the 1849 six-inch Ordnance Survey map, and you can still view it up on the side of Waterside Hill. In his poem Burns makes reference to the upright coffins in Alloway kirk, echoing the supposed upright coffins of the Gordons in the Gordon aisle in Dalry churchyard. He describes the coffins standing round in Alloway kirk with their dead in their last dresses holding lights in their hands. It is said that in the vaults under the Gordon aisle at Dalry Church the coffins were stood upright in order to fit them in that tight space. But these vaults have been closed up since the new church was built in 1771, when Burns was a child. There is a widely held belief (at least in the Glenkens) that Robert Burns made use of the story of Adam Forrester of Knocksheen in crafting his poem Tam O’Shanter. There is a widely held belief (at least in the Glenkens) that Robert Burns made use of the story of Adam Forrester of Knocksheen in crafting his poem Tam O’Shanter. Burns knew the Glenkens, and is known to have visited the area at least once. The story goes that Adam Forrester was making his way home on his horse one night, after drinking at a tavern in the village of Dalry, when he heard the sound of music coming from Dalry Church. Looking in, he saw the Clachan witches dancing away to wild music. He shouted out, in Tam o’Shanter style, to the local barmaid, “Ah, Lucky Hair, ye’ll no deny this the morn!” and had barely time to mount his horse when they were out and after him. Up on the shoulder of Waterside Hill he realised they were catching up on him; so he jumped off his horse and drew a circle with For some time I have thought it would be interesting to put together a project to investigate these vaults and record who was buried in their (presumably) stone coffins. They likely have stone lids on which were carved the names of those interred. That idea was strengthened when a gentleman got in touch with me recently who is doing research on the Gordons of Kenmure. He wanted to ascertain whether William Gordon, the 6th Viscount Kenmure, was buried at Dalry after he was executed in London in February 1716 after the 1715 Jacobite Rising. Our investigations since then suggest that he was, and that he would have been laid to Top: Remains of the Gordon aisle of the preReformation church standing alongside Dalry church. Middle: Stone plaque within the roofless remains of the Gordon aisle. Above: Blocked off entrance to the Gordon aisle rest in the family vaults. So it would be really interesting to bring together a project to open up those vaults temporarily and record what is in them. There may well be some fascinating old stone coffins with lettering on their lids. Might it be possible to seek grant funding for a project led by a group such as Rathmell Archaeology, who provide archaeological and heritage consultancy services, and involving members of the local community? I throw out the suggestion and invite others to take the idea forward. David Bartholomew GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette Caged at the CatStrand C atStrand are excited to announce the return of local actress Eilidh Thomson to her home turf. The performance of Caged: The True Story of Isabella McDuff on 7 August stars former member of the CatStrand Youth Players, Eilidh Thomson, in the title role. Eilidh joined the Youth Players Panto season I t is hard to believe, but it is almost that time of year again when we have to begin planning for our Christmas pantomime! After the summer break, we will meet again on Sunday 1 September at 2pm at the CatStrand to begin the panto build-up. All former members are welcome to come along and we will have a few places available for new members too page 28 when she was only 10 years old. With her heart set on a career on stage, there was never any doubt that she had the talent and determination to succeed. It looks likely Eilidh may follow in the footsteps of another former CatStrand Youth Player, Dylan Blore from Mossdale, who has gone on to appear in several (age 10+). If you are interested in taking part in the show or helping behind the scenes, please come to the first meeting or let us know you are interested by calling 01644 420 374 or emailing Brian or Cat on briangm@catstrand.com or catherine@catstrand.com This year it looks like we could be going to Camelot for Christmas! The favourite Eilidh performing in the 2013 Youth Players' performance of Aladdin; photograph by Ian Biggar major TV shows including Crime with Dougray Scott, BBC Comedy Short Calamity James with Mark Bonnar and the most recent series of Shetland. choice so far is King Arthur – A Pantomime Adventure in Camelot by Paul Reakes. Subject to casting and numbers available, that will be our panto for 2024. The show will be staged on 6 ,7 and 8 December and tickets will go on sale from October onwards - please look out for the launch date and book early to avoid disappointment. Brian Edgar GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 29 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. In this edition Robin takes a look at the author Flann O'Brien. U sually in the high summer I do more gardening than reading. This year is an exception, for two reasons. First, I’m far too busy working on a prisons project which will be launched in September. That is, I’m reading and writing about people who never see the sun. Second, there’s no sun here. This year, summer hasn’t managed to begin. So in my snatches of free time I’ve been reading a book – At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O’Brien – whose story only just manages to begin, then doesn’t get much further. In the great tradition of Sterne’s Tristram Shandy, the narrative here digresses so insistently – and so comically – that narrative itself is called into question. The narrator – some of the time – is a Dublin student who drinks too much stout. “You are writing a novel, of course?” asks one of his friends. “He is,” answers another, “and the plot has him well in hand.” The student invents a character called Trellis, a writer, who in turn invents various other characters including the depraved John Furriskey and Peggy, a servant. Trellis designs Furriskey to assail Peggy’s virtue, but Trellis isn’t in control of his creations. Furriskey and Peggy discover that Trellis’s powers are suspended when he sleeps, so they drug him, come out of character to get married, and set up a home in which they host more characters, who tell yet more stories. Among these characters are at least a couple who live in other books too – for instance, the legendary hero Finn MacCool, as well as Sweeney, the mythic king of ancient Ireland who, cursed with madness for his blasphemy, went to live in the trees. Sleep and wakefulness are central to O’Brien’s work – and connections are implied between dreaming and writing fiction. Reading his second novel – The Third Policeman – with its strange repetitions and shifts in perspective, and the narrator’s unsurprised acceptance of the most absurd events, may be the closest I’ve come to dreaming while awake. I’m not sure if I’d recommend At Swim-Two-Birds to everybody. Those who are not already committed fans of narrative weirdness may find it frustrating. But I recommend The Third Policeman without reservation. I hope I’m not giving too much away by saying that its protagonist is trapped in a hell of his own making, though the devils here have uniforms, David Tallontire CHIMNEY SWEEP notebooks and mild manners rather than pitchforks and burning coals, and though the tone of the book is much more comic than tragic. But back to At Swim-Two-Birds. In the end, the characters invented by Trellis take him over (they actually put him on trial). And perhaps that’s not so shocking. Trellis is a mere invention of the unnamed student, after all. The student, of course, is an invention of Flann O’Brien. But even Flann O’Brien was an invention – of a man called Brian O’Nolan, an Irish modernist of the age of Joyce and Beckett, who wrote novels in English and Gaelic under various names, and lots of journalism, and who drank far too much stout. Gordon McAdam 07709 144 299 Plumbing & Heating - wood burners - multi-fuel stoves - open fires - Agas - Rayburns - birds nest removal with CCTV inspection - certificates issued - feel free to call for advice - 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry Covering the Glenkens & further afield Find me on Facebook 01644 430 393 07834 321 789 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 30 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 31 USEFUL GLENKENS CONTACTS DOCTORS’ SURGERY Glenkens Medical Practice - 01644 420 234 COMMUNITY CONTACTS • Balmaclellan: Martin Warnock - 07939 261 391 • Carsphairn: Liz Holmes - 07718 358 160 • Corsock: Julie Garton - 07769 647 702 • Kirkpatrick Durham: Heather - 07551 639 629 • Crossmichael: Richard Middleton - 01556 670 691 • Dalry: Graham West 01644 430 503 • New Galloway: 07741 656 601 • Parton: Tom 07835821976 FOOD DELIVERIES • Galloway Foodbank 07730 788 335 • Galloway Food Hub - glenkens.scot/localdirectory-listing/glenkensfood-hub • Ballards Butchers 01556 502502 (they also deliver groceries) • Grierson’s Butchers: 01556 502 637 • Henderson’s Butchers: 01556 502 654 • Mitchell’s Greengrocers: 01556 502 077 • Fleet Fish: call 07966 103 912 to find out about Glenkens delivery days • Roan’s Dairy - 01556 620 374 • Harris & Co: www. harrisandco.uk LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Helen Crowther on 0790 467 8599 or drop by the shop on Main Street, Dalry Glenkens Scout Group: Contact Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375 Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING): Contact info@ling.org.uk Dalry Communities Properties Trust (DCPT): Contact Michelle Owen at sjtdalrycc@ gmail.com Dalry Town Hall: Contact Lesley Blissett at lesleyblissett52@gmail.com Glenkens Community Centre: Contact Sarah McAdam on minimac01644@gmail.com Lagwyne Hall: Contact lagwynehallsecretary@outlook.com for info, or to book email lagwynehallbooking@gmail.com New Galloway Community Enterprises (NGCE): Contact ngce5000@gmail.com or pop into New Galloway Community Shop Balmaclellan Community Trust: Contact Julia Higgins at julia.higgins55@outlook.com CatStrand: Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or pop in to the CatStrand Schools: Visit the school office or call Dalry Primary on 01644 430 105 (for Nursery/ELC too), Dalry Secondary on 01644 430 259 or Kells on 01644 420 340 Carsphairn Heritage Initiative: Contact Ben Ade at carsphairnhi@gmail.com Galloway Food Hub: Contact Lesley Atkins on lesley@propagate.org.uk or 07587 122 151 Bairn Banter: Contact Melissa on bairnbanter@outlook.com or 07979 492 791 If you would like to add your community organisation to this list please get in touch with the Gazette - contact details are on the back page. GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Sunday Services Balmaclellan: Aug 4, Sep 1, Sep 29 - 11am Carsphairn: Aug 11, Sep 8 - 11am Kells: Aug 18 (communion), Sep 15 - 11am Dalry: Aug 25, Sep 22 (communion) - 11am For further information contact Rev Pam Bellis on 07751 379 249 or pam@bellisconsultancy.co.uk SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH St Margaret’s Church, Kenbridge Road, New Galloway, The Revd Dawn Matthew Sundays at 10.30am: Holy Communion with refreshments after the service Tuesdays from 10am-12noon and Thursdays from 2-4pm: the church will be open for visitors or private prayer. Look for the ‘church is open’ sign on the road outside Thursdays from 7.30-8pm: evening prayers via Zoom shared with our sister church, All Saints' Challoch. Please contact Dawn for the link. For further information call Dawn on 01644 420 431 or visit www.stmargaretsnewgalloway.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Glass Recycling Points • Balmaclellan Stores, Balmaclellan • Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road, Crossmichael • Kirkland Street, St John's Town of Dalry • New Galloway, Carson's Knowe Car Park • St David Street, Kirkpatrick Durham USEFUL NUMBERS ● Pothole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 page 32 MINUTES/REPORTS OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT SPENDING ● Police, non-emergency: 101 or email stewartryCPT@ scotland.police.uk GLENKENS DISTRICT TRUST (GDT) www.glenkenstrust.org.uk/gdtcorporate-information ● Doctor: 01644 420 234 CARSPHAIRN RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND LTD (CREFL) www.carsphairn.org/CREFLArchive ● NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 ● D&G Council: 030 33 33 3000 Local Job Vacancies Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot The Glenkens Gazette is a member of independent UK press regulator, Impress. To find out more about our complaints process you can visit www.glenkens.scot/ complaints-and-corrections or scan the QR code here. ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE Advanced Massage Practitioner (price per issue incl VAT) SMALL: 6cm x 6cm, £50 1/4 PAGE: 9cm w x 13cm h, £108 1/2 PAGE: 18cm w x 13cm h, £200 FULL PAGE: 18cm w x 27cm h, £332 Please get in touch further details including small business/ charity rates and series discounts. Email glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07727 127 997 VAT Reg. No. 334 0905 24 THE STEWARTRY VETERINARY CENTRE CASTLE DOUGLAS SURGERY HOURS GLENKENS MEDICAL PRACTICE DALBEATTIE SURGERY HOURS General Medical & Dispensing Services FOR APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH SURGERIES OR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY The Surgery High Street New Galloway Mon-Fri 2.00-2.30 pm & 5-6 pm Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm Sat 2-2.30 pm Mon, Wed, Fri 3-3.30 pm Tues & Thurs 6-6.30 pm  01556 502263 VETERINARY SURGERY OAKWELL ROAD CASTLE DOUGLAS  FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 01644 420234 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 33 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation WHAT'S ON page 34 August/September AUGUST Sun 1, Atlantic Road Trip, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 21 at 6pm & Sun 22 at 12noon, Clan Latino, CatStrand Sat 21, Gala Day & Hog Roast, 2pm till late, Balmaclellan Village Hall, see p21 Thu 15, CatStrand Youth trip to Edinburgh Fringe (book now - age 12+), leaves CatStrand 8am Wed 4, Glenkens Cub Scouts restart, 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hut, New Galloway, see p5 Sat 7, Carsphairn Community Market, 10am-2pm, Lagwyne Hall Wed 7, Caged: The True Story of Isabella McDuff, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 17, Glenkens Agricultural Show, Newfield Farm, Dalry (entries close 9 Aug, for info visit Facebook) Fri 23, Anna Massie, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 24, The Great Glenkens Music Night, 7pm, Parton Village Hall, see p25 Sat 24, Corsock Show, 1pm, see p20 Sun 25, Arts & Crafts Fair, 11am-3pm, Dalry Town Hall Wed 28, Galloway Riding for the Disabled training day, see p4 Fri 30, Dark Sky Jazz: Modern Vikings, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 31, Dark Sky Jazz: kitti, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 31, GCT Excursion: Port Logan Botanical Gardens, see p33 SEPTEMBER For full list of Glenkens Food Month events visit www.glenkens.scot/ glenkens-food-month-2024 Sun 1, Dalry Heritage Group book launch, 2-4pm, Dalry Town Hall, see p26 Mon 2, Community Pop Up Burger BBQ, 5-6pm, Carson's Knowe Car Park, New Galloway Sat 7, An Evening of Ukrainian & Syrian Food, 6pm, Dalry Town Hall Sun 22, Harvest Celebration Lunch, 12.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall Sun 22, Community Pop Up Burger BBQ, 3pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Sun 8, The Famous Fungal Forage, 1-4pm, venue tbc Tue 24, Cooking for Health and Wellbeing Sessions, 6.30pm, Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry Mon 9, Community Pop Up Burger BBQ, 5-6pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Wed 25, Wilding: PG: Film Screening & Discussion, 7pm, CatStrand Tue 10, Morag You're A Long Time Deid, 7.30pm, CatStrand Thu 26, Author's Talk: Hitler's Oil Broker, 7.30pm, CatStrand Wed 11, Six Inches of Soil: PG Film Screening and Discussion, 7pm, CatStrand Sat 28, Lulo Rheinhardt & Yuliya Lonskaya, 7.30pm, CatStrand Thu 12, Stewartry Birdwatchers, 7.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall, see p13 Fri 13, Friday Night Film and Feast, 6pm, Glenkens Community Centre Mon 16, Community Pop Up Burger BBQ, 5-6pm, Underhill, Dalry Tue 17, Loch Ken Cook Out, 5-7pm, Ken Bridge Thu 19, Film for Thought and Take Away, 4pm, New Galloway Town Hall Thu 19, Carsphairn SWI Meeting: Search & Rescue Dogs, 7.30pm, Lagwyne Hall Fri 20, Paul McKenna Band, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 28, Forage, Feast & Forge, 9.30am, Galloway Activity Center Sat 28, Mossdale Village Hall Soup Saturday, 1-3pm, Mossdale Village Hall Sun 29, Glenkens Food Month Pub Quiz, 7pm, Clachan Inn, Dalry OCTOBER Wed 2, GSA Biosphere Sense of Place workshop, 6.30-8pm, New Galloway Town Hall Fri 4, Galloway SangStreams, 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Fri 4, LING AGM and Cheese & Wine, 7.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall Fri 20, Beer Tasting & Pizza Night, 7pm, New Galloway Town Hall Glenkens & District Community Councils Balmaclellan Community Council: Bi-monthly, 7.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall - contact Martin on 07939 261 391 Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham Communty Council: contact mcnabblaurie@hotmail.com or 01644 440 200 Carsphairn Community Council: Last Monday each month, 7pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn - contact carsphairncc@gmail. com or 07531 035 824 Balmaghie Community Council: contact secbalmaghiecc@ btinternet.com or 01644 450 621 Dalry Community Council: First Monday each month, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall - contact sjtdalrycc@gmail.com or 07940 313 445 New Galloway & Kells Community Council: Second Monday each month, 7.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall Parton Community Council: contact ericaporteous@hotmail. co.uk or 01644 470 277 Crossmichael Community Council: Second Wednesday every month - contact richardandjane@phonecoop.coop or 01556 670 691 Full minutes of local Community Council meetings can be viewed at Dalry Library or online at www.glenkens.scot For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 35 REGULAR EVENTS & OPENING TIMES Balmaclellan Village Hall Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, 2.30-4pm, warburton. julie@googlemail.com Community Exercise Class, 6pm Exercise Class, 7pm Glenkens Crafters, Wed, 10am12noon, julia.higgins55@outlook.com Community Library, Wed, 10.30am– 12.30pm; Sat, 10am-12noon Tai Chi, Wed, 2pm Make Do & Mend, fortnightly from 14 Feb, 7-9pm Stewartry Birdwatchers, 2nd Thu each month Sep to Apr (Sep & Apr, 7.30pm; Oct-Mar, 2.30pm) Men's Shed, Balmaclellan General Opening Times: Mon, 9.30am-12noon Wed, 9.30am-12noon Fri, 9.30am - 12noon Art Group, Thu, 2-4pm Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Monday Morning Social, 11am-2pm, 07710 124 255 or carsphairn.trust@ gmail.com Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu of the month, 7.30pm Craft Group, Fri, 10am12noon, includes tea & coffee, carsphairncraftgroup@gmail.com Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, Sat, 10-11.15am CatStrand, New Galloway Spring opening hours: Tue-Sun, 11am-4pm Art Ambassadors (age 11+), Mon, biweekly, 4.30pm Behind the Scenes, bi-weekly, Mon, 5.30pm Energising Yoga Flow, Tue, 9.30am, booking essential, 07733 111 466 Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Tue, 10am-4pm Weekly Bus Service to Tesco, Wed, 7pm Dramarama, (age 6-10), Wed, 4pm Up Skills: Musical Theatre, (age 15+), Wed, 5pm Young Writers Cafe, (age 12+), Wed, 6pm, monthly Piano Lessons, weekly, term time 4–6.30pm Morning Flow Yoga, Thu, 9.30am, booking essential, 07733 111 466 CatStrand Singers, Thu, 11am Dance Steps (age 10-18yrs), Sat, monthly, 12.30-3.30pm Art Explorers, (age under 10yrs), Sat bi-weekly 10am Art Club, (age 11-16yrs), Sat, bi-weekly 11.15am Youth Players Panto rehearsals, (10 yrs plus), weekly, Sun, 3pm The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Taste of Music, monthly, 10am (under 10yrs) Mini Music Makers, family session, monthly 11.45am (under 7yrs) Weekly Ukuele, guitar & keyboard lessons, 12.30–4pm (6-16 yrs) Musical Misfits, group singing class, bi-weekly, 10.30am New Galloway Town Hall Men’s Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.30-11am Margaret Morris Movement, (adults), Mon 2.30-3.30pm Margaret Morris Modern Dance for Children & Young Dancers, 4-5pm LING Lunches, Tue, 12.30–2pm Sports Evening, Tue, 7–9pm, carpet bowls or table tennis Zumba, Wed, 6.30pm Ukulele Group, Wed, 6.30-8pm Hubbub, Thu, 12noon–5.30pm, dropin, all ages welcome Martial Arts, Thu, 7.30-9pm Babies & Toddlers, Fri, 10-11am For further info email info@ling.org.uk, phone 07749 249 781 Glenkens Community Centre Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Mon, 10am-4pm Glenkens Youth Group, Mon, 7-8.30pm Dalry Good Neighbours Club, Tue, 2pm, 07795 613 148 Clachan Crafters, Thu, 2pm, 07500 861 041 Kickback Martial Arts, Thu, 5.30-7pm, kmabrian@gmail.com or drop-in Song Share, 1st Friday each month, 8-11pm, anne.chaurand@btinternet.com Yoga For All, Fri 9.30am, drop-in, 07733 111 466 Friendship Group, Sat (excluding Glenkens Producers Market days), 1011.30am, 01644 430 052 Table Tennis/Badminton, available to hire by arrangement, 07500 861 041 Glenkens Charity Shop Opening Times: Mon 10am-1pm Tue 6-8pm Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-4pm Dalry Library Main St, Dalry, Tel: 01644 430 234 Library Opening Times: Tue 2-5pm, Fri 12noon-5pm with the first hour for NEC Bus Pass & Blue Badge appointments, etc. Book in the library or call 01387 260 196. Bookbug and Parent & Toddler Session, Tue, 10.30-11.30am Glenkens Book Group, last Fri each month, 2pm, 01644 420 361 Lego Stay N' Play With Your Child, every 3rd Sat of the month, 1-3pm, contact Michele Owen on Fb Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, Mon, 2pm Dog Training, Tue, 7pm, 07831 590 822 Song Share, 1st Fri each month, 7.3010.30pm Various Strictly Get Dancing, Loch Ken Activity Centre, Parton, Mon, 7pm Spalding Bowling Club Sweep Nights, Mon, 7pm, shazfish1@gmail.com Cosy Corner, Tue, 1-5pm, Crossmichael Church Hall, 07889 016 963 Crossmichael Heritage Centre, Wed & Fri, 1.30-4.30pm Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Patchwork Workshop, Crossmichael Church Hall, Thu, 1-3pm Yoga, Mossdale Mossdale Village Hall, Fri, 2.15pm Mossdale Soup Saturday, last Sat each month, 1-3pm, Mossdale Village Hall Dragon Boats on Loch Ken, Sun 9.30am, Galloway Activity Centre, Parton Knockvennie Hall Heat Bank & Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona Ramsay on 07500 554 751 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, contact Gary on 01644 430 521 For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette page 36 Citizens' Agenda: democracy in action T he Glenkens Gazette and Glenkens Hub took part in a ground breaking collaboration in the run up to the General Election on 4 July; a first for us and hopefully the start of many more joint projects. We joined forces with other independent community news publications as part of the Scottish Beacon collaborative, to ask candidates to respond to the issues most important to the people they were hoping to represent. Readers in the Glenkens answered a short, fourquestion survey from which we formulated a Citizens' Agenda specific to our area. We put the collated questions to the seven candidates standing in the Dumfries & Galloway constituency and had a fantastic response rate, with replies from all bar one candidate. As we were between Gazette editions, to reach as many people as possible the full replies were published on the Glenkens Hub and linked to in the email newsletter and on social media. We hope readers found hearing first-hand from the candidates useful and we'd be interested to hear what impact you thought it had. You can read the full article online at www.tinyurl. com/glenkenshub-citizensagenda or scan the QR code to the right. Transform your workflow - hire a virtual assistant today! Are you overwhelmed with tasks and need more time to focus on what really matters? Delegate administrative tasks to me, your virtual assistant, and concentrate on growing your business. Whether you need part-time assistance or full-time support, a virtual assistant like me offers a flexible solution to fit your needs. Contact me today: freelance.jackie.uk@gmail.com 07828185289 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit events, activities, news stories, cartoons, reviews, tips & techniques, fiction, photos, ads or ideas... Contact Sarah Ade on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Editing & Design: sarah.ade@gmail.com OCT/NOV COPY DEADLINE: 5 SEP The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, a Registered Scottish Charity No SC032050 The role of the Gazette is to represent the voice of the community and does not represent the views of GCAT.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 143 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GG_143 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GCAT Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 Description An account of the resource Editor: Sarah Ade https://glenkensarchive.scot/glenkens_archive/files/original/1/289/GlenkensGazette142.pdf 92f7ba190f39145434db07afd8ee6f97 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 142 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Description An account of the resource <p>Find out more about the Gazette: <a href="https://glenkens.scot/gazette-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenkens Gazette home page</a> If you would like to submit an article or take out an advert, please email the editor Sarah Ade: <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:glenkensgazette@hotmail.com">glenkensgazette@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is a member of, and regulated by <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.impressorg.com/">Impress</a>.</p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of Glenkens Community &amp; Arts Trust (SC032050) and represents the voice of the community (not necessarily the views of GCAT).</p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document June/July 2024 ISSUE 142 Funding for new rural skills training centre C arsphairn Community Woodland have received funding to create a Rural Skills Centre at their Muirdrochwood site. The centre will offer a full programme of rural skills training for young people as well as adults. "We have planning permission to construct a Rural Skills Centre and are delighted to announce we have secured funding from both the Scottish Government’s Place-Based Investment Programme (through D&G Council) and from The Holywood Trust, for which we are grateful," said CCW's chair, Davey McMillan. With the loss of so many rural amenities, the creation of this training centre is an exciting addition to the area, especially for the young people of the Glenkens. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Dalry Secondary pupil strike ...turn to page 6 Davey continues: "The rural depopulation experienced in the area demonstrates the effect of having few opportunities for young people. Our aim is to redress through the provision of education and training, enabling young people to learn rural skills which build towards potential woodland-based employment. One of CCW's apprentices practices his chainsaw skills "Young people are the future, and providing such outdoor experiences should be an essential part of education and may be a game changer for future career choices." Great Big Green Week ...turn to page 14 Continued on p3... Galloway Food Hub featured on BBC's Landward series T he Galloway Food Hub welcomed BBC Scotland's farming and nature programme Landward. Presenter Arlene Stuart spoke with Food Hub co-ordinator Lesley Atkins before helping to sort local produce into customer boxes at the Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry. A fun day was had by all and Arlene even helped out with a delivery to a customer in New Galloway on her way home. Pictured are Food Hub volunteers with Landward presenter Arlene Stuart (centre) FREE You can catch the TV programme on repeat by searching for Landward Episode 5 on BBC iPlayer. No news is bad news Indie News Week ...turn to page 19 Border collie rescue charity comes to Corsock ...turn to page 22 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 2 Fun and games with Bairn Banter F amilies from across the Glenkens and beyond continue to come together and join in the fun-filled sessions provided by Bairn Banter in Carsphairn. Volunteers from the local children’s group welcomed kids of all ages for the annual egg hunt over Easter weekend. A total of 22 children participated in the hunt and other activities provided as part of another collaboration with the Carsphairn Heritage Centre. Bairn Banter has also hosted some special visitors along to the group, including the Local Place Planning team and a Citizens Advice Bureau outreach session offering financial advice/support to families whilst the children played. As we spring forward into the summer months, we have turned recent efforts towards offering more outdoor learning opportunities and the development of a new outdoor play area at Lagwyne Hall. The children are thrilled to have this space to explore and play freely in the great outdoors whilst embracing the new responsibility for the planning/ design of the garden. At present we have a large raised bed which the children are planting with a variety of vegetables and edible flowers. The children are developing a keen curiosity towards learning about the different types of songbirds that visit our donated upcycled bird table. Over the coming weeks, volunteers will be assembling a giant outdoor sandpit to expand the joys of messy sand play. When playing indoors, the children and their families have been busy exploring different textures of the messy/sensory play activities, as well as painting, water/sand play and stretching those growing limbs on the soft play obstacle course. The older children have been very creative with the ever-popular pebble painting, as well as baking activities, helping prepare snacks, enjoying the Lego box and various group games. At Bairn Banter we also provide children (and adults) with free healthy snacks, purchased from our wonderful local businesses - Wright’s Shop in Dalry and the Galloway Food Hub. Look out for us at the Carsphairn Show on Saturday 1 June where we'll have our children’s tent and mobile trailer. Thank you for everyone’s continued support in keeping our happy wee group thriving! Melissa Ade Name the Place Social soup book T his issue of the Gazette sees the start of a brand new section - Name the Place. In each issue a photograph by local photographer Ted Leeming will be included. Images will be of somewhere in the Glenkens and readers have to guess where it is. The answer can be found on p23, with a bit of information and food for thought about that location. Hopefully this will be both fun and thought-provoking. Below is the first Name the Place photograph... T he recreation group of Carsphairn Community Trust hold a social morning every Monday from 11am to 1.30pm, in Lagwyne Hall. This group welcomes all residents of Carsphairn in a warm, friendly atmosphere, providing a chance to socialise and chat. Often games are played, with a variety of board games available. During the winter months, hot soup and rolls are provided, as well as hot drinks and home baking, with the soups being made by social group members. Due to the popularity of the soups, the group has created a recipe booklet which is on sale in the Carsphairn shop and the Carsphairn Heritage Centre. Booklets cost £5, with the proceeds going to the community larder and food bank charity, Stepping Stones, in Castle Douglas. GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 3 Rural skills in the Glenkens Continued from front page... the young people. The recent addition of development officer Alison Macleod, appointed by Carsphairn Community Trust (see p4 for more) will enable things to move at a pace as a significant portion of her time will be spent working with CCW to help take this project forward. The new training centre will have a large central room, kitchen, toilets, and an office on a mezzanine floor above. It will also be able to be used as a resilience hub for the local community in times of need, such as power-cuts, as it will be off-grid. The existing forestry shed already has a de-fibrillator fitted. Since its inception, CCW have been providing practical, handson pre-apprenticeships for young people, offering training and experience in a wide range of skills in an outdoor working environment. Forest supervisor Andy Bain is experienced in a wide range of woodland skills and has a key role in mentoring It is hoped that the Rural Skills Centre will be up and running this year – watch this space for more news! Carsphairn Community Woodland (CCW) is committed to acquiring, developing and managing local woodlands in a sustainable, environmentally sound way for the long-term benefit of the local community. Their vision is to deliver a range of economic, social and environmental benefits to the local community through a sustainably managed forest. The aim is to do this through the creation of a rural economic hub to aid regeneration of the community and create employment through initiatives including timber production, woodland management and rural skills training. CCW is also creating a more diverse woodland environment for wildlife and are providing outdoor space and greater access to the countryside for the local community and beyond. The group is well-supported in their aspirations, with nearly half of the Carsphairn community being members of CCW, and they also enjoy tremendous support from individuals and organisations across the region and beyond. Open days are run each year along with a number of workshops and a 'volunteer day' on the first Saturday of the month. Young people and families are encouraged to come along as CCW offers an invaluable outdoor experience for all ages. See shout-out for a new CCW pre-apprentice on p18... Support Maggie on her Kiltwalk M y Intensive Care Unit (ICU) story began in 2018 when I was rushed into Crosshouse hospital with a suspected stroke. I was moved to the ICU three days after being admitted, when my body had become fully paralysed from my eyes to my toes. After a terrifying wait to find out what was wrong, I was eventually diagnosed with a rare variant of a condition called Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS). It is one of the rare forms of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a neurological condition that causes mild to severe muscle weakness. The condition is caused by an immune system reaction against certain proteins in our nerves important for movement, sensation, and function There isn't a cure for MFS, but some therapies can stop your immune system from attacking healthy nerves. The most common treatment includes intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. IVIG therapy uses purified plasma (the liquid portion of your blood) and healthy antibodies from donors (a little shout-out here to please give blood if possible). I was in ICU for almost three weeks. During this time I had to be given adrenalin three times, as my heart had become compromised from the paralysis. Eventually I was found a place in 'neuro rehab', where I had nine long weeks of physio, speech therapy and occupational therapy. I had to learn to do everything all over again, from brushing my teeth to walking. In 2023 I fell ill again. This time, the hospital in Dumfries had a good idea of what was wrong with me and I started IVIG after just three days. I was only in hospital for 10 days this time, and had all my rehab done through 'out patients'. ICU is a big part of my story. I have made some amazing friends through the ICUSteps charity, two of whom took part in a recent Kilt Walk with me. This charity, the local branch of which is ICUSteps Ayrshire (hopefully a D&G support group will start in the near future) is a patientled support group for people who have been in ICU. I wear a leg splint and the Kiltwalk was the furthest I'd walked since 'Brenda' (my splint) joined my journey. Due to the success of the walk in fundraising for the ICUSteps charity, I'm going to be doing another one in September. This will be another 'Wee Wander' five-mile Kiltwalk, this time in Edinburgh. A massive thank you goes to The Sheep Game and The Logo Farm for sponsoring our T-shirts and shirts - here’s to our Edinburgh Kiltwalk! Maggie Philips You can donate using the QR code here or email Maggie at cheerfulmap@ hotmail.com - all money raised goes to help those who have been in ICU or the family of someone who has. Pam (project lead for ICUSteps Scotland), Maggie's mum Sheila, Maggie, Maggie's daughter Bekah and Pauline (an ICU nurse who cared for Maggie during her time in ICU) upon completion of their 'Wee Wander' Kiltwalk round Loch Lomond shore Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 4 Development officer for Carsphairn H ere is an introduction from Carsphairn Community Trust's new development officer, Alison Macleod: I started working three days a week in April as development officer for Carsphairn Community Trust and Carsphairn Community Woodland. I'm really excited to be working for both and very impressed by all that has been achieved since they were formed. I knew Carsphairn as a wee girl growing up in Castle Douglas as my mum belonged there and we visited my great granny regularly. I have been involved in community led ownership and development of assets for almost twenty five years, first as development officer on the island of Raasay, where local people took on ownership and redevelopment of Raasay House, now a thriving hotel providing employment opportunities. I then worked with others in Applecross (where I lived for 35 years) to set up a development trust to take on ownership of a filling station threatened with closure. Later, as development officer for Applecross Community Company I took the lead in projects including setting up a community broadband scheme and the development of a community owned hydro scheme. I returned to Dumfries and Galloway in 2018 and am settled in Crocketford. I'm looking forward to meeting people in Carsphairn and working with them to benefit their community. Carsphairn Community Trust (CCT) is a Scottish Registered two-tiered Charity (No. SC044308), working in and on behalf of the residents of Carsphairn community. CCT are fully committed to working with any Community Group or individual who wishes to initiate a project that will benefit Carsphairn Community residents, including young persons, the elderly and disabled. A long drive to Ukraine M y name is Graham and I have lived in Glenkens for over 12 years. I have returned from Ukraine where I was a member of a group of volunteer drivers taking over 30 vehicles out to donate to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The charity that organised this trip is called Jeeps for Peace and is based in Edinburgh. They are currently on the lookout for vehicles to take to Ukraine, having already supplied almost 300 vehicles (298 to be precise). Can you help us get over the 300 barrier? The favourite for the Ukrainians are most definitely 4x4 pickups though any four-wheel drive vehicle is useful. Jeeps for Peace is able to pay between £2,000 to £3,000 for good used pickups. The vehicle should have a current MOT and a rust-free chassis, though rust in nonstructural parts of the vehicle is OK. It is over 1,200 miles to drive to Ukraine, so any vehicle needs to be reliable. As a charity, Jeeps for Peace wants to keep costs down as much as possible; for instance, the volunteer drivers pay for a lot of the expenses out of their own pocket, such as fuel, food and flights home. In the past, people have both donated for free and sold vehicles for less than market value and this is greatly appreciated. Other useful items for the Ukrainians are things such as generators, quad bikes, chainsaws, heavy-duty jump leads, tow ropes/slings/chains and ratchet straps. Also good used off-road tyres to fit the vehicles supplied, and numerous other bits and pieces, are appreciated. If you don’t have any spare vehicles lying around, you can donate financially via the Jeeps For Peace website. It goes without saying that any donation, large or small, will be received with gratitude and put to good use. Jeeps for Peace can be contacted via their website at www.jeepsforpeace.org.uk or on Facebook or if you prefer, you can get in touch with me on 07811 106 143. I will be travelling out to Ukraine again in early June with another convoy, and would like to shoutout to any of the Ukrainian community in and around Glenkens as I would like to learn some basic Ukrainian words and phrases, as well as the Cyrillic alphabet. Thank you for reading this article, Graham Hunt Below left: Jeeps for Peace drivers and the local high school choir and orchestra who gave us a welcome concert when we arrived in Ukraine. Below right: One of the previous vehicles provided and a salutary reminder of why the supply of vehicles is an ongoing necessity. GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 5 Glenkens Community Shop grants T he Glenkens Community Shop, Dalry (also known as the Glenkens Charity Shop) is about to run its next round of grants, closing for applications on 15 June. and successful applicants will be notified soon after that. Forms are available from the shop during opening times (Monday from 10am to1pm, Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm). Donations of items to the shop are welcome any time during opening hours; please don't leave bags on the doorstep if the shop is closed. The meeting to decide where money is going to be allotted will be held on Tuesday 25 June Also on 25 June is the shop AGM, which anyone is welcome to attend. The meeting will be held in the Lochinvar Hotel at 1.30pm. Look out in the next edition of the Glenkens Gazette for a list of the groups and projects who will be receiving grants, as well as the grand total of grants which have been given since the shop opened. And remember to pop in and have a look around - we've got lots of great bargains in the shop, from jewellery to books, clothes to camping equipment! Lis Lewis Outdoor opera at Barwhillanty picnic prom P arton's Barwhillanty Estate will be hosting a Garden Open Day & Picnic Prom on Saturday 8 June. Visitors can bring a picnic, reserve a preprepared picnic hamper, or indulge in a slice of wood-fired artisan pizza with friends and family, while listening to live music in the scenic estate gardens. The gardens will be open to explore from 11am, with an outdoor concert by Blackbird Opera at 1pm. This performance is led by musical director Cameron Burns, and features well-known arias, duets and ensembles from muchloved operas by Bizet, Puccini, Verdi, Mozart and more - what better way to introduce opera to all the family? Blackbird Opera is a small opera company based in Dumfries & Galloway, and was formed by local Soprano Claudia Wood. Blackbird Opera previously performed Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro to a sold-out audience at the CatStrand in 2019. Barwhillanty has been a family estate since 1884 and is currently run by Oscar and Maria Yerburgh. The couple have a commitment to conservation and take seriously their responsibility towards ecological land management, aspiring to create a community that upholds their values of sustainability, responsibility and wellbeing through shared experiences of celebration, education and beneficial connection to nature. "We are delighted to be hosting what should be an event to remember and hope locals and visitors alike will join us in a celebration of music and nature," said Maria. There will be some shelter, but visitors are asked to come prepared with something warm and waterproof, as well as picnic blankets and chairs. No dogs are allowed. There will also be tea, coffee and ice cream available. Booking is essential for this event - see ad on back page for details. This event is supported by the Create Cultivate Fund, developed by DG Unlimited (DGU), and supported by Dumfries & Galloway Council. This event is also supported by Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival – Support for Ambition (Venues). Bumper plant and bake sale T he St Margaret’s annual plant and bake sale was a great success, raising over £850 for Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes. Delicious homemade baking and homegrown plants were snapped up by locals and visitors, many of whom stayed to enjoy coffee and cakes as well. The sale was hosted by the St Margaret’s Guild whose president, Christine Rankin, explains: “We like to support local causes whenever we can, and this year our members voted that the proceeds from our sale should go to D&G Blood Bikes. "The charity is going from strength to strength since its inception in 2015, delivering essential blood and urgent medical supplies across our region. The charity is run by volunteers and funded entirely by donations and we are so pleased to be able to support them.” Dawn Matthew, priest at St Margaret’s, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people and we are very grateful for everyone’s generosity. Many thanks to all who contributed their baking and plants.” Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEeducation page 6 Student strike at Dalry Secondary A report by Gazette youth reporter Rosa Seiffert, in collaboration with Piri and Lena Whitty A t Dalry Secondary School, over the last few years measures such as not giving pupils their subject choices have been taken. The result was that many pupils left Dalry to go to other schools. Because the numbers were therefore so low, the management declared Dalry should be mothballed. The parents and pupils were not happy about this, and fought hard to keep Dalry open, in which they succeeded. Before the parent council saved Dalry from being closed, S2 were given options as to which subjects they would like to take in S3. However, when Dalry stayed open, we were unexpectedly told that there were no longer options for S3, and that all of S1-3 would be taught in the same class and have the same timetable. composite classes. The strike was scheduled for Monday 13 May in the school hall. We started to spread the word by putting posters up and we emailed the head of the Education Department, Mr Thin, informing him that we would be taking part in strike action as we were not happy with the timetable. Mr Thin replied to this by saying he was disappointed we felt the need to strike and if we had doubts regarding the timetable we should speak to school management so they could offer us reassurances. He also said we were not allowed to strike on school premises. A few days later, the headteacher of Castle Douglas and Dalry Secondary, Mr Smith, came into the school. He told It seems that neither teachers nor parents had seen this new timetable beforehand. The timetable that we were presented with, out of the blue, consisted of all double, triple, and even quadruple periods. None of us were at all pleased with the new timetable. After discussing it, a few of us decided to organise a strike to get our choices back and have a decent timetable without us we were allowed to strike but only for one period (the first), and it had to be behind the school and not in front of it. We then proposed to strike in the park below the school. He told us that would be classed as truanting and if that was on our records it could affect our futures. When we argued that we could have parental consent, he disagreed, and repeated that it would be truanting and not allowed, etc. At the beginning of the discussion, we questioned why the timetable had to be made of composite classes. Mr Smith said that if it were not the classes would be far too small to learn to socialise and he referred frequently to the Curriculum of Excellence. Afterwards we were extremely annoyed. We felt as though the management had just tried to shut us down. We talked and came to the conclusion that we could in no way get into trouble for striking provided it was for the whole day and in the park below the school. with our parents’ knowledge and consent. So that’s what we did. We spent the entire day on the Monday in the park striking for our school. Most of us were there, some of us stayed home, there was only one child left in the school. At 3pm we headed up to the school gates where we held up picketing banners that depicted phrases such as, ‘SOS, Save Our School’ and ‘Small classes work’. The press attended and photographers took pictures of us chanting, ‘What do we want? Our school to thrive! When do we want it? Now!’ We were interviewed by reporters from Greatest Hits Radio, the BBC, the Herald, and the Galloway News. We are hoping that what we have done will make a difference. Communities need schools. Pictured are pupils at the school strike holding banners with slogans such 'Small classes work' and 'SOS Save Our School' taken by Galloway News photographer Les Snowdon Poetry, nature and the Scots language D alry Secondary classes enjoyed a poetry walk around the village with poet Susi Briggs. Susi read some of her own poems and encouraged the young people to listen to the world around them and look at their surroundings to gather the elements of a poem. Susi Briggs, from Gatehouse, is a poet, author, storyteller and musician with a passion for the Scots language, and she recently landed the prestigious National Library of Scotland residency as Scots scriever for Dumfries and Galloway. Mary Acheson Poet Susi Briggs out and about in Dalry, encouraging students to find creative inspiration in the world around them Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEeducation page 7 Moving forward with education and learning in the Glenkens M arch saw D&G Council elected members approve a motion to halt the mothballing of any secondary schools across the region until a robust policy on mothballing is created that takes into account the wider socio-economic impacts of such a decision. As a consequence, Dalry Secondary is safeguarded for at least the academic year 2024/25. Any subsequent steps in relation to its future will need to be taken forward in accordance with the policy to be developed and agreed by the full council and within the regulatory and legal framework. The success of this motion was a great crosscommunity effort led by elected members that demonstrated how the Glenkens community can and does work together. Following on from this work, an Education and Learning Forum is being created and this group is working to convene an Education and Learning Summit in the Glenkens in July. John Paterson, chair of the CAP SG, said. "This is a really exciting project which hopes to delve deep into the needs and aspirations of a wide range of stakeholders to work together in finding an effective route map and plan for the future of education and learning in the wider Glenkens area. "The intention of the summit is to bring together a wide range of people, from parents to students to representatives of the council’s newly titled Directorate for Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing and elected members, as well as community and business representatives. We have sent an invitation to Dumfries and Galloway Council to particupate as we feel that by working collegiately, we can really make a difference to the future of our community and the people who live here. "By thinking about all stages of education and learning, and involving all interested parties, it is our intention to enable and support great conversations around effective and sustainable education and learning in the area and to develop deliverable plans." The summit is likely to be held in the week of 8 July – for more details see the Glenkens Hub (www.glenkens.scot) or contact Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager, on helen@catstrand.com Another excellent piece of news regarding positive steps for education and learning is that the Glenkens and District Trust has issued an invitation to tender for a Glenkens & District Rural Education Review. The intention of this research is to enable people in the Glenkens to gain a better understanding of how other similar communities in Scotland and beyond have responded to the challenges to their educational arrangements. It is also hoped It takes a village... A t Dalry Primary School we've been having all kinds of fun out and about. In the P1/2 class we have been learning all about Africa. As our class follows the principles of Play Pedagogy, we are always looking for ways for the children to learn and experience as much as they can through play activities and experiences. As much as we can, we try to include our parents and community members in our learning and this has been the case with our Africa topic. We have had visits from local artist Sarah McCusker to teach the children about coil pot making and Nick Lomax, who talked to the children about when he lived and worked in Tanzania with Jane Goodall, famous for her ground-breaking work with chimpanzees. We also visit Dalry Library when we can and enjoy a Book Bug session with Angela, and are planning a print workshop with Cat Corfield, another local artist, who oversees the youth arts programme at the CatStrand. The children have gained a lot of knowledge from these visits and skills that they will remember long after their primary school days have passed. These experiences help the children with their listening and talking skills. They learn to ask questions and practically experience the doing, making and recording of what they have learned. If you have any creative skills or passions you would like to share with the young people in our Glenkens community, please contact the school on 01644 430 105 and let us know. It takes a village to raise a child, so they say! Sabine Haynes Nick Lomax talking about his time in Tanzania that a network of interested parties can be created to further share experiences to support effective education and learning in rural communities facing similar challenges. Glenkens elected members, Dougie Campbell and Andy McFarlane, whose motion has given us time for this work, said: "We were pleased with the support we have received from our fellow councillors and are looking forward to working with the Glenkens community to take this topic forward. This community has a proven track record of working together and this is another example." The Glenkens Hub has a new Education and Learning page where you can stay up to date with progress on this important matter - see the 'Good to Know' section at www.glenkens.scot GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 8 A new chapter for the Pamela Young Trust N ot everyone in the Glenkens knows about the Pamela Young Trust (PYT), the local charity that helps with housing. It was set up in 1992 by local resident Pam Young who wanted to give something to the community she loved, particularly those who needed help. Miss Young died in 2008 but her legacy continues and the current trustees all live in the Glenkens and share her desire to help others. The new chairman, Alan Smith, describes the PYT as being quite unique in that it is a purely local organisation, explaining: “The housing requirements here in the Glenkens are likely to be different to those in towns such as Dumfries or Newton Stewart, and being local ourselves the trustees know what is wanted." Over 30 years later, the PYT now has 23 properties ranging from one-bed flats to threebed houses. The PYT are good landlords and because all the properties are so well maintained, coupled with affordable rents, most of their tenants are long-term – the knock-on effect of this is that properties rarely become available. Alan comments: “When I first joined the PYT board I was shocked by the length of our waiting list.” To try to resolve this conundrum, the PYT is looking to grow sustainably to address the housing needs of the Glenkens. In order to do this, they are changing their structure to a SCIO – Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. This is not markedly different from a regular charity in that it must have a charitable purpose, trustee rules, etc, but the way it is set up does reflect the requirements of the modern funding environment. One of the changes in housing over the last 30 years is the emphasis on the environment. There has been considerable public discussion about government rules on energy performance but, as Alan points out: “One size does not fit all. For instance, the government’s target of reducing the country’s reliance on gas with incentives to replace gas boilers is of no use in an area that does not have mains gas.” The PYT is in ongoing discussions to explore ways to help improve energy efficiency in older Galloway homes. In light of the difficulties in developing older properties, the PYT acquired the vacant site opposite the Smiddy in Balmaclellan in 2022. Dumfries and Galloway Council indicated that they would look favourably on this site being developed for housing and, with assistance of funding from the Rural Housing Fund, architects have been appointed and plans are now being finalised. The current plans are for a block of two two-bed flats and one detached three-bed house. These plans will be presented at the Smiddy on Wednesday 26 June at 5pm; all those interested in learning more are welcome to attend. Alan says: “We are being ably MATTHEW PAJO Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - pain management - women's health - men's health - fatigue - sleep - stress - anxiety - needle-free laser acupuncture- The Old School, Crossmichael info@matthewpajo.co.uk 07786 079 845 supported in this project by South of Scotland Community Housing (SoSCH) who have a proven track record in delivering similar projects. Whilst we still have to source additional funding, we are confident that we should proceed with the Balmaclellan development, not only because of our own substantial waiting list but in view of the outcomes highlighted by the Housing Needs and Demand Assessment recently commissioned by the Glenkens & District Trust and carried out by SoSCH." Another project which is PYT Chair Alan Smith at the still at an early stage is site of the proposed Balmaclellan the possibility of taking on five of the houses at housing development Glenlee Power Station and returning them to the rental sector. However, Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) are an experienced and qualified unable to progress this until the property manager, as our outcome of the public inquiry new factor. So with Anthony into the overhead line from on board, together with the Kendoon to Tongland is known. legal firm AB & Matthews, who But the main work of the PYT is maintaining their existing housing stock and looking after their tenants. Alan explains: “A lot of work goes on behind the scenes, not just in repairs and maintenance but in complying with all the changes in legislation concerning social landlords. Sadly, PYT’s factor for many years, Jackie Connelly, recently stepped down due to health reasons but we have been lucky to secure the services of Anthony Bird, look after all legal and rental administration, the PYT is in good hands.” Lastly, following the death of one of its founder members, the PYT board is looking for a new trustee; you can find out more in the ad on page 10. The most important thing for any potential trustee is a strong connection to the Glenkens and a desire to help those who, for whatever reason, would benefit from living in affordable housing. Amber Dunlop-Pajo Health Psychologist - women's health - stress - depression - anxietyThe Old School, Crossmichael info@gallowaycounselling.co.uk 07389 713 106 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople page 9 Glenkens Youth Correspondent Joshua Wells, age 14, is our Gazette youth correspondent and each edition will be writing about things which interest him. In this issue he talks about the CatStrand Youth Players. E very year the CatStrand Youth Players get together and enter a competition called the One Act Play Festival. This year for the festival we decided to do a play called ‘Us and Them’. If you don’t know the play, two groups of travellers arrive, one from the east, one from the west. They build a wall so both sides know where their land starts and ends, this wall may stop confusion but curiosity eventually begins and both sides look over the wall and see each other. This eventually grows into a battle, where everyone dies and the cycle continues and no lessons are learnt. On the day of the competition, we arrived at the CatStrand at 9:30 where we spent half an hour loading up the bus with all the set for the play. Once loaded up we set off to Dunlop. The bus journey took us about an hour and a half. It was an easy journey because it was a Sunday morning and there was no traffic. Some of us went by bus and some of us went in a car. We arrived at Dunlop, which wasn't dissimilar to New Galloway in size, at the village with a hall where we would perform. When it was our turn the audience fell silent as the lights dimmed, wondering what our play would be about. Slowly, the curtains parted, as we started the play we had rehearsed for what felt like one hundred times before. We acted out a story about suspicion and conflict, each moment filling the audience with anticipation. The never-ending cycle of war shocked the theatre. A loop of misery and sorrow without anyone understanding what went wrong. The audience loved our play and we were pleased with how it went. Before we could watch the plays, we had to have our personal adjudication. Backstage, we all gathered excited to hear if the adjudicator found it good or not, waiting for the feedback that could help us make our next steps in the performance. He was really positive and found the play very good. He had many positive comments such as the impressive effect of the mirrored coloured t-shirts on both sides of the wall. He then suggested that the battle scene could have been extended, allowing for further exploration of the fight and building more tension. We then went to see the other plays. The first of four plays was a 16+, so sadly we could not watch it. It didn’t really matter though because we were third out of the four plays, so we couldn’t see the first two. We sat backstage, relaxing and preparing to go on stage. The last one was about a girl going on a hunger strike to explain to people that the large companies are all not giving enough money to farmers. Unfortunately, we learned after the play had finished that we neither came first nor second. We did, however, get a participation certificate. Kirkintilloch Players, the 16+ play, came first, and Greenock Youth Players, the play about hungerstriking, came second. Our director, Catherine Campbell, was still very proud of us even if we didn’t win. We all packed up and got ready for our journey home - roll-on panto season! See p27 for more on the CatStrand Youth Players... GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 10 Building connections to help reduce loneliness I n today's fast-paced world, loneliness has become an increasingly prevalent issue, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. Recognising the impact that loneliness has on mental and physical well being, we’ve led on various initiatives with the aim of creating meaningful connections and reducing social isolation. Here we see a case study, the story of John, which illustrates how a community-driven project successfully tackled loneliness in an informal and uplifting manner. After New Galloway Town Hall reopened following renovations it became very apparent that there was a growing number of lonely residents in the parish, across all age groups. Determined to make a difference, Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING) decided to launch a project named 'The Hubbub in the Town Hall'. The Hubbub aimed to create meaningful connections and combat loneliness by offering a warm, safe space where people could meet, chat and eat. Coordinator Bianca took a casual approach to encourage a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, making it easier for participants to connect and build relationships. Volunteer needed to join the Pamela Young Trust board The PYT board is currently looking to recruit another Trustee. The term is for a minimum of five years. Responsibilities include attendance at four quarterly meetings per year, alongside active participation via email where necessary. We would like to hear from anyone who shares our values, and experience or knowledge in one or more of the following areas would be of particular interest: • Third Sector • community work/citizenship • sustainable property development • lived experience of rental/social housing This is an exciting time to join the PYT as we have two potential housing projects in the pipeline that would extend our current property portfolio and which would in turn benefit those looking for affordable housing in the Glenkens. For more information please visit our website www.pamelayoungtrust.co.uk Anyone considering the role is welcome to have a discussion with the Chair or another Trustee – but in the first instance an informal enquiry should be made to enquiries@abamatthews.com To kick off the project, Bianca Leder organised a timetable full of activities that people could join or just watch. This provided opportunities for individuals to meet and get to know each other. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and laughter as people shared stories, interests and experiences over a cup of tea or coffee. The activities ranged from cooking to sharing memories to exploring new hobbies together. The casual nature of these activities allowed for genuine connections to form, breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of belonging. As time has gone on, the positive impact of The Hubbub has become evident. Participants reported feeling less lonely, more connected and happier overall. The relaxed approach taken by the project coordinators had successfully reduced social isolation and created a sense of belonging within the community. John M has been coming to The Hubbub since it started in 2023 and says he is very grateful to Bianca and the team who provide a welcoming space for him to relax and be himself. He said it makes all the diffeence for him, knowing he has John M feels he has benefitted hugely from LING's Hubbub project somewhere to go every week where he will be welcomed with a smile, not only by the team but by the other participants. John has forged genuine friendships with people that he didn’t even know lived a short walk from his home. He enjoys talking about the history of the area in which he now lives and doesn’t stop smiling! In the early days, one of the team would give John a knock just to make sure he was coming. In a short time, he didn’t need that encouragement, his mood started to lift and he looked forward to every Thursday. The Hubbub exemplifies the power of connection and the positive impact that a casual and uplifting approach can have in reducing loneliness. By fostering genuine relationships through shared interests and organising relaxed social gatherings, the project successfully created a supportive community where individuals felt valued, connected, and less isolated. Initiatives like these remind us of the importance of reaching out to others, spreading kindness, and making a difference in the lives of those who need it most. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople page 11 BUSINESS in the SPOTLIGHT I came to the Glenkens two years ago, bringing my husband and two sons to live in Balmaclellan. You'll know one of them, Joshua, as he is the Youth Correspondent for the Glenkens Gazette. We love living here; the relaxed way of life, the great views and the space. And of course the people; we have a great community here in the Glenkens. It's just what we were looking for when we moved from Kent. Not that Kent was all bad. I had some great opportunities, such as six years ago I set up a Parkrun in my local town which still runs today, with over 200 people running every week. I also ran a running club with over 20 branches, and I've even run a few marathons, Loch Ness included. If anyone ever tells you running downhill is easy don't believe them! One of my favourite previous roles was manager of a country park just outside London. I dealt with unruly elves at Christmas, escaped horses and I even got to rescue someone who had their foot stuck in the mud. Having settled in the Glenkens, and held various roles, including running the Balmaclellan village shop with my husband, which I still do, and the role of community inclusion manager with Local Ken Bridge Hotel Opening Times Sit-in and takeaway, seven days a week Evening Meals: 5.30-8pm Bar Service: from 4-11pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 11pm Saturday and Sunday * all meals must be booked in advance * • Pool table and darts board • Terrace/beer garden • • Venue available for hire for functions and events • • Campsite with river views *hot tubs coming soon* • - Dogs on leads welcome on outdoor terrace - For bookings, orders or any other enquiries call 01644 420 211, 07826 382 552, 07825 237 627, email mail@kenbridgehotel.com or message on Facebook @ Ken Bridge Hotel & campsite or visit www.kenbridgehotel.com Initiatives in New Galloway, I felt like I was looking for my next challenge. Then someone said to me "I'd love you to do some work for me - you've got stacks of skills, have you thought about being a 'Virtual Assistant'?" I have to admit it isn't something I'd ever thought about, so I quckly got my head down and figured out what I would be able to offer peopIe and, after sleeping on it, decided; I love helping people and I'm a natural problem solver, so why not? Jackie recently launched her new Freelance Virtual Assistant services for small businesses, sole traders, individuals and charities within the Glenkens and beyond. Small business services offered include social media management, email management, data entry, telephone answering, filing and proofreading newsletters, stocktaking, emails and blogs. She can also do project work including research and website mapping. For individuals, she can help set up a new phone or computer, carry out filing, set up payment schedules for bills, sort and file emails, arrange house repairs and more. You can contact Jackie for more information at freelance.jackie.uk@gmail. com or 07828185289 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople Meet the LING trustees NHS England, as the national programme director/ team leader of a strategic continuous improvement programme of Veterans Healthcare Alliance. L ING is governed by a board of trustees who are all volunteers for the charity. The trustees have ultimate responsibility for the charity’s vision, values, ethos and strategy as well as for the overall performance. They ensure LING complies with all legal requirements and has the highest possible standards of governance. But have you ever wondered who they are? If so, here is an introduction to two of the LING truestees: page 12 Guy Benson - Vice Chair Guy Benson is a retired army officer. His military career spans 40 years, as both a soldier and as an officer. He has extensively travelled the world and spent almost a third of his career on operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. He ended his regular army career as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Ministry of Defence, London. In 2018 he left military service and was employed by Wiltshire Council as the military civil integration director. In 2020, Guy joined In his limited spare time, Guy is keen to “give back”, and as such joined LING to support the thriving community in New Galloway and Kells parish. open learning department, progressing to a management role, followed by five years in a not-for-profit training organisation as a director then CEO managing private, public, Department for Education and European Social Fund income streams. In 2017 Clare joined a charity, Skills for Care, which included consultancy work for the Department for Health and Social Care. Before moving to New Galloway she was previously a trustee for a hospice in Warwickshire, where she was on both the People and Clinical sub committees. Clare McKenzie – Treasurer Clare took early retirement in December 2022 after a 30-year career in education: firstly, 20 years in further education within a specialist Clare says that throughout her life she has benefited massively from the advice, guidance and help of others and having recently retired she hopes that the experience and knowledge she's accumulated can be put good use supporting the community of New Galloway. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 13 Time capsuling Scotland's landscape L ocal photographer Ted Leeming is heading for the Highlands, Orkney and Shetland on his bike as part of a project in which he is looking at "time capsuling Scotland’s changing landscape as we strive towards a sustainable future". Ted said: “Over the past year I’ve become fascinated at the extent to which landscapes change over time as a result of our needs. As part of our 2023 Fantastic Forest Festival I became increasingly aware of our own changing landscape. "I was truly shocked at how so much of what we see as ‘normal’ are in fact recent human creations. With this in mind I am intrigued to explore generational land use change and the extent to which our practices across Scotland in 2024 are extractive or regenerative, in harmony or in tension between community, biodiversity, climate, societal and commercial needs." If you would like to follow his journey, Ted will be posting regular blogs at 'Wanderings of a Photographic Duo'. The project will culminate towards the end of the year in a number of talks, workshops and an exhibition. "I will be traversing Scotland by bicycle, to minimise my footprint, from the imminent space station on Shetland to the Glensanda 'super quarry', the salt marshes in the Solway to the peat bogs of Forsinard, recording our urban conurbations to the wilds of the outer isles. "If you know of any locations you think would be worth a visit - they could be anything from amazing community projects or derelict buildings, exemplar rewilding initiatives to examples of pollution - or interesting people I should meet, please do let me know!" Ted is currently thinking about a title for the project and has lots of ideas. He says: "'The Times They Are A Changing' seems to fit well, but so do 'The Beginning of the End of the Anthropocene', 'The Land Project', 'Nothing Comes For Free', and 'ISOA ('In Search of Awe'). I’d love What changes are coming? What does a modern rural landscape look like to you? to hear any thoughts if you have them, both for the name and for the project itself and look forward to sharing my journey with you." To find out more visit www. leemingpaterson.com or email tedleeming@me.com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 14 sponsored by Get inspired with the Great Big Green Week G reat Big Green Week takes place across the UK from 8-16 June this year, with the theme of making a swap for the planet. And what better way to start the week with some cinematic inspiration to help you swap fear for hope. Why Not Scotland? is a new documentary about how we can bring wildlife back to our countryside, and its coming to the CatStrand as part of a Scotland-wide tour. The documentary, produced by Scotland: The Big Picture, explores the issue of rewilding through the eyes of Flo Blackbourn, a young Scottish student, who sets out on a personal journey to find inspiring examples of nature recovery around Europe. We spoke to Flo about what she learned from the experience. "Growing up in Scotland I thought, like many people do, that the bare hills were natural. When I started working with the film’s producers I learned that this wasn’t the case, and that they used to be native forest." To make the documentary, Flo visited countries including Norway and Spain, where she visited wetlands, forests and more. "Seeing the forest in Norway was quite eyeopening. I came back inspired and realised that we could achieve landscapes like that at home. It made me feel that we can change things for the better." Why Not Scotland? is screening at the CatStrand on Thursday 6 June at 7.30pm. Share your swaps for the planet on the Great Big Green Week website - head to greatbiggreenweek.com to find out how. Clare Harris Learning new skills in Balmaclellan B ack on a dark February night, I walked into my first Make Do and Mend session in a warm and welcoming Balmaclellan Hall. pattern, hand-stitched and stuffed it and took it home. The session, led by Julia Higgins, would take us weekby-week through the basics of sewing up to being able to take on our projects. In the first week, we learnt how to do different hand stitches. Once we learnt how to do hand-stitching and use the sewing machine, we could I’ve sewed before so I found some of the stitches quite easy, but others I’d never done before. Help was on hand as Julia walked around to show support and give encouragement. We quickly progressed to making cute little owl pincushions. We followed a We also made drawstring bags, which taught us how to create French seams. I didn’t see the point in it to begin with but it looked really good once I’d finished; I made myself a dice bag from some velvet-type material I bought. do our own projects. Some people repaired waistcoats, others put pockets on jackets. Another person is making an organiser out of old pairs of jeans, using the pockets for storage. You can make lots of creations with scrap fabric and old clothes. You can even buy something at a charity shop and alter it to fit you if it’s too big. Every week I learn something new and it’s not always about the sewing; this week we were chatting about old money. Everyone was talking about what money was around when they were just starting school. For example, some remembered sixpences and shillings. Julia has talked about how she would like us to get good enough to do quilting with her. That would be a great challenge. Since the classes started, there has been an exciting upgrade in the hall - they’ve got a new disabled toilet, making the venue more accessible. Hopefully, that means even more people can come to our Make Do and Mend sessions. Everyone is welcome and we all help each other out. Joshua Wells Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 15 sponsored by If you would like to list something on this page, please get in touch on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk FREE Single electric under blanket, VGC, washable. Collection from Carsphairn Contact: 07909 652713 VHS videos, approx. 130. 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Contact: 07745 775 480 Community consultation in forestry development in the Glenkens In our Land Use Focus in Issue 130 (June/July 2022) the Gazette featured a shout-out from Kavita Sharma, a PhD student at ETH Zürich, who was researching tree planting in Scotland and asking people to contact her to let them know their thoughts and views on forestry developments in the Glenkens. Kavita promised to send us a summary of her research once complete, so now, two years on, here it is. I came to the Glenkens in 2022 for doctoral research; my task was to research community consultations for forestry projects. Through my research, it became clear that consultation proved to be a challenging exercise for all parties concerned. Despite the buzz around engaging communities, empowering participants, and inclusiveness, people reported feeling frustrated with the entire process. Why is that? The short answer is that consultation, in its current form, has intractability built into it. It is openended, flexible, and without standardisation. Therefore, the outcomes of consultations vary greatly across places despite similar concerns. It is a forum designed to engage people in technical questions: plant what trees and where? It excludes the possibility of discussing political issues that are increasingly important to rural communities, such as the price of land, land ownership, and provision of public services. While forestry development is closely related to these issues, their relationship is complex and mediated by wider national policies, such as tax incentives and regulations. Community consultation platforms are narrow in their scope to address such matters. While there are lively debates on which species to plant and where, my line of questioning focused on how these decisions are debated, by whom, and on what kinds of platforms. My objective was not to identify what good consultation might look like; rather, it was to understand and analyse how consultation is currently practised. This might not make my research directly useful; however, I hope that my analysis invites you to think about consultations in a different manner. Tree planting is believed to be a simple yet effective means of removing carbon from the air, sequestering it, and storing it as biomass. Leaving trees on the ground or making durable construction materials with wood can store carbon over the long term. In Scotland, the growth in carbon markets and increase in timber prices have made it an attractive investment option for forest investors, farmers, and estate owners. The government has also increased the grant support to meet its tree-planting targets. While this has led to an increase in tree planting, it has also led to friction between developers and communities. Consultations for forestry development are encouraged by Scottish Forestry, including consultations with community councils, local organisations, and statutory bodies, such as SEPA. Continued over the page... Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment Continued from previous page... Community consultation for forestry can take different forms – in-person meetings and presentations, email correspondence with community councils or members of the community, meetings between council members and developers, and more formally, through the online forestry consultation platform where members of the community can voice their opinions on projects to Scottish Forestry. At some level, community consultations seem empowering. Members or representatives of the community can disagree with developers, negotiate terms with them, and express their opinions directly to Scottish Forestry. On the other hand, this very flexible and open-ended nature of consultation makes it a frustrating exercise. It is up to interested community members or developers to engage in it as they wish, in flexible terms, and with varying levels of compromise. These flexible arrangements are also outside representative institutions and may not be appropriate forums to seek the resolution of political issues, those that are well beyond a developer’s remit. Consultations are essentially technical exercises where forest plans are shared with community members, accompanied by maps that indicate the location of different species, open ground, and timber roads. Community members can negotiate these variables with varying levels of success. However, there are several other pressing political questions that are important to communities, and in the absence of strong local representative institutions, community councils are an important consultee, these are voluntary bodies represented by people who, while committed to their communities, are often woefully under resourced. I found high variance in both the interest and knowledge of council members on forestry issues, but a common theme across all was how overwhelmed they were with consultations more generally. page 16 the relatively long history of forestry in the region. There were houses, pubs, and parks constructed by the Forestry Commission for forestry workers and their families decades ago. This stayed with me as a reminder that the landscape and people of Glenkens are constantly shifting and changing, and that a stable equilibrium, or a consensus on what ought to be, may never be achieved. In closing, I was very lucky to have completed my PhD fieldwork in the Glenkens. I spent time in beautiful landscapes and met wonderful people who took time to show me around, shared their stories, and spoke openly about forestry developments in the region. these concerns increasingly find their way into these forums. These include increases in land prices, wearing down of roads due to timber lorry traffic, and the closure of schools. This leaves both parties – communities and developers frustrated with the content and outcome of consultation. Moreover, while As one person said, "we have consultations coming out of our ears". Thus, while resources are channelled to make consultations more engaging and participatory, there are significant capacity constraints within community councils to engage in consultation. What, then, about forestry itself? What struck me as I drove through Glenkens was The few months I spent there made a clear impression on me, and I will forever remain indebted to the people of the Glenkens for their generosity. Kavita Sharma kavita.sharma@aya.yale.edu Pictured: Dundeugh village was created in the early 1950s by the Forestry Commission to house forestry workers. Photograph © Will Graham, www.prefabmuseum.co.uk Glenkens land use reports published B uilding on the Glenkens Land Use Vision published last year, two very interesting reports have just been published to keep this important issue moving forward. Land use change is happening all around us, whether it's wind farms, re-wilding, new farming methods, housing or forestry. Different people have different views on all these matters, but what the Glenkens Land Use Vision sets out is how we want our communities to be able to have a say in these changes, and how we want to be sure that they benefit the communities as well as the developers. One suggestion in the Vision is that a Land Use Forum was created to discuss these issues. Interestingly, Dr Stephen Connelly's report on the matter, 'Feasibility Study into a Glenkens Land Use Forum', determined that this is probably not the best move at present, and that it would be more productive to create a Land Use Network. An early role of the Network would be to create a Land Use Map of the Glenkens. One important layer on this map would be 'treasured landscapes' identified by the communities, which brings us on to the second report. 'Participatory Monitoring of Land Use in the Glenkens' has been written by Dr Kerry Morrison and is both a research piece and a reflection of her creative learning process. It shows the depth of knowledge and affection for our Glenkens landscapes, and suggests a bi-annual 'Glenkens Lands' festival to cement and share these feelings. Both reports are well worth a read and are published on the Glenkens Hub 'Land Use' page, https://glenkens.scot/ land-use, along with the 2023 Land Use Vision. These reports were created thanks to NatureScot and SOSE funding and were a Dalry Community Council and GCAT joint initiative. The Glenkens and District Community Action Plan Steering Group is now creating a Land Use sub-group to continue to take the vision and the outcome of these reports forward. If anyone would like to join this sub-group, contact Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager, on helen@catstrand. com Helen Keron, Executive Manager, GCAT Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment T he season is in full swing for the Loch Ken Ranger Service, with many holidaymakers back to enjoy beautiful Loch Ken. Head ranger Leanne Pumpr is pleased to be increasing boat and land patrols, engaging with locals and visitors, on and around the loch, ensuring our environment is well cared for. Leanne responds to many incidents, including fly-tipping, wildlife crime, abandoned campfires and dirty camping. This season, our ranger service has a cohort of volunteer rangers, who have been assisting with patrols and other ranger activities. It has been great that so many members of the community, who share our passion for looking after our environment, have been keen to get involved. Along with patrolling, our 2024 Education Programme has been launched, bringing children from our local schools to Loch Ken for ranger-led outdoor education sessions. There has been a great response to these with the children engaging in fun activities relating to water safety, responsible camping and caring for our environment for the future. We are pleased to be helping to educate the future generations Loch Ken Ranger Service gears up for the summer on how they can help protect and cherish our natural world and are will be hosting more events for local schools this term. Our Youth Water Safety Awareness Programme has expanded for 2024, thanks to funding from Drax and the Holywood Trust, offering vital free water safety training to young people in our region. We have had several groups complete this training, held at the Galloway Activity Centre, including Dumfries Disability Sport and 1st Kirkcudbright Scouts and Explorers. As always, if you are interested in getting involved, please email office@ lochken.org.uk Our open ranger group meetings are held on the last Wednesday of every month and are a great chance to find out about the latest activities of the Ranger Service. We would like to thank our communities for the continued support. The Ranger Service is also making progress with improvements to water safety signage on the Loch. Plans are currently underway and we are getting signs made up and making Loch Ken a safer place for everyone. Leanne said: “As the weather improves, Loch Ken Ranger Service is working really hard to get ready for the summer season. We are delighted to welcome our new Volunteer Rangers and would like to thank all the members of the community who have come forward to get involved. We are looking forward to a full season of events ahead, including our Family Water Safety Day and Ranger cookout, details of which will be available on our website in due course at www.lochken.org.uk "We are always keen to welcome new faces, so if you’re thinking about it, get in touch and come along to see what we’re up to.” We are proud of our work promoting water safety and we will be welcoming some S6 students from Castle Douglas High School later this term as well. page 17 LOCH KEN RANGER 07539 029 175 / 07918 300 889 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 18 The Optimistic Environmentalist Reducing your home energy bills - Part Five Home storage battery systems (continued from last issue) Whilst batteries and an inverter are not cheap to buy and install, they are a good investment. You can charge the battery with cheap rate electricity tariffs at night, or free from your own solar or wind generation, and use this energy at more expensive times such as at breakfast or in the evening. It kept us going through a full day power cut recently. NB if you need to, you can still do your washing, bread-making, slow cooking and charge your high heat retention storage radiators for instance, alongside charging your batteries. Despite fully charging and using it every day for over a year, our battery has only lost 1% of its capacity. Whether you have a battery or not, you can easily get a cheap overnight electricity tariff from your provider. Our tariff is aimed at electric car owners and is seven and a half pence per kWh for six hours overnight and 29p per kWh during the day. You can get a 0% interest loan from the Energy Saving Trust (EST) for tens of thousands of pounds, depending on which technologies are being installed. Rather than being used for individual energy technologies, they now cover a 'package' unless you already have part of it. Packages can link home storage of electricity (batteries or high heat retention storage heaters) with renewable energy technologies (solar panels or air/ground source heat pumps). Unfortunately, you have to apply, be accepted, install and pay for the items fully before you get the loan; you are then given the loan so it eventually spreads the cost. Grant funding is also available for projects; some (but not all) are means tested. The EST will advise you. It is possible to buy a secondhand battery but make sure it has been checked to ensure its safety as well as how well it works; be aware, you will not usually get financial assistance with these. The photo shows a Tesla home storage battery – other manufacturers also produce them including some in the UK. Multiple uses of electric cars The right electric car can be an economic part of meeting your transport needs (see our experiences in later issues of the Gazette). As well as getting more mileage for your money, you can maximise your finances by charging the car using cheap tariffs. Some electric cars can be used as a stand-alone battery; in a power cut, for instance, the car can provide power to single electrical items eg a microwave; called vehicle to load (V2L). Currently being trialled systems allow electric car owners to power their home, (V2H) and/ or sell some of their power to the grid (V2G), thus making a profit from the cheap power and enabling the grid to draw power at times of high demand. Thus, the grid will have a flexible power source to meet the needs of its customers. Our provider, Octopus, sends a signal to our car charger when there is excess power charging us 7.5p/kWh instead of 29p. Fun fact: the sun will never send you a bill! Community woodland pre-apprentice wanted T he search is underway for a new forestry pre-apprentice at Carsphairn Community Woodland (CCW). The community woodland project continues to develop activities and facilities at Muirdrochwood Woodland, near Carsphairn, and directors are now looking to recruit the next forestry pre-apprentice, on a six-month training contract. The role covers a whole range of outdoor and practical tasks on site. Carsphairn Community Woodland is one of three woodlands participating in the Inspirational Woodlands Project managed by McNabb Laurie at the D&G Woodlands Initiative and funded by the Glenkens & District Community Benefit Fund through Foundation Scotland. CCW development officer, Alison Macleod, said: " The preapprenticeship is six-months of paid work-experience designed to provide essential forestry management skills, giving young people an opportunity to get onto the first rung of the career ladder. Supporting our young people in this way enables them to move into a career in forestry which is one of the areas of employment in this area." If you would like to register your interest in the role, ask any questions or to find out more about what the role entails, please email to Alison at developmentofficerccw@gmail.com applications are sought by 5pm on 21 June 2024. A CCW pre-apprentice gets to grips with fencing, supported by forest supervisor, Andy Bain Tesla home storage battery (see Part 6 for solar and wind generation) Denise MacDonald-Kiernan Currently there is the Eco4 grant available to both tenants and homeowners on qualifying benefits. The grant offers insulation, solar panels, heat pump and central heating visit www.ofgem.gov.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 19 Dalry Place Plan vision for the future F ollowing a final community engagement event at Dalry Town Hall to gather views on the draft action plan, Dalry's Local Place Plan (LPP) is almost complete. Dalry residents have been marking up maps and making suggestions at various events since August 2023 to highlight the importance of local assets and facilities. Some areas of focus have been schools, the village shop and Post Office, and the community buildings. Participants have also pointed out things which could be improved, with a 20mph speed limit in the village and improvements for pedestrians and cyclists high on the agenda. Dalry’s settlement takes up a small part of the whole community council area, with many people living outwith the village. In addition to considering traditional development questions about where would be the best location for housing would be, the community has also been asked to share their views on treasured landscapes in Dalry and the surrounding area. This will help to build up a picture of which walks, views, cycle routes or wild swimming spots are truly valued by the local community, with the aim of trying to ensure that cherished places like Waterside Hill are protected both as an important habitat for nature and a key viewpoint and landmark. Scotland's new National Planning Framework (NPF4), released in February 2023, introduced a new tier of the planning system. The aim of this is to give communities the opportunity to articulate their own views on what is currently working well and what could be improved in their settlement. It gives communities a chance to share thoughts on development and land use, traditionally not something considered under planning legislation. Once the draft LPP is finalised it will be available to view and for comments during a 28-day statutory consultation period, following which it can be proposed for adoption by D&G Council. Thanks to funding for a pilot project from South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE) and NatureScot, and following meetings with stakeholders including Forestry & Land Scotland, Scottish Forestry, NatureScot, the Crichton Carbon Trust, the Loch Ken Trust and the Galloway Fisheries Trust, the plan is now almost ready to go out to statutory consultation. It is hoped that the document will be adopted in September and will inform the development of the next D&G Council Local Development Plan (LDP3). The planning department has given positive feedback on the draft document, and Glenkens Community & Arts Trust is now in a position to be able to offer a template Local Place Plan and package of support to other Glenkens community councils who would like to progress their own LPPs using the £2,000 grant from D&G Council for this purpose. To find out more about this, or for more information about Dalry’s draft LPP, please email Becca Nelson at becca.glenkens.anf@ gmail.com No news is good news - or is it? N o news is good news. Or is it? The Glenkens Gazette is a member of Scottish Beacon, a platform created to raise the voices of hyperlocal publications like the Gazette. Without news, how would you know about the issues affecting your community? How would you know what your local authorities were planning or whether they were acting legally? How would you know if your local environment was being impacted and by whom? And how would you know about the positive changes in your area, the success stories? As long as we have a local independent news source in our area, our community can stay informed – but sadly, far too many news providers are struggling to keep going. No news is bad news We're proud members of the award-winning Scottish Beacon local news collaborative – a collective of 24 independent local news providers right across Scotland. We want to strengthen local news by amplifying stories and provided trusted, vital information written by people who know their communities best. Together, we're joining the ‘No News is Bad News’ campaign, and in June as part of Indie News Week, The Scottish Beacon is hosting a one day event packed with interesting conversations, lively debates and workshops. Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/scottishbeacon Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity A face lift for the old girl T he Town Hall in Dalry is one of the oldest and most valuable rural assets in the Glenkens and it is the intention of the management team to begin making improvements/ refurbishments to the historic building. This will ensure that the community can come together and stay for activities involving work, rest and play and benefit from a warm space that feels comfortable, attractive, and a venue to be proud of. The team have been awarded grant funding for energy efficiency improvements which are progressing and have also completed a successful application to National Lottery Awards for All receiving just over £9,000. The plan is to use these funds to install new heavy duty thermal blinds, paint the back rooms and to refurbish I am sad to report that the Together in The Glenkens (TiTG) programme has now come to the end of its year of funding. We have had an amazing year, meeting so many wonderful people and providing an array of activities and experiences for the Glenkens communities. I wish to thank Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, the lovely main hall floor. Just think of all the great ceilidhs and events that can be enjoyed on that! Our priority is to give the community a building to be even more proud of and to take pleasure in visiting. In 1817 the labour activist Robert Owen advocated that finding time for rest, play and relaxation contributes to a good balance of mental health, physical wellbeing and increases greater happiness. If the team at Dalry can help achieve this by injecting some new life into the ‘Old Girl’ and make the hall an attractive, warm and pleasurable experience for all the community and visitors then our efforts will have been worth it. We have more ideas and plans for other projects but in the meantime, we want the good folk of Dalry to come and see what is happening inside. You may be very surprised. Open Doors Day Committee chair, Lesley Blissett, commented that the management team is made up of a small band of volunteers. It doesn’t just happen by itself, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to put on different events for community participation. This year is the fortieth anniversary of Volunteers Week, which takes place from 3 to 9 June, and Lesley decided she wanted to take the opportunity of hosting an Open Doors Day at the hall (this will be on Sunday 9 June from 10am). It is intended that other community venues, such as the Glenkens Community Centre, will also be taking part. This is the perfect chance for residents new and long standing, young and old, to come inside and see what is going on. We intend to have the Community Café during the day which is run by volunteers. There will be a chance to watch the screening of the Covenanters Video Story plus a PowerPoint presentation of all the events and activities that have been and are being organised by volunteers. page 20 A piper outside Dalry Town Hall for a wedding in May 2023 We welcome the newcomers to the village and extend a warm invitation to all. ‘The Old Girl’ would like some more ‘friends’ to play with, which helps us become a strong, committed team to future proof Dalry Town Hall for generations to come. The Dalry Town Hall Management Team A fond farewell whose initial generous funding allocation from the Scottish Government allowed us to provide a 12-month programme of a variety of events, catering for the interests of a wide range of people in the Glenkens. Our goals were made possible by the wonderful generosity of volunteers and specialist deliverers who showed great commitment and enthusiasm for the 12-month rolling programme. I would like to thank all our volunteers and deliverers for their energy and creativity which made all of the activities as successful as possible. TiTG’s positive outcomes were also enhanced by the generosity of Dalry Community Shop, NHS Endowment Fund, Co-op Community Fund, Balmaclellan and Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham Community Councils, whose additional funds allowed us to increase the opportunities and experiences for all of our beneficiaries. I wish to thank all our attendees for their enthusiasm and willingness to build and increase their skills and interests, enrich their lives and make new connections. Our legacy is that out of the 12 activities which were established over this year, four are looking in a highly positive position to continue after Together in The Glenken’s conclusion. This is fantastic to see. Thank you all! Glenkens Community & Arts Trust is currently seeking Jo Jackson, activity coordinator for Together in The Glenkens funding to support Glenkens Food Month and other avenues which continue to offer Glenkens community activities, so we will keep fingers crossed for that. Jo Jackson Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity The CatStrand journey...16 years and counting I t is hard to believe that the CatStrand has now been open for over 16 years, and even harder to imagine just what our community would be like without it now! In that time, the CatStrand and all of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) services and projects which are delivered from there have become a vital part of life in the Glenkens for residents and visitors alike. Whether you use the café, attend events or classes, travel on the Galloway Community Transport minibuses, hire the space for meetings, access tourist information, view art exhibitions, read the Glenkens Gazette or buy cards and gifts in the shop, there is no doubt that the CatStrand has grown and developed way beyond anything we could have hoped for when GCAT first purchased the derelict old school in 2002. Our live arts programme brings something for everyone; who knew, 22 years ago, that we would get the National Theatre of Scotland visiting the Glenkens? Our youth arts programme is also an important and very rewarding part of what GCAT offers. Over the years, hundreds of young people from our rural area have been able to experience different aspects of the arts and develop their skills. Our young people can even benefit from work experience through internships and we are very proud that some have gone on to forge successful careers in the arts industry. The CatStrand has helped to attract many tourists to the Glenkens and our visitors constantly tell us how lucky we are to have a facility like the CatStrand, often wishing they had something similar in their own, often much larger, communities. There is no doubt that we are lucky, but we didn’t get where we are today without a huge amount of hard work too, and we certainly couldn’t have achieved anything without the incredible support shown by the community and visitors to the area. Like many similar organisations, we rely on funding to deliver projects but also on income generated from commercial activities and donations to meet the running costs of our buildings. We want to continue running all the activities and services at the CatStrand and we would appreciate your help more than ever to help us to do that. or visit www.gcat.scot/ support-us where you can also find details for making one-off donations or leaving a legacy (the QR code below also takes you to this page). Of course your support in using the café, shop, attending events, etc is always much appreciated and if you would like to consider offering your time as a volunteer we would love that too! The last 16 years have been an incredible journey, including surviving three floods and one pandemic - we couldn’t have done it without you! However, just because the CatStrand is now well-established, it mustn’t be taken for granted. Please consider helping us continue our journey by joining the Friends Scheme or helping in any way that you feel able. Brian Edgar, a founding trustee of GCAT There are many ways you can help; our Friends Scheme makes it easy to make regular contribution on a monthly or annual basis. If you feel this is something you would like to do, pick up a leaflet at the CatStrand Scouts Easter fun W ell done to all our Cubs who made the most incredible decorated egg entries to the annual competition. I have been with the Glenkens Cub Scout Pack for well over 20 years now and have never seen such fabulous entries. Heather and I were very pleased to delegate the almost impossible task of judging them to Mrs Sue Dunstan - thank you Sue for your time. And thank you Cubs for your brilliant and very creative work. Yours in scouting, Hannah Fitch Prize winners Bella, Elliot and Alba, pictured with Mrs Sue Dunstan page 21 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity Collie rescue comes to Corsock F ounded in 1976 as a group of independent individuals around the UK, Border Collie Rescue became a charity in 1995 and a registered charity in England and Wales and Scotland in 2010. The charity had no base in Scotland until late last year when a small farm was purchased near Corsock to set up a Scottish centre to rehabilitate dogs and assess working sheepdogs under the supervision of two trustees, Mike Cooke and Nicki Oliver. Nicki grew up with collies as sheepdogs and companions. With her first dog she quickly progressed from beginner through to advanced at her local dog training club. Farming connections in the family encouraged her to start training sheepdogs. She soon had waifs passing through her hands, sorting them out and finding them homes, one by one. Dogs love her and quickly learn to trust her, listen to her and want to please her. Nicki says: “Border Collie Rescue works by choosing homes for dogs based on what dogs show us they want to do. A series of assessments, starting with sheep, enable dogs to demonstrate what they do best. What we discover during the application and assessment processes enables us to make a match and suggest a dog suited to a client’s requirements that will benefit most by being in their home, living their lifestyle." Mike added: “We don’t show page 22 Nicki at the Corsock farm with one of the dogs clients photographs of dogs to pick from, we invite them to offer a home for a dog. It could be for stock, scent work, sport or companionship. Once a match is made there is a home visit, then they meet the dog which stays with them on a four week trial to ensure both dog and client are happy." Nicki continued: “The countryside here is beautiful and very reminiscent of the Yorkshire Dales where we have come from. The sweeping hills, dry stone walls, quiet villages and stone houses and cottages are very similar to Richmondshire, where the charity has its UK base." Until the buildings are modified, all dogs are fostered and re- homed from Yorkshire but the charity's main administrative office is being relocated to Scotland. Border Collie Rescue is run and staffed entirely by volunteers. There is work to do on the buildings, land and in the office and the charity is looking for volunteers who could do something they would enjoy that will help set things up for the future of the Border Collies that will pass through the facility. If you would like to get involved with Border Collie Rescue, you can contact Mike on 07548 258886 or hq@bordercollierescue.org To find out more about the charity visit www.bordercollierescue.org Church buildings in the Glenkens A 'For Sale' sign has appeared outside Dalry Manse and, as a result, questions are being asked about the future of church buildings in the Glenkens. Because of its democratic nature, decision-making in the Church of Scotland is not a speedy process but it is now possible to let people know what is happening, and to reassure them that the work of the Church will continue and that congregations will still have opportunities to worship locally. For at least a thousand years it was taken for granted that every Scottish village would have at least one church building, often in a prominent position and always at the centre of village life. However, from about the middle of the last century declining congregation sizes meant that parishes had to start sharing ministers, and manses began to be sold off. Last year a “presbytery plan” was drawn up which aimed to ensure that the buildings owned by the Church in Dumfries and Galloway could continue to be supported by its human and financial resources. In the Glenkens the Rev. Pam Bellis, who was appointed locum minister of Carsphairn, Dalry, Kells & Balmaclellan when David Bartholomew retired, will continue in her role while the plan is implemented. In due course the four Glenkens parishes will be linked with Parton, Crossmichael and Balmaghie and a new minister for all seven parishes will be recruited. The existing manse at Dalry would cost too much to bring up to modern standards so it is being sold and plans are being made for a new building. As for the other church buildings, Parton, Crossmichael and Balmaclellan will be sold but it is important to stress that graveyards will not be affected and will continue to be operated by the local council. In most cases only one metre of ground around the building will be included in the sale. A decision to close a church building is not taken lightly, and only after all alternatives have been considered. The early Christians and, in the Glenkens, the Covenanters, showed that, with faith and fellowship, it is possible to worship anywhere. Having said that, despite the existence of modern-day, open-air conventicles and Easter dawn services, our Scottish weather demands that these can only be occasional pleasures and that indoor services will continue to be available in the Glenkens. Andrew Mellor, on behalf of the Kirk Session Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 23 Bluebell walk W e awoke to a beautiful spring morning with the bluebell walk eagerly anticipated. An enthusiastic group of people both local and from afar commenced the circular walk through the New Galloway golf course woods. The walk was of approximately a mile and a quarter, and took just over an hour. This included stops to take in and photograph the beds of bluebell, an extended stop at the Loch Ken viewpoint and the walk lead taking time enroute to identify examples of work undertaken by the footpath maintenance group. The conditions of the pathways on the day were good and the sun was shining. More to the point, following the recent spell of good weather fears that there would be a disappointing show of bluebells were dispelled. After the walk all participants retired to the town hall where refreshments were served. If anyone is interested in finding The Great Corsock Show Schedule 9.30am Doors open to exhibitors 10:45am Judging starts B 12:30 to 3:30pm BBQ race yourself for the Great Corsock Show! 1pm Doors open to public Awards, programmes Produce Auction and Raffle aredraw now This year the show will be 2.30pm onwards,Show available on www.glenkens. held on 24 August and will see How to Enter scot and from local outlets an eclectic mix of vegetable, Enter by dropping off your goods at the hall on; 7:00pm andCorsock 8:30pm asAugust, wellbetween as in the baking and craft categories. Friday 23rd OR porch. on show day, Saturday Hall 24th August, between 9:30am and 10:45am out more about our next walks or is interested in supporting the maintenance of the golf course pathways, please do pop in to the volunteer fair on 1 June at New Galloway Town Hall between 10am and 2pm or email info@ ling.org.uk Clare McKenzie The Great Corsock Show and scarecrow competition Saturday 24th August, 2024, Corsock Village Hall (doors close at 10:45am) Building on last year’s record-breaking number of entries there will be Entry Fees a BBQ, a popactivities, All classes 50p per entry All children’s classes 20p entry up café, aperraffle and try Rules your please check beforeon entering luck the famous 1. Baking should be presented on paper plates (provided if required). bottle stall. The judges' 2. All jars should be covered with a waxed paper disc and transparent cover. 3. Onions should be tied. challenge this year is 4. Basket of vegetables (class 14), maximum size of container / tray for entry is 42 x 30cm (16.5 x 12”) (cancontaining include tomatoes). a ‘a cake 5. Photographs (class 46), unframed, max of 3 photos within an A4 sheet. vegetable’. Open to all! ••• Please register your items at the door You will be given labels for each item Attach the label to your entry so it can be clearly seen Join in with the Great CorsockMcNabb Show 2024!Laurie Any questions, please email greatcorsockshow@hotmail.com Remembrance The wind howled and blew as around Balmaclellan Kirk it flew, The trees outside swayed and waved in wild dance Sunlight glinted through the myriad stained glass Webster window, Casting lively coloured beams from the Holy scenes We sang Shine, Jesus, Shine to the rapturous organ beat. Tapping. Clapping beating feet. There was present God, Love, Joy, Hope and Peace, A goose bump moment like a lover’s glance. ___________ Then sitting in the Pew the scratched carvings there to review, A naughty child from 1878, another and another as the decades tumble, Voices from a far-off forgotten world, rumble. This church like so many others fading away. But hark, I hear the beat of beautiful feet, Taking us back to God with Jesus to point the way. Let’s go. by Ian Knox Baking, Flowers, Vegetables and Crafts categories for kids and adults BBQ • Produce Auction • Activities Rules & Schedule on back Admission £1 (under 12s and exhibitors free) Refreshments available £1 (donations of homebaking gladly received) Raffle prizes and bottle stall donations very welcome, Keep an eye on Facebook (@CorsockHall) for show updates and details of where / when to drop off donations Name the place (from page 2) Site Name - Kendoon Dam Location - Kendoon, Carsphairn/Dalry boundary Description - The Galloway Hydro Electric Scheme was truly a landscape-scale project. With a catchment area of 2,877km2, the Kendoon dam is one of 11 that form an integrated electricity generation network with six associated power stations across multiple water catchments, from Ayrshire south to Tongland and the Solway Firth. The system was constructed in the 1930s to provide electricity for the infant national grid network, whose vision was to bring power to every home in the UK. It was a truly monumental feat of engineering at the time, employing thousands of workers through its construction and today providing electricity for up to 200,000 homes. 'One for the pub' - Imagine a world without electricity. Should we keep increasing our demand for electricity or find ways to reduce consumption? Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 24 Gazetteer of Scotland: extracts Part 2 This is the second part of an extract from the Gazetteer of Scotland from 1803 relevant to the Glenkens. A gazetteer is a geographical dictionary or directory, usually used in conjunction with a map or atlas. It typically contains information concerning the geographical makeup, social statistics and physical features of a country, region, or continent. K ELLS; a parish in Kirkcudbright Stewartry, and one of the four which form the district of Glenkens. It is nearly of the form of an isosceles triangle, the base of which, at the north end, is about six miles, gradually diminishing for 15 miles, to the point where the rivers Dee and Ken unite. These rivers bound it on the east and west sides, and one of the streams of the Ken is its boundary on the north forming it into a sort of peninsula. The surface is unequal and hilly: towards the south there are large rocky hills covered with heath, and towards the north the hills are elevated still higher, termed Kells Range. The hills are interspersed with patches of meadow ground, and, along the banks of the rivers, are many fertile fields, of which the soil is partly a rich clay, and partly dry and thin, but kindly, and producing good crops of oats, barley, etc. Husbandry is much improved by the example and exertions of Mr Gordon of Greenlaw, in introducing marl and limestone as manures, and the practice of fallow and green cropping. Along the banks of Loch Ken there are about 200 acres of the richest land in Scotland, owing to the inundations of the loch, which lay this ground under water twice or thrice a year, leaving behind it, like the Nile, those principles which cause fertility. Besides Loch Ken, there are about 80 acres covered with lakes, and 500 under natural wood and plantations. The royal burgh of New Galloway is situated in this parish, and near it the castle of Kenmure, the seat of Mr. Gordon, the representative of the Viscounts Kenmure. Glenlee-Park, the seat of Lady Miller, relict of the late Sir William Miller (Lord Glenlee), N ew Galloway Golf Club Founded Foun ded 1902 www.ng www.n g gc.co.uk - 01644 420737 Buggies now available for hire VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS WELCOME is also in this parish. There is a fine slate quarry in the north end, which was formerly wrought, but has fallen into disrepute from unskilful management: there is a rich lead mine on the Glenlee estate, and within half a mile of it the appearance of a copper mine. Near New Galloway, two miles farther south. there is an appearance of lead, of which the vein is so rich, that pieces have been found on the very surface, almost of pure lead. In 1791, the population of the parish was 869. Kells Range, or Rhyns; a ridge of hills in the parish of Kells, extending in a north and south direction about eight miles in length, reckoned the highest in Galloway, being part of that extensive range in which the Tweed, the Annan, the Clyde, and the other large rivers of the S. of Scotland have their sources, Kells Range is almost entirely composed of granite; but one of the hills contains great quantities of the finest iron ore, which cannot be wrought to advantage at so great a distance from fuel. On one of these hills is a rocking stone of eight or ten tonnes weight, and so poised on its center of gravity, that although movable by the pressure of the finger, yet the force of many men would be requisite to move it from its place. The Rev Mr Gillespie reckons it "a great natural antiquity," and supposes it to have been “formed by nature just as we see it, and lying on a stratum of moss two or three inches thick; and the rains have washed away this moss, and left; the stone resting on the two or three points," but others are of opinion, that it is artificial, as a considerable number have been discovered in other parts of the kingdom: at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, at Balvaird and Dron, near Perth, and another in Kirkmichael parish. It is supposed to have been of use in the mysteries of the druids; and, as such, Mason in his Caractacus, has introduced it as an engine of superstition. "Behold yon huge and unhewn sphere of living Family and friends coming to stay? Short of space? Cosy country cottage available (sleeps 4) Call Fiona on 01644 420 227 or 07789 903127 www.covenanters-holidaycottagescotland.co.uk adamant, which poiz'd by magic rests its central weight on yonder pointed rock; firm as it seems. Such is its strange and virtuous property, It moves obsequious to the gentlest touch of him, whose breast is pure; but, to a traitor, tho' even a giant's prowess nerv'd his arm, It stands as fix'd as Snowdon." Explanations by transcriber: 1. Relict = widow 2. Marl = carbonate rich clays and silt Transcribed by Paul Goodwin Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 25 Serendipitous events for Dalry kirkyard headstone repairs R eaders may remember reading in the October Gazette about an anonymous Dalry resident wanting to know if there were any objections to them repairing three headstones in the Dalry kirkyard. As a reminder, the first is a small broken cross near the church door and path to the stile with ‘infant son’ on it; the second a large sandstone headstone propped up against the boundary wall opposite the main church door ‘the Reverend James Mather and family’; and the third a broken cross headstone on the grassy boundary of the newer part of the graveyard and the older section ‘ Peter J Carson and Hilda Robertson’. Since then, completely out of the blue, Jeremy Carson, great nephew of Peter J Carson and Hilda Robertson, has been in touch with us about ‘their’ headstone. Jeremy and his wife Karen were over on holiday in September from Tasmania and looking for family headstones in both Dalry and in Borgue. Jeremy’s grandparents' headstone (Andrew and Mary Carson (nee Glendinning) stands adjacent to Peter and Hilda’s. This is an extract from Jeremy’s first email which may be of interest to readers: "My family of Carson, on my father’s side, lived in the vicinity of St John’s Town of Dalry and a bit further away near Borgue. My father, Robert Carson, was born near Twynholm and brought up at Walkerhill Farm near Balmaclellan. After the Second World War, he settled in London and held an academic position at the British Museum. On retirement he emigrated to Australia to follow my sister and me who had both emigrated there in the early 1980s. "Inevitably, as one gets older, there grows an interest in one’s origins, where one has come from and the lives of one’s forebears. Unfortunately, I have little recollection of those still alive when I was small. My grandfather, Andrew Carson, died many years before I was born, and of his wife, my grandmother, I have only the haziest of a memory. "My father died several years ago, but we found in his papers a handwritten account he made of his early life living at Walkerhill Farm. My wife still has family in the UK and we try to make a visit every few years. On returning this year, I wanted to spend a bit of time in Kirkcudbrightshire to locate places my father mentioned in his account, and to locate the headstones of family members, details of which my wife had found in various resources available to the general public. "In the cemetery of St John’s Town of Dalry we located the headstone of my grandparents Andrew and Mary (neé Glendinning) Carson as well as that of my grandfather’s brother, Peter Carson, and his wife Hilda Robertson; the headstones of the two brothers are next to each other. You will see from the dates on the headstones that the brothers died within a few days of each other; my grandfather Andrew aged 45 and my great uncle Peter, aged 39. Both were susceptible to asthma and both developed pneumonia almost simultaneously and with fatal consequences. Their untimely deaths were a heavy blow to the family. "My wife had also located the headstone of my greatgrandfather, James Carson and his wife Agnes Lorimer, in the cemetery of Borgue. We visited the cemetery and were able to locate their headstone. While the headstone of my grandfather at Dalry was in good condition, other than needing a good clean and the letters picked out again, that of my great-grandfather and of Peter Carson were in some state of disrepair. My wife and I decided that we would like to have all three headstones restored. "As luck would have it, we were put in touch with Douglas Swan & Sons about restoration work. In subsequent correspondence with Jamie Swan, he told us of the coincidence in that you had asked about having the headstone for Peter Carson repaired." Isn’t it lovely that one of the headstones in Dalry has been found by their relatives! And what a coincidence that they were here looking for the headstones at the same time we were preparing an article for the Gazette. We will hopefully have an update by the next gazette on the restoration of the other two headstones. Pictured is the headstone of Peter Carson and Hilda Robertson, before and after restoration work. The inscription reads: In Loving Memory of Peter Johnstone Carson, dearly beloved husband of Hilda Robertson, who died at Newfield, Dalry, 9th January 1925, aged 39 years. Also the above Hilda Robertson, died 26th February 195Douglas Swan, who has restored the headstone, gave a bit of elaboration about the crown motif: “The crown represents reward and glory. It honours glorified souls and angels, or points to the triumph and death when it caps a winged skull. Sometimes this symbol is juxtaposed with a cross, which indicates that earthly life includes suffering, and the afterlife victory.” Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 26 Natural History and Antiquarian Society young researcher competition T he Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society (DGNHAS) Young Researcher Competition is for students in years S4, S5, S6 or recent school leavers who have not yet begun higher education. Being an avid Gazette reader, DGNHAS secretary Margaret Kennedy got in touch to ask if we would run a piece inviting Glenkens young people to take part in the competition. The aim is to try and foster a long-lasting interest in the local heritage of the three former counties of Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire. DGNHAS Entrants are asked to produce an original research paper on any topic relating to the human history or natural environment of Dumfries and Galloway. Examples of this could be to research the career of a local historical figure, the history of a significant local building/monument, a study – perhaps a census – of local wildlife or the importance of an exhibit in one of the region’s museums. Papers should contain between 1,500 and 2,500 words and may contain images, appropriately captioned. The society is offering a prize of £250 and the winner will see their paper published on the society’s website. The society feels that the prestige involved in taking part in this competition, let alone winning, would greatly benefit students in their future careers. The competition runs from the end of the summer term, with the deadline for entries being 31 December. This timing ensures that examination studies are not affected. Full details of the competition are available at www.dgnhas.org.uk under the 'About' tab. Last year’s competition winner was Sophia Earle from St Joseph’s College in Dumfries. Pictured are members of DGNHAS with Luka Stores (runner-up) and DGNHAS president David Dutton handing Sophia her winning certificate. Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP Solicitors and Estate Agents Dumfries & Galloway 01556 503744 www.ggblaw.co.uk All legal advice Offices in Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette Glenkens Choir wow at premiere of The Fall of Man S pontaneous and sustained applause greeted the glorious final chorus of the Geoff Davidson's new choral work The Fall of Man. This latest world premiere following on from The Passion last year was enjoyed by a capacity audience in Dalry church. The work deals with the subject of Adam and Eve and the serpent (chillingly and dramatically delivered by Marion Adam) and a very angry God (portrayed by the chorus). Robert Lind sang the role of Adam with equally dramatic power yet captured the weakness and remorse of the first man. Nicola Junor's Eve was beautifully sung and quite devastatingly effective in her realisation of her calamitous mistake. Both singers relished the large chorus numbers and sang with strength and clarity over the chorus counterpoint. The Reverend John Burns took the role of the narrator and spoke the well-known words of the bible story with authority and aplomb. The story of Adam and Eve has generally been neglected by great composers. Haydn mentions them briefly in his Free Benefits Support oratorio The Creation but his is a couple deeply in love with no mention of serpents, apples or an angry God. The Fall of Man did not duck these issues but revelled in them! Janette Davidson's sublimely beautiful singing as the Queen of Heaven was of a quality rarely heard in these parts and Reverend Dawn Matthews' reading of Mary, an icon of love, was truly moving. This reading and the powerful prologue were written by Larry Winger, a local writer with whom Geoff Davidson has now collaborated and created an exciting new musical about King David. It's called The God Stone and brings to life David, young and adult, King Saul, Goliath, Bathsheba and all. This is next page 27 year's project for this wonderful little choir who exhibit astonishing ability to sing difficult works and make them compulsively gripping. Larry Winger's Song of Hope towards the end was a triumph of melody, fanfare and resolution that entranced the stunned audience. Hundreds of pounds were donated at the door and this will be split between the orphanage in Malawi and the church itself who provided heat and light and a place to rehearse. With groups like this in the Glenkens, musical life is well served. Crombie MacNeill Pictured are members of the Glenkens Choir during rehearsals WRIGHTS STORE & POST OFFICE DALRY DALRY DALRY SWEET TREAT SATURDAY DALRY INFORMATION FRESH CREAM CAKES AVAILABLE TO ORDER OPENING HOURS OPENING TIMES MONDAY – FRIDAY MONDAY-FRIDAY 7.30AM-5.30PM 7.30am – 5.30pm SATURDAY - 8.30AM-5PM SATURDAY 8.30am – 5pm SUNDAY - 8.30AM-3PM SUNDAY 8.30am – 3pm LOCAL SUPPLIERS Do you self-identify as disabled? Voice and rights charity VoiceAbility is providing free, independent advocacy support across the country to help you to understand and access Social Security Scotland benefits. Are you aged between 16 and 65, identify as disabled or have a condition that effects your daily life? If so, then we can support you. Support is also available for parents, guardians, or carers who are accessing benefits for a disabled child. Local Voice Advocate, Maureen Jardine, is hoping to visit locations across the Glenkens to let people know about this free advocacy service. Please get in touch if you would like Maureen to come to your community. For more information please email maureen. jardine@ voiceability.org, call our helpline on 0300 303 1660 or for further information visit www.voiceability.org LOCAL SUPPLIERS DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY BUTCHERS UPPERBUTCHERS DULLARG EGGS MITCHELL'S FRUIT EGGS & VEG UPPER DULLARG SWEETCAKES BAKERY MITCHELLS FRUIT & VEG GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY SWEETCAKES BAKERY CREAM O' GALLOWAY GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES CREAM O GALLOWAY IRVINGS BAKERY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES GALLOWAY SCOTTISH PASTA IRVINGS COWS BAKERY & CO THE CRESS COMPANY (GF & SCOTTISH GALLOWAY PASTA VEGAN OPTIONS) GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY POP IN FOR A CHAT AND A BROWSE Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 28 Another great season for CatStrand Youth Players A nother successful season came to a close in April with CatStrand Players now taking a break to recharge the batteries ready for panto rehearsals starting in September. We started off the season rehearsing for our record breaking run of ‘Cinderella’ in December, with an extra show having to be added to satisfy the demand for tickets! After a short festive break it was straight on to rehearsals for our three one-act plays which were performed at the SCDA District Drama Festival in March. CatStrand Players qualified to go on and represent the Stewartry at both the Youth and Open categories at the Western Finals for the third year in succession. The players travelled to Dunlop in Ayrshire to compete against the other District Festival youth winners. It proved to be an excellent day of drama, with all four teams performing to a very high 'Us and Them' by David Compton, performed at the Scottish Final in Dunlop standard. The adjudicator praised the young Although it may be a summer but there will be a few spaces actors for their performance and break for the actors, there’s no available for new members. excellent teamwork. rest for the directors as their Please come along to the first thoughts now turn to the choice meeting if you are interested in In the Open Festival, the team of plays for next year’s festival! joining (min age 10 years). returned to the Fullarton to Before that though, it will be perform ‘All of the Monkey’s’ We’re almost there with the back to panto rehearsals ready by Michael Park in the Western choice of panto and it will be for the shows on in December. Final against the seven qualifiers announced as soon as the final from the other districts. Director The first meeting of the new decision is made. Tickets will Jo Jackson and the cast, James season will be held on Sunday go on sale in October, so watch Wallace and Rose Benson, had 1 September at 2pm in the out for that and be sure to book worked very hard since the CatStrand to begin planning and early to avoid disappointment. District Festival to make some casting for the panto. We are Brian Edgar subtle changes to the production. limited to numbers in the cast Survey illustrates CatStrand support I n the last Gazette we asked you to look out for our survey, if you wanted to help us secure the future of the CatStrand Arts Programme. We had an excellent response to the survey and would like to thank everyone who took the time to fill it in. Responses show overwhelming support for our work and a real emotional connection to the venue. For a great many people, CatStrand is a big part of their lives and we live up to our aim of being at the heart of the Glenkens communities. We asked people what they valued about the CatStrand; some of the themes of the responses included: • Opportunity to access and engage with performing arts • Local & ‘on our doorstep’ arts programme • Bringing artists into the region we would not otherwise be able to see • Acting as a community and creative hub • Space for creative exploration, participation in classes & workshops • Opportunities for children & young people • A valuable asset to our community We asked about the impact if we could not continue. Common words used to describe the impact included Devastated, Huge, Gutted, Loss, Despair & Bereft. Common themes included: • Loss of cultural access • Losing enjoyment and vibrancy in life • Loss to the community and impact on rural area • Increased isolation, lack of social opportunity • Concern about the impact and loss of opportunity for children and young people It’s hard to imagine a more positive response to our work. However, its future beyond April 2025 very much depends on the October outcome of our submission to Creative Scotland’s Multi Year Fund. We understand that Creative Scotland still has less than half of the combined requests of the applicants available. I remain deeply concerned about the impact this will have on us, the D&G and Scottish Arts Sector. If you share my concern about future arts funding please consider writing to your MSP. You can find out how to contact them at- theyworkforyou.com/ Scotland In the meantime I very much look forward to seeing you at CatStrand. Peter Renwick, Creative Director, CatStrand Arts The full Audience Survey Report is available at gcat. scot/survey See article on p21 for more on how you can support the CatStrand... GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 29 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. In this edition Robin takes a look at the author Jennifer Egan. M y work-related reading, though fascinating, is generally grim, so for some light relief on these even lighter summer days, I’m reading The Keep by the contemporary American novelist Jennifer Egan. Danny, a phone-obsessed New Yorker in his late thirties who wishes to remain forever a child, arrives at the central European castle that his cousin Howie has just bought. Howie – apparently a multi-millionaire – has surrounded himself with graduate students, assistants, and various hangers-on. They nurse mysterious plans to turn the place into a hotel which will somehow provoke its guests’ imaginations. Because: “Oldfashioned ‘reality’ is a thing of the past. It’s gone, finito – all that technology you’re so in love with has wiped it out.” At the centre of the castle is the keep, in which secrets are kept, and where the baroness lives, who might be very old, or might be very young. Though it’s all somewhat fantastical, you take for granted the story you’re being told about Howie and Danny and their difficult relationship, until you realise that the person telling it is a prisoner – a murderer – attending a writing workshop, and that this prisoner shares a cell with another who – believe it or not – has a shoe box full of dust which allows him to hear the voices of the dead… As in the works of Italo Calvino, or the Thousand and One Nights, here there are stories within stories. I’m reading The Keep because I enjoyed The Candy House so much. And I read The Candy House because it is the sequel to A Visit from the Goon Squad, which is just brilliant. I can’t remember what made me read that, but once I had, I decided to read everything this author had written. (I still have a couple to go.) The method of Candy House and Goon Squad is that each chapter works as a story in its own right, though altogether they make up a novel (or two novels). Some chapters were in fact originally published as stand-alone short stories in the New Yorker. (You might come across them on the New Yorker’s literary podcasts, which I recommend. In The New Yorker: Fiction, writers choose a short story by another writer to read and then discuss. In The New Yorker: The Writer’s Voice, writers read their own stories.) David Tallontire CHIMNEY SWEEP In between Goon Squad and Candy House, I read Manhattan Beach. This historical novel, set amongst Irish-Americans in the 1930s and 40s, is a bit more traditional in method. It’s a feminist novel without advertising itself as such, whose heroine is the first woman diver in Brooklyn’s Navy ship yard during World War Two (Egan’s not particularly interested in historical accuracy – there were no women divers in the US Navy at the time – but she portrays the social reality of the moment with clarity.) Like George Saunders, Jennifer Egan makes the complex look simple. Whether writing traditional realism or performing formal pyrotechnics, she produces books which are reliably funny, sad, page-turning, and endlessly entertaining. Gordon McAdam 07709 144 299 Plumbing & Heating - wood burners - multi-fuel stoves - open fires - Agas - Rayburns - birds nest removal with CCTV inspection - certificates issued - feel free to call for advice - 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry Covering the Glenkens & further afield Find me on Facebook 01644 430 393 07834 321 789 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 30 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 31 USEFUL GLENKENS CONTACTS DOCTORS’ SURGERY Glenkens Medical Practice - 01644 420 234 COMMUNITY CONTACTS • Balmaclellan: Martin Warnock - 07939 261 391 • Carsphairn: Liz Holmes - 07718 358 160 • Corsock: Julie Garton - 07769 647 702 • Kirkpatrick Durham: Heather - 07551 639 629 • Crossmichael: Richard Middleton - 01556 670 691 • Dalry: Graham West 01644 430 503 • New Galloway: 07741 656 601 • Parton: Tom 07835821976 FOOD DELIVERIES • Galloway Foodbank 07730 788 335 • Galloway Food Hub - glenkens.scot/localdirectory-listing/glenkensfood-hub • Ballards Butchers 01556 502502 (they also deliver groceries) • Grierson’s Butchers: 01556 502 637 • Henderson’s Butchers: 01556 502 654 • Mitchell’s Greengrocers: 01556 502 077 • Fleet Fish: call 07966 103 912 to find out about Glenkens delivery days • Roan’s Dairy - 01556 620 374 • Harris & Co: www. harrisandco.uk LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Helen Crowther on 0790 467 8599 or drop by the shop on Main Street, Dalry Glenkens Scout Group: Contact Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375 Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING): Contact info@ling.org.uk Dalry Communities Properties Trust (DCPT): Contact Michelle Owen at sjtdalrycc@ gmail.com Dalry Town Hall: Contact Lesley Blissett at lesleyblissett52@gmail.com Glenkens Community Centre: Contact Sarah McAdam on minimac01644@gmail.com Lagwyne Hall: Contact lagwynehallsecretary@outlook.com for info, or to book email lagwynehallbooking@gmail.com New Galloway Community Enterprises (NGCE): Contact ngce5000@gmail.com or pop into New Galloway Community Shop Balmaclellan Community Trust: Contact Julia Higgins at julia.higgins55@outlook.com CatStrand: Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or pop in to the CatStrand Schools: Visit the school office or call Dalry Primary on 01644 430 105 (for Nursery/ELC too), Dalry Secondary on 01644 430 259 or Kells on 01644 420 340 Carsphairn Heritage Initiative: Contact Ben Ade at carsphairnhi@gmail.com Galloway Food Hub: Contact Lesley Atkins on lesley@propagate.org.uk or 07587 122 151 Bairn Banter: Contact Melissa on bairnbanter@outlook.com or 07979 492 791 If you would like to add your community organisation to this list please get in touch with the Gazette - contact details are on the back page. GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH Sunday Services St Margaret's Church, New Galloway, DG7 3RP Balmaclellan: 2 Jun, 7 Jul - 11am Carsphairn: 9 Jun, 14 Jul - 11am, communion service Kells: 16 Jun, 21 Jul - 11am Dalry: 23 Jun, 30 Jun, 28 Jul - 11am For further information contact Rev Pam Bellis on 07751 379 249 or pam@bellisconsultancy.co.uk Wednesdays - evening prayers on Zoom Sundays - 10.30-11.30am Tuesdays - 10am-12noon, the church will be open for private prayer or reflection, or just to have a look round and chat with Dawn For further information call Dawn on 01644 420 431 or visit www.stmargaretsnewgalloway.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Glass Recycling Points • Balmaclellan Stores, Balmaclellan • Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road, Crossmichael • Kirkland Street, St John's Town of Dalry • New Galloway, Carson's Knowe Car Park • St David Street, Kirkpatrick Durham USEFUL NUMBERS ● Pothole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 page 32 MINUTES/REPORTS OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT SPENDING ● Police, non-emergency: 101 or email stewartryCPT@ scotland.police.uk GLENKENS DISTRICT TRUST (GDT) www.glenkenstrust.org.uk/gdtcorporate-information ● Doctor: 01644 420 234 CARSPHAIRN RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND LTD (CREFL) www.carsphairn.org/CREFLArchive ● NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 ● D&G Council: 030 33 33 3000 Local Job Vacancies Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot The Glenkens Gazette is a member of independent UK press regulator, Impress. To find out more about our complaints process you can visit www.glenkens.scot/ complaints-and-corrections or scan the QR code here. ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE Advanced Massage Practitioner (price per issue incl VAT) SMALL: 6cm x 6cm, £50 1/4 PAGE: 9cm w x 13cm h, £108 1/2 PAGE: 18cm w x 13cm h, £200 FULL PAGE: 18cm w x 27cm h, £332 Please get in touch further details including small business/ charity rates and series discounts. Email glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07727 127 997 VAT Reg. No. 334 0905 24 THE STEWARTRY VETERINARY CENTRE CASTLE DOUGLAS SURGERY HOURS GLENKENS MEDICAL PRACTICE DALBEATTIE SURGERY HOURS General Medical & Dispensing Services FOR APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH SURGERIES OR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY The Surgery High Street New Galloway Mon-Fri 2.00-2.30 pm & 5-6 pm Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm Sat 2-2.30 pm Mon, Wed, Fri 3-3.30 pm Tues & Thurs 6-6.30 pm  01556 502263 VETERINARY SURGERY OAKWELL ROAD CASTLE DOUGLAS  FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 01644 420234 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 33 GALLOWAY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT www.galloway-community-transport.org email: gct@catstrand.com phone: Jon 07841 512449 or Sue 07704 662925 JUNE - JULY 2024 REGULAR SERVICES EXCURSIONS GK2 Glenkens Castle Douglas (Tesco) Wednesday Evenings (Registered Route) Outward 19:00 19:05 19:15 19:25 19:30 19:37 19:40 Dalry (Underhill) New Galloway Mossdale Laurieston Townhead of Greenlaw Castle Douglas (Market St) Castle Douglas (Tesco) Return 21:15 21:10 21:00 20:50 20:47 20:37 20:35 Booking not required Glenkens to Newton Stewart Fortnightly Tuesday mornings Outward Pickups: Dalry (Underhill) 09:30 New Galloway (Town Hall) 09:35 CatStrand) 09:37 To Aldi (Return) Pickup Newton Stewart (Aldi Car Park) 11:30 Return fare £3.50 Advance booking required. DRIVERS NEEDED Galloway Community Transport needs your help to provide a wide range of community transport services across the Stewartry and beyond. MINIBUS DRIVING Minibus drivers with D1 (101 or by test) are needed to do volunteer and paid driving for our wide range of member community groups. PATIENT TRANSPORT We also urgently need drivers with their own cars for our patient transport service. Our volunteer patient transport drivers receive a generous mileage reimbursement and the satisfaction of providing a vital service to vulnerable people in our communities. Interested? Email gct@catstrand.com or phone 07841 512449 MEMBERSHIP HIRE GCT has a 15, 16 and 8-seater minibus and a fully wheelchair accessible electric car available for hire by community organisations. For information about membership and terms and conditions of hire see the GCT website or phone 07841 512449 www.galloway-community-transport.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation WHAT'S ON page 34 June/July JUNE Sat 1, Volunteer Fair, 10am-2pm, New Galloway Town Hall Sat 1, Carsphairn Show, show field, all day Sat 1, DG Arts Festival: FLAME OUT, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sun 2, Ivan Drever 7.30pm, CatStrand Sun 2, Dragon Boats on Loch Ken Open Day, 10am-3pm, Galloway Activity Centre Mon 3-Sun 9, Indie News Week, events hosted in Edinburgh, available online, see p19 Wed 5, Dalry Film Club : The Great Escaper, 7:30pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 6, Film - Why Not Scotland? 7:30PM, CatStrand Thu 6, Police Community Drop-In Surgeries: Crossmichael Memorial Hall 9-10am; Balmaghie Village Hall, Laurieston 10.15-11am; Mossdale Post Office 11.15-12noon; New Galloway (High Street) 12.15-1pm; Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn 1.30-2.15pm; Dalry Post Office 2.45-3.30pm; Corsock Village Hall 3.45-4.30pm Sat 8-Sun16, Great Big Green Week, see p14 Sat 8, June, Barwhillanty Picnic Prom, see p5 Sun 9, SR Crockett Classic Car Run, 1-5pm Sun 9, Dalry Town Hall Opendoors Day,10am-3pm, see back page Mon 10, Dalry Town Hall Management Meeting, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Wed 12, Public Exhibition - Troston Overhead Line Grid Connection, 3-7pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 13, Ken Words: Writers’ Cafés, 7pm, CatStrand Sat 15, deadline for Glenkens Community Shop grant applications, see p5 Sat 15, European Lunar SymposiumThe Moon and the Earth in prose, 10am, CatStrand Sat 15, European Lunar SymposiumSpace and Nature in poetry, 1pm, CatStrand JULY Thu 4, Black Umfolosi Workshop, 1pm, CatStrand Thu 4, Black Umfolosi, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 6, Bio Blitz, 11am-3pm, Lochhill Farm, Crossmichael, see p17 Sat 6, Carsphairn Community Woodland Volunteer Day, 10am-3pm, Muirdrochwood Forest week of 8 July, Glenkens Education & Learning Summit, see p7 Mon 8, Dalry Town Hall Management Meeting, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 15, European Lunar SymposiumOpen Mic, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Fri 12, Carlos Quilici, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 15, Glenkens Producers' Market, 10am-1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 13, Glenkens Producers' Market, 10am-1pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 20, Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton Trio (with Owen Sinclair), 7.30pm, CatStrand Sun 14, Outlaw Sisters Workshop, 1.30pm, CatStrand Fri 21, application deadline for CCW Forestry Pre-apprentice, see p18 Sun 14, The Morrich- Workshop, 2pm, The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Fri 21, Gin Tasting Evening, 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Sun 14, Outlaw Sisters, 4pm, CatStrand Sat 22, Dalry Community Café, 10am1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sun 23, SongWave: Singing up a Storm - songs of spirit and the sea, 4pm, New Galloway Town Hall Fri 28, Heal & Harrow, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 29, Make Some Noise music session, 10.15am-12noon, Smiddy, Balmaclellan Sat 13, The Morrich, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 20, Wave Blues Band, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 20, The Motte Pop-up Pub, Balmaclellan Village Hall Sat 27, Stewartry Show, all day, Stewartry Rugby Club Sat 27, GCT Bus Trip: The Machars Gardens, Sat 27 July, see p33 Sun 28, One Big Thank You, 6am-6pm, Carlingwark Park, Castle Douglas, see back page Glenkens & District Community Councils Balmaclellan Community Council: Bi-monthly, 7.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall - contact Martin on 07939 261 391 Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham Communty Council: contact mcnabblaurie@hotmail.com or 01644 440 200 Carsphairn Community Council: Last Monday each month, 7pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn - contact carsphairncc@gmail. com or 07531 035 824 Balmaghie Community Council: contact secbalmaghiecc@ btinternet.com or 01644 450 621 Dalry Community Council: First Monday each month, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall - contact sjtdalrycc@gmail.com or 07940 313 445 New Galloway & Kells Community Council: Second Monday each month, 7.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall Parton Community Council: contact ericaporteous@hotmail. co.uk or 01644 470 277 Crossmichael Community Council: Second Monday every month - contact richardandjane@phonecoop.coop or 01556 670 691 Full minutes of local Community Council meetings can be viewed at Dalry Library or online at www.glenkens.scot For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 35 REGULAR EVENTS & OPENING TIMES Balmaclellan Village Hall Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, 2.30-4pm, warburton. julie@googlemail.com Community Exercise Class, 6pm Exercise Class, 7pm Glenkens Crafters, Wed, 10am12noon, julia.higgins55@outlook.com Community Library, Wed, 10.30am– 12.30pm; Sat, 10am-12noon Tai Chi, Wed, 2pm Make Do & Mend, fortnightly from 14 Feb, 7-9pm Stewartry Birdwatchers, monthly meetings resume in September Men's Shed, Balmaclellan General Opening Times: Mon, 9.30am-12noon Wed, 9.30am-12noon Fri, 9.30am - 12noon Art Group, Thu, 2-4pm Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Monday Morning Social, 11am-2pm, 07710 124 255 or carsphairn.trust@ gmail.com Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu of the month, 7.30pm Craft Group, Fri, 10am12noon, includes tea & coffee, carsphairncraftgroup@gmail.com Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, Sat, 10-11.45am CatStrand, New Galloway Spring opening hours: Tue-Sun, 11am-4pm Art Ambassadors (age 11+), Mon, biweekly, 4.30pm Behind the Scenes, bi-weekly, Mon, 5.30pm Energising Yoga Flow, Tue, 9.30am, booking essential, 07733 111 466 Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Tue, 10am-4pm Weekly Bus Service to Tesco, Wed, 7pm Dramarama, (age 6-10), Wed, 4pm Up Skills: Musical Theatre, (age 15+), Wed, 5pm Young Writers Cafe, (age 12+), Wed, 6pm, monthly Piano Lessons, weekly, term time 4–6.30pm Morning Flow Yoga, Thu, 9.30am, booking essential, 07733 111 466 CatStrand Singers, Thu, 11am Dance Steps (age 10-18yrs), Sat, monthly, 12.30-3.30pm Art Explorers, (age under 10yrs), Sat bi-weekly 10am Art Club, (age 11-16yrs), Sat, bi-weekly 11.15am Youth Players Panto rehearsals, (10 yrs plus), weekly, Sun, 3pm Glenkens Charity Shop The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Main St, Dalry, Tel: 01644 430 234 Library Opening Times: Tue 2-5pm, Fri 12noon-5pm with the first hour for NEC Bus Pass & Blue Badge appointments, etc. Book in the library or call 01387 260 196. Bookbug and Parent & Toddler Session, Tue, 10.30-11.30am Glenkens Book Group, last Fri each month, 2pm, 01644 420 361 Lego Stay N' Play With Your Child, every 3rd Sat of the month, 1-3pm, contact Michele Owen on Fb Taste of Music, monthly, 10am (under 10yrs) Mini Music Makers, family session, monthly 11.45am (under 7yrs) Weekly Ukuele, guitar & keyboard lessons, 12.30–4pm (6-16 yrs) Musical Misfits, group singing class, bi-weekly, 10.30am New Galloway Town Hall Men’s Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.30-11am Margaret Morris Movement, (adults), Mon 2.30-3.30pm Margaret Morris Modern Dance for Children & Young Dancers, 4-5pm LING Lunches, Tue, 12.30–2pm Sports Evening, Tue, 7–9pm, carpet bowls or table tennis Zumba, Wed, 6.30pm Ukulele Group, Wed, 6.30-8pm Hubbub, Thu, 12noon–5.30pm, dropin, all ages welcome Martial Arts, Thu, 7.30-9pm Babies & Toddlers, Fri, 10-11am For further info email info@ling.org.uk, phone 07749 249 781 Glenkens Community Centre Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Mon, 10am-4pm Glenkens Youth Group, Mon, 7-8.30pm Dalry Good Neighbours Club, Tue, 2pm, 07795 613 148 Clachan Crafters, Thu, 2pm, 07500 861 041 Kickback Martial Arts, Thu, 5.30-7pm, kmabrian@gmail.com or drop-in Song Share, 1st Friday each month, 8-11pm, anne.chaurand@btinternet.com Yoga For All, Fri 9.30am, drop-in, 07733 111 466 Friendship Group, Sat (excluding Glenkens Producers Market days), 1011.30am, 01644 430 052 Table Tennis/Badminton, available to hire by arrangement, 07500 861 041 Opening Times: Mon 10am-1pm Tue 6-8pm Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-4pm Dalry Library Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, Mon, 2pm Dog Training, Tue, 7pm, 07831 590 822 Song Share, 1st Fri each month, 7.3010.30pm Various Strictly Get Dancing, Loch Ken Activity Centre, Parton, Mon, 7pm Spalding Bowling Club Sweep Nights, Mon, 7pm, shazfish1@gmail.com Cosy Corner, Tue, 1-5pm, Crossmichael Church Hall, 07889 016 963 Crossmichael Heritage Centre, Wed & Fri, 1.30-4.30pm Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Patchwork Workshop, Crossmichael Church Hall, Thu, 1-3pm Yoga, Mossdale Mossdale Village Hall, Fri, 2.15pm Mossdale Soup Saturday, last Sat each month, 1-3pm, Mossdale Village Hall Dragon Boats on Loch Ken, Sun 9.30am, Galloway Activity Centre, Parton Knockvennie Hall Heat Bank & Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona Ramsay on 07500 554 751 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, contact Gary on 01644 430 521 For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette page 36 Join Jim for One Big Thank You C rossmichael resident Jim McLelland will be spending the day in Carlingwark Park, Castle Douglas, on Sunday 28 July to raise funds for local NHS staff and services. Jim has committed to matching the NHS workers' 12-hour work shift by walking, jogging and running during the course of the day, from 6am to 6pm. The day will be filled with fun and celebration, providing a chance show appreciation to all NHS staff, from the support services and catering teams to the porters, secretaries, nurses, doctors, consultants and steadfast team of volunteers. Jim says: "Please come along to support me in raising funds for the NHS charity and staff, who are there for each of us in our time of need. Let’s recognise their hard work, which often accompanies our darkest times of worry or pain. While many of us may not have required their services to date, we never know what the future holds – for ourselves or for our loved ones." Could you afford to donate, or perhaps to do some fundraising yourself? If everyone in the region gave just £1 each, over £100,000 would be raised! Some fundraising ideas are holding a sponsored walk, run, swim, cycle or a local event such as a quiz night, darts match, bingo evening, coffee morning or karaoke night. Jim says: "Money raised will go to the D&G Health Board Endowment Fund charity to be used to provide the extras above and beyond what the NHS can provide, giving support where it is needed the most. to all sponsors who have already pledged donations to this remarkable challenge which could benefit us all." "Please accept this warm invitation to be a part of this special community appreciation; we express grateful thanks To support Jim's fundraiser you can donate at www.justgiving.com/page/jim-mclellandonebigthankyou WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit events, activities, news stories, cartoons, reviews, tips & techniques, fiction, photos, ads or ideas... Contact Sarah Ade on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Editing & Design: sarah.ade@gmail.com AUG/SEP COPY DEADLINE: 5 JULY The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, a Registered Scottish Charity No SC032050 The role of the Gazette is to represent the voice of the community and does not represent the views of GCAT.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 142 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GG_142 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GCAT Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 Description An account of the resource Editor: Sarah Ade https://glenkensarchive.scot/glenkens_archive/files/original/1/288/GlenkensGazette141.pdf 5fadef5e4bcea81bf02603f999b031a4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 141 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Description An account of the resource <p>Find out more about the Gazette: <a href="https://glenkens.scot/gazette-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenkens Gazette home page</a> If you would like to submit an article or take out an advert, please email the editor Sarah Ade: <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:glenkensgazette@hotmail.com">glenkensgazette@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is a member of, and regulated by <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.impressorg.com/">Impress</a>.</p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of Glenkens Community &amp; Arts Trust (SC032050) and represents the voice of the community (not necessarily the views of GCAT).</p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document April/May 2024 ISSUE 141 School mothballing halted: Victory for local campaigners! U nited community action has successfully halted Council plans to mothball Dalry Secondary School without consultation. Campaigners had regarded the imposition of mothballing as ‘closure by stealth’. Now Glenkens councillors Dougie Campbell and Andy McFarlane have successfully persuaded Dumfries & Galloway councillors to adopt their motion, halting secondary school mothballing across the region until communities are properly consulted and all options considered. FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Please help us make the Glenkens Hub better with the survey on p20... MUGA plans move forward ...turn to page 5 The reprieve has been achieved thanks to tireless work by many people and groups across the community and beyond, working together with a united goal. Continued on p3... Parents and children from Dalry School outside the council offices in Dumfries the New Galloway Fire Station Best in D&G Keeping community voice at the A heart of community benefit: Glenkens District Trust talks about its work so far fter a year of audits of fire stations across the region, New Galloway was declared the Best D&G Station for 2023/4. ...turn to pages 18-19 These asessments take into account the station's performance against administrative targets, as well as a practical drill carried out on the night. Area commander Andrew Kenna presented the trophy, commending the station personnel - who are all volunteer fire fighters - for showing great teamwork and professionalism. Pictured are New Galloway Fire Station's dedicated team with their well-deserved trophy New Galloway Fire Station is currently seeking new recruits. If you're interested, please visit the station on a Tuesday night between 7pm and 10pm for further details. More trophies for the CatStrand Youth Players ...turn to page 29 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews Glenkens Cub Scouts T he Glenkens Cub Scout Pack celebrated the birthday of Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Scouting movement. This is a day when Scouts and Guides all over the world renew their Promise. We joined the Reverend Dawn and the congregation of St Margaret’s Church. Guests included Drew Low (president of the Galloway Scout District), Alan Sidaway (regional Scouter), members of the Active Support Group, and friend of Scouting, John McCulloch, along with parents and siblings of the Cubs. Each Cub presented the Reverend Dawn with a piece of memorabilia to create a display. Harriet Archer and Freya Gibson were the flag bearers and handed them over to the minister for the duration of the service. Caitlin Jones and Alba Wall collected in donations for the church. The Cub Scouts and Leaders would like to thank everyone who supplied the beautiful array of baking and for making this such a special day. If anyone in the Glenkens has an interesting job or hobby and would like to come into Cubs and share it, please speak to Hannah at mcandrew.hannah@ yahoo.co.uk It is coming up for the time of year when you are perhaps thinking of spring cleaning. We hope to have a stall at the Scottish Alternative Games in August, so if you have any unwanted gifts, jigsaws, brica-brac, jams, etc, we would be grateful for any contributions. Yours in Scouting, Heather and Hannah The Glenkens Cub Scouts and Leaders at their Founder’s Day service page 2 200 years of the RNLI! C ome and celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Lifeboats at a Coffee Morning on Saturday 18 May, 10.30am to 12noon, at Dalry Town Hall. As well as a raffle and baking stall, there will be special anniversary souvenirs for sale. The Glenkens A busy month for St Margaret's community charity shop M T he Glenkens Community Shop in Dalry (better known as the charity shop) will continue to be open Mondays from 10am to 1pm, and Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. We welcome donations, except for electrical goods and larger furniture items. We also welcome new volunteers! The shop has helped to fund groups, and individuals with projects, for about 12 years now, and with your support will continue to do so into the future. We always have an amazing range of items for sale, at amazing prices! Come and visit us to browse or to chat - and go away with something new to you. Lis arch was a busy month for the St Margaret’s Guild – as well as hosting the World Day of Prayer service for all the Glenkens churches, the annual programme of Lent Lunches helped raise money for a variety of good causes. The format is that hosts put together a simple lunch of soup and cheese in return for donations to a charity of their choice. In this way, just over £800 was raised for Cancer Research, Turning Point Scotland and Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance. The Guild extends thanks to all the hosts, as well as to those who were so generous in their support, not just from the St Margaret’s congregation but from all the Glenkens churches and wider community. Looking ahead, please note that the St Margaret’s annual Plant and Bake Sale will be held on Saturday 4 May, 10am to 12 noon, with all proceeds going to Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes. This is always a popular event so remember that ‘the early bird catches the worm’! GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette Continued from front page... The school's parent council, Glenkens Community Action Plan steering group, community councils and individual members of the community all supported the campaign. Friends, relatives and former pupils added their voices and widespread coverage was secured through local and national press and media outlets. Dalry Secondary School has been saved from what would have been closure by stealth, with no community consultation or investigation into potential alternative options to 'mothballing’. Now, a full and rigorous investigation will be carried out into what can be done to make the school thrive again. The moratorium on the mothballing of secondary schools will ensure that a policy demanding a rigorous community consultation process, including investigation of alternative options and the wider impact page 3 of closure, is embedded in secondary school mothballing policy. “A door to the future has opened for the Glenkens,” said Emily Wall, depute chair of Dalry School Parent Council. "We have gained a respite in which to gather our thoughts and momentum to step into a new future for education for our area. And we're very excited to take that next step together! " More on pages 6&7... New local baby & toddler group A new stay-andplay baby and toddler group has started in New Galloway Town Hall. We have songs, music, snacks and stories and introduce a particular theme each week such as ‘Friendship’, ‘Mother’s Day’ or, as the picture shows, we had a ‘Building’ theme where we had the story of the Three Little Pigs and then had great fun using boxes in many different ways such as building a house, playing peekaboo at the window, climbing in and hiding, and being pushed around to name but a few. We would love for you to join us! The group runs every Friday from 10-11am. The aim is that this group evolves to meet the needs of those who attend so please come and suss us out and offer any suggestions as to how it could suit you more or find out it already does! This is a small, low-key friendly group, for carers and their babies and/or toddlers under three years, offering an opportunity to meet other parents in the area as well as giving their children an interactive, fun, safe space. Please also spread the word to others you know, pop along to a session for more information, or to get in touch please contact sarahwatson@ playworld.org.uk the Glenkens and to amplify their efforts. This was a key priority of the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan. To make it happen, the role of Network Facilitator is funded for one day per week by the Glenkens and District Community Fund, through the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust. have been attended by members of 14 town hall, village hall and other community space committees across the Glenkens. Those who have been unable to attend have been kept up to date by email and invited to join in with projects and share updates. Sarah Watson Community Spaces Network reflects on positive first year O ur community halls and centres across the Glenkens play a vital role in offering a space within which to socialise, learn, hold events, access sports and the arts - all organised and managed by hardworking and sometimes overstretched volunteer committees. The Glenkens Community Spaces Network (GCSN), which held its first meeting in January 2023, was created to bring these voluntary committees together for peer support, to encourage partnership working across Following an initial round of fact-finding interviews to set priorities for the network, we have hosted seven network meetings to date, four of which have featured guest speakers. These meetings GCSN Facilitator, Becca Nelson, commented: "It's been a really rewarding first year, which has seen members share successes and expertise, ideas and resources. "I would like to thank all of the members of the hall committees across the Glenkens for the huge amount of voluntary effort they put into keeping all our community spaces thriving – the Glenkens is much the stronger for them - as well as the Glenkens and District Community Fund through Foundation Scotland, who funded the project." A full report on the first year of delivery, plus a look ahead at the challenges and opportunities and testimonials from the halls, is on the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot/glenkenscommunity-spaces-network If you have any questions regarding this project, or would like to join the Network, please contact Becca on becca.glenkens. anf@gmail.com Pictured are members of Dalry Town Hall management committee - Jim Reid, Peter Andrew and Col Sweeney - with GSN Facilitator Becca Nelson outside the town hall GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette Celebrating in vintage style Stolen T his year's Mothering Sunday at New Galloway Town Hall was set to be a fundraiser with a difference... The idea was that mothers (and their hangers-on) might enjoy a little indulgence, while listening to some delightful vintage numbers played by Jonnie Dowswell’s specially created Little Vintage Tea Band. So Sylvia Brown brought a selection of her vintage tea settings, and with a band of indefatigable helpers set up a bountiful spread. I confess that I was rather more keen to imbibe the prosecco on offer than the tea - never been much of a tea drinker - though I did persuade myself to a cup or two to complement the wonderfully creamy Victoria sponge. But what was most salient to observe was the sheer amount of hard work involved in putting the whole package together. It only takes a moment to realise tall this work, for one particular event, is a kind of epiphany in and of itself. Just to get to the event, to have the cheerful groups sitting at table, listening to the old familiar tunes, and smiling together, was a triumph of perspicacity. page 4 donation box Pictured is the Little Vintage Tea Band entertaining visitors in a beautiful vintage setting A collection box in the community car park of Mossdale village has been stolen. Volunteers from the village who donate their time to keep the village hall, picnic area and car park in good order are shocked and saddened by the theft. A member of the community said: "This was money generously donated by visitors, to support our communty." Volunteers are working to source funds to replace the box so they can continue to raise money for the community. For anyone wishing to donate, please contact Pamela Bowes on 07740 774 013 or pamela. bowes@hotmail.co.uk cooked food, conversation and crafts - was in full swing. The Minister, accompanied by Dumfries & Galloway councillor Pauline Drysdale, joined local residents for a hot meal and lively discussion on key issues impacting rural life. Townhall Trustees with Minister John Lamont and Councillor Pauline Drysdale I shall have to remember to enjoy my own small projects, working for the joy of working, of creating pleasure for an audience, with Sylvia’s hard work reminding me as I go. Until then, I'll content myself with a cup of tea, a goblet of prosecco, a remembrance of a hearty repast of cream cakes, unctuous meringues, and chocolate éclairs, and the revelation of the music echoing around me. Larry Winger www.RoadsToJoy.blog Minister for Scotland joins the Hubbub U K Government Minister for Scotland, John Lamont, has visited New Galloway to tour the refurbished town hall and meet representatives from community groups. Ownership Fund helped transform the town hall into an accessible, versatile, low carbon community space. This was the final stop in a tour of central and southwest Scotland that saw visits to Biggar, New Cumnock and Cairnryan, meeting community groups that have benefitted from UK Government funding. The minister sat down with trustees of Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING) to discuss how a £175,000 award from the Community Visiting on a Monday evening meant that New Galloway’s weekly Hubbub - a social gathering centred on home TV's Hairy Bikers visit Galloway Pasta T he Hairy Bikers popped in to see Galloway Scottish Pasta in New Galloway last June while filming Hairy Bikers Go West. Margaret, from Galloway Scottish Pasta, said: “It was such a lovely experience; Dave Myers and Si King spent the most glorious day with us in New Galloway when Si made pasta and they both got to taste the pasta with a pesto made from local ingredients. "We had been sworn to secrecy about the filming until it was announced on the BBC. for a public live showing and a tasting of the dish that the Hairy Bikers made with us.” "After all the secrecy, we really wanted to share the experience of watching the show with the wider community and booked the big screen at Dalry Town Hall NB Dave Myers sadly passed away in February after battling cancer. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews MUGA plans move forward D alry's Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) could be a step closer to being brought back into use thanks to the efforts of volunteers from the Dalry Community Properties Trust (DCPT). residents and school pupils, as well as Glenkens Community Councillors from other settlements, and have received strong expressions of support for reopening the facility. With the support of Council ward officers, the group is now working on the paperwork to complete a formal asset transfer to resurface and renovate as well as taking on the day-to- day running of the MUGA. This means that school pupils and the wider Glenkens community would have access to the allweather sports venue for tennis, five-a-side football, walking football, basketball and wheeled activities. DCPT Chair Michele Owen commented: "The acquisition of the MUGA marks a significant step forward for community- page 5 driven sports and recreation in the Glenkens. With community ownership, we wish to ensure everyone benefits. Local businesses are eager to revive the tradition of leagues, fostering a spirit of friendly competition among employees and competing groups. Our goal is to generate funds through business and local usage, enabling free access for children and other select groups, ensuring inclusivity and enjoyment for all." The MUGA, currently under the ownership of Dumfries & Galloway Council, has unfortunately been inactive since 2014. Challenges related to access, availability outside school hours and minimal council involvement have contributed to this situation. The MUGA was constructed in 2004, funded by the New Opportunities Fund as part of a region-wide programme to upgrade and modernise sporting venues and to improve/provide access to sports and leisure facilities. Hopefully soon it will be in use for the local community once again! However, the DCPT is excited about the prospect of revitalising this valuable asset under community ownership, ensuring its full utilisation for the benefit of all. DCPT volunteers have surveyed Dalry Becca Nelson If you would use the MUGA, please help DCPT with the application by completing this very short poll (just three questions) at https://tinyurl. com/Dalry-MUGA-poll Uist visits the Glenkens G lenkens Communities & Arts Trust (GCAT) was delighted to welcome Thomas Fisher and Theona Morrison from Uist in the Outer Hebrides for a very informative visit in January. Theona and Thomas are heavily involved with community development up in Uist, and it has become clear over recent time just how much the islands and rural communities like the Glenkens have in common. Remoteness and poor transport links foster a high degree of self-sufficiency and community action wherever you are, it seems! Thomas and Theona are from a community development organisation on Uist, CoDeL, which had previously sourced a modest amount of Scottish Government funding to support two Glenkens projects that are very much aligned with ScotGov priorities - Bairn Banter in Carsphairn and the Galloway Food Hub. Both are excellent examples of how to put national priorities around childcare and local food production into action in rural communities - although both rely heavily on volunteer effort, and it would be more sustainable into the longer term if key community projects like these had sufficient paid people to keep them going. In the mean time, we rely on the remarkable good will and efforts of the many volunteers involved, as ever! Thomas and Theona were also very interested to hear about the Glenkens and District Community Action Plan and its alignment with national policies. They are doing a lot of work with Scottish Rural Action around depopulation (Theona is the Chair of SRA), and we picked up some good ideas from them that we will be trying to put into action. We finished the visit with a tour round the Glenkens landscapes, observing the rapid rate of land use change due to renewables and forestry planting. It was fascinating to hear the observations of a fresh pair of eyes on our Glenkens challenges and opportunities, and we thank Theona and Thomas very much for their time in coming to see us! Helen Keron, Executive Manager, GCAT Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 6 Working together for the future of Glenkens education O ver the past few months communities across the Glenkens have been galvanised into action as a result of the proposed recommendation by D&G Education Department to mothball Dalry Secondary. The term ’stronger together’ certainly rings true here as local community councils, Dalry School parent council, local businesses and community groups such as the Glenkens Community Action Plan Steering Group (CAPSG) have engaged with elected members, Scottish Government, D&G Council and press in a bid to have the Glenkens’ communities voices heard. Finlay Carson MSP has also raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament and written to the Cabinet Secretary. Through the intervention of Glenkens Ward Councillor Dougie Campbell, along with scrutiny from Scottish Government, it was discovered that Dumfries & Galloway Council actually has no policy in place for mothballing secondary schools, despite the move by the Education Department to push for this to happen at Dalry Secondary. Glenkens Ward Councillor Dougie Campbell, with the support of fellow Glenkens Ward councillor Andy McFarlane, put a motion before the next Dumfries & Galloway Council meeting on 28 March asking for a halt to mothballing of secondary schools across the region until a robust policy, which includes rigorous and thoughtful community consultation and assessment of the socio-economic implications, has been put in place. This bid was successful as this edition of the Gazette went to press - see front page article. L-R: Bob Glaister (Glenkens Community Action Plan Steering Group), Cllr Linda Dorward, Cllr John Denerley, Cllr George Jamieson, Sarah Ade (Dalry School Parent Council) and Cllr Dougie Campbell with bus driver, Blue, behind in the GCT bus set drive the route children travel daily if Dalry Secondary was to be mothballed [five more passengers joined the bus enroute). Photograph courtesy of the Galloway News. Scan the QR code or type Glenkens to Castle Douglas School Bus into the YouTube search function to see time-lapse footage of the journey. Dalry parent council is working hard to get the message out there that the Dalry Secondary needs to be seen in its unique context; with its large remote be supported, not sidelined,” said Emily Wall of the parent council. To illustrate the situation faced by the pupils, Dalry School's parent council arranged a bus ride for councillors and press along the route that Glenkens children would have to travel to get to high school, which was well attended and featured on ITV Border on 22 March. The journey was a three-hour “Glenkens education cannot be fitted into a prescribed model... Our children and our communities need to be supported, not sidelined,” National and local press coverage in publications such as the Herald, Daily Record, Galloway News and the Glenkens Gazette, as well as on other news platforms such as Border TV, Radio Scotland and DG What’s Going On Facebook page have ensured that the situation has a spotlight on it. rural catchment including portions of single track roads with elevations over 1,000 feet (resulting in harsh and often unpredictable winter conditions), its situation is more similar to island schools than any mainland school. “Glenkens education cannot be fitted into a prescribed model, and some thinking outside of the box needs to be done with consideration of particular nature of our area. Our children and our communities need to round-trip, and parent council members reminded those on the bus that this journey would need to be taken five days a week for up to six years of a child’s life if they had to travel to Castle Douglas High School from S1. The parent council is also speaking with other small secondary schools across Scotland to find out how they manage with numbers similar to those at Dalry. All the schools approached to date run successful all-through models, which is what parents and future parents are asking D&G Education Department to do in the Glenkens. Continued on opposite page... In order for the CAPSG to create a Glenkens Education Forum, it is vital that there is input from all interested parties so that the wider voice of parents, children, employers, statutory providers and community members are taken account of. In light of this, the group is asking for anyone interested in taking part in this important work to contact Helen Keron on helen@catstrand.com Glenkens Gazette Continued from p6... Meanwhile, other local groups are continuing to look at Glenkens education in its broader form. Glenkens & District Trust (GDT) have recently stated that: “We are acutely aware of the importance of education provision to the sustainability of the area and the current issues relating to the potential mothballing of Dalry secondary school. We are also aware that this is an issue that is impacting various other rural areas across Scotland. In our role to support Glenkens community development, we will be commissioning a piece of work to enable a better understanding of how other communities affected by this GAZETTEeducation issue are approaching it, to share learning and experience. This study will provide information and tools that will support the Glenkens communities in their goal to find a locally specific way forward that meets the needs and aspirations of local families and our young people.” The Glenkens Community Action Plan Steering Group (CAPSG) sees the provision of education as an important underpin to the goal set out in the Community Action Plan and is considering whether the creation of a Glenkens Education Forum to develop ideas and potential solutions for the short, medium and long term is appropriate. They said: “For example, this group could work together to develop a ‘model for education and learning in the Glenkens’. This would cover pre-school, primary school, high school, wrap-around clubs, post-school learning, further education and lifelong learning and consider the pipeline of industry in the area. The work proposed by GDT will support this.” Sarah Ade, member of the parent council as well as the CAPSG, said: “The communities of the Glenkens are keen to work with D&G education department to find a solution. But we need to be listened to, and our views respected, which is not happening at present. We see the move towards amalgamated learning centres such as Dumfries Learning Town. We see the challenges of an ageing schools estate. And we aren’t saying ‘don’t change page 7 anything’ – we are saying the opposite in fact; we desperately need change to Dalry Secondary school as the current management arrangement is killing the school. We are saying that higher education within our Glenkens communities is vital, and that the department in charge of our schools - the Directorate for Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing needs to take into account our communities’ wellbeing. We have active and engaged local business willing to support education. We have numerous windfarms in development over the coming years. We have enthusiastic and articulate community organisations. And we want to work together to create a plan for Glenkens education that benefits everyone into the future.” A different school of thought I am writing this article after being deeply moved by reading 'Field Trip' in the February/ March edition of the Glenkens Gazette. Well done that author, MNE, describing the 'second clearances', because that is what is happening. No school means the beware that the Post Office, doctors' surgery, garage and arts centre may be next, and then an oldie lonely community with just a few contractors coming in looking after the trees and wind farms. Does a Dark Skies area much touted refer to a lack of physical light of an area or where depression is present? This is a dramatic description - creative writing at its best - of the decline of the rural community made manifest. It could be so different and the district has a special place in modern rural education history with the Kilquhanity School taking its place as ‘The Scottish Summerhill’, where the children helped with everything and learnt at the same time. Dalry is perhaps the smallest secondary school in the UK which, for quiet schooling, can be such a good learning environment. For children in the countryside to have a local, well-funded (the education authorities can fundraise you know!), all-round education makes it a gem in the state school system and it should be given a badge of honour instead of facing the threat of closure. What could happen to Dalry instead of closure? One hundred years ago Henry Morris, the Chief Education Officer of Cambridgeshire, published his Memorandum which described a cradleto-grave rural education approach, which became known as The Village College. Here primary, secondary and adult education took place where the local community supported the school and the school supported the community. Fine, light-filled buildings were erected with original artworks on the walls and workshops for engineering training and land skills along with libraries, evening classes, cinema and dances, all under one roof and all financed by charitable trusts and local businesses (I hope you are reading Mr Forestry Owner and Mr Wind Farm Contractor!). They have been a great success giving people in the countryside brilliant education without the horrific travel times to the far off town. Nearer to home, not far from South West Scotland, there is a very good example of rural education at the John Ruskin School, Coniston, Cumbria which has built a reputation as a community rural school even taking pupils from the nearby urban areas who are better off away from the tendency for gangland environments. It has From the cover of Educator been hugely successful Extraordinary: The LIfe and as a school which Achievement of Henry Morris by has specialised with Harry Ree Longman 1973 support for children with autism and a natureand-nurture approach, more when the alternatives especially important since are so possible in an area the pandemic. (That travel where rural education has fund which has some money had such a remarkable story left over, D&G Education to tell. Secretary, you can take You can find videos and interested parties and go and information on The Village have a look!). College: The Life and Legacy The Galloway Hills teeter of Henry Morris, Life at The on the edge of The Second Kilquhanity School, and Clearences, but it's surely not The John Ruskin School too late - it's just so unfair at Coniston on YouTube that a child from Carsphairn and other sites for anyone sits on a bus for an hour or interested. VG Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEeducation page 8 A tree planting day at Dalry Library C hildren from the P1/2 class at Dalry Primary were invited to the Dalry library to be part of planting a special tree in the grounds. The children were accompanied by Mr Scrimshaw, Mrs Newbery and Mrs Haynes, and were joined by Alex McRae, a local ecologist. They learned about what trees need to grow strong and healthy and how the soil is enriched by earthworms. Taking turns digging until a tree-sized hole was created and the tree was carefully placed in the ground. The children then helped to fill in the soil around it. Whilst the children were digging, as well as lots of worms, they found a piece of old pottery and a May bug, also known as a cockchafer beetle, another sign that the soil was in good health. Once the ground was firmed around the tree, the children sowed clover seeds to help fix nitrogen in the soil which will help the tree to grow. Alex said: "The tree is a local sapling and is planted with respect for our UNESCO Biosphere and to mark the King's coronation. Also to celebrate Dalry's wonderful library. To encourage wider use of the library's garden, Dalry Community Council have donated a bench and we're also hoping to get a few stumps and planks for little ones to sit on." The children had a lovely day in the sunshine, learned a great deal about trees and enjoyed being part of creating local history and a legacy for the community. Farming, food and Easter fun I n Dalry primary school’s P1/2 class, the children have been learning about farms and the animals that live there and create our food. In the classroom, the children had visits from farmer Rory and also Mrs Heuchan and joined in online with Meet the Farmer. They learned about crops, looking after animals, how to make food for cows and how milk is produced. In the Farm Shop, they learned about vegetables and fruit, how to buy and sell produce and use money. On 13 March, the children went on a visit to Loch Arthur Farm Shop in Beeswing. We were met by Helen, the shop manager, and she talked to the children about the fruit and vegetables, the bakery, the cheeses they make and the butchery department. They enjoyed a shortbread biscuit and juice in the café before continuing onto the allinclusive playpark at Carlingwark Loch, Castle Douglas. A fantastic day was enjoyed by all and when we returned to school, we tasted the sausages and yoghurt we bought. Sing into Spring Children at Dalry Primary welcomed families and the local community into the school hall for Sing into Spring - an afternoon of spring celebration, performances and cake. The coffee afternoon was well attended and the children in all three classes had made sweet treats for everyone to enjoy. The P5/6/7 class were responsible for setting up the hall and making beautiful decorations for the tables. Some of the classroom assistants helped the children to make and serve the drinks and we were joined by some of the Dalry Secondary children who also helped. The audience was treated to musical perfomances by all the classes, and they also got to see the entries for the Decorated Egg competion. The prizes were presented during the event. Such wonderful creativity. The final day of school saw the children participating in an Easter Egg Hunt in the playground and ELC garden. The Easter Bunny joined us and a fun time was had by all. Dalry Primary are looking forward to more exciting events and learning in the next few months. Thank you for all the parents and the members of the community that support the school over the year. Keep an eye out for forthcoming events. Sabine Haynes Pictured are Easter celebrations at Sing into Spring and the P1/2 class outside the Loch Arthur farm shop Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople page 9 A big "thank you" from the Gazette M ike Brown has been a member of the Glenkens Gazette Steering Group for over 15 years and, now about to enter his eightieth year, has decided it's time to step down and hand the baton to someone new. An instrumental part in the Gazette's journey, Mike has been key to the development of the publication, helping to guide it with care and consideration to the point it's at today; the thriving, active and valued publication as you see it. We will very much miss his keen journalistic eye, as well as his attention to detail as a proof reader, including an understanding of law as it affects journalism through a long career in the business. All at the Gazette and GCAT would like to say a huge “thank you” for the many, many hours you have given Mike - you will be very much missed. In light of this, we will now have a vacancy in our Glenkens Gazette steering group. If anyone locally has a background in journalism and/or a knowledge of the law relating to publishing, and feel you may have a few hours to spare each month to support our community publication, please do get in touch. We're always looking for proof readers to join our pool - do be in touch if you could spare a few hours every two months. The Glenkens Gazette Team New faces at LING Handfasting L ocal Initiatives in New Galloway (LING) is delighted to announce the appointment of Heather Chipchase as assistant Hub host. Our Hubbub sessions in New Galloway Town Hall on Thursdays are going so well we have needed an extra pair of hands. Heather will be working partly in the kitchen, where the focus is on saving food-waste and providing cheap and nourishing meals, and she also assists Bianca Leder, our Hub Host extraordinaire, in whatever activities are happening each week. We’ve had everything from Abi Morden teaching us about the wonders of kale, a citizens' advice visit, and Carol Salsbury running a session on how to make better use of your phone or tablet – starting with how to switch it on! Plus there’s always lots of chat and laughter in a friendly, relaxed environment, as the photographs both illustrate so well. Above left - new Assistant Hub Host Heather Chipchase. Left - fun and banter at Thursdays' Hubbub I n a woodland setting by Kenmure Castle, Sylvia Brown and Glynne Shackleton quite literally 'tied the knot' in a traditional handfasting ceremony. Their happiness has been delighting everyone in New Galloway since the romance sprang up only a few short months ago. Ann Glaister GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 10 Glenkens Youth Correspondent Joshua Wells, age 14, is our Gazette youth correspondent and each edition will be writing about things which interest him. In this issue he looks at volunteering in his local community. I love volunteering; every fortnight on a Saturday I go to the CatStrand Art Club at the Smiddy in Balmaclellan, and in each session we create a different piece of art. I’ve made clay sculptures and great drawings. I get there early so that I can volunteer at Art Explorers. The people that go are aged between five and eight years old. They also get to make wonderful pieces of art. I like volunteering there because I enjoy helping people younger than me. Town Hall. Sometimes I volunteer at the Hub and sometimes I volunteer at LING Lunches. At the lunches, I help by setting up tables, washing up and getting tea and coffee for people. At the Hub I made macaroni cheese for 10 people; it was the first time I’d done anything like that. Just meeting new people would get me to come back again. Sometimes after school, I go to the CatStrand for Art Ambassadors. This is a youth-led session, and we talk about projects that we could create there. It’s a small group; last year we planned Santa’s grotto, which involved setting dates, wrapping presents and being elves When I’m there I help get stuff out, so there is enough glue and paint for everyone, and then I tidy up the gargantuan mess the children leave! Someone has to make sure it’s tidy for my group, I can’t leave Cat to do it alone! During the school holidays, I volunteer at New Galloway MATTHEW PAJO Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - pain management - women's health - men's health - fatigue - sleep - stress - anxiety - needle-free laser acupuncture- The Old School, Crossmichael info@matthewpajo.co.uk 07786 079 845 ourselves for the grotto. This week I had an early start, I got up at 7am and had to get ready to leave home at 8.20am to set off to Castle Douglas for Parkrun which happens every Saturday at Carlingwark Loch at 9.30am. However, because I was volunteering as a marshall, I had to be there at 9am. When I got there, the run director told me what I was going to do and where I was going to be. If you’ve not heard about Parkrun, it’s a volunteer-led run that happens weekly worldwide. It mostly takes place in parks - hence the name. Did you know some Parkruns are held in prisons? I don’t think I can volunteer for those ones though! I have volunteered at Parkrun before due to my mum setting up one in Kent back in 2016 when I was seven years old. I used to find it fun to use the megaphone in front of around 200 people. This time my dad ran at Parkrun and so did lots of other people from the Glenkens. I think it’s a good way to stay healthy, and it’s free. Marshalling is easy because all you have to do is cheer people on as they run by and they thank you for helping out. It was all finished and packed-up by 10.30am, so me and my dad went off to the library. There are a lot of benefits to volunteering such as meeting new people, learning new skills, and getting more hours on your Saltire Award. The Saltire Awards are for young people aged 12-25 and aim to recognise and reward the commitment, contribution and achievements of young volunteers in Scotland - visit www.saltireawards.scot for more information. Amber Dunlop-Pajo Health Psychologist - women's health - stress - depression - anxietyThe Old School, Crossmichael info@gallowaycounselling.co.uk 07389 713 106 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 11 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 12 sponsored by Want to run a food business? D o you ever have a glut of fruit or vegetables? Would you like to start a home-made food business? If you have thought about setting up a food-related business but are not sure where to start, then read on! The Galloway Food Hub, based in the Glenkens Community Centre in Dalry, is on a mission to encourage local people to take that first step from concept to reality. The project believes there is a need for more small food business in the Glenkens to build a resilient food community. They can provide an additional route to market for small local, good food producers alongside farmers markets, local shops and direct sales. month, once you’re signed up as a producer, you can sell as much or as little of your produce as you like. preferably organic and/or local, and that is healthy as well as delicious! You can go to the 'Producer Guidance' page at www. gallowayfoodhub.org.uk to navigate your way through the guidelines you need to get established safely and legally. It’s very simple for fruit and vegetable growers and a bit more involved once you start making, baking and cooking. Currently the Hub has lots of chutney and jam makers, for instance, but are short on products like oatcakes, kefir, sauces and ready meals. They would also like to hear from keen gardeners who don’t have their own growing space and may be interested in helping at a local market garden. The Food Hub would love to hear from people making something a wee bit different which is also in line with their Good Food Criteria: healthy for planet, people and animals. Something that involves real ingredients, The Food Hub has just completed a successful trial of a Fair Food for All scheme. Using DG Climate Hub funding, the scheme supported 10 free 'food staples' boxes and a range of discounts off Hub products Whether you have grown too many courgettes or have a secret family oatcake recipe you enjoy making, the hub would love to hear from you. The Food Hub operates on a fortnightly basis, so even if you just happen to have a glut of a particular vegetable one in order to offer the wider community more affordable access to local, and climate friendly, produce. Big farms are subsidised to provide cheap food to the nation, so it makes sense that small local farmers produce should be subsidised too, to make it more affordable to those on a tight budget. The recipients' feedback was very positive, with the food making an impact on improving their weekly budget, increaing their feeling of health and happiness and forging a connection to where their food came from. Whilst some found it difficult to come forward to partake in the scheme, everyone would appreciate if this could be run on a more regular basis. The Food Hub will be looking to bring in donations from the public to fund - or pay-itforward as it’s called - food staples boxes in future. Other avenues for funding will also be investigated to continue this scheme. To find out more visit www. gallowayfoodhub.org.uk where you can also find out more about current producers and how to shop at the Hub. Sharing traditional skills " To be honest I was absolutely delighted to be asked," said Carol Salsbury, one of the volunteers who ran a learning station at the skill-share event in New Galloway Town Hall. "Old-fashioned herbs and tinctures are something I’m passionate about, so it was a real joy to be able to share that with people who were so keen to learn – all ages as well. I was quite amazed by the level of enthusiasm. own Hub host, was the prime mover and shaker who made it all happen. It seemed Carol was not alone in her enjoyment of the occasion. This was a sell-out event, with 40 places supported by Dumfries and Galloway Climate Hub (see article on p15). Bianca Leder, our An equally intriguing and delicious lunch was conjured up for everyone by Vika Jouja, one of our several Ukrainian residents in the Glenkens. We learned about fermenting from Bianca herself, how to make beeswax wraps with Jackie Wells and the basics of sewing from Julia Higgins. "A wonderful, refreshing and revitalising day," said one attendee on their feedback form. "The enthusiasm was contagious," said another. Ann Glaister, LING Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 13 sponsored by If you would like to list something on this page, please get in touch on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk FREE Red high seat Parker Knoll chair. Contact: 07876 786 099 Pale brown carpet, laid but then replaced without being used. Approx 4m x 3.5m (13x11 feet). Collection from Dalry. Contact: 07769 959 511 Horse manure, rotted and fresh, no weed killers used. Dig your own - bring sacks or trailer. Contact: 07889 229 340 A Casio LK100 keyboard and a Brother KH836 knitting machine. Both complete and working with instructions and accessories. Free to good homes. Contact: 07531 035 824. WANTED Big long fold up table (similar to those used at craft fairs). Contact: 07749 087 699 Small shed/dog house/chicken coop to house a family of three chickens. Contact: Leto 07763 235 888 Old lawn mowers/strimmers/other small machinery. Non-runners/broken welcome. Contact: 07845 562 217 PERSONAL ASSISTANT REQUIRED - see p32 Metal bunk bed frame, double bottom, single top. Contact: 07952 280 902 I t's that time of year again when our thoughts turn towards Glenkens Food Month! The first planning meeting for the September event will take place at the CatStrand on Thursday 25 April at 6pm. Any interested parties who Glenkens Gardeners G lenkens Gardeners is a friendly group for keen growers and gardeners from all across the Glenkens. We aim to have a monthly seed and plant swap somewhere in the Glenkens, and we have an informal 'home' at the Glenkens Community Centre in Dalry. The group helps gardeners to make new connections, swap anything from plants and produce to hints and tips, and has an active WhatsApp group as our main form of communication. To be added to the group or find out more, email abi@ propagate.org.uk. Looking forward to welcoming new members soon! The Glenkens Gardeners would like to have a presence are warmly invited to come along – community groups, local businesses or individuals. We’ll get the plates spinning and ideas rolling for events and activities to celebrate local food in our glorious Glenkens. Email jo@catstrand.com for info, or just come along on 25 April. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 14 Out and About in the Biosphere S pring is an exciting time in the UNESCO Biosphere as nature awakens and longer days bring more time outdoors. The Glenkens is the perfect place to experience the natural heritage and ‘sense of place’ that led to southwest Scotland being given its international status more than a decade ago. The Glenkens Community & Arts Trust's Watson Bird trails will fill with sights and songs over the next weeks; follow in the footsteps of artist and naturelover Donald Watson (1918-2005) who made countless studies of local bird species. Two trail routes (with audio available) take you around the Biosphere Community of St John’s Town of Dalry and across the Glenkens, from Makilston to Mossdale. For those looking to explore further or take family and friends on some great days out, the Watson Bird trails are just one part of The Ambassador’s Tour, an itinerary for visiting some of the Biosphere’s best attractions and activities. (The rather grand name comes from being based on the visit of Anna Nsubuga, the UK Ambassador to UNESCO, in July 2023.) In case anyone was in doubt about the region being a world class destination: within the last few months the GSA Biosphere has been featured by Rough Guides, Wanderlust, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic Traveller UK in their ‘must see’ lists for 2024! As always the Biosphere has a packed programme of events on the go. Recently their first Farming for the Future conference took place in Newton Stewart, in partnership with Propagate and the National Farmers’ Union Scotland. Farmers and producers met, networked, and shared their experiences and ideas on regenerative farming. Several farming businesses are already accredited through the Biosphere Certification Mark scheme as understanding of naturefriendly practice grows; the Biosphere’s staff includes a land use and biodiversity specialist and a nature recovery officer who are available for site visits and advice. is well underway, supporting community-led climate action through funding, resources and facilitation. The Hub is one of a national network established as part of the Scottish Government’s economy adviser and The Ship Inn, a Biosphere Certification Mark business in Gatehouse of Fleet. The team also ran a 'Sense of Place' workshop for residents of Castle Douglas to explore the potential for joining the Biosphere Communities scheme, which brings with it support for destination development, plus learning and wellbeing initiatives that help people live sustainably and spend more time outdoors. ...within the last few months the GSA Biosphere has been featured by Rough Guides, Wanderlust, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic Traveller UK in their ‘must see’ lists for 2024! Readers may have already seen that the D&G Climate Hub Let’s Do Net Zero campaign, and the GSA Biosphere Partnership is delivering the Hub for the entirety of D&G. The Hub’s work covers an ever-expanding project map including Glenkens organisations that have benefited from seed funding, such as the Galloway Food Hub and Local Initiatives in New Galloway (see article on p15, opposite). Biosphere staff were in Castle Douglas for three days in March, hosting a pop-up info hub at the Samphire Gallery. This included an evening session hosted by business development officers, with presentations by South of Scotland Enterprise’s circular More information about all the above is available at www. gsabiosphere.org.uk where you can also sign up as a Proud Supporter – open to individuals, businesses, schools, organisations, and community groups and entirely FREE. The team is active on all the main social media platforms follow #gsabiosphere to keep up to date with events and opportunities through 2024, or contact staff directly via info@gsabiosphere.org.uk Top: Jake McLaughlan supporting at the Castle Douglas pop-up hub. Left: Faith Hillier, Ribh Gallacher and Jenna Cains – the Biosphere’s Community & Education team - at Threave Estate Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 15 The Optimistic Environmentalist Reducing your home energy bills - Part Four T his feature follows on from part three, which was featured in the October/November edition of the Gazette. • Larger or more long-term tips Always insulate as a priority. If you tackle every aspect of insulating your property it will be expensive but works very well; there are cheaper technologies and techniques that will not be totally effective, but are certainly worth using. Remember, start with rooms that you use more often; it is better to start with a manageable chunk rather than feeling overwhelmed by the cost or size of the job. • Total insulation If you have brick or block cavity walls, insulation can be injected into the cavities. If you have solid walls though, eg stone, you can either insulate the outside of the building or inside. This is very effective but is costly and can be disruptive. You may need to decide to cover up your nice cottage appearance or lose some space inside. Alternatively, use something like Sempatap which is like a thick insulating wallpaper (10mm thick) but can reduce 'U-values' (a measure of thermal loss) by up to 30%. You decorate over the top afterwards. It costs £270 per roll which covers 12.5m2. • Underfloor insulation You can put mineral wool (eg Eko roll) or insulation board (eg Kingspan) under a suspended timber floor. If your floor is solid, (concrete or soil) you would have to get it dug out before putting damp proofing and insulation layers underneath before laying the new floor. If this is not possible because of cost, time or difficulty with the disruption, put insulation over the floor or use thermal underlay beneath the floor coverings. As stated before, insulate your attic. Pound for pound, this is the cheapest and most effective thing you can do. Find any drafts; check that windows and doors are not leaky; use triple glazing and shutters. These are becoming more popular in the UK because, like all insulation, they help to maintain a consistent temperature in the building against extremes of heat and cold. Beware though, you don't want to make your house so airtight that it becomes damp or the air is stale. NB: at the moment, insulation materials are charged at 20% VAT but contractors are charged at 0% VAT so they should pass this saving on to you. Whatever you are doing, check to see if there are grants or loans available as what is funded and at what level changes regularly. Contact the Energy Saving Trust or Dumfries & Galloway Council for ideas. If you are altering your roof, floor or flooring, windows, walls or doors, make sure you add a good amount of insulation into the project while you're at it rather than it being an add-on later. • Home storage battery systems This can be a single unit or built of modules which link together - they start at about £1,000. You also need an inverter (starting at around £600) which converts your mains electricity (alternating current, AC) incoming electricity into direct current (DC) to charge your home storage battery. The inverter also reverses the process and converts the DC battery power to AC when you want to power your home. NB: batteries in Home Energy Storage Systems are now VAT exempt. Also, you can add more batteries at a later date when funds are available. (see Part Five, in the next edition of the Gazette, for home storage battery systems continued) Denise MacDonald-Kiernan Currently there is the Eco4 grant available to both tenants and homeowners on qualifying benefits. The grant offers full insulation, solar panels, air source heat pump and central heating system, so is definitely worth looking into - visit www. ofgem.gov.uk to find out more. Seed funding flourishes S ince November 2023 the Scottish Government funded initiative, D&G Climate Hub (delivered by the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere), have supported 27 community climate action projects through seed funding, two of which have been in the Glenkens. A sell-out Learn to be Self Sufficient day hosted by Local Initiatives in New Galloway at New Galloway Town Hall welcomed 40 participants for a day of skill sharing and great food (see p12 for more). It was important to Galloway Food Hub that people self-referred, so an impressive 800 flyers were delivered to Glenkens households, thanks to the Glenkens Gazette remote rural delivery scheme! The second funded project was with Galloway Food Hub who piloted a Pay it Forward scheme which seeks to address food inequality in the region. This has helped people access free high-quality foods staples boxes or a generous discount to a Galloway Food Hub shop. They also used social media, Stepping Stones Food Bank, and other community enterprises to reach the main participants. (See p11 for a full report). Keep an eye on the D&G Climate Hub’s social media, website calendar and map to keep abreast of local community climate action. Sarah Thomas, D&G Climate Hub Climate Officer (West) 07425 370895 sarah@gsabiosphere.org.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment I t’s a momentous occasion for the Loch Ken Ranger Service as this month sees the official launch of the Loch Ken Volunteer Ranger scheme. Since forming in 2021, the Loch Ken Ranger Service has cared passionately about looking after our beautiful Loch Ken, working to help protect it and its surrounding environment for the future. Head Ranger Leanne Pumpr began her Ranger journey as a volunteer back in 2022, helping out with education sessions for local schools. Leanne now heads up the Ranger Service, working hard to ensure that the loch is better cared for. A typical day for Leanne involves patrolling on and around Loch Ken, engaging with locals and visitors. Whilst there are many responsible campers, Leanne often has to deal with littering, abandoned campfires and camping equipment, and wildlife crime. The Loch Ken Ranger Service is now firmly embedded in our communities – this friendly ranger presence is reassuring for people and has helped to protect our environment from neglect and decline. The Loch Ken Ranger Service was set up by the community for the community, when council ranger services were withdrawn, trailblazing the way as one of the first community-led ranger services in Scotland. As such, we are still trying to work out what this Ranger Service could provide, and can very much be guided by the needs of our page 16 Launch of the Loch Ken Volunteer Ranger Scheme communities, working out together what this could be in the future. This winter the Ranger Service branched out and worked on a resilience project, assisting communities with preparations for extreme weather events. The Volunteer Scheme was launched with a ‘Meet the Ranger Service’ open day where members of the communities were invited to come along and find out more about our work and how they can get involved. Head ranger Leanne gave a presentation showcasing how the Ranger Service has developed over the last few years. “We had a great response to our open event," said Leanne. "It was great to meet members of the community who share our passion for our environment and are keen to help make a difference with us.” We have been pleased to see a lot of people keen to get involved and help with the work we do, and we hope in time to have volunteer rangers in every community around Loch Ken. Volunteer duties will complement the current work of the ranger service and include assisting with both water and land patrols, resilience work, helping deliver education sessions, looking after our ecosystem or helping out with organised events. The scheme will be a great learning opportunity for many, and also a chance to get out and about in the outdoors and meet new people. Members of the community also play a vital role in keeping an eye on things, and are very good at reporting incidents to the ranger service. We would urge anyone who notices anything around the loch that they feel concerned about to let us know - you can contact the ranger service on the numbers on this page, or you can report anything on our website www.lochken.org.uk The ranger service holds a Ranger Group LOCH KEN RANGER 07539 029 175 / 07918 300 889 meeting on the last Wednesday of every month. These meetings are open to all and include discussion and monthly incident and data reports. We would love people to come along, find out more and get involved. Details of our next meeting can be found on our website. People are at the heart of the Loch Ken Ranger Service and everything we do, and it is fantastic to see such a show of support from the communities. If you are interested in this scheme or any other Loch Ken Trust projects and would like to be involved please get in touch lktoffice@protonmail.com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity A year in the life L ast year was a great year for Balmaclellan Village Hall, building on from the work begun in 2022. Lots of successful events, activities, and refurbishment to make this centre of the community a thriving and welcoming space. There is still more to do, but more of that later. Let’s recap what’s gone on so far... We started 2023 with a terrific Hogmanay party that brought all the village together and got the year stared with a swing. Our Burn’s Night supper later that month was a huge success, with lots of music, homilies, laughter and poetry (Tam o’ Shanter with added action scenes!) - a truly inspiring homage to our bard. Our second plant sale later that spring built on the success of the previous year, with wonderful weather to really get the gardening year started. The plant sale and teas (served outdoors in the beautiful weather) introduced many to the new village hall garden. When we dismantled the old stage to create more space for events, we asked Paul Appleyard from Dalbeattie to ‘upcycle’ some of the timber to create benching around the two cherry trees. Cairan Murdoch had dug flower beds which had been planted over the year to create a beautiful community space where anyone can come and enjoy sitting among the flowers Many of the flowering shrubs were purchased from local gardener and nurseryman, Billy Orr, and it was lovely to see the plants he was selling already looking wonderful in the garden. We also ran a successful series of evening ‘Pop-Up Pub’ nights, which in the absence of a local hostelry, served to again bring the village together through the year. page 17 These events were very well attended and enjoyed by all. They were an important fundraiser for helping get the refurbishment of the hall underway. A major upgrade of the kitchen, and the conversion of a former meeting room into a food preparation room, meant that we are now able to cater at a much more professional level. Partly to do with this, but mostly because we have a terrific team of outstanding bakers, our monthly afternoon tea sessions have really taken off with up to 30 people from across the Glenkens coming to enjoy home baking, good cooking, unlimited tea and coffee, and of course, a good chat with friends. Booking for this is now essential; if interested please contact julia. higgins55@.outlook.com Our long-standing and very popular Glenkens Crafters group meet every Wednesday morning. The range of crafting activities that take place is amazing, with beginners and experts working alongside each other helping, teaching and supporting the various projects on the go – and all accompanied by lots of good blether, tea, coffee and cake of course! In September we were part of the Glenkens Heritage Hub Day and filled the hall with displays and exhibits about the history and heritage of our small village. This was a very busy day, with lots of cake consumed... The end of the September Glenkens Food Month was celebrated by a hog roast. Sadly, the weather was rather less than kind, but the fabulous food more than made up for it. We ended the year with our annual children’s Christmas party, hosting a lively afternoon of entertainment by Magic Monty followed by a visit from Father Christmas himself, resulting in lots of happy children. It was a quiet start for 2024 - no Hogmanay this year. The perennial problem in all volunteer-led organisations is one of volunteer shortage. Without anyone willing to take on the organisation of an event, things simply don’t happen (please get in touch if you would like to be involved in helping organise events!). This year’s Burns Night was another amazing event with excellent guest speakers, this time a thoughtful and thought-provoking monologue on Burns himself and a vigorous and hilarious rendering of Holy Willie’s Prayer, all accompanied by a wonderful meal provided by Michelle from The Thistle in Crossmichael. The haggis was again, as last year, beautifully piped in by young Ollie McKie. And moving on to 2024, our centenary year got off to a splendid, if slightly late, start. We have lots lined up for the upcoming months: a 'recipes from rationing' day takes us back to wartime cooking (booking needed for the morning practical fun session). Our annual plant sale will be combined with a traditional village fete, teas and barbecue (bar from 12noon-6pm), a pop-up pub night in July, and a hog roast and ceilidh, to celebrate the anniversary of the opening, in September. Keep your eyes open for details on social media, the Glenkens Hub (www.glenkens.scot) and posters around the area. Lynn Stewart Pictured are the annual plant sale and a packed hall for the pop-up pub night Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 18 Keeping the com the heart of com we receive, delivering against the community’s priorities which were articulated through the Glenkens & District community action plan. A s the Glenkens & District Trust gears up for our spring round of funding we have been reflecting on the year past and the landscape we operate in. The fund hit the significant milestone of having paid out £1 million since it launched in 2019, supporting initiatives right across the Glenkens & District area, and more recently, Education and Training bursaries. The early years of the fund have supported a wide range of projects and the trustees have swiftly evolved its strategy to ensure we can make the most of the money One of GDT’s key roles is to liaise with wind farm owners on existing and pipeline projects. While our stance on development is always neutral and we play no role in the planning/consent process relating to construction, we work hard to get the best possible arrangement for our communities. We pride ourselves in being proactive on this front and ensuring that all project developers know GDT’s role, how it operates, and the principles of inclusiveness and equity that we operate through our membership arrangements. During 2023 this has resulted in additional annual payments of £54,000 from the Windy Rig windfarm coming into the Fund and an agreement in principle with Red Rock Power, that should secure an additional £112,000 per year in community benefit funds for the Glenkens & District area. This funding will not be available until 2026 at the earliest and indeed the pipeline of potential wind farm projects that could benefit the area, if constructed, also look to be gradually pushing out towards the end of this decade. This means that the fund is not going to grow significantly over the next few years and because the main donor (Blackcraig Windfarm Scotland Ltd) does not provide an inflationary uplift to their annual payment, in real terms the trust will be trying to do more with less. Education & Trainin W e are beginning to see the impact of the Education & Training fund launched in August 2022. This fund is open to all residents in the area aged 16+. While 50% of the awards are associated with the cost of leaving home and studying at college or university, it’s not just for school leavers - around a third of applicants do short courses and are mid-career and retraining, or people re-entering the job market after a break. In total 34 bursaries were awarded over 12 months, with just over £47,000 being distributed through the fund. Anna's story... Having raised a youn away from her origin Anna was looking for her original goal of w adolescent mental he to Practice qualificatio regain nursing registr costs involved were a jeopardising Anna’s a the course. Anna made a success to the Education & Tr which enabled her to her Return to Practice undertake the 450 pr required at Dumfries Royal Infirmary. Anna says: “I am now say I completed all th Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 19 mmunity voice at mmunity benefit This has led to much trustee discussion about the fund’s strategy and the best ways in which the trust can fund local initiatives to create the greatest impact. This is an ongoing debate but some emerging themes in that discussion so far include the impact created by investing in: • activities that in turn enable other groups or individuals within the community to thrive (such as the Glenkens Community Spaces Network, which provides support and information for local halls and assets, or the Citizen’s Advice Bureau outreach service) • providing early-stage awards which may have some inherent risk but can act as a springboard for a service to launch and flourish (such as the then Glenkens - now Galloway - Food Hub) • holding highly valued local services steady through the provision of core funds (such as the three year award for the Loch Ken Ranger Service). Liaison with developers also forms one part of a bigger aspect of our role - which is ensuring that community voices stay central to community benefit processes. As the scale of community benefits grows across Scotland, a wide variety of regional and national bodies are showing increasing interest in how community benefits are delivered and used, with a diverse range of perspectives on how this is done. We are working closely with our fund partners Foundation Scotland, which has a long track record of working in community benefits across Scotland, to take an active part in this live conversation. GDT’s key objective, and the relevance ng Fund: a snapshot ng family and moved nal career in nursing, r ways to return to working in child and ealth services. A Return ion was required to ration, but the travel a barrier, ability to join sful application raining fund o complete e course and ractice hours s & Galloway w delighted to he required academic and practice elements of the course and have re-registered as a mental health nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. I was also subsequently offered a full-time position within the Dumfries & Galloway Child and Adolescent Mental Health team. I could not have done this without the kind financial assistance I received.” of the national ‘noise’ to our local setting, is to ensure that community remains at the heart of decisions on how community benefit monies are used; and that appropriate support is given to communities by the right agencies at the right time, to enable them to prepare for community benefits money in such a way that enables them to stay in control by being effective and ready to deliver. There are various ways of getting involved if you would like to support this work. Most of our trustees are drawn from our member community councils but our constitution also allows to include up to five independent trustees and we also welcome associate members, usually people or organisations who are keen to support our work and stay involved but who don’t have voting rights at our AGMs. These members will be fully involved in the life of the trust, receiving updates on the work of GDT and opportunities to engage. To find out more about getting involved email info@glenkenstrust.org.uk or go to www.glenkenstrust.org. uk/get-involved Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 20 Remembering children of Ukraine A s a children’s and young people's therapist I understand the profound effect that traumatic experiences can have on children, both immediately, and also on their future physical and emotional development. emotional issue. It can help them gain more of a sense of themselves and therefore enables them to feel more in control and have agency over their lives despite living with ongoing challenges. When we moved to New Galloway in August 2022, members of St Margaret's church were keen to support a further 50 therapy kits, which were sent out in January last year. When the war in Ukraine started in February 2022, I felt desperate for the plight of the children and wanted to find a way to help, but what could I do? The task seemed overwhelming! I decided to give myself the challenge of trying to replicate the essential Play Therapy kit into a small string bag which could be easily portable. Last week I was excited to have the opportunity to send another 10 Therapy Kits to Ukraine with a friend from Castle Douglas who has gone to help where he can in rebuilding homes. If a child has experienced trauma they need specific help and understanding to allow them to begin to process their experience and begin to feel secure again. In May 2022 I was able to raise enough money (£12 per kit) through the church I was with at the time - MCC in Harrogate - to send the first 100 therapy kits via a van that was taking mainly medical supplies into Ukraine through Poland. Play Therapy offers such a method to help children find ways of coping with a difficult Sarah Watson It has been such a privilege to be able to help in this small way, and through the generosity of people who have donated. However, it does just feel like a drop in the ocean... I would love to be able to send more therapy kits in the future, so if anyone is interested in supporting me to do this, please email sarahwatson@playworld. org.uk Sarah putting together her play therapy kits to send over to the Ukraine Funding a community freezer survey A fundraising appeal in New Galloway town hall e'd love to hear your raised over £600 for the views on the Glenkens purchase of a community Hub after its first year - is it freezer. doing what it was designed Hosted by Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING), the event attracted to do? Do you use it? Is it an amazing turnout with hot drinks, homebaking, and a second-hand book useful? W For more information about Play Therapy and what I offer locally please visit my website - www. time-to-blossom-therapy.com Please help us out by filling in a short survey - you can follow QR code below, or visit www.glenkens.scot/survey-2024 to complete the survey online. Thank you! Gail sale. A raffle featured prizes donated by several food-related businesses in and around the Glenkens, including the Galloway Food Hub, Balmaclellan Store, West Coast Sea Products, and more. Aiming to widen understanding of the problem of good food going to waste (one third of all food is thrown away every year, with the UK wasting 9.5 million tonnes annually) the event concluded with an edibility quiz, with one lucky winner heading home with a bagful of veg and loaves of pumpkin bread. Plans are to install the community freezer in an accessible room in New Galloway Town Hall where anyone can collect portions of homecooked meals and other frozen items donated by individuals and businesses. The initiative is part of LING’s ongoing work to increase community connectivity through skill-sharing, social gatherings, and practical support for local people. The fundraiser was the latest public event in a busy winter programme which followed the reopening of the Town Hall in October 2023, after eighteen months of renovations which returned the building to its historic position as the central hub for Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh. LING, a Registered Scottish Charity, took asset transfer of the town hall from Dumfries and Galloway Council in 2022. Chair of LING, Barbara Barker, said: “At LING our mission is to support a thriving community, which includes supporting wellbeing and accessibility to essentials like warmth, companionship, and good food. LING Trustees and our wonderful team of volunteers are hugely excited to develop the New Galloway’s community food initiative through 2024 and beyond.” Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 21 Reflections on remoteness P rompted by a visit from some Uist islanders, I've been thinking recently about remoteness. The Glenkens are categorised by the Scottish Government as Remote Rural because we have a drive time of over 30 minutes to a large town. But I realised that I don't feel remote, here in New Galloway. Part of that is because I am very lucky to have a great support network of friends and family here - but another part of it is because of our community and the work of many people over many years to make it a great place to live. My children went to Primary School a five minute walk away. When I need provisions for dinner, the shop is a 6 minute walk away, right next to the Post Office and Town Hall. The medical practice is a four minute stagger I've done that on crutches. There's even a fire station, if heaven forbid it was needed. And of course (and slightly unbelievably still), I can access amazing live arts events and a fantastic cafe just five minutes down the road. Further afield, there are pubs, churches, community woodlands, shops, more halls, producers' markets and endless community activities available for all to enjoy. And all these 'lights' make my rural life bright. But what if those lights get switched off, one by one? We've already lost the bank, the police station, the dress shops, the cafes. Each one perhaps passes unnoticed in busy lives - but each one makes rural life a little darker. Our schools, our village shops and post offices, our cafes, pubs and arts centres, our town and village halls, our local businesses - all are hugely important to keeping rural life thriving. So thank you to all the many people who give endless time to keeping their particular light bright, and if you can support local, please do. We need to work together in these difficult times to keep ourselves going - despite the remoteness. We can continue to employ our wonderful Community Inclusion Worker, Jackie Wells, as well as being provided with massive support for our running costs. And, amazingly, they are promising this support over three years. It’s positively transformative for LING! everything that happens in the Town Hall and around and about only happens because the community is fully engaged in everything we do. They push ideas forward and make things happen. There’s no way we could be doing this alone. It was quite a delight to be able to give an account of ourselves that allowed us, in a sense, to showcase the community. Not just New Galloway but the whole of the Glenkens is a fantastic community to be part of and the success of this grant bid is testimony to that. Helen Keron Space for everyone: creating a community health and wellbeing hub A t LING (Local Initiatives in New Galloway), we are still floating on air since hearing that we have been successful with a major funding bid to the National Lottery’s Community Fund. As opposed to the capital funding which allowed us to renovate and make New Galloway Town Hall fit for the future, this is revenue grant funding which enables us to continue our work with the community to help make this beautiful, rural part of the world a really good place to live. We called our project 'Space for everyone: creating a community health and wellbeing hub', which we felt encapsulates what we want to offer. Much of what we do is centred in the Town Hall, with our LING Lunches on Tuesdays, Hubbub on Thursdays and Men’s Monday Morning Coffee on – you guessed it – Mondays, as well as lots of regular classes and events (See the listings on p35). But we also include the great outdoors in our idea of ‘Space for Everyone’ with our restoration of the old Garroch Estate Walled Garden and of literally miles of wonderful countryside walks. (See newgallowaytownhall.com for more information) What this grant offers us is continuity and security, which is like gold dust in this world of hand-to-mouth funding. What made us, we think, a good fit for this grant is that it sits under what they call their ‘community-led’ funding head. As trustees we hold certain responsibilities, but this whole venture only works because LING operates as an integral part of the community. Almost Ann Glaister, LING Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity Get involved... A successful Place Planning drop-in session was held in Carsphairn's Lagwyne Hall, with local folk stopping by to give their views. Carsphairn's Local Place Plan will set out how the community would like their area to be reflected in the next Dumfries & Galloway Council Local Development Plan. Carsphairn Community Council will be finding out what the community thinks throughout 2024; keep an eye on carsphairn.org for coming events. If you can't make it to an event, you can still give your views and ideas by filling in the survey at www.carsphairn.org/LPP and if you'd like to get involved please email carsphairncc@gmail.com Below left: Lagwyne Hall drop-in session. Below right: map showing current wind farm and forestry developments in the Carsphairn Community Council area Driving abroad? I f you are planning on driving abroad this year, please consider whether you need an page 22 international driving permit (IDP). This may be needed whether you are in your own car or driving a hire car. If you have a UK photo driving license, then you may not need one (especially in many European countries). But if you are driving in Turkey, USA, Canada or Australia (and many other countries) then you will need one. 唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀Ⰰ 䰀漀漀猀攀 䌀漀瘀攀爀猀Ⰰ 䘀愀戀爀椀挀猀Ⰰ 䌀甀猀栀椀漀渀猀 刀攀昀椀氀氀攀搀 䘀爀攀攀 䔀猀琀椀洀愀琀攀猀 吀栀攀 圀漀爀欀猀栀漀瀀Ⰰ 䴀漀渀礀戀甀椀攀Ⰰ 䌀漀爀猀漀挀欀⸀ 䐀䜀㜀 ㌀䐀夀 眀眀眀⸀䠀愀爀爀椀猀ⴀ唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀⸀挀漀⸀甀欀 ㄀㘀㐀㐀 㐀㐀 㔀㈀㤀 Up until now you could get them from the Post Office, but from 1 April you can only get them from a Paypoint. The nearest Paypoint to the Glenkens is the Co-op in Castle Douglas. Regards, Paul Family and friends coming to stay? Short of space? Cosy country cottage available (sleeps 4) Call Fiona on 01644 420 227 or 07789 903127 www.covenanters-holidaycottagescotland.co.uk GAZETTEhistory Glenkens Gazette page 23 Gazetteer of Scotland: extracts Part 1 A gazetteer is a geographical dictionary or directory, usually used in conjunction with a map or atlas. It typically contains information concerning the geographical makeup, social statistics and physical features of a country, region, or continent. The next two editions of the Glenkens Gazette will include extracts from the Gazetteer of Scotland from 1803 relevant to the Glenkens. G LENKENS, the northern district of Kircudbrightshire, comprehending the valley watered by the river Ken, and part of the high lands which divide Galloway from Carrick. It is divided into four parishes, Kells, Balmaclellan, Dalry and Carsphairn, and contains the royal burgh of New Galloway. The Glenkens breed of sheep and black cattle is much famed, and the farmers are reputed to excel in the management of their pasture farms. BALMACLELLAN; a parish in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. Its general appearance is muir, with five or six small lochs. Its surface is level, with a gentle rising towards the N. There are about 60 acres of natural wood, chiefly on the banks of the rivulets, which intersect it. Only about one-fourth of the land is arable; but this portion is very fertile. Many sheep are fed on the muirs. Two turnpikes pass through the parish. Population in 1793, about 500. CARSE-FERN, or CARSE-FAIRN; a parish in the county of Wigton (sic). The surface is all hilly, except a small plain on which the church is situated, and a few spots on the sides of the rivulets. The hills are in general green, interspersed with moss. From the appearance of the country, it is evidently unfavourable for husbandry: indeed, pasturage is only attended to. Formerly there were extensive forests of natural wood, and at that time iron mines were wrought; but the decay of the forests, and the want of coal, render useless the iron ore with which this parish abounds. Many of the springs contain iron, dissolved by means of the carbonic acid, and are admired for their tonic quality. Population in 1792, 609. DALRY; a parish in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. Its greatest length from N to S is about 15, and its greatest breadth about 10 miles. Towards the S the soil is arable, and capable of cultivation; but by far the greater part is hilly, and only fit for pasture; along the river Ken, which is the boundary on the W for upwards of six miles, there are some natural woods of considerable extent. There are several small lakes; and, besides the Ken, the parish is watered by the rivulets Garpoul, Blackwater, Earlstion, and Stonriggan. In Lochinvar are the remains of an ancient fortified castle, with a drawbridge, said to have belonged to the Gordons, anciently Knights of Lochinvar, and lately Viscounts of Kenmure. There are also several moats and ruinous places of defence. Mr Alexander of Mackilston, and Mr Hunter of Lochinvar, possess elegant seats. A village called St John's Clauchan, the property of the Earl of Galloway, is finely situated on the banks of the Ken. Population in 1791, about 1200. GALLOWAY (NEW); a royal burgh in the parish of Kells, in the Stewartry of Kircudbright; it is situated in a delightful vale, N ew Galloway Golf Club Founded Foun ded 1902 www.ng www.n g gc.co.uk - 01644 420737 Buggies now available for hire VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS WELCOME which is denominated Glenkens, from the river Ken, which waters it. The houses are neat and regular, but it posseses no manufactures; its only consequence seems to be derived from its post-office, and its centrical (sic) situation, as a market for the different products of the neighbouring parishes. It was erected into a royal burgh by Charles I about the year 1633, when scarcely 20 houses entitled it to the name of a hamlet. But, in those visits which Charles paid to Scotland, he generally dealt out such honours and bounties to his Scottish subjects, which he had to bestow; and, in this instance, Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar obtained a peerage, by the title of Viscount Kenmure, and the creation of this royal burgh on his estate. In this town the institution of a farmer club has been of the greatest importance, in disseminating agricultural knowledge. The whole town is the property of Mr Gordon, the representative of the Kenmure family, which was attainted for attachment to the family of Stuart. Kenmure-castle, the residence of that gentleman, is situated in the immediate neighbourhood, and adds much to the importance of it. In 1793, it contained about 480 inhabitants. Explanations by transcriber: 1. Turnpike = toll road 2. Rivulet = burn or stream 3. Attainted = (in this case) beheaded for treason 4. Moss = bog Transcribed by Paul Goodwin Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 24 The Glenkens Story: The last global warming in the Glenkens D o you know your drumlin swarms from your eskers? Dramatic Global Warming in the Glenkens - what happened when the last ice melted, and are there lessons we can learn about the present?" The Glenkens Story is pleased to announce that geologist Dr Alan Gibbs will tell us about the transformational effect on the landscape of the Glenkens of the disappearance of the last ice-sheet some 12,000 years ago. Alan comes from Annan and spent a career as a geologist telling stories in space and time to anyone who would listen. He worked initially as an academic and then as a commercial consultant heading a software modelling team working on projects globally for major corporations, academic research and state survey organisations. Since selling his business he has been involved with his family restoring a tower house, farming and forestry. Alan makes the point that ‘while we tend to think of glaciation in terms of erosion of high mountains; corries, fjords, u-shaped valleys, etc, this is not the really interesting bit of the story in the Glenkens. It's about the deposition and what happens as the waning sheet ice melts." The processes that Alan will describe shaped the landscape we live in and work today. Come along to the CatStrand on Sunday 26 May at 3pm and learn how it all happened. Tickets are available from the CatStrand at www.gcat.scot or 01644 420 374. Drumlin swarm at Galrinnes Farm, Balmaclellan © Threave Rural Glenkens Gazette S cotland’s largest rural performing arts festival is back for its 45th anniversary festival across Dumfries & Galloway from 23 May to 2 June. GAZETTEarts For 45 years, the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival has brought world-class theatre, music, dance, comedy and spoken word to the heart of communities across the region. The festival is a celebration of local and national artists and its wide ranging 2024 programme of events has something for everyone to enjoy. This year the festival has curated an eclectic and exciting programme featuring everything from outdoor circus events in Castle Douglas and at Crawick Multiverse to theatre performances from the incredible James Rowland with his show Piece of Work and Raymond Wilson presenting his Made in Scotland show I Hope Your Flowers Bloom and the world famous A Play, A Pie and A Pint to spoken word events with Chrys Salt and Richard Ingham and I AM LOUD bringing their South of Scotland Poetry Slam Heat. The 2024 festival will present work in a variety of local venues, some non-traditional spaces and outdoors and providing events that build community engagement, enhance the health and wellbeing of communities page 25 and nurture equality of access and environmental sustainability. The Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival 2024 will build on its 45 years' history of helping to develop and nurture a strong and sustainable future for the performing arts industry in Dumfries & Galloway through continuing to create new and exciting partnerships across the region, and also bringing together the incredible local artists who we’ve supported throughout the year to perform their newly developed work. Pictured are Crawick (above) and Scottish Opera (left), acts performing at this year's festival Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 26 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. In this edition Robin takes a look at the quarterly journal, the Critical Muslim. W e’ve heard a great deal about Muslims recently, and most of it negative. Suella Braverman claims that Britain has been ‘taken over’ by Islamists. Lee Anderson says that Sadiq Khan has handed London “to his Islamist mates.” If these claims are true, the ‘Islamists’ in question must be remarkably tolerant – given that they allow Islamophobes like Braverman to be Home Secretary, and given the Gay Pride marches, fund raisers for Israel, and so on, in London. It isn’t just the Tories. When Keir Starmer pressured the Speaker to not allow the SNP motion for a ceasefire in Gaza, he and other Labour politicians implied that he had done so because he was scared that Muslims would attack his MPs when they didn’t vote for the motion. This scapegoating of a group at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder for our failures is somewhat frightening as well as ridiculous. As with other aspects of our current ‘post-truth’ politics, it’s unsettlingly reminiscent of the 1930s. There’s much less of this rabble-rousing in Scotland, but – because we’re attached to Westminster – it still pollutes the atmosphere here, to an extent at least. Therefore it’s worth pointing out some more positive things about Muslims, and at the same time to tell you about one of my jobs (next time I’ll tell you about the other). That is, I’m deputy editor and frequent contributor to the Critical Muslim, a quarterly David Tallontire CHIMNEY SWEEP journal that looks like a book, published by Hurst. It focuses on the endlessly diverse Muslim world – not something that can be reduced to a right-wing slogan. Our last issue, for instance, contained an essay on Sinead O'Connor as a ‘punk theologian’. It’s certainly not a religious publication, despite the title. You don’t have to be religious to write for it – fortunately for me. You don’t even need to be a Muslim. Each issue of the publication has its own theme – and the current issue’s theme is ‘Scotland’. Why? Because the leaders of Scotland’s two biggest parties are Muslims, because there is a small but significant Muslim community here, and because there are a host of Scottish issues – from minority languages to competing versions of nationalism – which echo issues exercising Muslim-majority countries. As well as a long road-trip essay by me, there’s an essay by the Scottish-Sudanese novelist Leila Aboulela on her Scottish influences, one by a music-mad Glaswegian girl who grew up in a Muslim household which thought music was ‘haram’, one on the history of Glasgow’s Pakistani community, and much more. Amongst the much more are two contributions by Glenkens residents. Robin Ade, artist and author of the classic Fisher in the Hills: A Season in Galloway, has written a wonderful essay on trout fishing in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Galloway. And Bill Holmes – the artist and dark philosopher of Deugh Studio, Knockengorroch – has offered a beautiful series of paintings, often of faces seen in rock faces, which connect the Syrian desert to the Galloway Hills. We should probably arrange a local event to celebrate both the essay and the spread. Watch this space… Gordon McAdam 07709 144 299 Plumbing & Heating - wood burners - multi-fuel stoves - open fires - Agas - Rayburns - birds nest removal with CCTV inspection - certificates issued - feel free to call for advice - 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry Covering the Glenkens & further afield Find me on Facebook 01644 430 393 07834 321 789 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 27 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 28 The Fall of Man - a song of hope F ollowing the considerable success of 'The Passion' last Easter, Glenkens Choir is currently preparing another substantial choral work reflecting on the state of the world and offering a song of hope. Geoff Davidson’s new work tackles the story of Adam and Eve and the serpent. The subject has been virtually ignored by composers and the only work of note – Haydn’s 'The Creation' - briefly deals with a happy couple, in love and living in a beautiful garden with no mention of serpents, defying God or the consequences of disobedience. The story is actually very dramatic and offers opportunities for exciting and moving music which will be performed by stunning soloists from last year, baritone Robert Lind as Adam and soprano Nicola Junor as Eve with the Glenkens choir taking the part of a very angry God! Marion Adam becomes the ghastly serpent and narrations will be delivered by Rev John Burns. In these troubled days with Man falling ever further into violent conflict, it seems Adam has a lot to answer for. The allegory contains terrible truths, warnings and devastating consequences. Adam’s eating of the apple and his expulsion from the garden were only the beginning of a sorry saga of regret, murder and misery. Hope COME AND JOIN US DRAGON BOATS ON LOCH KEN OPEN DAY COME AND JOIN US AT THE GALLOWAY ACTIVITY CENTRE ON SUNDAY 2ND JUNE FROM 10AM TO 3PM EVERY SUNDAY FROM 14TH APRIL TO 27th OCTOBER 9.30AM TO 12PM • Paddle up and down Loch Ken from the Galloway Sailing Centre. • Every Sunday from 14th April to 27th October from 9.30am to 12pm (weather permitting). • All ages and abilities welcome (12+). • Buoyancy aids and safety briefings available from our trained helms. • Flexible membership options. • Refreshments available from the Galloway Activity Centre cafe. For further information please contact Joyce on 07514 317578 or pflssw@gmail.com www.dragonboatsonlochken.co.uk,Facebook ‘Loch Ken Dragon Boats’ | Charity Number SC041432 comes in the figure of Mary, Queen of heaven (sung by Janette Davidson) whose son offers a path to redemption. The final chorus “For unto us a child is born” (the words of which Handel used in his famous 'Messiah') is delivered with stirring determination that all is not lost. There is hope. The performance will take place on Saturday 4 May in Dalry Church at 7.30pm. Admission, as usual, is free but a donation is requested on exit. Last year 'The Passion' realised £1,000 for charity. Just remember – May the fourth be with you… Geoff Davidson Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 29 Further success for Youth Players T he Scottish Community Drama Association (SCDA) Stewartry District One Act Play Festival was held at the Fullarton Theatre, Castle Douglas, with, for the third year in a row, CatStrand Players representing Stewartry District at both the Open and Youth Western Finals. Eleven plays were performed; the highest number for many years, making Stewartry the biggest District Festival in the country! Three nights of great entertainment were enjoyed by full houses. Those who attended could vote for their favourite play to receive the ‘Audience Choice’ awards, with the other decisions left to adjudicator, Dr Paul Dougall. The CatStrand Youth Players’ production of Us and Them by David Campton, directed by Cat Campbell, was crowned as this year’s winning youth play and also was awarded the trophy for ‘Best Stage Presentation’. The adjudicator described it as "an interesting presentation which showcased some excellent young talent". Cat and her cast of thirteen are now looking forward to performing again at the Western Divisional Youth Final at Dunlop in Ayrshire. In the Open Festival, our two plays were both very well received and finished in third and fourth places overall, with only one point between them. In fourth place was As We Forgive Those by Andrew Smith directed by Brian Edgar. The adjudicator felt that it was a very challenging play and an engaging piece of theatre noting that "the acting was of a high order". Only two actors in the whole festival were highlighted as "outstanding" by the adjudicator; one was Zoe Kirkpatrick, who played the lead role of Sophie in As We Forgive Those and the other was Rose Benson, who starred in our third-placed play All of the Monkeys, written by Michael Park and directed by Jo Jackson. The adjudicator stated that this was "a very clear exposition of the piece and the standard of acting was very good indeed", and also awarded the play the trophy for 'Best Moment of Theatre’. All of the Monkeys will now progress to represent Stewartry at the Western Division Open Final in April. However, unlike the last two years, there won’t be a trip ‘overseas’ to Dunoon this time as it is Stewartry District’s turn to host the event back at The Fullarton. They will be joined there by the first and second placed teams, 88 Theatre and Stranraer Drama Club. Ken Bridge Hotel Opening Times Sit-in and takeaway, seven days a week Evening Meals: 5.30-8pm Bar Service: from 4-11pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 11pm Saturday and Sunday * all meals must be booked in advance * • Pool table and darts board • Terrace/beer garden • • Venue available for hire for functions and events • • Campsite with river views *hot tubs coming soon* • - Dogs on leads welcome on outdoor terrace - For bookings, orders or any other enquiries call 01644 420 211, 07826 382 552, 07825 237 627, email mail@kenbridgehotel.com or message on Facebook @ Ken Bridge Hotel & campsite or visit www.kenbridgehotel.com A scene from the CatStrand Players' performance of As We Forgive Those photographed by Ian Biggar All three plays were staged at CatStrand on 8 March with another full house, thoroughly enjoying a diverse evening of theatre. CatStrand Players have gone from strength to strength over the past 16 years and are now well known in SCDA circles all over Scotland due to our regular appearances at Western Finals and also at the Scottish Final in 2022. Hopefully one or even both of our plays can make it to the national final again this time around! Brian Edgar Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Free Benefits Support page 30 WRIGHTS STORE & POST OFFICE DALRY DALRY DALRY SWEET TREAT SATURDAY DALRY INFORMATION FRESH CREAM CAKES AVAILABLE TO ORDER OPENING HOURS OPENING TIMES MONDAY – FRIDAY MONDAY-FRIDAY 7.30AM-5.30PM 7.30am – 5.30pm SATURDAY - 8.30AM-5PM SATURDAY 8.30am – 5pm SUNDAY - 8.30AM-3PM SUNDAY 8.30am – 3pm LOCAL SUPPLIERS Do you self-identify as disabled? Voice and rights charity VoiceAbility is providing free, independent advocacy support across the country to help you to understand and access Social Security Scotland benefits. Are you aged between 16 and 65, identify as disabled or have a condition that effects your daily life? If so, then we can support you. Support is also available for parents, guardians, or carers who are accessing benefits for a disabled child. Local Voice Advocate, Maureen Jardine, is hoping to visit locations across the Glenkens to let people know about this free advocacy service. Please get in touch if you would like Maureen to come to your community. For more information please email maureen. jardine@ voiceability.org, call our helpline on 0300 303 1660 or for further information visit www.voiceability.org LOCAL SUPPLIERS DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY BUTCHERS UPPERBUTCHERS DULLARG EGGS MITCHELL'S FRUIT EGGS & VEG UPPER DULLARG SWEETCAKES BAKERY MITCHELLS FRUIT & VEG GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY SWEETCAKES BAKERY CREAM O' GALLOWAY GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES CREAM O GALLOWAY IRVINGS BAKERY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES GALLOWAY SCOTTISH PASTA IRVINGS COWS BAKERY & CO THE CRESSGALLOWAY COMPANY PASTA (GF & SCOTTISH VEGAN OPTIONS) GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY POP IN FOR A CHAT AND A BROWSE Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP Solicitors and Estate Agents Dumfries & Galloway 01556 503744 www.ggblaw.co.uk All legal advice Offices in Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 31 USEFUL GLENKENS CONTACTS DOCTORS’ SURGERY Glenkens Medical Practice - 01644 420 234 COMMUNITY CONTACTS • Balmaclellan: Martin Warnock - 07939 261 391 • Carsphairn: Liz Holmes - 07718 358 160 • Corsock: Julie Garton - 07769 647 702 • Kirkpatrick Durham: Heather - 07551 639 629 • Crossmichael: Richard Middleton - 01556 670 691 • Dalry: Graham West 01644 430 503 • New Galloway: 07741 656 601 • Parton: Tom 07835821976 FOOD DELIVERIES • Galloway Foodbank 07730 788 335 • Galloway Food Hub - glenkens.scot/localdirectory-listing/glenkensfood-hub • Ballards Butchers 01556 502502 (they also deliver groceries) • Grierson’s Butchers: 01556 502 637 • Henderson’s Butchers: 01556 502 654 • Mitchell’s Greengrocers: 01556 502 077 • Fleet Fish: call 07966 103 912 to find out about Glenkens delivery days • Roan’s Dairy - 01556 620 374 • Harris & Co: www. harrisandco.uk LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Helen Crowther on 0790 467 8599 or drop by the shop on Main Street, Dalry Glenkens Scout Group: Contact Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375 Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING): Contact info@ling.org.uk Dalry Communities Properties Trust (DCPT): Contact Michelle Owen at sjtdalrycc@ gmail.com Dalry Town Hall: Contact Lesley Blissett at lesleyblissett52@gmail.com Glenkens Community Centre: Contact Sarah McAdam on minimac01644@gmail.com Lagwyne Hall: Contact lagwynehallsecretary@outlook.com for info, or to book email lagwynehallbooking@gmail.com New Galloway Community Enterprises (NGCE): Contact ngce5000@gmail.com or pop into New Galloway Community Shop Balmaclellan Community Trust: Contact Julia Higgins at julia.higgins55@outlook.com CatStrand: Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or pop in to the CatStrand Schools: Visit the school office or call Dalry Primary on 01644 430 105 (for Nursery/ELC too), Dalry Secondary on 01644 430 259 or Kells on 01644 420 340 Carsphairn Heritage Initiative: Contact Ben Ade at carsphairnhi@gmail.com Galloway Food Hub: Contact Lesley Atkins on lesley@propagate.org.uk or 07587 122 151 Bairn Banter: Contact Melissa on bairnbanter@outlook.com or 07979 492 791 If you would like to add your community organisation to this list please get in touch with the Gazette - contact details are on the back page. GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH Sunday Services St Margaret's Church, New Galloway, DG7 3RP Balmaclellan: 7 Apr, 5 May - 11am Carsphairn: 14 Apr, 12 May - 11am Kells: 21 Apr, 19 May - 11am, Pentecost Dalry: 28 Apr, 26 May - 11am, communion Special Services & Events Performance: The Fall of Man, Sat 4 May, 7.30pm, Dalry Church (see article on p28) For further information contact Rev Pam Bellis on 07751 379 249 or pam@bellisconsultancy.co.uk Sundays at 10.30am: Holy Communion with refreshments after the service Tuesdays at 11am: Informal midweek service with refreshments and chat Thursdays 7.30-8pm: Zoom Evening Prayers. Please contact Dawn for the link Special Events: Annual Plant and Bake Sale, Saturday 4 May, 10am-12 noon. All profits will go to the Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes. For further information call Dawn on 01644 420 431 or visit www.stmargaretsnewgalloway.org GAZETTEinformation Glenkens Gazette Glass Recycling Points • Balmaclellan Stores, Balmaclellan • Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road, Crossmichael • Kirkland Street, St John's Town of Dalry • New Galloway, Carson's Knowe Car Park • St David Street, Kirkpatrick Durham USEFUL NUMBERS ● Pothole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 page 32 MINUTES/REPORTS OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT SPENDING ● Police, non-emergency: 101 or email stewartryCPT@ scotland.police.uk GLENKENS DISTRICT TRUST (GDT) www.glenkenstrust.org.uk/gdtcorporate-information ● Doctor: 01644 420 234 CARSPHAIRN RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND LTD (CREFL) www.carsphairn.org/CREFLArchive ● NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 ● D&G Council: 030 33 33 3000 Local Job Vacancies Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot PERSONAL ASSISTANT REQUIRED – NEW GALLOWAY Personal assistant required to work with elderly gentleman who suffers with Parkinsons. The support is to enable this gentleman to remain safe and independent in his own. Duties include: personal care, meal preparation and general household chores. Rate of pay above the National Living Wage. Hours: 5 to 8 per day (3 days per week) and alternate Saturdays. Also may be required to cover holidays and sick leave if available. There is a possibility of more hours, this can be discussed at the interview. Will consider job share – split into 2 roles. Driving essential due to location. Please call for further information: 01644 420 674. ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE Advanced Massage Practitioner (price per issue incl VAT) SMALL: 6cm x 6cm, £50 1/4 PAGE: 9cm w x 13cm h, £108 1/2 PAGE: 18cm w x 13cm h, £200 FULL PAGE: 18cm w x 27cm h, £332 Please get in touch further details including small business/ charity rates and series discounts. Email glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07727 127 997 VAT Reg. No. 334 0905 24 THE STEWARTRY VETERINARY CENTRE CASTLE DOUGLAS SURGERY HOURS GLENKENS MEDICAL PRACTICE DALBEATTIE SURGERY HOURS General Medical & Dispensing Services FOR APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH SURGERIES OR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY The Surgery High Street New Galloway Mon-Fri 2.00-2.30 pm & 5-6 pm Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm Sat 2-2.30 pm Mon, Wed, Fri 3-3.30 pm Tues & Thurs 6-6.30 pm  01556 502263 VETERINARY SURGERY OAKWELL ROAD CASTLE DOUGLAS  FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 01644 420234 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 33 GALLOWAY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org email: gct@catstrand.com phone: Jon 07841 512449 or Sue 07704 662925 APRIL - MAY 2024 REGULAR SERVICES EXCURSIONS GK2 Glenkens Castle Douglas (Tesco) Wednesday Evenings (Registered Route) Outward 19:00 19:05 19:15 19:25 19:30 19:37 19:40 Dalry (Underhill) New Galloway Mossdale Laurieston Townhead of Greenlaw Castle Douglas (Market St) Castle Douglas (Tesco) Return 21:15 21:10 21:00 20:50 20:47 20:37 20:35 Booking not required Glenkens to Newton Stewart Fortnightly Tuesday mornings Outward Pickups: Dalry (Underhill) 09:30 New Galloway (Town Hall) 09:35 CatStrand) 09:37 To Aldi (Return) Pickup Newton Stewart (Aldi Car Park) 11:30 Return fare £3.50 Advance booking required. DRIVERS NEEDED Galloway Community Transport needs your help to provide a wide range of community transport services across the Stewartry and beyond. MINIBUS DRIVING Minibus drivers with D1 (101 or by test) are needed to do volunteer and paid driving for our wide range of member community groups. PATIENT TRANSPORT We also urgently need drivers with their own cars for our patient transport service. Our volunteer patient transport drivers receive a generous mileage reimbursement and the satisfaction of providing a vital service to vulnerable people in our communities. Interested? Email gct@catstrand.com or phone 07841 512449 MEMBERSHIP HIRE GCT has a 15 and 8-seater minibus and a fully wheelchair accessible electric car available for hire by community organisations. For information about membership and terms and conditions of hire see the GCT website or phone 07841 512449 www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation WHAT'S ON page 34 April/May APRIL Sun 7, Jax’s Sunday Lunch, 12noon, New Galloway Town Hall, £15pp, booking essential, 07501 400 333 Tue 9, Menopause Really Matters, 7-8pm, Smiddy, Balmaclellan Tue 9, Kathryn Joseph, 7.30pm, CatStrand Wed 10, Dalry Film Club: A Quiet Passion, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 11, Ken Words: Writers’ Café, 7pm, CatStrand Thu 11, Stewartry Birdwatchers: Hen Harriers, 7.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Sat 13, Glenkens Producers’ Market, 10am1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 13, SoundWaves Music Battle, 7pm, CatStrand Thu 18, Carsphairn SWI: Zumba, 7.30pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Fri 19, Flames by Trickhat- Community Recruitment, 11am, CatStrand Sat 20, Spalding Bowling Club Green Opening, 2pm, Dalry Wed 24, Dalry Film Club: Oppenheimer, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 25, Glenkens Food Month Planning Meeting, 6pm, CatStrand, see p13 Sun 28, Together in the Glenkens Pub Quiz, 7pm, Kenbridge Hotel Sun 28, Bluebell Walk, 10:30am, meet at New Galloway Golf Club, info@ling.org.uk MAY Sun 3, Jax’s Sunday Lunch, 12noon, New Galloway Town Hall, £15pp, booking essential, 07501 400 333 see p33 Sat 4, The Fall of Man, 7.30pm, Dalry Church, see p28 Sat 25, Plant Sale & Traditional Village Fete, teas and BBQ, see Balmaclellan Village Hall Fb for info Sat 4, Plant & Bake Sale, 10am-12noon, St Margaret’s Church, New Galloway Thu 9, Ken Words: Writers’ Café, 7pm, CatStrand Sat 11, Glenkens Producers’ Market, 10am1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 11, Ration Recipes & Digging for Victory, Balmaclellan Village Hall, see Fb for info Wed 15, Dalry Film Club: A Haunting in Venice, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 16, Roo & Neil, 7.30pm, CatStrand Thu 16, Carsphairn SWI: Goats & Cheesemaking, 7.30pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Sat 18, RNLI Coffee Morning, 10.30am12noon, Dalry Town Hall, see p2 Thu 23, Antiques Roadshow courtesy of Thomson Roddick, 2.30– 4.30pm Sun 26, Glenkens Story: The last global warming in the Glenkens, 3pm, CatStrand, see p24 Sun 26, Together in the Glenkens Pub Quiz, 7pm, Lochinvar Hotel, Dalry Sun 27, GCT Spring Fling bus tour: Stranraer, see p33 Mon 28, GCT Spring Fling bus tour: Kirkcudbright, see p33 JUNE Sat 1, DG Arts Festival: FLAME OUT, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sun 2, Ivan Drever 7.30pm, CatStrand Thu 23-Sun 26, Knockengorroch Festival, see back page Fri 24, DG Arts Festival: I Hope your Flowers Bloom, 7.30pm, CatStrand SATURDAY 13 APRIL & 11 MAY Sat 25, Patrick Monahan: Exclusively Yours!, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 25, GCT Spring Fling bus tour: Glenkens, Glenkens & District Community Councils Balmaclellan Community Council: Bi-monthly, 7.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall - contact Martin on 07939 261 391 Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham Communty Council: contact mcnabblaurie@hotmail.com or 01644 440 200 Carsphairn Community Council: Last Monday each month, 7pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn - contact carsphairncc@gmail. com or 07531 035 824 Balmaghie Community Council: contact secbalmaghiecc@ btinternet.com or 01644 450 621 Dalry Community Council: First Monday each month, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall - contact sjtdalrycc@gmail.com or 07940 313 445 New Galloway & Kells Community Council: Second Monday each month, 7.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall Parton Community Council: contact ericaporteous@hotmail. co.uk or 01644 470 277 Crossmichael Community Council: Second Monday every month - contact richardandjane@phonecoop.coop or 01556 670 691 Full minutes of local Community Council meetings can be viewed at Dalry Library or online at www.glenkens.scot For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 35 REGULAR EVENTS & OPENING TIMES Balmaclellan Village Hall Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, 2.30-4pm, warburton. julie@googlemail.com Community Exercise Class, 6pm Exercise Class, 7pm Glenkens Crafters, Wed, 10am12noon, julia.higgins55@outlook.com Community Library, Wed, 10.30am– 12.30pm; Sat, 10am-12noon Tai Chi, Wed, 2pm Make Do & Mend, fortnightly from 14 Feb, 7-9pm Stewartry Birdwatchers, 2nd Thu each month, 10.30am Men's Shed, Balmaclellan General Opening Times: Mon, 9.30am-12noon Wed, 9.30am-12noon Fri, 9.30am - 12noon Art Group, Thu, 2-4pm Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Monday Morning Social, 11am-2pm, 07710 124 255 or carsphairn.trust@ gmail.com Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu of the month, 7.30pm Craft Group, Fri, 10am12noon, includes tea & coffee, carsphairncraftgroup@gmail.com Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, 0-7 yrs, Sat, 10-11.45am CatStrand, New Galloway Spring opening hours: Tue-Sun, 11am-4pm Art Ambassadors (age 11+), Mon, biweekly, 4.30pm Behind the Scenes, bi-weekly, Mon, 5.30pm Energising Yoga Flow, Tue, 9.30am, booking essential, 07733 111 466 Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Tue, 10am-4pm Weekly Bus Service to Tesco, Wed, 7pm Dramarama, (age 6-10), Wed, 4pm Up Skills: Musical Theatre, (age 15+), Wed, 5pm Young Writers Cafe, (age 12+), Wed, 6pm, monthly Piano Lessons, weekly, term time 4–6.30pm Morning Flow Yoga, Thu, 9.30am, booking essential, 07733 111 466 CatStrand Singers, Thu, 11am Dance Steps (age 10-18yrs), Sat, monthly, 12.30-3.30pm Art Explorers, (age under 10yrs), Sat bi-weekly 10am Art Club, (age 11-16yrs), Sat, bi-weekly 11.15am Youth Players Panto rehearsals, (10 yrs plus), weekly, Sun, 3pm The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Glenkens Ukelele Group, Wed, 6.30pm Taste of Music, monthly, 10am (under 10yrs) Mini Music Makers, family session, monthly 11.45am (under 7yrs) Weekly Ukuele, guitar & keyboard lessons, 12.30–4pm (6-16 yrs) Musical Misfits, group singing class, bi-weekly, 10.30am New Galloway Town Hall Men’s Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.30-11am Margaret Morris Movement, (adults), Mon 2.20pm Tai Chi, Mon, 7pm, petchy2@btinternet. com LING Lunches, Tue, 12.30–2pm Sports Evening, Tue, 7–9pm, carpet bowls or table tennis Zumba, Wed, 6.30pm Ukulele Group, Wed, 6.30pm Hubbub, Thu, 11am–5.30pm, drop-in, all ages welcome Martial Arts, Thu, 7.30pm Babies & Toddlers, Fri, 10am For further info email info@ling.org.uk, phone 07749 249781 Glenkens Community Centre Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Mon, 10am-4pm Glenkens Youth Group, Mon, 7-8.30pm Dalry Good Neighbours Club, Tue, 2pm, 07795 613 148 Clachan Crafters, Thu, 2pm, 07500 861 041 Kickback Martial Arts, Thu, 5.30-7pm, kmabrian@gmail.com or drop-in Song Share, 1st Friday each month, 8-11pm, anne.chaurand@btinternet.com Yoga For All, Fri 9.30am, drop-in, 07733 111 466 Friendship Group, Sat (excluding Glenkens Producers Market days), 1011.30am, 01644 430 052 Table Tennis/Badminton, available to hire by arrangement, 07500 861 041 Dalry Library Main St, Dalry, Tel: 01644 430 234 Library Opening Times: Tue 2-5pm, Fri 11.30am-12.30pm for NEC Bus Pass & Blue Badge appointments and PCs and 1-4.30pm for books, etc: appts can be booked in the library or on 01387 260 196. Bookbugs Session, Tue, 10.30am Glenkens Book Group, last Fri each month, 2pm, 01644 420 361 Lego Stay N' Play With Your Child, every 3rd Sat of the month, 1-3pm, contact Michele Owen on Fb Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, Mon, 2pm Dog Training, Tue, 7pm, 07831 590 822 Song Share, 1st Fri each month, 7.3010.30pm Various Strictly Get Dancing, Loch Ken Activity Centre, Parton, Mon, 7pm Spalding Bowling Club Sweep Nights, (start Mon 22 Apr), Mon & Wed, 7pm, shazfish1@gmail.com Cosy Corner, Tue, 1-5pm, Crossmichael Church Hall, 07889 016 963 Crossmichael Heritage Centre, Wed & Fri, 1.30-4.30pm Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Patchwork Workshop, Crossmichael Church Hall, Thu, 1-3pm Yoga, Mossdale Mossdale Village Hall, Fri, 2.15pm Mossdale Soup Saturday, last Sat each month, 1-3pm, Mossdale Village Hall Dragon Boats on Loch Ken, Sun 9.30am, Galloway Activity Centre, Parton Knockvennie Hall Heat Bank & Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona Ramsay on 07500 554 751 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, contact Gary on 01644 430 521 Glenkens Charity Shop Winter Opening Times: Mon 10am-1pm Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-4pm For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette O ur very own Glenkens music festival is in its 26th year, with musicians, DJs and performers from all over the globe once again flocking to the Carsphairn hills. Knockengorrroch Festival is Scotland’s longest-running greenfield festival, founded by the Holmes famliy, who still run the festival from their rural farm, in 1998. This year's event will run from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 May in the wild upland landscape around Knockengorroch Farm. Some of the artists performing are Reggae diva par excellence Queen Omega from Trinidad, Scottish fusion favourites the Peatbog Faeries, Roma Band Zor, Norway’s Kajsa Balto, our resident sound system Mungo’s Hi-Fi, N’famady Kouyaté from Guinea (winner of Glastonbury’s Best Newcomer 2023), 808 State, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, and festival favourites Dr Meaker. Honouring the landscape and environment, Knockengorroch employs policies to contribute positively to the environment, page 36 from recycled paper for promotional materials to having the site as a singleuse plastic-free zone. Additionally, many of the festival’s permanent buildings were built using traditional, environmentally friendly techniques, and the new Discee polytunnel venue, erected last year, is being planted and is nearing readiness as a food growing venue in time for May. In addition to music there are workshops in a range of traditional arts and crafts and lifestyle subjects suitable for all ages. Other attractions include a fire show, global shopping stalls and a range of food caterers offering a delicious range of international cuisine. The festival is family friendly with a buoyant children's tent and parade on Sunday afternoon. Tickets are now on sale - please visit www.knockengorroch.org.uk Specially reduced tickets at local prices will be available soon from Carsphairn Shop (01644 460 568 or @Carsphairn Tearooms on Facebook). WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit events, activities, news stories, cartoons, reviews, tips & techniques, fiction, photos, ads or ideas... Contact Sarah Ade on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Editing & Design: sarah.ade@gmail.com JUNE/JULY COPY DEADLINE: 5 MAY The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, a Registered Scottish Charity No SC032050 The role of the Gazette is to represent the voice of the community and does not represent the views of GCAT.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 141 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GG_141 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GCAT Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 Description An account of the resource Editor: Sarah Ade https://glenkensarchive.scot/glenkens_archive/files/original/1/287/GlenkensGazette140.pdf e8bec81ec8faec238afeed6be46f62d0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 140 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Description An account of the resource <p>Find out more about the Gazette: <a href="https://glenkens.scot/gazette-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenkens Gazette home page</a> If you would like to submit an article or take out an advert, please email the editor Sarah Ade: <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:glenkensgazette@hotmail.com">glenkensgazette@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is a member of, and regulated by <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.impressorg.com/">Impress</a>.</p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of Glenkens Community &amp; Arts Trust (SC032050) and represents the voice of the community (not necessarily the views of GCAT).</p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document February/March 2024 ISSUE 140 'Mothballing' proposal for Dalry Secondary FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Council officials defy local opinion The Galloway Food E ducation officials are to ignore the results of a recent public consultation and are recommending that Dalry Secondary School should be mothballed after the summer holidays. The news was delivered to a public meeting at the end of January to discuss the future of the school. Around 70 audience members were in attendance including parents, members of the community, community councils, ward councillors, local employers and Finlay Carson MSP. The community was unanimously against the proposal, which flies in the face of a recent public survey which had backed keeping the school open. The process Dalry pupils and parents outside the of ‘mothballing’ was secondary school likened by an audience member to “closure by stealth”. Continued on p3.... Hub Fair Food for All scheme is supporting distribution of this edition to outlying properties across the Glenkens - look out for info inside! ...turn to page 2 for more on what this scheme is all about Soldier Beth Awarded MBE T wenty-eight year old soldier Beth Duggleby was presented with an MBE by the King for operational services in the field during an investiture at Windsor Castle. Success of childminding recruitment pilot ...turn to page 3 Carsphairn-born Beth grew up with her mum, Clare, brother James and step-dad Alan. She attended Carsphairn Primary followed by Dalry Secondary School (where former classmates will know her by her previous name, Beth Bosworth). Pictured is Beth receiving her MBE from the King at Windsor Castle on 12 December 2023 Having wanted to be an accountant throughout her teenage years, she chose Kirkcudbright for her Highers. On completing her schooling, she went on to Heelinriot Watt University in Edinburgh to study for an accountancy degree. Continued on p7.... New management at the Ken Bridge Hotel ...turn to page 13 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette Fair food for all with A re you having trouble with paying household bills? Do you know someone who is struggling? page 2 Galloway Food Hub is piloting a scheme to help people who are experiencing food inequalities in the Glenkens. We want to make sure that everyone has access to good food. If you or someone you know would like to have access to high quality local food but may struggle with the cost, you can get in touch by emailing lesley@propagate.org. uk putting 'Fair Food for All' in the subject line or call 07587 122 151. Your enquiry will be confidential, and we will not share your personal details with anyone else. This scheme is being funded by the DG Climate Hub to give more people better access to climate and nature friendly, local food. Pictured: Lesley from Galloway Food Hub delivers local good food order to regular customer Amy and her family What's new on the Glenkens Hub? T he Glenkens Hub has been growing and evolving, expanding in response to feedback and demand from local voices. • helpful information, nearest Post Office, community website and Facebook pages • events and activities in the community • businesses and things to see and do in the area • news In this article are examples of new information and resources now available on the Hub. If you see something missing from your community's page, do let us know - the url for this page is www.glenkens.scot/ glenkens-communities or scan the QR code on this page. GLENKENS COMMUNITIES HEALTH, WELFARE & ADVICE We have brand new Glenkens Communities pages, bringing together information about our various localities. Each community's page features: • quick links to Community Councils, Community Groups and Community Spaces • emergency information such as defibrillator locations and community contacts Our Health, Welfare & Advice page has been updated and now has easy-to-find links to warm spaces, local support and financial advice, plus UK-wide resources, all in one place at www.glenkens.scot/ health-welfare-advice or scan the QR code on this page. REPORTS & RESOURCES ARCHIVE LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY Thanks to the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership (GGLP) scheme, our resources section not only has Community Action Plan (CAP) documents, such as the Energy Efficiency in Glenkens Homes and A Vision for Land Use in the Glenkens reports, but also all the wonderful, detailed videos, booklets and 3D models created by GGLP and the Can You Dig It team during their five-year operation. Our Local Directory at www. glenkens.scot/local-directorylisting (or scan the QR code) is nowhere near complete but already contains nearly 100 local businesses, places to visit and things to do. Local businesses are vital to our communities; if you'd like to be in the Directory, please email us at glenkenshub@ hotmail.com or message us on Facebook @Glenkens Hub and we'll do the rest. You can find the Reports & Resources Archive at www. glenkens.scot/reportsresources-archive or scan the QR code on this page. and jump to overviews of CAP and GGLP, or browse individual reports. Pick a dreich day and make sure you have a cuppa; there's a lot to explore! Survey in next Gazette The Glenkens Hub will be one year old in April! The Gazette is asking for your views on its first year; is it doing what it was designed to do? Do you use it? Is it useful? Please think about any improvements you'd like to see and keep an eye out for the survey in the next Gazette. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 3 A community voice for education Continued from front page... Under questioning, the education officials could give no examples of schools having reopened after mothballing, or of any criteria or process to enable them to reopen. The survey followed a meeting on 5th December between John Thin (Head of Education - Education and Learning Directorate, Dumfries and Galloway Council), Dalry School’s Parent Council and members of the community, to discuss the future of Dalry Secondary School. The survey asked respondents their view on five options. Respondents were overwhelmingly in support of option 5, a return to the historic provision of nursery through to S4. It was the preferred choice for 47% of all respondents and 52% of respondents with pre-school/school age children. A total of 72% of comments received for this option were positive, far greater than the second most positively commented option, number 3 (Nursery to S2) with 41%. Option 1 (continue as is with no change, S1-4) and option 4 (secondary closure and re-alignment) were both equally unpopular (the preferred options for only 17% of all respondents) and the majority of comments received about both options were negative. The survey results can be found at www. glenkens.scot/glenkens-news/dalrysecondary-school-survey-results-published However, despite the survey results, education officials told the community that they will be putting forward the mothballing proposal at the next Education and Learning Committee meeting on Thursday 14 March at 10.30am. A parent council representative said: "We cannot change the geography of our area; the nature of the place we have chosen to live, and to raise our children, is rural. Due to journey times, to remove higher education from the Glenkens is to sign the deth knell for families staying in, or moving to, the Glenkens. Our children have the right to an education, just like everywhere else in Scotland, and the local authority should be working to provide this, not to take it away." It is feared that ‘mothballing’ will have hugely detrimental impacts across the communities of the Glenkens into the future. The Parent Council is calling on all members of our Glenkens communities, as well as those living further afield with an interest in the health and wellbeing of the area, to lobby councillors who sit on the Education and Learning Committee. You can find a list of committee members, along with contact details, at www. dumgal.gov.uk/dgclive Successful recruitment pilot creates new Glenkens childcare A newly-registered childminder is up and running and set to welcome the first children into her business in the Glenkens thanks to an innovative campaign to recruit new childminders in rural areas. work with children. I’d always thought about childminding, and spurred on by the advert and the support I could see was available, I decided to apply. "I’ve been so appreciative of the one-toone support I received from the Scottish Childminding Association in helping to guide me through from the start of the journey to now being able to say I’m a newly-registered childminder in the Glenkens.” Simone McDonald, who lives with her husband on a working farm in Dalry, applied to become a childminder after seeing an advert online, encouraged by the package of help available which offers one-to-one support, funding and training to help get started. Simone was working shifts as an intensive care nurse on the children’s ward in Glasgow and had been thinking for a long time about switching career to childminding to enable her to spend time with her own children. After losing her mum to a terminal illness, she decided that she wanted to re-evaluate and finally make the jump to a new career, still working with children but which would provide her with much more flexibility. “My own children are young (eight, five and three years old) and I was really fed up travelling long distances back and forward to work and feeling guilty about missing so much of their lives. They’re only this wee once! I wanted a new career with more flexibility, but which still enabled me to Offering flexible childcare five days per week, Simone wants Little Farm Childminding to provide a nurturing, home-from-home childcare environment. With a large garden, vegetable beds, an orchard, farm animals and lots of wildlife on the doorstep, her setting will also naturally very much focus on rural life experiences, with many unique outdoor learning and play opportunities for her new ‘mindees’. Led by the Scottish Childminding Association, this innovative pilot scheme was funded for the Glenkens area by Scottish Government and Glenkens & District Community Fund. Simone recently put a post on social media to say that she is now a registered as a childminder with the Care Inspectorate and open for business and was inundated with over 40 enquiries from parents, some from over 30 miles away. The demand for Simone’s service further underlines the crucial need for childminders in rural areas such as the Glenkens. Graeme McAlister, chief executive of the Scottish Childminding Association, said: “The opening of Simone’s new childminding setting in the Glenkens is a real success story and a great example of the ways in which this unique pilot is helping to provide high-quality, flexible childcare for families that need it to enable them to live and work in rural areas." For anyone interested in a career in professional childminding in the Glenkens visit www.childminding.org/childminderrecruitment for further information. Pictured are Simone’s own three children enjoying the outdoors GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 4 St Margaret's raises funds for Castle Douglas Hospital T he St Margaret’s Church Guild presented a cheque for £400 to Castle Douglas Hospital League of Friends. The bulk of the money was raised at the St Margaret’s tombola at the Alternative Games in August, and then supplemented by Guild funds. Christine Rankin said that “my mother received exemplary care when staying in Castle Douglas hospital and it is nice to be able to contribute to their funds. All of our members know someone who has benefitted from the work of the hospital's League of Friends”. Isabel Anderson, chair of the Castle Douglas Hospital League of Friends, was delighted to receive the donation. She explained that the Covid pandemic had adversely affected their work, much of which involves visiting patients in hospital which was not allowed for a long time. “This generous donation came just as we are planning a New Year campaign to attract new volunteers now that we are allowed to visit again”. The money will go towards extra equipment for the hospital as well as Christmas presents for the patients. Members of the Castle Douglas Hospital League of Friends being presented with the £400 cheque by Christine Rankin, President of St Margaret’s Guild World Day of The Stewartry Birdwatchers Prayer T T his year the World Day of Prayer service will be hosted by St Margaret's New Galloway, on Friday 1 March at 2pm. Those taking part will be drawn from all the churches in the Glenkens and the service is open to everyone. Each year the World Day of Prayer service is put together by a particular country - this year it is Palestine, that tiny area in the Middle East that has been host to the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam for thousands of years. The theme is 'I beg you... bear with one another in love', a particularly poignant New Testament quotation for these troubled times. The Palestinian Christian women who have developed the service are searching for a deeper understanding among all the people who share their land, trusting for and hoping in the humanity of one another. Following the service, the St Margaret's Guild will be serving refreshments. he Stewartry Birdwatchers always welcome non-members at our meetings. About halfway through any talk we have an interval when all can enjoy refreshments, have a chat and put any questions to the speakers. Our next talk will be at 10.30am on Thursday 14 March in Balmaclellan Village Hall. The speaker will be David Pickett, site manager of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Caerlaverock Reserve. The reserve is a wonderful place to visit to see thousands of barnacle and other geese as well as hundreds of whooper and mute swans, and many species of ducks and waders. These can all be viewed from a comfortable heated modern hide! The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust are developing the management of the reserve to increase the wetlands and the biodiversity in the face of a changing climate. Our excellent talk in December was by Chris Rollie titled Donald Watson’s birds in a changing landscape, which was illustrated by many of Donald’s beautiful paintings. It was all rather depressing to see how much of Galloway’s wonderful countryside has disappeared under blanket forestry and to know that nowadays so much more is going under blanket windfarms and blanket silage fields. Donald moved to Dalry some 50 years ago and enjoyed Galloway at its best. I was lucky to know him and many years ago walked the 15-mile length of our hills, the Rhinns of Kells, with him and two other friends. Almost at the end of the day Donald identified a roughlegged buzzard for us – a real surprise. I only appreciated the smoke from his pipe when we spent many hours amongst Galloway’s hordes of midges trying to locate the nest of his favourite bird, the hen harrier! The last talk of the session, at 7.30pm in Balmaclellan on Thursday 11 April, is about hen harriers, which were once widespread in the UK but have now fallen victim to habitat loss, land use change and continuing persecution. The results of a recent national survey of these birds will let us know how they are faring in Scotland. Artist, ornithologist and author Donald Watson made a special study of this species and his important book The Hen Harrier, illustrated by the author, was published in 1977 by Poyser. Many changes will have taken place since then. Joan Howie Carrion crow and male hen harrier photographed by Maisie Welsh, a member of the Stewartry Birdwatchers GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 5 Music for all at the Carsphairn seniors' dinner C arsphairn Community Council organised a festive meal for the senior members of the community in the Lagwyne Hall in December. Although Carsphairn is a small community numbering fewer than 200, residents are spread out over a large area and the dinner presents opportunities at a seasonal event to meet friends and acquaintances not regularly seen, and to welcome mature newcomers to the community. A fter 15 years leading the Watson Birds project, having reached the age of 80 I would like to hand over to new folk, giving the local project new life and impetus. What is done in the future is up to new volunteers. I hope you will join and add your ideas and lead on activities. Let me know A delicious three-course meal was served, followed by a raffle raising £100 in support of Carsphairn children's Christmas party. After the meal there was a concert, which was open to the whole community, with Nick Jenkins on fiddle and mandolin and Sam Gillespie on guitar, flute and vocals. This excellent performance finished off a thoroughly enjoyable evening, which has received much positive feedback from those who attended. Needs You! by giving me a call on 07803 595 267 or by emailing roger.dodin@ btinternet.com There are lots of opportunities to promote nature and the arts in the Glenkens through Watson Birds. • Running activities with young people at school and in the community • Leading guided walks and trips around our two trails • Holding talks about our local environment • Putting on musical or other events in the villages • Reviving the Watson Raptor Science Prize under new leadership by an outstanding scientist • Installing bird boxes in all of the villages • Refreshing the permanent exhibition of Donald Watson paintings at the CatStrand • Selling cards, posters and books at the CatStrand and elsewhere • Making sure that we have brochures advertising the project in the local shops • And the many ideas you will undoubtedly have The book of essays about Donald and his work, written by Chris Rollie, John Threlfall, Lousie and Vanessa Watson, Des Thompson, Colin Galbraith and myself, is currently with a publisher. I hope that will be released later this year with events in the Glenkens and at the Scottish Ornithological Society’s Watson Gallery in East Lothian. I suggest that Watson Birds remains a component project of the Glenkens Community and Arts Trust as this has provided a good home and excellent support since the outset. I hope to hear from many folk to add to the lively activities we have in the Glenkens. Roger Crofts SWI loyalty award for Margaret Brown S cottish Women's Institute (SWI) member Margaret Brown of Carsphairn has been presented with the organisation's Loyalty Award by Mary Burney, the SWI's national president. Margaret is a long-standing and much valued member of Carsphairn SWI. Mary, Dorothy Faulds and Christine Whipp shared a lovely afternoon with Margaret. See the What's On section on p30 for topics of upcoming Carsphairn SWI meetings. Margaret Brown being presented with her SWI Loyalty Award by SWI national president Mary Burney (left) and Dorothy Faulds of Carsphairn SWI president (right) GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 6 Glenkens Youth Correspondent Joshua Wells, age 14, is our Gazette youth correspondent and will be writing each issue about things which interest him. In this edition he looks at Balmaclellan and the history of witch hunting in Scotland. Balmaclellan W hat does Outlander's Sam Heughan, a witch and Old Mortality have in common? They have all got links to Balmaclellan; not bad for somewhere with a population of around 130 people! When I heard about the witch I had to find out more... In 1428, the first ‘witch’ was tried, in Valias, Switzerland. This led to countless other ‘witches’ being tried across Europe. Witches were tried for many reasons, for example: having a black cat, taking part in strange rituals, talking to themselves, living alone, being deformed or disabled, or having a ‘witch spot’ - moles and warts were called a ‘witch spot’, and were supposedly left by the devil. I feel as if this is quite shocking as many of these things are seen as normal today. There was a big outbreak of witch hunts in 1661-1662, in Scotland (this was called the Great Scottish Witch Hunt and it lasted for 16 months). At this time it was believed that 660 people were tried for witchcraft, but it is unknown just how many were executed. However, after that there was a sharp decline of witch trials. The belief of witches still continued, and the elite began investigating witchcraft more than before, so why was there a decline in the hunt? Trials were more tightly overseen by the government, torture was more sparingly used and the standard of proof was increased. On 24 August 1698, the last 'witch' in the southwest of Scotland died. Elspeth McEwan was accused of tormenting her neighbours by bewitching their poultry and causinghens, ducks or geese to stop laying their MATTHEW PAJO Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - pain management - women's health - men's health - fatigue - sleep - stress - anxiety - needle-free laser acupuncture- The Old School, Crossmichael info@matthewpajo.co.uk 07786 079 845 eggs, fall ill or die. She also apparently kept a wooden pin hidden in her rafters which she used to steal milk by touching it to the cow’s udder. She was jailed in the Kirkcudbright Tolbooth for two years, in a dark dungeon, in very bad conditions. I can only imagine that it was damp, smelly and pestridden and quite frightening. When at the Tolbooth she confessed, probably being forced into this outcome. Her punishment for witchcraft was being strangled and then burnt at the stake. She was buried in the graveyard of the Balmaclellan parish - you can find the gravestone by the lefthand side of the church near the back as you enter. The gravestone is a rough uncut stone. In folklore and superstition it is thought that if the witch was not marked with an uncut stone the witch would be able to rise from the dead and cause harm to the living. It was also thought if a witch's head was cut off they would be able to die, and that if their graves were not marked with uncut stones, their spirits would be able to return. I believe it was a massive tragedy that swept through the whole of Europe, against mostly women. It is also disgusting that many people did this, just for financial gain. I think many people will be glad they didn't have to live through that time. Photograph of Elspeth McEwan's gravestone in Balmaclellan kirkyard, taken by Joshua Wells Amber Dunlop-Pajo Health Psychologist - women's health - stress - depression - anxietyThe Old School, Crossmichael info@gallowaycounselling.co.uk 07389 713 106 GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 7 Beth goes from strength to strength Continued from front page... After this fairly focussed academic path, Beth surprised everyone by deciding that after all, an office job wasn’t to be, and she wanted to join the army! Clare, Beth’s mum, said: “It was a complete surprise when Beth said she wanted to join the army as she had never shown any inclination before – I guess she’s a bit of a Private Benjamin! I was so proud to discover Beth had been awarded an MBE.” lifting and last year won a world title in France. Beth entered through the British Drug Free Powerlifting Association, the only internationally recognised UK powerlifting organisation, winning the Under 70kg World Deadlift Championship and also qualifying for this year’s British Bench Championships in powerlifting. Mum Clare goes on to say: "I’m beyond proud of her. If you’d have asked me what career I thought she would have Beth says: “I’m really into personal fitness and this was my inspiration for joining the reserves while studying in Edinburgh. I enjoyed the experience so much, I knew at that point I wanted to join full time. What I enjoy most about the army is having the chance to influence defence as well as gain qualifications and skills that otherwise I wouldn’t have the opportunity to. "I’m incredibly honoured to have received an MBE; it was a complete surprise, with my being only three years out of training.” More recently Beth has turned her focus from CrossFit training to weight Firewood logs & Wood Products for Sale From Carsphairn Community Woodland A range of products are available from our community sawmill Contact us with your requirements ï Free local delivery ï Enquiries to: Tel: 07710 124 255 Carsphairn Community Woodland Limited is commi�ed to acquiring, developing and managing local woodlands in a sustainable and environmentally sound way for the long-term benefit of the local community. Website: www.carsphairn.org/CCWL Company Limited by Guarantee SC591976 ahead of her when she was growing up, I'd have opted for something business oriented or creative." What seems certain is that Carsphairn's Beth Duggleby is set to stamp her mark on the world - go Beth! Pictured below is Beth at an inter-services lifting competition Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 8 sponsored by T he new D&G Climate Hub has been off to a busy start since its November 2023 launch. This is a Scottish Government funded initiative hosted by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. Climate officer Sarah Thomas is covering Wigtownshire and Stewartry supporting community climate action, while Annandale & Eskdale and Nithsdale is covered by climate officer Steven Clark. The Climate Hub’s first initiative - seed funding for community climate action - has been a huge success. As 2023 came to a close the Climate Hub was overwhelmed by the number Supporting local climate action and diversity of applications. It is now supporting 26 projects across the county, two of which are based in the Glenkens. The Galloway Food Hub (GFH) was supported through the seed fund to pilot a new Pay It Forward scheme which seeks to address food inequity in the Glenkens. They wish everyone to have access to high quality local food but understand the cost can be prohibitive. They are seeking people who would like to shop with GFH but would need support to do so – see the dedicated article on page 2 of this issue. The hope is that this will inspire GFH shoppers to donate to the Pay It Forward scheme in the longer term. Local Initiatives in New Galloway was supported through the seed fund to host a Sharing of Skills Day where participants will learn skills to boost self-sufficiency. Participants will rotate between four work stations throughout the day learning soapmaking, knitting/sewing/ crocheting and mending, herbal remedy making, and fermentation. This will be held on Saturday 24 February from 9.30am to 4pm at New Galloway Town Hall - please see article on page 15 for further information and how to book tickets. The Climate Hub is also in the process of mapping community climate action across the region and there’s so much going on. We look forward to what 2024 has in store! Locally- grown lettuce from Hidden Veg, Balmaclellan You can follow D&G Climate Hub on Facebook and Instagram for updates on events and workshops. Land use vision moves forward G roups across the Glenkens have been hard at work to turn the Glenkens Land Use Vision into reality. land-use-in-the-glenkens). Thanks to funding from NatureScot and SOSE, Dalry Community Council (DCC) and the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) have been able to commission some valuable work around next steps in achieving this. Firstly, Becca Nelson, who some of you may know as the Glenkens Community Spaces network facilitator, is working with the Dalry communities to make sure that their Local Place Plan integrates land use into the vision that people have for their parish. It will also draw heavily on the Community Action Plan. Having created an LPP template, she will then work with Carsphairn to create their Place Plan, and having then refined the process, a template LPP will be made The Glenkens Land Use Vision is an addendum to the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan, and can be found on the Glenkens Hub (www.glenkens.scot/reportsresources-archive/a-vision-for- Working in partnership, DCC and GCAT have created a three-pronged project that seeks to move the aims of the Land Use Vision forward while integrating with existing plans and processes. available to all Glenkens and district communities to use to create their own LPPs, if they so wish. In parallel with this, Stephen Connelly of Dalry is working on a feasibility study to see what it would take to create a Glenkens Land Use Forum and what it might look like. He's been interviewing people on the topic through December and January, but if you have a view on this and would like to talk to Stephen about it in February, contact helen@ catstrand.com and she will put you in touch. Lastly, artist Kerry Morrison is working on how we can better understand what our landscapes mean to us all. Through February and March, Kerry will be out and about in the area recording our landscape through writing and drawing. She will be pulling up with her art cart in a variety of locations, so If you see her, please do pop over for a chat! Kerry is keen to discover the different ways in which we connect to our villages and the wider local landscape, and would love to hear from as many different people as possible. The joint GCAT and DCC steering group will then pull these three projects together into something we hope will be really useful for our communities, and also perhaps the next steps in achieving the Land Use Vision. The project completes at the end of March, so watch this space! Helen Keron Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 9 sponsored by If you would like to list something on this page, please get in touch on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk FREE Willow wands for fedging, arbors, decorative garden features. Contact: 01644 420 267 Pale brown carpet, laid but then replaced without being used. Approx 4m x 3.5m (13x11 feet). Collection from Dalry. Contact: 07769 959 511 Horse manure, rotted and fresh, no weed killers used. Dig your own - bring sacks or trailer. Contact: 07889 229 340 N ew Galloway Golf Club Founded Foun ded 1902 www.ng www.n g gc.co.uk - 01644 420737 Buggies now available for hire VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS WELCOME WANTED Small shed/dog house/chicken coop to house a family of three chickens. Contact: Leto 07763 235 888 Outdoor table and chairs. Contact: 07507 704 821 Old lawn mowers/strimmers/other small machinery. Nonrunners/broken welcome. Contact: 07845 562 217 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 10 My Loch Ken... "It’s 6:30am and, armed with my tow float, I take a deep breath and plunge into the ice cold loch. Frost twinkles as the water laps all around as I swim. I feel clarity and calm. It’s stunning, so peaceful, yet 100% invigorating." For the last two years, Loch Ken trustee Suzy Rook has been cold water swimming daily and is an advocate for the tremendous mental health benefits. Cold water therapy has been shown to release endorphins in the body, helping to boost mood and relieve pain. Having lived in Crossmichael since the age of nine, Loch Ken and its wonderful environment is very close to Suzy’s heart. It is also of special significance as her late friend has their ashes scattered here. After leaving in 2005 for University and to represent Scotland at rugby, the mum of three returned to Crossmichael in 2016 where she lives with her family. Suzy has played rugby for 16 years, achieving International honours and caps for Scotland, three 'Player of the League' trophies and having competed in over 400 games worldwide. Suzy is now a social worker, specialising in through-care for high risk offenders, and was named Scotland’s Social Worker of the Year in 2022. Also in 2022, Suzy and her friend Emma co-founded the female open water swimming group Swim Queens, empowering women to try cold water swimming. The group now has over 400 members and Suzy encourages anyone thinking about taking the plunge to reach out via Facebook @Swim Queens est 2022. “I Just love the coldness at this time of year!" says Suzy. "If you think you might fancy it, Swim Queens have a specific group to help newcomers. It’s private and a community full of fun and support.“ Suzy first got involved with the Loch Ken Trust when the Swim Queens helped with a safe open water swimming demonstration at the Trust’s family water safety event back in July. Water safety is at the forefront of the Swim Queens group, who ensure all members use tow floats and swim in groups. They also organise regular safe open water swimming workshops. “Water safety is very important to me, and I am very passionate about Loch Ken, so applying to become a trustee was an easy decision for me. "It has been great to work with the Loch Ken Trust and ranger service towards the goals of the Loch Ken Plan. Loch Ken will always be home to me and I am keen to help protect and cherish Loch Ken for my children and the generations to come.” Cold water therapy has been shown to release endorphins in the body, helping to boost mood and relieve pain. Pictured above is Suzy on patrol with Loch Ken Ranger, Leanne Pumpr, and to the left, Suzy enjoys the invigorating benefits of a cold water dip. Volunteer Ranger Scheme Later this year, Loch Ken Ranger Service will be launching its Volunteer Ranger Scheme. The team is busy organising the details, so look forward to more info in the next issue. If you may be interested in getting involved, please get in touch at LKToffice@protonmail.com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 11 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity licence licence page 12 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 13 Fancy becoming a community bus driver? L ooking for an adventure in 2024? Why not join the fantastic team of drivers at Galloway Community Transport! Galloway Community Transport (GCT) provides vital transport for individuals and groups across Galloway, including patient transport, local school bus services as well as minibus hire for groups and organisations. use their own vehicles to take patients to appointments and their mileage expenses are reimbursed. Doing this, GCT drivers provide not only transport for people who need it most, they are sometimes the only social contact that person may have during the week. One patient said recently: "The service is an absolute lifesaver, and the conversation and laughter we have on the way make it a lovely journey." Occasional excursions also provide opportunities for travel and socialising. Forthcoming trips include taking school children to their swimming lessons in Castle Douglas, a research trip to the Isle of Arran and transport to local social events. Driving is interesting and varied. GCT drivers are passionate about their role. One driver said: ‘’It’s a privilege to see the enjoyment of young people going to events and activities that in a big town or city would be taken for granted. It’s a real pleasure.’’ GCT patient transport drivers generously projects involve. New volunteers are always welcome and much needed. Are you tempted?! If anyone would like to be part of the team, GCT would be delighted to hear from them. Please get in touch with Jon and Sue at the CatStrand on gct@ catstrand.com or see www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org for more information. Galloway Community Transport is supported by the Glenkens & District Community Fund, D&G Council and Scottish Government schemes. Update on the new GCT Electric Minibus GCT simply would not be able to operate without the generous contribution made by the dedicated team of volunteer drivers. Driving for GCT can offer the opportunity to visit new places and meet new people, and also the chance to see what some of our local community We hope to have the new bus in service very soon. The bus supplier underwent some organisational changes shortly shortly after it was delivered to us, which resulted in their engineers being unable to come and perform an essential technical update on the vehicle. This situation has now been resolved, and we hope to have the bus out in use very soon! All change at the Ken Bridge Hotel T he Ken Bridge Hotel changed ownership in September from that of long-time proprietors who we wish well in their retirement. New owners are Alistair and Tatiana Elder who will be helped by their two sons, Leo and Owen. Tatiana says: “We are really excited and look forward to getting to know the locals, as well as visitors from further afield, and to hopefully create a really lively, active community hub for the villages of the Glenkens.” The bar is also fully open from 4-11pm every day mid-week and from 11am to 11pm at weekends, with a pool table and darts available in the games room. Alistair says: “Both restaurants at the hotel are available for functions, events, corporate and social gatherings, exhibitions, etc. We already have some groups coming for quizzes and meetings." The couple have lots of plans in the pipeline and are keen to involve the local community. Something they hope to offer soon are three hydro spa hot tubs in the camp site which will be available for hire. They are also keen to attract live music of any genre, and would love to set up a regular gig night, as well as jam nights. “We have had several suggestions of forming a pool team and also a darts team and it is something we are keen to do,” continues Alistair. “We really are open to suggestions from anyone - can pop in and see us! Our aim is to turn the Ken Bridge back into a hive of activity, providing a welcoming space to get together.” The couple would like to remind visitors that dogs are welcome on the outdoor terrace but not inside the hotel, and Tatiana goes on to say: “We are intending to make more of a mess outside as part of the necessary repairs, remedial works and improvements over the coming months but rest assured everything inside the hotel is fully open and functional – so come in and see us!” Further details can be found in the ad on page 29. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 14 Why menopause really matters P erhaps it feels like you’re hearing a lot about menopause these days with celebrities making TV programmes about it and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) shortages making the news. However, it wasn’t that long ago that menopause was hardly ever talked about. Like many things in our patriarchal society ‘women’s issues’ were taboo, under-researched medically and confined to women-only conversations. I’d like to encourage more people to talk about this topic. Half the population will experience this natural biological process. Around 13 million women (including nonbinary and trans-people) are currently menopausal! We all know and have connections with women in many ways. Menopause usually happens between the ages of 45-55 according to NHS data. Actual menopause is just one day, twelve months from the last menstrual period when the ovaries have stopped producing eggs. You’ll only know you’re menopausal retrospectively unless you start to notice symptoms of perimenopause. Menopause can also occur when the ovaries are damaged by specific treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or when the ovaries are removed via a hysterectomy. Perimenopause is the time when a woman's hormones are fluctuating, and noticeable symptoms may occur. This can start 10-15 years before menopause, ie from the age of 30! Around a third of women will experience no symptoms, another third will have some, but manageable symptoms, and a further third will experience debilitating symptoms. There are 34 recognised common symptoms of menopause, but many more are possible. Whilst many of us are aware of the potential hot flushes, mood swings and the stopping of bleeding often attributed to ‘older’ women, these are often not the first signs and much younger women can be affected. Low stress threshold, anxiety, panic attacks, low self-esteem, brain fog and even suicidal thoughts can often be the first signs of a change in hormones. This is often why many women are wrongly prescribed antidepressants when HRT would be more effective. A confusing time for both patient and GP! Please seek help if this is the case for you or your loved one. There are resources listed at the end of the article. Menopause Really Matters Peer Support Group The Smiddy, Balmaclellan, DG7 3QE 2nd Monday of each month 7pm - 8pm Join the conversation, learn from special guests HRT has wrongly 12th Feb, 11th Mar, 9th April, 13 May been stigmatised For anyone who may be perimenopausal or post by an old research menopause welcome. £2 contribution per session. paper from Funded by Balmaclellan Community Council Contact Lesley for details the Women’s lesley@thenourishingspace.co.uk Health Initiative research in 2002. can all help greatly. New medicines (transdermal) and early Remember, menopause is a prescribing (before 60 years natural process, and while it old) have made these bodycan be challenging there is identical HRT drugs more plenty of support and good protective than risk increasing. information out there to Though not everyone who may empower you through this need it can take HRT, there are phase. many natural remedies and Some links for further lifestyle changes which can information are: reduce symptoms. Dumfries menopause services While this transition can be helpline (Thursday mornings challenging for some women, only) 01387 241121 there are many things you www.balance-menopause.com can do to have a healthy menopause. We talk about www.menopausematters.co.uk these in our Menopause https://www. Really Matters peer support themenopausecharity.org/ group at Balmaclellan Smiddy. Lesley Atkins These are held on the second Monday of each month. Stress See above details for the reduction, eating well, staying local Menopause Really active, adequate sleep and Matters Peer Support Group looking after your own needs Christmas magic at the CatStrand T he festive season was made even more enchanting for children in the Glenkens in 2023, thanks to a Christmas Wonderland event at the CatStrand in December. Supported by funding from Tesco's 'Bags of Help’ and the Holywood Trust, this event was planned and organised by the talented CatStrand Art Ambassadors - a group of 12 to 21-year-old volunteers that get involved with planning and organising events as part of the CatStrand Young Creatives programme. It was not only a fantastic way to celebrate the holiday season but also a reminder of the power of community and the impact that a dedicated group of individuals can have, highlighting the importance of nurturing young talent and supporting initiatives that promote creativity and community engagement. We're very proud of our Art Ambassadors and hope that they are too. If you are 12 years plus and would like to become a CatStrand Art Ambassador or find out more, email Cat on catherine@catstrand.com The CatStrand Christmas Wonderland's magical team of elves, helpers and even Santa himself Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 15 Your community shop needs you! W hen we pop into New Galloway Community Shop, we know that we will be greeted with a friendly smile from the hardworking shop team. However, there is so much more going on behind the scenes when operating a community owned shop and holiday accommodation. To support the smooth running and continued success, volunteers give their time as board members or assist with various tasks and activities. New Galloway Community Enterprises Ltd (NGCE) are keen to hear from individuals who would like to make a difference in their local community. You may be able to offer regular time to volunteer in the shop, assist with one off maintenance and cleaning jobs in the accommodation or have marketing, bookkeeping, retail, or HR experience, that you could bring at a more strategic level by becoming a Board member? For information, please contact ngce5000@gmail.com crowd every Thursday with newcomers at every session. Sharing memories, pumpkin carving, jam making as well as crafting Christmas decorations and advent calendars were amongst the weekly activities. Some people like to join in; others just enjoy watching. And there’s always lots of chat and banter. Any suggestions, comments or offers of help will be very welcome. We want the newly refurbished Town Hall to feel owned, as it is, by the community and to be as open and accessible as possible - a place for the whole family across the generations. And we want it to play its part in paving the way for NGCE would like to say thank you for the continued support through making purchases, volunteering, booking stays in the accommodation or volunteering, which enable us to have such a valuable community asset. Finally, save the date - see AGM details to the right. Sam Rushton One of our favourite bits of feedback came from our oldest regular attendee. On being asked how he was finding it, he said, with straight face, "It's been terrible. I'll not be back." It brought the house down! People visibly transform as they become more relaxed with laughter and smiles, lots of mutual teasing and sharing of challenges and experiences. Alongside Thursday Hubbub, we’re introducing Hubbub Exchange on Mondays from 3-6pm, starting 5 February. We hope this may appeal to some as an after-school slot or towards the end of a working day – and some of our regulars may also like to come twice in the week. It will offer a chance to bring and share ideas and skills, learn stuff together, recommend a book, swap a plant - or just to bring yourself and relax. A warm meal will be available at tea time, to eat in or take away. Again no charge, but donations welcome. N T LING’s Hub Host E SELF SU B F O FI A Sharing Skills Event C NT So far, the Hubbub has been a great success. There is a regular The feedback we get is really positive - some find it quite an important lifeline - and it’s lovely to see so much mutual support going on amidst all the fun and laughter. a more resilient and sustainable community in challenging times. To this end, we are forging links with the Galloway Food Hub and have just succeeded in gaining a Biosphere grant to provide a skill sharing event on Saturday 24 February -see information below. Bianca Leder, IE As well as the popular LING Lunches on Tuesdays, Hubbub started last September and is open every Thursday from 11am to 2pm. Funded by Dumfries & Galloway Council, Hubbub aims to help provide a warm, accessible and welcoming space for the community. Transport is available to support accessibility. It’s all free of charge, although any donations are welcome, of course, and help us to spin out the funding for longer. LE W hat’s all the Hubbub? Have you heard? There is a lot going on at New Galloway Town Hall lately... AR A hubbub in New Galloway Town Hall brought to you by the Hub at the Town Hall Sewing A fun filled day of learning at the Town Hall in New Galloway Soap Saturday 24.02.24 Making 9:30 am - 4 pm 4 workshops making your own creations to take home with time for networking £10 per person Herbal warm drinks & healthy Tinctures lunch included Fermenting In person at the Hubbub or www.newgallowaytownhall.com bianca.hubhost.ling@gmail.com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity See what's happening at To communities to engage in and enjoy. Our aim of providing a varied and inclusive programme that has something for everyone is being fulfilled. I can hardly believe we are over halfway through The Together in the Glenkens project! I would like to thank all our deliverers who continue to make all the activities so vibrant and highly beneficial, and of course our attendees, who we hope are benefitting from the programme. I am delighted that we have nine activities currently on offer for the whole Glenkens page 16 The Beginners Oil Painting Class with Catherine Corfield has produced some amazing art works. The group are planning to hold an exhibition of their artwork at the end of the project in May. Launching in February, Crafting Connections workshop will explore a variety of skills and themes and promises to help develop your creative crafting potential. The Dance Classes with Sam Rushton have proved to be a huge amount of fun for all. So, grab your dancing shoes and come along to join Sam on the dance floor! All are welcome, no dance experience or partner required. Our monthly Pub Quizzes continue to be highly popular. At just £1 per person this makes for a super entertaining night out in our local inns. The Tai Chi sessions have moved to New Galloway Town Hall on a Monday evening at 7pm in the wonderful newly refurbished surroundings. All are welcome to come along and benefit from Steve Petch’s teachings. Together in The Glenkens has also joined forces with the CatStrand Open Bar Night on the last Friday of the month. The bar is open from 6-10pm, with food served from 6pm-8pm. New for this year, we are delighted to be able to offer free transport to Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool for their Wednesday evening Aquacise class. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 17 Together in The Glenkens... We are also visiting the Merrick Leisure Centre in Newton Stewart fortnightly on Friday mornings. Departure from New Galloway but various local pickup locations can be arranged. We are most grateful to Dalry Community Shop and NHS Small Endowment Fund which have awarded us funding to allow for this free transport. We’re also working with Galloway Community Transport (another GCAT project) to provide transport to the Monthly Dalry Producers Market and the Golden Days Club in Castle Douglas. Do contact me on Jo@Catstrand. com to find out more. Our Patchwork Workshop on Thursday afternoons at Crossmichael Church Hall is providing a warm welcoming space with the chance to learn some fascinating hand stitching techniques from seamstress, Penny Smith. Our St Andrew’s Day Ceilidh, a combined project with LING, was a wonderful evening, with a packed house enjoying the superb music of Muckle Spree. I would also like to thank the generosity of the local businesses that gave us such superb raffle prizes: Loch Ken Activity Centre, Balmaclellan Shop, the CatStrand, Glenkens & Dee Honey Company, Dalry Garage, Dalry Community Shop, the Lochinvar Hotel and the Ken Bridge Hotel. A second Spring Ceilidh is in the planning – watch this space! We are most thankful to the Scottish Government’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, administered by Third Sector Dumfries & Galloway, for the main funding for this programme. We would also like to thank Dalry Community Shop, the NHS Small Endowment Fund and the Co-Op for further funding to support. This project will come to an end in May this year, so do get in touch to find out more and to book onto any of our sessions before the opportunity ends! You can get in touch at jo@ catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or visit www. gcat.scot Jo Jackson, Activity Coordinator Pictured are some participants in Sam Rushton's dance classes Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 18 Fun and games with the Glenkens Youth Group T here has been a lot of creativity at the Glenkens Youth Group over the past few months. The members often choose to paint or draw, and they are a very talented group. The space is always filled with music, with their own playlist setting the scene. An informal sing-a-long is a common occurrence! We are very grateful to the Glenkens Community Centre in Dalry for the opportunity to use the kitchen facilities. Over the winter the young people baked beautiful fresh crunchy bread, dancing and singing as they baked. An evening of hot chocolate and marshmallows warmed the hands, a great way to stave off the cold dark days. There have also been some epic games of badminton. The final session of 2023 took place at the CatStrand, where youth group members enjoyed their Christmas party. Delicious food, amazing music and dancing, and an impromptu karaoke. We look forward to all that is to come for this wonderful group in 2024. Future immediate plans include orienteering and laser tag. If you are in P7 to S3, why not come and join this fantastic group of young people? They will make you feel most welcome and you can enjoy an environment in which you can be yourself. Thanks to our funding from the Glenkens and District Community Fund, it’s free. Glenkens Cubs and Scouts J oining Cubs in January we have Pippin, Hannah’s daughter, who is an inspiration before she comes to the door. Pippin and her little bother use Mum and Dad’s workshop to make pottery brooches and magnets all year, and sell them at pottery events. In total, during 2023 they have raised £851 for Stepping Stones Foodbank in Castle Douglas. Just before Christmas they visited the foodbank to see what was needed and filled four trolleys of essentials and some treats as well for the less fortunate in our society. Sadly but true. Well done both! The Cubs thoroughly enjoyed Cinderella, the The Glenkens Youth Group meets on Monday evenings in Dalry from 7pm. Find us on Facebook or contact Beata on glenkensyouth@ gmail.com for more details. Beata, Youth Group Lead panto at the CatStrand. Thank you to all involved, each and every one of you. You were amazing. We would like to wish you all a happy New Year and hope 2024 is good to you. Yours in Scouting, Heather & Hannah A thank you to the communities of the Glenkens for their generosity F or many years, St Margaret's church in New Galloway have dedicated their collections at Christmas to a charity chosen by the congregation. Choosing a worthwhile cause is always difficult when there are so many places and people desperate for help and this year it was decided to share the money raised between two charities - ShelterBox and CHAS. On the international stage, ShelterBox's simple strategy of sending emergency shelter and tools to where they are most needed is both practical and useful. And closer to home, CHAS (Children's Hospices Across Scotland) offers a full family support service for babies, children and young people with lifeshortening conditions. The St Margaret's Vestry are delighted to report that just under £1,000 was raised from collections at the Carols by Candlelight service held at St Margaret's and from the Christmas Day service. This money will be divided equally between ShelterBox and CHAS. Many thanks to all who gave so generously. A review by Andrew Mellor of the book The Covenanters of the Glenkens by David S Bartholomew. The Reverend Dr. David Bartholomew has written an excellent book that sometimes made me angry - angry at the injustice, intolerance and cruelty it describes rather than because of any shortcomings in authorship, of which there are none. David was the Church of Scotland minister in the Glenkens for 28 years, during which time he carried out extensive research into the history of the seventeenth century Covenanting movement and revived the practice of open-air services or “conventicles.” In the opening chapter he sets out the complicated seventeenth century historical context. Politics and religion came together when Charles I declared that he was the head of the church in Scotland and that henceforth a new prayer book, which Scottish presbyterians believed echoed Catholic practices, should be used in churches. This was resisted and led, in 1638, to the adoption in churches across Scotland of a Covenant pledging to defend the presbyterian way of worship. Those who signed the pledge were known as “Covenanters.” Their movement became caught up in some of the David S. Bartholomew up in nown ining drews mplete ersity hilean r five logist all to urned d for rdeen ained nister there three ottish GAZETTEhistory page 19 The Covenanters of the Glenkens The Covenanters of the Glenkens shire ment the cal ment ent rical e s, day. Glenkens Gazette The Covenanters of the Glenkens David S. Bartholomew events that led up to the English Civil War but it was with the restoration of the monarchy under Charles II that events took a darker turn. People who refused to attend services using the new prayer book were heavily fined, the money being collected by soldiers billeted locally. The Glenkens was particularly hard hit with £9577 Scots taken from poor people in Dalry Parish between 1663 and 1666. The troops brutalised those who could or would not pay, seizing possessions and burning down houses. The Pentland Rising of 1666, which should really be called “the Glenkens Rising” because it started in Dalry, marked the beginning of a period of serious violence which included “the killing times” when troops stationed in the Glenkens were given free reign to murder, without trial, anyone who refused to renounce the Covenant. Each of the following chapters in the book is devoted to places in the Glenkens associated with the Covenanters. The human stories behind the memorials to those who fell are told movingly, albeit the sources from which the accounts are taken may be somewhat partial. In the chapter on Balmaghie we read how Grierson of Lag and his men had captured a group of Covenanters. Their leader, John Bell, asked for a few moments to make his peace with God but Lag refused this and shot him at point blank range before signalling his men to kill the other captives as they knelt on the ground trying to pray. Particularly poignant is the the fact that many of the bodies were left where they fell as a warning to others. Some were recovered, buried and later given memorials by “Old Mortality” but others remained where they lay, unmarked to this day. In 1977 Forestry Commission workers uncovered three bodies by the Palfern Burn near Clatteringshaws. One was a soldier, “recognised by his long military boots.” Nearby two bodies lay together. One was David Bartholomew at the 2013 conventicle near the Palfern Burn photographed by Andrew Mellor small, likely just a lad. Across his body was a perfectly preserved belt with a brass container, probably intended for gunpowder. No doubt the soldiers had removed anything of value from the bodies but the belt had been left because it had a large nick, perhaps caused by a sword blow. The location of the bodies seems not to have been recorded at the time they were discovered but David managed to find the site and held a conventicle there in 2013 at which psalms were sung, prayers were said and a memorial stone was dedicated. I hope that David’s wish, expressed in the foreword, that his book will act as a resource to aid the establishment of a covenanting trail, is granted. Until then it stands as a well-researched and readable account of a shameful episode in our history. Copies of the book are for sale at the CatStrand and Wright's shop in Dalry, selling for £10 each, or can be ordered direct from David by emailing dsbart92@gmail.com or calling 07762 083 703. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory The 1983 Helicopter Crash J ust over forty years ago, a helicopter crashed on Mid Standard Hill near Balmaclellan. It was on 26 September 1983 when a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter took off from Carlisle airport on a navigation exercise. The pilot was a foreign student who was on an extended fixed and rotary wing flying course and was flying solo at the time. Although only twenty years old, he had over one hundred hours' flying experience. The aircraft in question was registered G-AVTE and was sixteen years old. It was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and should not have entered cloud. Several witnesses along the route state that the aircraft was flying as low as 200 feet and was flying in and out of mist or cloud. The aircraft was reported overdue before midday and a search was carried out by RAF Mountain Rescue, a number of helicopters, and others. The search was hampered by low cloud, mist and fog so the wreckage was not found until the following day. The aircraft had struck Mid Standard Hill (near Blackcraig Hill, Balmaclellan) at an estimated time of 10.20am the previous day. The pilot was ejected from the helicopter in the crash and killed; the aircraft was totally destroyed. A police presence guarded the crash site until the body and wreckage could be recovered and the Galloway Mountain Rescue team were also involved, although their records have unfortunately not page 20 survived. The estimated speed at impact was 100 knots. All evidence is that this was Controlled Flight Into Terrain, caused by inadvertent flight into cloud. The name of the pilot is not in the public domain. My thanks to Trevor Warne for permission to use his photograph of the actual aircraft that crashed. Paul Goodwin Northern Lights: The Arctic Scots A review by Mike Brown of the book Northern Lights: The Arctic Scots by Ted Cowan. Professor Ted Cowan had a life-long interest in the history of the northern world and the role of Scots in its exploration. Northern Lights: The Arctic Scots was his definitive book on the subject. He had just completed its full draft when he died, unexpectedly, at his home in the Glenkens in 2022. His widow, fellow historian and research collaborator Dr Lizanne Henderson oversaw the book’s final stages from manuscript to publication last autumn. It is an absorbing and farreaching study of the Scots who contributed so much to Arctic exploration. Starting a review by quoting a footnote may be unusual but a reference, in the chapter on ‘Scots and the Inuit’, is particularly revealing. Ted recalls being in the library in Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet), an Inuit community on Baffin Island, when “someone came in excitedly to tell me that a group of Inuit girls were demonstrating my culture in the neighbouring hall… they were about to perform dances and tunes their ancestors had learned from the Scottish whalers. There followed a cross-cultural concert that was deeply moving.” It is a vignette which captures the spirit of the book, its many surprises and Ted’s immersive pursuit of history. Those who knew Ted can vividly picture the conviviality - and enquiring - that ensued. Northern Lights records many familiar names: John Ross from Stranraer, his nephew, James Clark Ross and John Richardson of Dumfries. The role of Orcadian John Rae, independent and unorthodox, has long been celebrated. But less heralded names abound. William Penny, the Peterhead skipper was typical of many whalers who exchanged knowledge with the Inuit and aided the explorers. His wife Margaret was the first European woman to overwinter on Baffin Island. The journals and letters of surgeons, traders, scientists, seamen and explorers reveal acute observation, wonder at the world they traversed and, for the time, an astonishing empathy with the Inuit - or “Arctic Highlanders” as Ross dubbed them. Scots in the Arctic were eager to learn and, like the whalers, showed more flexibility and imagination than the rigid thinking of the British Navy, thirled to its traditions. Scots played a key role as traders/ explorers in the Hudson Bay Company and this brought further access to the skills and knowledge of the Inuit and First Nations. The book scans the centuries, from Scots in 10th century Viking expeditions through to Sir John Franklin’s search for the Northwest Passage in the mid 19th century. Once Franklin disappeared, an international assortment of adventurers, driven by valour or vanity, Scots prominent among them, swarmed north in his pursuit. A rampant media egged them on and the charismatic Lady Jane FranklIn led the hue and cry. Speculation among the Europeans knew no bounds but the Inuit knew the facts. John Rae, who listened to them, brought word of the grisly truth, cannibalism and all. But you would expect as much from an “uncouth Scot" said the London establishment: they never forgave him. Northern Lights: The Arctic Scots, by Edward J Cowan is published by Birlinn, £30, ISBN 9781780277875. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 21 Blue and the Tranquil Storm C atStrand hosts the exciting launch of Swallows, the Hare and the Moon, the latest album from local singersongwriter, Blue. Blue writes from his first instrument, the acoustic guitar, and then aided with a collection of other musicians shapes them into an eclectic mix of songs in a variety of styles; acoustic soul with a bit of bounce, reggae beats, bluesy folk, the occasional heartfelt ballad, and never afraid to add some electric guitar here and there. which Blue went on to record a solo album Sound in your Stride in 2014. On 29 February, Blue will be performing songs from his most recent recording (the launch of which was delayed due to Covid restrictions) along with some of the musicians whom he worked with on its production. As a member of the band Quirkus, the album Farewell to Treebeard was recorded in 2001, after Photo of the Issue ...Sponsored by the Stockbridge Mac & Cheese Co This issue’s winner is Susan Currie from Dalry with this beautiful snap of a fly agaric mushroom. "The photograph was taken in the bottom car park in New Galloway," says Susan. "Maybe there are fairies too!" Susan wins two portions of mac and cheese from our competition sponsors, the Balmaclellan-based Stockbridge Mac & Cheese Co. Company owner and competition judge, Hannah Gould, said: "The photo of the amanita wins the day this time - he just looks like such a fun guy!" To enter you can send in any photograph taken in the Glenkens to glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 22 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. In this edition Robin speaks about author Khaled Khalifa, friendship and the festive season. W hat am I reading at the moment? I have a long answer for you... First there’s The Human Cosmos: A Secret History of the Stars, by Jo Marchant. This was a Christmas present from my daughter. I’ve read the prologue and part of the first chapter. It’s interesting and engagingly written, so I may well keep going. And I’m reading Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogue, by King James I and VI – a text which is either ‘of a different age’ or just plainly insane, depending on the charity of your outlook. It greatly contributed to the witch burning hysteria that took so many women’s lives in previous centuries, particularly in Scotland. It reminds me of poor Elspeth McEwan, the ‘witch’ of Balmaclellan, whose story is told in Alan Temperley’s Tales of Galloway. This unusual book was a present from my son. I’ve read some pages, and it will be good to read some more, if only I find the time. But time is in short supply. I have too much work. Two half-read books on my desk are related to one of my jobs – I’ll tell you more about that in the summer… They are The Rule of Violence: Subjectivity, Memory and Government in Syria by Salwa Ismail, and Crime and Punishment in Islamic Law by Rudolph Peters. Both are fascinating in their own ways, but they’re academic in tone, and the first one is grisly. I can only read a little in one sitting. David Tallontire CHIMNEY SWEEP I’m reading a book of strange and intricate poetry by Jorge Luis Borges – better known for his strange and intricate short stories. Books of poetry, like academic books, I read slowly and intermittently. And short stories too. I don’t just plough through them. I’m currently reading The Visiting Privilege, a collection by Joy Williams. Each story creates an unhinged little world which lives in my head for up to a week, until I need another. I read one at a time, and let them seep slowly in. A quick injection, then a long effect. I’m also reading the Flower Ornament Scripture. I’ve been reading it for years, a few pages every now and then. It’s so hallucinatory, so infinitely expansive, so enormously superlative, that I couldn’t do it otherwise. I’m reading – or listening to – Finnegans Wake. Eternally. But that’s another matter. Sometimes I hear a guilty voice telling me that I should read only one book at a time. That I should finish what I start – as if reading a book were like performing an office task, or eating the food on my plate. The voice states that having five or ten books on the go at once represents some kind of failure. But I resist that voice. I reject its illogic. I need plenty of books simultaneously, because books serve plenty of functions. Some are for falling asleep to, and some for waking up. Some to race through, others to slowly savour. Some fit certain rooms, or times of day, or moods. Keep them at hand, everywhere. That’s my advice. Gordon McAdam 07709 144 299 Plumbing & Heating - wood burners - multi-fuel stoves - open fires - Agas - Rayburns - birds nest removal with CCTV inspection - certificates issued - feel free to call for advice - 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry Covering the Glenkens & further afield Find me on Facebook 01644 430 393 07834 321 789 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 23 GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 24 Help secure CatStrand's future I ’m now in my third year at CatStrand and it’s been quite the ride! Since arriving in September 2021 we’ve staged 284 events and we still have a full programme to look forward to. What a privilege it's been to stage such an amazing array of acts in our small rural venue. I can’t imagine a better place to see them in, and count my blessings that this is my job. On paper, CatStrand shouldn’t work. The population of the villages of the Glenkens should not be able to support a thriving arts centre. That it does, therefore, is a special sort of magic. It is a genuine community and a very welcoming space for first-time visitors. I can't take any credit for this, it's been a huge amount of work by many people over the last 22 years, but I appreciate it all the time. The CatStrand is something hugely valuable and worth fighting for. Since shaking off the impact of COVID, we have distilled our work into three distinct strands: CatStrand Arts Our amazing touring programme hosting visiting musicians, dancers and theatre. Cultural Communities A whole range of Glenkens-based cultural projects that we are very happy to support. CatStrand Young Creatives Our programme of hugely popular activities and support for young people. Each of these strands is absolutely thriving - ticket sales are the highest we can find record of. However, despite this, there is currently a good deal of uncertainty about the future. Until this year, the CatStrand Arts programme has relied on an annual application to Creative Scotland’s ‘Open Fund’, and has been successful each year for 16 years. Creative Scotland is very supportive of our work, but the annual model meant that there was always uncertainty about what budget we might have for the next year. Creative Scotland is now looking to give more long-term security to organisations such as ourselves, first through a 2023-2025 ‘Extended Fund’, followed by a 2025 - 2028 ‘Multi Year Fund’. This is a welcome shift - however, the change comes at a time when there is a national constriction in arts funding. Those making funding decisions are clearly left trying to make the ‘least bad’ decisions under very difficult circumstances. Our 2023 application to the Extended Fund awarded 50% of our request despite being ‘highly recommended for full funding’. There just wasn’t enough money to go around. This award has allowed the retention of my position and that of our part-time marketing officer, but with a considerably reduced marketing and programming budget. This means we are much less able to fund work directly and also makes meeting the core costs of keeping the CatStrand open much harder. In April, we will submit our Stage 2 application for the Multi Year Fund, which will determine our funding situation from April 25- April 28. The total applications to this fund are expected to be double the funds available. The other applicants will doubtless be wellestablished and credible arts organisations who, like us, have a solid track record of delivery. So while we know Creative Scotland appreciates the value of our work, we cannot have any certainty about the outcome. If the outcome is not what we hope for, it is difficult to imagine how we will sustain an arts programme in quite the same way. While it is a worrying time, we have plans in place and are working through them. But if you're reading this and wondering how you can help CatStrand Arts, here are some ways: • We have an online survey gathering evidence of how people value CatStrand Arts, to support our application. You can find it at www.GCAT.scot/Survey - as many responses as possible will help us a lot. • If you’ve benefited from any of CatStrand artistic work in any way and would like to let Creative Scotland know directly through a testimonial or Letter of Support, even just in a few words, please email me on peter@catstrand. com. • Become a Friend of CatStrand or consider leaving us a legacy. The new Friends scheme will be going live very soon and will be on www.GCAT.scot/support-us • If you’re so inclined you could even write to your MSP, outlining your concerns and requesting an increase in the overall funding for Creative Scotland’s Multi Year Fund – this would benefit arts across the region and indeed nationally. We have every reason to hope for a positive outcome at the end of this process, but we do need to be reacting to the hard times that are out there for everyone at the moment, so your support is very much appreciated. I love this job and what CatStrand delivers for the communities of the Glenkens, and I look forward to it doing so for many years to come! Peter Renwick, CatStrand Creative Director Pictured are Battery Park performing at the CatStrand Poet praises Writers' Cafe W hen I first started going to the Writers' Cafe at the CatStrand, I had no idea I would be entering a world of such creativity and imagination. From the outset the sessions, under the brilliant direction of Jane McBeth, were an inspiration. To be able to talk to other writers, listen to and appreciate critical comments and thereby inform my own work was a privilege I had not experienced elsewhere. Each evening was collaborative, respectful and productive. So much so that I felt inspired to produce pieces of poetry that I would probably not have contemplated without the understanding and encouragement of my fellow writers. There can be no doubt that I would never have produced this wee book without the Writers' Cafe evenings and I hope that I will be able to continue to attend sessions seeking further productive liaisons with other writers. It gives me so much pleasure to experience the variety of approaches that different people adopt to the challenges they have set themselves in their writing. And to help folk find a way through difficulties and problems in a supportive and friendly way is a satisfaction that is rare and valuable. I could not conceive of a better title for my poems to reflect this than Catstrand Connections. "Thank you" to everyone who contributed to making this a reality. I’d like to offer the book on sale to residents of the Glenkens at the discounted price of £5 per copy - to purchase a copy please email johnpriestley68@ btinternet.com John Priestley Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 25 Music-making in the Glenkens D id you know that traditional ballads were being sung in Galloway until at least the mid 20th century? ...Or that an 18th century fiddler’s notebook from Gatehouse ended up in the Glenkens? ...Or that BBC collectors came to Dalry in the 1950s and recorded the fiddling of Jock McCutcheon in Carsphairn, and the singing of William Wallace at Fingland Farm? There is much to discover about the history of musicmaking in the Glenkens and the Glenkens Story history group is presenting an afternoon of expert talks and live and recorded performances at CatStrand from 2-5pm on Sunday 17 March. Dr Jo Miller will provide an insight into the musical culture of the Glenkens, focussing on the period following World War One. She will discuss how it compares with music making in the rest of Scotland at the time and ask who were the musicians, and where and when did they perform. This is a fragile history, often relying on oral sources. Finding information can also be elusive, since many folk made music at home. However, families have also kept images, as demonstrated in the wonderful selection now appearing on the ‘Memories of the Glenkens’ Facebook page. Collections of written music and recordings can also provide resources for further research. Anna Campbell’s overall theme is the joy that music brought into the lives of a remote rural community. Her talk will draw on the letters, diaries, newspapers, photographs and other records held in the archives of Carsphairn Heritage Initiative…and the occasional legend. Christopher Wright of the School of Scottish Studies will introduce his research interests in Galloway song, illustrated by case studies. He'll discuss larger resources for exploring the music of SW Scotland: what’s in ‘national’ archives such as Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches, and what don’t we know? The afternoon will conclude with an open discussion among speakers and audience, chaired by historian and singer Dr Lizanne Henderson, on preserving our musical heritage. Following interest in the ‘Music of the Glenkens’ exhibition staged at CatStrand over recent months it’s hoped that local people will share their musical memories, and discuss how best to gather, organise and conserve an archive of local music and dance. Tickets are available from CatStrand www.gcat.scot or 01644 420374. A story of hope and desolation L ost People, the latest novel by Glenkens-based writer Margaret Elphinstone, is set in a fractured dystopic world but amid trauma and desolation, hope is there to be discovered. Well known as a historical novelist, Margaret returns in Lost People to the timeless themes of her early writing when living in Laurieston, some 40 years ago. The narrator of her new book is Rue, a lost child abandoned in the garden of a mysterious community, who is forced on a quest through a desolate, wartorn landscape. This is a story of redemption and reassurance that solace can be found, whatever terrors may have to be confronted in the process. James Robertson (author of And the Land Lay Still) says: “Lost People has a meditative, calming mood and pace despite the fact that things have gone so badly wrong. The writing is beautiful, especially the voice of Rue, the troubled, vulnerable, highly intelligent young person who tells the story. Margaret Author Margaret Elphinstone at home in the Glenkens countryside Elphinstone has created a world simultaneously strange and familiar. It is a novel unlike any I have read for some time.” Lost People will be published on 21 February by Wild Goose, the publishing house of the Iona Community, priced £7.99. Poet and essayist, Kathleen Jamie, Scotland’s Makar (or poet laureate) says: “Here is a story of trauma, the kindness of strangers and the healing power of animals and plants … Lost People is a gem-like wisdom-tale of perfect clarity and depth.” You can hear Margaret read from the book and discuss the ideas underpinning it with writer Tom Pow at CatStrand, New Galloway, at 7.30pm on Thursday 7 March. Tickets £5 from GCAT.scot/arts or 01644 420 374. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEschools Kells primary K ells had a busy festive period, Christmas concert, singing carols for LING lunches as well as doing Christmas crafts, learning about the story of Christmas and writing poetry around the subject! This spring term we are looking forward to all things Scottish with the upcoming Robert Burns poetry competition and learning some Country dances. Good luck to P4 who have made the leap in to the 'big class', and are doing very well. Mrs Erin Welsh, Primary Teacher page 26 WRIGHTS STORE & POST OFFICE DALRY DALRY DALRY SWEET TREAT SATURDAY DALRY INFORMATION FRESH CREAM CAKES AVAILABLE TO ORDER OPENING HOURS OPENING TIMES MONDAY – FRIDAY MONDAY-FRIDAY 7.30AM-5.30PM 7.30am – 5.30pm SATURDAY - 8.30AM-5PM SATURDAY 8.30am – 5pm SUNDAY - 8.30AM-3PM SUNDAY 8.30am – 3pm LOCAL SUPPLIERS LOCAL SUPPLIERS DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY BUTCHERS UPPERBUTCHERS DULLARG EGGS MITCHELL'S FRUIT EGGS & VEG UPPER DULLARG SWEETCAKES BAKERY MITCHELLS FRUIT & VEG GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY SWEETCAKES BAKERY CREAM O' GALLOWAY GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES CREAM O GALLOWAY IRVINGS BAKERY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES GALLOWAY SCOTTISH PASTA IRVINGS COWS BAKERY & CO THE CRESSGALLOWAY COMPANY PASTA (GF & SCOTTISH VEGAN OPTIONS) GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY POP IN FOR A CHAT AND A BROWSE Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP Solicitors and Estate Agents Dumfries & Galloway 01556 503744 www.ggblaw.co.uk All legal advice Offices in Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie Kirkcudbright and Dumfries Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 27 USEFUL GLENKENS CONTACTS DOCTORS’ SURGERY Glenkens Medical Practice - 01644 420 234 COMMUNITY CONTACTS • Balmaclellan: Martin Warnock - 07939 261 391 • Carsphairn: Liz Holmes - 07718 358 160 • Corsock: Julie Garton - 07769 647 702 • Kirkpatrick Durham: Heather - 07551 639 629 • Crossmichael: Richard Middleton - 01556 670 691 • Dalry: Graham West 01644 430 503 • New Galloway: 07741 656 601 • Parton: Tom 07835821976 FOOD DELIVERIES • Galloway Foodbank 07730 788 335 • Galloway Food Hub - glenkens.scot/localdirectory-listing/glenkensfood-hub • Ballards Butchers 01556 502502 (they also deliver groceries) • Grierson’s Butchers: 01556 502 637 • Henderson’s Butchers: 01556 502 654 • Mitchell’s Greengrocers: 01556 502 077 • Fleet Fish: call 07966 103 912 to find out about Glenkens delivery days • Roan’s Dairy - 01556 620 374 • Harris & Co: www. harrisandco.uk LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Helen Crowther on 0790 467 8599 or drop by the shop on Main Street, Dalry Glenkens Scout Group: Contact Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375 Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING): Contact newgallowaytownhall@gmail.com Dalry Communities Properties Trust (DCPT): Contact Michelle Owen at sjtdalrycc@ gmail.com Dalry Town Hall: Contact Lesley Blissett at lesleyblissett52@gmail.com Glenkens Community Centre: Contact Sarah McAdam on minimac01644@gmail.com Lagwyne Hall: Contact lagwynehallsecretary@outlook.com for info, or to book email lagwynehallbooking@gmail.com New Galloway Community Enterprises (NGCE): Contact ngce5000@gmail.com or pop into New Galloway Community Shop Balmaclellan Community Trust: Contact Julia Higgins at julia.higgins55@outlook.com CatStrand: Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or pop in to the CatStrand Schools: Visit the school office or call Dalry Primary on 01644 430 105 (for Nursery/ELC too), Dalry Secondary on 01644 430 259 or Kells on 01644 420 340 Carsphairn Heritage Initiative: Contact Ben Ade at carsphairnhi@gmail.com Galloway Food Hub: Contact Lesley Atkins on lesley@propagate.org.uk or 07587 122 151 Bairn Banter: Contact Melissa on bairnbanter@outlook.com or 07979 492 791 If you would like to add your community organisation to this list please get in touch with the Gazette - contact details are on the back page. GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Sunday Services Balmaclellan: 4 Feb, 3 Mar - 11am Carsphairn: 4 Feb, 10 Mar - 11am Kells: 18 Feb, 17 Mar - 11am Dalry: 25 Feb, 24 Mar - 11am Special Services & Events Fri 29 Mar, 7.30pm, Good Friday Service, Carsphairn Sun 31Mar, 7.30pm, Dawn Service, Dalry Sun 31 Mar, 11am, Easter Worship,Kells For further information contact Rev Pam Bellis on 07751 379 249 or pam@bellisconsultancy.co.uk SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH St Margaret's Church, New Galloway, DG7 3RP Sundays at 10.30am: Holy Communion with refreshments after the service Tuesdays at 11am: Informal midweek service with refreshments and chat Thursdays 7.30-8pm: Zoom Evening Prayers. Please contact Dawn for the link World Day of Prayer, Fri 1 Mar, 2pm, refreshments after the service. Ash Wednesday, 14 Feb, 6pm, Imposition of Ashes service. Maundy Thursday, 28 Mar, 6pm, Holy Communion. Good Friday, 29 Mar 2pm, Reflection and Prayers. Easter Day, 31 Mar, 10.30am, Holy Communion For further information call Dawn on 01644 420 431 or visit www.stmargaretsnewgalloway.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Glass Recycling Points • Balmaclellan Stores, Balmaclellan • Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road, Crossmichael • Kirkland Street, St John's Town of Dalry • New Galloway, Carson's Knowe Car Park • St David Street, Kirkpatrick Durham USEFUL NUMBERS ● Pothole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 page 28 MINUTES/REPORTS OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT SPENDING ● Police, non-emergency: 101 or email stewartryCPT@ scotland.police.uk GLENKENS DISTRICT TRUST (GDT) www.glenkenstrust.org.uk/gdtcorporate-information ● Doctor: 01644 420 234 CARSPHAIRN RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND LTD (CREFL) www.carsphairn.org/CREFLArchive ● NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 ● D&G Council: 030 33 33 3000 Local Job Vacancies Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot There are some remote working opportunities as Natural Power at the moment; check out their vacancies page - visit www.naturalpower.com/uk/careers CAB outreach clinics are held fortnightly on a Monday at the Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry, and fortnightly on a Tuesday at CatStrand, New Galloway. ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE Advanced Massage Practitioner (price per issue incl VAT) SMALL: 6cm x 6cm, £50 1/4 PAGE: 9cm w x 13cm h, £108 1/2 PAGE: 18cm w x 13cm h, £200 FULL PAGE: 18cm w x 27cm h, £332 Please get in touch further details including small business/ charity rates and series discounts. Email glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07727 127 997 VAT Reg. No. 334 0905 24 THE STEWARTRY VETERINARY CENTRE CASTLE DOUGLAS SURGERY HOURS GLENKENS MEDICAL PRACTICE DALBEATTIE SURGERY HOURS General Medical & Dispensing Services FOR APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH SURGERIES OR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY The Surgery High Street New Galloway Mon-Fri 2.00-2.30 pm & 5-6 pm Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm Sat 2-2.30 pm Mon, Wed, Fri 3-3.30 pm Tues & Thurs 6-6.30 pm  01556 502263 VETERINARY SURGERY OAKWELL ROAD CASTLE DOUGLAS  FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 01644 420234 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Ken Bridge Hotel Opening Times Sit-in and takeaway, seven days a week Evening Meals: 5.30-8pm Bar Service: from 4-11pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 11pm Saturday and Sunday * all meals must be booked in advance * • Pool table and darts board • Terrace/beer garden • • Venue available for hire for functions and events • • Campsite with river views *hot tubs coming soon* • - Dogs on leads welcome on outdoor terrace - For bookings, orders or any other enquiries call 01644 420 211, 07826 382 552, 07825 237 627, email mail@kenbridgehotel.com or message on Facebook @ Ken Bridge Hotel & campsite or visit www.kenbridgehotel.com page 29 GAZETTEinformation Glenkens Gazette WHAT'S ON page 30 February/March Fri 1, Song Share, Dalry Town Hall and Future, 2-5pm, CatStrand, see p25 Wed 6, Dalry Film Club: She Said, 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 21, NGCE Ltd AGM, 7.30pm, CatStrand, see p15 FEBRUARY Thu 7, Lost People Book Launch: Margaret Elphinstone In Conversation with Tom Pow, 7.30pm, CatStrand, see p25 Fri 22, Ensemble Hesperi: A Gift for your Garden, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 10, Glenkens Producers Market, 10am1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sun 10, Quiz Night, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 23, Ensemble Hesperi: Playing Day, 1.30pm, CatStrand Mon 11, Menopause Really Matters Peer Support Group, 7-8pm, Smiddy, Balmaclellan, see p14 Tue 26, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle, 7.30pm, CatStrand Thu 14, Ken Words: Writers’ Cafe, 7pm, CatStrand Wed 27, Dalry Film Club: Oppenheimer, 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 14, Stewartry Birdwatchers: A wilder, wetter WWT Caerlaverock, 10.30am, Balmaclellan Village Hall Fri 29, Dallahan, 7.30pm, CatStrand Turn to centre spread on p16-17 for Together in The Glenkens Feb/Mar activities... Thu 8, Ken Words: Writers’ Cafe, 7pm, CatStrand Mon 12, Menopause Really Matters Peer Support Group, 7-8pm, Smiddy, Balmaclellan, see p14 Wed 14, Dalry Film Club: Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning, 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 17, If Sounds Could Tell: Fay Guiffo & Edyta Mydłowska, 7:30pm, CatStrand Sat 17, Vika's Ukranian Buffet, contact vikafiras@gmail.com Thu 22, FARA, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 24, Learn to be Self-sufficient Skill Sharing Event, 9.30am-4pm, New Galloway Town Hall, see p15 Mon 26, Carsphirn Local Place Plan Dropin, 2-7pm, tbc, visit www.carsphairn.org/ LPP for details Thu 29, Blue and the Tranquil Storm, 7.30pm, CatStrand, see p21 MARCH March-Sept, Permaculture Design Course with Propagate, both online and in various locations throughout Galloway. visit www. propagate.org.uk/permaculture for more details. Initial meeting is 16 Mar, The Hidden Mill, Balmaclellan Sat 9, Glenkens Producers Market, 10am1pm, Dalry Town Hall Fri 15, Musclebound, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 23, Ensemble Hesperi: Playing Day, 10.30am, CatStrand Sat 30, Easter Egg Hunt with Bairn Banter, 10am, Carsphairn School playground Fri 15, Carsphairn SWI: A vet’s perspective Bruce Haggarty, 7.30pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Fri 15, Stewartry Birdwatchers: Warbler identification, 10.30am, Balmaclellan Village Hall Sun 17, The Glenkens Story: Music-Making - Past, Present Glenkens & District Community Councils Balmaclellan Community Council: Meets last Monday each month, 7.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Carsphairn Community Council: Meets last Monday each month, 7pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn - contact carsphairncc@gmail.com or 07531 035 824 Dalry Community Council: Meets first Monday each month, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall - contact sjtdalrycc@gmail.com or 07940 313 445 New Galloway & Kells Community Council: Meets second Monday each month, 7.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham Communty Council: Meets monthly - contact mcnabblaurie@hotmail.com or 01644 440 200 Balmaghie Community Council: Meets monthly - contact secbalmaghiecc@btinternet.com or 01644 450 621 Parton Community Council: Meets monthly - contact ericaporteous@hotmail.co.uk or 01644 470 277 Crossmichael Community Council: Meets monthly richardandjane@phonecoop.coop or 01556 670 691 Full minutes of local Community Council meetings can be viewed at Dalry Library or online at www.glenkens.scot For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 31 REGULAR EVENTS & OPENING TIMES Balmaclellan Village Hall Piano Lessons, weekly, term time 4pm – 6.30pm Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, to book email warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Glenkens Crafters, Wed 10am-12noon, for info contact julia.higgins55@outlook. com Books in Balmaclellan Community Library, Wed 10.30–12.30; Fri 6-7pm; Sat 10.30am-2.30pm (tea & coffee available on Sat). Tai Chi, Wed 2-3pm Balmaclellan Blether, 3rd Thu each month, contact warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Yoga, Thu, 6pm, kathyr64@hotmail.co.uk Yoga for all levels, Thu, 9.30am CatStrand Singers, Thu 11am-12noon Dance Steps (age 10-18yrs), Sat monthly, 2-5pm Art Explorers, (age under 10yrs), Sat biweekly 10-11am Art Club, (age 11-16yrs), Sat bi-weekly 11.15am-12.30pm Youth Players Panto rehearsals, (10 yrs plus), weekly, Sun 3– 5.30pm Glenkens Art Workshop, Thu, 2-4pm Zumba, Fri, 6.30-7.30pm Men's Shed, Balmaclellan Opening Times: Monday, 9.30am - 12.30pm Wednesday, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Wood Carving, 2-4pm Thursday, Art Group, 2-4pm Friday, 9.30am - 12.30pm Saturday, 9am - 12noon Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Monday Morning Social, 11am-2pm, come along for a blether, or bring a board game/cards, etc. Refreshments available. Call 07710 124 255 or email carsphairn.trust@gmail.com Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu of the month, 7.30pm,Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Craft Group, Fri 10am-12noon, includes tea & coffee, Lagwyne Hall, contact carsphairncraftgroup@gmail.com Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, 0-7 years, Sat 10-11.45am CatStrand, New Galloway Winter opening hours: 11am-4pm Tue-Sat Art Ambassadors (age 11+), Mon biweekly, 4.30-5.30pm Behind the Scenes, bi-weekly, Mondays 5.30–6pm Power Yoga, Tue, 9am, kathyr64@ hotmail.co.uk Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Tue, 10am-4pm Weekly Bus Service to Tesco, Wednesday eve 7pm Dramarama, (age 6-10), Wed 4-5pm Up Skills: Musical Theatre, (age 15+), Wed 5-5.30pm Young Writers Cafe, (age 12+), Wed 6-7.30pm, monthly The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Margaret Morris Movement: Health Play (age 5-8), Mon (during term time), 3.45-4.30pm Margaret Morris Movement: Youth Grade (age 8-15), Mon (during term time), 4.30-5.30pm Glenkens Ukelele Group, Wed, 6.308pm Taste of Music, monthly, 10-11am (under 10yrs) Mini Music Makers, family session, montly 11.45pm -12.30pm (under 7yrs) Weekly Ukuele, guitar & keyboard lessons, 12.30–4pm (6-16 yrs) Musical Misfits, group singing class, biweekly, 10.30 – 11.30pm New Galloway Town Hall Men’s Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.3011am. Contact rtdglaister@aol.com Margaret Morris Movement, (adults), Mon 2.20–3.20pm, contact SaraShackleton26@ gmail.com Tai Chi, Mon 7–8pm, contact petchy2@ btinternet.com LING Lunches, (all welcome) Tue 12.30–2pm Hubbub, Thu 11am–2pm, activities from jam-making to Christmas wreaths (lunch provided) Sports Evening, Tue 7–9pm, carpet bowls or table tennis, contact raymond.bridgeman@ btinternet.com Zumba, Wed 6.30–7.30pm, contact 07544 700 566 Hubbub, Thu, 11am-2pm Martial Arts, (children), Thu 7.30-9pm, contact kmabrian@gmail.com or just turn up. For further info email jackie. communityinclusion.LING@gmail. com or phone 07749 249781 or visit newgallowaytownhall.com @ Local Initiatives in New Galloway on Facebook Glenkens Community Centre Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Mon, 10am-4pm Glenkens Youth Group, Mon, 7-8.30pm Dalry Good Neighbours Club, Tue, 2-4pm, contact Michelle on 07795 613 148 Clachan Crafters, Thu 2-4pm, contact Sarah on 07500 861 041 Kickback Martial Arts, Thu, 7-9pm Song Share, 1st Friday each month, 8-11pm, contact anne.chaurand@ btinternet.com Yoga For All, Fri 7-9pm, contact Amy on 07733 111 466 Friendship Group, Sat (excluding Glenkens Producers Market days), 1011.30am, contact Anne on 01644 430 052 Table Tennis/Badminton, available to hire by arrangement, contact Sarah on 07500 861 041 Glenkens Charity Shop Winter Opening Times: Mon 10am-1pm Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-4pm Dalry Library Main St, Dalry, Tel: 01644 430 234 Library Opening Times: Tue, 2-5pm, for books and other walk-in Fri, 11.30am-12.30pm for NEC Bus Pass and Blue Badge appointments and PCs, and 1-4.30pm for books and other walkin services: appointments can be booked in the library or on 01387 260 196. Bookbugs Session, Tue, 10.30-11.30am Glenkens Book Group, last Friday of each month, 2pm, call June to book on 01644 420 361 Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, Mon, 2-3.30pm Dog Training, Tue, 7-8pm, contact Eric Broadhurst on 07831 590 822 Various Strictly Get Dancing, Loch Ken Activity Centre, Parton, Mon, 7 -8.30pm Cosy Corner, Tue, 1-5pm, Crossmichael Church Hall, contact Anne on 07889 016 963 Crossmichael Heritage Centre, Wed & Fri, 1.30-4.30pm Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Patchwork Workshop, Crossmichael Church Hall, Thu, 1-3pm Yoga, Mossdale Mossdale Village Hall, Fri, 2.15pm Dragon Boats on Loch Ken, Sun 9.30am12.30pm, Galloway Activity Centre, Parton Knockvennie Hall Heat Bank & Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona Ramsay on 07500 554 751 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, contact Gary on 01644 430 521 For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette page 32 Field Trip “ They always say Ritual Purposes when they haven’t a clue. Anyway we know that right through the Modern Period they kept symbols of time worship on all their major edifices. The reconstruction - look, here it is - suggests it was a tower with four Time Circles, one facing each cardinal point.. Plus the cast-iron bells. And that time capsule thing - bit like burying your ancestors under the hearthstone I suppose.” “You’re getting muddled. That was 4000 years earlier.” “Oh let’s leave it, I bet the other three groups have got half their settlements done by now. Come on, this path going north was the main drag apparently. Remember we’re supposed to be thinking about Transitory Settlement Patterns. What was it? Transhumance?” ‘No, that’s moving flocks around in summer and making cheese and stuff. This was Transvacance - that means moving people around in summer.’ “I don’t see how that got them anything to eat.” ‘Well, people paid a lot of money to go to temporary summer pastures and sheep didn’t. That’s what all these houses were 唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀Ⰰ 䰀漀漀猀攀 䌀漀瘀攀爀猀Ⰰ 䘀愀戀爀椀挀猀Ⰰ 䌀甀猀栀椀漀渀猀 刀攀昀椀氀氀攀搀 䘀爀攀攀 䔀猀琀椀洀愀琀攀猀 吀栀攀 圀漀爀欀猀栀漀瀀Ⰰ 䴀漀渀礀戀甀椀攀Ⰰ 䌀漀爀猀漀挀欀⸀ 䐀䜀㜀 ㌀䐀夀 眀眀眀⸀䠀愀爀爀椀猀ⴀ唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀⸀挀漀⸀甀欀 ㄀㘀㐀㐀 㐀㐀 㔀㈀㤀 used for in the end so people couldn’t live in them. Let’s get this straight: first phase Early Modern Clearances: you burn people’s roofs over their heads - incendiary method - and ship them off to colonise someone else’s country so you can run sheep. Second phase, Declining Modern Clearances: make sure they don’t get any roofs over their heads in the first place - laissez faire method - and send them off to anywhere but here. Because no one cares, see?” “I don’t think that’s exactly what she said.” “Look, it’s all in the lecture notes she gave us - page 5 Marginal Lands, scroll down to the bottom: ‘Transvacance appears to have died out in the final decades of Declining Modern Civilisation. There is debate as to whether it ceased because fossil-fuel or minedmaterials vehicles were no longer available, or because the roads had already become impassable for wheeled vehicles. Current research suggests both factors came into play.’ We were all supposed to read this stuff last night, by the way.” “Page 1 says, ‘In this glen there were at least five churches, the most salient buildings in every settlement, also 2 to 4 hostelries of some description in each settlement.’’ “So they spent all their time praying and carousing. Could be worse.” “No, you weren’t listening: ‘The evidence is that all public buildings had fallen into disuse several decades before the settlements were finally abandoned.’” “That Ken Bridge we crossed this morning wasn’t abandoned. It’s still all right, though it says on page 2 it’s nearly 400 years old.” “What about schools?” “Didn’t you listen to any of her lecture? Of course there were no schools by the end. That big one - where they found all those concrete slabs - that’s the one she said was in an advanced state of decay even before final abandonment. Anyway the documentary evidence tells us that in the final two censuses the inhabitants were all over 70 so naturally they didn’t need any schools.” “Life must have been pretty dismal. No wonder they all died out. I’d rather be me.” M.N.E Image created by FlowGPT as specified by Larry Winger Family and friends coming to stay? Short of space? Cosy country cottage available (sleeps 4) Call Fiona on 01644 420 227 or 07789 903127 www.covenanters-holidaycottagescotland.co.uk WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit events, activities, news stories, cartoons, reviews, tips & techniques, fiction, photos, ads or ideas... Contact Sarah Ade on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Servicing - Brakes - General Repairs Pre MOT Checks - Diagnostics Editing & Design: sarah.ade@gmail.com APRIL/MAY COPY DEADLINE: 5 MARCH The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, a Registered Scottish Charity No SC032050 The role of the Gazette is to represent the voice of the community and does not represent the views of GCAT.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 140 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GG_140 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GCAT Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2024 Description An account of the resource Editor: Sarah Ade https://glenkensarchive.scot/glenkens_archive/files/original/1/286/GlenkensGazette139.pdf b6909f12649467c28ad1b25e43d3b069 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 139 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Description An account of the resource <p>Find out more about the Gazette: <a href="https://glenkens.scot/gazette-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenkens Gazette home page</a> If you would like to submit an article or take out an advert, please email the editor Sarah Ade: <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:glenkensgazette@hotmail.com">glenkensgazette@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is a member of, and regulated by <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.impressorg.com/">Impress</a>.</p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of Glenkens Community &amp; Arts Trust (SC032050) and represents the voice of the community (not necessarily the views of GCAT).</p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document December/January 2023-24 ISSUE 139 Volunteer of the Year Award N ew Galloway's Brian Edgar has been recognised as the Volunteer of the Year at this year's prestigious Dumfries & Galloway Life Awards. ...turn to page 5 Glenkens Halloween spooky spread ...turn to pages 10-11 Brian at the D&G Life awards ceremony in Dumfries Local environmental trust breaks new ground T kind public benefit agreement with a commercial planting scheme. The agreement gives UUET a 20-year lease of land for public amenity and environmental purposes, including plans for a dedicated community woodland area, footpath creation, riparian broadleaf tree planting, habitat improvements and peatland restoration work. Continued in the Eco Feature section on page 18.... Tough times ahead for the CatStrand ...turn to page 24 The parishes of the Glenkens in northern Kirkcudbrightshire were at the heart of support for the Covenanting movement in seventeenth century Scotland and suffered greatly in the latter half of that century when the king and the political leadership of the country sought to suppress that movement and impose the Episcopalian system of church government on the people. In this book the writer explores the historical context of those days and introduces us to some of the inspiring, though often tragic, stories from those times, offering us a window into the world of the people of that day. David Bartholomew grew up in Edinburgh within the well-known map making family. After gaining a geology degree from St Andrews University, he went on to complete a PhD at Leicester University involving fieldwork in Chilean Patagonia. After working for five years as a government geologist in Zimbabwe, he felt the call to Christian ministry and returned to Scotland where he studied for a divinity degree at Aberdeen University. In 1994 he was ordained as Church of Scotland minister of the Glenkens and served there as parish minister for nearly 28 years. He is married to Heidi and has three children. He retired in 2022 and now lives near Broughton in the Scottish Borders. Carn Publishing Ltd www.carnpublishing.com/glenkens UK £15.00 RRP David S. Bartholomew The Upper Barr site was planted up earlier in the year by owners Foresight Sustainable Forestry Company (FSF). The agreement refers to the unplanted sections of the site, including a designated community lease area and the wider partnership area. The Covenanters of the Glenkens In September the trust put pen to paper on a groundbreaking lease agreement, looking to add community and biodiversity value to a commercial planting scheme near Corsock. INSIDE THIS ISSUE A name change and festive shopping with the Galloway Food Hub The award celebrates Brian's outstanding and unwavering commitment to the communities of the Glenkens over many years. Continued on page 14... he Upper Urr Environmental Trust (UUET) has signed a first-of-its- FREE The Covenanters of the Glenkens David S. Bartholomew Book launch: Covenanters of the Glenkens ...turn to page 29 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 2 Spalding bowling awards S palding bowling club had an excellent presentation ceremony after another great season, with prizes presented by Mabel Young. Pictured are club president John Peacock, ladies' champion Elizabeth Peacock, gents' champion Garry Priddy, Mabel Young, Kate Bone, Duncan Jordon, Ian Murray, Colin Joungland, Gordon McAdam, Sandra Dempster, Colin Ramsay and Bill Ramsay. Thanks go to the Clachan Inn, Dalry, for an excellent celebratory meal. Val Russell Fundraising for Alzheimer Scotland A fundraising event held by Jayne Grimwood, of Hair by Jayne, and her tireless team of helpers in Dalry Town Hall raised an incredible £1,270 for the local branch of Alzeimer Scotland. Jayne said: "A big thank you to you everyone who came, and everyone who helped organise, and especially to our fabulous bakers - we make a great team! What a great turnout we had! "And it wouldn't have been a success either without the generosity of the community; every bit of money raised went to Dumfries & Galloway to help with the care of this illness to support N ew Galloway Golf Club Founded Foun ded 1902 www.ng www.n g gc.co.uk - 01644 420737 Buggies now available for hire VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS WELCOME people across the region. Without all the support from our communities this would not be possible. "We already we have had more folk saying they want to be put on the baking list to help with future events, which is fabulous, and we're going to introduce more savoury baking too next year - put Thursday 3 October 2024 into your diary for an event not to be missed!" GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 3 Greener travel across the Glenkens with the new GCT eBus G alloway Community Transport (GCT) has received a massive boost in its ongoing aim of decarbonising its fleet, in the shape of a 16-seater electric bus. This vehicle is brand new and has been funded by the Energy Savings Trust’s 'Plugged in Communities' fund, which supports community transport initiatives in adding carbon neutral vehicles to their fleet. GCT are currently training drivers in the use of this new bus (the controls are more space age!) and will have the vehicle available for regular hire in the New Year via the GCT Membership scheme (www. gallowaycommunitytransport.org/hire). Once registered as a community group member, you can hire any of our buses or the eCar for very competitive rates, either with a paid driver or your own MIDAStrained driver. GCT are always looking for new volunteers, either to drive their own cars (for patient transport) or the GCT minibuses (for local hires), so if you fancy getting behind the wheel of any of the fleet and doing a good deed for the community, contact Jon and Sue to find out more at gct@catstrand.com or 07841 512 449. Funding secured for supporting Local Place Plans T hanks to funding from NatureScot and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), a new project has been created by Dalry Community Council and the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) supporting Local Place Planning and land use in the Glenkens. Building on work already carried out within communities to create the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan and recent Glenkens Land Use Vision addendum, as well as extensive work this summer by Dalry CC on Local Place Planning, the project will generate three complementary feasibility studies by March 2024: 1. Place Planning and Land Use in the Glenkens 2. Participatory Monitoring of Land Use in the Glenkens 3. A Land Use Forum in the Glenkens Local Place Plans were introduced in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019, and provide a new opportunity for communities to contribute to the Local Development Plan at a truly local level. To achieve the first outcome above, the scope of the Glenkens Community Spaces Network has been extended to work with Dalry Community Council to develop a toolkit for Local Place Planning in the Glenkens, with the aim of making it easier for the Community Councils of the Glenkens to carry out the Local Place Planning process in their own communities. At a joint meeting of the Community Councils in August, representatives indicated that they would appreciate the joint coordination of Local Place Planning, and so GCAT and Dalry CC have sourced this funding to support that. The second and third reports will build on the work on Land Use in the Glenkens to date, to see what further steps are required to allow effective monitoring of landscape change over time from a community perspective, and to create a Glenkens Land Use Forum. This last one will explore what challenges which are faced in trying to set such a Forum up, what it will do, who will be involved and how to make it effective. Updates on the project and reports and resources created will be shared on the Glenkens Hub, www.glenkens.scot, or for further information Becca Nelson at becca.glenkens.anf@ gmail.com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 4 Celebrate under a star filled night with the SongWave Choir This joyful celebration of the turning of the year features a splendid repertoire of songs from diverse cultures and lands, promising an unforgettable musical experience for all ages. G et ready to immerse yourself in the magic of the holiday season with the SongWave Choir’s enchanting concert series, Under a Star Filled Night. Led by musical director Kate Howard, SongWave is renowned for its spirited performances. The choir's mission is to share the gift of music and bring festive cheer to the community. The concert series kicks off on Friday 15 December at 7pm in New Galloway Town Hall. This performance is followed on Saturday 16 December at 4pm at Dalbeattie Parish Church Hall and concludes on Sunday 17 December at 4pm at Twynholm Village Hall. Tickets are available from www.songwavechoir.org.uk or phone 07747 623 036. This holiday season, join SongWave in embracing the enchantment and celebration of diverse cultures and traditions under a star filled night. Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of this heart-warming musical experience that promises to bring light and joy during the darkest part of the year. Violin students impress at local events P Concert with a repertoire ranging from Classical to Contemporary World Music. They attended the Kirkcudbright Fringe and the Gatehouse Music Society Young Musicians' Students are aged from 6–17 and receive individual and group lessons. If you are interested to find out more about the Galloway Violin Studio and having violin lessons, please contact Cate at chowardsasc@gmail.com upils at the Galloway Violin Studio, based at Parton and run by violinist and violist Cate Howard, have performed at a host of local events. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews A name changer for the Glenkens Food Hub T he Glenkens Food Hub are excited to announce our new name - the Galloway Food Hub! As we expand, we wanted to update our name to better reflect the area we serve. Here’s a little bit about how we have evolved. Glenkens. Our next two first collection points of Gatehouse of Fleet and Low Auldgirth were trialled successfully. Recently, we have reached ten locations outside the Glenkens. Whilst we do have 4 - 5 very local producers in the Glenkens, most are based within the wider community of D&G, within a 30-mile radius of Dalry. The Glenkens Food Hub was born from the Glenkens Community Action Plan and Propagate’s further work to investigate what the community wanted in terms of local food. One of the things the community said they would like was better access to good, local food, especially vegetables. So, a hyper-local, online food hub was trialled in Dalry, and funding to run a larger pilot project was received from Blackcraig Wind Farm, via Foundation Scotland, on behalf of the Glenkens and District Trust. Initially, our intention was to stay hyperlocal, as we wanted to reduce food miles, sell lower carbon emitting produce, and increase market access for local food producers. However, we wanted others across Dumfries and Galloway to benefit from similar Food Hubs, and we soon realised that multiple hubs were unlikely to be a viable answer in very large and vast region. Food hubs take a lot of administration behind the scenes, and replicating this many times over would require regular funding, with the likelihood that they would never be financially viable. It soon emerged that a hub and spoke model, with one central packing point and multiple collection points run by wonderful volunteers, was the most feasible option. The locations of these points were driven by volunteers appearing from these locations wanting to take produce back for themselves and their friends. This turned out to be a workable scenario, enabling us to serve more people in the wider community. At the start, we had collections available in Dalry only, and delivery within the page 5 location to suit us right now with the links we have established. We hope that becoming the Galloway Food Hub allows more people and producers to access and benefit from Galloway’s local climate and nature-friendly, online good food marketplace. We are extremely grateful to our fabulous customers who offer kind words of encouragement that they love what we do, and value the produce that we offer. Our local producers are fantastic, often growing, farming, and making unique food under difficult circumstances, to make a difference to the health of our community and our planet and are the foundation on which the Food Hub is built. A very big thank you goes to all who have volunteered with us since we began. We couldn’t do this without you. Please spread the word if you value this access to local resources in our beautiful part of the world. If you’d like to be a volunteer or supply produce to the Hub, please get in touch at lesley@propagate.org.uk or tamsin@ propagate.co.uk The Galloway Food Hub Team To keep our customers interested, and through asking them what they would like to see for sale on the hub, we continue to expand our range a little outside this 30-mile area and supplement with other ethical and sustainable produce which fits our ‘Good Food’ criteria, such as coffee, chocolate, and staple vegetables. We continue to speak with and listen to our customers, and explore ways to expand our product range, in alignment with their needs. Now seems like the right time to change our name from the Glenkens Food Hub to the Galloway Food Hub. Whilst our heart, our packing place at the Glenkens Community Centre and half of our customers are still within the Glenkens, we have a valued and growing customer base and producer network across Dumfries and Galloway. The Glenkens is situated at the heart of Galloway, and we find this SHOP LOCAL THIS CHRISTMAS WITH THE GALLOWAY FOOD HUB The Galloway Food Hub will open three weeks in a row in December, with collections on Friday 8, 15 and 22, ensuring you can stock up on all your festive fare. And don't forget there are some great gift ideas too! https://gallowayfoodhub.org.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 6 New Galloway Town Hall grand reopening: A Time and a Place R esidents of New Galloway, with guests from across the Glenkens and beyond, celebrated the grand reopening of the Town Hall in October with a once-in-a-generation concert titled A Time and a Place. Aiming to capture past and present in a space that is a source of real pride to the local community, the centrepiece of the event was the Town Hall Time Capsule, which is to be sealed behind a false wall under the stairs. It contains writings, photographs, mementos, special edition memorabilia and historic artefacts, which together create a picture of 21st century life in Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh. The programme for A Time and a Place featured the CatStrand Singers with selections from Singing the Galloway Glens, the song cycle put together by the late Nicola Black, who is still so sadly missed. This included the haunting Moorbrock Memories and Galloway Lullaby and, for a bit of light relief, A Conversation of Geese. The CD of Singing the Galloway Glens together with its beautifully illustrated companion publication was placed in the time capsule by Carol Salsbury to the accompaniment of a drum roll and cymbal crash – provided for every item by the inimitable Ian Wemyss. The contributions from the Cubs pack and primary school were particularly interesting, with children wondering how life might be different in 50 years' time. ‘Will toilets still be same?' was one stand-out question. Rose Ardron placed the Writedown anthology of local writings from Covid lockdown days, while Barbara Barker and Avril Bridgeman provided an excellent canter through New Galloway's past 50 years up to and including the latest local news - submitting several copies of the Glenkens Gazette. from Dumfries & Galloway Council to Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING), who now hold it in trust for the benefit of the community, took place in August 2022. It was just in time; money to keep the building in good repair had dwindled and the neglect was very clear. Had it not been taken on by LING, the Town Hall had been Additions to the Time Capsule were interspersed with songs, often with no small degree of audience participation. Additions to the Time Capsule were interspersed with songs, often with no small degree of audience participation. The concert ended with everyone joining in an unforgettable rendition of E Malala – a Hawaiian Earth Blessing – the words translating as "Earth and Sky, Sea and Stone, Hold this land in sacredness". Joyous, but also heartbreakingly apt. A Just-in-Time Renovation The asset transfer of the 19th century B-Listed Town Hall destined to be boarded up. Having faced down multiple challenges during the last fifteen months (including the colourful flowering of dry rot), the Town Hall has been sympathetically restored, bringing to life unique features like the Victorian Moral Maxims painted around the Upper Hall walls. The exterior rendering has been repaired and painted to a high standard, the distinctive tower has been renovated, and the 150-year-old clock has had a thorough MOT. The building has been brought into the modern age with the installation of the lift and accessible toilets, alongside carbon and energy saving measures that include secondary glazing and an air source heat pump. The building’s reopening marked the relaunch of the Town Hall’s programme of classes, activities and social events. Martial arts, Tai Chi, indoor bowling and the popular LING Lunches are already in train as the building returns to its historic position as New Galloway’s community hub. LING Trustees are keen to spread the word that the Town Hall is a venue that belongs to the community, with potential to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing, and build on the connectedness of rural life. So many to thank Volunteers were the backbone of what New Galloway has achieved, in particular those who help with LING Lunches, the Town Hall’s flagship offering. They create the atmosphere of welcome that infuses and permeates the building. Others run the weekly sports evening year in year out, quietly making all comers feel at home and able to enjoy a friendly game of carpet bowls or table tennis. Many in the community made themselves available at the drop of a hat to help. Vicky of Dynamic Domestic brought her team to help with cleaning up as renovation work was drawing to an end. Jim Ranyard set up lights and an excellent sound system for A Time and a Place. Continued over the page... GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette Continued from previous page... Heather Mackintosh put an incredible amount of work into helping the Cubs to compile their contribution for the Time Capsule, as did Margaret Heuchan with the school children from Kells. LING had superb support from Ronnie Bradford as Project Officer overseeing the renovations. Jackie Wells, New Galloway’s brilliant Community Inclusion Worker, adeptly juggled balls and spun plates. And LING’s newest recruit, Bianca Leder, hit the ground running by setting up and running popular Thursday Hubbub sessions. The LING team have been lucky also to recruit an excellent new cleaner in Susan Howarth. Of course without a roster of encouraging funders none of the renovations would have happened at all. Glenkens and District Trust were the first to launch the project on its way with a promise of £25K from Blackcraig Windfarm towards installation of the lift. D&G Council were generous in supporting interior repairs, and October 2021 saw the offer of £175K from the Community Ownership Fund, a game changer that required match funding, which LING managed to achieve. With significant last-minute help from South of Scotland Enterprise and a major uplift from Scotland’s Lets Do Net Zero Fund, LING can account for having raised £450K. Chair of LING, Barbara Barker, said: “From start to finish New Galloway’s page 7 Town Hall project has been community-led and supported by an incredible diversity of partners and funders. Starting with LING’s membership, 133 people - about 40% of the local community - are members of LING, and 65 are ‘Friends of the Town Hall’ who pay a monthly small subscription to support the work. Over 40 people came to our February AGM and when we held a fundraiser for the renovations, £5,000 was raised. The support from so many who enthuse, attend, and help in so many ways to build a network of friendships is quite phenomenal.” The last item to be placed in the Time Capsule, before Ros Hill was called upon to close it for posterity, was a report of the renovation process itself – the whole story of the asset transfer and the fundraising success. THE TRUSTEES of LING offer grateful thanks to the funders of the Town Hall renovation: Community Ownership Fund Architectural Heritage Fund HM Government Department Of Levelling Up The Galloway Association of Glasgow Community & Renewable Energy Scheme The Garfield Weston Foundation The Scottish Government’s Let’s Do Net Zero Fund The Robertson Trust Glenkens And District Trust The National Lottery Heritage Fund administered by Foundation Scotland South Of Scotland Enterprise Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund Dumfries & Galloway Council The National Lottery Community Fund The Hugh Fraser Trust The Winnifred Ann Kennedy Trust The Pilgrim Trust Robert Barr’s Charitable Trust The Howat Trust New Galloway & Kells Community Council ...and last, but by no means least, the local community! Local historian Paul Goodwin features on ITV Border Life L ocal military historian Paul Goodwin has highlighted the importance of war memorials in an episode of ITV's Border Life. of our history. Paul said: "It should be remembered, and commemorated, if for no other reason than to remember that war is a bad thing and we need to do all we can to avoid it. "All these lives cut short, all these people who never married, never had children, the people who were never born, the generations that were never born, so it continues to have an impact. "In this area, people went away to war and never came back...the whole community changed as a direct result of the first world war." As a founding member of the charity The Scottish Military Research Group, Paul's research has shown there are over 550 war memorials in the region, most of which were not on record when he began his research in 2006. Paul has created a list of people commemorated on the main war memorials of the Glenkens, and the list itself is now a registered war memorial. His other work includes the recent Galloway Glens Last Flights booklet, as well as many Glenkens Gazette articles over the years. Paul believes war memorials are vital not only for education and family history researchers but in order to ensure younger generations remember this vital part To watch Paul's episode on war memorials visit www.itv.com/news/ border/2023-11-15/ remembering-the-fallenas-significance-of-warmemorials-examined Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews Join the board T he board of any voluntary organisation is its backbone and its guide; nothing can be done without them and their commitment. As ever, therefore, I remain most grateful to the GCAT Directors for their sterling efforts this year on behalf of GCAT and all its work. A particular milestone has been refreshing our strategy, which now runs from 2023 to 2028 and clarifies our position as a key anchor organisation for the area, with a vision of making the Glenkens an excellent place to live for people of all ages. We do this by: • Interweaving Arts, Community and Heritage to enrich the life of the area. • Delivering our Artistic Vision with passion and creativity. • Supporting many activities core to the quality of life of people and environment of the Glenkens. • Driving economic and social regeneration of the area through championing the delivery of the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan. You can see the full strategy at www.gcat.scot/about-gcat and it's exciting to have a clear vision of our work as we look forward into what are undoubtedly very challenging times, with the squeeze on public funding, high inflation and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. page 8 At our AGM on 29 January (7.30pm in the CatStrand - all welcome), we will be seeking nominations for new GCAT directors. Jackie Wells and Richard Middleton will be leaving by then and will be much missed. Jackie's enthusiasm for GCAT and all of our projects was, and is, much appreciated and it is a shame (although quite understandable) that pressure of work caused her to step down in October 2023. Richard has been on the Board since 2018 and over many years has provided a depth of thought and sense of direction that I have very much appreciated. He works tirelessly on behalf of our community in many aspects and has made a huge impact on the Glenkens communities in doing so. We are now seeking nominations to join the remaining Board in January. We are particularly interested in people who represent the farther reaches of the Glenkens, younger people, people new to the area and people with a demonstrated interest in the arts or community, but would love to hear from anyone with an interest in supporting what we do at the CatStrand and beyond. If you are interested in this voluntary role, please get in touch with Helen@catstrand. com in the first instance, and she will arrange nocommitment chats with myself and other Board members to find out more. Deadline for nomination is 19 January, but it would be excellent to hear from interested parties before the end of the year. Peter Fryer, Chair of the GCAT Board Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 9 Photo of the Issue ...Sponsored by the Stockbridge Mac & Cheese Co This issue’s winner is Colin Edgar with his striking shot of a rainbow at Stroangassel. Colin wins two portions of mac and cheese from our competition sponsors, the Balmaclellan-based Stockbridge Mac & Cheese Co. Company owner and competition judge, Hannah Gould, said: "What a great photo - the rainbow seems to shine directly onto the blackface tup, who looks like he's posing for the picture; perhaps this tup is worth his weight in gold!" To enter you can send in any photograph taken in the Glenkens to glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP Solicitors and Estate Agents Dumfries & Galloway 01556 503744 www.ggblaw.co.uk All legal advice Offices in Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie Kirkcudbright and Dumfries Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity Halloween in page 10 Spooky fun with Bairn Banter C hildren from all across the Glenkens joined Bairn Banter for a haunting halloween party in Carsphairn's Lagwyne Hall. The Carsphairn-based stayand-play children's group welcomed youngsters of all ages to this fun-filled event. Alongside the usual party games of musical statues, pass-the-parcel and a pinata, the children participated in a range of halloweenthemed activities such as gruesome sensory play (resembling worms), a spooky soft play area, dookin’ for apples, wrap the mummy and the doughnuts-onsa-string game. A creative area was also available for children to take a moment away from the bustle of the party, to enjoy a quiet colouring activity or themed playdough, and there was a buffet-style feast for children and adults as part of the annual celebration. Bairn Banter’s founder, Melissa Ade, commented: "It was wonderful to see so many children and adults come together to celebrate with us here at Bairn Banter. I want to say a special thank you to everyone who came along to enjoy the party and to the very helpful parents whose support made the party such a spook-tacular event!” Money raised at September's Carsphairn Community Market funded this event, enabling it to be a free, inclusive event for local families. Glenkens Youth Group in a fantastic water safety activity organised by the Loch Ken Trust in collaboration with the Galloway Activity Centre (GAC). Despite the temperature dropping, our young people hopped on the paddleboards on a gloriously sunny day to learn some invaluable water safey skills. A big 'thank you' goes to the Loch Ken Trust and GAC for this incredible opportunity. O ctober was a busy month for the Glenkens Youth Group. We saw the arrival of the new youth group assistant, 21-year-old Ben Wells, to the team. Ben and his mum Jackie have helped out before with the youth group, so we are thrilled to have him back on a more permanent basis. Early in October the group partcipated The group also enjoyed our 'Friends Around the Fire' session where there was an opportunity to use a flint-andsteel for firelighting, developed fire safety skills and savour some tasty toasted marshmallows. The group are grateful to the Glenkens Community Centre for supporting this activity and we hope to do this again in the future. Many of the young people chose to dress up for our halloween-themed meet-up and a kind donation of pumpkins by Tesco in Castle Douglas resulted in some creative pumpkin carving. Lastly, the Glenkens Youth Group relished our 'Make Your Own Pizza' night. They worked together to make pizza dough and prepared all the toppings. Once again, thank you to Tesco for the large contribution of vegetables. We were also very lucky to have some special ingredients through generous donations from local producers. Thank you to Deer Manor Mushrooms for the beautiful organic mushrooms, and to Hidden Veg for gorgeous fresh herbs and greens. Not only were these donations extremely delicious, but a great step towards sustainability for the Genkens Youth Group. Sessions will continue during term-time on Monday evenings from 7-8.30pm at the Glenkens Community Centre. The group is open to young people from P7 up to S3. We are also preparing for some trips during the holidays and are in talks with other organisations to provide more opportunities for the young people of the Glenkens, so watch this space! If you would like to find out more, please get in touch on glenkensyouth@gmail. com Beata, Youth Group Lead GAZETTEcommunity the Glenkens Glenkens Gazette page 11 Cub Scouts party-time T he Glenkens Cub Scouts celebrated with a halloween party with all the games and fun associated with it. We are now looking forward to visiting the CatStrand Panto. The Cub Scouts and Leaders wish everyone in the Glenkens a merry Christmas and a happy New Year and thank everyone for their continued support to the Scout movement. Yours in scouting, Heather, Hannah & parent helpers Freaky fun with Friends of Dalry School F riends of Dalry School (FoDS) volunteers once again hosted a fun-filled halloween party for Glenkens children. Over 80 people came through the doors of the Glenkens Commnity Centre in Dalry on hallween night, with children participating in all kinds of halloween games, as well as enjoying hotdogs and snacks and music by Dalry's own DJ Owen. Thanks go to everyone who gave a donation on the door, and to parents and members of the community who helped out, especially Dalry Good Neighbours Club and the Glenkens Youth Group for helping with the decorating. If anyone would like to make a donation to FoDS please message the group on Facebook or call in to the school donations are gratefully received and go towards organising events such as halloween, Christmas and summer splash parties for the children, as well as contributing towards the costs of extras at school such as school trips, bags, books and other items that help out. Friends of Dalry School Community spirit T hanks once again go to the dedicated members of New Galloway community who truly make guising in the village something to remember. As parents of some wonderfully terrified children who had the best halloween ever being chased by scary local characters (among others we think we spotted Freddy Kruger from A Nightmare on Elm Street and Jason from Friday the 13th), we would like to say a big 'thank you' for the effort put in every year to offer something spookily special - halloween in the Glenkens wouldn't be the same without you! Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 12 Local governance and our communities... ...how it works and how to get involved How do community councils work? C ommunity Councils were first established in Scotland following the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Thereafter, the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act, 1994, which produced the current system of unitary Local Authorities, made provision for the continuation of community councils. Under the legislation, every local community in Scotland is entitled to petition their local authority to establish a community council in their area. Although they are elected bodies, Community Councils do not have the status of local authorities, nor are they part of local authorities. Community Councils are a separate legal entity with their own rights and responsibilities created and sustained by the said Acts of 1973 and 1994 to be run in accordance with the approved Scheme. In Dumfries and Galloway there are currently 88 Community Councils across the region. Dumfries and Galloway are required to adhere to its terms. The Scheme supports the operation of Community Councils and is viewed by DGC as the Community Council’s Constitution to encourage and maintain consistency across for all Community Councils. It sets out the basic role and purpose of Community Councils and the basic rules that are expected to be complied with, including in relation to complaints and the conduct of members. The statutory purposes of Community Councils established under the Scheme are set out in Section 51(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as follows: ‘’In addition to any other purpose which a Community Council may pursue, the general purpose of a Community This will involve Community Councils articulating the views and concerns of local people in their area on a wide range of issues of public concern and make representations to DGC, other public sector bodies and private agencies on matters within their area of interest. Community Councils have a statutory right to be consulted on planning applications and may from time to time be consulted on issues such as licensing, matters affecting the local community and interface with the Scottish Government. Members of a Community Council are required to be aged 16 years or over; reside within the Community Council area; and be named on the current register of electors for that area on the date of being proposed for membership. Dumfries and Galloway Council provide a consistent level of support to Community Councils across the region and arrange elections, including ordinary elections held every five years, by-elections and casual vacancy elections. Community Councils must be inclusive organisations whose general purpose is to act as a voice for their local areas. The Amended 2018 Scheme for Community Councils in Dumfries and Galloway ('The Scheme') was agreed by Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) on 25 September 2018. Its purpose is to enable the establishment of community councils within Dumfries and Galloway and to provide a common minimum basic framework governing their creation and operation. All Community Councils within Gordon McAdam Plumbing & Heating 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry 01644 430 393 07834 321 789 Council shall be to ascertain, co-ordinate and express to the local authorities for its area, and to public authorities, the views of the community which it represents, in relation to matters for which those authorities are responsible, and to take such action in the interests of that community as appears to it to be expedient and practicable”. Community Councils must be inclusive organisations whose general purpose is to act as a voice for their local area. David Tallontire CHIMNEY SWEEP Covering the Glenkens & further afield 07709 144 299 - wood burners - multi-fuel stoves - open fires - Agas - Rayburns - birds nest removal with CCTV inspection - certificates issued - feel free to call for advice - Find me on Facebook Further information on Community Councils in Dumfries and Galloway can be found at https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/ communitycouncils Hazel Kerr, Community & Democratic Services Officer, Dumfries & Galloway Council Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity 'Tis the season to be jolly! A dvent and Christmas look set to be busy this year at St Margaret’s Church in New Galloway. The St Margaret’s Guild is once again holding a Christmas Coffee Morning with the Glenkens Churches Guild, this year in the newly refurbished New Galloway Town Hall on 6 December, 10.30am-12noon. We hope to donate our share of monies raised to the Christian charity, Adopt a Child, that provides food and education for children living in poverty in Guatemala and Albania. On each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, a new candle on the Advent wreath in church will be lit as we explore the themes of hope, peace, love and joy. On Sunday 17 December we will be holding a special Advent carol service (10.30am) with favourite carols such as ‘O Come O Come Emmanuel’. Also, on Thursday 21 December at 9.30am Dawn Matthew, our priest, will be hosting Kells School at St Margaret’s for their Christmas service – we hope that parents and friends will also be able to join us. We are delighted to welcome Geoff Davidson’s Glenkens Choir on Friday 22 December at 4pm for their popular ‘Carols by Candlelight’. Beautiful traditional carols will take centre stage with a mix of readings from various sources. Mulled wine, spiced apple ale (non-alcoholic) and festive nibbles will be served by the St Margaret’s Guild following the service. Then on Christmas Eve, we are holding a special family nativity service. Having four children herself, Dawn is aware that children’s attention span on Christmas Eve is not long so this will be a short informal service, 3.00 to 3.30pm. We would encourage children to bring a sheep or angel that they have made or drawn to be pinned on the special tree. Christmas Day itself will see a traditional Holy Communion at 10.30am with familiar readings and carols. Amongst all the excitement and jollity, St Margaret’s has for many years also thought of those in need and dedicated their Christmas collection to a charity chosen by the congregation at their AGM in late November. Last year, we were able to raise £1,175 for Médecins sans Frontières in this way. *Sunday 3 December Corsock Village Hall* 11am Til 3pm - £1 entry includes tea & cake! We look forward to welcoming friends, old and new, to any or all of our special events. Please see Glenkens Church Times on page 31 for details of our regular services. Nicolette Wise WRIGHTS STORE & POST OFFICE DALRY DALRY DALRY SWEET TREAT SATURDAY DALRY INFORMATION FRESH CREAM CAKES AVAILABLE TO ORDER page 13 OPENING TIMES OPENING HOURS MONDAY-FRIDAY 7.30AM-5.30PM MONDAY – FRIDAY SATURDAY - 8.30AM-5PM 7.30am – 5.30pm SUNDAY - 8.30AM-3PM SATURDAY – 5pm * we will be8.30am closed on the 25th & 26th 8.30am of December and SUNDAY – 3pm the 1st & 2nd of January * WISHING ALL OUR LOCAL SUPPLIERS CUSTOMERS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY A HAPPY NEW YEAR! BUTCHERS LOCAL SUPPLIERS UPPER DULLARG EGGS DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY MITCHELLS FRUIT & VEG BUTCHERS UPPER DULLARG EGGS SWEETCAKES BAKERY MITCHELL'S FRUIT & VEG SWEETCAKES BAKERY GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY GLENKENS HONEY CREAM O GALLOWAY COMPANY CREAM O' GALLOWAY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES GALLOWAY LODGE IRVINGS BAKERY PRESERVES IRVINGS BAKERY SCOTTISH PASTA GALLOWAYGALLOWAY SCOTTISH PASTA COWS & CO GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY HIGH QUALITY VENUE HIRE AVAILABLE The CatStrand, New Galloway, and The Smiddy, Balmaclellan, are available for hire for: - Meetings for 4 to 12 people - Talks or events for up to 80 people (raked seating) - Hybrid meetings - Social events - Hold your event with us at our unique venues in the heart of the Glenkens! Catering available - Charitable rates available POP IN FOR A CHAT AND A BROWSE Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople page 14 Award recognises Brian's community commitment Continued from front page... Amidst intense competition, Brian emerged as the well-deserved winner due to his diligent efforts within the community. His involvement in various local committees and groups reflects a lifetime commitment to community service, showcasing his leadership and dedication to the betterment of the Glenkens area. Brian's extensive community engagement includes roles in committees such as the New Galloway & Kells Community Council, where he served for almost 30 years, six of them as Provost. He has also been a key figure on the Scottish Alternative Games Committee since 2001, contributing to the organisation and providing commentary at the ever-popular event. Brian joined the board of New Galloway Community Enterprises Ltd in 2021, bringing his wealth of experience to help promote sustainable community development. This was first apparent in his role as one of the founding Trustees of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, for whom he has volunteered and worked tirelessly for 22 years now, presently as the CatStrand Enterprise and Facilities Manager. His contributions to education have been notable too, having been a member of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and School Board at Kells School at various times between 1991 and 2002. Brian's commitment to youth development also extends to football, where he earned the Scottish Football Association Youth Coaching Certificate in 1996 and coached the Kells School Football Team for 12 years. He also assisted with coaching the youth teams at Fleet Star FC for several years. In the realm of amateur drama Brian was a steadfast member of Glenkens '73 Club, making his acting debut in the pantomime Cinderella in 1974. Over the years, he has participated in numerous one-act plays and pantomimes, eventually taking over as the panto dame from his father, Tommy Edgar. Brian then went on to found CatStrand Youth Players in 2008 and now enjoys directing the annual pantomime and one-act plays. The D&G Life award put a particular spotlight on his exceptional work with the Youth Players group, highlighting Brian's pivotal role in creating a haven for young individuals in a rural area, providing them with unique opportunities to immerse themselves in the world of drama. In a community where access to cultural and artistic activities would otherwise be limited, Brian's commitment to CatStrand as a whole and the CatStrand Youth Players in particular stands out as a beacon of creativity and inclusivity. Through his leadership, the group has become a transformative space for young talents in the Glenkens area. Since its formation in 2008, more than 200 young people aged 10 to 18 have benefited from the CatStrand Youth Players, with some going on to pursue drama at the college level and even achieving professional acting careers. The group, consisting of approximately 18 members, stages an annual pantomime that has become a local favourite and has also achieved considerable success in Scottish Community Drama Association Festivals over the years, regularly representing Stewartry District at West of Scotland Finals and also going on to finish in second place at the Scottish Final last year. Away from his commitment to his work and community volunteering, Brian enjoys spending quality time with his family, including his beloved dog Roxy and enjoys socialising with friends, sometimes with a pint of Best! He has been a dedicated supporter of Queen of the South FC for over 50 years, rarely missing a home game in that time. Accompanied by his wife Eileen and some of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust team members, Brian accepted the Volunteer of the Year award at the Dumfries & Galloway Life Awards Ceremony in November. His humility was evident as he acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the entire community, emphasising that all of his achievements are part of a team effort. CatStrand Young Creatives, another GCAT project, were also finalists at the Awards in the Culture Champion category, recognising the work of Cat Campbell the Project Lead and all the Young Creatives team. They didn’t win on this occasion but surely their time will come soon! The Dumfries and Galloway Life Awards celebrate outstanding contributions to the community, and Brian Edgar's recognition as Volunteer of the Year is a testament to his exceptional dedication and positive impact on the Glenkens communities. Congratulations to Brian and of course Eileen (as these things can never be done alone) on this well-deserved honour. Helen and Hayley Pictured below, left to right, are: Brian commentating at the Scottish Alternative Games; Brian, Eileen and their grandchildren; Brian showing how it's done at a Youth players rehearsal Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople page 15 Vika's Ukranian extravaganza I n October Vika Jouja, who moved to the Glenkens from Ukraine as a refugee in 2022, hosted her first Ukranian Buffet at Dalry Town Hall. Vika and her family have really thrown themselves into life in the Glenkens, with Vika baking and selling Ukranian bread in the local shops pretty much from day one! "Our buffet went amazingly," said Vika. "I am very happy and thank the community for all their help and support. It was so successful I am planning the next one before Christmas." The spead of food was incredible, with all kinds of savoury and sweet options laid out for the hungry horde who had booked a seat at the event. Vika said: "I was born and raised in the west of Ukraine. I cook exclusively traditional Ukrainian food and bread. My beloved husband is from Syria, and we often prepare international Ukrainian-Syrian food. I want more people to know about our cuisine and if people like it, I plan to open a cafe with traditional Ukrainian food and sweets. Cook-confectioner is my main profession, and I really like to cook. In Ukraine I organised weddings, birthdays, buffets and I bake about 20 different types of bread, buns, pies, cakes and many different sweets. My Vika's next Ukranian Buffet will be held on Saturday 16 December at 6pm in Dalry Town Hall, with a cost of £15 per head grandmother taught me to bake bread when I was a child, and these are ancient traditional recipes that were passed down from generation to generation that I use. I am very proud that I can work in this field and I enjoy when I bake bread, I make it with love from all my heart." If you would like to buy some of Vika's bread, it is sold in shops in Dalry, Castle Douglas and Colvend, as well as at farmers markets. Vika also bakes cakes to order and is happy to cater for events. To get in touch you can message her on Facebook or email vikafiras@ gmail.com Talking about life in Scotland, and the Glenkens, Vika said: "My family and I enjoy living in Scotland. We love this part of Scotland and the people here for their kindness, openness, sincerity and support." Pictured are: below left - Vika's incredible buffet spread; left - one of Vika's amazing cakes; above - Vika speaking to guests at the event alongside her family GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 16 Glenkens Youth Correspondent Joshua Wells is our Gazette youth correspondent and will be writing each issue about things which interest him. In this edition he looks at his family's move from England to the Glenkens and what that experience has been like. Moving to Scotland I n March 2022, I moved up to Scotland, from a county in England called Kent. The reason for the move was due to us feeling as if we were losing all the fields and farms, which were turning into buildings. We moved after just starting secondary school, which I missed the start of due to COVID-19. This made me nervous, as I’d be starting over again, with new friends, a new school, and a whole new life. We took over Balmaclellan village store, and we quickly met most people in the village. I started at my new school, where I also met a lot of new friends. One great thing about living here is I can get the bus, which stops right outside my house and I can get off right outside my school, unlike the journey to my old school, a 30-minute walk to the train station, a 10-minute train journey and The New Galloway Town Hall also has a multitude of activities for me, and I can also do a lot of volunteering which adds to my Saltire award. My school has a lot of activities for me and other students to enjoy such as trip days, where I got to climb Criffel, and longer school trips where you may be able to stay abroad, such as an Italy ski trip. I found you don’t just have to use local businesses for activities, you can also go out into the amazing landscape. Not only Dumfries and Galloway, but the whole of Scotland has amazing landscapes and countryside. I have gone out for a drive with my family, to look around and found I have discovered places I have never been before, this may be because I am still fairly new to Scotland. However it could also be because Dumfries and Galloway’s brilliant maze-like countryside, where there are no two places that are the same. As soon as I passed the English-Scottish border, I felt a whole new community, one that doesn’t just look out for themselves but also their village/town. Initially, we stayed in Powfoot, we went up and down the beach with the dog, we had a great view of the lake district, and I got my first look at Criffel. As soon as I passed the EnglishScottish border, I felt a whole new community, one that doesn’t just look out for themselves but also their village/town. When speaking to new people, it seemed like we had known them for years. MATTHEW PAJO Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - pain management - women's health - men's health - fatigue - sleep - stress - anxiety - needle-free laser acupuncture- The Old School, Crossmichael info@matthewpajo.co.uk 07786 079 845 another long walk to the school. I can also get the bus to New Galloway, where a lot of activities are held. In Dumfries and Galloway, there are also a lot of activities for me and many other people, for example, I have found that the CatStrand have a lot of activities that I can participate in, such as their CatStrand panto rehearsals, behind-thescenes and music and art lessons. In conclusion, I’m very pleased I have moved up to Scotland not only because of the amazing community, astonishing activities and even the extraordinary landscape but having brilliant friends and family I can feel safe around. Amber Dunlop-Pajo Health Psychologist - women's health - stress - depression - anxietyThe Old School, Crossmichael info@gallowaycounselling.co.uk 07389 713 106 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 17 Call TODAY for your free, no obligation quote - 01387 810 428 advertisement * Special £500 discount to Glenkens residents who get in touch in December/January 2023/4 and quote 'Gazette Deal' * • 13 years' installation experience • A team of expert engineers • Impeccable after care service Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology offers numerous benefits, contributing to a sustainable and resilient energy future. 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Embracing solar PV not only addresses environmental concerns but also fosters economic growth and resilience in the face of evolving energy challenges Rob Wade RJW Electrical Services Ltd 07732068218 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 18 sponsored by Benchmark community benefit agreement for Upper Urr Environmental Trust "We encourage land owners, investors and communities across Scotland to think about using shared ownership and decision-making, leases or other negotiated agreements to open up opportunities.” Continued from front page... The management plan for the site is currently being drafted, with any input or suggestions welcomed. Joe Seed, Chairman of Upper Urr Environment Trust, said: “Balancing commercial forestry and environmental issues is a difficult task in these times of unprecedented biodiversity loss. We welcome this opportunity to work with FSF to safeguard and restore an ecologically important area within the Galloway Landscape. We would encourage others to engage with developments in their area as it only takes a few individuals to make a difference." In May 2023, the proposed site was visited by a delegation of Scottish Land Commissioners to listen to the proposals and offer input. Scottish Land Commission Chief Executive Hamish Trench commented: “It is encouraging to hear this collaboration is progressing. We see big potential to develop this kind of approach further so that investment in land use change also increases the ability of local communities to deliver their priorities. We encourage land owners, investors and communities across Scotland to think about using shared ownership and decisionmaking, leases or other negotiated agreements to open up opportunities.” For more information on the project, contact Upper Urr Environmental Trust at uuet.scotland@protonmail. com or follow UUET on facebook or twitter. Upper Urr Environmental Trust is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), number SC051592. Top left: Left to right are Ted Downs (EJD Forestry), Joe Seed (UUET Chairman), Pen Symonds (UUET), McNabb Laurie (UUET) and Rob Guest (FSF Bottom left & below: Crichton Carbon Centre’s bog event on the site in August 2023 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 19 sponsored by If you would like to list something on this page, please get in touch on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk FREE Lec Dehumidifier D110, in good working order. Contact: 07762 083703 Willow wands for edging, arbors, decorative garden features. Contact: 01644 420 267 Pale brown carpet, laid but then replaced without being used. Approx 4m x 3.5m (13x11 feet). Collection from Dalry. Contact: 07769 959511 Horse manure, rotted and fresh, no weed killers used. Dig your own - bring sacks or trailer. Contact: 07889 229 340 WANTED Small shed/dog house/chicken coop to house a family of three chickens. Contact: Leto 07763 235 888 Outdoor table and chairs. Contact: 07507 704 821 Old lawn mowers/strimmers/other small machinery. Nonrunners/broken welcome. Contact: 07845 562 217 Launch of the Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands initiative T he Gazette has carried many articles over the years about our changing land use, including the arrival of things like carbon accounting, ‘natural capital’, and the implications for the Glenkens. As we start to get our heads round what these ideas mean, the changes in nature and the climate continue to loom larger in our lives, with impacts expected and already being felt. We have no time to spare. With society scrambling to invent new mechanisms to respond to these challenges, Dumfries & Galloway can be on the front line of our response. The Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands initiative has been established to work on tangible projects that RESPOND to these twin challenges, delivering maximum benefit for our region in the process. Supported by partners including The Woodland Trust, Borders Forest Trust and Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Environment Team, the initiative is perfectly placed to draw best practice experience from regional and national partners into our region. We are used to looking with admiration at projects like Carrifran or the Eddleston Water project. Those projects are now being harnessed to drive economic activity for their surrounding areas. A truly ‘Nature-led economy’ includes agriculture, silviculture, and related industries. McNabb Laurie, Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands Officer, started in post in October 2023 and is already involved in a number of local proposals across the region – from innovative land owner/ community relationships that add public amenity and biodiversity value, through to targeting national support streams into Dumfries & Galloway. Woodlands is set up on a proactive basis to seek to support habitat improvements and to respond to emerging opportunities amidst the challenges. The South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme – administered by Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands - is a perfect example of how local people can deliver biodiversity and landscape benefits that will benefit future generations. In coming months, we will be welcoming members, seeking trustees and unveiling some of the projects under development. In the meantime, for more information, follow Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands on social media or sign up for the newsletter by emailing mcnabb.laurie@ dgwoodlands.org McNabb Laurie This can feel like an era of mass-commodification of our natural resources. The Scottish Government are seeking a ‘just transition’. At times SOUTH OF SCOTLAND TREE PLANTING GRANT SCHEME it can feel the The South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme aims to assist biodiversity and projects that are planting up to 0.25 hectares of native trees, with climate changes are funds able to support the actual purchase of the trees and the beyond our influence, tree protection. but Dumfries & Galloway has a really Full information about the Scheme is available on the Glenkens Hub important role to play website at www.glenkens.scot. The Scheme was launched in Dumfries & on the national stage, Galloway in 2021, with more than 22,000 trees planted so far. This year’s and we can be part of scheme is now open for applications. Join a whole range of people that will the solution. be planting trees this winter across the Glenkens. For an application form contact McNabb on 07538 798837 or on mcnabb.laurie@dgwoodlands.org Dumfries & Galloway Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 20 Out and About in the Biosphere T he GSA Biosphere team has been busy these last couple months working on the Blackface Sheep Wool project, for which a landmark Crowdfunder campaign has finally launched! Almost two years since the project started, the Biosphere is now hoping to raise the final funds necessary to produce and bring to market a range of 100% blackface wool outerwear. This project is supported by the Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association and aims to raise the profile of the breed by showcasing the versatility of the wool and its potential within the circular economy. Anyone who attended one of the Biosphere’s Bleat 'n’ Blether events during October’s Wool Month may have already seen, felt, and/or tried on the garment samples. The designs had a great reception, with people praising the quality and style. This is the Biosphere’s first foray into trading and through an innovative social enterprise model all profits from clothing sales will go back into Biosphere projects, continuing to promote the UNESCO region, its communities, and sustainable living. From the initial idea, to showing the first garments at the Royal Highland Show, it’s been quite a journey for the Biosphere team, and with the public’s help the next stage in the project can get underway. The crowdfunding campaign is live now on www. crowdfunder.co.uk - any and all donations very gratefully received. You can also find more information on the Biosphere’s website and social media channels, or contact info@gsabiosphere.org.uk With a great range of Biosphere Certification Mark businesses within easy reach of the Glenkens, this is a perfect time chance to shop local and support sustainable businesses in the run up to Christmas. Dark Art Distillery has recently launched its new Understory gin, or pick up some gifts from Gallovidia Books. If you’re looking for fresh, seasonal produce for the festive period, try Barnbarroch Organic, Deer Manor Mushrooms, Glenquicken Farm and Low Auldgirth Steading; all have been awarded the Biosphere Certification Mark for sustainability and are available through the Glenkens Food Hub. Looking ahead to Day One of 2024...one of the most rewarding New Year’s resolutions that can be made is to spend more time outdoors. Connecting with nature is good for physical and mental health, and there’s plenty to see in the GSA Biosphere during winter. In the Glenkens we’re lucky enough to have the Ken-Dee Marshes Nature Reserve on our doorstep, a haven for birders as one of the few mainland sites in Scotland where Greenland white-fronted geese overwinter. Raiders’ Road is open to walkers and cyclists only (no cars) during winter; the otter pools are a fantastic place for a cold-weather picnic – bring a flask of hot chocolate and wrap up warm! And finally, the longer nights afford more opportunity to experience the region’s dark skies. Home to the UK’s first International Dark Sky Park, the UNESO Biosphere region has some of the best overhead views, with thousands of stars visible to the naked eye on a clear night. Biosphere Guides and Dark Sky Rangers can help you navigate the night sky and experience the science, myths and legends of the stars, while Kirkcudbright is home to the Dark Space Planetarium – a brilliant day out in inclement weather. Stay connected with the Blackface Wool Project, ‘Biosphere businesses’, projects and events at www. gsabiosphere.org.uk or by following #gsabiosphere on social media. Left - Winter walks in the Biosphere. Top - Scottish Blackface lambs. Above Merrick Blackface wool jumper on stage at the Royal Highland Show Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 21 Reflections on an eventful year A s the 2023 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on a remarkable year for the Loch Ken Trust, which has made significant progress towards its overall mission to become the first future-ready community. The Loch Ken Ranger Service, led by Head Ranger Leanne Pumpr, has grown from strength to strength and is now firmly embedded within the communities around Loch Ken, paving the way as one of the first community-led Ranger Services in Scotland. The Ranger Service has attended over 100 incidents this year, including wildlife crime, fly tipping and dirty camping , and has ensured the Loch and surrounding areas are well looked after. Over 300 patrols have been carried out this year both on land and water. Thanks to generous funding from Blackcraig Windfarm Fund, through Glenkens and District Trust, the Ranger Service now has three years' security and can now make plans for the future. Leanne Pumpr said, “It has been an exciting, busy season packed with both land and boat patrols, and a range of educational events. It’s been fabulous to meet so many returning and new visitors, and being able to share knowledge with visitors and locals.” The Trust is grateful to Drax Group plc, owners of the Galloway Hydro Scheme, for supporting office staff, enabling them to continue to work towards their ambitious aims. The work of the trust follows the Loch Ken Plan, a guide to achieving all 17 of the Global Goals by 2030. 2023 has been filled with a host of projects including a successful Summer Education Programme and the start of a Baseline Ecosystem Assessment. Thanks to funding from Drax Group UK, the trust was able to bring six of our local schools to the banks of Loch Ken and educate the next generation on caring for our wonderful environment. This year a funded project enabled Loch Ken Trust to buy a stock of children's waterproofs and footwear so that all young people are properly equipped for their visits to Loch Ken, and there are no barriers to children experiencing all Loch Ken has to offer. Over the course of the last year 25 sessions have been delivered, the Trust and Ranger Service engaging with almost 500 people of all ages. Great progress has been made on the Baseline Ecosystem Assessment, which began with the first ever Loch Ken Water Quality Study, carried out by Galloway Fisheries Trust. The study, the first of its kind on Loch Ken, also included a Community Water Sampling Event and can now be accessed online. It is fantastic to have this baseline data to compare any future studies to. Other environmental events included a Community Bat Walk and Talk. The Trust has great plans for next year for a whole host of studies to help understand the health of our ecosystem and what we can best do to protect it. Water Safety is a top priority for Loch Ken Trust. Manager Barney Fryer said, “To support activities to promote water safety, we have joined Loch Ken Trust up as a member of Water Safety Scotland. This has led to us joining a national working group on water safety in open water environments. We have also received funding from the Holywood Trust to deliver water safety training sessions to 13-25 year olds in our region.” To date, over fifty young people have achieved their water safety awareness completion certificates, and the programme will be continuing into Spring 2024. A Family Water Safety Day was held in the summer, in partnership with local and national emergency services to highlight water safety on and around Loch Ken. Over the winter the Trust has secured funding from the National Centre for Resilience to deliver a pilot research project on how the Loch Ken Ranger Service can assist with building resilience capacity in our remote rural communities. This project will be delivered in partnership with Glenkens Community and Arts Trust, and will assist community councils and community spaces with preparation for extreme weather events. Loch Ken Trust would like to thank the community for their support and looks forward to continuing to make more progress in the coming years to realise their purpose of supporting sustainable communities around Loch Ken. Top: Loch Ken Rangers flying the Sustainable Development Goals flag with young people taking part in the Youth Water Safety Programme at The Galloway Activity Centre Left: Head Ranger Leanne Pumpr delivering a water safety talk to local schoolchildren during the Summer Education Programme Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment Stewartry Birdwatchers winter programme A their prey can include Grey Squirrels, Jays, Barn Owls and even Sparrowhawks. He has been monitoring a specific area for the past 35 years and had a couple of interesting snippets for attendees; the eye colour of the nestlings is a steely grey-blue which turns yellow as they reach adulthood and as the birds age the eye colour of the male becomes orange-red and in the female orange-yellow. The pellets of the Goshawk show that The next talk was 'Where East meets Africa – birding in Oman' with speaker Jeremy Brock, and was based on his three-week visit there in April 2013. Oman is the easternmost country on the Arabian Peninsula and is an interesting but little visited birdwatching destination. It is ideally suited for getting a mix of African, oriental and palearctic birds. Amongst the spectacular birds were little green bee-eaters, African paradise flycatchers and Indian rollers. With so few birdwatchers visiting Oman it is not really surprising that as recently as 2013 a t the October meeting of the Stewartry Birdwatchers, Ronnie Graham spoke about his study of Dumfriesshire Goshawks. new species to science was discovered - the Omani owl, deep in the Al Hajjar Mountains. On Thursday 11 January the Dumfries naturalist and author, Barbara Mearns, will give a talk entitled 'Birds, Butterflies and Moths – the hunters and the hunted'. Barbara will discuss the local bird species that eat butterflies and moths. Then on Thursday 15 February Stan Da Prato will help those present to identify warblers by sight and sound. The call of the chiffchaff page 22 is unmistakeable but what about the difference between the songs of the garden warbler and the blackcap?“ Joan Howie, joanospreys1@btinternet.com For details of meeting dates/ times see What's On section on p34. Pictured is a little egret showing off its yellow feet; one of around 500 species of birds to be seen in Oman, it is now colonising the UK GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 23 CatStrand Young Creatives highlights H ere at CatStrand Young Creatives we have had another incredible year after kicking things off with a bang in March at the Scottish Drama Festival. The talented Youth Players swept up multiple trophies with their performances, with the behindthe-scenes crew also taking home an award for 'Best Stage Presentation'. We then launched our Young Critics Programme, providing young people with invaluable training and mentorship opportunities. These aspiring critics have their reviews published on our Youth Creatives blog, captivating readers with their fresh perspectives on the arts programme. Throughout the year, our regular art, dance and drama clubs provided endless excitement during term time. We then put on a thrilling summer programme that drew in even more children to the CatStrand. From art and forest schools to shadow puppetry and beyond, the children had a blast exploring their creative passions. Our Young Creatives have also been working with Dalry High School to deliver weekly drama clubs. These talented students have been crafting their own devised pieces, which they will be performing at the CatStrand in early December. And that's not all! In 2023, we were absolutely thrilled to launch the Young Music Makers project, generously funded by YMI Creative Scotland. This incredible initiative has provided young musicians with a wide range of music-making opportunities, from ukulele and guitar lessons to keyboard piano and violin classes. We've also been supporting eight budding musicians in their journey to develop their musical careers, giving them the chance to collaborate with industry professionals and create their very first tracks. To celebrate the incredible progress made in just six months, in November we held a spectacular showcase where all the children and young people involved in the project took to the stage. and thirty talented performers wowed the audience at the CatStrand. But the excitement doesn’t stop there! We’ve also been providing mentoring for a local young playwright, Thomas Petch, who has recently been working alongside Banbury Banter to develop his extraordinary script into a stageable play. We can't wait to see what incredible theatre he brings to life in the future. Meanwhile, our Art Ambassadors have been working Pictured are the Art Ambassadors tirelessly to ensure that honing their photographic skills our projects remain outside the CatStrand youth-led, planning and dreaming up new ideas. Their hard work paid off All in all, it has been a sensational when they secured funding for year for the Catstrand Young an upcoming project for young Creatives. From the triumphs on people, set to be delivered early stage to the inspiring growth of next year. And right now they are our talented youth, we couldn't pouring their hearts into creating be prouder of everything that a magical Christmas Creatives has been accomplished, and are event for younger children, incredibly grateful to our core complete with Santa's grotto, funder, the Holywood Trust, Christmas crafts and enchanting for their ongoing support. Get storytelling. ready for even more excitement, creativity and unforgettable The Christmas excitement moments in 2024! continues to build as our Youth Players and ‘behind-the-scenes’ crew are currently hard at work on this year's Christmas pantomime – Cinderella. Catherine Campbell, CatStrand Young Creatives Programme Lead What sound is left when all trees are felled? I n October, a three-day exhibition by Corriedoo’s Helmut Lemke entitled ‘deliberately inconclusive investigations into absence’ gave a sound artist’s interpretation of forest management practices common across the region. Ranging through the two exhibition spaces in ‘The Byre,’ visitors were treated to installations and drawings that highlighted the sounds collected around forestry management techniques - and the lack of sound they can leave in their wake, as illustrated through relentlessly running empty tape spools. Helmut said: "When we bought our new home in a managed forest, I thought I was aware of what forest management means, how it is done, and what impact it has. How wrong was I. I have now experienced up close how the ‘value’ of nature is reduced to monetary measures and how our environment is forced to be productive. "Responding to the clear felling and connected works in the forest where I live, I recorded what I saw, heard, smelled, and felt through drawing, sound recording, writing and performance; a visceral reaction underpinned through ongoing research into the UK’s forest management methods and the alternatives practiced in other European countries." Three works were exhibited at 'The Byre @ Corriedoo’: deliberately inconclusive investigations into absence’: an installation created from clear fell debris and empty audio tapes running through the dead branches; a series of sound drawings ‘a wind wind in...’ and ‘sounding poems’; and a live performance on the closing night. 'The Byre @ Corriedoo' is the studio and workshop of artists Helmut Lemke and Kerry Morrison. In 2024, they hope to host more events exploring local landscape issues and concerns through contemporary art approaches and performative acts. GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 24 Celebrating music in the Glenkens M usic making in the Glenkens was celebrated in a weekend of activities in October starting with 'A’ the Way to Galloway', a concert by Jo Miller and friends performing music from their new album. An exhibition of musical images, programmes and other memorabilia was launched in the CatStrand, and some 40 youngsters took part in 'A Wee Hooley', an afternoon of song, story and dance. The weekend concluded with a concert 'Gaither roon folks an this story I’ll tell' in Dalry Town Hall celebrating current music- making in the Glenkens and chaired in his inimitable style by Brian Edgar. with Roberto Rabinovitch (Bandoneon). Robyn Stapleton, Jo Miller and friends presented a selection of their work and Wendy Stewart (clarsach/ singer/composer) reprised her composition created for the Ken Bridge bicentenary. The programme, compiled by Anne Chaurand, featured many local musicians including the CatStrand Singers (led by Kate Howard), Angela Miller (singer), the Bielinski family For the enthusiastic audience, Andrew (singer), Susan (singer/ the message was clear: musicsongwriter) and Ellen (fiddle making is thriving in the player), The Wyrdy Women Glenkens. (Singing Duo), Blue (Singer/Songwriter), The Glenkens Story history event scheduled for the October weekend had to Rose Ardron (Singer), be postponed and that will now take place at CatStrand on Sunday 17 March. Claire Mann (Fiddle and Whistle), The afternoon event will feature Jo Miller on her research into local musicThe Dalry Protest Singing making, Christopher Wright on what can be found of Galloway’s music in the School of Scottish Studies archive and Anna Campbell will share stories of group, Faith Hillier musical families from the archives of the Carsphairn Heritage Initiative. (flute), Anne Chaurand (guitar/composer), Historian and singer Lizanne Henderson will chair a discussion on preserving Peter Standing (singer), our musical heritage. Presentations will be accompanied by live and recorded Ella Campbell (singer music, video and pictures. /songwriter), and Tickets £14, UC £10, U26 £4 from www.gcat.scot/arts 01644 420374 Amy Geddes (fiddle) Tough times ahead at CatStrand T he CatStrand and all the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) projects have been around for so long, it’s easy to forget that our continuing existence is sadly not a certainty. Our survival relies on a huge amount of hard work, not only in delivering projects but also in finding funding to support all our work. Because our communities are so spread out, projects that might be commercially viable in a town never will be in our remote rural location. GCAT, like many of the other Glenkens charities, has historically had a good track record of making this case to funders for essential overheads (like heating, lighting and staffing our venues) - but this is becoming ever harder. We know that many Gazette readers really value what we offer, so in the light of this, we are reinvigorating our Friends of CatStrand scheme. The Friends scheme demonstrates to potential funders how much our communities value what we do, as well as providing muchneeded funds to keep us going. What does next year look like? We expect to spend £600,000 across all our GCAT projects. Nearly two-thirds of this will be spent directly in the Glenkens and nearly 90% in Dumfries & Galloway, providing a valuable boost to local businesses. We have 16 employees, and commission many more artists, freelancers and activity deliverers. Of course, we generate what we can from venue hire, ticket sales and café and shop income, but all the rest must come from grant funders or individual supporters. Last year, we made a significant loss which was funded from our reserves. Our 2023/24 budget also shows a significant projected shortfall, due in part to massively increased energy costs and also to the costs of essential staff. GCAT and the CatStrand simply can’t stay open without these overheads being covered. In the last few months, we have been unsuccessful in two major funding applications for overheads. In addition, Creative Scotland awarded us 50% of the requested level of funds for our amazing Arts programme, despite their assessors judging us to be "highly recommended for full funding". There just isn’t enough money to go around. Worse still, regional funders continue to concentrate on new project delivery, which is frustrating for established organisations with a proven track record of success in their communities. While we were over the moon to get the funding from the ‘Plugged in Communities’ national fund for our new electric bus, this did bring into sharp focus the fact that finding funding for purchases is easier than funding to keep the lights on. What can we do about it? We’re not at crisis level yet, but tough times are ahead at the CatStrand. Part of the reason we are shutting on Sundays and Mondays through the winter is to save on energy costs – our electricity bill nearly trebled last month as we came out of a fixed term contract. You’ll also see that the printed events programme is much smaller, as we look to cut costs without reducing activities. We know we’re not alone in this – every single employer and community building in the Glenkens will be facing the same challenges. So if you can shop local, attend events or donate to your preferred charity, please do it all makes such a difference. Will you support the CatStrand? To help secure GCAT’s future, we’ve refreshed our Friends scheme as an easy way for people to show their support for all we do. If you like visiting the CatStrand or enjoy our many other projects - whether it’s this free Gazette that keeps you up-to-date, or a live music gig that left you buzzing, or the patient transport service taking a relative to hospital, or a free activity your kids or grandchildren loved, or a craft workshop where you made new friends – please consider becoming a Friend of the CatStrand. A regular gift of £10 a month (or more) really would help us continue to deliver for our communities. We know not everyone can support us in this way right now and we very much appreciate all the different ways that people do support us. But if you feel it’s right for you, please do take a minute now to scan the QR code or visit www.gcat.scot/about-gcat/support-us to sign up. We are very proud of all that GCAT and the CatStrand have achieved over the last 22 years for the Glenkens, and with your support we will safely navigate these tough times into the next 22 successful years. Thank you. Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 25 Local artists study the elusive nightjar E arlier in the year, the Gazette brought you news of the Artful Migration art residency by Ted Leeming and Morag Paterson. We checked in to hear how the conference and exhibition went and their reflections on the project. Morag said: "It has been an incredible few months. It is one of the most challenging residencies we have undertaken artistically, but it is also one of the most rewarding." Ted explained: "Research was an essential element of the project, and I was immediately drawn by the fact that the presence, or not, of nightjars (and many other species, for that matter) is essentially down to the availability of suitable habitat for nesting, together with the availability of food at any given location, along with favourable climatic conditions during migration. "We discovered that in just 270 years, less than 3% of the original deep peat area of the Lochar Mosses remains intact, with the remainder having been drained for agriculture, forestry and the development of infrastructure, housing and industrial parks as the population and needs of Dumfries and the surrounding area have grown. In another example, 97% of hay meadows have disappeared in the UK since 1930. "Habitat loss is a significant contributing factor to insect populations (nightjar food) having reduced by 60-75% across Europe since 1950, which in turn is one of the reasons, together with generational land use change, that has led to the number of birds migrating between Europe and Africa halving from 4.2 to 2.1 billion birds in just a few decades. The numbers were genuinely numbing and profoundly concerning for me and formed a major part of my thinking as we started to produce work for the exhibition. "But we also found evidence that some landowners are implementing incredible nature-based solutions to help address such declines. On the Lochar Mosses, for example, which formed the focus of our residency, Forest and Land Scotland is reverting several hundred hectares of conifer plantation to lowland blanket bog over 25 years. Exemplary projects like this help engage new, positive thinking that will create generational change, and we are seeing an increasing number of inspirational projects of this type across the region." From Morag's point of view, the long, quiet evenings spent waiting for the birds were one of the highlights of the project: "Initially, I was quite worried about what impact the 'night shifts' would have on my ability to function during the day, but I quickly realised that settling into a seated position to watch the sunset, contemplating clear-fell and bog, was both mesmerising and relaxing. I watched backlit bog cotton dancing in the breeze and listened to daytime birds transitioning to night-time birds - nothing to do but wait. Better still, once night fell it was important not to use lights, which ruled out phone use, and we couldn't talk either - an enforced silent vigil. "As soon as the eerie nightjar call (churring) commenced, you could expect a brief fly-by, but would have no idea where the bird would appear or be flying to. Of course, this made filming and photography very tricky, but this turned into a positive aspect that pushed us toward eclectic lines of enquiry." Ted continues: "The conference itself was fascinating and drew a varied audience including scientists, academics, community and artists into a discussion of what we can take forward to increase people's engagement with nature and how artists - and imaginative processes - can take an active role in co-designing and delivering projects across a broad spectrum. "Following a well-attended opening event, over 800 people visited the exhibition in just a few weeks - some folks went three times! We've had some touching feedback, which is always lovely. "We must say a big thank you to everyone who made it possible, without whom we could not have delivered to the extent we were able. "It was a privilege to spend many nights exploring their little-known world, including sharing it with the incredible volunteers who spend summer evenings ringing and geotagging the birds so that we might all better understand population and species changes over time." If you are interested in engaging with nature-based projects such as this, the RSPB, NTS and the British Trust for Ornithology are always looking for new volunteers - get in touch with them via their website, or to find out more abot the Artful Migration project you can contact Morag and Ted at info@ leemingpaterson.com A musical history of the Glenkens P ictured, Dave Paterson spots a much younger Dave among Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs in a 1960s’ New Galloway panto at the 'Music Making in the Glenkens' exhibition at CatStrand. of an early 19th century dance at Corsock to the fiddle players and pipers of the Galloway hill farms and the dance bands of the 1950s. The exhibition, curated by Jo Miller and with photographic production by Ian Biggar, was created as part of the celebrations of Glenkens Music Making in October organised by the Glenkens Story. Exhibits range from a watercolour Photograph taken by Andrew Mellor The exhibition, sponsored by the Glenkens Community Shop, will be touring a number of local venues in 2024. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 26 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. In this edition Robin speaks about author Khaled Khalifa, friendship and the festive season. F or me, the festive season has nothing much to do with Christianity. I don’t celebrate Christmas religiously – though I send my very best wishes to those who do – but I do celebrate the mid winter feast. In northern Europe, and particularly in Scotland, which can be very dark and gloomy as well as cold, it’s very important, for body, mind and soul, to gather with friends and relatives in a bright and cosy space, to stoke the fire, and to eat and drink the finest fare. It’s a time to celebrate what we’ve got – relationships more than possessions. It’s a time to remember our loved ones, present and absent. This year I’m remembering in particular a good friend, and a great writer – Khaled Khalifa. Khaled wasn’t a Christian (or a believing Muslim either), but there was something of Father Christmas about him. He was plump and warm with fluffy white hair, full of compassion and good cheer. He was a screenwriter, a poet, and Syria’s greatest contemporary novelist. Four of his novels are available in English, and I recommend them very highly. “In Praise of Hatred”, like all of his work, is set in Aleppo and its surrounding villages. The novel illustrates the mutual intolerance of the Baathist regime and violent Islamists as they warred in the 1980s. “No Knives in the Kitchens of This City” extends the time scale, from the multicultural 1920s to the 2003 Iraq war, and it shows the steady disintegration of society under totalitarian dictatorship. The key event of “Nobody Prayed Over Their Graves” is the overnight destruction of a village by flood. Khaled wrote this book during Syria’s counterrevolutionary war, and the flood serves as a metaphor for the sudden loss of life and home suffered by contemporary Syrians. His final novel, “Death is Hard Work” – with a nod to Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying” – describes a family taking their father home for burial. The journey should take a few hours, but in war conditions, given endless checkpoints and harassments, it stretches on interminably, as the corpse begins to rot. I strongly recommend these books, though they’re not particularly easy reading. They contain complicated plots and even more complex inter-relations between enormous casts of characters. The complexity reflects the layered density of Syrian social life as Khaled saw it. He emphasised the necessity of tolerance within a democratic framework precisely because of this vision. Khaled was only 59 when he died. Probably he ate too much, drank too much, and smoked too much. Probably you could also say that he was too committed to his country, too stubborn or full of love to abandon it. Because he stayed in Damascus all through the revolution and the war, though he was well enough known internationally to gain a visa if he’d wanted to, though most of his friends, if they weren’t killed or imprisoned, managed to flee to safety. I remember Khaled’s laughter, his love of festivity and friendship, and I wish him – and all of you – a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. A D TIMBER SEASONED FIREWOOD FOR SALE HARDWOOD SOFTWOOD KINDLING LOCAL DELIVERY 07884262533 07787416460 唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀Ⰰ 䰀漀漀猀攀 䌀漀瘀攀爀猀Ⰰ 䘀愀戀爀椀挀猀Ⰰ 䌀甀猀栀椀漀渀猀 刀攀昀椀氀氀攀搀 䘀爀攀攀 䔀猀琀椀洀愀琀攀猀 吀栀攀 圀漀爀欀猀栀漀瀀Ⰰ 䴀漀渀礀戀甀椀攀Ⰰ 䌀漀爀猀漀挀欀⸀ 䐀䜀㜀 ㌀䐀夀 眀眀眀⸀䠀愀爀爀椀猀ⴀ唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀⸀挀漀⸀甀欀 ㄀㘀㐀㐀 㐀㐀 㔀㈀㤀 Family and friends coming to stay? Short of space? Cosy country cottage available (sleeps 4) Call Fiona on 01644 420 227 or 07789 903127 www.covenanters-holidaycottagescotland.co.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 27 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 28 Gallovidian Gathering local music extravaganza returns this December F ollowing on from the success of its sold-out event in May, the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival is hosting another Gallovidian Gathering at Castle Douglas Town Hall. Come along on Saturday 23 December to celebrate with a new spin on the auld cultural traditions of the region. Through an immersive night of timetravel, eating, drinking, dancing and seasonal merriment, you’ll gain an insight into some of the most innovative and exciting sounds coming out of Scotland. Headlining the evening celebrating local artists will be Samson Sounds, showcasing how they bring their Gallovidian roots to the world stage with their positive dance floor vibrations. Using a combination of voice, guitar, percussion and brass with electronic musicality they bring a wide range of grooves and energy into any situation. The band has grown through the rich UK Soundsystem culture, playing and performing in venues and festivals nationally and internationally. They'll perform alongside a massive lineup of other genre bending musicians, DJs and traditional performers curated by the team to showcase and cultivate connections to the vibrant and authentic culture of Castle Douglas and the Stewartry. Featuring the loudest and brightest exports of Gallovidia, the night will include drum and bass outfit Bass Injection featuring Wends, The Xenalaliens, Iron Aye Hifi, who will bring audiences all the tribal beats needed to bring together modern day Gallovidians to celebrate the winter solstice and the turning of the wheel of the year, as our ancestors have done before us. With a full bar provided by Sulwath Brewery and more acts to be announced, join them for a night to relight local town halls and bring music back to the heart of the region. Liam Russell, event producer at the Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, stated: “The Gallovidian Gathering is a call to arms to the people of Galloway. We have such a rich and diverse heritage that has cultural implications that run so deep that we may not even notice them in the everyday. We believe that the Gallovidian Gathering is a platform to celebrate what it means to be Gallovidian, and reconnect with our past to shape our future.” The event is produced by Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival’s own Liam Russell and DJ McDowall of the Imaginarium and co-curated by Tom Spirals. Their aim is to celebrate the cultural traditions of the Stewartry and bring life back to the town halls that communities have missed in recent years. This is a night curated by communities for communities and showcases the incredible depth of artistic expertise of all those involved. Tickets can be purchased at www. dgartsfestival.org.uk and may also be available on the door; however, tickets sold out quickly at the summer event so audiences are advised to purchase in advance to avoid disappointment. The Gallovidian Gathering is funded by the Holywood Trust, the National Lottery Young Start and the William Grant Foundation. The D&G Arts Festival Team Photographs are from May's Gallovidian Gathering in Castle Douglas Town Hall Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 29 The Covenanters of the Glenkens Carn Publishing Ltd www.carnpublishing.com/glenkens UK £15.00 RRP December, and that I will be able to offer it there to save people postage costs." The book can also be ordered direct from David by emaiing him at The Covenanters of the Glenkens David S. Bartholomew dsbart92@gmail.com, by calling 07762 083 703, or by post with a cheque made out to David Bartholomew for £10.80, sent to Craigend Cottage, Broughton, Biggar ML12 6HH. WINDY STANDARD LOOKING FORWARD TO 2024 S eason’s greetings from all the team at Fred. Olsen Renewables. We are looking forward to 2024 and hope that this will bring forward a range of activity at Windy Standard Wind Farm. Scottish Ministers granted Windy Standard III consent in March 2021. This comprises the northern Meaul Hill Cluster with 12 x 177.5m turbines and the southern Waterhead Hill Cluster with 8 x 125m turbines. The project is progressing well towards construction, and we are working to discharge our planning conditions. To ensure that the site can be delivered efficiently and can achieve the greatest capacity, we have applied to the Scottish Government to vary the consent – proposing to increase the tip height of the 12 turbines in the northern Meaul Hill Cluster to 180m to tip. This allows us to bring forward the site using readily available turbine technology. This is currently open for consultation representations. All of the documents can be found at www. windystandardwindfarm.co.uk. Please get in touch if you have any questions. communities@ fredolsen.com / 07435 763 900. Advertisement "Although retailing from Carn Publishing at £15, I am offering it for an initial price of £8 plus £2.80 postage and packing. I hope it will be ready for distribution by the time of the Guild Christmas Coffee Morning in New Galloway Town Hall on Wednesday 6 David Bartholomew grew up in Edinburgh within the well-known map making family. After gaining a geology degree from St Andrews University, he went on to complete a PhD at Leicester University involving fieldwork in Chilean Patagonia. After working for five years as a government geologist in Zimbabwe, he felt the call to Christian ministry and returned to Scotland where he studied for a divinity degree at Aberdeen University. In 1994 he was ordained as Church of Scotland minister of the Glenkens and served there as parish minister for nearly 28 years. He is married to Heidi and has three children. He retired in 2022 and now lives near Broughton in the Scottish Borders. David S. Bartholomew David said: "One of my early retirement projects has come to fruition with this book which gathers up the stories shared in our annual conventicles over the past 20 years. It rather grew in the writing and expanded beyond these stories, ending up 186 pages in length! I hope it will be back from the printers by early December. The parishes of the Glenkens in northern Kirkcudbrightshire were at the heart of support for the Covenanting movement in seventeenth century Scotland and suffered greatly in the latter half of that century when the king and the political leadership of the country sought to suppress that movement and impose the Episcopalian system of church government on the people. In this book the writer explores the historical context of those days and introduces us to some of the inspiring, though often tragic, stories from those times, offering us a window into the world of the people of that day. The Covenanters of the Glenkens W ell known former Dalry resident and retired Glenkens Church of Scotland minister David Bartholomew has written a new book, The Covenanters of the Glenkens. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Glass Recycling Points • Balmaclellan Stores, Balmaclellan • Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road, Crossmichael • Kirkland Street, St John's Town of Dalry • New Galloway, Carson's Knowe Car Park • St David Street, Kirkpatrick Durham USEFUL NUMBERS ● Pothole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 page 30 MINUTES/REPORTS OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT SPENDING ● Police, non-emergency: 101 or email stewartryCPT@ scotland.police.uk GLENKENS DISTRICT TRUST (GDT) www.glenkenstrust.org.uk/gdtcorporate-information ● Doctor: 01644 420 234 CARSPHAIRN RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND LTD (CREFL) www.carsphairn.org/CREFLArchive ● NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 ● D&G Council: 030 33 33 3000 Local Job Vacancies Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot There are some remote working opportunities as Natural Power at the moment; check out their vacancies page! The 'UK Office/Hybrid' roles have a UK office base, so here in the Glenkens that office would be the Green House on Forrest Estate. Visit www.naturalpower.com/uk/careers CAB outreach clinics are held fortnightly on a Monday at the Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry, and fortnightly on a Tuesday at CatStrand, New Galloway. ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE Advanced Massage Practitioner (price per issue incl VAT) SMALL: 6cm x 6cm, £50 1/4 PAGE: 9cm w x 13cm h, £108 1/2 PAGE: 18cm w x 13cm h, £200 FULL PAGE: 18cm w x 27cm h, £332 Please get in touch further details including small business/ charity rates and series discounts. Email glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07727 127 997 VAT Reg. No. 334 0905 24 THE STEWARTRY VETERINARY CENTRE CASTLE DOUGLAS SURGERY HOURS GLENKENS MEDICAL PRACTICE DALBEATTIE SURGERY HOURS General Medical & Dispensing Services FOR APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH SURGERIES OR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY The Surgery High Street New Galloway Mon-Fri 2.00-2.30 pm & 5-6 pm Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm Sat 2-2.30 pm Mon, Wed, Fri 3-3.30 pm Tues & Thurs 6-6.30 pm  01556 502263 VETERINARY SURGERY OAKWELL ROAD CASTLE DOUGLAS  FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 01644 420234 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 31 USEFUL GLENKENS CONTACTS DOCTORS’ SURGERY Glenkens Medical Practice - 01644 420 234 COMMUNITY CONTACTS • Balmaclellan: Martin Warnock - 07939 261 391 • Carsphairn: Liz Holmes - 07718 358 160 • Corsock: Julie Garton - 07769 647 702 • Kirkpatrick Durham: Heather - 07551 639 629 • Crossmichael: Richard Middleton - 01556 670 691 • Dalry: Graham West 01644 430 503 • New Galloway: 07741 656 601 • Parton: Tom 07835821976 FOOD DELIVERIES • Galloway Foodbank 07730 788 335 • Galloway Food Hub - glenkens.scot/localdirectory-listing/glenkensfood-hub • Ballards Butchers 01556 502502 (they also deliver groceries) • Grierson’s Butchers: 01556 502 637 • Henderson’s Butchers: 01556 502 654 • Mitchell’s Greengrocers: 01556 502 077 • Fleet Fish: call 07966 103 912 to find out about Glenkens delivery days • Roan’s Dairy - 01556 620 374 • Harris & Co: www. harrisandco.uk LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Helen Crowther on 0790 467 8599 or drop by the shop on Main Street, Dalry Glenkens Scout Group: Contact Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375 Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING): Contact newgallowaytownhall@gmail.com Dalry Communities Properties Trust (DCPT): Contact Gary Blissett at garyblissett51@gmail.com or 01644 430 521 Dalry Town Hall: Contact Lesley Blissett at lesleyblissett52@gmail.com Glenkens Community Centre: Contact Sarah McAdam on minimac01644@gmail.com Lagwyne Hall: Contact lagwynehallsecretary@outlook.comfor info, or to book email lagwynehallbooking@gmail.com New Galloway Community Enterprises (NGCE): Contact ngce5000@gmail.com or pop into New Galloway Community Shop Balmaclellan Community Trust: Contact Julia Higgins at julia.higgins55@outlook.com CatStrand: Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or pop in to the CatStrand Schools: Visit the school office or call Dalry Primary on 01644 430 105 (for Nursery/ELC too), Dalry Secondary on 01644 430 259 or Kells on 01644 420 340 Carsphairn Heritage Initiative: Contact Ben Ade at carsphairnhi@gmail.com Galloway Food Hub: Contact Lesley Atkins on lesley@propagate.org.uk or 07587 122 151 Bairn Banter: Contact Melissa on bairnbanter@outlook.com or 07979 492 791 If you would like to add your community organisation to this list please get in touch with the Gazette - contact details are on the back page. GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Sunday Services SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH St Margaret's Church, New Galloway, DG7 3RP Balmaclellan: 3 Dec, 11am (morning worship & communion) Sundays at 10.30am: Holy Communion with refreshments after the service Carsphairn: 10 Dec - morning worship, 11am & Carols by Candlelight, 6.30pm; 31 Dec, 11am Kells: 17 Dec, 11am ; 23 Dec - Toddlers Christmas Event, 5pm; 25 Dec, 11am Thursdays 7.30-8pm: Zoom Evening Prayers. Please contact Dawn for the link Dalry: 22 Dec - 10am, School Christmas Service; 24 Dec - morning worship, 11.30am & Watchnight service, 11.30pm) For further information contact Rev Pam Bellis on 07751 379 249 or pam@bellisconsultancy.co.uk Tuesdays at 11am: Informal midweek service with refreshments and chat Advent & Christmas Services: Advent Carol Service, Sun 17 Dec, 10.30am; Carols by Candlelight, Fri 22 Dec, 4pm; Family Nativity, Sun 24 Dec, 3-3.30pm; Christmas Day, Mon 25 Dec, 10.30am For further information call Dawn on 01644 420 431 or visit www.stmargaretsnewgalloway.org GAZETTEinformation Glenkens Gazette Firewood logs & Wood Products for Sale From Carsphairn Community Woodland A range of products are available from our community sawmill Contact us with your requirements ï Free local delivery ï Enquiries to: Tel: 07710 124 255 Carsphairn Community Woodland Limited is commi�ed to acquiring, developing and managing local woodlands in a sustainable and environmentally sound way for the long-term benefit of the local community. Website: www.carsphairn.org/CCWL Company Limited by Guarantee SC591976 About our Christmas Shop We will be running as normal in the lead up to Christmas. Pre-order your Christmas shop and collect from our usual van stops. All orders must be placed before Sunday the 17th December. Christmas range is now available on our website. We will be closed from the 24th December until the 8th of January. So please order ahead for Hogmanay. WWW.WCSPLTD.CO.UK 01557 330789 page 32 GAZETTEinformation Glenkens Gazette page 33 GALLOWAY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org email gct@catstrand.com phone 07841 512449 (Jon) or 07704 662925 (Sue) December 2023 - January 2023 Regular Services Excursions GK2 Glenkens-Castle Douglas (Tesco) Wednesday Evenings (Registered Route) Out Return 19:00 Dalry (Underhill) 21:15 19:05 New Galloway 21:10 19:15 Mossdale 21:00 19:25 Laurieston 20:50 19:30 Townhead of Greenlaw 20:47 19:37 Castle Douglas (Market St) 20:37 19:40 Castle Douglas (Tesco) 20:35 Booking not required Glenkens to Newton Stewart Fortnightly - Tuesday mornings Outward Pickups: Dalry (Underhill) 09:30 New Galloway (Town Hall) 09:35 CatStrand) 09:37 To Aldi Return Pickup Newton Stewart (Aldi Car Park) 11:30 Return fare £3.50 Advance booking required. DRIVERS NEEDED Galloway Community Transport needs your help to provide a wide range of community transport services across the Stewartry and beyond. MINIBUS DRIVING Minibus drivers with D1 (101 or by test) are needed to do volunteer and paid driving for our wide range of member community groups. PATIENT TRANSPORT We also urgently need drivers with their own cars for our patient transport service. Our volunteer patient transport drivers receive a generous mileage reimbursement and the satisfaction of providing a vital service to vulnerable people in our communities. Interested? Email gct@catstrand.com or phone 07841 512449 Member Hire GCT has 16-, 15-, and 8-seater minibuses and a fully wheelchair accessible electric car available for hire by community organisations. For information about membership and terms and conditions of hire see the GCT website or phone 07841 512449 www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation WHAT'S ON page 34 December/January Turn to P8 for Together in the Glenkens Dec/Jan activities... DECEMBER Fri 1, Quiz Night, 7.15, Laurieston Village Hall Sat 2, Robyn Stapleton: Songs of Winter, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 2, CatStrand Shopping Night, 6-9pm Sat 2, Christmas Craft Fair, Mossdale Village Hall, 11am-3pm Sun 3, Jax’s Christmas Lunch, 12noon -1.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall. Booking essential – Jax on 07501400333 Sun 3, Lights-On Walk down New Galloway High Street, 4.30pm at New Galloway Golf Club Car park (hot chocolate on offer), to CatStrand (mulled wine and Christmas songs from CatStrand singers) Sun 3, Corsock Craft Fair, 11am-3pm, Corsock Village Hall Sun 3, Sunday Lunch, 12noon, New Galloway Town Hall Mon 4, Menopause Really Matters, 7pm, The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Mon 4, Dalry CC Meeting, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Mon 4, Citizens Advice drop-in, 10am4pm, Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry Wed 6, Dalry Film Club: The Age of Innocence, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Wed 6, Guild Christmas Coffee Morning, 10.30am-12noon, New Galloway Town Hall Thu 7, Stewartry Birdwatchers talk, 10.30am, Balmaclellan Village Hall Thu 7, GCT Bus Trip: Christmas Shopping Trip to Glasgow, see p33 Fri 8, 15 & 22, Galloway Food Hub Shop opens for online orders, see p5 Sat 9, Glenkens Producers Market, 10am1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 9, GCT Bus Trip: Christmas Shopping Trip to Glasgow, see p33 Sat 9, Parkinson’s Fundraiser, 12-2pm, Laurieston Village Hall Sun 10, Carols by Candlelight, 5.30pm, Carsphairn Church Mon 11, Kells CC Meeting, 7pm, New Galloway Town Hall Sun 24, Family Nativity, 3pm, St Margaret’s Church, New Galloway Mon 11, A Concert of Traditional Music, 8pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn, free entry Sun 31, Hogmanay Community Ceilidh, 7.30pm–12.30am, New Galloway Town Hall, BYOB and nibbles Tue 12, Citizens Advice drop-in, 10am4pm, CatStrand Wed 13, Crossmichael CC Meeting, 7pm, Crossmichael Thu 14, Ken Words: Writers’ Café, 7pm, CatStrand Fri 15, Songwave Choir: Under a Star Filled Night, 7pm, New Galloway Town Hall Sat 16, Community Cafe, 10am-1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 16, Vika's Ukranian Buffet, 6pm, Dalry Town Hall, see p15 Sat 16, Glenkens Childre’ns Christmas Party, 2pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Su 17, Advent Carol Service, 10.30am, St Margaret’s Church, New Galloway JANUARY Fi 5, Song Share, 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Sun 7, Jax’s Sunday Lunch, New Galloway Town Hall, booking essential – Jax on 07501 400 333 Tue 9 & 23, Citizens Advice drop-in, 10am4pm, CatStrand Thu 11, Stewartry Birdwatchers talk: Birds, Butterflies & Moths, 10.30am, Balmaclellan Village Hall Thu 11, Ken Words: Writers’ Café, 7pm, CatStrand Sun 17, Christmas Celebration Service, 4pm, Balmaghie Kirk Fri 12, Rachel Walker & Aaron Jones: Despite the Wind & Rain, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sun 17, Christmas Grotto, 11am-2pm, CatStrand Sat 13, Glenkens Producers Market, 10am-1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sun 17, Glenkens Youth Group Christmas Party, 6pm, CatStrand Sat 13, Bob’s Bingo, 4–6pm, New Galloway Town Hall, complete with traybakes – a return of this popular family event – all ages welcome - £1 a strip. Contact Jackie on 07749 249781 Sun 17, Nine Lessons & Carols, 6.30pm, Parton Kirk Sun 17, Pub Quiz, 7pm, Clachan Inn, Dalry Sun 17, Santa’s Grotto, 11am-2pm, CatStrand Mon 18, Citizens Advice drop-in, 10am4pm, Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry Mon 18, Corsock & KPD CC Meeting, 7.30pm, Corsock Village Hall Tue 19, Senior Citizens Christmas Lunch (New Galloway & Kells), 1pm, New Galloway Town Hall, contact Jackie on 07749 249 781 to book Wed 20, Dalry Film Club: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Wed 20, Balmaghie CC Meeting, 7pm, Balmaghie Public Hall Thu 21, Midwinter Ceilidh with Whirligig, 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Fri 22, Carols by Candlelight, 4pm, St Margaret’s Church, New Galloway Sat 23, Gallovidian Gathering, Castle Douglas Town Hall, see p28 Mon 15, Citizens Advice drop-in, 10am4pm, Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry Fri 19, Carsphairn Burns Supper, 7pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Wed 24, Dalry Film Club: Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance with Somebody, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Sun 28, Pub Quiz, 7pm, Ken Bridge Hotel Mon 29, GCAT AGM, 7.30pm, CatStrand, see p8 Mon 29, Citizens Advice drop-in, 10am4pm, Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry FEBRUARY Thu 1, For the Love of Robert Burns: Claudia Wood & Katherine Durran, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 3, CatStrand Burns Supper, 7.30pm, CatStrand For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 35 REGULAR EVENTS & OPENING TIMES Balmaclellan Village Hall Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, to book email warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Glenkens Crafters, Wed 10am-12noon, for info contact julia.higgins55@outlook. com Books in Balmaclellan Community Library, Wed 10.30–12.30; Fri 6-7pm; Sat 10.30am-2.30pm (tea & coffee available on Sat). Tai Chi, Wed 2-3pm Balmaclellan Blether, 3rd Thu each month, contact warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Yoga, Thu, 6pm, kathyr64@hotmail.co.uk Glenkens Art Workshop, Thu, 2-4pm Zumba, Fri, 6.30-7.30pm The Men's Shed, Balmaclellan Opening Times: Monday, 9.30am - 12.30pm Wednesday, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Wood Carving, 2-4pm Thursday, Art Group, 2-4pm Friday, 9.30am - 12.30pm Saturday, 9am - 12noon Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Monday Morning Social, 11am-2pm, come along for a blether, or bring a board game/cards, etc. Refreshments available. Call 07710 124 255 or email carsphairn.trust@gmail.com Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu of the month, 7.30pm,Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Craft Group, Fri 10am-12noon, includes tea & coffee, Lagwyne Hall, contact carsphairncraftgroup@gmail.com Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, 0-7 years, Sat 10-11.45am CatStrand, New Galloway Winter opening hours: 11am-4pm Tue-Sat Art Ambassadors (age 11+), Mon biweekly, 4.30-5.30pm Behind the Scenes, bi-weekly, Mondays 5.30–6pm Power Yoga, Tue, 9am, kathyr64@ hotmail.co.uk Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Tue, 10am-4pm Weekly Bus Service to Tesco, Wednesday eve 7pm Dramarama, (age 6-10), Wed 4-5pm Up Skills: Musical Theatre, (age 15+), Wed 5-5.30pm Young Writers Cafe, (age 12+), Wed 6-7.30pm, monthly Piano Lessons, weekly, term time 4pm – 6.30pm CatStrand Singers, Thu 11am-12noon Dance Steps (age 10-18yrs), Sat monthly, 2-5pm Art Explorers, (age under 10yrs), Sat biweekly 10-11am Art Club, (age 11-16yrs), Sat bi-weekly 11.15am-12.30pm Youth Players Panto rehearsals, (10 yrs plus), weekly, Sun 3– 5.30pm The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Margaret Morris Movement: Health Play (age 5-8), Mon (during term time), 3.45-4.30pm Margaret Morris Movement: Youth Grade (age 8-15), Mon (during term time), 4.30-5.30pm Glenkens Ukelele Group, Wed, 6.308pm Taste of Music, monthly, 10-11am (under 10yrs) Mini Music Makers, family session, montly 11.45pm -12.30pm (under 7yrs) Weekly Ukuele, guitar & keyboard lessons, 12.30–4pm (6-16 yrs) Musical Misfits, group singing class, biweekly, 10.30 – 11.30pm New Galloway Town Hall Men’s Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.3011am. Contact rtdglaister@aol.com Margaret Morris Movement, (adults), Mon 2.20–3.20pm, contact SaraShackleton26@ gmail.com Tai Chi, Mon 7–8pm, contact petchy2@ btinternet.com LING Lunches, (all welcome) Tue 12.30–2pm Hubbub, Thu 11am–2pm, activities from jam-making to Christmas wreaths (lunch provided) Sports Evening, Tue 7–9pm, carpet bowls or table tennis, contact raymond.bridgeman@ btinternet.com Zumba, Wed 6.30–7.30pm, contact 07544 700 566 Martial Arts, (children), Thu 7.30-9pm, contact kmabrian@gmail.com or just turn up. For further info email jackie. communityinclusion.LING@gmail. com or phone 07749 249781 or visit newgallowaytownhall.com @ Local Initiatives in New Galloway on Facebook Glenkens Community Centre Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Mon, 10am-4pm Dalry Good Neighbours Club, Tue, 2-4pm, contact Michelle on 07795 613 148 Clachan Crafters, Thu 2-4pm, contact Sarah on 07500 861 041 Kickback Martial Arts, Thu, 7-9pm Song Share, 1st Friday each month, 8-11pm, contact anne.chaurand@ btinternet.com Yoga For All, Fr 9.15-10.15am, contact Amy on 07733 111 466 Friendship Group, Sat (excluding Glenkens Producers Market days), 1011.30am, contact Anne on 01644 430 052 Table Tennis/Badminton, available to hire by arrangement, contact Sarah on 07500 861 041 Glenkens Charity Shop Winter Opening Times: Mon 10am-1pm Wed, Fri & Sat 10am-4pm Dalry Library Main St, Dalry, Tel: 01644 430 234 Tuesday Parent -Toddler Sessions restart end Aug, Tue,10.30-11:30am Glenkens Book Group, last Friday of each month, 2pm, call June to book on 01644 420 361 Library Opening Times: Tue, 2-5pm, for books and other walk-in Fri, 11.30am-12.30pm for NEC Bus Pass and Blue Badge appointments and PCs, and 1-4.30pm for books and other walkin services: appointments can be booked in the library or on 01387 260 196. Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, video-led instruction, Mon, 2-3pm, contact lesleyblissett52@gmail. com Dog Training, Tue, 7-8pm, contact Eric Broadhurst on 07831 590 822 Various Glenkens Youth Group, Mon, 7-8.30pm, Dalry School (or Glenkens Community Centre) Cosy Corner, Tue, 1-5pm, Crossmichael Church Hall, contact Anne on 07889 016 963 Crossmichael Heritage Centre, Wed & Fri, 1.30-4.30pm Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Dragon Boats on Loch Ken, Sun 9.30am12.30pm, Galloway Activity Centre, Parton Knockvennie Hall Heat Bank & Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona Ramsay on 07500 554 751 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, contact Gary on 01644 430 521 For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette page 36 This winter at the CatStrand I t's been a an exceptionally busy year this year for CatStrand Arts and we do hope you've enjoyed it! We've definitely bounced back from Covid, seeing our highest audiences on record this year. We've averaged two events per week, selling over 4,000 tickets over the year (not including the Young Creatives - see update on that on p23). Some highlights of our Creative Scotland-funded programme this year were: • Storming gigs by HENGE, Samson Sounds, Blue Giant Orkestar & Pictish Trail. • Sell-out shows by international-quality audiences like Kris Drever, Martin Simpson, Kiki Dee, FARA, Ross Ainslie, Ali Hutton & Jenn Butterworth. • D&G-based artists rightly forming a central part of the programme including The Village & The Road, Sanchez & Rigg, Gavin Marwick & Friends, and slow tours by A The Way to Galloway & The Bookshop Band. • Some ridiculously funny evenings with George Egg & Patrick Monahan. • A Dark Sky Jazz weekend of unforgettable musicianship. Theatre and Dance remained a strong part of our programme this year of course. We benefitted from being included on tours supported by Creative Scotland's Touring Fund and through DG Arts Festival. Hightlights included Battery Park, Women Walking, Help! I think I'm a Nationalist, 4 Go Wild In Wellies, Make Up & Pibroch - all of them amazing to watch. Locally-driven projects form a significant part of our work, supported through our Cultural Communities programme. Talented individuals and groups bring their significant expertise and enthusiasm to deliver a programme of events that is of an extremely high standard and firmly rooted in the Glenkens. The Cultural Communities programme this year included Ken Words, Write On, Clachan Folk Sessions, CatStrand Singers, the SongWave Choir, Watson Birds, a rolling exhibition in partnership with South West Scotland Print Makers, and of course the very popular Glenkens history events. Despite all of this, pressure on arts funding nationally does leave us in a somewhat precarious position (please see article on p24 for more on this, and how you can support the CatStrand). It is clear that we have something very special and valuable in the CatStrand. Its intimate hall allows a real connection and warmth between the artists and audiences. Although there are many small community venues, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit events, activities, news stories, cartoons, reviews, tips & techniques, fiction, photos, ads or ideas... Contact Sarah Ade on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk CatStrand is one of a very small number sustaining a regular programme of touring arts. The support shown by our staff, volunteers and audience members means there is a real sense of community ownership of the venue. Artists frequently comment that it's been their favourite gig on their tour, and how welcomed they felt by the audiences and venue. It's something quite valuable and worth protecting. Please do keep supporting us by coming to events, stopping for lunch, buying something from the shop or exhibition or joining the Friends scheme - we very much appreciate it, and look forward to seeing you next year! Keep up to date: @Catstrand on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or sign up here to have the programme emailed to you: https://gcat.scot/about-gcat/support-us Peter Renwick Creative Director: CatStrand Arts Pictured are Kiki Dee (top) and Henge (above) performing at the CatStrand Editing & Design: sarah.ade@gmail.com FEB/MAR COPY DEADLINE: 5 JAN The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, a Registered Scottish Charity No SC032050 The role of the Gazette is to represent the voice of the community and does not represent the views of GCAT.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 139 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GG_139 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GCAT Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Description An account of the resource Editor: Sarah Ade https://glenkensarchive.scot/glenkens_archive/files/original/1/285/GlenkensGazette138.pdf 0234d9260c1288eee5139754e8cda4a9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 138 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Description An account of the resource <p>Find out more about the Gazette: <a href="https://glenkens.scot/gazette-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenkens Gazette home page</a> If you would like to submit an article or take out an advert, please email the editor Sarah Ade: <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:glenkensgazette@hotmail.com">glenkensgazette@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is a member of, and regulated by <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.impressorg.com/">Impress</a>.</p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of Glenkens Community &amp; Arts Trust (SC032050) and represents the voice of the community (not necessarily the views of GCAT).</p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document October/November 2023 ISSUE 138 Youngest reigning world champion keeps her title FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE D espite a generally wet August, for once the Scottish Alternative Games managed to choose a sunny Sunday afternoon for the 46th running of the popular event. A good crowd gathered to watch and to take part in the quirky events on offer. Reigning Gird 'n’ Cleek World Champion, Elizabeth Spernagel, was determined to hold on to her title for a second year and looked to be in great form as she breezed through the heats to claim her slot in the Grand Final. The line-up in the Final looked to be a tougher test though, with several experienced gird 'n’ cleekers lining up to try and grab the title. Our Children's Voices Dalry Secondary pupils have their say ...turn to page 10 Gird 'n' Cleek World Champion Elizabeth Spernagel (centre) with dad Ralph who finished in 2nd Place (right) and Alice McIntosh who took 3rd Place (left) © Ian Biggar However, Elizabeth hit the front early in the first lap and just managed to hold on to cross the finish line with her Dad, Ralph, rapidly closing the gap down the home straight. Alice McIntosh finished in third place, having first taken part in the competition when she was at primary school. Alice’s Dad, Rob, finished in fifth place, so all-in-all a bit of a family affair in the big Final this year... A This year has been another hugely successful collaboration between local groups, organisations and businesses. The Glenkens Community & Arts Trust played a core role, engaging the Glenkens Hub so groups could submit event details as well as pulling together the printed programme, and all ticketed events were hosted on the CatStrand booking system. Some highlights have included the ever-popular Fungal Forage, led by extremely knowledgeable local forager Emma Gibson. We decided to use Food Month to premiere our new film, Rooted: Growing a Local Food Ecosystem. This profiles farmers ...turn to page 11 Continued on page 33... Fun and feasting in the Glenkens t time of writing we’re just over half way through September – and half way through our fifth Glenkens Food Month! Glenkens CAB outreach service Local governance, community councils and more ...turn to pages 12- 13 and growers, local routes to market and community food projects across D&G. Rooted screened at CatStrand to a sold-out audience, followed by an extremely interesting discussion led by the people featured in the film. Continued on page 2... Farewell to the Galloway Glens Scheme! ...turn to pages 20-21 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette Glenkens Food Month 2023 Continued from front page... Other fantastic events of the month included a campfire cook-out with Loch Ken Trust, the Family Food & Fun Day in New Galloway Park, and a very tasty Healthy Cooking on a Budget at the Glenkens Community Centre with Lesley from Nourishing Space. The pop-up Risto’s Restaurant in New Galloway Town Hall was a great success – a three-course menu was offered, using lots of local ingredients. The final event will be the Hog Roast at Balmaclellan Village Hall – locally sourced organic pork from Low Auldgirth (one of our Glenkens Food Hub producers) will be the main feature. Thanks go to the Dumfries & Galloway Regionwide Communities Fund for their support of this important community event. With full bellies and much anticipation, roll on Glenkens Food Month 2024! Abi, Propagate page 2 Participants assessing their finds at the Fungal Forage Biosphere fun in the Glenkens W arming up for September's Glenkens Food Month, the Biosphere partnered with outdoor educator Christy Miles and the Glenkens Food Hub team for a unique afternoon that combined local heritage, sustainable foraging, and an al fresco pizza feast. Local growers may have participated in one of this summer’s learning journeys in which residents of the Machars and the Glenkens visited each other’s garden-based projects. The GSA Biosphere hosted a broader, international version with a delegation from Sweden’s Nedre Dalälven region who arrived for a four-day tour. Nedre Dalälven is another of the 748 sites globally that have been designated as UNESCO Biospheres in recognition of their special landscape, wildlife and cultural assets. Sweden and the UK each have seven Biospheres within their territory, and Nedre Dalälven shares many of the same priorities as Galloway and Southern Ayrshire: both are research areas for sustainable farming and fisheries, and both are leading initiatives to support sustainability in tourism. With the longest and warmest days of 2023 now behind us it’s a great time to look for new hobbies to keep alive our connection with the great outdoors. Many local activity providers are accredited through the Biosphere Certification Mark and within easy reach of the Glenkens. Galloway Cycling offers guided tours and itineraries for all abilities, whether you’d like to try a gentle roll around the lanes or some serious gravel climbs. Loch Ken Activity Centre is best known for water-based fun but also offers biking including guided night rides. Mark Williams of Galloway Wild Foods runs scheduled and N ew Galloway Golf Club Founded Foun ded 1902 www.ng www.n g gc.co.uk - 01644 420737 Buggies now available for hire VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS WELCOME bespoke foraging trips and has a website packed with instructional webinars, ID tips and recipe ideas. Open Water Swimming Instructor, Sarah Redman of Swim the Lochs, offers year-round group and wellness events as well as private instruction. Elizabeth Tindal is a Biosphere Guide and Dark Sky Ranger, with autumn/winter the optimum time to experience Galloway’s Gold-Tier Dark Sky Park (plus the firepit with hot chocolate and marshmallows that Elizabeth provides!). The Biosphere's outdoor pizza feast was run as part of Glenkens Food Month (see above article) Way of the Wild will take you on a forest or mountain adventure – that wonderful combination of excitement, immersion, and learning new skills. And for those who are looking for something a little different, why not try a writing retreat with Write Southwest Scotland, led by Biosphere-certified author Anstey Harris. Find out more about the Biosphere and the local projects, organisations and initiatives it supports by following #gsabiosphere on social media, visit www.gsabiosphere.org.uk or contact info@gsabiosphere.org.uk Tamara Fulcher GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 3 Major step towards decarbonisation for Galloway Community Transport G alloway Community Transport (GCT) has received a massive boost in its ongoing aim of decarbonising its fleet in the shape of a 16-seater eMinibus. This vehicle is brand new and has been funded by the Energy Savings Trust’s Plugged in Communities fund, which supports community transport initiatives in adding carbon neutral vehicles to their fleet. The new eMinibus joins the existing GCT eCar, which is currently doing sterling work on the daily Mossdale to Kells school run. Between them, they will make a big reduction to the carbon emissions of GCT as it carries on its work of providing rural transport for us all. GCT also has three diesel minibuses, all available to hire by community and private member groups. It also runs an invaluable Patient Transport Service, thanks to the dedication of its volunteer drivers. GCT are always looking for new volunteers, either to drive their own cars or the minibuses, so if you fancy getting behind the wheel contact Jon or Sue to find out more at gct@catstrand.com or 07841 512 449. Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager The Loch Ken Glenkens Cub Dragon Boats Scouts update D ragon Boats on Loch Ken are a group who row out on the loch every Sunday from April to October (weather permitting). often used for racing. A dragon boat is a type of boat in a traditional Chinese design, typically decorated to resemble a dragon, propelled with paddles by a large crew and For further information contact Joyce at pflssw@gmail.com or 0751 431 7578. The Loch Ken session starts at 9.30am and continues to midday, and is held at the Galloway Activity Centre. Anyone over age 12 is welcome, and the cost is £2 for under 18s and £5 for adults. See below for the Dragon Boats fundraising event... A huge thank you to all those who supported the Cub Scout stall at the Alternative Games, either by donating or purchasing goods. A special mention must go to Agnes, who has made the most delicious tablet which was snapped up very quickly. Thanks also go to Jenny, who gave us the beautiful handmade coloured glassware which was sentimental to her. We raised a total of £155.60 for our group – the best ever yet… The Games were enjoyed by PARTY NIGHT Balmaclellan Village Hall Saturday 25th November 7.30pm to 11pm BYOB Supper & Raffle 0 Greatest hits performed live Tickets £20 pflssw@gmail.com 07514317578 everyone – happy, smiling faces all round. Thank you to the organisers for yet another fabulous day. Cubs started up again on 6 September, and runs from 6.15pm to 7.30pm in the Scout Hall in New Galloway. We continue to appeal for adults to become Beaver Leaders to start a Colony, working with children aged six to eight years, or Scout Leaders, working with 10 ½ to 14 year olds. For further information, please get in touch with Hannah at mcandrew.hannah@yahoo.co.uk or 07789 735 398 Yours in Scouting, Heather and Hannah Christmas coffee morning S t Margaret’s Guild and Glenkens Churches Guild are holding their annual Christmas coffee morning on Wednesday 6 December. The fundraising event will be held in New Galloway Town Hall from 10.30am to 12noon. In addition to coffee, shortbread and mince pies there will a stall with baking and gifts, a raffle and a lucky dip. GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 4 The Gazette is part of a brand new collaborative journalism project T he Glenkens Gazette is one of eighteen independent local and hyperlocal news publications serving urban and rural communities across Scotland who have joined forces to create The Scottish Beacon, a new national publication. The Scottish Beacon news website is the first collaborative journalism outlet of its kind in the country. The aim is to strengthen the independent community-based media sector and bring stories from Scotland’s communities to a wider audience. The website spotlights articles on topics including community empowerment, social equality, local democracy and the environment – from Shetland in the north to Dumfries and Galloway in the south. When researching the creation of our Glenkens Hub website, the Gazette team reached out to Rhiannon Davies, editor of the Glasgow-based community publication, Greater Govanhill, which also had an active 'hub' style website. Rhiannon agreed to design and create our Glenkens Hub site, and through this partnership we became aware of her newest venture, The Scottish Beacon, which was at that time just in its conceptual stages. Seeing the potential of the project, the Gazette decided to get on board - and now we are a part of this exciting new project. are only in print, others digital, and many are both. All are independentlyowned and produce original journalism in the public interest, firmly rooted in serving the communities in which they are based. Other publications involved in the project include The Bellman, Broughton Spurtle, C&B News, Clydesider, Crail Matters, The Edinburgh Reporter, Forres Local, The Ileach, Greater Govanhill, The Hawick Paper, Inverclyde Now, The Lochside Press, Midlothian View, Migrant Women Press, The Orkney News and Shetland News. However, with many more independent publications out there, it is expected that membership numbers will continue to grow following the launch. The Scottish Beacon network holds regular meetings, sharing resources and skills and working together to identify collaborative investigations. Together we hope to re-invigorate local public interest made by the corporate publishers to local news which mean that too often journalists working in distant newsrooms are reporting on communities they are not familiar with. It’s wild that just three publishers own the vast majority of local news publications, while big tech has hoovered up much of the traditional revenues streams. “But I keep meeting these dedicated journalists – paid and voluntary – who provide a vital local service. They’re not doing it for the money, but because they care about their communities and because these stories matter. “By collaborating on stories, and digging into national topics at a local level, we hope to amplify stories that too often go unheard, holding power to account and strengthening community voices.” “By collaborating on stories, and digging into national topics at a local level, we hope to amplify stories that too often go unheard, holding power to account and strengthening community voices.” The benefit to each publication involved in the project is through the ability to draw correlations and access information from other communities across the country. The Gazette covers many hyperlocal topics of import to our local communities, but these may often also be issues mirrored in other communities across the country. The Scottish Beacon enables communication between community news platforms, giving the potential to link up and see a bigger picture and have a stronger voice. The publications involved all have different structures and models. Some are nonprofit, some are limited companies, some are sole traders. Some of the publications news and overcome common challenges such as long-term sustainability. Many independent publications currently run on shoestring budgets, some with no income at all. The aim is to strengthen the sector, generating income and raising awareness of the value that good local journalism can bring to a community. Project founder, Rhiannon Davies, said: “I truly believe that the future of journalism is collaborative. I developed the idea for this project after being inspired by similar established collaboratives in the US. “There have been so many brutal cuts The publication will generate revenue through a mix of different income streams including membership fees, partnerships, advertising and grant funding. It will use the engaged membership platform Beabee to involve readers in stories and determine future projects. To find out more visit www.scottishbeacon. com and if you want to support independent media in Scotland, and get the best quality journalism from Scotland’s communities straight to your inbox, you can sign up to the newsletter, or become a member, and you can also follow the Scottish Beacon on social media. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 5 The end of BBC Radio 4 long wave radio B BC Radio 4 will cease being broadcast on long wave next year. The exact date has not been announced, but probably soon after the end of March 2024. Those of us who live in the Glenkens will know of the poor reception locally of radio in all its forms: DAB, FM and medium wave. Often the only reception you will be able to get indoors is ‘good old’ Radio 4. So with Radio 4 long wave leaving, what other options are out there in areas like ours where the other radio channels can't be picked up? You can listen to radio on your TV - either Freeview or Satellite - or you can listen on your mobile phone (but that could cost money, depending on your contract). Probably the best option is to listen via the internet but you will need to have a broadband connection (WiFi). You can listen on your computer or tablet, on an internet radio or on a smart speaker. If you don’t already have the internet in your home, and you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit or one of the other entitlements, you should qualify for a cheaper ‘social tariff’. This would be quite a bit cheaper than the normal rates at only around £12 per month. Couple that to a 'smart' speaker (priced from around £25 and upwards) and you have access to literally thousands of radio stations. More information about radio can be found in my previous article (Technology Explained: Radio), published in issue 117 of the Glenkens Gazette. All previous issues of the Gazette are available online as an archive at on the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Paul Goodwin Carsphairn community market C arsphairn Community Council and local children's group Bairn Banter held a community market in Lagwyne Hall on Saturday 16 September as part of Glenkens Food Month. Visitors from near and far gathered in the hall to sample a selection of local produce such as jams, chutneys and preserves, fresh fruit/ vegetables, handmade cards and crafts, and even handmade carpets. There were also fundraising stalls and a presentation from the Glenkens Food Hub. A delicious selection of home baking was on offer, washed down with hot and cold beverages at the pop-up café in the hall's the lounge area. While adults shopped, children revelled in the fun and free activities offered by Bairn Banter, the popular stayand-play children's group which runs every Saturday in Carsphairn's Lagwyne Hall. Funds raised at the market went to help support the ongoing running costs of the group, as well as annual events such as the kids halloween party on 28 October. Founder of Bairn Banter, Melissa Ade, said: “We are very lucky to have such a supportive community here in Carsphairn, with many generous residents contributing to our fundraising table and producing a wonderful spread to sell in aid of the group. The proceeds from the sales table and refreshments totalled a fabulous £151.01. On behalf of Bairn Banter, I want to say a big thank you to everyone involved!” GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 6 Galloway Glens booklet collection T he Galloway Glens Scheme included the creation of six booklets, supporting some of the projects and initiatives undertaken during the project. These booklets have now been distributed to local libraries and outlets, as well as to project partners, and are also available to read and download online on the Glenkens Hub at www. glenkens.scot/reportsresources-archive/gallowayglens-booklets The six booklets are: • Glenkens Place-names: A window on our past • Last Flights: A history of plane crashes in the Glenkens • Ken Words: An anthology of writings • Upper Gairloch: Investigations of a deserted settlement on the Raiders Road • Little Hill Wood: Excavations of a prehistoric enclosure on the Threave Estate • Barhill Wood, Kirkcudbright: Investigations in a historic woodland The booklets were designed by Martha Schofield Design and edited by Sarah Ade from the Glenkens Gazette. Glenkens Place-Names A Window on our Past by Gilbert Márkus The creation of this series of booklets was made possible thanks to the funders of the Galloway Glens Scheme, Autumn at St Margaret's Gazette subscription D o you have friends and family who don't live nearby but would love to know what's going on in the Glenkens on a regular basis? A good start to autumn as we celebrated our Harvest Festival at the end of September. With lots of abundant produce decorating the church, nobody could be left in any doubt as to what we were celebrating! However, as we remembered that not everyone is able to enjoy a good harvest, we were thankful to be able to make donations to local Foodbanks and Community Cupboards. The decision to open the church when possible during the week has been well-received, and has increased awareness that we are here for one another and for our community. Dawn is thankful for the many conversations this has brought about, and for the gifts people have shared with us. She says; “an important part of our faith is prayer, and I’d like to encourage you to continue sharing your prayer requests. We would be pleased to pray for you, about anything and everything – both joys and sorrows.” Remembrance Sunday is to be held on 12 November this year. Rev Pam Bellis will start with the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial just before 11am, and will continue over the road at St particularly the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Drax, owners of the Galloway Hydro Scheme. Beautiful harvest loaf made by Carrie Winger can you spot the mouse? Margaret’s where the service will be taken by both Pam and Dawn. Now that the nights are drawing in our Sunday service time is reverting from the afternoon to 10.30am, with coffee/ tea following the service. On Sunday 5 November we will be celebrating All Saints’ Day and, within our morning service of Holy Communion, we will be spending time in reflection for those we love and have lost. There will be an opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved-one. All are welcome. Looking ahead to Advent and Christmas celebrations, please keep your eyes open for details about our Advent and Christmas services. There will be carols and music galore, and definitely something for all ages! Nicolette Wise Why not gift them a subscription to the Glenkens Gazette! The annual cost for a UK subscription is £45 and an international subscription is £72.50 (both prices include postage). Please let us know if this is something you would be interested in by emailing glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk or calling 07727 127 997, as currently we're trying out this idea on a trial basis. August/September 2023 ISSUE 137 Are we facing a crisis in rural education? T he future of education in the Glenkens is in crisis following the withdrawal of fourth year provision at Dalry Secondary School. Parents and supporters of the school believe the seeds of the current situation were sown in 2016 when, despite strong community and parental opposition, D&G Education Department decided to hire a Glenkens primaries partnership head and amalgamate the management for Dalry Secondary and Castle Doulgas High School (CDHS), despite the fact that CDHS is an urban school 16 miles away. The change in management structure from an all-through school (with the Glenkens primaries and Dalry Secondary all under one head teacher who was based at Dalry School) to a structure with a remote secondary head has had serious ramifications. Seven years on, this poorly considered management decision, coupled with a seeming lack of interest in partnership working from the Welcome to Dalry For over 50 years Dalry Secondary has been providing a holistic environment where young people are nurtured and supported as they grow into their full potential as wellrounded, welleducated individuals. FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE SPEN pylon enquiry submission deemed "greatly offensive" turn to page 3 D alry offers something unique, with the small school rural setting allowing students to feel secure in a family-like environment while they reach their full academic and personal potential. The inside cover of the Dalry Secondary School prospectus created by the Parent Council. You can read the full publication online at bit.ly/DalryProspectus or pick up a print copy from the school CDHS management team has lead to this year's S4 class at Dalry being displaced and the head teacher 'strongly advising' parents to send their children to CDHS. The size of year groups have changed little over the past couple of decades, so why now are Dalry pupils' educational outcomes being so severely curtailed? It does not seem right that, when parents query the limited offering, is it deemed a reasonable answer to state that a full range of subjects is offered at 'partner Resounding success of Galloway Glens intern programme turn to page 10 school' CDHS. Surely it is not unreasonable to expect a rich and varied curriculum to be offered at Dalry, the catchment high school for the Glenkens? Why are pupils expected to attend an out of catchment school, outwith their community, travelling for potentially up to two hours a day? These are the questions being asked of the Education Department, with many parents and members of the community still waiting for answers. Continued on p5... Glenkens Food Month will run throughout September with mouthwatering events across the Glenkens - turn to p7 for more! Funding for Glenkens youth graffiti project turn to page 19 What is Galloway Retold? turn to page 23 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 7 Afghan carpet charity fundraiser G kenkens-based charity, the Afghan Schools Trust, has a number of handmade Afghan carpets for sale at local fairs and markets as a fundraiser for their schools in Afghanistan. Trustees Robin Ade and Tony Long recently ran a stall at the Carsphairn Community Market where people could come along to see the carpets in person and buy. This was really well received and a number of carpets were sold, generating much-needed funds. The Trust's work enables the education of Afghan children, particularly in rural areas, through supporting the development of schools as well as necessary health and infrastructure needs for young people and their families. They have a focus on educating girls, and also fund a Women's Centre which offers higher education. The Trust will have a stall at the CatStrand Shopping Night on Saturday 2 December from 6-9pm and Corsock Craft Fair on Sunday 3 December from 11am-3pm. For further information, or to arrange a visit to buy a carpet, please get in touch with Tony on antarthur@protonmail.com or 07507 704 821. Pictured are Tony and Robin selling carpets at the Carsphairn Community Market along with some examples of carpets for sale. Launch of the new Glenkens & District Community Fund A s longer term readers will be aware, the Glenkens & District Trust was established in 2011 to resource and enable community development in the Glenkens and surrounding communities using wind farm community benefit monies. To date GDT has used funds provided from Blackcraig Wind Farm to support the local community, committing more than one million pounds to a range of initiatives including grants for community groups, education and training bursaries, and commissioning research to help develop projects which will deliver against community priorities outlined in the local Community Action Plan. Now that more money is becoming available through agreements made with the Greencoat Windy Rig windfarm, the Carsphairn Renewable Energy Fund Ltd and others to come, it’s time the fund arrangements got a new identity to reflect this ‘pooled’ approach – the Glenkens & District Community Fund. The newly branded fund will continue to provide a single, consistent application process and set of Fund priorities which keeps it simple for applicants and easily identifiable for the Glenkens and District community, regardless of the source of funds. Fiona Smith, Chair of the Fund said: “We are delighted to be able to announce the launch of the Glenkens & District Community Fund. We thank all of the fund donors who are contributing to this new arrangement, both the windfarm owners and community partners at the Carsphairn Renewable Energy Fund. As the number of donors to our communities increases our aim is to continue to steward funds to a high standard, while keeping it simple for applicants” For applicants, all the application forms, the fund priorities and the cycle of spring and autumn deadlines will remain the same as they were with the Blackcraig fund, and GDT continues to work in partnership with Foundation Scotland to administer the arrangements. The first application deadline to the new Glenkens & District Community Fund will be 19 March 2024. For further information please check https://tinyurl. com/GandDCF or get in touch with Suzy at Foundation Scotland on grants@ foundationscotland.org.uk GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 8 Castle Douglas Rotary Club Go Wild! T his summer, the Galloway Glens Scheme led three ‘Go Wild!’ Outdoor Education Camps. from 6pm at the Lochinvar Hotel, Dalry. The evening will include a notto-be-missed local speaker and a short presentation to share a bit more about the Rotary Cub - what can do, have done, want to do and dispel a few myths! A total of 26 children took part, with a camp in Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas and in the Glenkens at the Garroch Estate. The week-long camps gave participants a once-in-a lifetime experience of going wild in our beautiful countryside, giving the skills and confidence to enjoy the Galloway outdoors. The Castle Douglas Rotary Club supported this initiative, contributing towards the costs of the celebration event and John Muir Trust Awards ceremony at the Galloway Activity Centre in September. Please come along, join us and meet the team for a £20 evening out with a free glass of wine. For further information or to book at ticket contact Cliff on 07768 981 952 asap as numbers are limited. This was a great example of how the Rotary club can support a wide range of projects. With the culmination of the Galloway Glens scheme this September, the Castle Douglas Rotary Club want to highlight that they will continue to support this type of worthwhile project. With the Club’s track record of supporting the schools in the area, we would like to invite interested residents to join us to find out more about what we do at a set menu two-course dinner event on 26 October Pictured is the Glenkens Go Wild! event held at the Garroch Estate, Dalry, which was also supported by the D&G Council 's Regionwide Communities Fund New Galloway Town Hall grand reopening S o far, we have been reopening quietly, almost surreptitiously, letting people in a few at a time to sneak a peek. Some activities are already underway, including our ever-popular LING Lunches, which have transitioned from Kitty’s Tearoom back to the Town Hall. We’re incredibly grateful to Sylvia for having let us use her lovely space for all these months, but at the same time delighted to be able to welcome people back into the community’s own premises again. Glenkens Food Month saw the Town Hall hosting its first pop-up restaurant event with local chef Risto Leino providing a mouthwatering three-course meal – good local food with a Finnish twist! Our two restaurant sittings quickly sold out, so we’re hoping to put more of these on the calendar – Risto is already envisioning a smorgasbord for next time! Many thanks to Fleet Fish, Henderson butchers, Niko's restaurant and the Glenkens Gardeners for their generous support. But our most important news is that on Saturday 21 October we’ll be having our formal grand opening event, which we have titled 'A Time and a Place'. This will be an afternoon concert with a difference; the Catstrand Singers will be bringing us songs from the Glenkens, reminding us what a special place this is, with rousing choruses perfect for the audience to participate. We’ll be joined by pupils from Kells Primary and the Cubs who will help place items in the Town Hall Time Capsule – there’ll be a bit of show-andtell exploring the writings, photographs, mementos, special edition memorabilia and other small but historic artefacts which are going to be sealed behind a hidden partition in the refurbished Town Hall. The Cubs have already presented us with a scrapbook reflecting their experiences of living, learning, playing and exploring in the Glenkens, and Kells pupils have been hard at work on their time capsule contributions too. We think that hearing from local young people on the day will be a great way to focus our thoughts on the future of the Glenkens, even as we come together to celebrate our special heritage and shared past. The 'A Time and a Place' grand reopening event is for all ages and we do hope you can join us between 2.30pm and 4.30pm on Saturday 21 October as the doors of New Galloway Town Hall open properly, and for good. Tickets are free but essential for admittance on the day. They can be booked at https://tinyurl.com/4kay6epj. If you are unable to book online, please contact us on 07749 249781; leave a message with your name and how many tickets you want and we’ll get back to you. See the What's On and Regular Events sections on pages 38-39 for details of upcoming events and activities in New Galloway Town Hall. The sell-out pop-up restaurant Food Month Event held in the newly-refurbished lesser dining hall of New Galloway Town Hall, and an example of the fabulous food on offer; a fab fruit bowl with local soft fruit and edible flowers Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity Together in the Glenkens T he Together in The Glenkens activity programme has got off to a wonderful start, with a wide variety of sessions on offer. Our aim is for everyone in the Glenkens communities and beyond to have the opportunity to access life affirming activities which will enhance their mental health and wellbeing. We want to provide an accessible and supportive network of activities which everyone is welcome to. So, here’s a quick update of what we’ve been up to since June. New participants are of course welcome any time to any activity. Tai Chi in New Galloway Park has enjoyed some delightful outdoor evenings, developing their understanding and enjoyment of the movements and philosophy of Tai Chi. This activity will be moving to New Galloway Town Hall from October, Mondays 6.30-8pm; further info can be found on the blue poster below. Art for Wellbeing in Corsock have produced some lovely pieces of multi-media art and the group is looking forward to exploring their creative skills further throughout the autumn and winter months. The class meets at the Village Hall in Corsock, on Thursdays from 6.30-8.30pm. Gentle Exercise provides a place of stillness and reflection, as well as building a routine of gentle chair yoga. “The class is really helping me, I am feeling the benefits and look forward to and enjoy the weekly session,” said one new attendee. This class is held on Wednesdays at The Smiddy, Balmaclellan, from 4-5pm. Art for Wellbeing in Balmaclellan allows you to start using oils to create your own pieces of art. The classes are full of tips and techniques that are invaluable in building an understanding of this diverse and satisfying artistic medium. Sessions run on Wednesdays at The Smiddy, Balmaclellan, from 10am-12pm. Strictly Get Dancing is already proving immensely popular! Sam Rushton’s happy and relaxed style of teaching results in all the participants learning and mastering a variety of Latin and Ballroom steps each session … music and steps all in sync is a joy to see and experience. One participant said: “Loved that! Smiled all evening - thank you!” Classes run in four-weekly blocks, with a Christmas Social Dance planned for 18 December. Sessions are on Mondays at 7pm, rotating between Mossdale, Parton and Kirkpatrick Durham village halls. Together in the Glenkens is also planning a twice-monthly Gym & Swim package, starting on 11 October. This will involve transport departing from New Galloway, with various pick-up locations en-route, and heading to Kirkcudbright Swimming Pool on Wednesday mornings and The Merrick Leisure Centre in Newton Stewart on Wednesday evenings. A super chance to build a regular exercise routine while sharing the journey and experience with others – contact Jo to find out more. Our Patchwork Workshop also launches in October, where skills can be learned and enhanced to turn scraps page 9 of textiles in to hand sewn items such as tote bags, cushion covers and Christmas decorations. These classes run on Thursdays at 1pm in Crossmichael Church Hall from the 17 October. All the activities provide an opportunity to invite a new interest or exercise into your world, while meeting and making new friends and developing or polishing skills that we hope will have a feel-good effect on peoples' lives. Come along to any or all of them! Together in the Glenkens is funded by the Scottish Government’s Community Health and Wellbeing Fund, administered through Third Sector Dumfries & Galloway. For more information, including prices and discount options, please get in touch with jo@ catstrand.com, call the CatStrand on 01644 420 374, or visit www.gcat.scot/cic-learningand-wellbeing-workshop-programme or scan the QR code below. A full house at the Clachan Inn for the TiTG Pub Quiz (see below for details) Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 10 Our children's voices A meeting was held by the Education Department at Dalry Secondary School for parents and pupils, and children were asked their views on how to move forward with the current small class sizes. But in a formal meeting setting such as that, young people, understandably, find it very difficult to speak up. So with mounting pressure from from school management for the children in small class cohorts to move out of catchment to Castle Douglas High School, we wanted to offer a space in the Gazette for Dalry Secondary pupils to have their voices heard. "In my personal experience in Dalry small classes are a very effective way of learning as the student will have more confidence to share their views, opinions and questions with their peers and teachers. "Dalry is an absolutely essential school to have in this area otherwise the school kids would need to travel to CD which is further away and I think I speak for a lot of people when I say it has a less positive social atmosphere. "A lot of my friends have gone there and suffered from bullying and ostracization, which I can safely say are not an issue at a friendly school like Dalry. Socially it's a very good environment since it's such a small school we all know each other and are friends. "I honestly just wish that people would care for the school and put more money and effort into it as they do other schools." "I moved from a small school in Aberdeen and it was great to join Dalry Secondary School. "I didn't feel confident enough to go to a really big school. Dalry builds my confidence and gives me a chance to get to know the teachers and make friends with some of them. I also made friends with all the girls in S2. They are LOADS of good company. "Seeing everyone leave recently was really sad because in just one week the school shrank so much in size. And lots of people were going to really big schools. I feel loyal to Dalry. I will refuse to leave" "You know everyone at the school. I like that the teachers know everyone. "You get opportunities that other schools don’t. I don't like the fact that the S4s are now in with the S1 class. Sometimes the school is too quiet." "I think Dalry is great. "It could do with a couple more students. My friend and I are the only girls in S1. People are dropping out like stones. But I really like Dalry because it's small enough that I know everyone's names, I never get lost and I know all the teachers and their personalities." "Dalry Secondary School to me means everything. "It is easy to access, it’s very friendly because I know everyone. There’s not too many people. I get panicky and nervous around too many people. "With not too many pupils at MATTHEW PAJO Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - pain management - women's health - men's health - fatigue - sleep - stress - anxiety - needle-free laser acupuncture- The Old School, Crossmichael info@matthewpajo.co.uk 07786 079 845 Dalry Secondary, teachers have more time for each pupil 1:1. I feel more confident at Dalry with smaller numbers. I would like to see the MUGA re-open for the children to use in school time." "Dalry school is my catchment area school. "I wouldn’t choose to go to any other school. Dalry makes me feel happy, safe. The teachers are very supportive, friendly, easy to approach and always with a listening ear. "We are a close knit group of friends at school, from S1-S4, and even have communication with Nursery to P7. We are so lucky to be a through school. I like the small classes in secondary and I feel more confident talking in front of my class when it’s small numbers. "The teachers are always available to help with our work, support us when we are struggling. We have a big playing field, I would like to be able to make use of the field for sports get-togethers with other local schools." "The school is good because its not crowded." Photograph of pupils outside Dalry Secondary by Jim McEwan, Galloway News Amber Dunlop-Pajo Health Psychologist - women's health - stress - depression - anxietyThe Old School, Crossmichael info@gallowaycounselling.co.uk 07389 713 106 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 11 Citizens advice Glenkens outreach Funded by the Blackcraig Windfarm fund, the clinics are held fortnightly on a Monday at the Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry, and fortnightly on a Tuesday at CatStrand, New Galloway. D umfries & Galloway Citizens Advice Service (D&GCAS) now have a regular outreach service at two venues in the Glenkens. Fiona Norbury, the clinic’s generalist advisor, is on hand from 10am to 4pm to give advice on a range of topics such as housing, debt, benefits, employment and much more. No appointments are necessary and the service is free, confidential, impartial and independent. Fiona said: "Please feel free to drop in to any of the available clinics, or if you can’t make it and need advice you can call the Dumfries office on 0300 303 4321 and ask to leave a message for the Glenkens advisor, who will return your call. Or you can visit the D&GCAS website at www.dagcas.org”. The outreach project’s Generalist Advisor, Fiona Norbury, at a Glenkens Community Centre outreach session Bluebell wood News from Dalry clean-up Community Council M y Mum and I were extremely saddened to discover, on our walk at the bluebell woods by the New Galloway golf course back in August, that someone had thrown a number of half-empty paint pots around the entrance to the woods. The paint was strewn and splattered all over the wall, ground and trees with the pots left lying in and around puddles of the paint. The main reason I wanted to put this story in the Gazette is to say how grateful we are for our wonderful community, who rallied around and swiftly mobilised a clean-up operation. Special thanks go to Andrew Frew and Tim Curtis, who cleared up what they could of the mess before it could cause too much harm to plants/animals, and reported it to the police. I can't imagine who would do this but thankfully we live in a community that takes pride in our beautiful surroundings and will always come together when needed. Emma Curtis W e want to share more of what St Johns Town of Dalry Community Council is involved in and introduce ourselves to old and new residents. We have nine members with different areas of interest, all supporting the good of the community of Dalry and the parish. We work closely with other Community Councils in the Glenkens and Stewartry area, coming together as one voice when needed and focusing on Dalry daily. Current Members include Michele Owen (Chair), Jenna Cains (Vice Chair), Morag Paterson (Secretary), Gerald Bell (Treasurer), Alex McCrae, Graham West, Gary Blissett, Linda Halsall and Maureen Biggar. We welcome the residents of Dalry to attend any of the Community Council meetings. They occur on the first Monday of the month in Dalry Town Hall at 7pm. If you can give a couple of hours a month to support your village however you feel you can, that would be fantastic. There may be skills, knowledge or experiences we can utilise, and of course, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping yourself and others in a place we are all proud of. Engagement and listening to residents in Dalry is something we would like to develop. We would love to hear your views on how we can engage and communicate with all residents and help share news and events with you all. All thoughts and ideas are welcome. Paid support opportunity: We are looking into an honorarium position to assist us in dealing with emails, minutes and public notices. We will officially notify residents of this role shortly; in the meantime, if you are interested, please drop us a line at the email address below. We are always looking for additional members to share the tasks and achievements. We wish to ensure the best future for our village, community, and landscape, and with your help, we can achieve more. For more info or to contact us please email sjtdalrycc@gmail.com See more on local governance, committees and community councils over the page... Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 12 Local governance and our communities... I n this edition of the Gazette we will be looking at local governance and how the groups and committees across the Glenkens function, continuing with more on this topic in the December/January edition. Why I chose to join a community council... W hen I moved to Dalry in 2021 I was keen to get to know the community I was now a part of; its history and the different activities and events that make up life in the village. Through speaking to a number of people I found out about the community council and attended my first meeting (just to be nosey!) as a spectator. Through the many varied discussions going on about the village and surrounding areas I was inspired by the diverse experience, knowledge and interests of the members and the subjects they discussed to become a fully fledged member, joining officially by the next meeting. Over the next two years, I continued to attend community council meetings where we discussed topics such as forestry, the health and wellbeing of the community, renewable energy and the Glenkens District Trust, as well as more fun tasks such as coordinating Christmas trees and Jubilee celebrations. Through these meetings I have been able to not only get involved with some really worthwhile projects (such as the Community Health and Wellbeing survey) but also to get to know my fellow community councillors and the people of Dalry who give their time and effort to make this the place in which we live today. The Community Council, at its heart, is there to support the people who live in and around Dalry and being part of this team, whether through investigating complaints from local residents, acting as a sounding board for ideas or by working with our elected councillors to explore new initiatives for the village and the Glenkens, I hope I can contribute towards a positive difference for the community. I would really encourage anyone who, like me, enjoys being a part of our community to get in touch as there are lots of ways we can make a difference, with projects ranging from organising litter picking volunteers to In praise of committees B eing on a committee, a Board, a Steering Group, a Community Council, a Parent Council can be frustrating and boring. It can be hours of pre-read and a meeting on a sunny evening when you'd rather be walking the dog. It's putting the tables and chairs out to start the meeting, and putting them away again at the end. It's trying to remember to write up the Minutes in good time, and to get your actions done between meetings. And sometimes it's being stopped on the street when you're just trying to pick up some milk to get told that you're doing it all wrong. So why do so many of us in the Glenkens do it? Because it's the only way to get things done. The Glenkens has an amazing track record of community work stretching back decades. From Dalry Town Hall which never came out of community ownership, to the CatStrand opening 16 years ago, to Carsphairn Community Woodland, the heritage centres, the renovation of New Galloway Town Hall and other asset transfers, Glenkens Food Month, Loch Ken Trust - literally too many to mention. And all of this was achieved by an astonishing amount of hard work by volunteers sitting on committees. Because they cared and because they knew it was important. It's fun to sit on the sidelines, pointing out all the things that aren't right. It's easy to write a letter or stop someone in the street with a good idea that 'should' be done. What's hard is making it happen. We need the good ideas and the identification of problems - and then we need the people who turn up to the meetings, write the grant applications, puzzle through the business plans and have sleepless nights over the finances. Community work is exhausting - but when you get it right, gosh, it's rewarding. To see a playgroup flourishing or an activity programme bringing new people together or a building buzzing with life again and know that you played your part in making it happen - that's why we do it. So thank you to the hundreds of people in the Glenkens who have stepped up over the years to make things happen for this amazing community. Without you, we would all be much the poorer. I hope you feel that it was worth it, and more power to your elbow! Helen Keron more complex issues such as the Glenkens education provision, there really is something for every interest and schedule. Being a part of the Community Council ensures our community has a voice, and that we can give support and time to the things that are important to us in keeping Dalry a fantastic place to call home. With this as the goal, it is safe to say that I truly enjoy working with the Community Council and hope that, if not already, I get to meet more of the people in and around the village and help them in any way I can. Michele Owen Stronger together I was delighted to meet with a number of Community Council representatives in August, to see if meetings between the Councils would add value. We had a very positive meeting, where we discussed Local Place Plans (see page 14) and the difficulty and some solutions to recruiting Community Council members and engaging effectively with all members of their community. We agreed to meet again in November after the outcome of funding to support Local Place Planning is known. If any Community Council member in the Glenkens would like to be on the invitation list personally, do let me know on helen@ catstrand.com Helen Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 13 ...how it works and how to get involved The Kinks, The Beatles and local councils I n 1968, The Kinks surprised the world upon the release of their sixth studio album The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. At a time where other British bands such as The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones were taking the USA by storm, gearing up for the so-called ‘Summer of Love’, The Kinks took an alternate approach which set them apart from the hegemonic depiction of youth culture in the late 1960s. Throughout the album, the listener encounters numerous vignettes and character studies that evoke nostalgia and a vague desire to preserve so-called ‘British’ things for posterity. The album may be understood as using common cultural experiences of the past to cope with the alienation felt in the present – alienation that has only increased in the decades since. As ever with Ray Davies, however, there was a twist. Many critics sensed an underlying cynicism to the album’s veneration of a certain way of life, concluding that it might have been intended as a sharp rebuttal to those who were obsessed with romanticising a non-existent past. To this day critics are divided over whether Davies’ intentions were ironic or if he truly yearned for the traditions outlined in his work. first introduced in 1975 under the 1973 Local Government Act. They are voluntary organisations, meaning their existence depends entirely on the will of individuals in the area to stand for election. Exemplifying their preference for channelling the opinions of their local communities above all else is their nonparty-political and non-sectarian nature. But what do they do? The disingenuousness that is so often tied to community associations does little to widen their appeal. In truth, local politics does lack the glamour and intrigue of the happenings in Holyrood, Westminster, and the Whitehouse. It conjures up images of the petty and twee, figures who are sticklers for procedure, oblivious to the relative insignificance of their role. I first became involved in local politics myself whilst living in London as a student. There I met countless individuals who cared deeply about their Community councils have the right to be notified of and respond to any planning applications, so spare them a thought as you draw up plans for your new six-storey extension – or equally if you wish to protest that of your neighbour. Parks, playgrounds, and footpaths also fall within their sphere of activity, so it is them who should be approached if you carry concerns about the haunting spectre of a swings and roundabouts accident. Local events, the magnets which can pull together our otherwise potentially disparate and inward-looking communities, can be organised by, with, and through community councils. Above all else, they provide residents with a voice. They are a means by which one can prevent changes that do not best serve a community. That is not to say that all change is inherently bad. Likewise, opposing change does not a reactionary NIMBY make. Rather, to take one example, some types of change can prioritise the leisure and pleasure of those who are visiting – who have expendable income and homes to which they can return elsewhere – over the basic necessities of those living in a certain area. ...introduced in 1975 under the 1973 Local Government Act. They are voluntary organisations, meaning their existence depends entirely on the will of individuals in the area to stand for election. Nowadays, in our advanced, post-industrial world, his concerns may seem reactionary, a musical manifestation of NIMBY ideology. Fifty years later local politics is still riddled with views that carry similar objectionable undertones. Groups who are already marginalised can be disproportionately stigmatised due to obsessive attitudes towards antisocial behaviour. Longstanding prejudices against municipal housing and so-called ‘problem estates’ erase the reality that, for many, moving into a council house provided lifechanging security – not dependency – enabled the creation of joyful family homes. communities and wished to provide a more personal voice to their residents. Making sure that bins are collected on time, that local schools are functioning, and that public transport is cohesive may not seem glamorous, but they are the first things we notice when they do not work or cease to exist. Over time I found that local politics is equally significant in rural communities where issues such as isolation and accessibility take on different dimensions. Dumfries & Galloway council has a large remit under which most of the aforementioned issues fall, but what about at a more local level? Community councils in Scotland were The community councils occupied by the readership of the Glenkens Gazette include Balmaclellan, Balmaghie, Carsphairn, Corsock and Kirkpatrick Durham, Crossmichael and District, Dalry, Parton, and the luxuriously named Royal Burgh of New Galloway and Kells Parish. It is a lesser-known arm of government, but one that can be instrumental in fostering a sense of collective responsibility for the areas in which we live. Through them you too can make meaningful contributions to a community of which you can be proud. Dominique Matthew Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity Local Place Plans - coming to a village near you! Y ou may have heard about Local Place Planning already - you may never have heard of it! But it is coming, and it is something of importance to us all. Dumfries & Galloway Council will be creating a new region-wide Local Development Plan in 2024, and as an important feed into that, they are asking individual settlements or parishes to create Local Place Plans (LLPs) for their local area. The crucial thing about LPPs is that they include 'spatial planning' - where you would or wouldn't like to see house building, light industry development, protected green spaces, etc. They should also be a statement about what is already there that is important to you, like local shops or schools. They also ask wider questions about the priorities of the communities, but a lot of these have been answered in our Glenkens and district Community Action Plan (CAP). Glenkens Community & Arts Trust is therefore seeking funding to create a role to coordinate Local Place Plans across the area, so that we can get the best of both worlds not duplicating the good work that was done to create the CAP, but amplifying it with the views of individual settlements about spatial planning. them, then contact helen@ catstrand.com If you are a Glenkens resident and you'd like to be involved, then either contact your CC to find out what the local process is going to be, or just look out for consultation sessions that might start popping up at the end of the year. Although Dalry CC is going great guns and already has theirs well underway! Balmaclellan CC should also be thanked for raising awareness of this whole issue at their recent meeting. The LPPs only have to be submitted by the end of next year, so there's plenty of time to find out more and engage in this process. But whether you are creating your Local Place Plan or feeding into it, do be sure to get your views in. It's easy to overlook consultations like this, but I think we all have a view on how much housing we need and what our green spaces mean to us. This process is a way of getting those views heard and incorporated at a regional level, so it's worth turning out one more time! Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager So what has all this got to do with you? If you are a Community Council (CC) or a community group who would like to create a Local Place Plan for their area, then there are loads of resources online if you search 'Local Place Plans - what are they?' on the Dumfries & Galloway Council website (dumgal.gov.uk). And if you'd like to be included in the discussions about coordinating the work and accessing a paid resource for support in creating Your Town Hall needs you! B page 14 uilding on the success of being awarded grant funding amounting to £50,000 for energy efficiency improvements, Dalry Town Hall's management team are now reaching out to the community, both young and old, new and longstanding residents, to invite them to join the team. number but big on commitment. However, in order to achieve our goal of keeping the hall well-maintained and improving the facilities available so that it continues to be a welcoming and safe place for users and hirers, we need to increase our strength." Committee Chair Lesley Blisset commented: 'We are small in There are a number of exciting opportunities. If you are The team are planning to host a 'Meet and Greet' evening in December (date to be confirmed, but will be listed in the next Gazette, as well as on the website and Facebook). The session will probably take place in the first week of December and refreshments, wine and a very warm welcome will be on offer! Put your talents to good use as a friend of Dalry Town Hall passionate about local produce, why not get involved in the organisation of the Producers Market? This could include liaising with stall holders, planning the layout, helping with set-up and take-down and being present at the market, as well as looking at ways to increase footfall and turnover. Perhaps your strengths lie in marketing and publicity. Could you help by producing and designing content for the website and social media, managing and administering the website, or creating posters for events at the hall? Or would you like to get involved with the dayto-day running of the town hall, welcoming hirers to the building or managing bookings? If you have experience with event planning, and would like to use your organisational and creative skills to put together events to raise funds for the Town Hall, or have new ideas for activities or celebrations that will encourage a wider range of the population to participate in activities at the hall, the team would love to hear more. And if you are interested in fundraising, notwithstanding recent successes in this area, there is a constant need to raise funds in order to ensure that the building is well maintained so as to avoid costly issues in future. Whatever your skills, the team at Dalry Town Hall is very keen to welcome new members. This is an opportunity to be part of a team whose mission is to maintain, manage and preserve one of the best rural heritage assets in the Glenkens. To find out more, or register your interest for the 'Meet and Greet' event, please contact Lesley Blissett on lesleyblissett52@gmail.com or 07710 525 927. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Youth Correspondent page 15 J oshua Wells is our new Glenkens Gazette youth columnist, and will be writing each issue about things which interest him. In this edition he has researched New Galloway Town Hall and written a bit about its history as well as the hall today. Below Joshua gives a little bit of background to himself. She said: “We took asset transfer I enjoy writing and following current events. I also like reading. Some of (ownership) my favourite books include; Animal Farm, Great Gatsby and All Quiet on from the the Western Front. When I’m not at school you will find me travelling or Council spending time outside with my family as well as volunteering. in August 2022 and include: a new air source heat ew Galloway although we had most of our pump, improved insulation, Town Hall was fundraising grants in place by new windows, suspended then, it took a few months to ceiling, accessible toilets, and a built some time get tradesmen lined up to start. brand new lift. before 1771. Proper work began in October These repairs and In 1875 it was rebuilt and so it will be about a year.” refurbishment will make the enlarged. In early 1970 it I interviewed former users of building a great venue for became a category B listed the hall and they were really events, workshops and classes building (buildings of special excited about the hall opening. as well as the famous LING architectural or historic interest One said: “I will be very pleased lunches. which are major examples of when it happens.” Another I asked Ann, the secretary of a particular period, style or New Galloway resident said: LING, what have been the building type). New Galloway “I hope to see film nights and challenges of refurbishing the Town Hall is located at High quizzes.” Another remarked: “I town hall. She said that there Street, New Galloway. think dances would be a great were many things that were According to the Daily Record event in the town hall because difficult such as stamina, price New Galloway Town Hall was it is a great floor for dancing increases, tradesmen being sold for a bargain £1 to Local people used to come from too busy and overcommitted Initiatives in New Galloway miles around just to dance (so they start and need to (LING). When LING eventually at New Galloway Town Hall.” disappear to another job), secured funding they started Nearly everyone said they are Covid, holiday, one delay undertaking a vast renovation looking forward to the clock leading to lots of knock-on of the town hall both inside working again some even said effects and managing grants, and out to save this historic they had to buy a watch since as in not just getting offers, building while making it a the town hall clock stopped. but providing all the evidence fully accessible, efficient and People were buzzing at the idea needed to draw it down at the effective community space. that there might be a Christmas end of the day. concert on the horizon. Improvements to the hall I’m Joshua Wells, aged 14, I am an aspiring political journalist, and I have recently moved to the area. N Gordon McAdam Plumbing & Heating 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry 01644 430 393 07834 321 789 David Tallontire CHIMNEY SWEEP Covering the Glenkens & further afield 07709 144 299 - wood burners - multi-fuel stoves - open fires - Agas - Rayburns - birds nest removal with CCTV inspection - certificates issued - feel free to call for advice - Find me on Facebook I also asked Anne what have been the highlights, and she said that having the Victorian moral maxims around the top of the Upper Hall repainted by a specialist so they look beautiful and can be read properly again, getting the external painting achieved at last and getting the lift installed and working. Ann says the highlight she is looking forward to is the celebratory launch on 21 October (see p8). She also really enjoyed how many volunteers have been willing to give time over the past six and seven weekends to help with beginning clearing and cleaning in the hall. She also enjoyed how nice it has been to carry on with LING lunches in Kitty’s. That has felt as if some of the essence of LING has been able to continue. Did you know karate started in the town hall in September? So if your young person is looking for something to do on Thursday nights, this might be for them. I think we can all agree the town hall stands at the physical and emotional heart of new Galloway. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 16 Midsummer in the Glenkens H aving been away working most of June, it was great to get back home to Dalry and set out on a gloriously bright day with big white puffy clouds and just enough breeze to blow away midges and clegs. Down the boat weil, over the swinging brig and up Water of Ken to Waterside Hill along the Southern Upland Way. The grasses, bracken and other ferns were lush and swaying slowly to the tunes of assorted bird songs and calls. A male whitethroat sang his scratchy song from a haw bush, while slow rasping calls revealed more, and probably a brood, in the undergrowth. A fine male whinchat sang obligingly from a high wire – so much easier than spotting him atop one of a thousand thistles or bracken fronds. They are fine ventriloquists and usually further away than their fluted notes suggest. Early willow warblers now had their second wind and one sang from the saughs (willows) towards the fish ladder now behind me. facilitated by D&G Council, Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage. These ranged from the Indicative Forestry Strategy and Woodland Plans as part of the regional Structure Plan processes, to Local Forestry Frameworks designed to identify constraints to, and opportunities for, new woodland planting in two pilot areas, one in Galloway and one in eastern Dumfriesshire. Reflecting the growing anxiety over continuing forest expansion, all of these involved extensive public consultations, and the latter included intensive local community workshops, etc, and provided detailed Collins’ prestigious New Naturalist series. Derek was a former Chief Scientist of the Nature Conservancy Council and a frequent visitor to the Glenkens and wild Galloway. Of course, foresters themselves are not to blame, it’s what they do and know. Equally, no blame can be attached to farmers and other landowners selling up, as they have their own existing and future financial situations to consider, as have we all. Surely, the fault lies in the blunt financial grants system that applies equally across Scotland, with no impediment to continued planting in places like Galloway, Carrick and parts of Dumfriesshire, etc, where so many areas are so heavily overplanted already. Whilst I am no longer up to speed on the needs and economics associated with such timber, I do know it relies on huge public financial incentives, and I believe these should be targeted better. A holistic land-use strategy seems beyond the reach of our current politicians, but I’m sure an interim embargo on further non-native conifer planting in certain areas like Galloway would be welcomed by most, and would come as a great relief to our quality of life, visitors, and biodiversity. ...an interim embargo on further nonnative conifer planting in certain areas like Galloway would be welcomed by most, and would come as a great relief to our quality of life, visitors, and biodiversity. The falling cadence always reminds me of a falling feather. These were the obvious songs, but there was another, more delicate, initially unseen songster valiantly issuing his understated high-pitched notes in three parts: two short, one longer. This was the coalheid or reed bunting, magnificent in his glossy black head and bib, with pristine white collar and moustache. How handsome he looked as he opened his tiny triangular bill to send out his song from the rashes. An agitated female whinchat chacked as I passed and presently she was joined by her recently-fledged brood returning her calls as they scattered over the bracken. A second brood was about the upper half of the hill, whilst a profusion of meadow brown and ringlet butterflies flicked through the grasses and made the ground their own. All of this was very uplifting, of course, but as I progressed, I couldn’t help but be drawn into negative thoughts of the recent afforestation of Waterside Hill, against the wishes of many local people and indeed local community councils. Whilst all these birds and more were currently thriving and revelling in the open lush habitat, inevitably the growth of the trees will deny them, especially on the far side of the hill where the bulk of the dreaded Sitka regiments will dominate and darken all beneath them. In my work with RSPB over nearly three decades I was involved in several regional and other more local community initiatives, information and recommendations over the type of woodland, if any, that might be appropriate in different compartments. However, sad to say, all of these hopes and efforts of many resulted in little or no change, in so far as proposals for extensive non-native conifer plantations, largely Sitka spruce, continued to be approved and supported by public grants in semi-natural upland habitats - to the continuing loss of dependent open country birds and other valued biodiversity. In short, the forest industry largely ignored these initiatives and, backed by public funding, followed the money and indeed continue to target places like upland Galloway, where land is relatively cheap and infrastructure and industry are well-established, but where, of course, there is so little remaining scope for yet more forestry to all who really value what diminishing open country, landscapes and biodiversity we have left. This situation has existed, more or less, for many decades now, and is tellingly recorded in the late Derek Ratcliffe’s excellent Galloway and the Borders (2007) in On over the top of Waterside Hill and a late whaup called from down near The Score. On an earlier walk I’d heard a pair on Hannaston beyond, but again their continuing presence will be increasingly jeopardised as the young Sitka trees develop. The attractive open scrub of the southwest-facing brae down to Garroch Burn was moving with fledged willow warblers, whitethroats and another whinchat brood, the third I’d seen this day. All of these birds would soon be heading off south on migration to sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. What an adventure. On the lower slope I came on more meadow brown, ringlet and small pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies, all enjoying the shelter and strong June sun. Across the burn I checked two red kite nests on the way back to Dalry, both with big chicks close to fledging. The sand martin colony on the Ken, just above the confluence with Coom Burn, was buzzing with delight as adults and fledged chicks zipped about just over and high above the water. So uplifting. Then, a wonderful and more surprising conclusion to my walk on this lovely day – the distinctive piping of common sandpiper, somewhere through the saughs on the water’s edge. I never did see it (them?), but the call is quite unmistakable. This wasn’t an unusual place for them, but it was the first time I’d heard them just there this year, which brought a grateful smile. Chris Rollie, late June 2023 Male whinchat by Tim Melling GAZETTEenvironment page 17 advertisement Glenkens Gazette When you make the decision to install solar panels, you’re making an investment for a positive future. However, it is essential that you choose a reputable company who takes care of you from beginning to end - and then some. Sadly, here at RJW we have been to our fair share of homes to redo or fix a job undertaken by a less than reputable company. So what can you expect from us? You can expect expertise; we have over 12 years PV installation experience and a team of highly-skilled solar professionals. From a small family home to a large commercial establishment, every job is carried out with meticulous care. We take pride in our work and never leave a premises without feeling 100% happy with it. 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Are there any local historians out there who have any information on what this cave's original purpose could be? If so, please email or call the Gazette (details on the back page). WRIGHTS STORE & POST OFFICE DALRY DALRY DALRY SWEET TREAT SATURDAY DALRY INFORMATION FRESH CREAM CAKES AVAILABLE TO ORDER OPENING HOURS MONDAY – FRIDAY 7.30am – 5.30pm SATURDAY 8.30am – 5pm SUNDAY 8.30am – 3pm LOCAL SUPPLIERS DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY BUTCHERS UPPER DULLARG EGGS MITCHELLS FRUIT & VEG SWEETCAKES BAKERY GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY CREAM O GALLOWAY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES IRVINGS BAKERY SCOTTISH GALLOWAY PASTA GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY POP IN FOR A CHAT AND A BROWSE FAREWELL The Galloway Glens Scheme: G T W alking around Crossmichael, there are now places to stop and stare and think about our history; be it the seat by the war memorial, the seat by the Wee Book Hoose or the by the church hall. There is also a seat in the Hearse House, opened in 2019, where a timeline of the village reminds us it was a place of Viking and Roman Conquest and tracks the impact of social change over W e didn't realise back in 2017 what a mammoth undertaking digitising the Carsphairn Archive would be! Carsphairn Heritage Group had collected an amazing inventory relating to the lives of past residents of the area, and we were keen to preserve it for the future and make accessible for everyone, where ever they were in the world. We could not have succeeded hundreds of years. Our thanks to the Galloway Glens team, who kept John Nelson (the chairman of the Crossmichael Heritage group)and his team on track and helped us deliver on time and in budget . Jane McCarthy Crossmichael Community Council Pictured are some Crossmichael Heritage Project volunteers beside the Hearse-hoose time-line. without the help of Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership whose funding under the ‘Our Heritage’ Small Grants Scheme allowed us to get professional help to scan large and fragile documents; archival storage to protect photographs and papers; and equipment to help with digitisation. As important as the funding, the support Galloway Glens provided to the project and the morale boost this gave his September saw the completion of the delivery phase of the Galloway Glens Scheme, closing five years of work up and down the Ken/Dee valley which sought to ‘connect people to our heritage’, boost the local economy, and support sustainable communities. The Scheme has overseen more than £6million in activity, over 75% of which has been spent in the region, with more than T he Galloway Glens has been a really excellent funder of many Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) projects over the last five years. But more than that, they have been a partner. Their cheery and willing team, led by Laurie McNabb, has always been ready to lean in and go the extra mile to get a project over the finish line or make it a little bit more special. From the support in getting the Smiddy renovated and open to extending the Glenkens Hub project, from getting Ken Words an exhibition at Gracefield to the fabulous Watson Birds trail - they've really left such a legacy for us. They've also opened the door to new ways of partnership working across the whole area, and raised the ambition of what can be achieved, I think. GCAT is going to try and do its bit to carry on their legacy through our Cultural Communities project - but how we will miss them. Thanks guys, you were great! Helen Keron volunteers, was just as vital. Galloway Glens also put us in touch with Dumfries Archival Mapping Project (DAMP) who had undertaken the task of collecting scans of estate maps in the area. They kindly (and for free!) scanned our 1838 plan of Woodhead and adjacent farms (you can view the huge map on the National Libraries of Scotland website. We finally “completed” digitising the archive in January 2021, but like all huge projects it's never really finished! There remain transcriptions to be be made, past Heritage Centre exhibitions to re-assemble online, and we are pleased to receive and digitise any further donations to the collection. The long term security of the digital archive has been secured not only by Carsphairn 190 Dumfries & Galloway busi Through recent months, the fo been on protecting and maxim long-term benefit of our activi recent years, and we are lucky worked with a wide range of p we know will look after project One legacy ambition overrides else: we want to leave partner agencies feeling able to under scheme again in the future. In September, the Council’s Ec Resources Committee applaud W ithout their gener little project woul able to explore and dev creativeness of the Gle that it has and will con Writers’ Cafes have been and consistently througho period. This has played a encouraging people from backgrounds to develop a skills of creative writing. H diary when one can share pieces has spurred many otherwise have prevarica and put a pen to a daunti paper, which is the reason want to change the date o the clash. The fact that Ken Words i the end of Galloway Glen believe, a real measure of success. With than Community Council's commitment to hosting the online archive, for which we are very grateful, but also by the invitation we received from the Archives Hub to upload and host our archive there, where more researchers can find and make use of it. Take a look at the archive yourself at www.carsphairn. org/CarsphairnArchive and on the Archives Hub at www. archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk None of this would have been possible without the help and support of Galloway Glens and anyone who uses the archive will be forever grateful they were there to make the project possible. Thank you Galloway Glens and farewell! Pictured are volunteers hard at work archiving Carsphairn heritage materials. T he wi to tho as vis great New f restor a beau with lo local e No pr and id the ex red ta enthu alway To sum Enthu It has you an - what w L GALLOWAY GLENS Gone but not forgotten inesses. ocus has mising the ity over y to have partners that ts supported. s everything rs and local rtake a similar conomy & ded the work of the Galloway Glens Scheme and tasked officers to develop future landscape partnership-type projects in the region – with particular emphasis on a Solway marine project and one in the east, with a working title of The Border Dales. Brilliantly, this has allowed the core members of the Galloway Glens team to be retained in Council employment for project development, carrying what we have learned forward and benefitting future schemes. It is superb to think of the Galloway Glens Scheme, designed with the rous support our ld not have been velop the literary enkens in the way ntinue so to do. held regularly out the pandemic big part in m a variety of and practice the Having a date in the e and discuss new y of us, who might ated, to sit down ing piece of blank n why we don’t of the cafe despite communities of the Stewartry, inspiring or informing work on a bigger stage in the future. The art will be to pick out activity that genuinely fits elsewhere and not to make any assumptions that different areas are experiencing the same problems or have the same opportunities. On a personal note, I look back at the last five years – seven including the development phase – with every emotion in my limited arsenal. It has been great fun. It has been challenging, it has been rewarding. I can see some things that could have gone better – connections not made, results not achieved - but I think this has been the best thing about the Galloway From the earliest days of discussion and planning, th Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership (GGLP) was conceived as ‘Biosphere in action’ - an authentic, accessible way for people to experience our region’s astonishing natural and cultural heritage. #InGallowayItHappens McNabb Laurie, Galloway Glens Team Leader GSA UNESCO Biosphere Jan Hogarth from GGLP is joined by historians, artists, travellers and locals to explore the legends of the Green Well of Scotland, at the foot of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn. nks and best wishes, Andrew Mellor from LING (the pathways and walled garden team leaders in particular) My overwhelming feeling is of luck: that we secured the funding, that partners and people engaged with us so willingly, that we recruited such a team, and that I was paid to basically enjoy the people, projects and heritage of the valley. Thank you to every single person involved. For its five years’ duration GGLP has shared and celebrated all the reasons why southwest Scotland holds UNESCO Biosphere status, and why local people in the Glenkens and beyond feel such immense pride in living here. The variety of projects hosted, funded or led by GGLP and the passion of McNabb, Nick, Jan, and the rest of the team, have created many special memories for residents and for visitors too. They’ve helped us learn while having fun, they’ve brought us closer to nature, and they’ve inspired us to join in wholeheartedly with community life. The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere will take immense pride in sharing the Galloway Glens legacy for many years to come. Ed Forrest, Director, is continuing after ns funding is, I f that scheme’s e GGLP initiative has been, and ill continue to be, of great benefit ose of us in the Glenkens, as well sitors to the area, who enjoy the t outdoors. footpaths, bridges and boardwalks, the ration of many original footpaths and utiful old walled garden, in partnership ocal volunteers, has opened up the environment to young and old alike. roposal was ever beyond consideration deas were often improved on using xpertise of the GGLP team. Rules and ape were never allowed to dampen usiasm and ways around obstacles ys seemed to be found. m up the GGLP team in three words: usiasm, Commitment and Delivery. always been a pleasure to work with nd our very best wishes for the future tever it may hold. Glens Scheme. The team at The National lottery Heritage Fund commented early on that we were being very ambitious, and I comfort myself that if everything had worked, then we simply weren’t trying hard enough… G alloway Glens will definitely be missed in the area! Propagate has benefited from a small grant that has enabled land-based skills workshops such as seed saving, scything, herbal medicine and dry stane dyking. We also worked with the team on delivering a healthy lunch and food systems games for schools as part of the Wellbeing in Winter programme. A massive thanks to the Galloway Glens team for all you have achieved! with love from Propagate G alloway Fisheries Trust (GFT) have so enjoyed working with the Galloway Glens team on many interesting and important projects. These projects have helped to understand, protect and restore W hat a great benefit the Galloway Glens scheme has been to our area. Yes the money has been helpful for projects. But most of all it has been the enterprise, vitality and action by the Galloway Glens team, brilliantly led by McNabb, that has been of greatest benefit. It has helped some many of us to come together important habitats, water quality and fish populations in the Dee and its tributaries. Without the support and funding from Galloway Glens, these important projects would not have taken place. Our real highlight was the internship to bring nascent ideas to fruition, to learn more about our area and to give a greater sense of a positive future for The Glenkens. Many thanks to all of the team. Special thanks from me to Nick Chisholm for all of his help in bringing the Watson Bird Trails into operation. Best wishes, Roger programme which supported GFT to give four young people an excellent opportunity to launch their careers. Thank you Galloway Glens for everything! Jamie Ribbens GAZETTEenvironment Glenkens Gazette page 22 THE GALLOWAY GLENS SCHEME – AN OVERVIEW 4 YEARS OF THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ‘CAN YOU DIG IT’ COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT THE SCHEME HAS UNDERTAKEN ACTIVITY WORTH MORE THAN £6 MILLION £100,000 SPENT ON 27 PROJECTS THROUGH THE SMALL GRANTS SCHEME The Galloway Glens Scheme is an initiative of Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Environment Team, running between 2018 and 2023 in the Ken/Dee valley in Galloway. The Scheme worked with a brilliant range of partners to ‘connect people to their heritage’, boost the local economy and support sustainable communities. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and a variety of other sources, more than 75% of scheme expenditure stayed in the region, being spent with Dumfries & Galloway Businesses. CARSPHAIRN >21,000 SUPPORTED THE 206 HECTARES ATTENDEES AT PUBLIC EVENTS OF LAND BROUGHT INTO CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT DALRY 10 LOCH KEN TRUST CLATTERINGSHAWS NEW OR REFURBISHED NOW RUNNING ONE OF THE FIRST COMMUNITY-LED RANGER SERVICES IN SCOTLAND >35,000MILES BUILDINGS TRAVELLED BY THE TAGGED GREENLAND WHITE FRONTED GEESE LAUNCHED THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND TREE PLANTING GRANT SCEME IN D&G 95% OF PEOPLE LOCH KEN RATE THE GALLOWAY GLENS SCHEME AS ‘GOOD OR VERY GOOD’ (OF 420 SURVEYED) 690 VOLUNTEERS MORE THAN OF VOLUNTEERS GAVE THEIR TIME, WORTH MORE THAN 23 MILES £300,000 OF FOOTPATH INSTALLED OR IMPROVED OVER 120 ATTENDEES ON ‘GO WILD CAMPS’ 190 D&G BUSINESSES RECEIVED WORK >2,000 CASTLE DOUGLAS ‘NATURE POSITIVE’ PROJECTS SUPPORTED INCLUDING THREAVE LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PROJECT, PEATLAND CONNECTIONS AND THE BLACK WATER OF DEE HABITAT RESTORATION ENTRIES ON THE GALLOWAY GLENS PLACE NAME DATABASE 90% KIRKCUDBRIGHT 15 INTERN POSITIONS SUPPORTED SAID THEY HAD LEARNED MORE ABOUT HERITAGE 35 HEADLINE PROJECTS SUPPORTED UP AND DOWN THE VALLEY PRIMARY FUNDER: Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 23 The Optimistic Environmentalist Reducing your home energy bills - Part Three S ome easy or low cost tips (continued) : • Use the ring on the cooker that matches the size of the pan. Using rings that are too big wastes energy – like in the photo! • Use rechargeable batteries, eg in your TV handset. • Get non-electric devices, eg wind up radios or manual carpet sweepers instead of vacuums. • If you are getting a new floor covering, eg a carpet and it's impractical to insulate the floor, consider using thermal underlay • Be careful how you use machines, eg don't charge mobiles in short bursts. Empty to 20%, then charge to 80% to prolong battery life and unplug the charger when not in use. • A slow cooker allows you to make meals during cheap rate at night. Unlike my limited use of stews, you can cook all sorts of vegetarian and meat meals, meat joints and puddings. Look at www. bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/slowcooker-recipes • Cook on equipment like a Ninja (www. ninjakitchen.co.uk), a pressure cooker or a microwave rather than an ordinary • Fit LED lights cooker. You can get good results and they use less energy and cook more quickly. If you use a traditional oven, use it to its maximum capacity so that you have prepared a number of meals – don't just reheat one pie! • Make bread overnight with a bread maker with cheap power and enjoy for breakfast. • Keep your freezer full rather than it having to cool empty space. • Cooling mats - they draw body heat away. They are marketed for pets but can obviously be used by humans. They are waterproof, wipe clean and use no power to run - available from about £5 to £160 from the Range. • Change the way you travel - maybe you could roll a number of journeys into one. Car-share with friends or set up a local carshare network to make overall travel costs cheaper. • Turn off radios, lights, sockets and devices when you're not using them or are not in the room. This includes not leaving equipment on standby or sleep settings. This wastes power and puts pressure on electrical components e.g. fans in computers. Modern energy saving light bulbs do not take time to 'warm up' like they used to, so turn them off when not in use. Use dimmer switches to rest your eyes and reduce power consumption. • Most peoples' cars are unused for 95% of the time. Joint-own a car to share the costs and responsibilities. • If you travel a lot locally, consider other forms of transport, eg cycle or electric bikes. The CatStrand in New Galloway hires out electric bikes if you don't want to buy one. • Reduce time in the shower - try a timer. Using a shower's eco setting with the temperature turned right up can use up to half the energy of the standard setting with the temperature turned down. Denise MacDonald-Kiernan Youth sessions on water safety skills S ixteen enthusiastic young people have completed the first free session of the Loch Ken Trust Youth Water Safety Awareness Programme, learning vital skills to keep themselves safe on the water. The session, aimed at 1325 year olds, was led by experienced instructors at the Galloway Activity Centre and covered basic paddleboarding skills, water safety and the dangers of cold water shock. Everyone had the opportunity to try different paddleboard strokes and had a go at rescuing someone back on their paddleboard. All 16 achieved their completion certificates, Adam Hutchings of the Galloway Activity Centre said: “Paddle sports have become more accessible than ever, and it's great to see so many young people getting out enjoying the water. There are risks associated with all water sports, and some simple steps you can take to keep yourself safe. We're delighted to be involved with the Loch Ken Trust's valuable work in improving water safety on the loch and look forward to delivering more of these training sessions and having lots of fun too!” Lindsay Stewart, Loch Ken Trust Support Officer, said: “It was great to see so many young people enjoying being out on the water and learning such important safety skills. Thank you to the fantastic staff and instructors at the Galloway Activity Centre for delivering these sessions, and thank you to the Holywood Trust for funding this programme.” There will be more sessions in the coming weeks. If you would like to take part, or if you have a group that is interested in being involved, please email LKToffice@protonmail. com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment As I glide silently along the edge of the lilies there is a huge powerful explosion under the large round leaves, only visible by a surge of water which makes the lilies sway. It's a pike, a large one; the loch’s ambush predator, a danger to young ducklings as well as fish. Loch Ken’s large pike are highly attractive to the pike fisherman who travel to fish here, and the code is to catch and release, not to eat them. Stationary now in my kayak, I watch the damselflies and dragonflies laying eggs, the female dipping her body in the water as the male supports her above. I paddle further. The loch is like a mirror, perfect for a morning paddle before the afternoon breeze gets up. Kites gaze down on me, these opportunist scavengers always keeping an eye out for an easy meal. Then I see another bird, large, but much lighter in colour, plunge into the water - an osprey, I guess one of the Threave ospreys. I disturb a fishing grey heron who rightly swears My Loch Ken at me. On rare occasions I spot an otter, another resident of the loch enjoying the bountiful supply of the invasive American signal crayfish. A paddle and the loch has changed with the season. The winter visitors are here from colder climes, flotillas of geese, the declining Greenland white-fronted geese and wintering greylags. Whooper swans, with their bright yellow bills, can also be seen gracefully gliding along the loch. On shore, pink-footed geese share fields with greylags and Canada geese. A variety of ducks can also be seen with numbers surging when watercourses freeze, further up north. The Loch Ken and the Dee Marshes area is a very special place for wildlife, and it is internationally recognised for its wetlands (RAMSAR), as well as being a Special Protection Area for its winter geese visitors. Some areas are also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for certain birds and insects. Care about Loch Ken? With recent exciting developments, LKT is seeking extra support from the community to make their future plans the best they can be. There are currently a number of vacancies for trustees and the trust is especially looking for people with expertise in environmental and educational work. A double funding success means the trust can now look forward to an exciting future. Thanks to generous awards from both the Blackcraig Windfarm Community Fund and Drax plc, the trust and the Loch Ken Ranger service page 24 can both make plans for future years, with the confidence that they will still be around to deliver them. Glenkens & District Trust gave a multi-year award from the Blackcraig Windfarm Community Fund to the Loch Ken Ranger Service, securing the service for the next three years. Loch Ken Ranger Service was established in 2021, in response to the withdrawal of the local authority Rangers. They undertake regular patrols of Loch Ken, on both land and water, as well as delivering a range of educational and environmental activities. Current future plans include setting up a Volunteer Ranger scheme, continuing work on Loch Ken Trust Rangers help protect the abundant wildlife around the loch, carrying out activities as wide ranging as deterring summer landings on islands during the bird nesting season to allow geese to successfully raise young, to environmental education programmes for local children and visitors or just chatting to visitors. Our Rangers also work closely with the police Wildlife Crimes Officer and the National Rural and Acquisitive Crime Unit over illegal fish nets and crayfish traps. Sadly, there have been two recent occasions where otters have been found dead in crayfish traps. Oh, and our Rangers also speak to some visitors who think pike are very tasty, and not for releasing back in the water to grow and become someone’s prize catch of the day; a sentiment most likely not shared by the loch's many avid anglers! Kate Adamson, Loch Ken Trust Trustee & Vice Chair our Baseline Ecosystem Assessment, delivering resilience support to local communities as well as developing a programme of footpath maintenance. Drax plc are the owners of the Galloway Hydro Scheme, which includes Loch Ken. They have awarded funding to LKT, to support all of its varied activities and operations. The wider work of the trust involves delivering the Loch Ken Plan, which aims to support sustainable local communities around Loch Ken. The plan has projects across three themes; People, Prosperity and Planet, with the ambition to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives, works or plays at Loch Ken. If you are interested in knowing more, or would like to apply, please contact LKToffice@protonmail.com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment Stewartry Birdwatchers winter programme A re you interested in birds and other forms of wildlife? If so, why not come along to the meetings of Stewartry Birdwatchers this winter? Formed in 1976, the group has held a series of talks from September to April every year since, and at present we meet in Balmaclellan Village Hall. This winter’s session got off to a flying start on 14 September when retired Dumfries GP and prizewinning photographer, Edmund Fellowes, gave us an excellent presentation entitled ‘Cuckoos, Kingfishers and Otters'. Ronnie Graham will be giving a talk on Dumfriesshire Goshawks on 12 October, and this will be an evening event, at 7.30pm. Ronnie has learned more in recent years about this elusive species from a handful of satellitetagged birds than from the hundreds he has ringed over the years! For the rest of the winter we switch to morning meetings, at 10.30am, starting on 26 October when Jeremy Brock Kingfisher by Edmund Fellowes page 25 will speak about Oman, an interesting but little-visited birdwatching destination. Situated on the southern coast of Arabia, this is a country with an exciting array of migrating birds from Europe, Africa and Asia. Chris Rollie will give a talk titled 'Donald Watson’s birds in a changing landscape' on 7 December. Donald Watson, the famous wildlife artist and naturalist, lived and worked in the Stewartry for over 50 years. Chris, now retired from the RSPB, will illustrate his presentation with Donald’s paintings to show the land-use changes around Galloway. All are very welcome to attend any of these talks - for further information please get in touch. Joan Howie, Secretary of Stewartry Birdwatchers; a branch of the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club 01644 420 280 joanospreys1@btinternet.com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEschools Drama with Mrs JB O ver the last four weeks, we have been doing drama with Mrs JB. In the first couple of weeks, we did fun games to build our confidence and teamwork. Then we started using our bodies to make props. This sounds easier than it is – how would you make your body into a washing machine? I had to become the buttons (with my fingers, and my page 26 mouth became the soap sud drawer). We also had to make the noise of the prop. When we put all the body props together into a mini performance – nobody could stop laughing. The best part is…we are going to continue with Mrs JB at the end of October with hopes of putting on a small performance in December. We have all loved the workshop and we cannot wait for her to come back. Piri Whitty, S1 Kells Primary update Learning K new skills ells Primary School have had a busy start of term! The pupil council is up and running and are feeling very happy to have their voices heard. And the whole school have been building - can you guess what they're making?! Margaret Heuchan D alry Secondary's S1 class are working on a map reading skills unit, where they have been learning how to use an atlas effectively to locate places, countries and continents. The S2s have been looking at the causes, effects and solutions for deforestation in the Amazon and the S3s have just finished a case study report on a volcanic eruption where they had to explain the impact of an eruption on people and the landscape. Ross McFarlane, Geography Teacher, Dalry Secondary GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette The Christmas panto R ehearsals for the CatStrand Players panto are already well under way and we are delighted to announce that this year we are presenting one of the most popular stories of all – Cinderella! The cast includes Ella Campbell as Cinderella, Fiona Edgar as Buttons, James Wallace as the Duke of Verruca and Ruby Harfield and Megan Oliver as the Ugly Sisters. The script is written by our favourite page 27 panto author, Paul Reakes, and is filled with fun and laughter throughout with lots of the compulsory corny jokes and plenty of audience participation too. The ’behind the scenes’ crew have been working on props and scenery since August to be ready for the panto to take to the stage on Friday 8, Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December. The first two shows are at 7.30pm, with the Sunday show at 3pm. Tickets are now available from CatStrand Box Office (01644 420 374) or online at www.gcat.scot. Please book early to avoid disappointment as tickets always sell out well in advance. Brian Edgar Ali Sinbad (Dante Newbery) and Semolina Sinbad (Ruby Harfield) in last year's Youth Players CatStrand Christmas panto New youth music programme C atStrand Young Creatives (CYC) is set to take its Young Music Makers (YMM) project to new heights, thanks to generous funding received from the Stewartry Area Committee of D&G Council. This will enable them to expand their Young Music Makers programme (funded by YMI Creative Scotland and The Holywood Trust) by offering violin lessons as well. Young Music Makers is a CYC project that began in April this year and aims to provide accessible music education to our Glenkens children and young people. Currently, the YMM project offers ukulele, guitar, singing, keyboard and piano lessons, all-inclusive music workshops and the ‘Stranded Cat’ record label project where young musicians work with industry professionals to develop their own music track to release to the public. Now, thanks to this additional funding, CatStrand Young Creatives is excited to announce the addition of violin lessons to its repertoire. This latest development aligns perfectly with CatStrand Young Creatives' mission of offering a diverse and comprehensive creative arts programme to our children and young people. It provides them with the opportunity to explore new instruments, push their boundaries and embrace their passion for the arts, and fosters an open and welcoming environment for participants to learn and grow alongside fellow music enthusiasts. Spaces for violin lessons are limited, so early registration is highly encouraged. Lessons are available for a fee of £4 per week, and those currently receiving Universal Credit may be eligible for free tuition. Aspiring musicians can secure their spot by contacting Cat at catherine@catstrand.com Come and give the ukelele a try T he Glenkens Ukulele Group are looking for new (and old) members to come and play along with us on Wednesday evenings. If you can play ukulele at any level that’s great. We play lots of three-chord wonders (amongst others) from all eras of music. If you don’t play but can sing, or play another instrument, percussion, or rhythm you’d be more than welcome too. We meet at the Smiddy, Balmaclellan, from 6.30-8pm, and play the odd gig when requested. The group is friendly, encouraging and a bit of fun; something to keep you entertained over the winter. You can either just come along to one of the sessions, or contact me for more details on 07969379762 or jason.wilding@ gmail.com Jason Wilding GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 28 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. Robin is author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War. J ust as books can transport their reader through space, so they can through time. The particular time machine I’ve been using recently is Weavers, Scribes, and Kings: A New History of the Ancient Near East, by Amanda H Podany. It’s a beautiful illustrated hardback – a pleasure to hold and smell – focusing on the earliest civilisations. The world’s first cities were located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now southern Iraq but was then called Sumer. In 3500BCE, Uruk was by far the largest city on earth. It was already the size Athens would reach 3,000 years later, and it contained perhaps 40,000 people. That’s the current population of Dumfries, Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright combined, so not much in contemporary terms, but an astoundingly huge number then. The city grew before writing was invented, so we must guess at the inhabitants’ lives using archeological clues. Fortunately there are plenty of those – monumental architecture originated in Uruk’s enormous temple complexes. On a smaller scale, pots and cylinder seals decorated with pictograms give hints of the people’s beliefs and social organisation. But writing soon developed, so after a few centuries we begin to hear the voices of our very ancient ancestors, who wrote lists and business contracts, complaints and panegyrics, letters and prayers. It all happened a staggeringly long time ago, some centuries even before the stone circles on Orkney. We consider these first producers of texts as standing at the very beginnings, but they saw themselves as at the end of a process of 400,000 years of civilisation – as the Sumerian King List shows. In some ways the Sumerians were very different from us. They worshipped the heavens, the sun, the moon, and the storm. They were ruled by priest-kings (and priestessqueens too), and made a system of scribal training (in cuneiform) central to their culture. In other ways, they were just the same. They engaged in farming, warfare, diplomacy, and long-distance trade. They wore wool and linen as well as gold and lapis lazuli jewelry. They ate mutton and drank beer. Their statuary art stands the test of time. Their literature dealt in the human universals – desire, conflict, fear of death and loss – and created some stories which are still familiar. The story of Noah and the flood, for instance, has a Sumerian precedent. How lucky we are to be born in this time, despite climate change and everything else. A century and a half ago we knew nothing at all about the Sumerians (and some still don’t – a Castle Douglas teacher, inaccurate by millennia, once told my children that writing was invented in Greece). And so much more is known now even than in my youth. Since I first read about the Sumerians, tens of thousands of cuneiform tablets have been translated – each tablet a time machine linking us across the epochs to our fellow human beings. These translations are the meat of the book, allowing us insight into the lives of ordinary men and women as well as gods and kings. A D TIMBER SEASONED FIREWOOD FOR SALE HARDWOOD SOFTWOOD KINDLING LOCAL DELIVERY 07884262533 07787416460 唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀Ⰰ 䰀漀漀猀攀 䌀漀瘀攀爀猀Ⰰ 䘀愀戀爀椀挀猀Ⰰ 䌀甀猀栀椀漀渀猀 刀攀昀椀氀氀攀搀 䘀爀攀攀 䔀猀琀椀洀愀琀攀猀 吀栀攀 圀漀爀欀猀栀漀瀀Ⰰ 䴀漀渀礀戀甀椀攀Ⰰ 䌀漀爀猀漀挀欀⸀ 䐀䜀㜀 ㌀䐀夀 眀眀眀⸀䠀愀爀爀椀猀ⴀ唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀⸀挀漀⸀甀欀 ㄀㘀㐀㐀 㐀㐀 㔀㈀㤀 Family and friends coming to stay? Short of space? Cosy country cottage available (sleeps 4) Call Fiona on 01644 420 227 or 07789 903127 www.covenanters-holidaycottagescotland.co.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 29 GAZETTEhistory Glenkens Gazette page 30 Three headstones in Dalry kirkyard S ome time ago a Dalry resident was in discussion with the Rev David Bartholemew, asking if they could help preserve some headstones in the churchyard. The minister identified three that would benefit from some attention before they disintegrated further. The first is a small broken cross near the church door and path to the stile with ‘infant son’ on it; the second a large sandstone headstone propped up against the boundary wall opposite the main church door ‘the Reverend James Mather and family’; and the third a broken cross headstone on the grassy boundary of the newer part of the graveyard and the older section ‘ Peter J Carson and Hilda Robertson’. Dumfries & Galloway Council have advised that the wider public need to be consulted on this to establish if there are any objections to the repair of these headstones, however unlikely this would be. The Council is only responsible for repairing dangerous headstones, so without intervention from interested local parties, nothing would Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP Solicitors and Estate Agents Dumfries & Galloway 01556 503744 www.ggblaw.co.uk All legal advice Offices in Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie Kirkcudbright and Dumfries be done to save any that have fallen into disrepair but are not deemed 'dangerous'. The local resident has had Jamie Swan from Douglas Swan & Son come to assess the headstones and they are repairable, so now it needs to be established that there are no objections to the repair of these headstones. If anyone does have any objections, please get in touch with the Gazette at glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or 07727 127 997. If there are no objections lodged by the 8 January 2024, repair works will begin in the new year. Hopefully soon the three headstones can be quietly restored to their former glory; and perhaps if this is a success, more can be repaired in this way as and when needed. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 31 A sneak peak into Last Flights A new book has been published by the Galloway Glens Project entitled Last Flights (see article on p6). The booklet is not available for sale but copies are available in local libraries and other places. Last Flights was put together from a series of articles that I wrote and which have been published in previous issues of the Glenkens Gazette. I added in a few other stories which were not in the previous articles and these are retold below in case you don’t have access to the book. Although outside the Glenkens, these sites are (bar one) all within the Stewartry, and close enough to be of interest. The one exception (the first) is included for its interest and because it links to another near Dalbeattie. I had heard of a First World War airship crash on Lamachan Hill near Glentrool. Research has shown this to have been airship SSZ 11 which crashed on 20 August 1917. Although there was brief mention of the crash in the book The Merrick and its Neighbouring Hills, the crash had not made its way into any of the various published sources for aircraft crashes, either in books or online. The pilot was Flt Sub-Lt Harris. Having lost power to its single engine, it was then blown by strong winds into Larg Hill and then blown over the top towards Lamachan Hill, finally coming to rest at a height of 1,500 feet. The pilot and crew members were injured in the crash but all survived and eventually recovered from their injuries. There is some discrepancy about the exact crash site, although there seems little doubt that the initial contact was with Larg Hill. However, one can imagine the airship being then dragged somewhat further by the wind. If you are trying to imagine the airship, don't think of something grand like a Zeppelin or the R101; this was a Royal Navy Airship of the SSZ class of which 77 were built. Carrying a three-man crew, it was of the blimp type with a wooden fuselage and a single pusher propeller. They were used mainly for spotting U-boats in inshore waters and could sometimes be seen escorting the Stranraer/ Larne ferry. In the week following the crash, the airship was dismantled and moved to Auchinleck Farm on horse sledges down the Penkiln Burn. It was taken back to base, reassembled, and put back into service. SSZ 11 would eventually go on to complete 1,610 flying hours, more than any other airship of her class, before being scrapped along with all her sister ships in October 1919. By an odd coincidence, another airship of the same class, SSZ 13, crashed at Castle Point in Auchencairn Bay on 30 August 1918, and despite efforts of men and boats from Kippford and Rockcliffe, it was so badly damaged that it never made it back into service. Some details of this latter crash are held by the Dalbeattie Museum. Both of these accidents took place during wartime so the Defence of the Realm Act ensured that nothing was reported at the time. A notable crash of a civilian aircraft happened on 2 February 1937 when a de Havilland Dragonfly, serial G-AEHC crashed on Darnaw hill, near Clatteringshaws. The twin-engine aircraft belonged to the Daily Express and was being used to prove a safe air route from Glasgow-Renfrew to Liverpool-Speke. After the aircraft failed to arrive, a search and rescue operation was instigated and it was found that the aircraft had crashed in poor visibility. The exact cause of the accident is unknown, but it is assumed that the pilot descended below safe limits, perhaps in order to follow what he believed to be the coastline of the Solway Firth. All four on board were killed and there is a memorial at the crash site: Leslie Thomas Jackson (pilot, aged 32); Archibald Francis Philpott (wireless operator, aged 35); Major Harold Charles Pemberton DSO (passenger, aged 47); Reginald Charles Wesley (passenger, aged 22). A more recent crash was that of a US Air Force F-111E (Aardvark) swing-wing supersonic bomber. The crash happened on 19 December 1979, when the aircraft was on a training exercise from Upper Heyford and flew into a rock face on Craignaw hill. Both crew were killed in the crash and there is a memorial at the site: Richard Alfred Hetzner Captain Pilot; Raymond Charles Spaulding Captain WSO/Navigator. The final local crash may well be remembered by some readers. On 3 June 1997, an RAF Harrier II Mk 7, serial ZG861, crashed on Bengairn, Castle Douglas, just two fields away from Ingleston Motte. The aircraft had been one of four from RAF Honington, Suffolk, taking part in Exercise Hill Foil 97/1. Fifty minutes after take-off, the aircraft suffered engine failure due to compressor blade failure and the pilot ejected safely at 700 feet and he was taken by Sea King helicopter to Newcastle hospital. This is standard procedure following the stresses of an ejection. The plane crashed into open ground shortly after the pilot ejected. One widely used air crash website describes the crash site as being in woodland, five miles SE of Newton Stewart, but this is incorrect. The actual crash site was on Bengairn which has been verified by a local who is familiar with the site and visited it at the time; also, the photo of the crash clearly shows it to be in open ground and not in woodland. There are many more crash sites further afield in the Stewartry, which I leave to others to research and write about, especially the eight crashes on Cairnsmore of Fleet and a Dornier crash on Cairnharrow. An archive of previous issues of the Glenkens Gazette is available on the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot. The previous articles on air crashes were in issues 89, 95, 100, 112 and 134. Please note that removal of any item from a military crash site would be a criminal offence. Paul Goodwin Pictured: top - SSZ Class Airship (© public domain). Far left - de Havilland Dragonfly (© BAE Systems). Near left - F111 (© public domain) Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 32 A journey from shepherd's boy to professor of languages I f you take a drive out of New Galloway, following the A712 or Queens Way, you will see in the distance what is an 80-foot high obelisk that dominates the skyline. Sitting proudly on a hilltop in the rugged and remote Galloway countryside a few miles beyond Clatteringshaws loch, this is Murray's Monument. Nothing to do with Murray's mound at Wimbledon, but it does commemorate another famous Scot, namely Alexander achieved in his short 38 years should be an inspiration to us all. Through hard work and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge Alexander disproved any preconceived rules regarding who could achieve what. Through a tireless learning journey he stepped out of his role of rural shepherd boy in a remote south of Scotland glen and rose to professor of languages at the esteemed Edinburgh University in the heart of Scotland's capital city. Encouraged by his father, Alexander's early education began by reading the Bible. An uncle funded the young Alexander's education in New Galloway for a short period of time around 1784, and then at the school in Minnigaff where he also worked at the mill and taught the miller's children. His languages were mainly self taught and included Latin, French, German, Hebrew and Lappish. Murray, born 22 October 1775 at Dunkitterick, son of local shepherd Robert Murray. Alexander died on the 15 April 1813 in Edinburgh, aged only 38, and was interned in Greyfriar's Kirkyard. However, what Alexander Murray His languages were mainly self taught and included Latin, French, German, Hebrew and Lappish. In his formative years he worked as a shepherd and also as a tutor and a translator of languages. In 1793, aged 18, Murray was admitted to Edinburgh University to study African, Asian and Abyssinian languages. It is believed that Alexander Murray met Robert Burns in Dumfries around 1794 where he received good advice from Burns in relation to publishing his works and furthering his studies. Ironically, Robert Burns was to die some two years later in July 1796, aged just 37. Alexander Murray graduated as a Doctor of Divinity and became assistant minister in the village of Urr, near Dalbeattie, where later he held the post of Minister from 1806 until his death in 1813. In December of 1808 Alexander Murray married Henrietta Affleck, a parishioner's daughter, and they had a son and daughter. The daughter died of consumption in 1821 and the son, who qualified as a ship's surgeon, sadly drowned when the ship went down on his first voyage. Despite Alexander being dogged by poor health and failing eyesight, in his short life the shepherd boy was a prolific writer, translator, husband and father, church Minister, Doctor of Divinity (DD), Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) and achieved the status of Professor of Languages at Edinburgh University in 1812, a post he held until his untimely death in April 1813. His progress from shepherd boy to professor is commemorated by the 80foot tall obelisk erected in 1835, some 22 years after his death, and located just a mile from where he was born into such humble beginnings in a shepherds cottage in the valley below. Alexander's achievements were made at a time when communications were by letter and transport was by means of horsedrawn carriages. Bill Grant Top: Murray's Monument. Below: the plaque on the monument about Murray's life and achievements. Left: the view looking down from the monument GAZETTEsport Glenkens Gazette page 33 Scottish Alternative Games 2023 Continued from front page... Familiar faces were winning in some of the other events too with Ralph Spernagel winning the Men’s Tractor Pull again and George Dempster and Dawn Spernagel winning their respective Tossin’ the Sheaf competitions. FULL RESULTS ARE Gird n’ Cleek World Championship Final 1st - Elizabeth Spernagel (also won in 2022) 2nd - Ralph Spernagel (Elizabeth’s Dad) 3rd - Alice McIntosh (Alice’s Dad, Rob McIntosh also qualified for the final and finished 5th) Other finalists – Logan Ripley, Woody Clark Tractor Pull Men’s winner - Ralph Spernagel (7.9 secs) Ladies winner - Louise Ripley (9.7 secs) Tossin’ the Sheaf Men’s Winner - George Dempster (24ft) Women’s Winner - Dawn Spernagel (21ft) Hurlin‘ the Curlin‘ Stane Men’s Winner - Dennis Groom Ladies Winner - Freya Spernagel Classic Car Show Winner as voted by the crowd – MGA owned by Alan Smith (Excellent turn out of Classic Cars and motorbikes this year) The Commentator’s Quaich is a trophy in memory of the late George McCulloch, who commentated at the Games for over 20 years, and is presented to an individual or family who have epitomised the spirit of the Games. This year the Quaich was presented to the McIntosh Family who have supported the Games for many years, and three generations were in attendance this year. Alice and Rob both qualified for the World Final. Alice first competed years ago in the Primary age category and has taken part most years since then, this year she qualified by winning the Ladies Final. Ollie Rigg was the Games Piper this year. He opened and closed the Games by playing the Highland Bagpipes in the arena and also attracted a big crowd during the afternoon when he played in the bandstand and demonstrated Border Pipes, Scottish Small Pipes and Uilleann Pipes as well as Highland Bagpipes. The Games have now been running for 46 years and it was great to see so many old friends returning again along with many others enjoying the unique event for the first time. Huge thanks are due to everyone who helps to organise the event and to everyone for coming along to support the Games once again. Brian Edgar Golf is good for you! N ew Galloway Golf Club is giving the community a chance to live healthier and longer! Recently there has been a campaign by the Royal and Ancient to promote the holistic health benefits of golf. Most of us who play golf know and appreciate some of the health benefits of the game, if not all of them. Those of you outside the sport perhaps have been less aware that golf is one of the very best activities for increasing overall physical and mental health and can increase your life expectancy. Published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, a landmark study found a 40 per cent reduction in mortality rates among 300,000 members of the Swedish Golf Federation, corresponding to an increase in life expectancy of Top: Games Piper Ollie Rigg marched around the arena to officially open the Games followed by reigning World Champion Elizabeth Spernagel and some of the other competitors. Above: The ever-popular Snail Racing draws a crowd at the 2023 Games. about five years. The research also showed that golf can help prevent and treat 40 major chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, breast and colon cancer, depression and dementia. Other studies highlighted that risk factors for heart disease and strokes, such as cholesterol and blood pressure are reduced in populations which play golf. Further findings were that golf is highly beneficial for improving strength and balance, it helps prevent injury and assists rehabilitation from injury. It can also play a significant role in improving mental health as a sociable outdoor activity. New Galloway Golf Club (NGGC) enhances the community bringing in golfers and visitors from all over the country and beyond. It helps the economy of the area as golfers bring their families who use the shops, hotels and other facilities. This year has been a difficult year having lost our excellent greenkeeper early in the season; he kept the course in an immaculate condition and it has been acknowledged under his guidance to be one of the best nine hole courses in the south of Scotland. Thanks to the efforts of the Management Committee and volunteer members the course is now looking good. There are different groups - men, women, seniors and juniors. Members can play in competitions or just socially. The club can offer coaching either in a group session or individually. The club also has a Social Membership which is proving very popular with residents. Full Membership runs from January to December but we can offer a Winter membership running from October to March which enables you to experience golf at first hand. As a member you will be able to play as much golf as you have time for and experience the fantastic views from the course and make friends with other members. I started this article by saying that by joining the club you will enhance your chances of living a healthier and longer life - so why not come and join us! To find out more about memberships or club information contact the Club on 01644 420 737) or go to the club’s website newgallowaygolfclub.com Jeff Sutcliffe Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Glass Recycling Points • Balmaclellan Stores, Balmaclellan • Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road, Crossmichael • Kirkland Street, St John's Town of Dalry • New Galloway, Carson's Knowe Car Park • St David Street, Kirkpatrick Durham page 34 USEFUL NUMBERS: ● Pot-hole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 ● Police, non-emergency: 101 or email StewartryCPT@scotland.police.uk ● Doctor: 01644 420 234 ● NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 ● D&G Council: 030 33 33 3000 Local Job Vacancies Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot CAB outreach clinics are held fortnightly on a Monday at the Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry, and fortnightly on a Tuesday at CatStrand, New Galloway. Fiona Norbury, the clinic’s generalist advisor, will be on hand from 10am to 4pm (see article on p11). These are dropin sessions with no appointment required. Dates are October 9, 23; November 6, 20; December 4, 18; January 15, 29. ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE Advanced Massage Practitioner (price per issue incl VAT) SMALL: 6cm x 6cm, £50 1/4 PAGE: 9cm w x 13cm h, £108 1/2 PAGE: 18cm w x 13cm h, £200 FULL PAGE: 18cm w x 27cm h, £332 Please get in touch further details including small business/ charity rates and series discounts. Email glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07727 127 997 VAT Reg. No. 334 0905 24 THE STEWARTRY VETERINARY CENTRE CASTLE DOUGLAS SURGERY HOURS GLENKENS MEDICAL PRACTICE DALBEATTIE SURGERY HOURS General Medical & Dispensing Services FOR APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH SURGERIES OR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY The Surgery High Street New Galloway Mon-Fri 2.00-2.30 pm & 5-6 pm Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm Sat 2-2.30 pm Mon, Wed, Fri 3-3.30 pm Tues & Thurs 6-6.30 pm  01556 502263 VETERINARY SURGERY OAKWELL ROAD CASTLE DOUGLAS  FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 01644 420234 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 35 KEY GLENKENS CONTACTS LOCAL DOCTORS’ SURGERY Glenkens Medical Practice - 01644 420 234 COMMUNITY CONTACTS • Balmaclellan: Martin Warnock 07939 261 391 • Carsphairn: Liz Holmes - 07718 358 160 • Corsock: Julie Garton - 07769 647 702 • Kirkpatrick Durham: Heather - 07551 639 629 • Crossmichael: Richard Middleton - 01556 670 691 • Dalry: Graham West - 01644 430 503 • New Galloway: 07741 656 601 • Parton: Tom - 07835821976 FOOD DELIVERIES • Galloway Foodbank - 07730 788 335 • Glenkens Food Hub - www. openfoodnetwork.org.uk/ glenkens-food-hub/shop • Ballards Butchers - 01556 502502 (they also deliver groceries) • Grierson’s Butchers: 01556 502 637 • Henderson’s Butchers: 01556 502 654 • Mitchell’s Greengrocers: 01556 502 077 • Fleet Fish: call 07966 103 912 to find out about Glenkens delivery days • Roan’s Dairy - 01556 620 374 LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Helen Crowther on 0790 467 8599 or drop by the shop on Main Street, Dalry Glenkens Scout Group: Contact Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375 Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING): Contact newgallowaytownhall@gmail.com Dalry Communities Properties Trust (DCPT): Contact Gary Blissett at garyblissett51@gmail. com or 01644 430 521 Dalry Town Hall: Contact Lesley Blissett at lesleyblissett52@gmail.com Glenkens Community Centre: Contact Sarah McAdam on minimac01644@gmail.com Lagwyne Hall: Contact lagwynehallsecretary@ outlook.comfor info, or to book email lagwynehallbooking@gmail.com New Galloway Community Enterprises (NGCE): Contact ngce5000@gmail.com or pop into New Galloway Community Shop Balmaclellan Community Trust: Contact Julia Higgins at julia.higgins55@outlook.com CatStrand: Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or pop in to the CatStrand Schools: Visit the school office or call Dalry Primary on 01644 430 105 (for Nursery/ELC too), Dalry Secondary on 01644 430 259 or Kells on 01644 420 340 Carsphairn Heritage Initiative: Contact Ben Ade at carsphairnhi@gmail.com Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership (GGLP): Contact McNabb Laurie at mcnabb. laurie@dumgal.gov.uk Glenkens Food Hub: Contact Lesley Atkins on lesley@propagate.org.uk or 07587 122 151 Bairn Banter: Contact Melissa on bairnbanter@ outlook.com or 07979 492 791 If you would like to add your community organisation to this list please get in touch with the Gazette - contact details are on the back page. GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH Sunday Services St Margaret's Church, New Galloway, DG7 3RP Balmaclellan: 11am, 6 Aug, 3 Sep, 1 Oct, 5 Nov, 12 Nov (Remembrance Day service - 10.45am), 3 Dec Carsphairn: 11am, 8 Oct, 12 Nov (Remembrance Day service - time tbc), 10 Dec (morning service & Carols by Candlelight at 6.30pm) Kells: 11am, 15 Oct, 12 Nov (Remembrance Day service - 10.45am), 19 Nov Dalry: 11am, 22 Oct (with communion), 29 Oct, 12 Nov (Remembrance Day service - time tbc) For further information contact Rev Pam Bellis on 07751 379 249 or pam@bellisconsultancy.co.uk Sundays at 10.30am: Holy Communion with refreshments after the service. Tuesdays at 11am: Informal midweek service with refreshments and chat. Thursdays 7.30-8pm: Zoom Evening Prayers. Please contact Dawn for the link. All friends and visitors welcome. For further information, please call Dawn Matthew on 01644 420 431 or visit www.stmargaretsnewgalloway.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 36 HIGH QUALITY VENUE HIRE AVAILABLE The CatStrand, New Galloway, and The Smiddy, Balmaclellan, are available for hire for: Corsock Village Hall £1 entry fee Includes tea / coffee and cake - Meetings for 4 to 12 people - Talks or events for up to 80 people (raked seating) - Hybrid meetings - Social events - Hold your event with us at our unique venues in the heart of the Glenkens! Catering available - Charitable rates available Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 YOU CAN BUY FROM OUR FISH VANS WED-FRI LOCAL MARKETS We sell delicious seafood that lands into Kirkcudbright and around other parts of Scotland. Our aim is to sell high quality produce at a fair/affordable price. Find the likes of local scallops, lobster, razor clams, smoked fish, oysters, mussels, langoustines, white fish and much more! SHOP FROM OUR WEBSITE WWW.WCSPLTD.CO.UK CALL US ON 01557 330789 Follow us for the latest updates www.fb.com/WCSPLtd GAZETTEinformation Glenkens Gazette page 37 GALLOWAY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org email gct@catstrand.com phone 07841 512449 (Jon) or 07704 662925 (Sue) October 2023 - November 2023 Regular Services Member Hire GK2 Glenkens-Castle Douglas (Tesco) Wednesday Evenings (Registered Route) Out Return 19:00 Dalry (Underhill) 21:15 19:05 New Galloway 21:10 19:15 Mossdale 21:00 19:25 Laurieston 20:50 19:30 Townhead of Greenlaw 20:47 19:37 Castle Douglas (Market St) 20:37 19:40 Castle Douglas (Tesco) 20:35 Booking not required GCT has 16-, 15-, and 8-seater minibuses and a fully wheelchair accessible electric car available for hire by community organisations. For information about membership and terms and conditions of hire see the GCT website or phone 07841 512449. Glenkens to Newton Stewart Fortnightly - Tuesday mornings Glenkens eBike Club Outward Pickups: Dalry (Underhill) 09:30 New Galloway (Town Hall) 09:35 CatStrand) 09:37 To Aldi Return Pickup Newton Stewart (Aldi Car Park) 11:30 Return fare £3.50 Advance booking required. Discounted eBike hire available to local residents: £5:00 per day £15:00 per weekend (Fri-Mon) £20:00 per week (Mon-Fri) https://www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org/ebikes email gct@catstrand.com DRIVERS NEEDED Galloway Community Transport needs your help to provide a wide range of community transport services across the Stewartry and beyond. MINIBUS DRIVING Minibus drivers with D1 (101 or by test) are needed to do volunteer and paid driving for our wide range of member community groups. PATIENT TRANSPORT We also urgently need drivers with their own cars for our patient transport service. Our volunteer patient transport drivers receive a generous mileage reimbursement and the satisfaction of providing a vital service to vulnerable people in our communities. Interested? Email gct@catstrand.com or phone 07841 512449 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation WHAT'S ON page 38 August/September OCTOBER Turn to P9 for Together in the Glenkens Oct/Nov activities... Thu 5, Alzheimer Scotland Fundraiser, 1-4pm, Dalry Town Hall Fri 6, A’ the way to Galloway: Jo Miller and friends, 7.30pm, CatStrand Fri 6, Glenkens Food Hub Shop Opens 12noon, www.openfoodnetwork.org.uk/ glenkens-food-hub/shop (open for orders & delivery each fortnight) Fri 6, Song Share, 8-11pm, Dalry Town Hall (1st Fri each month) Sat 7, Glenkens Story: Music Making in the Glenkens: Past, Present and Future 10.30am3.30pm, CatStrand Sat 7, Music Making in The Glenkens: A Wee Hoolie, 4.30-5.45pm, CatStrand Sat 7, Music Making in the Glenkens: “Gaither roon folks an this story I’ll tell”, 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Sun 8, Clachan Folk Sessions, 5.30-7.30pm, Clachan Inn, Dalry Wed 11, Crossmichael CC meeting, 7-9pm, Crossmichael Hall, (monthly) Thu 12, Stewartry Birdwatchers talk, 7.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall, see p25 Sat 14, Four Go Wild In Wellies: Independance, 11.30am, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Sat 14, Four Go Wild in Wellies Workshop, 1.00pm, Lagwyne Hall,Carsphairn Sat 14, Pierre Schryer & Seán Gray, 7.30pm, CatStrand Mon 16, Corsock & KPD CC meeting, 7.309pm, Corsock Village Hall, (monthly) Wed 18, My Doric Diary, 7.30pm, CatStrand Wed 18, Balmaghie CC meeting, 7-9pm, Balmaghie Public Hall, (monthly) Fri 20, Open Stage with Alan McClure, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 21, Battery Park: Sleeping Warrior Theatre Company, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 21, New Galloway Town Hall Grand Reopening, 2.30- 4.30pm Tue 24, Parton CC meeting, 7-9pm, Parton Village Hall Wed 25, Dalry Film Club: Banshees of Inisherin, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 25, Dragon Boats fundraiser, 7.30-11pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall, see p3 Thu 26, Castle Douglas Rotary Club dinner, 6pm, Lochinvar Hotel, Dalry, see p8 Thu 26, Stewartry Birdwatchers talk, 10.30am, Balmaclellan Village Hall, see p25 Fri 27, Pie, Pint ‘n’ Patter, 7-10pm, CatStrand (monthly) Sat 28, HENGE, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 28, Halloween with Bairn Banter, 10-11.45am, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Sun 29, Pub Quiz, 7.30-9pm, CatStrand Mon 30, Carsphairn CC meeting, 7-9pm, Lagwyne Hal, Carsphairn, (monthly) NOVEMBER Sun 5, Ginger: Tortoise in a Nutshell, 2pm, CatStrand Wed 8, Dalry Film Club: Allelujah!, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 18, A Day to Play : Shaper Caper, 10am, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Sat 18, Paper Moon: Shaper Caper, 2pm, CatStrand Wed 22, Dalry Film Club: Empire of Light, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Wed 22, Fergus McCreadie 7.30pm, CatStrand DECEMBER Sat 2, CatStrand Shopping Night, 6-9pm Sun 3, Corsock Craft Fair, 11am-3pm, Corsock Village Hall Wed 6, Dalry Film Club: The Age of Innocence, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Wed 6, Christmas Coffee Morning, 10.30am12noon, New Galloway Town Hall, see p3 Thu 7, Stewartry Birdwatchers talk, 10.30am, Balmaclellan Village Hall, see p25 Fri 8 & Sat 9, CatStrand Panto, 7.30pm, CatStrand, see p27 Sun 10, CatStrand Panto, 3pm, CatStrand, see p27 Check out the What's On calendar online at the Glenkens Hub - www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 39 REGULAR EVENTS & OPENING TIMES Balmaclellan Village Hall Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, to book email warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Glenkens Crafters, Wed 10am-12noon, for info contact julia.higgins55@outlook. com Books in Balmaclellan Community Library, Wed 10.30–12.30; Fri 6-7pm; Sat 10.30am-2.30pm (tea & coffee available on Sat). Balmaclellan Blether, 3rd Thu each month, contact warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Yoga, Thu, 6pm, kathyr64@hotmail.co.uk Glenkens Art Workshop, Thu, 2-4pm Zumba, Fri, 6.30-7.30pm The Men's Shed, Balmaclellan Opening Times: Monday, 9.30am - 12.30pm Wednesday, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Wood Carving, 2-4pm Thursday, Art Group, 2-4pm Friday, 9.30am - 12.30pm Saturday, 9am - 12noon Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Carsphairn Monday Morning Social, 10am-12noon, come along for a blether, or bring a board game/cards, etc. Refreshments available. Call 07710 124 255 or email carsphairn.trust@gmail. com Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu of the month, 7.30pm,Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Craft Group, Fri 10am-12noon, includes tea & coffee, Lagwyne Hall, contact carsphairncraftgroup@gmail.com Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, 0-7 years, Sat 10-11.45am CatStrand, New Galloway Margaret Morris Movement: Health Play (age 5-8), Mon (during term time), 3.45-4.30pm Margaret Morris Movement: Youth Grade (age 8-15), Mon (during term time), 4.30-5.30pm Art Ambassadors (age 11+), Mon biweekly, 4.30-5.30pm Behind the Scenes, bi-weekly, Mondays 5.30–6pm Power Yoga, Tue, 9am, kathyr64@ hotmail.co.uk Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Tue, 10am-4pm Weekly Bus Service to Tesco, Wednesday eve 7pm Dramarama, (age 6-10), Wed 4-5pm Up Skills: Musical Theatre, (age 15+), Wed 5-5.30pm Young Writers Cafe, (age 12+), Wed 6-7.30pm, monthly Piano Lessons, weekly, term time 4pm – 6.30pm Dance Steps (age 10-18yrs), Sat monthly, 2-5pm Art Explorers, (age under 10yrs), Sat biweekly 10-11am Art Club, (age 11-16yrs), Sat bi-weekly 11.15am-12.30pm Youth Players Panto rehearsals, (10 yrs plus), weekly, Sun 3– 5.30pm The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Glenkens Ukelele Group, Wed, 6.308pm Taste of Music, monthly, 10-11am (under 10yrs) Mini Music Makers, family session, montly 11.45pm -12.30pm (under 7yrs) Weekly Ukuele, guitar & keyboard lessons, 12.30–4pm (6-16 yrs) Musical Misfits, group singing class, biweekly, 10.30 – 11.30pm New Galloway Town Hall The hall is due to reopen and regular activities will be restarting; for further info email Jackie.communityinclusion. ling@gmail.com call 07749 249 781 or visit the Facebook page @ Local Initiatives in New Galloway Men's Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.30-11am LING Lunches, Tue, 12.30-2pm, £6, currently held at Kitty's, opposite NG Town Hall Table Tennis & Carpet Bowls, Tue, 7pm Kickback Martial Arts, Wednesdays 7.309pm Tai Chi, Zumba, Martial Arts, Gentle Yoga – new timetable being created, contact Jackie on above details Glenkens Community Centre Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Mon, 10am-4pm Glenkens Art For All, Tue 10am12.30pm, for all abilities, free, no need to book, materials provided along with tea/coffee and biscuits. Contact Sarah on 07921 357563 Dalry Good Neighbours Club, Tue, 2-4pm, contact Michelle on 07795 613 148 Clachan Crafters, Thu 2-4pm, contact Sarah on 07500 861 041 Yoga For All, Fr 9.15-10.15am, contact Amy on 07733 111 466 Friendship Group, Sat (excluding Glenkens Producers Market days), 1011.30am, contact Anne on 01644 430 052 Table Tennis/Badminton, available to hire by arrangement, contact Sarah on 07500 861 041 Glenkens Charity Shop Opening Times: Mon, Tue & Thu - 10am-1pm Wed, Fri & Sat - 10am-4pm Dalry Library Main St, Dalry, Tel: 01644 430 234 Tuesday Parent -Toddler Sessions restart end Aug, Tue,10.30-11:30am Glenkens Book Group, last Friday of each month, 2pm, call June to book on 01644 420 361 Library Opening Times: Tue, 2-5pm, for books and other walk-in Fri, 11.30am-12.30pm for NEC Bus Pass and Blue Badge appointments and PCs, and 1-4.30pm for books and other walkin services: Appointments can be booked in the library or on 01387 260 196. Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, video-led instruction, Mon, 2-3pm, contact lesleyblissett52@gmail. com Dog Training, Tue, 7-8pm, contact Eric Broadhurst on 07831 590 822 Kickback Martial Arts, Thu, 7-9pm Song Share, 1st Friday each month, 8-11pm, contact anne.chaurand@ btinternet.com Various Glenkens Youth Group, Mon, 7-8.30pm, Dalry School (or Glenkens Community Centre) Cosy Corner, Tue, 1-5pm, Crossmichael Church Hall, contact Anne on 07889 016 963 Crossmichael Heritage Centre, Wed & Fri, 1.30-4.30pm Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Dragon Boats on Loch Ken, Sun 9.30am12.30pm, Galloway Activity Centre, Parton Knockvennie Hall Heat Bank & Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona Ramsay on 01644 430 587 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, contact Gary on 01644 430 521 Check out the What's On calendar online at the Glenkens Hub - www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette T his August saw the Glenkens Youth Group get back underway after the summer break, this time under the new hands of the Glenkens Community and Arts Trust (GCAT). Local Initiatives in New Galloway did an incredible job in first establishing the group, and GCAT are proud to take the reins and continue developing this great idea. page 40 The Glenkens Youth Group is an informal group for young people (P7s – S3s) to meet old and new friends in a relaxing and welcoming space. They meet every Monday during term time in Dalry (location to be confirmed - contact Beata for confirmation of venue) from 7 to 8.30pm. You can just turn up, and all sessions are free thanks to our support from the Glenkens & District Community Benefit Fund. Do come along and meet Beata, the new Glenkens Youth Group deliverer. As well as WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit events, activities, news stories, cartoons, reviews, tips & techniques, fiction, photos, ads or ideas... Contact Sarah Ade on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk providing a relaxed space to meet friends in, she aspires to empower young people by offering various activities and events that will develop confidence and give a voice to the youth in the area. Beata is looking forward to creating an environment where each and every individual feels free to be themselves. Currently, GYG members are excited to be participating in a fantastic water safety activity organised by the Loch Ken Trust. In a couple of weeks, the young people will be taking to the (hopefully not-too-chilly) waters of Loch Ken to have a go at paddle boarding and learn the fundamentals of water safety. There are also plans afoot for an evening of fire and food! So hop along to the Glenkens Community Centre on a Monday evening, where you Beata, the new Glenkens Youth Group Deliverer can listen to music, chat, draw, play games, try your hand at table tennis, badminton or basketball, or of course come along with your own ideas. Visit us on Facebook for updates on events and sessions @GlenkensYouthGroup Beata Editing & Design: sarah.ade@gmail.com DEC/JAN COPY DEADLINE: 5 NOV The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, a Registered Scottish Charity No SC032050 The role of the Gazette is to represent the voice of the community and does not represent the views of GCAT.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 138 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GG_138 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GCAT Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Description An account of the resource Editor: Sarah Ade https://glenkensarchive.scot/glenkens_archive/files/original/1/284/GlenkensGazette137.pdf c5678e4ffaa324fb72c7e0d2cb226847 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 137 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Description An account of the resource <p>Find out more about the Gazette: <a href="https://glenkens.scot/gazette-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenkens Gazette home page</a> If you would like to submit an article or take out an advert, please email the editor Sarah Ade: <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:glenkensgazette@hotmail.com">glenkensgazette@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is a member of, and regulated by <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.impressorg.com/">Impress</a>.</p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of Glenkens Community &amp; Arts Trust (SC032050) and represents the voice of the community (not necessarily the views of GCAT).</p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document August/September 2023 ISSUE 137 Are we facing a crisis in rural education? T he future of education in the Glenkens is in crisis following the withdrawal of fourth year provision at Dalry Secondary School. Parents and supporters of the school believe the seeds of the crisis were sown in 2016 when, despite strong community and parental opposition, D&G Education Department decided to hire a Glenkens primaries partnership head and amalgamate the management for Dalry Secondary and Castle Doulgas High School (CDHS), despite the fact that CDHS is an urban school 16 miles away. The change in management structure from an all-through school (with the Glenkens primaries and Dalry Secondary all under one head teacher who was based at Dalry School) to a structure with a remote secondary head has had serious ramifications. Seven years on, this poorly considered management decision, coupled with a seeming lack of interest in partnership working from the CDHS management team has Welcome to Dalry For over 50 years Dalry Secondary has been providing a holistic environment where young people are nurtured and supported as they grow into their full potential as wellrounded, welleducated individuals. FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE SPEN pylon enquiry submission deemed "greatly offensive" turn to page 3 D alry offers something unique, with the small school rural setting allowing students to feel secure in a family-like environment while they reach their full academic and personal potential. The inside cover of the Dalry Secondary School prospectus created by the Parent Council. You can read the full publication online at bit.ly/DalryProspectus or pick up a print copy from the school lead to this year's S4 class at Dalry being displaced and the head teacher 'strongly advising' parents to send their children to CDHS. The size of year groups have changed little over the past couple of decades, so why now are Dalry pupils' educational outcomes being so severely curtailed? It does not seem right that, when parents query the limited offering, is it deemed a reasonable answer to state that a full range of subjects is offered at 'partner school' CDHS. Surely it is not unreasonable to expect a rich and varied curriculum to be offered at Dalry, the catchment high school for the Glenkens? Why are pupils expected to attend an out of catchment school, outwith their community, travelling for potentially up to two hours a day? These are the questions being asked of the Education Department, with many parents and members of the community still waiting for answers. Continued on p5... Glenkens Food Month will run throughout September with mouthwatering events across the Glenkens - turn to p7 for more! Resounding success of Galloway Glens intern programme turn to page 10 Funding for Glenkens youth graffiti project turn to page 19 What is Galloway Retold? turn to page 23 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 2 Glenkens CAP Steering Group report T he Glenkens & District Community Action Plan (CAP) was published in 2020, and is owned and kept relevant by the CAP Steering Group, with support on delivery from Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT). The Steering Group has been meeting in its present form for some 18 months now and so felt it was timely to publish an Update Report on the progress of the Community Action Plan to date. The Report also sets out the challenges and opportunities facing delivery of the CAP priorities as they aim for ever more ambitious delivery. The most pressing challenge is achieving core support to fund the roles that will set us up for success in the future, when the level of wind farm community benefit monies better matches the ambitions set out in the plan. Fiona Smith, outgoing chair of the CAP Steering Group, said, "The Glenkens and District Community Action Plan sets out the priorities of our communities really clearly. Through the CAP Steering Group and the support of GCAT, we are demonstrating an effective model of delivery within a remote-rural community which we think may be of interest to others. We have therefore shared this report widely and will continue to seek support from regional and national bodies to help us achieve our ambitions." Highlights from the last two years that have been directly driven by CAP delivery include: • Creation of the Glenkens Hub website • Creation of the Glenkens Local Food Network • Creation of the Glenkens Youth Group • Creation of the Glenkens Community Spaces Network • Positive work on the creation of new Community Housing • Adoption of a Vision for Land Use in the Glenkens (see p15) • Hosting D&G Citizens Advice Service in the Glenkens • Creation of new support scheme for local childminders • Commissioning of a report into the energy efficiency of many of our public buildings. • Many other projects and capital upgrades and investments. In the three years since the Community Action Plan was published, community groups across the Glenkens & District have achieved great things. There is a clearly demonstrable wish to work together, to complement each other rather than to compete. There are skilled and engaged people and great potential in the area. Our community has demonstrated a track record in administering large amounts of money with high standards of transparency, accountability and effective delivery. We should all be very proud of what we have achieved through working together on the Glenkens and District Community Action Plan. The full report can be found on the Glenkens Hub website (www. glenkens.scot) alongside reports of the meetings of the CAP Steering Group. New Galloway's future-proof town hall I t was August last year when LING finally took ownership of New Galloway Town Hall on behalf of the community - what a year it has been! Progress has sometimes felt agonisingly slow. As with most projects you soon realise they are bigger than you first thought, especially when working with historic buildings. Then there is the challenge of working with multiple agencies to get things done so the next step can start. Dumfries & Galloway Council were as good as their word and addressed the dramatic problem of the dry rot that had spread through the tower end of the building, which took longer than expected with a lot of patience required. The voices of experience Our grantfunders, too, have been incredibly supportive. Space makes full acknowledgement a challenge here, but we’ll have a detailed acknowledgement board in the hall. A huge thank you in the meantime to our major funders: Community Ownership Fund, Blackcraig Wind Farm administered by Foundation Scotland & Glenkens Distric Trust, Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership and Garfield Weston. We added new funders to our list recently, having gained £44,400 from the Let’s Do Net Zero Fund, nearly £50,000 from SOSE, as well as additional funding from the Architectural Heritage Foundation and most recently Blackcraig Wind Farm Community Fund again, to support an extended contract for our invaluable project officer, Ronnie Bradford. A shout-out for our volunteers and friends We’d also like to do a shout out for the many volunteers without whom none of this would be happening, and for those Friends of the Town Hall, who sign up with a £5 a month standing order (or £8 a couple). That steady income stream makes all the difference to keeping us afloat and we are so very grateful that people have stayed with us throughout. We're setting ourselves a new target. We’ve surpassed our first target of 50 with just over 60 Friends. Our next target is going to be 75. If you think you could help us to hit that target, please contact Bob (our treasurer) rtdglaister@aol.com It's all about community wellbeing By the time you are reading this we'll be close to having the renovation complete. Teams of volunteers have already been going in at weekends to clear and clean and it won't be long until all this will be a distant memory and we'll have a full programme of events and activities going again for our community. A grand open day event We're busy planning a grand open day. For up-to-date news on this, check our Facebook page, Local Initiatives in New Galloway, visit www. newgallowaytownhall. com or contact jackie. communityinclusion.LING@ gmail.com One thing we're sure we’ll be doing is filling our 'time capsule' ceremonially with the contributions we are collecting. We hope to see you there! Ann Glaister Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 3 SPEN final submission to pylons public inquiry is “greatly offensive” T he public inquiry into Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) Kendoon to Tongland 132kV Reinforcement Project has now been completed by the Scottish Government’s Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA). All hearing/inquiry sessions have been completed and, following closing submissions for all parties, the inquiry has been formally closed. The reporters are currently preparing a report with their findings and recommendations. However, the SPEN closing submission, which was published on the DPEA website on 4 July, has now been taken down, having been deemed to be “liable to cause offence”. The submission will still be passed onto Scottish ministers to make the final decision on the SPEN proposal but it has caused consternation among those fighting the overland electricity transmission plan. Galloway Without Pylons (GWP) has been campaigning for the past seven years to persuade SPEN to underground or reroute the section between Glenlee and Tongland that goes straight through the Galloway Forest Park, a popular tourist destination in Dumfries & Galloway. GWP’s Paul Swift said: “We tendered our 20-page final submission on 10 May which is published on the DPEA website. SPEN’s 315-page final submission was sent in on 20 June, four weeks late! “And then this caption appeared on the DPEA website: ‘DPEA will not publish comments which in their view may be liable to cause offence. The applicant’s closing submissions will still be taken into account by the reporters in their consideration of the proposal and sent to the Energy Consents Unit with their completed report’.” The SPEN submission was written by Ms Ailsa Wilson KC with contributions from Shepherd Wedderburn LLP on behalf of the applicant. “GWP goes further than the Scottish Government and believes that SPEN’s submission has caused great offence,” Paul explained. “Their submission is arrogant, dismissive of the local community, contains false information and makes personal attacks on the characters of the two experts who were employed to represent GWP. the request of ‘appointing an independent advocate to ensure that local participants are not bullied and intimidated during public inquiries’.” “The local community raised £24,000 to pay for our KC and technical expert so you can imagine how angry GWP members are when they read this unpleasant submission from SPEN. A spokesperson for SPEN has said: “Our proposals for the Kendoon to Tongland investment aim to ensure there is a transmission system that’s suitable for the 21st Century and has the capacity and capability to support the increase in electricity demand as we transition to greener transport like electric vehicles and more electric heating, all of which supports the country’s ambitious targets to achieve Net Zero emissions. “Our technical expert was Dr Chris Ford, BA (Hons), MBA, MSc. in Renewable Energy, PHD in Civil & Environmental Engineering. He was absolutely superb at the inquiry and it was obvious from the first time I met him that he is indeed an expert on the ‘spatial dimension of energy systems’. “I am currently working on a report that will highlight those sections of SPEN’s submission that attempt to denigrate the evidence of Dr Ford and others. There are many!” Willie Jackson, of Scotland Against Spin, the campaign group fighting the proliferation of wind farms, said: “SAS will be bringing this up at the next DPEA stakeholders' forum as further evidence of abuse of third parties when taking part in an inquiry. We currently have a petition to the Scottish Parliament which includes “We have participated fully in the public inquiry process and have provided a balanced response to the issues raised to the Reporter as part of our closing submission.” GWP has maintained that it is not against the upgrade but wants the new line to follow the existing pylons east of Loch Ken or, failing that, to be put underground. The closing submissions of both GWP and SPEN to the public inquiry can now be read in full on the Galloway Without Pylons website at http:// gallowaywithoutpylons.org/ public-inquiry Dalry Town Hall celebrates funding success D alry Town Hall is pleased to announce its success in obtaining two awards for energy improvement. Until recently Dalry Town Hall was held by a historic Trust. However, whilst successful in many ways and for many years, this type of ownership has had restrictions, particularly on the level and sources of funding available. About a year ago a public meeting was held at which it was voted to transfer to a charity structure; namely to become a SCIO (a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation). As was outlined at the meeting, the first aim of the new body would be to seek improvements in the hall’s use of energy. Following an energy survey by Business Energy Scotland, application was made for funding to the Scottish Government CARES fund. However, the fund can only provide 80% of the cost and so a second application was made to Blackcraig Windfarm Community Fund for the remainder. Importantly, the measures identified sit well in line with the Community Action Plan developed by the Glenkens & District Trust - so both funding sources are mutually supportive. We are thrilled to announce that both applications have been successful and will provide for the following: • An additional heat pump and radiators to enhance the comfort of users. • A destratification fan to drive warmed air from the high hall roof back down to the useable space. • Photovoltaic panels on the external roof to generate electricity from the sun and store in a battery for later use thereby reducing energy from the grid. • Low energy lighting within the hall to further diminish energy usage. The project will be underway over the next year and will bring benefits on a permanent basis thereafter. Hall trustees are very grateful to all funding bodies involved in providing the opportunity to make these improvements possible. J Reid Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews Biosphere badge for Cubs Raising T he Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere (GASB) has launched a new badge for Scouts and Guides. Working with the Scout and Guide movement, Jenna Cairns, education lead officer for GSAB, and her team have orchestrated a badge for young people to participate in, with activities suited to all ages. Five Cub Scouts from the Glenkens Pack headed up to Muirdrochwood to an open day organised by Carsphairn Community Woodland (CCW) and what a fun day was in store. They enjoyed the tree planting, moth identification, learning about the bees that produce Glenkens Honey, pony petting, meeting hedgehogs, looking at bugs and beasties through the microscope, learning about red squirrels and more. Thank you to Mr McMillan, chairman of CCW, and his team for organising the event and to Jenna for guiding the Cubs through the new lodge and presenting the badges. capsule'. A time capsule is being placed in New Galloway Town Hall and the Cubs have been busy making a booklet to go in it. We started with King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s coronation photographs followed by Prince Wiliam, Princess Kate and their family visiting a Cub Scout pack down south and helping out – they all wore neckers just like us. The Cubs collected cuttings of boys' and girls' favourite toys, also biscuit and sweet wrappers that were popular in 2023. Each Cub filled in a sheet entitled A Moment in Time, which was a brief record of their life to date. Hannah gave an item of pottery she had made, and photographs of her pots and a 2023 Spring Fling heading from this year’s event booklet. We also added a DVD filmed at our Coronation page 4 Funds for Alzheimer Scotland H Elliot, Leo, Bella, Alba and Freya were all awarded badges Banquet, where we were joined by parents and our cub scout president, Drew Low. The booklet was finished by a few facts about New Galloway. The final meeting before the holiday was sailing home-made boats in the New Galloway park burn, which lacked water after the dry spell but the youngsters still had lots of fun. Three large crayfish were found and, not knowing what to do with them, after having a look we returned them to the water. air by Jayne in Dalry holds regular fundraising events in the village, and this year they have decided to suport Alzheimer Scotland; Scotland's dementia charity. A coffee afternoon will be held in Dalry Town Hall from 1-4pm on Thursday 4 October. Jayne says: "All are welcome for tea, coffee and cakes. There will also be a great raffle, and entry by donation. Come along and have some fun at this great event!" Raffle prizes and baking will be gratefully accepted - please contact Jayne on 07876 397 725 or pop into the salon on Dalry's Main Street. We hope you all have a lovely summer! Heather & Hannah Help for the Dalry arts and crafts fair lifeboats O Another project the Cubs have been involved in is a local 'time nce again we will be hosting a summer arts and crafts event at Dalry Town Hall. This year it will be held on Sunday 20 August from 11am until 3pm supported by the Pop Up Café for teas/coffees and delicious homemade cakes. There will be a diverse mix of artists, designers and creative crafters offering beautifully crafted and uniquely executed pieces of work. We hope to have woodworkers, jewellers, printmakers, artists and textiles designers and makers, both professional and semi-professional. This time we are offering local craft and art groups the chance to have some exhibition space to showcase their work collectively, which will give visitors and locals alike the opportunity to appreciate the depth of talent on offer in Dumfries & Galloway. If any groups wish to take advantage of this offer please get in touch. There may also be individuals (Cub Scout Leaders) out there who would like to take the opportunity of showcasing creative talent and expertise and wish to have a presence at the show; it could be an opportunity to network and meet more potential customers/clients. The entrance fee is by donation and all proceeds from the event will go towards Dalry Town Hall funds, helping to maintain and improve the facilities of this historic building. To find out more or book a table please contact Lesley Blissett on 07710 525 927. Lesley Blissett G lenkens folk have once again been generous in their support for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The Glenkens RNLI committee held their annual fundraising coffee morning in May at Dalry Town Hall, raising over £700. The RNLI does not receive any government funding and is reliant on the generosity of supporters. Many thanks to all who helped and attended. Nicolette Wise GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette A Glenkens education Continued from front page... In a response to a concern raised by a member of the community, the Education Department stated"...the Headteacher and the Head of Education wrote to parents...to advise they commence their Senior Phase at their partner school, Castle Douglas High School." This statement clearly encourages parents to send their children away from Dalry, their catchment school. However, when the head teacher was asked why they don't encourage children at the partner school, CDHS, who would benefit from smaller class sizes and a small-school environment to send their children to Dalry - surely a win-win situation - he responded that the school cannot make that kind of suggestion to parents; where they send their child is down to parental choice. The senior management team has resisted attempts by the parent council to find a solution. There is the possibility of online learning, used successfully for small class sizes in other remote areas in Scotland, and indeed employed by other schools in Dumfries & Galloway. If cost is a prohibitive factor, the parent council have offered to look at raising the necessary funds. A Nurturing Environment St John’s Town of Dalry sits in the Glenkens, part of the Stewartry region of Dumfries & Galloway, a group of communities tied together with common values and a strong sense of community spirit. LEARNING TOGETHER H ere at Dalry Secondary our young people all learn together, supporting each other in a cooperative environment with students forming strong friendships across year groups, as well as often being involved in the Primary School’s activities and events. From helping out with coffee mornings to overseeing the technical elements of stage productions, both the younger and older children thrive from these multi-age activities. Students feel a great sense of satisfaction in being involved in such a handson way with the school, seeing their skills being of practical value to teachers, younger pupils and the wider community. OPEN SPACES T he school benefits from the green spaces of its rural setting, where a tableau of wilderness, farmland and forestry roll out as far as the eye can see, creating the unique landscape so much a part of Dalry. From its elevated position in the village the school has unrivalled views from most classroom windows, with rolling green vistas stretching in every direction. Research has shown that green space visible from the classroom improves concentration and lowers stress, which may explain a little of the calm and happy atmosphere in the school. page 5 “The school just feels like one big happy family.” S1 pupil “I can’t imagine liking another school more.” S3 pupil A SENSE OF COMMUNITY A s well as the feeling of connection with the outdoors through the school’s unique placement in the landscape, a sense of community also permeates the school with pupils and teachers feeling more like one big family than a formal academic setting. Activities and learning opportunities are provided through which the wider community and the school are able to engage, giving pupils a real sense of place and belonging. WELL ROOTED With Dalry Secondary being attached to Dalry Primary and ELC Nursery, pupils benefit from an all-through setting where they can be on familiar ground from the age of three until they complete S4 at 16. Receiving such a secure and nurturing start to their education stands students in good stead, and by the time they reach S4 Dalry’s young people are well-rounded individuals ready to stretch themselves that little bit more, both socially and academically, and happily take the next step on their educational journey to Dalry Secondary’s partner school, Castle Douglas High. Having worked in partnership regularly with the high school, pupils are familiar with the setting, teachers and fellow pupils, so this is a very natural transition for them. higher-grade courses and some take the decision leave school altogether, rendeing the process more holistic for older students. The Glenkens is a very rural area of around 500 square miles and with a population of some 3,700. From the northern boundary, in the parish of Carsphairn, to the current school at Dalry is around 17 miles. To travel to school in Castle Douglas would be close to 35 miles, or an hour's drive. “There was great encouragement to be creative and I remember a sense of freedom to be who you were, and a care from the village community, that added greatly to my sense of well-being.” Former pupil decision on S4 education provision in Dalry I think we need to work together to think about what the model for education provision in the Glenkens should look like. "We need some innovative thinking by the Council’s Education Department, in consultation with the Glenkens community, on how we improve rural education and make sure our young people get equal access to the opportunities secondary pupils already have in Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright. I’ll work with the parent council, fellow ward councillors and Education Committee members to ensure that education in the Glenkens is given the attention it is entitled to.” ...with £1.25million of capital investment spent on the Castle Douglas High School Estate since 2017 and nothing on the Dalry Secondary Estate. There is currently a The options were reduced for this year’s S4 group to such a degree that there were no sciences, no geography and no languages (despite a full cohort of teachers in these subjects being available). Currently the only offering for an S4 student wishing to stay is to sit in on S3 classes, and to be " largely be self-motivated to self-study". And the attempts to degrade the offer at Dalry Secondary go beyond subject choices with £1.25million of capital investment spent on the Castle Douglas High School Estate since 2017 and nothing on the Dalry Secondary Estate. In 2016, the local community and parents pushed for Dalry Secondary to run to S6 rather than S4, as they could see that running to S4 with the changes to exam years, etc, may become problematic. At the time D&G Education Department refused to consider this; ironically now they advise parents that not running to S6 is a reason for children to move from Dalry to CDHS in order to avoid transition at S4. Children and parents are of course aware that upon commencing S5, a school transition is a requisite. This progression is, however, a more organic undertaking as numerous students at this point opt for Dalry school sits in the heart of an area rich in renewable energy and forestry, which makes the lack of sciences all the more difficult to understand. The parent council have engaged with local renewables companies like Vattenfall and Natural Power, who are keen to work with Dalry in order to provide educational opportunities in fields where they could gain local employment. The renewable energy sector alone is growing by 7% a year, expanding demand for a local workforce in these fields. With climate change at the forefront of the global agenda this demand is only going to grow. D&G Education Department, however, has prioritised apprenticeships in Dumfries, forcing children and young people out of the area. The Glenkens is in the unique regional position of having an increasing population. In order for this trend to continue, and for the health and vitality of our communities, we need to ensure our schools are able to provide high quality education here in the Glenkens. Dee & Glenkens ward councillor Dougie Campbell, who has been working with the parent council, said: “Following the recent consultation on the restructuring of Dumfries & Galloway's schools estate. The communities of the Glenkens would like to ensure we retain education for our children within our community, and ensure that our children are able to become qualified in the fields of employment that are right on our doorstep. We need management of our schools to be returned to the Glenkens. We need a head teacher who is present in our school and invested in the children of the Glenkens. The communities of the Glenkens have a strong identity, of which we are proud. We have chosen to live and work here for a reason. We chose small schools. We chose rural education. We opted for small class sizes. We want our children to be raised within our own community, forming a lifelong connection and a passion for the area that will ensure that, whatever their future choices, they keep coming back to the place they call home. Dalry School Parent Council Look out for more local consultation coming soon and have your say! You can also follow the Dalry School Parent Council on Facebook to keep up-to-date with what's happening. GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette Together in the Glenkens T he 'Together in the Glenkens' activity programme is off to a great start. The programme is designed to support and enhance mental health and wellbeing in the Glenkens district over the coming months. We have nine activities on offer for our Glenkens communities to engage in and enjoy. Our aim is to provide a varied and inclusive programme, which will attract interest and engagement. Our Art for Wellbeing sessions are being delivered across three different areas of the Glenkens. We have an exciting programme of dance classes with Sam Rushton touring the Glenkens in four-week blocks with an opportunity to learn ballroom and latin dances in each block. A Christmas social is planned, with a fun competitive element where you can dance the evening away at a Glenken’s Strictly party! Our highly popular monthly Pub Quiz is back, circulating between the Lochinvar Hotel, the Clachan Inn and the Ken Bridge Hotel; watch our space for dates and details. We'll have a support group and gentle exercise for new mums coming soon. Tai Chi sessions run on Wednesday evenings in New Galloway park, moving into the CatStrand if the weather is not suitable, and provide a wonderful opportunity to practice this gentle form of exercise. We are excited that the Five Kingdoms Brewery is our guest for September’s Pie Pint 'n' Patter on the last Friday of the month, with the opportunity to take part in a beer tasting session with our splendid local brewers. Gentle Exercise for All is taking place in the Smiddy, Balmaclellan, on Wednesday page 6 afternoons, helping to build a gentle practice of low impact exercise into people’s lives. Walking Football is proving popular for the young and notso-young, taking place over the summer months in New Galloway park on Thursday evenings. We are delighted to be supporting Breeze Glenkens Cycle Rides, providing an opportunity to enjoy twiceweekly rides around our glorious countryside, on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Please visit https://letsride.co.uk/groups/ glenkens-cycling-group, as it is essential to book your place through their website. We are most thankful to the Scottish Government’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, administered by Third Sector Dumfries & Galloway, which has enabled us to set up our programme of events. For this incredible programme to continue into the future, sessions need to be supported, so please do join in and support these community activities. To find out more and to book onto any of our sessions email jo@catstrand.com or call 01644 420 374 or scan the QR code above to go straight to our booking page. Jo Jackson See p32 for more TiTG activities St Margaret's goes online Glenkens Youth Group C hurches have often been considered a bit slow with new trends but St Margaret’s in New Galloway seems to be the exception that proves the rule! Newly installed internet connection at the church has opened up many opportunities. There is a much wider range of music provision for services when the organist is absent, and following the purchase of a card reader machine, anyone without cash and wanting to make a donation can now do so easily. Having internet at the church also allows Dawn Matthew, St Margaret’s new priest, to work in the building on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Whenever you see the ‘church is open’ sign outside, please feel free to pop in to look round, have a quiet moment of reflection, or chat with Dawn. There is also a new informal service of morning prayer on Tuesdays at 11am, with refreshments, which is proving popular. Details of how to join the Wednesday evening online prayer group via Zoom can be found at www. stmargaretsnewgalloway.org The regular Sunday service is currently being trialled at 5pm to allow Dawn to take services at both St Margaret’s and All Saints’ Challoch. The time is likely to change before the winter months so please check the website or noticeboards for updates. Dawn is an experienced teaching assistant and will be helping at both Kells and Dalry primary schools from September, and she has also been busy helping out with the LING food parcel initiative. In the next Gazette, the St Margaret’s Guild will report on the tombola they are running at this year's Scottish Alternative Games on Sunday 6 August to raise funds for the Castle Douglas Hospital League of Friends. Nicolette Wise T hanks to the hard work of Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING) in setting up the Glenkens Youth Group, the future of this group is secured for another two years. The group was a huge success last year, with a range of regular activities as well as holiday excursions offered for free. LING has now passed management of the group to the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT), with continued funding from the Blackcraig Wind Farm Community Fund. A huge "thank you" goes to LING's Mary Smith for all her hard work in initiating this project and making it such a success - here's to the next two years! From 28 August newly-recruited youth worker Beata will run Glenkens Youth Group sessions at the Glenkens Community Centre in Dalry from 7-8:30pm every Monday. Sessions are free and open to young people from P7 to S3 just drop in. For further information contact catherine@catstrand.com GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette A September to remember G lenkens Food Month 2023 gets underway in September with a raft of foodrelated events across the Glenkens. Community groups and businesses will celebrate our amazing local food and drink producers, retailers, cafes and restaurants with a month-long programme. page 7 There's something for everyone, from fungal forages to cooking demonstrations, films to community cafes. There are pot luck suppers, hog roasts and sausage sizzles, plant & produce swaps and markets. There will be the usual closing ceilidh in Balmaclellan Village Hall and a 'Feastival' in New Galloway Park - a whole day of food and music to celebrate together. Look out for programmes out and about in August or visit the Glenkens Hub Food Month page at www.glenkens.scot and check out the events calendar or scan the QR code on the right. Remember to book early to avoid disappointment! Pictured is Carsphairn's local produce stall from a previous year's Food Month Thanks go to all the local organisations involved - as ever, it's a real partnership effort. And thanks of course to New Galloway Community Enterprises for kicking the whole thing off back in 2019; it's great to see it still gong strong five years on! Jo Jackson, Together in the Glenkens New report provides road map for Glenkens community spaces T hanks to funding from the Scottish Government's 'Community Led Vision' fund, administered by D&G Council, eleven community buildings in the Glenkens have received detailed assessments of their energy efficiency upgrade options. They all now have clear recommendations for the most effective ways for them to improve their energy efficiency and sustainability, summarised in a report produced for the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust by Natural Power Consultants. Town and village halls and other community spaces play a vital role in the rural population centres of the Glenkens, but due to their age, many of these buildings are poorly insulated, in some cases using oil boilers which are reaching the end of their operational lifespan, or in others using expensive electric heaters which are not always powerful enough to heat the space to a comfortable level in the midst of winter. This new report gives an overview of potential improvements for each building, backed up by technical data which can be used by the committees of participating halls to develop bids for grant funding in order to make the halls more sustainable, both environmentally and financially. Recommendations have been made as appropriate in the areas of lighting and energy efficiency improvements, improvements to the building fabric and potential for renewable generation. The report's authors will present their recommendations at a stakeholder event in the summer, alongside a second report which considers opportunities to decarbonise and reduce power usage in domestic properties in the Glenkens. This project was coordinated by Becca Nelson, Glenkens Community Spaces Network facilitator. She commented: "One of the key concerns of Glenkens Community Spaces Network members is rising utility costs, with some members expressing concern that the viability of venues is under threat in light of the price increases. However, grant funding is available to help community buildings become more sustainable. I am delighted that two of the participating venues' committees have already used the assessments to support grant funding bids for feasibility studies. I hope that their bids are successful, and that other participants will be able to use this data to help them to implement capital projects to future- proof their own community building. We will be looking for opportunities to collaborate when finding contractors to carry out any works as well as sharing successes and potential pitfalls." The report, titled Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation in Glenkens Community Buildings, is available to download from the Reports and Resources Archive of the Glenkens Hub website at www.glenkens.scot/ reports-resources-archive The Glenkens Community Spaces Network provides a forum for the management committees of our village halls, town halls, community centres and other community spaces to come together to share ideas, successes and issues. The Network is a Glenkens Community & Arts Trust project and is funded through 2023-25 by a grant from the Blackcraig Community Benefit Fund. To find out more visit www. glenkens.scot/glenkenscommunity-spaces-network GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 8 Youth music talent in the Glenkens T he Glenkens communities have been bursting with young talent for decades, and 14-year-old Ella Campbell is the latest example. to enter the Battle of the Bands, held at the CatStrand. The Alternative Games is also where Galloway musician Zoe Bestel first performed with her ukelele, when she was just 14 too - who knew the Games was such a melting pot for youth music talent! Recently she graced the big stage at Scotland's largest youth music festival, YouthBeatz, alongside many other talented young musicians including superstar young talent Torrs. Since then, Ella has been benefiting from mentoring from acclaimed singersongwriter Sarah Scouten, through funding provided by Dumfries Music Festival and supported by CatStrand Young Creatives. Ella's performance journey began last year, when she showcased her talents from a cherry-picker at the Scottish Alternative Games in New Galloway and then went on Ella also volunteers as an Art Ambassador with the CatStrand Young Creatives programme. Supported and mentored by the Young Creatives team, Ella now shares her dance and music skills with younger children through a drama club and musical theatre sessions. This volunteering work has earned her a Saltire Award. Last month at YouthBeatz Ella performed some of her own compositions to a rapt audience; she is undoubtedly an artist to watch out for in the coming years – great work Ella! If you are a young musician who would like support in pursuing your creative career or developing your talent, please contact CatStrand Young Creatives at catherine@ catstrand.com - we would love to hear from you and help you on your journey too! Catherine Campbell, Young Creatives Project Lead Ella Campbell performing at YouthBeatz, Dumfries In memory of Tom Leach Our friend Tom Tom passed away the other day, Two heart attacks and a stroke, Took our friend a lovely bloke, A special person in every way. Tom made clocks that hang on many a wall, Mens Shed CatStrand and many others too, Notice boards bench seat and log shed so tall, Always with banter and a leg pull or two. Many good years our friendship ran, Ukelele Manshed and art we shared, He was a very talented man, He showed compassion and always cared. When Tom entered our domain, An air of calmness would sustain, His humour thoughtfulness and generosity, A good friend and very good company. We will never forget you my friend, Our friendship will live on, In our memories of happy days gone, RIP dear friend and fly with the Angels Amen. by Barry Bryan-Dixon Dalry Good Neighbours Club D alry Good Neighbours had a very good first season and saw a variety of entertainment and activities. We had Scottish music from Graham Barbour and Pauline Swan; professional singer Kirsty Duncan entertained us with a vast variety of songs from Scottish to jazz, musicals to opera; we had talks from Galloway to the Himalayas. We have learned about birds and about keeping ourselves safe. We’ve played board games and bingo and had a beetle drive. We have also got involved with keeping the Glenkens Community Centre ship-shape by helping tidy up outside the front of the centre and plant up a few flowers to welcome visitors. But one of our greatest achievements was to raise money for an orphanage in Kenya to help build the children some beds. Our next programme sees Graham and Pauline return, as well as Kirsty Duncan. We also have a promise from Eddie McGaw to come and update us on his projects in Kenya, and talks from local historian Robert McQuistan. We have author and previous Glenkens resident, Peter Wright, coming to give a talk; Peter was also the initial instigator of raising funds to turn the old school building into our current community centre building! We will be having games afternoons, bingo and the occasional surprise thrown in too. The club is open to all. We meet in Glenkens Community Centre on Tuesday afternoons from 2-4pm, and it's £3 per session, with refreshments included. The group will re-start from 5 September and new members will be made most welcome. Please keep an eye out for our yellow posters which will be going up around the Glenkens with information on the current programme of activities. Sarah McAdam Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople page 9 A shout-out for the Glenkens Community Transport volunteers The fantastic team of volunteer drivers at Galloway Community Transport (GCT) provide a vital service for individuals and groups across Galloway. GCT manager, Jon Betts, and co-ordinator Sue McMinn would like to say a huge "thank you" to the team of drivers whose contribution makes the work of GCT possible. GCT provides patient transport, rural school bus services, and some regular services, as well as minibus hire for groups and organisations. Occasional excursions also provide opportunities for travel and socialising. GCT drivers are passionate about their role. One driver said: ‘’It’s a privilege to see the enjoyment of young people going to events and activities that, in a big town or city, would be taken for granted. It’s a real pleasure.’’ GCT patient transport drivers generously use their own vehicles to take patients to appointments with their mileage expenses being reimbursed. Doing this, GCT drivers provide not only transport for people who need it most, they are sometimes the only social contact that person may have during the week. One patient said recently: "The Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP Solicitors and Estate Agents Dumfries & Galloway 01556 503744 www.ggblaw.co.uk All legal advice Offices in Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie Kirkcudbright and Dumfries service is an absolute lifesaver, and the conversation and laughter we have on the way make it a lovely journey." GCT simply would not be able to operate without the amazing contribution made by our dedicated team of volunteer drivers. Driving for GCT can offer the opportunity to visit new places and meet new people, and also the chance to see what some of our local community projects involve. New volunteers are always welcome and much needed. If anyone would like to be part of the team, GCT would be delighted to hear from you. Please get in touch with Jon or Sue at the CatStrand on gct@catstrand.com or visit www.gallowaycommunity transport.org for more information. See p29 for information on GCT regular routes and trips coming up in August and September. Sue McMinn GCT volunteer drivers pictured with one of the fleet of minibuses outside the CatStrand © Solway Press Services Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEpeople page 10 Intern programme shows range of careers available in the Glenkens R ecent months have included sobering news about young people’s opinions of living and working in our region. More than 50% of young folk questioned for the ‘10,000 voices’ report indicated their plans to leave Dumfries & Galloway, with other surveys revealing that the population of Dumfries & Galloway was already, on average, one of the oldest in Scotland. Not that we should be trying to prevent our young people from leaving, but we should do a better job of highlighting the roles that can be pursued locally, challenging the perception that leaving is the only ‘successful’ option. The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged many of the assumptions we have about what people want from a career and the quality of life, peace and quiet, low crime and healthy lifestyle offered is increasingly being seen as an asset. The Galloway Glens Scheme has been leading a project called ‘Galloway Rural Skills’ which was working with local employers to offer paid internship positions. Usually on a six-month basis, these were aiming to provide really highquality work experience, while also having the spin-off benefits of introducing employers to the concept of Internships and also publicly advertising the variety of jobs available, to sow the seed in people’s minds that working in Galloway is an appealing option. Out of the intern-type positions supported, 11 of the 15 have either been based in the Glenkens or included a strong element of Glenkens work. These roles included supporting the Galloway Fisheries Trust on projects on the Black Water of Dee, through to positions working in forestry or the renewables sector with Drax on the hydro electric scheme and Natural Power and the creative sector with Glenkens Community & Arts Trust. The roles have delivered benefits for the candidates and also the hosts, with a number of employers expressing an interest in future schemes. Four of the 11 Glenkens-related Interns have already gone on to longer-terms roles with the employer, with others still underway. From a funding point of view, a six-month Intern position, employed on a full-time, livingwage basis can cost in excess of £12,000 but when it works, it changes the lives of the applicant and the employer to such an extent, it is excellent value for money. The Galloway Glens Scheme has tried to take every opportunity to publicise these roles, and stories from the Interns, building the narrative that living and working in Galloway can be a satisfying career. A report giving an overview of the findings of the Intern Programme has been published on our website, and we are just so grateful to everyone that took part in any way in the programme. It would be brilliant to change the current situation when candidates often have to be coaxed to take a role in Galloway, to that when the Galloway location was seen on the national stage as an advantage. Often we don’t need to change a lot, just challenge pre-conceptions… McNabb Laurie Galloway Glens Project Leader Top - Galloway Glens Intern Day, December 2022 Left - Amber Wright, intern with Natural Power Below left - Dan Pollard, the second Galloway Fisheries Trust intern Below - Jan Hogarth with Czernin-Kinsky intern Cameron Milne Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 11 Carsphairn Community Woodland hosts fun-filled open day C arsphairn Community Woodland (CCW) held a Forest Wildlife Family Fun Day packed with all kinds of activities. Just catching the tail end of the spell of hot weather, it was another great turnout, no doubt drawn by the fascinating range of organisations and individuals attending. Along with the popular woodland games we had local hedgehog expert and CCW board member Alison with one of her rescue hedgehogs, a live beehive demonstration from the Glenkens Honey Company, some beautiful moths on display by South West Scotland Environment Information Centre (SWSEIC), red squirrel displays from the Gatehouse Squirrel Group, a chance for a closer look at bugs and beasties under Ian Saunders’ microscope and a 'pony petting' corner where visitors of all ages were welcome to get up close with a friendly pony. Crafters included Geoff Forrest, who illustrated willow working techniques through working on an amazing bird installation, and Carsphairn Craft Group who were spinning yarn on spinning wheels, looms and also peg looms for weaving. The Galloway Glens Landscape Scheme was present with some goodies for children and to discuss the latest round of their tree planting grant. Members of the Glenkens Scouts came along to enjoy the displays and worked hard to earn their Biosphere badges (see article on page 4 for more on this). The highlight for many of the younger folk attending was the newly-opened childrens’ play area. CCW horse logging demonstration C arsphairn Community Woodland is excited to announce that the next event planned at the woodland will be a horse logging demonstration by Teamwork Horselogging on Sunday 13 August from 9.30am to 4pm. Steffi Schaffler and David Roycroft are professional horse loggers and will demonstrate all aspects of this traditional method of hauling trees. There will also be a guided walk by Peter Norman, looking at the landscape history of Muirdrochwood. Peter will guide walkers through a brief look at how the countryside has changed using information from old maps, archaeological finds and clues from the landscape. Wear strong footwear as the walk will include rough ground. Entry for the day is £5 per head and free for under 16s. Bring a picnic and make sure you dress for the weather. Numbers are limited so to book your place, and for further details, please email carsphairncw@gmail.com or call 07710 124 255. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 12 sponsored by Update from the Glenkens Food Hub T he Glenkens Food Hub is a regular online shopping experience, open every other week for the residents of the Glenkens to access delicious, seasonal, climate and nature friendly food from local producers. We asked Lesley and Tamsin, who run the Food Hub on behalf of local producers, about current and future plans, and here's what they said: We are very lucky to have received a second round of funding from the Blackcraig Windfarm Community Fund via Foundation Scotland and the Glenkens & District Trust. This will allow us to develop the project to bring sustainable and ethically produced food from local businesses to local people on a regular basis. The funding has also enabled us to add a marketing and finance person to support our very small, parttime team. Our recent Council-funded feasibility study asked questions of the local, and wider, D&G community and producers, so we now have lots of ideas about how we could develop. One factor already implemented is a later collection time so people can pickup, or we drop-off, after school and work on a Friday, making it more accessible than a lunchtime slot. A wider range of veg and fruit has been requested, along with poultry, game and fish, so we are looking for more sustainably-grown, The Glenkens Food Hub team and producers full of energy and enthusiasm... responsibly reared ready to welcome you to their next Meet the Producer event! and sourced produce please let us know if like to dip in for an occasional Each volunteer gets a 10% you have ideas where treat for a special occasion. discount off Glenkens Food Hub we can find these! If we can’t orders, with occasional extra Please continue to share find them locally, we will initially goodies too. We are based at Glenkens Food Hub details with bring suitable produce in from the Glenkens Community Centre your friends and neighbours, elsewhere until the market is in Dalry. Volunteering also looks and hopefully soon we'll reach developed enough to encourage great on a CV, if you're looking a point where we don’t need someone locally to start external funding at all. As a to build up your skills! producing what we are selling, "thank you" for spreading the at which point we can switch to To find out more about our word, we we'll give you and buy locally instead. Local hobby producers and how the Food your friend a £5 credit; just growers can also get in touch Hub online shop works visit ask your friend to mention with us to sell their excess https://openfoodnetwork. that you referred them in the produce through the Hub. org.uk/glenkens-food-hub/ 'comments' section at the We want to spread the word far checkout and you’ll both receive shop or get in touch with us and wide to make sure everyone a £5 credit towards your next via lesley@propagate.org.uk in the Glenkens knows about order. 07587 122 151. us as a surprising amount of Last, but by no means least, we people still don’t! However, would like to put a shout-out DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 96% of residents surveyed for more volunteers please! We • 11 August - Biosphere in the study said they would are a happy bunch and have Celebration with Glenkens consider buying from us, a good time whilst packing all Food Hub and Way of the which is a huge number and the lovely produce, and would Wild, pizza cookout, Dalry very encouraging. love to have more people to call • 8 September - Meet the Everyone is welcome, whether on every other Friday between 12pm and 4pm. So if you have Producer Event, Glenkens you buy regularly on ethical a few hours spare, please get in Community Centre, 6:30-8pm, grounds, because you love touch with lesley@propagate. part of Glenkens Food Month the taste of fresh produce, org.uk (seeP7) want to support local or just If you have a glut of seasonal garden veg or fruit which you would like to sell on the Glenkens Food Hub please get in touch - a great way to make a bit of extra cash, and the more hyper local food we have the better! Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 13 sponsored by If you would like to list something on this page, please get in touch on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk FREE 3/4 astilbe plants in pots; need some shade. Collection from Darly. Contact: 01644 430 520 Wheeltech Enigma XS aluminium adult wheelchair, shower/wet room wheelchair, portable commode, large foam wedge, small foam wedge, low wooden step, small adjustable wooden stool. Contact: 01644 460 619 Horse manure, rotted and fresh, no weed killers used. Dig your own from a large heap, bring sacks or trailer. Contact: 07889 229 340 WANTED Outdoor table and chairs. Contact: 07507 704 821 Old lawn mowers/strimmers/other small machinery. Nonrunners/broken welcome. Contact: 07845 562 217 Looking after our local pathways S upported by the Galloway Glens Scheme, Local Initiatives in New Galloway undertook to reestablish and support the maintenance of a number of local pathways. Primarily these paths are within the New Galloway Golf Club Woods, with a network of paths also on the Garroch Estate. following storm damage, as well as undertaking specific tasks to repair and maintain the many bridges and boardwalks. This initiative, inaugurated by Gerry Cinderby, involves a number of volunteers carrying varied activities involving seasonal work, clearing fallen trees and general path clearance Recent work has involved the installation of a culvert and construction of an alternative entrance to the Golf Club Wood path network and the new link pathway to the core pathway that leads to Loch Stroan and beyond. The work is ongoing and new volunteers are always welcome. If you have a couple of hours to spare and would like to help out, please feel free to contact our on-the-ground coordinator (and LING trustee) David Hardy at david. hardy23@ntlworld.com N ew Galloway Golf Club Founded Foun ded 1902 www.ng www.n g gc.co.uk - 01644 420737 Buggies now available for hire VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS WELCOME MATTHEW PAJO Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - pain management - women's health - men's health - fatigue - sleep - stress - anxiety - needle-free laser acupuncture- The Old School, Crossmichael info@matthewpajo.co.uk 07786 079 845 Amber Dunlop-Pajo Health Psychologist - women's health - stress - depression - anxietyThe Old School, Crossmichael info@gallowaycounselling.co.uk 07389 713 106 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment S outhwest Scotland has been celebrating a win for people and nature since news was announced at the beginning of July that Galloway and Southern Ayrshire’s UNESCO Biosphere status has been revalidated for another ten years. Confirmation followed several months of a periodic review process in which UNESCO examined the activity that had taken place over the ten years since the region was first awarded its Biosphere designation. Coverage of the status renewal reached national news channels as the new UK Ambassador to UNESCO, Anna Nsubuga, spent her first two days in post touring the Biosphere region, culminating in an official reception at Drumlanrig Castle on 4 July. St John’s Town of Dalry, as a Biosphere Community and site of the GSA Biosphere’s proposed eco-office hub, was one of the stops on the Ambassador’s tour, which also included representatives from the UK National Commission for UNESCO and international delegates from the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. Andrew Bielinski, RSPB Scotland’s Area Manager for the Scottish Lowlands & Southern Uplands, met the group just outside Dalry to explain the background to GCAT's Donald Watson Art Trail, highlighting how Watson’s work reflects the decline in birds and other wildlife since the artist was first walking and sketching in the Glenkens. Conservation, climate awareness and finding strategies to reverse biodiversity loss are priorities for UNESCO Biospheres page 14 Out and About in the Biosphere all around the world and several bird species including curlew and black grouse are High Focus species in Galloway and Southern Ayrshire. The delegation also visited Clatteringshaws Loch to hear McNabb Laurie, Team Leader with the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership (GGLP), speak about its five-year, 35-project programme of ‘Biosphere in action’: a rich and diverse celebration of local heritage that has harnessed opportunities to help build a more sustainable economic future for communities in the Ken/Dee catchments. GGLP’s ‘last hurrah’ is underway now with a final few events available to book before the project finishes for good in September. The announcement that UNESCO status has been renewed was accompanied by confirmation that the request to expand the Biosphere’s geographical boundary has been approved. This means the designated area has grown from just over 5,200km² to almost 9,800km², and now includes 12 miles of the marine environment. The Biosphere has announced two new staff appointments to help deliver projects across this expanded region: Antoine Lemaire, a trained Biosphere Guide known locally as the founder of Alouette Nature Tours, has been appointed as the organisation’s new Nature Recovery Officer, while Jake McLaughlan, who joined the Biosphere in summer 2022 in a 12-month internship post, was successful in applying for the permanent role of Business Engagement Officer. Both new recruits will be supporting local and land-based enterprise including through the Proud Supporter and Biosphere Certification Mark schemes. These initiatives aim to embed sustainability in the local economy while providing tangible benefits to businesses of all sizes and sectors. Opportunities the Biosphere provides include learning workshops, networking events, and promotion via social media and destination marketing campaigns. The Biosphere Certification Mark is a trademarked accreditation that permits qualifying business to brand their produce, goods and services with the Biosphere logo, and any business that has signed up as a Biosphere Proud Supporter can apply online at any time. All GSA Biosphere initiatives remain entirely free to join. The team’s calendar of events continues in the Glenkens and beyond through the last weeks of summer. On 11 August the Biosphere will be hosting a village walk and pizza cookout in Dalry in partnership with Way of the Wild, a Biosphere Certification Mark business that works to empower people through activity outdoors. Founder Christy Miles is also a Biosphere Guide and will be leading a walk around Dalry, with a bit of opportunistic foraging along the way. Ingredients for the pizza cookout will be supplied by the Glenkens Food Hub, the hyper-local online shop which connects residents with high quality, sustainable produce. This free event promises to be a wonderful taster (literally) for Glenkens Food Month in September; places can be booked via the Biosphere’s Eventbrite page. More information about the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere is available at www.gsabiosphere.org.uk, or contact the team via info@gsabiosphere.org.uk Below left - GSAB boundary map. Below right - GSAB ambassadorial visit to the Watson Art Trail Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 15 The Optimistic Environmentalist Reducing your home energy bills - Part Two S ome easy or low cost tips to lower your household bills are: for washing hands or having a shower eg after gardening. • Use low temperature and shorter cycles where possible for washing clothees. • When buying machines make sure they are energy efficient (eg washing machines, driers, TVs, mobiles). Be aware that energy ratings have changed recently so that an appliance that was rated A+++ may now be rated B or C. • Remember, warm clothes and footwear, shoe inserts, hot-water bottles and wheat bags are great for personal insulation. • Insulate your attic - eg buy Eko roll (made from recycled glass). Guidance says put it between the joists first and then spread it across them to a depth of 270mm. Building Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) assess up to 400mm – this improves heat loss even more but more than this may not be worth the cost. Fitting it yourself will cost a few hundred pounds; if you haven't the money, maybe you could buy a roll occasionally. • Make your own curtains or draft excluders for yourself or as presents. See if you can get cheap material and things to cut up for stuffing from Dalry charity shop or beyond. • Switch to an electricity tariff gives you cheaper power for part of the day, normally overnight. Immersion heater timers should be installed by an electrician but appliances often have timers. Stand-alone timers are cheap to buy just make sure they are appropriate for the machine. Then set the timer to come on during the cheap time overnight. • Install thermostats to all your radiators which turn them off when the room is at the set temperature. • Think about when to have your heating system set. Don't have the heating on when you're out unless you have a heat pump which constantly provides a steady background temperature. Turning your heating down by a degree or two can save you money. Varying your heating and temperature through the week can minimise energy. If you're too hot, turn the heating down rather than just opening the window and letting out the heat you've generated and will pay for. • You could make foil reflectors for behind radiators. These can be effective but only on outside walls. • Get a jacket to enclose your water tank - newer water tanks may only be insulated to 25mm. At least 80mm is recommended but buying up to 100mm will reduce heat loss whilst being cost effective. • Get an outside water heating bag which hangs on a tree and warms the water in the sun. You can use this water • Buy mobiles, computers and other technology which have good battery life. Some allow batteries to be changed or the device to be repaired. Buying technology that has been available for some time, you can get a fairly up-to-date machine as a good deal. Make the most of second-hand machines or equipment as you don't always need an all-singing-all-dancing piece of kit for your needs. • Use kettles for small amounts of heated water. Whilst a kettle uses a lot of power, it's not on for long. If you run a hot tap, the water has to go round the house which can mean that your boiler has to heat much more water than the small amount you wanted. Boil only what you need at the time so it doesn't go cold and need reheating. Denise MacDonald-Kiernan New round of funding for native tree planting T he South of Scotland Tree Planting project has just announced a new round of funding, with £120,000 available over the next 12 months to enable community groups, farmers and landowners to plant around 15,000 landscape trees across the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway. This year the project team are particularly encouraging applications for the planting of riverbank trees in the area. Clumps of trees located alongside rivers and streams can provide much-needed shade for young salmon and other fish that are susceptible to stress and even death in the higher water temperatures that are resulting from climate change. Riparian tree-planting and associated tall grassland vegetation, provides habitat for other wildlife such as Otter, Kingfisher and insects such as Butterflies and Dragonflies. Ungrazed river corridors also provide ideal habitat for pollinating insects such as Honey bees and Bumble bees. Overhanging trees help to stabilise river banks and lessen run-off during periods of heavy rain. This in turn reduces the levels of sediment and pollutants entering the river system. South of Scotland Tree Planting grants are available up to a maximum of £1,000 per applicant to cover material costs. Further information is available by contacting the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership, which is administering the grants for D&G, on 07469 571806 or emailing Jonathan. Barrett@dumgal.gov.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment T he Loch Ken Trust has appointed a seasonal ranger to assist senior ranger, Leanne Pumpr, with patrolling Loch Ken over the peak season. Annabelle Gurney took up her seasonal ranger role at the beginning of July and is already enjoying patrols around Loch Ken. Annabelle says: I grew up living close to Loch Lomond with a watersports mad family and spent a great deal of my summer on the waters of Loch Ken whilst visiting my grandparents, who come from the area. Needless to say my affinity with water runs deep and I love the outdoors. page 16 Loch Ken's new seasonal ranger designer for a high-end knitwear factory in the Scottish Borders for four years. I was responsible for the maintenance and operation of five industrial knitting machines. I made sure production ran smoothly, cleaned the machines regularly and replaced parts when needed. I learned the art of multitasking very well during that time! However, after a bit of reflection and soul searching during lockdown, I decided to take the plunge and go back to education in order to pursue a career in conservation. With that decision my partner, Dan, and I moved to Dumfries & Galloway just under a year ago. I began working towards a BSc in Wildlife and Conservation Management at the SRUC, Barony Campus last September. I have just completed my first year and loved every moment of it, fully embracing the nature nerd within me. If you are interested in the work of the Loch Ken Trust and would like to get involved please get in touch lktoffice@ protonmail.com I also regularly volunteer at the WWT Nature Reserve at Caerlaverock, where I assist with practical conservation tasks and an added bonus I get to build on my basic bird knowledge. If I’m out for a walk, bike ride or in the garden I like to make a conscious effort to slow down and appreciate nature. I am always taking photographs, asking questions and making notes. The goal of my outdoor explorations is to come back home with more questions than when I left with. My background is in knitwear design. I studied textile design at the University of Dundee and then worked as a technical We are very pleased to welcome Annabelle to the team. Leanne and Annabelle will be out and about making sure that Loch Ken is well looked after. We are grateful to the funders; Blackcraig Windfarm Community Fund and Drax, owners of the Galloway Hydro Scheme, for supporting our Ranger Service. Above and left are Annabelle hard at work, and above she is pictured out on Loch Ken with senior ranger, Leanne Pumpr Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 17 Dalry's Local Place Plan proposal L ocal Place Plans are community-led proposals for the development and use of land. These plans will set out a community’s aspirations for its future development and are a new opportunity for communities to be considered in planning decisions. They offer the opportunity for a communityled, collaborative approach to creating great local places. Local Place Plans can support community aspirations on the big challenges for a future Scotland, such as responding to global climate change and tackling inequalities. Once completed and registered with the planning authority, Place Plans are to be taken into account in the preparation of the wider D&G local development plan, which informs planning decisions in D&G. While planning decisions are currently made on a case-by-case basis, the Development Plan has already created the underlying presumption for these decisions, so it is crucial that communities get their visions embedded at that stage. A Local Place Plan for Dalry will incorporate and complement the Glenkens and District Community Action Plan. To any communities of the Glenkens who are considering creating a Local Place Plan, it is worth keeping in mind that in its role as a local anchor organisation, GCAT has a standing offer to all community councils to support them to create Local Place Plans by linking to the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan wherever possible. Local Place Plans are more than just a plan: want to be like in the future and help to develop a positive local identity. • They can support community aspirations. • They are an opportunity for real, community-based influence. You are invited... Look out for Dalry Community Council team at upcoming local events including the Alternative Games, in New Galloway on 6 August, with information and Place Planning activities. Join us on Wednesday 30 August at Dalry Town Hall for ‘Heart of Dalry’, where we will explore what we want to include in a Place Plan for Dalry. Two drop-in sessions are available: 2-4pm or 6-8pm. Nibbles and tipples provided - look forward to seeing you there! Dalry Community Council • They can help places define what they Land Use Vision for the Glenkens T he Glenkens & District Community Action Plan Steering Group has adopted the final version of the Vision for Land Use in the Glenkens as an official addendum to the CAP, in recognition of the importance of the issue to our area and the rigorous community engagement process that led to the final vision. This was sparked by the Social Enterprise Academy's 'Community Learning Programme' about the Regional Land Use Partnership, where the Glenkens was selected as one of five areas nationally to focus on. Their online consultation finished with an in-person stakeholder event attended by national and regional agencies, Scottish Government representatives and local stakeholders, and a working group from the community then created this final vision from the feedback at this and other events. need a sound evidence base to do so. The final version can be found on the Glenkens Hub and is available for use by any local or regional groups that want to move the vision forward and John Paterson, Chair of the CAP SG, said, "It's really important that the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan is a Morag Paterson from Dalry Community Council said, "I’m over the moon that the Land Use vision has been adopted into the CAP. Communities can refer to this Vision in several practical ways - whether engaging with proposals for developments such as forestry proposals and wind farms, writing their Place Plans, developing ambitious projects or making funding applications. If the vision paves the way for an inclusive Glenkens Land Use Forum, all the better” living document, responsive to the ongoing concerns of the Glenkens communities, and so I am delighted that this vision is forming the first addendum to it, based on the rigorous community engagement that went into it. I hope the communities find it useful in pursuit of the CAP vision of the Glenkens and district as a connected, resilient and carbon neutral place, where people will want to live, to work, to bring up their families, and to grow old." Thomas Fisher, director of Community Development Lens, has already referenced the Glenkens vision in a report about land use for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, illustrating the importance of this document. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 18 Fantastic Forest Festival 2023 E arlier this year Galloway Glens Scheme, working in partnership with artists in residence Leeming + Paterson, co-curated the inaugural Fantastic Forest Festival. Through the work of a range of amazing partners and volunteers fuelled with enthusiasm and passion (and sometimes cake!), the festival sought to inspire and connect the community with nature and the local landscape whilst exploring an alternative approach to community consultation. With this in mind, the team designed a series of 15 online and in-person events including walks, workshops, talks, competitions, exhibitions, playful enthusiastically pulled naturally regenerating Sitka spruce from peat bogs in an attempt to win first prize in the Spruce Plucking World Championships, whilst the younger generation held competitions to design a tree and forest for their futures. Others loved learning about citizen science and how we can all get closer to nature and in doing so contribute to real learning and scientific research. Yet more preferred and the words gathered together to form a 'word cloud', to help understand how people felt. Ted took these responses and produced a picture essay entitled 'If you go down to the woods today', exploring some of the issues raised. "We were overwhelmed by the passion and wisdom revealed when you scratch the It is hoped that the festival will a regular calendar event surface and allow quiet voices to be heard become in future years, continuing to give the community the chance to in environments within which they feel better connect with their wooded areas and to better understand comfortable." the great outdoors more generally. activism, adverts, editorial and postcards, to engage people in a variety of ways and encourage as many conversations and interactions as possible. The events were advertised locally using a variety of media to encourage accessibility to a broad audience. Event co-ordinator, McNabb Laurie from the Galloway Glens Scheme, noted: “The events were intentionally varied to try and encourage as many people in the community to get involved. Some the talks and debates whilst others again simply immersed themselves on artists walks - there was a lot on offer!" Artist Ted Leeming said: "It was inspiring to hear the varied voices of the community. We were overwhelmed by the passion and wisdom revealed when you scratch the surface and allow quiet voices to be heard in environments within which they feel comfortable. “Over the period of a month we reached over 6,500 people and engaged with a varied and diverse audience from both the local area, the wider region, and with some of the online events we had a truly global reach. We received over 500 responses to various questions posed about various forest, woodland and other treescape themes relevant to our local area.” One question that the community was invited to anonymously answer throughout the festival was “What three words describe forestry in Galloway today?” Over 70 responses were received It is, after all, one of the truly special things about the Glenkens to be cherished and nurtured for everyone. The Fantastic Forest Team Top - word cloud for "What three words describe forestry in Galloway today?" Above - enthusiastic particupation in the Spruce Plucking World Championships Left - an image from Ted Leeming's picture essay, 'If you go down to the woods today' Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 19 Glenkens youth graffiti project T programme, and we're very proud of them all. This talented group, aged 11 and 12, are part of the Art Ambassadors programme at CatStrand Young Creatives. Alongside the wider group, they volunteer their time and skills to feed into and contribute to the Young Creatives' All the Art Ambassadors have also been recognised for their invaluable contributions through Saltire Awards, a prestigious award given to young people who dedicate their time to volunteering. The awards not only acknowledge their efforts but also serve as he Glenkens community is set to benefit from the creativity and efforts of some young New Galloway residents, Elizabeth, Sanna and Ellie, who have successfully secured funding to run a series of graffiti art workshops with an end of project art exhibition. Thanks to this funding from Youth Scotland, Step into the Arts, the Art Ambassadors are now preparing to plan and host a graffiti art workshop for other young people in the Glenkens. They hope to inspire and encourage budding artists to express themselves through this vibrant and expressive art form. The workshops will serve as a platform for participants to unleash their creativity and gain practical experience in graffiti art techniques. Sanna Gilbert, one of the successful applicants, beside some of the art that inspired the application a testament to their passion and commitment. Great work everyone! Keep an eye out on our website or social media for details about the workshop when the dates are confirmed. www.csyoungcreatives.com Cat Campbell, CatStrand Young Creatives Project Lead GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 20 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. Robin is author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War. R ussia’s war against Ukraine was launched in 2014. Last year it ramped up into a full-scale invasion. It’s occupied our TV and print media periodically since then, but to really understand the situation, internet news updates and even newspaper articles are not enough. We need books to get to grips with the historical and cultural context as well as the human reality of the conflict. So here I’ll mention a few, both fiction and non-fiction. Bloodlands, by historian Timothy Snyder, is probably a book that everyone should read, though it isn’t pleasant reading. The lands of the title are those between Germany and Russia – including Ukraine – in which, between 1933 and 1945, 14 million people were murdered, and not in battle. The victims were Jews, Poles, Soviet POWs and various others designated enemies by virtue of their race, class or national identity and killed by shooting, gassing or starvation. The figure includes four million Ukrainian peasants deliberately starved to death in the Holodomor. The perpetrators of these genocides were either Russian Communists or German Nazis, their systems claiming different ideologies but agreeing on the central notion that humans are either resources to be exploited or threats to be eliminated by the absolutist state. The Road to Unfreedom by the same author looks at more contemporary threats to democracy and human life, linking the rise of Putin to the rise of ‘populists’ in the West, focusing on Russia’s 2014 occupation of Crimea but touching too on Brexit and the Trump phenomenon. Next, Jonathan Littell’s WW2 novel The Kindly Ones won the Prix Goncourt and sold hundreds of thousands of copies in France. In the UK it was hardly noticed, which is a shame because it is surely one of the greatest novels of our century. It covers the Holocaust in Ukraine, the German occupation of the Caucasus, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the fall of Hitler’s Berlin. These horrors are seen through the eyes of an SS officer – a highly educated, sensitive, murderous man, both evil and banal, who finally goes mad amidst the apocalypse he’s 唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀Ⰰ 䰀漀漀猀攀 䌀漀瘀攀爀猀Ⰰ 䘀愀戀爀椀挀猀Ⰰ 䌀甀猀栀椀漀渀猀 刀攀昀椀氀氀攀搀 䘀爀攀攀 䔀猀琀椀洀愀琀攀猀 吀栀攀 圀漀爀欀猀栀漀瀀Ⰰ 䴀漀渀礀戀甀椀攀Ⰰ 䌀漀爀猀漀挀欀⸀ 䐀䜀㜀 ㌀䐀夀 眀眀眀⸀䠀愀爀爀椀猀ⴀ唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀⸀挀漀⸀甀欀 ㄀㘀㐀㐀 㐀㐀 㔀㈀㤀 helped unleash. Though it’s a work of fiction, it’s as painful and as powerful to read, and as much a reflection of dark reality, as Bloodlands. Of the non-fiction books about contemporary Russia, I have found Peter Pomerantsev’s Nothing is True and Everything is Possible and Masha Gessen’s The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin particularly useful. But Ukrainians, having lived for so long under the shadow of Russian imperialism, culturally as much as militarily, are eager that we focus on their own rich literary tradition. If you already have some ‘Russian’ classics, it may be easy to start a Ukrainian collection, because both Gogol and the very great Chekhov were in fact Ukrainians. For more modern writing, I recommend Andrei Kurkov’s Death and the Penguin, a tragic-comic satire of mafiaridden post-Soviet Kyiv. And two novels by Serhiy Zhadan – Mesopotamia, a portrait of hard-bitten Kharkiv, and The Orphanage, a war story set post2014 – bring us up to date. GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 21 What it means to be a writer " You’re not a real writer" that little voice in my head says - imposter syndrome it’s called. When I first came to the Glenkens, back in 2007, I was amused by the almost standard second question, "what else do you do?" B it of this, bit of that. 'Gardening’ was the straw I most often clutched for, but writer? Never! Then, one Guy Fawkes day, at the ripe old age of 61, I awoke with a fully formed piece of fiction, a short story, in my head. I wrote it down; and so the journey began. Obviously, I had written before, articles, reports and even the odd computer manual, but fiction?! My late wife Betty encouraged and I sought out others in a writers’ café, a writers’ group and online. I soon came to realise that most of the people I met were ‘well read’ (they read a lot of stuff by people now long dead) and they were educated and had been busy writing, reading, critiquing and exchanging views with others for many years. Not to mention the fact that they could quote other writers. I like to write and perhaps my writing is quite different simply because I read little of what others write; I ‘plough my own furrow’ or ‘march to the sound of a different drum’ if you like metaphors. Here was I - a bluffer, left school at fifteen, never heard of the writers they spoke of, didn’t read much (still don’t) and yet I was moved to write. I write, therefore I am a writer. If you feel like it, have a go… you might enjoy it. Paul Goodwin Young Tom... I n the village where I grew up lives a man called Young Tom. There was also an Old Tom (no relation) but more of him later. Young Tom moved to the village with his mother at about the time that he started school. How old is he now? Well somewhere between his first shave and his first grey hair. He is a little different. He doesn’t have command of words so he cannot tell his tale and I will have to do that for him. When Young Tom began school, he had a mood board with some important pictures of the words he would need and could point to. The words were written underneath; YES, NO, HAPPY, SAD, HURT, HUNGRY, etc. You get the idea; it is how he communicated with the world. Over the years he managed to say several of these words and seemed to understand their meaning. His mother dissuaded others from trying to talk to him as it only made him distressed but they waved. He would wave back and sometimes say ‘HAPPY’. he would hand it to whoever was nearby when he finished a piece. Now don’t misunderstand – Young Tom was not someone in need of much looking after. His mother taught him to cook and he would sometimes earn a little money from cutting lawns and hedges or cleaning people’s cars. One day, when Young Tom was a young teenager, he came and sat beside Old Tom who merely glanced up and carried on whittling. Old Tom took out a paper bag of boiled sweets, took one himself and left the open bag between them without a word or gesture. Young Tom took a sweet and so a relationship began. In time Old Tom would let the youngster try his hand with the penknife and his skill developed. Old Tom had lived alone for as long as anyone could remember and often sat on his ‘sitting out bench’ in front of his house if the weather was fine. People would often come and sit with him for a chat and he, all the while, would whittle a piece of wood with his penknife. Sometimes making a small animal, aeroplane or car and Years later, Old Tom (as comes to all of us) began to fail and it was clear he did not have long. He gave instructions to friends. "When I have gone, find Young Tom and just say OLD TOM to him and nothing else". And so it happened, the youngster went to where the old gent lay at rest, laid a hand on him and simply said ‘SAD’. The young man took Gordon McAdam Plumbing & Heating 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry 01644 430 393 07834 321 789 David Tallontire CHIMNEY SWEEP Covering the Glenkens & further afield 07709 144 299 - wood burners - multi-fuel stoves - open fires - Agas - Rayburns - birds nest removal with CCTV inspection - certificates issued - feel free to call for advice - Find me on Facebook It amuses me to write. And I like to tell tales of people with different lives. A fiction piece by Paul Goodwin... the penknife which had been placed in Old Tom’s hand and placed it in his pocket. Returning home, Young Tom took pencil and paper and handed it to his mother saying simply ‘OLD TOM’. Taking the paper, Young Tom studied it and went to the sitting out bench to begin whittling. After several hours he had finished a beautifully carved piece with the words OLD TOM carved and pierced through. Unlike his other pieces which he gave away, this one he took home. It can now be found laid on the grave of Old Tom. The sitting out bench? Well that too gained a sign ‘Dedicated to Old Tom who donated this space for the benefit of the community. Young Tom can often be seen there, carving his animals, flowers and other things. If you live in the village, one day you may find a carving on your doorstep. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 22 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 23 Galloway Retold is one year old I t’s been a whole year since I started Galloway Retold, a series of short YouTube videos about people and places in Galloway history. And what a year it's been! We've covered everything from Kenmure Castle to James Clerk Maxwell, and along the way there have been plenty of stops for stories of Galloway women, Galloway folklore, Robert the Bruce and much more. There are currently 58 videos (none more than five minutes long) , but I’m still trying to add one a week, so expect more by the time this issue of the Gazette is printed! It’s been quite an education, and quite a lot of fun too. I want to thank everyone in our community for the support and encouragement I’ve been shown over the last year – you’ve all been great. If you want to know as soon as a new video is published, please do subscribe. You can find a link to the Galloway Retold YouTube channel on the Glenkens Hub website at https://glenkens.scot/history-andheritage and scroll down the page, to the section titled 'watch'. I also have a wee Facebook group where I post the videos and other things too – please consider joining us. It’s not just my stuff - any Galloway pictures, stories, poems and videos are most welcome! You’ll find the group on Facebook under the group name Bonnie Galloway. Here’s to another year of Galloway Retold to come! Angela Miller Glenkens music past and present P lans are taking shape for a memorable weekend celebration of Glenkens musicmaking, past and present. The celebration kicks off on Friday 6 October when Jo Miller and friends stage a CatStrand concert based on their recently launched album, 'A’ the way to Galloway'. The programme will include local favourites such as Robbie Murray’s ‘Toon o Dalry’ and Logan Paterson’s ‘Buchts o Knockreoch’, along with more recent compositions. Jo (song and fiddle) will be joined by Amy Geddes (fiddle and viola), Wigtownshire singer Robyn Stapleton, Steve Sutcliffe (concertinas) and Neil Sutcliffe (piano, accordion and concertina). The celebrations continue on Saturday 7, starting with the 2023 conference of the Glenkens Story history group, Music Making in the Glenkens: Past, Present and Future. Speakers include Anna Campbell, who will draw on material in the archives of the Carsphairn Heritage Group to share fascinating stories of musical families in the area. A national perspective is contributed by ethnologist Christopher Wright, with a discussion of the coverage of Galloway music in the School of Scottish Studies Archive's Tobar an Dualchais (well of heritage)/ Kist of Riches collections. Dr Jo Miller will open the event by giving an overview of the history of music-making in the Glenkens, drawing on her own ethnographic research into local musical traditions over several decades. Talks will be generously illustrated by live performance and audio-visual material from the archives. The conference concludes with a discussion chaired by historian and singer Dr Lizanne Henderson, on how best to safeguard Galloway’s musical heritage as a resource for the present and the future. After the conference, the CatStrand will welcome young children and their families for a Wee Hoolie, a special hourand-a-bit of musical fun led by Amy Geddes and Neil Sutcliffe. Expect games, singing, dancing and stories! On Saturday evening, the action switches to Dalry Town Hall where Brian Edgar will compere a celebration of today’s music makers in the Glenkens: 'Gaither roon folks an this story I’ll tell'. The programme of local singers and instrumentalists for this community concert is still being put together but already includes CatStrand Singers, Weirdy Women and a performance by Wendy Stewart of a new version of her outstanding composition commissioned to celebrate the recent bicentenary of the Ken Bridge. Full details and tickets can be found in the CatStrand programme or at www.gcat.scot/ arts or call 01644 420 374. Pictured, left to right, are Neil Sutcliffe, Amy Geddes, Jo Miller, Robyn Stapleton and Steve Sutcliffe Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory Searching for Sarah I n early 2022, Grave Encounters - a volunteer research project run by Can You Dig It, the Galloway Glens community archaeology group - revealed fascinating histories behind gravestone names in Kells kirkyard. inherited a vast fortune, to which Tottenham had free unrestricted access, thanks to the jus mariti law. Sarah and Sophia Bateson were servants in a family who survived bankruptcy in England to become a wealthy Galloway household. On 6 January 1869, Sophia died at 86 from influenza at Glenlochar, leaving £222 11s 6d (around £30k today). Niece Sarah was named next of kin, and probably she and her brother John inherited Sophia's money. The inscription on the memorial stone at Kells churchyard reads: 'Erected to the memory of Sophia BATESON a native of Yorkshire who died at Glenlochar House in this county 6th June 1869 aged 86 years, and is interred in Cross-Michael Churchyard. Also of Sarah BATESON niece of the above who died at Cairn Edward in this Parish 21st March 1895 aged 79 years. Two faithfull and beloved servants from youth till death in the family of Tottenham LEE, Esq., of Saint John's Wakefield for many years resident in this county.' Sarah Bateson (1816?-1895) and her aunt, Sophia Bateson (1783?-1869), were born and grew up in County Durham. Both joined the household of Tottenham Lee, working in service until death. Little documentation of their lives survives, apart from official recordings of birth, marriage, death and wills, and a few fragments that can be gleaned from these. Sophia remained a shadowy figure, but with Sarah, one document revealed surprises, and brought her suddenly to life. Life with the Lees Born in 1794, Tottenham Lee was a lawyer, investor and businessman from a wealthy family. His father John Lee was a philanthropist, industrialist, lawyer and entrepreneur, and funded Britain's first public railway. In 1841 Tottenham was living with his wife Louisa Egremont, a wealthy heiress, and six children in a fine townhouse in Wakefield, Yorkshire, along with Sophia (then 59), Sarah (then 25) and other servants. Following years of constant borrowing from his fatherin-law, John Egremont, and Egremont's death in 1841, Tottenham went bankrupt. Fortunately for him, Louisa had an annual income of £400 (about £55k today) and also By 1851, Tottenham's household had moved to Glenlee Park in Galloway; perhaps after Tottenham's bankruptcy shenanigans, they sought a fresh start, far from Wakefield. In 1861 they were living at Overton, near New Galloway, later moving again to Glenlochar Lodge, near Crossmichael. In 1871 Sarah was still at Glenlochar, but by 1881, whilst the Lees were listed there, Sarah was now living at Burnfoot Cottage on the Kenmure estate, listed as "head" of household, unmarried and "housekeeper". Tottenham Lee's daughter Jane Crane was now married to John Maitland - son of the Rev James Maitland of Kells and Louisa Bellamy Gordon (niece of Adam Gordon, 8th Viscount of Kenmure), thus heir to Kenmure. Sarah was now 65, so perhaps the cottage was provided for her retirement by the Lees/ Maitlands. Tottenham Lee died in 1888 aged 95, outliving his wife and five of his six children (Jane Maitland lived until 1928). By 1891 Sarah Bateson was living again with the family - this time as "annuitant" (pensioner), with Jane and her husband at Cairn Edward. Curiously, in her will in 1891, Sarah also refers to "Catherine Keir, Sick Nurse... presently residing with me at Crossmichael Village". Did she move there temporarily, due to ill health? On 21 March 1895, aged 79, Sarah died at Cairn Edward, of "senile decay". Sarah's family Sarah's grandparents were Thomas Bateson, a wool weaver, and Sarah Huckans/ Huggins. Their children were John Bateson, Sophia Bateson and Thomas Bateson, Sarah's father, an innkeeper, who married Margaret Greenwell in Houghton-le-Spring, Co. Durham on 11 May 1812. Sadly, Sarah's father died in 1819, when Sarah was just three years old and her brother John six years. Sarah's brother John Bateson became a well-respected bookbinder in Durham. He page 24 married Ann Laws in 1838, and they had 7 children (5 girls, 2 sons). Sarah's will: revelations and questions Almost all the information I uncovered about Sarah and Sophia was factual and impersonal. As women servants, virtually nothing was documented of them and their lives. But discovering Sarah's will and testament gave me new family information, and crucially, something of her personality. She - and her passions, feelings and relationships - briefly came alive. Firstly, Sarah left her money - £146 15s 1d (around £19,729 today) - to her nephew (and executor) Thomas Greenwell and three of her five nieces, Sarah Jane, Ann and Frances. Why did she leave out her other two nieces, Margaret and Ellen? family disagreements? Or simply that she thoughtfully perceived the four named beneficiaries as more needy? Thomas, for example, had a large family to support, while Sarah Jane was working in service. Then Sarah firmly states: "I exclude and debar the jus mariti and all other rights of the husbands of all females taking benefit under these presents". This is such a passionate, clear statement. She evidently wants to make absolutely certain that the inheritance stays with each woman, not going to her husband. What was behind this - discomfort at witnessing employer Tottenham living on his wife's vast inheritance, after failing spectacularly to make his own way? something more personal in her nieces' relationships? or maybe simply that she was a woman of strong principle? Finally, in the will Sarah states her desire "to be buried in Bamborough Churchyard and I direct my Executor to erect a tombstone over my grave at a cost of ten pounds, said stone to include the names of my Father and mother, Thomas Bateson and Margaret Bateson". Sadly, Sarah's wish was almost certainly never carried out, as there's no record of Sarah's burial in the Bamburgh churchyard. And it's unclear whether the Kells stone is a memorial or actual gravestone. I'm left wondering... where does Sarah Bateson lie? Sue Taylor Pictured are the memorial stone in Kells churchyard for Sarah and her aunt Sophia, Glenlochar House and a photograph of Kells Parish Church Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 25 Changes at the Glenkens Community Centre T he Scottish Alternative Games are now 46 years old and still going strong! First held in Parton in 1977, this year will be the 21st time the popular event has been staged in New Galloway. All the usual events will be taking place including the World Gird 'n’ Cleek Championship. Reigning World Champion Elizabeth Spernagel is the youngest champion to date and will be determined to defend her title. As well as the Gird 'n’ Cleek, the Tractor Pull, Tossin’ the Sheaf and Hurlin’ the Curlin’ Stane events are all free to enter on the day and all ages can compete to win the unique ‘medals’ and ultimately of course, someone will go home as a World Champion! The snails are already in training for the Snail Racing and will be lightning quick by August! The Classic Cars will be rolling up to be judged by the crowd, visitors will have the chance to try their hand at the ancient skill of archery with Threave Bowmen, plus a bar, barbecue and the skirl of the bagpipes – what more could you ask for an afternoon’s entertainment. Come along to New Galloway Park on Sunday 6 August at 2pm. Admission at the gate is £6 for adults and £1 for under 16s with all proceeds going to local charities and good causes. Changes at the Glenkens Community Centre T he Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry, will host an event on Saturday 16 September to share with the community all the exciting things that have been happening. The long-awaited results from the Community Centre Consultation from February/ March will be shared at the event. Abi, who runs the local organisation Propagate, is supporting us with the redesign of the garden and she will be sharing three garden design ideas taken from the July Garden Design Session and the accompanying survey. A number of the centre's user groups will share what they have been doing and how their group positively impacts the community. Last September an enthusiastic steering group was formed to look into the feasibility of revitalising the centre, and from this a new Management Committee was formed. There is a variety of groups now using the space including newbies like Citizens Advice, Glenkens Food Hub, Art for All and Yoga for All, as well as old favourites such as the Good Neighbours Club, Dalry Heritage Group and the Clachan Crafters. We look forward to seeing you at the event! Refreshments will be provided and any donations are welcome. If you would like to help out or find out more please contact Sarah McAdam at minimac01644@gmail.com or 07500 861 041. WRIGHTS STORE & POST OFFICE DALRY DALRY DALRY SWEET TREAT SATURDAY DALRY INFORMATION FRESH CREAM CAKES AVAILABLE TO ORDER OPENING HOURS MONDAY – FRIDAY 7.30am – 5.30pm SATURDAY 8.30am – 5pm SUNDAY 8.30am – 3pm LOCAL SUPPLIERS DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY BUTCHERS UPPER DULLARG EGGS MITCHELLS FRUIT & VEG SWEETCAKES BAKERY GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY CREAM O GALLOWAY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES IRVINGS BAKERY SCOTTISH GALLOWAY PASTA GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY POP IN FOR A CHAT AND A BROWSE Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Job Vacancies Glass Recycling Points • Balmaclellan Stores, Balmaclellan • Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road, Crossmichael • Kirkland Street, St John's Town of Dalry • New Galloway, Carson's Knowe Car Park • St David Street, Kirkpatrick Durham page 26 Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot USEFUL NUMBERS: ● Pot-hole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 ● Police, non-emergency: 101 ● Doctor: 01644 420 234 ● NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 ● D&G Council: 030 33 33 3000 Family and friends coming to stay? Short of space? Cosy country cottage available (sleeps 4) Call Fiona on 01644 420 227 www.covenanters-holidaycottagescotland.co.uk ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE Advanced Massage Practitioner (price per issue incl VAT) SMALL: 6cm x 6cm, £50 1/4 PAGE: 9cm w x 13cm h, £108 1/2 PAGE: 18cm w x 13cm h, £200 FULL PAGE: 18cm w x 27cm h, £332 Please get in touch further details including small business/ charity rates and series discounts. Email glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07727 127 997 VAT Reg. No. 334 0905 24 THE STEWARTRY VETERINARY CENTRE CASTLE DOUGLAS SURGERY HOURS GLENKENS MEDICAL PRACTICE DALBEATTIE SURGERY HOURS General Medical & Dispensing Services FOR APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH SURGERIES OR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY The Surgery High Street New Galloway Mon-Fri 2.00-2.30 pm & 5-6 pm Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm Sat 2-2.30 pm Mon, Wed, Fri 3-3.30 pm Tues & Thurs 6-6.30 pm  01556 502263 VETERINARY SURGERY OAKWELL ROAD CASTLE DOUGLAS  FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 01644 420234 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 27 KEY GLENKENS CONTACTS LOCAL DOCTORS’ SURGERY Glenkens Medical Practice - 01644 420 234 COMMUNITY CONTACTS • Balmaclellan: Martin Warnock 07939 261 391 • Carsphairn: Liz Holmes - 07718 358 160 • Corsock: Julie Garton - 07769 647 702 • Kirkpatrick Durham: Heather - 07551 639 629 • Crossmichael: Richard Middleton - 01556 670 691 • Dalry: Graham West - 01644 430 503 • New Galloway: 07741 656 601 • Parton: Tom - 07835821976 FOOD DELIVERIES • Galloway Foodbank - 07730 788 335 • Glenkens Food Hub - www. openfoodnetwork.org.uk/ glenkens-food-hub/shop • Ballards Butchers - 01556 502502 (they also deliver groceries) • Grierson’s Butchers: 01556 502 637 • Henderson’s Butchers: 01556 502 654 • Mitchell’s Greengrocers: 01556 502 077 • Fleet Fish: call 07966 103 912 to find out about Glenkens delivery days • Roan’s Dairy - 01556 620 374 LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Helen Crowther on 0790 467 8599 or drop by the shop on Main Street, Dalry Glenkens Scout Group: Contact Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375 Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING): Contact newgallowaytownhall@gmail.com Dalry Communities Properties Trust (DCPT): Contact Gary Blissett at garyblissett51@gmail. com or 01644 430 521 Dalry Town Hall: Contact Lesley Blissett at lesleyblissett52@gmail.com Glenkens Community Centre: Contact Sarah McAdam on minimac01644@gmail.com Lagwyne Hall: Contact lagwynehallsecretary@ outlook.comfor info, or to book email lagwynehallbooking@gmail.com New Galloway Community Enterprises (NGCE): Contact ngce5000@gmail.com or pop into New Galloway Community Shop Balmaclellan Community Trust: Contact Julia Higgins at julia.higgins55@outlook.com CatStrand: Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or pop in to the CatStrand Schools: Visit the school office or call Dalry Primary on 01644 430 105 (for Nursery/ELC too), Dalry Secondary on 01644 430 259 or Kells on 01644 420 340 Carsphairn Heritage Initiative: Contact Ben Ade at carsphairnhi@gmail.com Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership (GGLP): Contact McNabb Laurie at mcnabb. laurie@dumgal.gov.uk Glenkens Food Hub: Contact Lesley Atkins on lesley@propagate.org.uk or 07587 122 151 Bairn Banter: Contact Melissa on bairnbanter@ outlook.com or 07979 492 791 If you would like to add your community organisation to this list please get in touch with the Gazette - contact details are on the back page. GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH Sunday Services Sundays at 5pm: Holy Communion with Reverend Dawn Matthew. Refreshments available before and after the service. Balmaclellan: 11am, 6 Aug, 3 Sep, 1 Oct Carsphairn: 11am, 13 Aug (communion), 10 Sep, 8 Oct Kells: 11am, 20 Aug, 17 Sep, 15 Oct Dalry: 11am, 27 Aug, 24 Sep For further information contact Rev Pam Bellis on 07751 379 249 or pam@bellisconsultancy.co.uk St Margaret's Church, New Galloway, DG7 3RP Tuesdays at 11am: Informal Midweek Service with refreshments and chat. Wednesdays from 7.30-8pm: Zoom Evening Prayers. Please contact Dawn for the link. All friends and visitors welcome. For further information, please call Dawn Matthew on 01644 420 431 or visit www.stmargaretsnewgalloway.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 28 GAZETTEinformation Glenkens Gazette page 29 GALLOWAY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org email gct@catstrand.com phone 01644 420374 mobile 07841 512449 August 2023 - September 2023 Regular Services GCT EXCURSIONS GK2 Glenkens-Castle Douglas (Tesco) Wednesday Evenings (Registered Route) Saturday 2nd September Out Return 19:00 Dalry (Underhill) 21:15 19:05 New Galloway 21:10 19:15 Mossdale 21:00 19:25 Laurieston 20:50 19:30 Townhead of Greenlaw 20:47 19:37 Castle Douglas (Market St) 20:37 19:40 Castle Douglas (Tesco) 20:35 Booking not required Glenkens to Newton Stewart Fortnightly - Tuesday mornings Outward Pickups: Dalry (Underhill) 09:30 New Galloway (Town Hall) 09:35 CatStrand) 09:37 To Aldi Return Pickup Newton Stewart (Aldi Car Park) 11:30 Return fare £3.50 Advance booking required. Member Hire The Castle Gardens Drumlanrigg Castle Garden With 40 acres of historic gardens to explore, these gardens are both inspiring and relaxing. A stroll through the formal gardens includes mixed shrub and herbaceous borders, a double border of contrasting colours, whilst the 183 meter long Terrace Walk with its tender climbing plants. A restored Victorian Glasshouse, Heather Houses, Rock Garden and much more will keep you interested. Cafe & Shop available. Partially wheelchair accessible. Entry to garden: £8:00 (£7:00 for seniors) Bus Fare: £10:00 Saturday 30th September The Botanic Garden Port Logan Walled garden filled with brilliant autumn colour, while striking trees, bamboos and ferns flourish in the woods. This garden contains plants from around the world and benefits from the warming effects of the Gulf Stream. Café and garden centre. Wheelchair accessible. Entry to gardens: £8:00 (£7:00 for seniors) Bus Fare: £12:00 For more info on these trips, please visit our website at: www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org/excursions GCT has 16-, 15-, and 8-seater minibuses and a fully wheelchair accessible electric car available for hire by community organisations. For information about membership and terms and conditions of hire see the GCT website or phone 07841 512449. Glenkens eBike Club Discounted eBike hire available to local residents: £5:00 per day £15:00 per weekend (Fri-Mon) £20:00 per week (Mon-Fri) https://www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org/ebikes email gctjon@catstrand.com Drivers Needed Galloway Community Transport needs your help to provide a wide range of community transport services across the Stewartry and beyond. MINIBUS DRIVING Minibus drivers with D1 (101 or by test) are needed to do volunteer and paid driving for our wide range of member community groups. PATIENT TRANSPORT We also urgently need drivers with their own cars for our patient transport service. Our volunteer patient transport drivers receive a generous mileage reimbursement and the satisfaction of providing a vital service to vulnerable people in our communities. Interested? Email gct@catstrand.com or phone 07841 512449 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 30 WHAT'S ON August/September AUGUST Turn to P32 for Together in the Glenkens Aug/Sep activities... Tue 1, Kids Summer Roadshow; music, sports, crafts, gaming, 1-4pm, New Galloway Park Sat 5, Kids Summer Roadshow; music, sports, crafts, gaming, 1-4pm, Dalry School Sun 6, Scottish Alternative Games, 2-6pm, New Galloway Mon 7, Dalry Community Council Meeting, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Tue 8, D&G Citizens Advice Drop-in, 11am4pm, CatStrand Thu 10, Ken Words: Writers’ Café, 7pm, CatStrand Fri 11, Glenkens Food Hub online shop opens (closes Tue 15, delivery Fri 18), openfoodnetwork.org.uk/glenkens-foodhub/shop Fri 11, Kids Summer Roadshow; music, sports, crafts, gaming, 6-9pm, Crossmichael School Fri 11, Biosphere foraging walk & pizza cookout, see p14 Sat 12, Glenkens Producers' Market, Dalry Town Hall, 10am-1pm Sun 13, 9.30am-4pm, CCW Horse Logging Day, see p11 Mon 14, New Galloway & Kells Community Council Meeting, 7-9pm, New Galloway Town Hall Sat 19, The Bookshop Band visit Bairn Banter, 10am, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Sat 19, The Bookshop Band: High Tea Tunes Special, 3pm, CatStrand Sat 19, Glenkens Agricultural Show, 9am5pm, Dalry Sat 19, Laurieston Flower Show, 2-4pm Sun 20, Arts & Crafts Fair, 11am-3pm, Dalry Town Hall, see p4 Sun 20, The Bookshop Band: Song Writing Workshop, 11am, The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Sun 20, Clachan Folk Session, 5.30pm, Clachan Inn, Dalry Mon 21, Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham Community Council Meeting, 7.30-9pm, Corsock Village Hall Mon 21 Aug-11 Sep, Strictly Get Dancing, Mossdale Village Hall, see p32 Tue 22, D&G Citizens Advice Drop-in, 11am4pm Tue 22, Parton Community Council Meeting, 7-9pm, Parton Village Hall Wed 23, Dumfries Mobile Fish & Chips, 5.15-11.55pm, New Galloway, find them on Facebook Thu 24, Open Stage, 7.30pm, CatStrand Fri 25, Glenkens Food Hub online shop opens (closes Tue 29, delivery Fri 1 Sep), openfoodnetwork.org.uk/glenkens-foodhub/shop Fri 25, Glenkens Book Group, 2-5pm, Dalry Library Sat 26, Corsock Show, 9.30am-5pm Sat 26, Soup Saturday, 1-3pm, Mossdale Village Hall Sat 26, Crossmichael Flower Show, 2-3.30pm Sun 27, Pub Quiz, 7-9pm, Clachan Inn, Dalry Mon 28, Carsphairn Community Council Meeting, 7-9pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Mon 28, Balmaclellan Community Council Meeting, 7.30-9pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Wed 30, Dalry Place Plans drop-in sessions, 2-4pm or 6-8pm, see p17 SEPTEMBER – Glenkens Food Month - Friday 1, Song Share, 8-11pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 2, GCT trip; Drumlanrig Castle Gardens, see p29 Sat 2, Loch Ken Wild Swim, 8.30am-4pm, Galloway Activity Centre, www.lochken. co.uk/events/wild-swim Sun 3, Martin Simpson, 7.30pm, CatStrand Mon 4, Dalry Community Council Meeting, 7-9pm, Dalry Town Hall Tue 5, D&G Citizens Advice Service Drop-in, 11am-4pm, CatStrand Tue 5, Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 2.30-4pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Fri 8, Glenkens Food Hub online shop opens (closes Tue 12, delivery Fri 15), openfoodnetwork.org.uk/glenkens-foodhub/shop Fri 8, Tom Pow & The Galloway Agreement: The Village & The Road, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 9, Glenkens Producers' Market, 10am1pm, Dalry Town Hall Sun 10, Song Workshop with Robyn Stapleton & Jo Miller, 10.30am-4pm, Dalry Town Hall Mon 11, New Galloway & Kells Community Council Meeting, 7-9pm, New Galloway Town Hall Wed 13, Crossmichael Community Council Meeting, 7-9pm Thu 14, Ken Words: Writers’ Café, 7pm, CatStrand Sat 16, Waves Blues Band, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 16, Glenkens Community Centre Open Day, see p25 Sat 16, Carsphairn Community Market; part of Glenkens Food Month, 10am-2pm, Lagwyne Hall, see p25 Sun 17, Pop-up-restaurant by Risto Leino; part of Glenkens Food Month, contact jackie. communityinclusion.LING@gmail.com 07749 249 781 Sun 17, Bottling It: A Busker Production, 3-5pm, CatStrand Mon 18, Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham Community Council Meeting, 7.30-9pm, Corsock Village Hall 18 Sep–9 Oct, Strictly Get Dancing, Parton Village Hall, see p32 Tue 19, D&G Citizens Advice Drop-in, 11am4pm, CatStrand Wed 20, Balmaghie Community Council Meeting, 7-9pm, Balmaghie Public Hall, Laurieston Thu 21, Kate Young: Umbelliferæ, 7.30pm, CatStrand Fri 22, George Egg: Set Menu, 7.30pm, CatStrand Fri 22, Glenkens Food Hub online shop opens (closes Tue 26, delivery Fri 29), openfoodnetwork.org.uk/glenkens-foodhub/shop Mon 25, Carsphairn Community Council Meeting, 7-9pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Mon 25, Balmaclellan Community Council Meeting, 7.30-9pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Tue 26, Parton Community Council Meeting, 7-9pm, Parton Village Hall Fri 29, Pot Luck Supper, 7pm, New Galloway Town Hall, contact samantha.rushton@ hotmail.co.uk or 07544 700 566 Fri 29, Glenkens Book Group, 2-3pm, Dalry Library Sat 30, Soup Saturday, Mossdale, 1-3pm, Mossdale Village Hall Sat 30, GCT trip; Port Logan Botanic Garden, see p29 Sat 30, Help I Think I’m A Nationalist! by Seamas Carey, 7.30pm, CatStrand OCTOBER Thu 4, Fundraising Coffee Afternoon, 1-4pm, Dalry Town Hall, see p4 Fri 6, A’ the way to Galloway: Jo Miller and friends, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 7, Music Making in the Glenkens: Past, Present & Future, 10.30am-3.30pm, CatStrand, New Galloway Check out the What's On calendar online at the Glenkens Hub - www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 31 REGULAR EVENTS & OPENING TIMES Balmaclellan Village Hall Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, to book email warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Glenkens Crafters, Wed 10am-12noon, for info contact julia.higgins55@outlook. com Books in Balmaclellan Community Library, Wed 10.30–12.30; Fri 6-7pm; Sat 10.30am-2.30pm (tea & coffee available on Sat). Balmaclellan Blether, 3rd Thu each month, contact warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Yoga, Thu, 6pm, kathyr64@hotmail.co.uk Glenkens Art Workshop, Thu 2-4pm The Men's Shed, Balmaclellan Opening Times: Monday, 9.30am - 12.30pm Wednesday, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Wood Carving, 2-4pm Thursday, Art Group, 2-4pm Friday, 9.30am - 12.30pm Saturday, 9am - 12noon Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Carsphairn Monday Morning Social, 10am-12noon, come along for a blether, or bring a board game/cards, etc. Refreshments available. Call 07710 124 255 or email carsphairn.trust@gmail. com Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu of the month, 7.30pm,Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Craft Group, Fri 10am-12noon, includes tea & coffee, Lagwyne Hall, contact carsphairncraftgroup@gmail.com Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, 0-7 years, Sat 10-11.45am CatStrand, New Galloway Margaret Morris Movement: Health Play (age 5-8), Mon (during term time), 3.45-4.30pm Margaret Morris Movement: Youth Grade (age 8-15), Mon (during term time), 4.30-5.30pm Art Ambassadors (age 11+), Mon biweekly, 4.30-5.30pm Behind the Scenes, bi-weekly, Mondays 5.30–6pm Power Yoga, Tue, 9am, kathyr64@ hotmail.co.uk Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Tue from 4th April, 10am-4pm Weekly Bus Service to Tesco, Wednesday eve 7pm Dramarama, (age 6-10), Wed 4-5pm Up Skills: Musical Theatre, (age 15+), Wed 5-5.30pm Young Writers Cafe, (age 12+), Wed 6-7.30pm, monthly Glenkens Art For All, Tue 10am12.30pm, for all abilities, free, no need to book, materials provided along with tea/coffee and biscuits. Contact Sarah on 07921 357563 Piano Lessons, weekly, term time 4pm – 6.30pm Dance Steps (age 10-18yrs), Sat monthly, 2-5pm Art Explorers, (age under 10yrs), Sat biweekly 10-11am Art Club, (age 11-16yrs), Sat bi-weekly 11.15am-12.30pm Dalry Good Neighbours Club, Tue, 2-4pm, contact Michelle on 07795 613 148 Youth Players Panto rehearsals, (10 yrs plus), weekly, Sun 3– 5.30pm The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Clachan Crafters, Thu 2-4pm, contact Sarah on 07500 861 041 Yoga For All, Fr 9.15-10.15am, contact Amy on 07733 111 466 Friendship Group, Sat (excluding Glenkens Producers Market days), 1011.30am, contact Anne on 01644 430 052 Taste of Music, monthly, 10-11am (under 10yrs) Table Tennis/Badminton, available to hire by arrangement, contact Sarah on 07500 861 041 Mini Music Makers, family session, montly 11.45pm -12.30pm (under 7yrs) Dalry Library Weekly Ukuele, guitar & keyboard lessons, 12.30–4pm (6-16 yrs) Musical Misfits, group singing class, biweekly, 10.30 – 11.30pm New Galloway Town Hall The hall is due to reopen and regular activities will be restarting; for further info email Jackie.communityinclusion. ling@gmail.com call 07749 249 781 or visit the Facebook page @ Local Initiatives in New Galloway Men's Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.30-11am Glenkens Youth Activity Group, ages 11+, Mon 7-8.30pm, Dalry School Gym Hall, contact youthwork.ling@gmail.com or 07719 708 668 LING Lunches, Tue, 12.30-2pm, £6, currently held at Kitty's, opposite NG Town Hall Sports Evening – restarts 5 Sept, indoor bowling & table tennis, Tues 7-9pm, New Galloway Scout Hut, contact Ray on 01644 420 438 Tai Chi, Zumba, Martial Arts, Gentle Yoga – new timetable being created, contact Jackie on above details Glenkens Charity Shop Opening Times: Mon, Tue & Thu - 10am-1pm Wed, Fri & Sat - 10am-4pm Glenkens Community Centre Glenkens Youth Group - resumes 28 August, Mon, 7-8.30pm Main St, Dalry, Tel: 01644 430 234 Tuesday Parent -Toddler Sessions restart end Aug, Tue,10.30-11:30am Glenkens Book Group, last Friday of each month, 2pm, call June to book on 01644 420 361 Library Opening Times: Tue, 2-5pm, for books and other walk-in Fri, 11.30am-12.30pm for NEC Bus Pass and Blue Badge appointments and PCs, and 1-4.30pm for books and other walkin services: Appointments can be booked in the library or on 01387 260 196. Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, video-led instruction, Mon, 2-3pm, contact lesleyblissett52@gmail. com Dog Training, Tue, 7pm, contact Eric Broadhurst on 07831 590 822 Song Share, 1st Friday each month, 8-11pm, contact anne.chaurand@ btinternet.com Various Cosy Corner, Tue, 1-5pm, Crossmichael Church Hall, contact Anne on 07889 016 963 Crossmichael Heritage Centre, Wed & Fri, 1.30-4.30pm Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Knockvennie Hall Heat Bank & Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona Ramsay on 01644 430 587 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, contact Gary on 01644 430 521 Check out the What's On calendar online at the Glenkens Hub - www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette Bairn Banter's big toddle A s part of Barnardo's flagship fundraising activity, The Big Toddle, the local Carsphairn children’s group has been reaching out to help children across the UK by raising money for the charity. The children and adults of Bairn Banter have enjoyed dressing up as jungle animals and embarking on a sponsored safari-themed walk through Carsphairn. The group gathered at Lagwyne Hall before beginning a mini safari tour of the village, with a slight detour in search of jungle animals hidden around Carsphairn school playground. The herd of parents and tots also tested their knowledge with a safari-themed mini quiz. Once back on the guided tour, the children finished their sponsored walk at the community garden, with a well-deserved picnic and a medal of achievement. Bairn Banter set up a JustGiving page to help raise WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit events, activities, news stories, cartoons, reviews, tips & techniques, fiction, photos, ads or ideas... Contact Sarah Ade on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk page 32 the set target of £300. Melissa Ade (founder of Bairn Banter) comments: “I am delighted to say that that our little group’s efforts have raised a wonderful £376! We have received a wealth of support and lots of very generous donations to the cause. I want to say a huge thank you to all everyone who donated and supported Bairn Banter to carry out this fundraising event and it is warming to know that the money raised will make a big difference to the lives of children further afield.” Editing & Design: sarah.ade@gmail.com OCT/NOV COPY DEADLINE: 5 SEP The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, a Registered Scottish Charity No SC032050 The role of the Gazette is to represent the voice of the community and does not represent the views of GCAT.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 137 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GG_137 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GCAT Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Description An account of the resource Editor: Sarah Ade https://glenkensarchive.scot/glenkens_archive/files/original/1/283/GlenkensGazette136.pdf 97f7be73e45fc1bb65767df9bd832c0c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 136 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Description An account of the resource <p>Find out more about the Gazette: <a href="https://glenkens.scot/gazette-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenkens Gazette home page</a> If you would like to submit an article or take out an advert, please email the editor Sarah Ade: <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:glenkensgazette@hotmail.com">glenkensgazette@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is a member of, and regulated by <span>&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.impressorg.com/">Impress</a>.</p> <p>The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of Glenkens Community &amp; Arts Trust (SC032050) and represents the voice of the community (not necessarily the views of GCAT).</p> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document June/July 2023 ISSUE 136 World record price for Glenkens Galloway bull A Corsock farming family have set a world record for the price of a Galloway bull. The Finlays, from Blackcraig, Corsock, secured a world record price of 26,000 guineas for Blackcraig Dyker born and bred on their Corsock farm from home-bred stock. According to farmer John Finlay the average price of a good Galloway bull is between 4,000 and10,000 guineas. (A guinea is used in livestock sales and is equivalent to £1.05, or a pound and a shilling). Two years ago the Finlays secured a world record price for a Galloway cow - Blackcraig Fay – who sold for 12,500 guineas. The record prices reflect the growing FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Turn to pages 18-19 for our Glenkens Volunteer Week centre spread! popularity of the Galloway breed as a meat producer and a friend of the environment. Left to right - John, Ann, Iain, Katy and daughter Isla with their recordbreaking bull, Blackcraig Dyker Bairn Banter joins ...page 6 Continued on P6 - why Galloways are great for the land Music world mourns Nicola Black D umfries & Galloway is mourning the sad loss of one of its best loved musicians, Nicola Black, who died suddenly on 25 March. Nicola was well known throughout the region and beyond and was an extremely talented musician, singer, songwriter, teacher and a great supporter of the performing arts in general throughout the country. More than 400 people processed through her home village of Kirkpatrick Durham to attend her funeral service. Hundreds more from across the world watched the service online. Many more tributes to her have flowed in from all over the world since her sudden death and this overwhelming support has been a great comfort to her husband Blackie and the family. A Glenkens Land Use Vision ...see page 7 She was best known in the Glenkens as a performer, workshop leader andaudience member at CatStrand and was also the much loved leader of theCatStrand Singers and host of Open Stage events. Nicola was also a great advocate for spoken and sung Scots language and over the past year she released the albums Squatter o’ Bairnsangs with her band and Singing the Galloway Glens with the CatStrand Singers. ...see P17 A weekend of musical history ...pages 25 & 28 News from the communities of Balmaclellan, Carsphairn, Corsock, Crossmichael, Kirkpatrick Durham, Laurieston, Mossdale, New Galloway, Parton and St John’s Town of Dalry GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 2 Spring fundraising at St Margaret’s T he St Margaret’s Guild is delighted to report on a series of successful fundraising events. A project to help traumatised children in Ukraine has now been completed. Sufficient funds were raised to put together 50 Play Therapy kits which are now on their way to Ukraine. Guild member Sarah Watson, a trained and experienced Play Therapist, explained: “Each kit contains specific items with a therapeutic value, they’re not just toys. They are packed in easily transportable bags with an explanation in Ukrainian as to how to use the kits, and a card with a signed message letting them know that someone is thinking of them and holding them in mind.” The Guild is grateful to all who contributed and helped with this worthwhile project. During March, the Guild once again held several Lent Lunches. Hosts welcomed many friends from the Church of Scotland, as well as the St Margaret’s congregation, for soup and rolls, followed by cheese and biscuits, and coffee or tea. The lunches are enjoyable social occasions but through donations also raise funds for a variety of good causes. This year over £850 was raised for JDRF (Junior Diabetes Research Foundation), Scottish Egg-cellent Easter fun L ocal Glenkens children’s group Bairn Banter, along with Carsphairn Heritage Centre, organised an eggcellent fun-filled weekend of free Easter-themed activities. Children of all ages from across the Glenkens gathered in eager anticipation for an Easter egg hunt in Carsphairn Primary School playground. Once all the eggs had been found, the fun continued with a children’s egg and spoon race followed by a very competitive adults' race! Having built up quite an appetite, the group moved on to Lagwyne Hall for hot cross buns, fruit, teas/coffees and other refreshments provided by Bairn Banter volunteers. Alongside Easter eggs provided by Bairn Banter, South Kyle windfarm also donated chocolate eggs for the children Autism and MOOL: Dumfries & Galloway Refugee Action. Lastly, the St Margaret’s annual Plant & Bake Sale took place on Saturday 29 April. Luckily the weather held for what was a very busy morning with sales of many plants, vegetable seedlings and annuals; two tables laden with delicious home-baking and many folk were able to stay and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and cake. Bumper profits of £602 have now gone to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance. SCAA responds, on average, to two time-critical emergency callouts every day and with no government funding, they rely on fundraising and donations to fuel their lifesaving flights. to enjoy. After the wholesome refuel, families then visited the wonderful and educational exhibition that was displayed at Carsphairn Heritage Centre. Children were able to enjoy egg decorating while learning about some traditional dyeing methods from times gone by; different flowers, beetroot and even onion skins were common ways of making Children decorating Easter eggs at Carsphairn Heritage Centre colourful Easter eggs before the times of modern paints and felt-tip pens! Melissa Ade Dalry Town Hall celebrates funding success D alry Town Hall is pleased to announce success in obtaining two awards for energy improvement. Until recently the hall was held by a historic trust. However, this type of ownership has restrictions, particularly on the level and sources of funding available. About a year ago a public meeting resulted in a vote for a transfer to a charity structure, namely to become a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). As was outlined at the meeting the first aim of the new body under a board of trustees would be to seek improvements in the hall’s use of energy. Following an energy survey by Business Energy Scotland, application was made through Local Energy Scotland for funding to the Scottish Government CARES fund. However, the fund can only provide 80% of the needed cost and so a second application was made to Blackcraig Windfarm Community Fund through Foundation Scotland for the remainder. Importantly, the measures identified sit well in line with the Community Action Plan developed by the Glenkens District Trust - so both funding sources are mutually supportive. The hall is now thrilled to announce that both applications have been successful and will provide an additional heat pump and radiators to enhance the comfort of users, a destratification fan to drive warmed air from the high ceiling back down, photovoltaic panels on the roof and battery storage, and low energy lighting within the hall to further reduce energy usage. The project will be underway over the next year. Hall trustees are very grateful to all funding bodies involved in providing the opportunity to make these improvements possible. J Reid Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 3 Glenkens coronation celebrations C arsphairn Community Council organised a Coronation Garden Party for Carsphairn residents. A delicious buffet, tea, coffee and soft drinks from Carsphairn Tea Rooms kept everybody fueled up and we all enjoyed being entertained by the Kilmarnock Concert Brass. N Everyone had a great time, especially the children. The weather, in spite of a dubious forecast, turned out very well with lots of sunshine that was enjoyed by everyone. ew Galloway held a picnic in the park to celebrate the King's coronation. The event was a great success with over 30 volunteers helping out - a true community event; thank you to all who helped make this such a great day. The weather was kind to us; all week we watched the Met Office and thankfully this time around it was wrong! We had wonderful cake and pasties, which went down a storm. Then there was our cake competition - we had some great entries. The skill our bakers and decorators have is quite incredible, it must have been a difficult decision for the judges. P arton Village Hall organised a picnic and games to celebrate the coronation of Charles III. During the event we took the opportunity to capture a community photograph and for a bit of fun many people took the opportunity to dress up taking inspiration from some photographs of the village from the coronation of Edward VII in 1902. Of course, we mustn't forget the generous donation of cakes from the Dalry Coronation Screening event - we sold the cakes to raise funds for a Ukrainian charity. The pet show was well received; I did note there were no ducks this year! Then there was the raffle, with great prizes and even better callers. Special thanks go to Reverend Dawn Matthew and the volunteers of St Margaret's who provided tea, coffee and face painting too. We also had representation from Propagate and the Biosphere team helping to make the day great. Thanks everyone Jackie Wells D alry Community Council put on a free event celebrating King Charles' Coronation and bringing residents together to watch history in the making. Dalry Town Hall was the venue, displaying the live screening with their amazing surround sound. Every seat was taken with free tea, coffee and cake being enjoyed. Lots of red, white and blue outfits were worn, matching the wonderful bunting around the hall with thanks to the kids from Kells and Dalry primary. One resident said: "It was so lovely on Saturday in the town hall. What a lovely thing to do." We shared the weekend celebrations with New Galloway, sharing posters, cakes and the primary schools bunting! Our thanks go to all those who volunteered their time with special thanks to the Dalry Community Cafe team - Vicki, Fiona and Linda who did their magic running the kitchen. GAZETTEnews Glenkens Gazette page 4 One door closes, another opens... V ery sadly and after seven years of excellent work, Glenkens Community & Arts Trust’s ‘Connecting in Communities’ (CiC) project has come to an end. We remain most grateful to the National Lottery Communities Fund, the People’s Postcode Trust, the Galloway Glens and the Glenkens and District Community Fund, administered by Foundation Scotland, for their support of this project over the years – it has made a big difference to many people’s lives. I hope Brian, Chris, Fiona, Lisa and Jo are very proud of what they achieved through it – not least of course the Glenkens Men’s Shed, which continues to thrive. The good news is that we can continue to offer some activities in the community through our new ‘Together in the Glenkens’ project, funded by the Scottish Government through Third Sector Dumfries & Galloway to support health and wellbeing in the area. Jo from the CiC team was successful in the open application process for overseeing this, and so you will see more of her big plans for this year-long project shortly. Our other CiC members, however, have left for pastures new. After a very busy 11 months with us, including supporting the Ken Bridge 200 celebrations and Glenkens Food Month 2022, Project Lead Lisa Ridley has published her final report into Community Engagement in the Glenkens and has now started a great new job at Mossburn Community Farm. Fiona Limbrey left as well in April for an excellent role as an FLS Ranger, and we wish them both the very best and hope to see them out and about around the Glenkens still perhaps participating in some of our Together in the Glenkens activities! Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager Glenkens Cub Scouts T he bowling club has been sharing our hall while New Galloway Town Hall is being renovated. Rory suggested the Cubs might like to give bowling a try, so Rory and Davy kindly came along to show them what to do. What a fun time the youngsters had - the Cubs thoroughly enjoyed the game. Thank you both! We had two very special visitors recently, pet lambs brought in by Elliot and Cole. Elliot's lamb was two weeks old and Cole's lamb was 10 days old. They were well behaved and so adorable. The Cubs were challenged to creating an Easter egg theme. My goodness what thought and presentation went into the competition. We were blown away with all the creations. Some of the themes were an underwater scene with dolphins, and octopus and sharks; Captain America; bird house, Pokemon; eggstreme sports; Minions and a farm scene, to name just a few. Well done Cubs! On 3 May we had a celebration banquet for King Charles III and Queen Camilla's coronation. The Cubs invited their parents and our district president, Drew Low. A special Scouting coronation badge was presented to each Cub. To raise funds for the group, the Cubs are planning a table-top sale at the Alternative Games in August. If you have any brica-brac, toys, games, jigsaws, unwanted gifts, baking, jams, tablet, etc please hand them in to Heather or bring them to the Scout Hall between 6.15 and 7.30pm on a Wednesday evening (until the end of June). Heather and Hannah, Cub Scout Leaders Top - a packed table at the coronation banquet. Elliot (left) and Cole (right) proudly show their lambs to the rest of the group Jo Jackson, formerly of CiC, now overseeing the Together in the Glenkens project Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews G lenkens & District Trust, working in partnership with Foundation Scotland, is delighted to announce a further seven awards in its spring round, with a total sum of £158,966 awarded. Every funding round has its own flavour, and in this one we saw strong representation of two of the key priorities from the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan, an Asset Rich Community and an Economically Flourishing Community. Balmaclellan, Dalry and Kirkpatrick Durham communities all received awards to support improvements in their facilities which will in turn also help make these spaces more sustainable, either through energy efficiency measures or by improving the facilities on offer, helping the halls attract users and income to maintain these key community assets. The GDT Trustees were delighted to see all of the applicants making positive reference to participation in the Glenkens Community Spaces Network and expressing a desire to share knowledge and expertise to support this work. This approach is encouraged: our community benefits from groups working page 5 Spring round funding awards constructively together. If you are involved in your hall then you can contact the Glenkens Community Spaces Network coordinator on becca.glenkens.anf@gmail. com The other strong theme coming forward in this round related to enterprising community organisations, notably significant awards to some of our well-known local social enterprises as well as several awards supporting the maintenance of local jobs and job opportunities, meaning more than ten paid roles will be supported by Trust funding in this round. New Galloway Community Shop received £30,000 over three years to retain local employment opportunities and support the sustainability of the shop; and the Glenkens Food Hub, run by Propagate Community Interest Company received £23,975 to support the continued delivery of the popular local food hub in the Glenkens area while the service redevelops its business model and expands its area of operation to increase access to the Hub, participating producers and its overall sustainability. Other supported projects involving paid roles included £22,333 awarded to Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) Ltd to enable young people’s activities for the next two years. GDT had previously funded this popular and successful initiative through Local Initiatives in New Galloway, which worked closely with GCAT who run a complementary programme called Young Creatives. Based on this experience, LING and GCAT agreed that GCAT would now take over both strands of youth work going forward. The provision of youth activity was highlighted in the Community Action Plan as a priority and this latest award helps GCAT build on the good work done to date. The Loch Ken Ranger Service has gone from strength to strength and become recognised as a valuable service across the area. GDT provided some initial funding two years ago which enabled the Loch Ken Trust to test this service. GDT has now made its most significant award to date - £60,000 over three years to the Loch Ken Trust for the ranger service, which will provide stability and certainty of funding provision for this key local initiative. Finally, the Education and Training Fund is proving to be a helpful source of support for local residents - it was set up in autumn last year to provide bursaries supporting local people to access education and training opportunities, and which was felt by trustees to be particularly relevant during the ongoing cost of living crisis. Since August seventeen individuals have accessed grants amounting to just over £21,000. A further allocation of £20,000 has been made to this Fund in order to make this support available to people on an ongoing basis. Congratulations to all the successful applicants. For more information on the fund visit www.glenkenstrust.org.uk Fiona Smith, Chair, GDT Considering the future of Parton Kirk P arton Community Council has commissioned two reports looking at options for the future of Parton Kirk and considerations for creating a centre celebrating the links of the village and kirk to the scientist James Clerk Maxwell. One report looks at the context for the centre within the local area whilst the other looks at the potential financial viability of the centre. Both reports are available to read on the Glenkens hub at: https://glenkens.scot/reportsresources-archive/parton-kirk-reports We hope that these are useful for the community to understand the opportunities and challenges for the kirk and would welcome feedback. Tom Marshall Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 6 World records for Corsock cattle Continued from front page... John Finlay explains what makes the family farm at Blackcraig special. "My grandfather started our Galloway herd at Blackcraig, 80 or 90 years ago. Around 10 years ago we bought the neighbouring Corse Farm, where my son Iain and his family now live. This allowed us to grow our own silage, and to increase the herd from 30 to 150 cattle. And we run blackface sheep too.” The family also farm Scottish blackface sheep and have enjoyed success in the ring here also with their top price being a tup which sold for £36,000. When asked if he has plans for explanding the farm in the future, John is quick to say that the family are happy with what they've got. "If you get bigger you have to hire someone and its justifying them financially," says John. "Blackface sheep and Galloway cattle are easy care, easy calving and easy lambing, not needing too much staff. It’s just family that works on our farm – my son Iain and I full time, and my wife Ann and my son’s wife Katy sometimes too. Occasionally we’ll hire someone part-time, but most often it’s just us.” Changes in land use across the area, especially in the Glenkens, is something at the forefront of everyone’s minds at the moment. For upland farmers, this issue is of real concern. “I’m not against planting trees, just now all of a sudden we’re getting to the stage where we’re just about overdoing it. Once land is put to trees, you’ll never put it back to farming. We’re getting shorter on food, and it’s a shame taking so much land out of production for food. "We used to have black grouse, but now we’re completely surrounded by trees and we don’t have them anymore. It would be better if we could have it so people plant small parts of their farm, rather than whole blocks of ground. You can plant ground and use it as a shelter belt – we’ve got small parts on Blackcraig. "The 'be all and end all' of it is that, from a financial point of view, you’re a lot better off planning trees than farming it – planting trees as an investment as it’s so grantaided. If you graze breeds like blackface sheep and Galloway cattle, it helps keep things in balance, supports native trees and wildlife, and our peaty ground stores carbon too.” Bairn joins Banter C arsphairn's popular 'stay and play' children's group, Bairn Banter, is stepping out and joining Barnardo's flagship fundraiser,The Big Toddle. The group is hosting a sponsored ‘toddle’ with a safari theme around the village of Carsphairn. "All ages are welcome to join us on this roar-some adventure!" says Bairn Banter organiser, Melissa Ade. She continues: "Our goal is for as many people to come along for this sponsored walk and help raise donations to reach our fundraising target of £300, which would make a huge difference to the children supported through the Barnardo's charity." If you would like to participate get in touch at bairnbanter@ outlook.com or 07979 492 791 for either an individual or a family sponsorship form. The walk will begin at Carsphairn's Lagwyne Hall at 10am on Saturday 17. Children and adults are encouraged to dress up as any animal that they wish. To donate visit Bairn Banter's Just Giving or Facebook pages online. Get ready for the Great Corsock Show P lanning is now underway for the Great Corsock Show on Saturday 26 August. With all of the classic produce and craft categories, open to all, the day also includes a barbecue, a café, tombola, raffle and a range of fun activities for all ages. The full programme and list of categories are available for collection from the porch of the Corsock Hall, from local shops or online at the Corsock Village Hall website (https:// corsockhall.wixsite.com/home). The judge’s challenge this year is to make four cupcakes with the theme ‘seasons’ and the show also includes the return of a couple of categories from previous years. McNabb Laurie, a member of the Show committee added: “The rumours are true: Lemon Curd is back on the Great Corsock Show programme. Come mid-July, I suspect you will struggle to buy lemons anywhere west of Eaglesfield. "From potatoes to needlework, and from scones to homemade alcoholic drinks, we have it all. Do look out for a copy of the leaflet or pick one up from the porch of the village hall when you are next passing through, and we hope to see you in Corsock on the last weekend of August.” GAZETTEenvironment Glenkens Gazette Creating a Land Use Vision for the Glenkens L and use in the Glenkens and district - whether forestry, farming, wind farms, housing or business - has been on many people’s minds for some time now. You may remember our Gazette feature on local land use this time last year. Since then, the speed of change to our landscapes seems to have accelerated at an everincreasing pace, so when the Glenkens were selected as a focus area for the South of Scotland ‘Regional Land Use Partnership’ pilot project, the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust was pleased to help facilitate community discussions around the topic. page 7 It was a great evening with lots of constructive conversations between some of the many people who value our land. Since then a working group has refined the feedback from that evening into a final draft Vision that can be condensed into one vital concept - that everyone who takes value from our land returns it. Huge thanks must go to everyone on the working group who have given up so much of their time and knowledge to get us to this point, particularly Morag Paterson of Communities for Diverse Forestry. We see this Vision in action every day in the Glenkens, Vision and the associated recommendations are intended as the first step to creating a balance in Glenkens land use where all voices are heard, respected and valued. review by the working group, and we will then have a Final Vision that we hope will be adopted as an addendum to the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan. This is the final stage of We would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to have a read through the draft Vision and get in touch with your comments - positive thoughts as well as constructive criticism! ...that everyone who takes value from our land returns value to it. Led by the Social Enterprise Academy, a series of webinar and open online discussion events culminated in a Glenkens event in late January that sought feedback on a draft ‘Vision for Land Use in the Glenkens’ and some associated recommendations for action. whether by well-managed forestry, sustainable farm management or the projects funded by wind farm community benefit payments - but we also see land use changes that affect us all but don’t add value to our local communities. This community review and endorsement for this Vison. Do have a look - you can find it on the Glenkens Hub at www. glenkens.scot/land-use or scan the QR code above - and please feed back any comments to me at helen@catstrand.com by 19 June. I shall collate them for Thanks again to all who have contributed to this process so far, and we hope that the majority of you will see your concerns and views reflected here. I look forward to hearing from you! Helen Keron, GCAT Executive Manager How clean is our water? T he Loch Ken Trust (LKT) has received funding from Inspiring Scotland to commission a water quality study on Loch Ken. The study, which is the first of its kind ever to be carried out on the loch, is being undertaken by Galloway Fisheries Trust. LKT's Barney Fryer said: “Throughout this year we are working on our Baseline Ecosystem Assessment Project, trying to find out the state of the Loch Ken ecosystem right now. This will help us figure out how we can start to restore and enhance our natural environment. It’s fantastic to see people from the community coming out to get involved. We will have loads more events over the year. Keep an eye out for more information on our website at www. lochken.org.uk” A community water sampling event was held at the Ken Bridge. Alyx Rhodes and Emilie Wardhaugh from Galloway Fisheries Trust demonstrated the water sampling process. Community water sampling session held by Galloway Fisheries Trust to demonstrate the water sampling process. They also explained the differences in two samples they had collected from opposite sides of the Loch, and what the aquatic invertebrate communities can tell us about the quality of the water. conditions, from the samples collected it is already clear that there is a difference between the East and West sides" Alyx said: "Invertebrate communities can reflect the quality of water due to the different tolerances to different A full report will be published when the data has been collected and analysed. Please look out for details at www.lochken.org.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 8 The Optimistic Environmentalist Reducing your home energy bills - Part One T his is part of a series of articles giving you ideas on how to reduce your bills. In light of climate change, it concentrates on electricity usage, but some of the quick tips can still be helpful to other users. Whatever you're ideology is though, there is no doubt that using renewable resources will ultimately cut your costs. Think about your home, business or community building and what you do there. Heat loss estimates vary but the figures below are a guide for an uninsulated building. Consider: floors – up to 25% heat loss walls – up to 35% heat loss attics – seals around hatches roof – up to 25% heat loss windows & doors – up to 15% heat loss pipes - what are the above made from ie do they keep heat in, what insulation do they have, etc How to make your electricity system most efficient or cheap, and how can you generate power? How do you make the most of your heat and how do you generate it? These articles start you looking with some ideas about techniques and technology that could help. For an in-depth survey of your building, you can ask the Energy Saving Trust (www.energysavingtrust.org. uk) which advises households, businesses and owners of community buildings. They provide free advice on how to improve the building's insulation, damp reduction, energy consumption and energy generation and how to get grants or loans towards the work. They may ask for photographs or other information from you to improve their advice. They give you a detailed report for you to consider later. Some technology I have mentioned are not part of their remit but give you ideas about the amazing opportunities there are out there. It is not an exhaustive list though. Don't assume you have to change everything all at once. Think about what you do, when and how, so you know what changes will have the biggest impact. Little changes can reduce bills, leaving you time to save up for bigger ones. The articles to follow have sections on 'Tips that can be done easily or cheaply', 'Large or more long-term tips' and 'Generating Income'. The first section, which we'll cover here in Part One, is extremely important - 'Insulation'. Insulation Insulation is the most important thing that you could do for your home or building - there is no point generating heat if it escapes before you can reap the benefits. Thus, take time to think about this from top to bottom of your home or building. The cheapest or easiest insulation ranges from draught excluders put under or around doors, draft excluder strip, heavy curtains with liners for doors and windows and brushes under front and back doors and on letter boxes. Make sure you buy new or second-hand curtains that you can wash, as many are dry-clean only (bad for the environment and bad for your pocket). Quick, cheap or longterm work includes replace leaky areas like windows and doors, or filling in holes or walls, floors, etc. Other more expensive or long-term work which has a big impact ranges from insulating your loft, your walls and above or below your floors – just be certain to deal with any damp problems first. Denise MacDonald-Kiernan In the photograph below, the difference between insulated and uninsulated roofs can be clearly seen - escaping heat (and thus money) through a roof is seen visually by melted snow. Supporting our garden birds I t’s the height of the nesting season and few things are more rewarding than watching our garden birds building nests and feeding their young, and then seeing the fledglings start to fly. Sadly, since we started recording our garden birds with the British Trust for Ornithology nearly fifteen years ago, we’ve seen significant declines, sometimes total disappearances, in many once common species. With wild habitats under increasing threat our gardens are more vital refuges than ever before. Trees, hedges, brushwood, hidden corners around sheds and outhouses can all be nesting sanctuaries for beleagured garden birds. This makes springtime the season for a truce, and not the time for cutting hedges or clearing quiet pockets of undergrowth, where hedgehogs may also be rearing their young. Cutting hedges in the spring exposes hidden nests to predators and sunlight. Most gardeners know this, but sometimes powerful hedge cutters or heavy strimmers drown out the birdsong. It’s disruptive for all the birds, who mark out their territories with song, and catastrophic when their nests are only inches from a loudly rotating blade. Our garden birds are in dire need of all the sanctuary they can get. Can I just put in a plea on their behalf to hold off these vital habitats at least until the nesting season is over? Margaret Elphinstone Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 9 THE GALLOWAY GLENS SCHEME – OUR APPROACH £4 MILLION SPEND RECORDED THROUGH THE SCHEME TO DATE 90 ATTENDEES 9 NEW OR REFURBISHED BUILDINGS SO FAR ON ‘GO WILD’ OUTDOOR EDUCATION CAMPS 23 MILES OF IMPROVED FOOTPATH, INCLUDING 4 NEW BRIDGES 4 YEARS DALRY POSITIONS WITH PARTNERS SO FAR As we approach the end of the Scheme in September 2023, we look at headline achievements so far and try to summarise the approach taken. We are an initiative of the Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Environment Team. Many thanks as always to all partners and funders, without whom none of this would be possible… CARSPHAIRN 11 INTERN The Galloway Glens Scheme is five years of co-ordinated and focussed activity in the Ken/Dee valley, seeking to ‘connect people to their heritage’ while boosting the local economy and supporting sustainable communities. CLATTERINGSHAWS OF THE NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ‘CAN YOU DIG IT’ COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT LAUNCHED THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND TREE PLANTING GRANT SCEME IN D&G SUPPORTED THE LOCH KEN TRUST NOW RUNNING ONE OF THE FIRST COMMUNITY-LED RANGER SERVICES IN SCOTLAND LOCH KEN >30,000 MILES 27 AWARDS MADE TRAVELLED BY TAGGED GREENLAND WHITE-FRONTED GEESE THROUGH THE SMALL GRANTS SCHEME OUR APPROACH Identify challenges facing communities and work in partnership to design solutions Establish a relationship with partners and then trust them to deliver A ‘place-based’ approach – breaking barriers between topics and sectors, with a focus on the Ken/Dee Valley Draw funding from the national stage to be spent in D&G Use our time-limited nature to our advantage, encouraging momentum and urgency CASTLE DOUGLAS ‘NATURE POSITIVE’ >2,500 PROJECTS SUPPORTED INCLUDING THREAVE LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PROJECT, PEATLAND CONNECTIONS AND THE BLACK WATER OF DEE HABITAT RESTORATION KIRKCUDBRIGHT 35 HEADLINE PROJECTS SUPPORTED UP AND DOWN THE VALLEY ENTRIES IN THE PLACE NAMES DATABASE >75% OF SPEND IS WITH D&G BUSINESSES PRIMARY FUNDER: Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 10 What makes the Glenkens special to you? B eing one of the newer Loch Ken Trust (LKT) board members I thought it would be good to find out what my fellow Trustees like about the Glenkens. In light of this, the Trust decided that we'll use our sponsored page over the next few issues of the Gazette to give each of our trustees the opportunity to tell us what makes the Glenkens special to them. Making me go first wasn’t quite what I had in mind though, but somebody has to start, so here I go! When I crest the hill coming south on the A713 and get my first sight of Screel way off in the distance I know at that moment that I’ve come home. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been away, even if it’s only been five minutes, seeing this beautiful and special corner of Galloway always makes me feel the same: I am home. I’ve been marching about this area for more than 35 years and have seen more places worth telling you about than you have time to spare. I do particularly like Cairn Edward; it’s Just such a great name for a hill. But one of the most special things to me is the stretch of the River Dee at Crossmichael. This is where I first learned properly about boats and boating and also loads of local history from the old boys and worthies of the village. Together this has given me a passion for being on the water and for protecting its heritage, which extends to keeping people right on what it should be called. Living in a house called Deeview gives me strong opinions on this - call the water down here Loch Ken and village pride will lead to a long and in-depth chat on why you are wrong. Still, whatever it is called this is home and where my heart is. Ed Hex Below from above Glenlochar looking north across the Dee to Crossmichael, Balmaghie and on to the beautiful Galloway Hills (with Galloway’s three Cairnsmores marked). Middle - looking back to Crossmichael across the Kirkland Loop bay on the River Dee. Left - Winter by the water at Crossmichael. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 11 Managing our future woodlands W atson Birds and the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership jointly held an excellent workshop in February in Dalry Town Hall. Some three dozen folk attended representing many interests – community, environment, farming, forestry and landscape. The purpose was to look forward collectively at what changes were needed to improve the role of woodlands and forests. We set ourselves two questions: 1) How do we positively balance the needs of the differing land use interests in redesigning existing forests/woodlands and planning new ones? 2) What practical recommendations would you make that could help deliver this? We agreed the need to move from confrontation to dialogue and from consultation to engagement of all parties central government and its agencies, local councils, the industry and communities of interest nationally, regionally and locally. The headlines from the day’s discussions were: • More trees in all forms are part of our global future. The issue is not just more commercial forestry, but also more individual trees and woods planted with the full range of native species. Dense Sitka spruce plantations are past and superannuated says forest industry specialist and wants the industry to accept this in practice. • More sensitive approaches to planting and management of woodlands and forests are urgently needed, with a greater variety of species and a greater variety in the layout of planting, and more environmental and community sensitive management of woodlands and forests. The forestry and timber industry needs to be less defensive and make greater effort in recognising the issues that others are concerned about it and address them in a positive manner. • Greater recognition that landscape, scenery, beauty and amenity is needed in decisions about planting and management of trees, woods and forests as these issues are important for people and for communities. • Decision makers should actively increase greater engagement of all communities as part of active dialogue locally and nationally. The emphasis must be on meaningful engagement not just on consultation about planting proposals but throughout the cycle of decision making on woods and forests management. • Scottish Government should develop a more innovative regime for forest and woodland expansion and management with new and novel funding as well as moving out of silos of thinking and action in defending traditional sectors to more integrated policy and action. • Trees should be built into future farming. This requires a regime change in government and attitude change within the farming community. Among the suggestions for consideration were: divert government grant aid from commercial tree planting to provide income stream for farmers for investment in trees; use a public interest test to stimulate on-farm tree planting similar to that for biodiversity in the National Planning Framework; rebalance planting grant to 50/50 conifer/ broadleaf; bring forestry down the hill, therefore creating woodland opportunities on farms for better animal and human health and business. • Education about trees, woods and forests at secondary and tertiary levels needs new approach to recognise need for integration into the environmental systems context, including a new curriculum at National 5 and Higher to embrace this. At further education level, need greater focus on skills offers and apprenticeship schemes. • Opportunity for state-owned Galloway Forest Park to better reflect the wishes of Scotland's people, by starting a 30 year transition away from being an 80% spruce forest, to being a more diverse forest with majority native woodlands and broadleaves. Many other points were made in discussion and can be found summarised on www.rogercrofts.net Roger Crofts Pictured above left is land owned by Duchrae Estates, Dalry, that was up until recently actively used for grazing sheep. The plea not to plant the hills with Sitka spruce in this image (which was taken for the Gazette's Land Use Focus in the June/July 2022 issue) illustrates poignantly the sentiment of the local community that there was insufficient engagement with regard to this, and many other, local plantations. Above right is a photograph of the same land taken this spring, planted with Sitka spruce and lost for a lifetime to anything but commercial forestry. This transformation starkly illustrates the speed of change in Glenkens land use - many new plantations of blanket forestry have appeared across our area over the the last 12 months, significantly reducing open moorland and altering potential for exisiting and future land use. The cumulative effect of this process on biodiversity, peatlands, tourism and local livelihoods is unknown, highlighting the imperative for discussions on land use in the Glenkens to be had now. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 12 sponsored by A regenerative revolution in farming K nowledge-sharing between farmers is well evidenced to support learning, through peer to peer support – the opportunity to share what works, and what doesn’t. This is the approach taken by the Regenerative Farming Network in South West Scotland. Led by farmers, for farmers, the RegenFarm Network (as it’s known to its members) is an informal group for anyone with an interest in knowing more about regenerative farming. For some farmers this comes after years of reading and researching, and trying out some ‘different’ things; others are completely new to regenerative farming and just sticking their toe in the water. Abi Mordin is a market gardener based near Balmaclellan. She’s part of the sustainable food collective Propagate, and is the group organiser. She describes the RegenFarm Network as “an open door for anyone curious about sustainable and regenerative agriculture”. What do we mean by regenerative? The RegenFarm network tries to present information and ideas around building healthy living soils, high nature value farming, holistic management and grazing systems, reducing inputs through biological and integrated management, and other topics of interest. Huw Connick, a farm and land manager working across South West Scotland, joined the Soil Health Group about a year ago. He says: “Every now and then people or groups of people come into your life at the right time. When I joined the Soil Health Group just about a year ago it came at the good time for me. As someone who works professionally in land(s) management, the group, and individuals within it, have stimulated my thinking, encouraged me by their examples, challenged me to keep thinking differently and expanded my mind and Contented mob-grazed cattle at Laurieston Hall Recent walks have included Baile Curraich near Dalbeattie where the group looked at grazing systems and nature-based solutions. Upcoming walks include Lochill near Crossmichael, where the emphasis will be on farmland birds. Irene McCreath farms near Carsphairn. She points out that "even though we have a diverse range within the group, eg from shore level to hill tops, things still have a similarity which makes one person’s results and findings more relevant and relatable. For some of us it is lack of mains water and how to try and manage both grass AND access to water. For others it’s dealing with the sheer amount of rainfall in this area. All of it is useful and encouraging." “an open door for anyone curious about sustainable Further involvement can include and regenerative agriculture” attending monthly Farm Walks and other meet-ups including film screenings and socials. Dig a bit deeper and you can join the Soil Health Group. This smaller group consists of around 20 farmers who share access to the SoilMentor platform – a space to log results from hands-on soil testing, such as infiltration rates and earthworm counts. The Soil Health Group also has a WhatsApp, and a weekly Zoom call – often with invited experts who provide short presentations and join the conversation. The Soil Health Group is also actively participating in Scotland-wide networks to engage with MSPs and Policy Makers developing the new Scottish Agriculture Bill. knowledge base – all in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. "A lot of the people in the group practice what they talk about and don’t just talk about it - there is engrained passion to regenerate land and not do harm.” One of the best ways to engage with the RegenFarm Network is through attending one of their Farm Walks. These are often on members’ farms – folk keen to get input and feedback from others into their ideas while also sharing what they have learnt. That the discussions, the walks and the members are all locally based is seen as being important to group members. The RegenFarm Network is free to join, and open to all types of farmers and food producers. Members include beef cattle, sheep and dairy farmers, as well as market gardeners. More information and a sign-up link is available via the website at www.dgsustainablefoodpartnership. org/regenerative-farming-network – this includes access to an ever-growing resource library, podcast recordings featuring voices of some members, and more on the Soil Health Group. New members are welcome at any time. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 13 sponsored by If you would like to list something on this page, please get in touch on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk FREE Double/threequarter bed, dressing table, wee chair and two wee tables. Contact: Dorothy on 07760 824 342 WANTED Single bed and mattress. Contact: Anita on 07547 301 321 2 office chairs, both with castors, one red fabric without arms and one black faux leather with. Contact: Ted on Acoustic guitar, (doesn't have to be free). Contact: 07727 127 997 07887 736 887 Double bed size divan base with drawers. Contact: 01644 460 673 Horse manure, rotted and fresh, no weed killers used. Dig your own from a large heap, bring sacks or trailer. Contact: 07889 229 340 Chest freezer. Contact: Tony on 07507 704 821 Old lawn mowers/strimmers/other small machinery. Non-runners/broken welcome. Contact: 07845 562 217 The Upper Urr Environment Trust L ast year saw the Upper Urr Environment Trust (UUET) get some exciting projects off the ground. Back in November we installed some temperature loggers in the Urr using Blackcraig/GDT microgrant money and calling on the expertise of Galloway Fisheries Trust (GFT). The loggers will help monitor the increasing water temperature associated with climate change and tie in with the wider Marine Scotland survey which covers many Scottish rivers. We also applied for a grant from Inspiring Scotland which was successful! The main aim was to carry out some riparian planting (planting trees next to the river), but also to have a wildflower area near Corsock and start a website for UUET. March saw us get 680 native trees in the ground with thanks to a supportive landowner, lots of volunteers who braved the rain and with the help of GFT. These will shade the river whilst enhancing the habitat in and out the river. We completed the small wildflower area with help of some local families - hopefully we can share photos of the area when it's in bloom in the next Gazette (or look out for them if you're driving through Corsock) along with our latest activities and details of our new website. We should also be hosting a river survey day which are always Left - tree planting in March. Above - families enjoy creating the new wildflower area on the way into Corsock village. great fun and generate some really interesting results so watch this space! Joe Seed Birds, bees and butterflies A small group of bird, bee and butterfly enthusiasts in Dalry gained funding through the Dalry Community Council Microgrants to purchase around 360 wildflower plants. We have planted these in three plots around the village. Our aim is to promote biodiversity through creating food for pollinators such as bees and butterflies, as well as other insects. The three areas are in the Dalry Library garden, by Dalry Secondary School car park and near the school sign and the grassy corner of Kirkland street and A713. We have informed the council so they don't cut those areas and leave them to grow, and we welcome anyone to help look after the areas, add seeds or plants or just enjoy their beauty. We have chosen small areas initially to see if wildflower planting will work in our community as it can be unsightly to some and more difficulty to maintain than grass. If anyone wishes to know more about our project or would like to help contact Michele Owen m.kennedy46@hotmail.co.uk Michele Owen Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEschools page 14 Dalry Secondary basketball team crowned regional champions D alry Secondary School's basketball team has been crowned the new regional champions after defeating Dumfries High in the finals. The team consists of three S3 and five S2 players - Jamie and Joe McIvor, Charlie Moore, James Ade-MacRae, Alex Smith, Joel Lamb, Karol McDonald and Oscar Benson. Their win is made even more impressive when you consider that Dumfries High has a school roll around 20 times greater. Team coach and PE teacher, Liam Fleming, said: "The boys played brilliantly the whole way through - they were in a league of five teams, won every league game played and then the Final. In the winning game, the score was 44-43; a member of staff who has been involved in the regional game for a while saying it was the best Junior Final they had ever seen! "Over the past 18 months, after having some interest in the sport outside school recreationally, and after having done it in PE, a group of pupils become highly invested in in it and play every break and lunch as well as attending the Basketball Wider Achievement Group on a Wednesday afternoon. Of the eight players in this year's Junior squad, seven play with Ayr team Ayr Storm. "I'm not sure if Dalry has ever won a Regional Competition in a team sport before and when you consider the size of the school compared to others, the boys have done incredibly well." Dalry School basketball team celebrate their victory pictured, left to right, are Alex Smith, Karol McDonald, Oscar Benson, James AdeMacRae, Jamie McIvor, Joe McIvor, Charlie Moore and Joel Lamb Glenkens schools football success D alry and Kells primaries' football teams took part in this year's Paul Jones Tournament at the Threave Rovers football ground in Castle Douglas. Both teams played brilliantly, with the Kells team taking home the tournament's Teamwork trophy. As with Dalry Secondary's basketball win (above), the results are all the more impressive considering that other Stewartry schools can field three teams of P7 pupils. Our wee Glenkens schools should be very proud of their sporting achievements - well done to everyone involved!! Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEschools page 15 Education on tour - the Bud Bus I n March, Poppy Scotland’s travelling museum came to Dalry to give both the Secondary and Primary school a tour. It was in the form of a huge bus. We saw how the inner workings of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory worked and how it makes its poppies. We also saw how the charity helps people involved in the armed forces (past or present) by supporting them in mental health, housing, employment and mobility. Dalry Secondary school itself raised £2,225 for the 1918 centenary of WW1 in 2018/19 so we were eager to see how the new factory was getting on and hope to get our invitation soon to get a tour of the factory and see our school name on the plaque. In the factory 50 million poppies, 10,000 wreaths, 60,000 Remembrance symbols and 40,000 stem poppies, among other remembrance items, are made per year. The process of the assembly is done by hand which students got a taste of on a smaller scale by being able to assemble their own. The museum also had displays including a wreath found well preserved in a loft in a church in Ayrshire in a box hidden by sunlight which stopped it from losing colour, a faded framed poppy bunch with an excerpt of ‘In Flanders Field’ saying: Take up our quarrel with the foe, To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die; we shall not sleep, Though poppies grow In Flanders fields. This was signed with Lady Haig’s own signature and a death penny which was given to the family of a recently deceased relative that died in the war. We also learned there were different poppies from different countries. For example, the poppy in France is blue like a cornflower and the poppy from Belgium is in the form of a daisy. There were pictures on the wall of Lady Haig and others which were interactive - like Harry Potter ones at Hogwarts - and told us more of the History of the Poppy and lots of other interactive things to listen to. Pupils from Dalry Secondary S2 class outside the Bud Bus Poppy Scotland annually raises over £3.5 million for people in Scotland who are part of the armed forces community those still serving, veterans and their families. Eli Stevenson, S2 News from Kells Primary School H ector McCulloch, who is in Primary 7 at Kells, has continuously raised funds over the years for the Hands Up Foundation which provides support for children in war-torn Syria. Recently he handed out Smartie tubes to all the children in Kells Primary to collect change, and has raised over £100. Well done Hector and the children at Kells Primary! Children in the Primary 5,6,7 class chose three books each to add to our school library. When they arrived everyone was very happy - Ellie says "it is so exciting!" Baillie says "it's great to have new books which we chose!" Happy reading! Margaret Heuchan GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 16 The Adventures of Kenside Polo W e were first contacted by Erin at Represent PR firm just over a year ago, on behalf of The Royal Highland Show for their marketing campaign for 2022. They were looking for a friendly goat and handler to “bring the countryside to the city” in the form of a goat having a day out in Edinburgh. We thought, why not, could be a bit of fun and with Billy’s experience in TV and film work, we were sure we could deal with any requests they had. So on Tuesday 31 May we set off for Edinburgh with Polo in the trailer aiming to be at Queen’s Drive near Holyrood Palace around 6pm. We arrived sort of on time but failed to properly negotiate the one way system and had to drive back around a second time. Once parked up, we met the photographer and the ladies from Represent and spent the next couple of hours walking around parts of Edinburgh with a goat. Polo crossed and recrossed the road on a zebra crossing at the foot of Arthur's Seat, causing more than one head to turn with passing motorists and pedestrians – lots of camera phones were out also taking pictures as folk just couldn’t quite believe their eyes. She posed in front of the Scottish Parliament, took a stroll round to Holyrood Palace and keeked through the gates. Such a good girl, quite a lot of this was done off the lead, just by voice commands. Once the photographer was happy with these two locations, Polo was loaded back into the trailer and we drove further into the centre of the city to get the pictures at Edinburgh Castle. This is the point where I was very glad Billy was driving as, following the PR ladies, ended up having to turn around in a very tight street when we found the road they wanted to use was closed due the up-coming Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Safely unloaded once more, the photographer took many more pictures of Polo from lots of different angles, lying on the floor for the one seen in the last edition of the Gazette. The ladies had brought along a variety of props including a selection of 2022 rosettes and Polo got to wear a first prize one. Sadly when she went to The Royal Highland Show a few weeks later, she didn’t win a red rosette. But her picture was in and on lots of their publicity material, including the Polo and Irene in front of the Scottish Parliament, and below by Arthur's Seat catalogues, the show maps, on big posters around the show field and in the press in the run up to the Show advertising both the show and the new RHS app so she was probably the most recognisable goat there. We have kept the copy of The Scottish Farmer newspaper with her on the front cover as it may never happen again. Irene McCreath, Polquhanity Farm, Carsphairn Medal for service to brass banding A joint concert by Kilmarnock Concert Brass and the cooperation band at the Howard Centre in Kilmarnock on Saturday 20 May was the setting for the presentation of a brass banding long service award by the Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA) to Carsphairn resident Kath Martin. Kath is celebrating over 50 years in banding, having joined the Rochdale Metropolitan Youth Band in 1971, firstly on baritone and then euphonium. Subsequent spells with Middleton Band in Greater Manchester and the Lancashire Fusiliers Band were followed by membership of Irwell Forge Band in Bury, Lancashire, Goodshaw Band in Rossendale and neighbouring Haslingden & Helmshore Band. On moving to Dumfries & Galloway in 2008, she signed up with Dunaskin Doon Band on cornet and tenor horn and also played with Dumfries Town Band before joining Kilmarnock Concert Brass in 2018 where she has played cornet, horn and now baritone. Kath Martin was presented her life membership medal by SBBA secretary Tom Allan GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 17 Remembering Nicola Black Continued from front page... Nicola was born in Edinburgh but spent her early years in Shetland where her early musical memories were made. By the time she was at school she had moved with the family to Kirkcudbrightshire where she spent the rest of her life. Her early ambition to be a nurse was hampered by ill health and she had to reluctantly give up after a few years as a student nurse. However, nursing’s loss was music’s gain and she was able to devote more time to developing her incredible musical talent. Members of the CatStrand Singers collated all of their individual tributes together, some of their messages follow: “Nicola shone a powerful light for music and friendship, all of us were very fortunate to know her.” “Like many others, I was convinced I couldn’t sing but Nicola was so encouraging and patient – next thing I knew I was singing in Icelandic and Gaelic.” “You will be in every song because of how you gave song back to me. Your belief, your strength, your courage all meant so much to me. Shine on.” “Sixty five years of thinking I couldn’t sing but you showed me I had a voice.” The heartfelt reaction to Nicola’s untimely death only serves to underline how much she meant to so many people and she will be sorely missed by her family and her many friends. However, the legacy that she has left is truly amazing and ensures that she will live long in the memories of those who were lucky enough to know her. As another tribute said, “It has been a privilege to know you Nicola. Thank you I always loved the beauty of the fact that Nicola White and Andrew Black fell in love and got married. It's so perfect storybook perfect. And, to me, they were a storybook couple, so dedicated to each other. And Nicola was a storybook character - larger than life. Which I think is why her death has shocked people so deeply - she was so very alive; it seems impossible that she suddenly isn't. Her incredible passion for life and love of music gave Nicola a unique fire that seemed MATTHEW PAJO Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine - pain management - women's health - men's health - fatigue - sleep - stress - anxiety - needle-free laser acupuncture- The Old School, Crossmichael info@matthewpajo.co.uk 07786 079 845 for all the years of singing together, for your encouragement, your songs and the joy you gave us.” Brian Edgar, CatStrand to draw people to her. She was admirably tolerant and accepting of people others often found difficult, or who were on the margins for one reason or another. She made people feel heard and supported, and was also able to deal with almost any situation that arose through her positive outlook and 'gift of the gab'. Her can-do attitude - and, of course, Blackie at her side, supporting her always in fulfilling her dreams - enabled her to lead such an active, full life, even as she became less mobile and her health deteriorated. Most of us ablebodied folk with less mettle would think twice before heading to a festival for late nights and chaos, or taking a caravaning trip. But Nicola took it all in her stride. She was a beacon - a shining light that radiated out, touching hearts and minds all over Galloway, Scotland and beyond. Her wonderful sense of humour and ability to laugh at life, and herself, and make the very most of each moment is what stays with me. And I hope it helps me to enjoy every moment too, as I think for so many of us time goes by and we don't really inhabit our 'now'. For me, at least, I'll try to take a leaf out of Nicola's book and seize the day. Who knows how long we've got... Sarah Ade Amber Dunlop-Pajo Health Psychologist - women's health - stress - depression - anxietyThe Old School, Crossmichael info@gallowaycounselling.co.uk 07389 713 106 GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 18 THANK YOU VOL T T and the age range of helpers is wide. T here is absolutely no way we could do any of the things we're doing without the willing help of so many people. Sometimes it's help with moving chairs, or it might be helping with LING Lunches, tidying up in the Town hall, putting up or taking down a gazebo or two, baking cakes for a fund-raising event, helping out with admin or bookkeeping tasks, a bit of clearing up and cleaning. The options are endless It's the range of willingness that's so lovely, from people who are happy to say, "just ask, any time, and I'll help if I can" to others who will make a commitment to a particular task and will turn up reliably to carry it out. It's the community that makes things happen. LING only exists at all because so many people are part of everything we do. We could not be more grateful for all the help and support given so readily by so many. It's truly amazing. A very big thank you to everyone who lends a hand so willingly. A fantastic team of drivers at Galloway Community Transport (GCT) has been helping to provide vital transport for individuals and groups in the Glenkens and beyond since 2001. Starting life as Glenkens Transport Initiative, GCT has evolved to meet the transport needs in the Glenkens and beyond over the last 22 years. GCT now provides patient transport, rural school bus services, and regular services to Newton Stewart and Castle Douglas for shopping. It can also provide minibus hire for schools, Ann Glaister he Gazette would like to say a huge “thank you” to the many Thanks go to our tir our proof readers, help distribute copi T he Glenkens Food Hub would like to thank all their volunteers – without you we wouldn't be able to get delicious, locally-produced food out to residents. If you would like to get involved we'd love to have you! volunteers who publication wh Lesley Atkins he Glenkens Hub has been live for less than two months, but already we're had so many contributions from volunteers. You've and ad amazin Thanks it witho cross the Glenkens many of the A core organisations that support our communities are run by, or have help from, volunteers. Our Community Councils - the official voice of our communities - are run by dedicated teams of volunteers. In our schools, staff often go above and beyond their paid roles in order to provide opportunities for young people and support the community, such for the fundraising afternoon held by Dalry School for the Syrian earthquake appeal. Organisations such as the Glenkens & District Trust have a Board of dedicated volunteers working away in the background to ensure our communities receive the funding they are entitled to in a fair and proper manner. The list goes on... So, if you have even a little time to spare, why not support your community and volunteer? It would be very much appreciated! B airn Banter would like to thank all of the parent volunteers and families that make our ongoing Saturday morning sessions so much fun! Melissa Ade young peoples’ organisations and special interest groups, as well as put on excursions, which provide opportunities for travel and socialising. All of this enables members of our community to enjoy activities and events which people with access to much better public transport links might take for granted. GCT is both a pleasure and a responsibility. A pleasure because the minibuses provide a service to the community which gives much pleasure to passengers both old and young. A responsibility because we carry the most valuable cargo; people. It enables us as drivers to use our driving skills, which is something I enjoy." GCT now has three minibuses, with two of these being wheelchair accessible, and an electric car. Excitingly, the team are awaiting delivery of a 16-seater fully accessible electric bus in June! This will help GCT to do its bit for the environment, as well as ensuring that GCT continues to have a fleet of safe and reliable vehicles. GCT Patient Transport Service drivers generously use their own vehicles to take patients to appointments and their mileage expenses are reimbursed. Stephen Bullock, a GCT driver of many years, explained why he feels the driving he does makes a difference: ‘’Driving for One patient said recently: "The service is an absolute lifesaver, and the conversation and laughter we have on the way make it a lovely journey." Beverley McLean, a driver for the GCT Patient Transport Service said, ‘‘As a new driver, it has been enjoyable and rewarding. Our patients really appreciate C arsphairn Heritage Initiative Trustees would like to thank... • our dedicated team of transcribers for making the Archive accessible to everyone • our wonderful stewards for ensuring we can have the Heritage Centre open as much as possible • our fantastic members who have an interest in Carsphairn's heritage and all the work we do CHI Board the service and support the drivers provide, especially when their circumstances are difficult. Being a patient’s driver means so much more to them than simply transport and is certainly a positive experience for both of us." GCT simply would not be able to operate without the amazing contribution made by our dedicated team of volunteer drivers. We’d like to use Volunteers’ Week to thank them one and all. And if you’re thinking you'd like to be part of that team, please get in touch with Jon, GCT manager, at the CatStrand by phone, in person, or via the website: gallowaycommunitytransport.org. All training can be given if you’re the sort of person who enjoys helping other people. Please do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you! Jon and Sue, GCT GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Gazette page 19 LUNTEERS! o have made the hat it is today. reless Steering Group, the volunteers who ies of the Gazette, those You can find contact details for many local groups and organisations on page 31, or visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot - the Community Directory in the Local Resources section - or scan this QR code. who helped with the creation of the new Glenkens Hub website, our contributors (without whom we'd have no content!), our advertisers, sponsors and funders, GCAT for all the support and of course our readers thank you all! Sarah Ade e told us about events, passed on news stories dded notices to the board, as well as sharing some ng photos for the Hub gallery. s to everyone who has contributed; we couldn't do out you all! Gail Challis C ongratulations Crossmichael community - YOU now own the Memorial Hall! After more than two years of planning, preparation and unavoidable delays Crossmichael Community Trust (CCT) and the Memorial Hall Committee have finally managed to get the deal sealed. On 25 April the building changed hands with the hall committee passing ownership to the CCT. We would like to thank the current hall B ehind every successful organisation there is an extraordinary volunteer team. Thank you to the team of volunteers at Balmaclellan Hall who have helped to transform the hall and organised the many events held at the Hall over the past year. Thank you for your professionalism, timely assistance, and exceptional organisation skills - we couldn’t have done this without you. At the same time we have had D alry Town Hall is one of the wonderful rural assets of our community, the maintaining and running of which happens thanks to the organisation, teamwork and commitment of a small band of dedicated volunteers. The committee wish to offer a BIG "thank you" to all those who have been involved in organising W here would our little shop be without our wonderful band of volunteers who are willing, often at short notice, to drop everything and help out. Our growing list of volunteers is testament to our success, and the article in the last Gazette brought a number of new faces for which we're very grateful. committee and all their predecessors for the last 70 years who have looked after and cared for the hall so that we can carry on using and enjoying it today. With the purchase of the hall by the CCT only one thing has changed: it is no longer owned FOR the community, it is now owned BY the community. will advertise and let everyone know the date as soon as it is set. There are also lots of improvements to be made to the hall and CCT would very much appreciate everyone's thoughts, ideas and help to make this happen. If you have any suggestions or skills to share please let the Trust know. To recognise this amazing achievement we are organising an official hand-over ceremony. We would really like as many people to come along as possible and we Thank you so much to all the volunteers on both sides who worked so hard to make this happen. Helen Crowther, Glenkens Community Shop, Dalry Ed Hex, Chair, Crossmichael Community Trust to say good bye to two of our volunteers, good luck and a massive thank you goes to John and Michelle who are moving on to pastures new. Please contact us via the Balmaclellan Village Hall Facebook page if you would like join our team of volunteers or to get involved helping at the village hall. Your help would be greatly appreciated even if you only have a little time to spare or can only help on an ad hoc basis. Julia Higgins regular events such as the Producers Market and Film Nights, and particularly this last year the new Community Café initiative, to name but a few. We are always looking for new recruits to join us. There is no age restriction, as was highlighted by the young Royals George, Louis and Charlotte who got involved with their local Scouts group on the Big Help Out day over the Coronation weekend. Lesley Blissett I wanted to say a big thank you to you all. We very much appreciate all your hard work on our behalf. Also to the GCAT staff who all do a fair amount of volunteering for us in their nominal free time! T hank you to all our volunteers! At GCAT but also all round the Glenkens. I know for a fact that GCAT couldn’t work without its volunteer stewards, bar staff, receptionists, gardeners, drivers, coordinators and Board and subcommittee members – so as we celebrate Volunteers Week 2023, A s Glenkens Community Spaces facilitator I would like to highlight the fantastic work carried out by the management committees of all of our town and village halls and community centres. They put in many hours of work behind the scenes to ensure that the communities across the Glenkens have access to local venues for events, celebrations, social clubs, But I also know that across the Glenkens, probably more than 300 people routinely volunteer their time, whether on boards or to run groups, to keep an eye on their neighbours or to our keep public spaces smart. That’s at least 10% of our population, and is a big part of why this area is such a great place to live, work and play – so thank you all! More power to your elbow! Helen Keron sports activities and various clubs and classes. Many of our management committees would be delighted to welcome in new volunteers to get involved – and volunteering is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, and give back to the community. If you would like to find out more, contact details for all our community spaces can be found on the Glenkens Hub Community Directory. Becca Nelson Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts CatStrand Young Creatives C atStrand Young Creatives has been awarded funding for an exciting new musicmaking project, Young Music Makers. The project is part of the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI), administered by Creative Scotland. Young Music Makers is a yearlong project that offers good value private and group music lessons in ukulele, guitar, piano and keyboard. We will also be running music 'taster' workshops for families, singing and vocal lessons, and musical technology workshops. Young Music Makers goes beyond just music lessons as now we can also offer young local musicians the opportunity to develop their skills and kickstart their musical career through mentoring, group workshops, performances and collaborative projects. We believe that building a community of young musicians is essential for their growth and success. As part of the Young Music Makers project, we have been joined by 22-year-old Morgan Love, who will be working with Cat Campbell, the Young Creatives programme lead, to deliver the project. Cat says: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome our new music intern Morgan, who page 20 will be a valued member of the Young Creatives team in running the music school and various other exciting projects we have planned throughout the year. “Our mission to provide exceptional musical experiences to children and young people in the Glenkens and beyond has been made possible through this generous funding from YMI Creative Scotland and the Holywood Trust, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact this programme will have on the community.” As well as the launch of the new music project CatStrand Young Creatives has several other projects running, including the Young Critics programme, Young Writers Café, Dance Steps and regular drama clubs, CatStrand's Youth Arts Coordinator, Cat Campbell (left) with music intern Morgan Love musical theatre, dance classes and art clubs for children and young people aged between five and 26. For full details, see www.csyoungcreatives.com Battle of the Bands showcases youth music talent A t the end of April CatStrand Young Creatives hosted an exciting Battle of the Bands event, in collaboration with Knockengorroch festival. Fourteen young musicians competed for the prize of a 40-minute slot at this year's Knockengorroch festival, which will be the event's 25th anniversary. The evening attracted young musicians from all over Dumfries & Galloway and proved to be a resounding success, with a sell-out crowd in attendance and many of the young performers enjoying their first-ever live performance experience. The event was testament to the incredible musical talent and diversity within the region and showcased the passion and creativity of our young people. showcase their skills. Knockengorroch festival organisers had a difficult time selecting two winning acts as each performer brought something unique and special to the stage. Ultimately, Castle Douglas High School band Rhelm and singer-songwriter Jodie Rae were successful in securing their spots at the festival in May, while plans are currently being made to work with three other young musicians as part of the CatStrand Young Music Makers project to help them develop their careers as musicians (see article above). "The success of this event is evidence of the important role that music can play in bringing communities together and in supporting the development of young people. We hope that this event will inspire more young people to pursue their passion for music. Cat Campbell, CatStrand Young Creatives programme lead, said: “Congratulations to all of the participating performers and look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in the music industry. We could not be prouder of the incredible talent on display at this event and we were thrilled to be able to provide these young performers with a platform to "Thanks as ever to the Holywood Trust for their support of this and all our CatStrand Young Creatives activities." So if you went to Knockengorroch festival, we hope you enjoyed the performances of the talented Rhelm and Jodie Rae! Winning acts at the Battle of the Bands, Jodie Rae (top) and Rhelm Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 21 Another prestigious award for local photographer Duncan McNaught L ocal photographer Duncan McNaught has landed another prestigious national award, taking first place in the Botanical category in the Scottish Nature Photography Awards 2022. His photograph titled Autumn Beech took first prize, with two more of his images being shortlisted; Dew Drops on Crane Fly in the Scottish Wildlife Portrait category and Wood Anemone in the Scottish Botanical category. Duncan said: “I'm blessed where I live to be surrounded by trees and, when I took the winning shot, I'd ventured out early one morning into the grounds of Kenmure Castle, outside New Galloway. A light mist had formed overnight creating the most moody scene in front of me, and some of the beech trees had hung onto their golden leaves - it was these and the soft light that drew me to take the photograph. I feel it shows the sense of calm I experienced that morning, with no-one around; just me and my camera, which I love to do often. I am absolutely thrilled to have taken first place, as well as to have two short-listed photographs." To see more of Duncan's work you can visit his Facebook page @DMcNaughtPhotography or he has generously allowed the Glenkens Hub to provide his photographs in our Gallery section for local not-for-profit use at www.glenkens.scot/ glenkens-gallery Above - Duncan's winning entry, 'Autumn Beech'; below left - 'Dew Drops on Crane Fly'; right - 'Wood Anemone' Record season for CatStrand Players C atStrand Players are taking a well earned break after a record breaking festival season, although occasional meetings through the summer might be necessary to polish the ten trophies that adorn the cabinet! Our two plays in the Youth Festival won five trophies between them at the Stewartry District with ‘Rabbit’ going on to the Western Divisional Final in Dunoon where it was placed second and also won the trophy for best stage presentation, narrowly missing out on a second consecutive appearance at the Scottish Final. We wish Kirkintilloch Youth Players all the best in the final at Nairn in June. In the Open Festival, ‘Feeding the Ducks’ won three trophies at the Stewartry and also progressed to Dunoon where it was up against very strong competition and gained very high marks but wasn’t placed in the top three. Everyone involved in the plays this year had a great time and enjoyed performing at The Fullarton, CatStrand and at The Queen’s Hall in Dunoon and we look forward to defending all of our trophies next year and hopefully progressing to the Western Finals for the eighth time and maybe even making it to the Scottish Final again. The next performance dates for your diary will be 8, 9 and 10 December for the annual CatStrand Panto - look out for further announcements soon! Rehearsals will start on Sunday 3 September at CatStrand and there will be limited spaces available for new members. The ‘Behind the Scenes’ crew will also be starting to plan the scenery and props around then too so if you would rather be backstage then please watch out for further info on the CatStrand Young Creatives website. Brian Edgar GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 22 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers through some of his favourite books. Robin is author of the novel The Road From Damascus and co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War. T he most frequent guest to my bookroom is Aarni – whose name is the name of a guardian spirit in Finnish folklore, and who was born on the summer solstice. Today she’s helping to write this piece. Aarni – of the Hidden Road and Dalry school – is a very fitting visitor because she is a bookworm extraordinaire. “I enjoy reading,” she says, “because it gives me an escape and I can ignore everything else. It also makes you more clever and increases your vocabulary. And the bookroom is very cosy. It’s the perfect place to read. That’s why I like reading in my bed – because it’s so cosy.” Sometimes we use the bookroom as a study zone. Topics we’ve touched on include the ancient Sumerian civilization, places like Pakistan, Turkey and Zanzibar, the Syrian Revolution, the Second World War, Buddhism and meditation. We’ve talked about language families and the history of languages – why it is, for example, that in English we use Anglo-Saxon words like pig, sheep and cow to refer to animals but French words like pork, mutton and beef to refer to meat. We’ve also done a great deal of art together, both abstract and representational, using pencil, crayons, pens and paint. Under the influence of our friend and mentor Paul of Manchester (father of Aarni’s close friends Ruby and Rafah), we’ve used clay to make sculptures of animals and people. As for reading – Aarni’s favourite is Harry Potter, which she usually listens to on audiobooks. But in the bookroom her tastes are expanding. She and her brother Unti love the tales of Noggin the Nog and his evil uncle Nogbad the Bad – the best of which, we agree, is The Ice Dragon. And we’ve read Charles Kingsley’s classic Victorian children’s story The Water Babies. We’ve enjoyed stories suitable for both children and adults, like The Godson, a religious fable by Leo Tolstoy, and some of the fairy tales of Hermann Hesse. Aarni has also successfully grappled with more difficult texts usually considered to suit only adults. These include the poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, which is crammed full of neologisms, and The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner by Coleridge. Together we read the easy summary version of Macbeth in Tales from a Grandfather by Sir Walter Scott (a book, strangely enough, which once belonged to my grandfather), but we read the witches’ famous ‘double double toil and trouble’ speech in Shakespeare’s original. Aarni read Donald Barthelme’s short story Some of us had been Threatening our Friend Colby – a hilarious exercise in irony – with no trouble at all. She also read a section of Joyce’s Ulysses, and confirmed that she’d understood the style by writing her own stream of consciousness passage, which contained a duck and Harry Potter. I’ve already mentioned Aarni in two essays published in a journal which looks like a book (The Critical Muslim). But she doesn’t know the people who read that, and wants to be locally famous. So here she is in the Glenkens Gazette. £1,000 raised at Passion premier T he world premiere of Geoff Davidson’s The Passion was performed at Dalry Church on Easter Saturday. complemented the role of Jesus with impressive authority and there were high points of emotion as the Christ was bereft of accompaniment at his death but triumphant in his victory following the resurrection. A capacity audience of over 150 people enjoyed a dramatic performance in Scots of the new choral work from the Glenkens Parish Choir with church members taking the spoken roles of Pontius Pilate, the high priest Caiaphas and choir members reading Peter, Judas and ‘Doubting’ Thomas. Nicola Junor used her beautiful soprano to highlight responses to the various events and, as Mary Magdalene, brought her stunning interpretative power to a gripping climax as she met Jesus in the Garden at the entrance to the tomb. The power and tension of the trial before Pilate was clearly defined and the anger of the baying mob Robert Lind’s beautiful baritone brought magnificently to life. The performance was underpinned with conviction and clarity by Roy Stairmand as the Evangelist who was completely at home in the Scottish language used to relate the tragic events. The final uplifting choruses to each part were gloriously delivered by the Glenkens choir, punching well above their usual weight and treating us to a concert that will live long in the memory. Financial donations from the audience amounted to a few pounds short of £1,000 and this will be sent to the Abba’s Rest Orphanage in Malawi. Geoff Davidson Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 23 Summer of love with SongWave A udiences in the Stewartry are in for a treat as SongWave Community Choir brings an eclectic mix of songs depicting love in all its glory to the region. Titled “Love is....: Songs of Love, Loss and Hope”, the concert will include music from classic 1950s doo-wop to haunting ballads from the Georgian Caucasus and Croatian barbershop. The choir will explore love's many dimensions, including its beauty, heartbreak and hope. They will also perform a range of Scots and Gaelic folk songs. Led by the talented Kate Howard, the choir promises to deliver a captivating and heart-warming experience with their joyful a cappella performances. “We're thrilled to bring Songs of Love to our Summer Concerts in the Stewartry," said the choir's chairperson Jo Gallant. "The choir has been working hard to prepare for these concerts, and we're excited to share our passion for music with the local community.” SongWave will be performing at Dalry Town Hall on Saturday 24 June at 4pm, with tickets available through CatStrand. There will also be concerts at Kirkpatrick Durham Village Hall on Friday 23 June at 7pm, and Gatehouse of Fleet Parish Church on Sunday 25 June, as part of the Big Lit Festival. Tickets are £8, which includes refreshments, and there are concessions available. To find out more or book tickets please visit www.songwavechoir. org.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 24 GAZETTEarts A' the way to Galloway Glenkens Gazette O n Sunday 4 June at 3pm there will be a concert in Dalry Town Hall to launch a new album of local traditional songs and tunes by local musician, Jo Miller - A' the Way to Galloway. The musicians are Jo Miller (song and fiddle) and Amy Geddes (fiddle and viola), both originally from Dalry, along with Wigtownshire singer Robyn Stapleton and Jo’s husband, Steve Sutcliffe (concertinas) and son Neil Sutcliffe (piano, accordion and concertina). You will hear older repertoire such as William Nicholson’s Braes of Galloway - thought to be the source of the wellknown Gallowa' Hills - along with more recent compositions such as Robbie Murray’s Toon o Dalry, and Buchts o Knockreoch by Logan Paterson of New Galloway. Jo has been researching the music of the Glenkens since the 1980s. She says: "I’m delighted to be sharing these songs and tunes, which all have a personal association for me. This music has thrived in intimate environments like homes, rural schools and small halls, and the musical arrangements and performances on the album recreate that intimacy. The album also includes the spoken word, birdsong and singing for dancing - an aural landscape which not only evokes the former life of the Glenkens and its people, but also points toward its lively music culture in the present." All are welcome for this special concert. There will be Project Unspoken T his July, Leticia Sanchez and Anders Rigg will be bringing Project Unspoken to the CatStrand. During the week, their team of international guests tell a story of dance and music, one that bonds the artforms in a journey of exploration and connection. Project Unspoken opens up the communication that exists between dance and music, drawing out its essence to create pieces of performance that are in part improvisation, part choreography. This method of working is one that Leticia and Anders have been developing for the last few years. The importance of communication between people and cultures is more important now than ever. They believe that this page 25 work helps towards achieving this goal. This CatStrand residency is the culmination of this phase of the project and will feature both a public workshop (Mon 17 July) and performance of the work (Sat 22 July). The workshop is open level and the artists encourage both musicians and dancers of any experience to join. Tickets are available at the CatStrand or on www.gcat.scot Wendy Niblock opportunities to participate, CDs for sale and refreshments on hand! Tickets are £5 (£2 concession) from CatStrand (visit their website at www.gcat.scot or call 01644 420 374). This event is supported by Creative Scotland. Pictured left to right are Neil Sutcliffe, Amy Geddes, Jo Miller, Robyn Stapleton and Steve Sutcliffe GAZETTEarts An extraordinary family tale Glenkens Gazette T here are many stories about the link between Dumfriesshire and the Caribbean, and about Robert Burns becoming a tax collector. These are brought to life in the posthumous publication of Hall Windows by Lindsay Crofts which allows the story to be accessible to all. Narration is by Helen Hall, the spinster daughter of Alexander Hall and Ann Burn, timber merchants in Fisherrow in East Lothian. Helen lived in a flat in London Street in Edinburgh’s New Town where she reminisces about the extended families and all of those who married into it, and others who came to benefit from their page 26 contact with them. Opening a window into each member of the family’s life, Lindsay Crofts has created a family history with a difference. No wonder the subtitle of the book is 'The Life and Times of an Extraordinary Scots Family'. Lindsay Crofts and her husband Roger bought a home in St John’s Town of Dalry 15 years ago and have greatly enjoyed time spent there, making so many friends and hopefully contributing to the area especially through the Watson Birds project. Sadly, Lindsay died in March 2021 after a long battle with secondary breast cancer. Donald Watson exhibition moves to CatStrand T Hall Windows is available on payment of a donation of at least £10 to the charity Mary’s Meals - www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ RogerCrofts and copies can be obtained from Roger Crofts on 07803 595267 or roger.dodin@btinternet.com he permanent Watson Birds exhibition has moved from The Smiddy, in Balmaclellan, to the CatStrand. It is now located at the end of the corridor, to the right as you head towards the CatStrand cafe. The current focus is on Donald Watson’s depiction of forestry, along with the display of his authored books and some of the books he illustrated, his painting table, easel and his tweed jacket. WRIGHTS STORE & POST OFFICE DALRY DALRY DALRY SWEET TREAT SATURDAY DALRY INFORMATION FRESH CREAM CAKES AVAILABLE TO ORDER OPENING HOURS MONDAY – FRIDAY 7.30am – 5.30pm SATURDAY 8.30am – 5pm SUNDAY 8.30am – 3pm LOCAL SUPPLIERS DALMELLINGTON COUNTRY BUTCHERS UPPER DULLARG EGGS MITCHELLS FRUIT & VEG SWEETCAKES BAKERY GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY CREAM O GALLOWAY GALLOWAY LODGE PRESERVES IRVINGS BAKERY SCOTTISH GALLOWAY PASTA GLENKENS HONEY COMPANY POP IN FOR A CHAT AND A BROWSE GAZETTEhistory The Galloway garron in Galloway place-names Glenkens Gazette T he Glenkens Story is hosting a talk by Dr Miriam Bibby on the famous 'Galloway nag', or garron, on Sunday 23 July at the CatStrand. Miriam will discuss what is known of the history of this local horse and what became of it. The horse was, of course, ubiquitous until quite recently as the main power source on farms. I thought it would be interesting to have a look around the Glenkens for any evidence of place-names incorporating references to it. Near Dalry we have Craiggubble Wood on the south-east slope of Waterside Hill. This is derived from Gaelic Creag a’ Chapaill ‘rock of the mare, colt, or horse broken to the bit’. In Old Gaelic capall refers more frequently to a draught horse as opposed to the word ech, now each - a saddle-horse, chariot-horse’. page 27 Both each and capall are obvious cognates of Latin equus and caballus. There are several rocky crags on Waterside Hill which could refer to the capall in question. Another Glenkens capall placename is Knowe Happle, a small hill just north-west of Loch Stroan; Loch na Sroine - ‘loch of the nose’ - referring to Stroan Hill. Knowe will be a translation of cnoc so the whole is Cnoc a’ Chapaill - ‘hill of the mare'. This is the same specific as found in the place-name Glenhapple in the Cree Valley, from Gleann a’ Chapaill - ‘valley of the mare’ - and the nearby Kirhobble; Ceathramh a’ Chapaill - ‘the quarterland of the horse’. Sometimes a landscape feature could be named through a vague resemblance to the shape of an animal. Such might be the case in respect of the Fallincherrie Scar, a steep gairy on Craigtarson; A’ Chreag Tarsuinn - ‘the athwart crag’ - a western spur from the summit Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP Solicitors and Estate Agents Dumfries & Galloway 01556 503744 www.ggblaw.co.uk All legal advice Offices in Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie Kirkcudbright and Dumfries of Corserine; A’ Chroisrinn - ‘the cross point’. Fallincherrie could represent Faill an t-Searraich ‘precipice of the foal’. The young horse in question might be a large rock which is noticeable on the otherwise smooth hillside below the gairy and above the modern forestry edge. The term each does not seem to be present in place-names in the Glenkens, so we must be content with draught-horses and foals and leave the show ponies to others. Each does occur quite frequently in Galloway, often in the anglicised form Auchness; each-innis ‘horse-meadow’. The other element that features in local place-names referring to horses is gearran - ‘a gelding’ - hence the Scots term garron. In Scots the meaning is a ‘small, sturdy horse, used especially for rough hill work, an old wornout horse’. Gearran is formed from the verb gear - ‘to cut’ - and this word provides the Gaelic name for February, An Gearran Auchindrane Sawmill: a descendent of the Galloway Garron at work? - ‘the cutting’ - a time when the animals would be gelded. Gearran is found in the placename Balgerran; Baile Gearrain - ‘horse farm’ - north-east of Crossmichael. Possibly this was a farm that specialised in the breeding of the Galloway nag. Maxwell mentions in PlaceNames of Galloway (p15-16) that Balgerran was the site of the Kelton horse fair. Michael Ansell Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 28 The musical history of the Glenkens T he Glenkens Story’s annual history conference tackles a completely different subject this autumn when it addresses the musical history of the Glenkens and provides an excuse for a hectic weekend of music making. The day-long conference at CatStrand on Saturday 7 October - Music-Making in the Glenkens: Past, Present and Future - will include an overview by Jo Miller drawing on her extensive research into local musical traditions. Christopher Wright will discuss Galloway music in the School of Scottish Studies Sound Archive, and the relative lack of representation. Anna Campbell will delve into the archives of the Carsphairn Heritage Group, unearthing stories of some of the musical families in the area. Presentations will be illustrated by live and recorded music, video and pictures. The day will conclude with an open discussion involving speakers and audience, chaired by historian and singer Lizanne Henderson, addressing not only the preservation of our musical tradition but how it can thrive and develop. Later on the Saturday afternoon visiting musicians will combine with CatStrand Young Creatives to provide a 'Wee Hoolie' of songs, stories and dancing for families and younger children. The day will be buttressed by two landmark concerts. At CatStrand on Friday 6 October Jo Miller and friends will present A’ the Way to Galloway (see article on p25). On the Saturday night there will be a gathering in Dalry Town Hall compered by Brian Edgar - 'Gaither roon folks an this story I’ll tell' - celebrating the rich variety of music-making still flourishing in the Glenkens and neighbourhood. Mike Brown From Brockloch to South Carolina I n the later medieval period, many of the remote farms in the Upper Glenkens were tenanted by members of Clann Mhic a’ Mhaoilein – The MacMillans. A number of MacMillans still live in the Glenkens and surrounding areas but almost all the farms have passed into other hands or succumbed to commercial forestry. A wheen of the MacMillans must have emigrated as well and the story of the return to Galloway - from South Carolina, in the USA - of the descendants of one line is given here. Firstly, to consider the origin of the clan. In West Highlands Notes and Queries (2015, no 28, p 4-14) Ronnie Black discusses the name MacMillan. He explains that at the surname’s root is maol, earlier máel (‘bald, tonsured’). In forms like maol, maolan and maoilean, the word became a noun - ‘a baldy, a monk’. It is also what lies behind the English form MacMillan: Mac a’ Mhaolain, Mac a’ Mhaoilein (‘the Son of the Monk’). Black points out that: "As monasticism was widespread in the middle ages, we would expect any or all of these names to appear spontaneously in different parts of Scotland without there being any necessary genealogical connection between them, and such is indeed the case". This has not stopped theories of the connection of the Glenkens MacMillans with other parts of the former Gàidhealtachd – origins from the Loch Tay and Knapdale areas being favourite. Be that as it may, Robert MacMillan was born at Brockloch, north of Carsphairn (Am Broclach - ‘the badger warren’), in 1756. He took a lease on Palgowan (Pol Gobhainn - ‘the smith’s burn’) in the valley of the Water of Minnoch from where his son, Thomas, emigrated in 1820 to Camden, West Virginia, USA. Descendents of Thomas determined to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his emigration by walking from Palgowan to Brockloch to mark the occasion, but were stymied by the Covid outbreak in 2020. Undeterred, on 28 April 2023, Mike Saxton set off on a route which entailed crossing the two largest mountain ranges in the Galloway Highlands - The Awful Hand of the Merrick and the Rhinns of Kells. He climbed the slope of Benyellary (Beinn an Lolaire ‘mountain of the eagle’) to the summit of The Merrick (Am Beinn Mheurach - ‘the fingered mountain’), down past Loch Enoch (Loch an Aonaich - ‘loch of the mountain plateau). From there he descended the valley of the Pulskaig (Pol Sgitheige - ‘hawthorn burn’) between Mullwharchar (Maol Fhearchar - ‘Farquhar’s bald hill’) and the ridge of Craignairny (Creag na h-Airne - ‘rock of the blackthorn’), Dungeon Hill (An Daingean ‘the fastness’) and Brishie (Am Briseadh - ‘the broken place). Mike then had to negotiate the dense Sitka plantations north of Backhill of the Bush before gaining the heights of Craigtarson (A’ Chreag Tarsuinn - ‘athwart crag’) and then zig zagged up to the summit of Corserine (A’ Chroisrinn - ‘the cross point’). From there he proceeded up Carlin’s Cairn and over Meaul (Am Meall - ‘the lump’) before camping for the night beside the lochan on the approach to the summit of The Bow. The skies cleared to leave a starry first half of the night but morning dawned in dense fog with visibility less than 70 metres. This led Mike astray and, instead of continuing to the Corran of Portmark (An Corran - ‘the crescent’) and thence to Brockloch via Black Craig, he followed an ATV track and ended up on the shore of Loch Doon (Loch an Duin - ‘loch of the castle’ or Loch a’ Bhealaich - ‘loch of the pass’). Eventually, Mike came across a forestry track that led him back over the ridge to finally arrive at the home of his family’s Top - sunset at Mike’s campsite on the slopes of The Bow. Above - Sarah, May and Mike (left to right) looking content after arriving at Brockloch ancestors at 11am the following day. Mike did the walk solo but he was accompanied on his trip by his wife May and daughter Sarah. Congratulations are due to him for what was quite an epic hike! He mentioned that he found the worst part being the infamous Galloway purple moor-grass tussocks and intervening potholes. It is as well he did the walk before midgie season in a month or so! Michael Ansell Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 29 F red. Olsen Renewables submitted the application to the Scottish Government earlier this year for permission to repower Windy Standard Wind Farm, northeast of Carsphairn. Advertisement AN UPDATE FROM WINDY STANDARD We are pleased with the response so far. We have received feedback, which is broadly positive, from our statutory consultees such as Historic Environment Scotland and NatureScot, amongst others, and hope that the final comments will come in soon. Visit our website www.windystandardwindfarm.com for further information on how you can have your say, or go straight to the Scottish Government portal www.energyconsents.scot and search for application reference number ECU00003324. We really appreciate the comments from local residents too. If you haven’t yet done so, you can still have your say on the plans. If you have any questions, please do get in touch with the team – we are happy to help! You can email us at communities@fredolsen.com or call 07435 763 900. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation Glass Recycling Points • Balmaclellan Stores, Balmaclellan • Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road, Crossmichael • Kirkland Street, St John's Town of Dalry • New Galloway, Carson's Knowe Car Park • St David Street, Kirkpatrick Durham Job Vacancies Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot Freelance Group Leaders (art, dance, tai-chi, exercise), see p29 Carer Vacancy (part time), Carsphairn area. 2 hours per morning (ideally 8-10am), 3 to 4 mornings a week. Contact : 07870 935 480 - visit glenkens.scot/ jobs-and-volunteering/carer-vacancy-part-time for further info. Glenkens Youth Group Deliverer. Freelance 2-year contract with GCAT to support and develop the Glenkens Youth Group for S1-S5s. 7 hours per week, including Monday evenings. For full job details and how to apply visit www.gcat.scot/jobs. USEFUL NUMBERS: ● Pot-hole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 ● Police, non-emergency: 101 ● Doctor: 01644 420 234 ● NHS 24: 08454 24 24 24 ● D&G Council: 030 33 33 3000 ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE page 30 Gordon McAdam Plumbing & Heating 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry 01644 430 393 07834 321 789 Advanced Massage Practitioner (price per issue incl VAT) SMALL: 6cm x 6cm, £50 1/4 PAGE: 9cm w x 13cm h, £108 1/2 PAGE: 18cm w x 13cm h, £200 FULL PAGE: 18cm w x 27cm h, £332 Please get in touch further details including small business/ charity rates and series discounts. Email glenkensgazette@ hotmail.co.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07727 127 997 VAT Reg. No. 334 0905 24 THE STEWARTRY VETERINARY CENTRE CASTLE DOUGLAS SURGERY HOURS GLENKENS MEDICAL PRACTICE DALBEATTIE SURGERY HOURS General Medical & Dispensing Services FOR APPOINTMENTS AT BOTH SURGERIES OR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY The Surgery High Street New Galloway Mon-Fri 2.00-2.30 pm & 5-6 pm Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm Sat 2-2.30 pm Mon, Wed, Fri 3-3.30 pm Tues & Thurs 6-6.30 pm  01556 502263 VETERINARY SURGERY OAKWELL ROAD CASTLE DOUGLAS  FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 01644 420234 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 31 KEY GLENKENS CONTACTS LOCAL DOCTORS’ SURGERY Glenkens Medical Practice - 01644 420 234 COMMUNITY CONTACTS • Balmaclellan: Martin Warnock 07939 261 391 • Crossmichael: Richard Middleton - 01556 670 691 502502 (they also deliver groceries) • Dalry: Graham West - 01644 430 503 • Grierson’s Butchers: 01556 502 637 • New Galloway: 07741 656 601 • Henderson’s Butchers: 01556 502 654 • Parton: Tom - 07835821976 FOOD DELIVERIES • Carsphairn: Liz Holmes - 07718 358 160 • Galloway Foodbank - 07730 788 335 • Corsock: Julie Garton - 07769 647 702 • Glenkens Food Hub - www. openfoodnetwork.org.uk/ glenkens-food-hub/shop • Kirkpatrick Durham: Heather 07551 639 629 • Mitchell’s Greengrocers: 01556 502 077 • Fleet Fish: call 07966 103 912 to find out about Glenkens delivery days • Roan’s Dairy - 01556 620 374 • Ballards Butchers - 01556 LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Helen Crowther on 0790 467 8599 or drop by the shop on Main Street, Dalry Higgins at julia.higgins55@outlook.com Glenkens Scout Group: Contact Heather McIntosh on 01644 420 375 Schools: Visit the school office or call Dalry Primary on 01644 430 105 (for Nursery/ELC too), Dalry Secondary on 01644 430 259 or Kells on 01644 420 340 Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING): Contact newgallowaytownhall@gmail.com Dalry Communities Properties Trust (DCPT): Contact Gary Blissett at garyblissett51@gmail. com or 01644 430 521 CatStrand: Contact info@catstrand.com or 01644 420 374 or pop in to the CatStrand Carsphairn Heritage Initiative: Contact Ben Ade at carsphairnhi@gmail.com Dalry Town Hall: Contact Lesley Blissett at lesleyblissett52@gmail.com Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership (GGLP): Contact McNabb Laurie at mcnabb. laurie@dumgal.gov.uk Glenkens Community Centre: Contact Sarah McAdam on minimac01644@gmail.com Glenkens Food Hub: Contact Lesley Atkins on lesley@propagate.org.uk or 07587 122 151 New Galloway Community Enterprises (NGCE): Contact ngce5000@gmail.com or pop into New Galloway Community Shop If you would like to add your community organisation to this list please get in touch with the Gazette - contact details are on the back page. Balmaclellan Community Trust: Contact Julia GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND Sunday Services Balmaclellan: 11am - 4 Jun, 2 Jul (communion), 6 Aug Carsphairn: 11am - 11 Jun, 9 Jul, 13 Aug (communion) Kells: 11am - 18 Jun, 16 Jul, 13 Aug (communion) Dalry: 11am - 25 Jun, 23 Jul, 30 Jul For further information contact Rev Pam Bellis on 07751 379 249 or pam@bellisconsultancy.co.uk SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH St Margaret's Church, New Galloway, DG7 3RP Weekly Services: Sun, 5pm: Holy Communion - Revd Dawn Matthew. Refreshments available before and after the service. New Additional Services: Tue, 11am: Informal Midweek Service with refreshments and chat. Wed, 7.30-8pm: Zoom Evening Prayers. Please contact Dawn for the link. For further information, please call Dawn Matthew on 01644 420 431 or visit www. stmargaretsnewgalloway.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 32 This forest and you - tell us about it We are reviewing the Land Management Plan for Castlemaddy and we want to know what you think. What’s special to you about this place? How do you use it? What do you think of our plans? Come and have your say at our community walk. Tuesday 6th June, 5.30-7.30pm - Polmaddy Walk Tuesday 6th 5.30-7.30pm Meet at Polmaddy carJune park for2023, a walk along the Pack Road Meet at Polmaddy car park for a walk Thursday 8th June, 5.30-7.30pm - Dundeugh Walk along Meet at Dundeugh car parkRoad, for a walkPolmaddy round Dundeugh Wood the Pack Tel: 0300 067 6900 Email: enquiries.south@forestryandland.gov.scot forestryandland.gov.scot GAZETTEinformation Glenkens Gazette page 33 GALLOWAY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org email gct@catstrand.com phone 01644 420374 mobile 07841 512449 June 2023 - July 2023 Regular Services GCT EXCURSIONS GK2 Glenkens-Castle Douglas (Tesco) Wednesday Evenings (Registered Route) Sunday 25th June Out Return 19:00 Dalry (Underhill) 21:15 19:05 New Galloway 21:10 19:15 Mossdale 21:00 19:25 Laurieston 20:50 19:30 Townhead of Greenlaw 20:47 19:37 Castle Douglas (Market St) 20:37 19:40 Castle Douglas (Tesco) 20:35 The Grand Estate Garden Penrith & Dalemain House and Garden, Cumbria We spend the late morning, and take lunch, in the delightful market town of Penrith. After lunch we take the short journey to Dalemain House and Garden. An artists plantswoman’s garden, with knot garden, historic orchard, herbaceous borders, terraces and semiwildflower gardens. Woodland walks. Café available. Entry to gardens: £10:50 (£8:50 for seniors) Bus Fare: £15:00 Booking not required Glenkens to Newton Stewart Fortnightly - Tuesday mornings Outward Pickups: Dalry (Underhill) 09:30 New Galloway (Town Hall) 09:35 CatStrand) 09:37 To Aldi Return Pickup Newton Stewart (Aldi Car Park) 11:30 Return fare £3.50 Advance booking required. Member Hire Sunday 30th July The Natural Gardens Moffatt & Craigieburn and Waterside Gardens We take a leisurely drive to the scenic town of Moffatt, where an early lunch can be purchased from the many eateries. We then travel to Craigieburn Garden, a beautiful and varied plant lovers garden in a natural setting. A short walk then takes us to Waterside Garden, a plantsman’s delight and home to woods, riverside walks and 3 acres of floral planting. Refreshments available in Village Hall. Entry to gardens: £8:00 Bus Fare: £15:00 For more info on these trips, please visit our website at: www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org/excursions GCT has 16-, 15-, and 8-seater minibuses and a fully wheelchair accessible electric car available for hire by community organisations. For information about membership and terms and conditions of hire see the GCT website or phone 07841 512449. Glenkens eBike Club Discounted eBike hire available to local residents: £5:00 per day £15:00 per weekend (Fri-Mon) £20:00 per week (Mon-Fri) https://www.gallowaycommunitytransport.org/ebikes email gctjon@catstrand.com Drivers Needed Galloway Community Transport needs your help to provide a wide range of community transport services across the Stewartry and beyond. MINIBUS DRIVING Minibus drivers with D1 (101 or by test) are needed to do volunteer and paid driving for our wide range of member community groups. PATIENT TRANSPORT We also urgently need drivers with their own cars for our patient transport service. Our volunteer patient transport drivers receive a generous mileage reimbursement and the satisfaction of providing a vital service to vulnerable people in our communities. Interested? Email gct@catstrand.com or phone 07841 512449 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 34 WHAT'S ON June/July JUNE Sun 4, A' the Way to Galloway, 3pm, Dalry Town Hall, see p25 Tue 6, 5.30-7.30pm, Polmaddy Walk: The Pack Road, see p32 Thu 8, Ken Words: Writers’ Café, 7pm, CatStrand Thu 8, Ross Ainslie, Ali Hutton & Jenn Butterworth, 7.30pm, CatStrand Thu 8, 5.30-7.30pm, Dundeugh Walk: Dundeugh Wood, see p32 Sun 11, Forest Wildlife Family Fun Day, 11am-3pm, Carsphairn Community Woodland, Muirdrochwood Forest Wed 14, Dalry Film Club: The Outfit 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 17, Midsummer Ceilidh With Whirligig, 7.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 17, Bairn Banter's Big Toddle, 10am, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn, p6 Sat 17, Glenkens Producers Market, 10am-1pm, Dalry Town Hall Glenkens Land Use Vison - visit the Glenkens Hub at www.gcat.scot/landuse or scan the QR code on p19. Please feed back any comments to helen@ catstrand.com by 19 June Thu 22, Open Stage, 7.30pm, CatStrand Fri 23, Songwave Choir, 7pm, Kirkpatrick Durham Village Hall Sat 24, SongWave Choir, 4pm, Dalry Town Hall Sun 25, GCT Bus Trip: The Grand Estate Garden, Cumbria, see p33 JULY Fri 7, Blue Giant Orkestar, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sat 8, Glenkens Producers Market, 10am-1pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 13, Ken Words: Writers’ Café, 7pm, CatStrand Mon 17, Project Unspoken Workshop, 4-7pm, CatStrand, see p25 Sat 22, Sanchez Rigg: Project Unspoken, 7.30pm, CatStrand Sun 23, The Glenkens Story : The Galloway Nag, CatStrand, see p27 Sun 30, GCT Bus Trip: The Natural Gardens, Moffat, see p33 Submit Glenkens Food Month events by 30 June, see 36 (back page) For more events & activities visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot/calendar N ew Galloway Golf Club Founded Foun ded 1902 www.ng www.n g gc.co.uk - 01644 420737 Buggies now available for hire VISITORS AND NEW MEMBERS WELCOME David Tallontire CHIMNEY SWEEP Covering the Glenkens & further afield 07709 144 299 - wood burners - multi-fuel stoves - open fires - Agas - Rayburns - birds nest removal with CCTV inspection - certificates issued - feel free to call for advice - Find me on Facebook Family and friends coming to stay? Short of space? Cosy country cottage available (sleeps 4) Call Fiona on 01644 420 227 www.covenanters-holidaycottagescotland.co.uk 唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀Ⰰ 䰀漀漀猀攀 䌀漀瘀攀爀猀Ⰰ 䘀愀戀爀椀挀猀Ⰰ 䌀甀猀栀椀漀渀猀 刀攀昀椀氀氀攀搀 䘀爀攀攀 䔀猀琀椀洀愀琀攀猀 吀栀攀 圀漀爀欀猀栀漀瀀Ⰰ 䴀漀渀礀戀甀椀攀Ⰰ 䌀漀爀猀漀挀欀⸀ 䐀䜀㜀 ㌀䐀夀 眀眀眀⸀䠀愀爀爀椀猀ⴀ唀瀀栀漀氀猀琀攀爀礀⸀挀漀⸀甀欀 ㄀㘀㐀㐀 㐀㐀 㔀㈀㤀 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 35 REGULAR ACTIVITIES Balmaclellan Village Hall Up Skills: 3D Animation, (age 15+), Wed 6-8pm 2-4pm, contact Michelle on 07795 613 148 Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, to book email warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Young Writers Cafe, (age 12+), Wed 6-7.30pm, monthly School's Out, Wed 3-4.30pm, kids & parents after-school social club, contact Michele on 07940 313445 Glenkens Crafters, Wed 10am-12noon, for info contact julia.higgins55@outlook. com A Chance to Dance, (age 12+), Thu biweekly, 5.30-7pm VAN: Peer Review Sessions, (age 16+), 7-9pm, monthly Books in Balmaclellan Community Library, Wed 10.30–12.30 & 5.30-7pm; Fri 5.30-7.30pm; Sat 10.30am -12.30pm (tea & coffee available on Sat). Dance Weekenders (age 12+), Sat monthly, 1–4pm Balmaclellan Blether, 3rd Thu each month, contact warburton.julie@ googlemail.com Art Club, (age 10-15), Sat bi-weekly 11.15am-12.30pm Glenkens Art Workshop, Thu 2-4pm, contact t_leach1@sky.com Easiobics, Tue & Fri 9.30-10.30pm, contact mlfagan@live.co.uk Circuits, Sat 8-9am, contact John 07544 713 586 Kettelbells, Mon & Tue 6-7pm, contact John 07544 713 586 The Men's Shed, Balmaclellan Opening Times: Monday, 9.30am - 12.30pm Wednesday, 9.30am - 12.30pm, Wood Carving, 2-4pm Thursday, Art Group, 2-4pm Friday, 9.30am - 12.30pm Saturday, 9am - 12noon Art Explorers, (age under 10), Sat biweekly 10-11am Creative Portfolio Development, (Age 15+), Sat monthly New Galloway Town Hall Glenkens Youth Activity Group, ages 11+, Mon 7-8.30pm, Dalry School Gym Hall, contact youthwork.ling@gmail.com or 07719 708 668 LING Lunches, Tue, 12.30-2pm. currently held at Kitty's, opposite NG Town Hall, contact communityinclusion.LING@gmail. com Craft Group, Fri 10am-12noon, includes tea & coffee, Lagwyne Hall, contact carsphairncraftgroup@gmail.com Zumba, Wed 7-8pm, suspended, contact samantha.rushton@hotmail.co.uk booking essential Margaret Morris Movement: Youth Grade (age 8-15), Mon (during term time), 4.30-5.30pm Young Art Ambassadors (age 11+), Mon bi-weekly, 4.30-5.30pm Citizens Advice Drop-ins, every other Tue, 10am-4pm Weekly Bus Service to Tesco, Wednesday eve 7pm Dramarama, (age 6-10), Wed 4.30-5.15pm Dalry Library Main St, Dalry, Tel: 01644 430 234 Tue, 2-5pm, for books and other walk-in Fri, 11.30am-12.30pm for NEC Bus Pass and Blue Badge appointments and PCs, and 1-4.30pm for books and other walkin services: Appointments can be booked in the library or on 01387 260 196. Tai Chi, 10.30-11.30am, suspended, contact gentletaichigroup@gmail.com Margaret Morris Movement: Health Play (age 5-8), Mon (during term time), 3.45-4.30pm Table Tennis/Badminton, available to hire by arrangement, contact Sarah on 07500 861 041 Men's Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.30-11am Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu of the month, 7.30pm,Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn CatStrand, New Galloway Friendship Group, Sat (excluding Glenkens Producers Market days), 1011.30am, contact Anne on 01644 430 052 Glenkens Book Group, last Friday of each month, 2pm, call June to book on 01644 420 361 Library Opening Times: Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Carsphairn Yoga For All, Fr 9.15-10.15am, contact Amy on 07733 111 466 Due to work on the building please confirm activities are running on 07749 249 781 or newgallowaytownhall@gmail. com Sports Evenings, indoor bowling & table tennis, Tues 7-9pm, New Galloway Scout Hut, contact Ray on 01644 420 438 Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, 0-7 years, Sat 10-11.45am, Lagwyne Hall, Clachan Crafters, Thu 2-4pm, contact Sarah on 07500 861 041 Martial Arts, Thur 5.30-6.30pm (beginners & tots) & 7-9pm (age 6+), suspended, contact @Facebook KMANews or kmabrian@gmail.com Gentle Yoga, Fri, transferred to Balmaclellan, contact kathyr64@hotmail. co.uk Informal Family Badminton, (net and racquets but no line markings), New Galloway Town Hall, contact Ros on 07749 249 781 Glenkens Community Shop Opening Times: Mon, Tue & Thu - 10am-1pm Wed, Fri & Sat - 10am-4pm Glenkens Community Centre Dalry Good Neighbours Club, Tue, Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, video-led instruction, Mon, 2-3pm, contact lesleyblissett52@gmail. com Dog Training, Tue, 7pm, contact Eric Broadhurst on 07831 590 822 Song Share, 1st Friday each month, 8-11pm, contact anne.chaurand@ btinternet.com Various Cosy Corner, Tue, 1-5pm, Crossmichael Church Hall, contact Anne on 07889 016 963 Crossmichael Heritage Centre, Wed & Fri, 1.30-4.30pm Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Knockvennie Hall Heat Bank & Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona Ramsay on 01644 430 587 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, contact Gary on 01644 430 521 Soup Saturdays, Mossdale Village Hall, last Sat each month, 1-3pm Glenkens Gazette page 36 Celebrating local food and drink I t’s already time to start looking forward to Food Month 2023! This will be our fourth annual celebration of our local food and drink producers and all things food related, after New Galloway Community Enterprises kicked it off way back in 2019. But this year we’ll be doing things a little differently; we’re going to trial using the new Glenkens Hub website to coordinate the month – which means its over to you... If you - as a community organisation, local business or even individual - would like to put on a food-related event in the Glenkens this September you can add it into the new planning calendar and take advantage of all of the Food Month publicity for free! Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) has applied for funding to cover a printed programme and all activities uploaded onto the calendar by 30 June will be included in this. In addition, GCAT can manage any ticketed events through its CatStrand booking system (entry money will be returned to you of course!), and you can use the Food Month logo for any publicity. So if you'd like to be a part of this great community event, get your thinking hats on and your event details into the Food Month calendar by scanning the QR code here. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Submit events, activities, news stories, cartoons, reviews, tips & techniques, fiction, photos, ads or ideas... Contact Sarah Ade on 07727 127 997 or glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Both the calendar and the printed programme will go live in early July. If you have any questions please email jo@catstrand. com or call 01644 420 374. Jo Jackson Editing & Design: sarah.ade@gmail.com AUG/SEPT COPY DEADLINE: 5 JULY The Glenkens Gazette is an initiative of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust, a Registered Scottish Charity No SC032050 The role of the Gazette is to represent the voice of the community and does not represent the views of GCAT.  Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Glenkens Gazette 136 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GG_136 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GCAT Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Description An account of the resource Editor: Sarah Ade