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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 2026 ISSUE 156 FREE A fresh start for Carsphairn shop W hat began as an idea raised through community surveys has become a reality, as Carsphairn’s village shop opens its doors once again. With a new name, a new look and a renewed purpose, the shop is ready to take its place once more at the heart of the community. Carrick’s o’ Carsphairn General Store and Café is the fresh new trading name of the shop, owned and run by Carsphairn Village Shop Limited (CVSL). Those behind the project knew from the outset that a village shop in Carsphairn was unlikely ever to be a significant money- INSIDE THIS ISSUE Education in the Glenkens & Dalry School Consultation ...turn to p3 maker. But community surveys made something else very clear: for the people who live here, having a shop at the heart of the village matters. After months of planning, funding applications, building work and an extraordinary amount of volunteer effort, Carrick’s is now ready to serve Carsphairn and the surrounding area. The shop will stock everyday essentials, including fresh and frozen foods and cupboard items, alongside logs, kindling, coal and pet food. The café will offer breakfast rolls, light lunches, freshly filled sandwiches, paninis, chips and locally supplied cakes. But the hope is that Carrick’s will become much more than somewhere to pick up groceries or grab a coffee. Its success will be measured not simply by what goes through the till, but by once again giving Carsphairn a warm and welcoming place at the heart of village life. Continued on page 2... From Balmaclellan to Las Vegas F rom growing up in Balmaclellan to taking on some of the world’s top darts players in Las Vegas, Gareth Edwards has come a long way. And he credits his Glenkens upbringing and the support of his family with helping him get there. James Clerk Maxwell Centre Parton Kirk fundraiser ...turn to p5 Who decides the future of our glens? ...turn to p10 Gareth moved to Balmaclellan at the beginning of 1990, attending Dalry Primary and Secondary schools before moving on to Kirkcudbright Academy, where he met his future wife, Lesleyanne. He joined the armed forces as an aircraft engineer in 1997, a career he has successfully combined with family life and, more recently, a growing passion for darts. It has been an exceptional year. Gareth was crowned the inaugural RAF darts champion, gained sponsorship from darts manufacturers Winmau to attend the Professional Darts Corporation Qualifying School, and qualified for the World Darts Federation World Masters in Las Vegas. Continued on page 2... Learn to play bridge in the Glenkens ...turn to p20 KEEPING YOUR PROPERTY SAFE Visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot for an article by PC Andy McCornick on the recent rural burglaries and how you can best protect your property. 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 CONTENTS Gareth hits the bullseye NEWS: P1-6 PEOPLE: P7 ENVIRONMENT: P8-15 COMMUNITY: P16-21 HISTORY: P22-23 ARTS: P24-27 INFORMATION: P28-29 EVENTS: P30-32 Continued from front page... For Gareth, reaching the last 32 of the WDF World Masters was the latest milestone in a journey built around hard work, encouragement and a willingness to take opportunities when they arise. His success at the board has developed alongside a long career as an aircraft engineer, while darts itself has gained increasing recognition as a sport within the armed forces. and testing himself against an international field. Winning his group and making it through to the final 32 gave him confidence that he could hold his own at that level. Behind all of these achievements, however, Gareth says there has been one constant – his family. And, after seeing where his own path has taken him, Gareth has a message for younger people beginning to discover where their interests and abilities might lead. Looking back, he also remains grateful for the childhood he enjoyed in Balmaclellan. Becoming the first RAF darts champion proved particularly significant, opening the door to sponsorship from leading darts manufacturer Winmau and the opportunity to attend Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Qualifying School, where competitors battle for the chance to earn a professional Tour Card. The next opportunity took Gareth considerably further afield. Qualifying for the World Darts Federation World Masters meant travelling to Las Vegas “I owe much of my success to the positive encouragement from my family. Their belief in me has been a driving force, and I cannot wait to see what the next chapter of my darting journey will hold. I will embrace it and continue to challenge myself.” Looking back, he also remains grateful for the childhood he enjoyed in Balmaclellan. More than just a village shop Continued from front page... Supporting local businesses and producers has been at the heart of the plans for Carrick’s o’ Carsphairn. The shop will stock meat from local farmers William and Irene McCreath of Polquanity Farm, alongside locally grown microgreens from Lisa at Beans Greens. It will also be supplied by Dalmellington Country Butchers and Stewart’s Fruit and Veg, while cakes for the cafe will come from Sarah Maxwell Catering, former owner of Rudds Rolls. The aim is to open seven days a week wherever possible, with flexibility to offer later evening opening when needed. New shop manager and assistant, Martyn and Laura Walker, have already begun putting their own stamp on Carrick’s, with plans for themed window displays, Christmas activities and 'Talking Tables' – a space where anyone can sit down for a chat over a cup of “The memories of such a fantastic childhood and upbringing will stay with me forever. Growing up in a close-knit family that always encouraged me to aim high, I was fortunate to have a strong foundation of support and values.” tea. The idea is to help reduce loneliness and isolation in a rural community. Moorbrock Estate has also donated a winter’s supply of firewood, ensuring the log burner can keep customers warm throughout the colder months. A huge community effort Getting to opening day has taken months of work, much of it carried out by volunteers. Emily Wall, chair of Carsphairn Village Shop Committee (CVSL) said: “I want to personally thank Becky, Cathy, Debbie, Pauline, Joe, Greg, Bryan and Tom for the countless unpaid hours they have put in. There is simply no way we would be where we are today without their commitment. “A very big thank you also goes to David Mason Joinery and Construction, and staff Lee, Tommy and Adam, for transforming the premises. My last-minute changes certainly didn't make their job easy, but they stuck with us throughout.” CVSL also thanked the volunteer directors of Carsphairn Renewable Energy Fund Ltd (CREFL), Fred. Olsen Renewables, South Kyle Wind Farm and The National Lottery Community Fund, whose support helped make the project possible. The CVSL committee has already turned its attention to its next project – bringing Carsphairn’s village pub back to life (see article on p21) – but for now the focus is on welcoming customers through the door. “We are delighted to be serving Carsphairn once again," said Emily. "This has only happened because so many people believed that having a shop here was worth fighting for. Now we want everyone to enjoy their local shop and cafe.” Carricks o' Carsphairn will be open from the last week in September with openingtimes 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, and 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday. “Never underestimate the power of dedication and support. Whether it’s in sport, your career, or any passion you pursue, stay focused, work hard and believe in yourself. “Opportunities can come from the most unexpected places, and with determination, you can achieve far more than you might imagine. Keep pushing your limits and embrace every challenge – your journey is just beginning.” Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 3 The future of education in the Glenkens T his is a pivotal moment for the Glenkens. With Dumfries and Galloway Council Education Department proposing the closure of Dalry Secondary School, there is a lot of anxiety about what the future holds for our communities. There is uncertainty about the impact not just on the education of our teenagers from August 2027 onwards but for the longer-term impact on our primary schools, on routes to employment, the area’s attractiveness to young families and our local economy. There is frustration about how we’ve ended up at this point and real concern that the decisions that are being taken aren’t informed with an understanding of the wider impact that closure of a school will have in a rural community. Here is what you can do now: • Let the council know what you think, by completing their formal consultation on the closure of Dalry Secondary School, before 10 October (visit the D&G Council website or scan the QR code included here) • Contact your local councillor to share your views and concerns • Contact members of the Education Committee, who will be taking the decision, you can find them at http:// dumfriesgalloway.moderngov. co.uk/mgCommitteeDetails. aspx?ID=626 • Attend an open meeting on 26 October in Dalry Community Centre with HM Inspectorate for Education If Dalry Secondary closes, where do we go from here? There is increasing concern about rural education across Dumfries and Galloway as well as in the Glenkens. Recent activity by D&G Council on their attempt to close nurseries in the region suggests we need to be more proactive in defending, protecting and strengthening rural education. Building on the 2025 report on Education and Learning in the Glenkens for the Glenkens Community Action Plan Steering Group (you can find this on the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens. scot under the 'Good to Know' tab), the communities of the Glenkens are taking matters into their own hands. The Carsphairn Learning and Development Committee (CLaDC) are moving forward with plans to acquire the former primary school and repurpose it to meet the education and learning needs of the Carsphairn community. With support from the Community Led Local Development Fund through Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) have appointed a development officer to take forward proposals for rural education in the Glenkens (see article on p7). internships, apprenticeships and recruitment. We are aware that people have different views on what is needed and we’d very much encourage you to get in touch with our new Development Officer, Hayley McGaw, to share your thoughts, Building on the 2025 report on Education and Learning in the Glenkens ... the communities of the Glenkens are taking matters into their own hands. Over the coming months, GCAT will be: • Engaging with parents, teachers, head-teachers and education managers around what our rural education needs are. • Undertaking an options appraisal of areas where communities could provide wraparound support to the statutory provision of education - preschool, primary & secondary and also where leavers and adult learning can be supported. • Considering ways to improve the relationship with D&G Council, to explore where we can constructively work with the council to deliver good long-term outcomes for the Glenkens. concerns and ideas. Hayley is a weel-kent face in the Glenkens and has both the lived experience of going to Kells Primary and Dalry Secondary and also having contributed as a researcher to the D&G Council reports on depopulation. You can contact Hayley on development@catstrand.com Between now and the end of March, we want to define what our communities need and develop a plan, hopefully in collaboration with D&G Council, to deliver the best long-term outcomes for education and learning for the communities of the Glenkens. We look forward to hearing from you. • Working to understand local employers' needs for skills development, placements, Andrew McConnell, GCAT Chief Executive Local bus service consultation: have your say! R esidents across Dumfries and Galloway are being encouraged to have their say on the future of bus services across the region. D&G Council, working with SWestrans, is carrying out a major review of the local bus network to understand how well current services meet the needs of communities. The review will look at gaps in existing provision and how buses can better connect people with employment, education, healthcare, shops and other essential services. This is particularly relevant for rural communities, where limited public transport can have a significant impact on people's ability to access services, work and education. Feedback from residents, businesses, community groups and other organisations will be considered alongside transport data and technical analysis, with recommendations eventually going before the council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee. The survey is open until 9 October - scan the QR code here to complete it online or visit www. dumfriesandgalloway.gov. uk and search for 'bus service consultation'. One of the key services which was cut last year was the linking service between the Glenkens and East Ayrshire, meaning that nobody can travel north to Dalmellington, Ayr or beyond to Glasgow. This has significant impacts on both Glenkens residents, and those in the Doon Valley wishing to travel south. Lorraine Mair, Chair of Dalmellington Community Council, said: "The loss of this service is significant to the residents of Dalmellington Parish with many of them with family and friends in Carsphairn, Castle Douglas and the surrounding areas. "We stand together with Carsphairn and the surrounding communities on this issue." There is also a petition currently active for reinstatement of the 520 bus route which can be found at www.change.org/p/reinstatethe-520-bus-route-to-aid-ourcommunity Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 4 A grand day at the Glenkens Show S aturday 15 August 2026 saw the Glenkens Agricultural Society hold their annual show at Newfield Farm in Dalry, by kind permission of the Wilson family. This good old-fashioned livestock show continues to go from strength to strength and this year was no exception. Despite the uncertainty created by an outbreak of bluetongue infection in Dumfries and Galloway, exhibitors turned out in strength to support this historic annual gathering. Everything from cattle and sheep to goats and horses were on display. In the Horse section, the number of exhibitors were up again for the third year running with nearly 300 entries across the rings. This year was particularly special as the organisers had managed to secure the Scottish Bluefaced Leicester Progeny classes, bringing more entries from exhibitors outwith the area. It was truly great to see our thriving local show hosting this prestigious event. Judging of all livestock classes took place in the morning and by afternoon all eyes were on the main ring where the champion of champions took place. Judging this year’s competition to pick the winner of this supreme title was Mr Jim Craig of Craig Wilson Ltd Auctioneers. His choice was a ‘two crop’ Charolais ewe from James Dean, Boreland of Kelton, with the reserve prize given to a blackface ewe from the Ramsay family at Milnmark. This ewe was also the champion at Carsphairn show back in June. Also deserving particular mention was the Clydesdale horse section. This year the show committee affiliated with the Clydesdale Horse Society to help improve awareness of this rare heritage breed, resulting in a wonderful parade of 10 Clydesdales (and five donkeys!) in the main ring. Working Hunters and the new Junior Championship added to the variety, with lots of fun and memories provided by the Hobby Horse class. A special presentation by the committee was made to a longstanding and much appreciated supporter of the Glenkens, Mr William Gemmell of Holmhead. As in past years, the show was a great social gathering, bringing together lots of people from across the area and beyond to give everyone a fun and entertaining day out. This is no mean feat; working behind the scenes all year round to make the show run smoothly is a genuinely supportive and enthusiastic committee. They deserve our praise for creating a really enjoyable event. Also deserving recognition are all the show’s sponsors, funders, exhibitors and volunteers who help leading up to and on the day; they all make it possible. We hope next year’s show will be just as good! For anyone interested in checking all the winners, results from all classes of the show can be found on the Glenkens Hub under the News tab. Overall champions for this year were: Champion of Champions – James Dean, Boreland of Kelton Reserve Champion of Champions – W Ramsay & Sons, Milnmark Clydesdale Champion - William Gemmell & Holmhead Esme Clydesdale Reserve Champion - Charlotte Young & Doura Rosemary Judith Cowie, Fran Dove, Nikky Wilson and Joyce Thacker Photographs by Wayne Hutchinson & Neil Hidleston 20 years of the Great Corsock Show T he Great Corsock Show is a unique Galloway tradition – and this year was particularly special as it has reached 20 years old! The weather gods shone on the day and entries were received and judged with their usual mixture of diligence and laughter. The show was formally opened by Ian Shaw, with some words celebrating the impact of his late wife Judi, a show founder who passed away in the last year. Highlights of the day included the BBQ (with new equipment, purchased with a grant from Glenkens Community Shop), the bottle stall, scarecrows and all the competition entries, the raffle and the produce auction. A large band of volunteers worked really hard behind the scenes to oversee proceedings, with thanks from all. McNabb Laurie Left: Ian Shaw cutting the ribbon to declare the 20th Great Corsock Show officially open. Below: a selection of egg-celent entries Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews page 5 Campaign for James Clerk Maxwell Centre T he community campaign to secure the future of Parton Kirk has passed a major milestone, raising more than £50,000 towards its £70,000 target. More than 1,000 people from the local area, across the UK and around the world have supported the appeal, bringing the community significantly closer to being able to purchase and protect the historic building. Parton Kirk is the burial place of renowned physicist James Clerk Maxwell, whose discoveries transformed our understanding of electricity, magnetism and light, helping to lay the foundations for radio, television, mobile communications and much of today’s digital technology. But the kirk also holds an important place in the history of Parton itself, having served generations of local people as a place of worship, gathering, reflection and remembrance. The campaign now needs to raise the remaining sum by 31 October, ahead of the acquisition deadline on 1 November. The £70,000 target includes £50,000 to purchase the kirk and a further £20,000 to insure and secure the building and keep it wind- andwatertight while its longerterm future is considered. Paul Hodson, who organised the JustGiving appeal on behalf of the community, said: “The generosity of people has been fantastic, with over a thousand people supporting us from all over the world. We now need to bring this initial fundraising effort to a close by 31 October, reach the full £70,000 target and secure the building.” If the purchase is successful, no final decision has yet been made about the kirk’s future use. Its governance and operating model will instead be developed through further public consultation and careful planning. Scotia and Finlay petition outside Parton Kirk - photo by Dr Franziska Weir John Simpson, who is supporting the campaign, said the response had been “extraordinary”, adding: “It shows how strongly people value both Parton Kirk and James Clerk Maxwell’s legacy.” Donations can be made through the Save Parton Kirk JustGiving appeal, and information about donating by cheque or bank transfer can be found by emailing info@partonkirk.com Photo of the Issue T his issue's winner is Laya McCallie, aged 17, with a photograph taken at the head of the Water of Ken, up the Lorg Glen. Laya 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 love this shot! It's very vibrant with dynamic clouds..." To enter you can send in any photograph taken in the Glenkens to glenkensgazette@hotmail.co.uk Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews Building creativity at Bairn Banter A s the summer holidays drew to a close, families attending Bairn Banter took a moment to reflect on the fond summer Saturday mornings spent with family and friends here in Carsphairn. We have soaked up the sunshine in the Lagwyne Hall garden, practised our newfound hula hoop skills, made suncatchers and ‘perfume potions’ from fragrant flowers and herbs, picked fresh peas, built sandcastles and sampled strawberries from our communal vegetable patch. We’ve also enjoyed birthday celebrations and fantastic forest activities at the Heart of the Glen woodlands. How lucky our children are to grow, thrive, play and learn in the Glenkens. During the summer, the group joined forces with Carsphairn Community Woodland for a Citizen Science event, taking part in the Big Butterfly Count 2026. On a warm yet drizzly Scottish summer morning, children strode over tussocks, ducked under branches and marched between tall fireweed stems in search of butterflies hiding from the uninviting weather. With the hunt proving a wee bit scarce, we headed to the playpark before returning to base to create butterfly wings and masks from cardboard, wool, plant-based glitter, foraged flowers and leaves. Bairn Banter also attended the Carsphairn Community Woodland Open Day, offering activities for children and creating a fabulous tapestry of plants and flowers woven into our giant hazel loom. Back at Bairn Banter HQ, attendees have particularly enjoyed learning through play with our Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities. Following their success, we plan to continue incorporating STEM into our play sessions. Children and families are at the heart of Bairn Banter and help shape our sessions and activities. Following requests for more Lego, our volunteers sourced a bulk supply from a local supplier who buys and refurbishes sets. As well as saving some pennies, buying second-hand has helped children learn about environmental impact, sensible money management and supporting local businesses. We are delighted to introduce our new Lego Play Sessions, taking place on the first Saturday of each month from 10am at the Lagwyne Hall. As we move into autumn and winter, regular sessions will continue alongside our monthly Forest Learning Sessions on the last Saturday of each month. Carsphairn Community Council and Bairn Banter ran a bake sale in September with teas, coffees, cakes, bric-a-brac and stalls offering crafts, cards and local produce. The excellent sum of £374.73 raised at the event will go towards Bairn Banter’s free children’s Halloween Party on Saturday 31 October from 4–6pm. For more information, contact bairnbanter@outlook.com Melissa Ade, Bairn Banter Coordinator can all limit the activities and social opportunities available. The new group aims to change that. Importantly, it will not simply be adults deciding what a youth group should look like. The focus is on giving the young people the opportunities to make friends, build confidence, have new experiences and, most importantly, have a real say in what happens next. They have already got off to an adventurous start. The group recently spent three days together at the Galloway Activity Centre, giving the young people a chance to enjoy a range of fun activities whilst getting to know each other better. There were plenty of laughs along the way, but the activities also encouraged teamwork, problem solving and supporting one another. For a new group, it was also a great way to break the ice. Taking on different challenges together helped the children build friendships and start to develop the sense of identity that will shape the group in the future. The trip was about much more than simply keeping everyone entertained. Experiences like these give young people the chance to challenge themselves, discover new interests and build confidence, while making memories with other children from their community. The Galloway Activity Centre visit is just the beginning. Over the coming weeks and months, we plan to expand the range of activities available locally, as well as organise trips further afield. The aim is to give our young people the chance to visit new places, try different things and enjoy experiences that might not normally be available on their doorstep. CLaDC hopes to build a varied programme of activities and trips, with the young people themselves playing a big part in deciding what they would like to do next. The youth group is part of CLaDC’s wider work to create more opportunities for children and young people in Carsphairn, alongside our tutoring and education provision. There might not be a name for the group yet, but that is really the point. It belongs to the young people involved, and they will help decide for themselves what it becomes. Tom Wall, CLaDC Carsphairn youth group A new youth group has launched in Carsphairn as part of the growing range of opportunities being developed by Carsphairn Learning and Development Committee (CLaDC) for children and young people in the local area. At its heart, the group is about giving local young people somewhere to come together, have fun, try new things and spend time with others their own age. Growing up in a small rural community has plenty of advantages, but opportunities that are readily available to young people in larger towns can be harder to access. Distance, transport and the relatively small number of children living locally page 6 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEnews New education research role T he Glenkens Community & Arts Trust has appointed Hayley McGaw as its first Development Officer. depopulation in rural communities. With funding from Third Sector DG's Community Led Local Development Fund, Hayley will initially focus on rural education and developing proposals for an education and learning hub. "The current consultation on the proposed closure of Dalry Secondary makes this an important moment for our area's future, and I believe the Community Action Plan refresh gives us a real opportunity to shape it. Hayley brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of how important education is in the wider context of Hayley said: "Through my work as a researcher and as a Glenkens local, I know first-hand both the pressures facing rural education and the huge benefits it brings to our communities. "Our area is rich in community, skills, knowledge, land, and experience. I'm excited to work closely with page 7 CAP refresh is coming to you! C local people to use those assets to their full potential. "This year's Skills Fair at Dalry School will help highlight the opportunities already available here, and I'm looking forward to connecting with local employers to help the Glenkens build upon those opportunities for the benefit of the whole community." To contact Hayley email development@catstrand. com ommunity Enterprise have been working on the refresh of our Glenkens Community Action Plan (CAP) and are ready to engage with communities in the Glenkens on what the Community Action Plan means to them and what they want from it. The team will undertake a Glenkens CAP Roadshow, so look out for sessions in different locations across the Glenkens over a couple of days in early November. Don't miss it as it is your chance to check that your community's priorities have their place in the new CAP. Following that engagement out in our communities, there will then be a 'Festival of Ideas' day where all that work is brought together in what will be a final cohesive Community Action Plan for the Glenkens. 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 GAZETTEpeople Glenkens Youth Correspondent page 8 Joshua Wells, aged 17, is our Gazette youth correspondent and in each edition he will be writing about topics which interest him. In this issue Joshua ponders the contrast between urban and rural life. A few weeks ago, I journeyed back down south to attend a series of university open days, a trip that quickly transformed from a simple weekend out into a stark lesson in the geographical difference in atmosphere. Stepping off the train into the frantic hustle and bustle of the city, I was instantly struck by the sharp contrast between the humble Dumfries and Galloway, driven by community, and the fast pace of London, with little room for friendliness. In the south, anonymity is a carefully defended treasure; people move with their heads down and their ears deafened by some music or a podcast. Venturing down there one mustplay human 'frogger', avoiding collision with people off to work (as if they are rushing to work at every second of every day). A polite nod would be treated as if it were a mistake or a threat. While in our beautiful region, even strangers can engage in a polite head nod, or even sometimes a casual conversation. Wandering down the shining glass canyons, a person will find as many friends as they would in the coldhearted, stranded desert. This ignorance of unconditional niceties does not emerge from malice but from a collective survival instinct of urban isolation, making me deeply homesick for the natural politeness that defines daily life back in the Glenkens. Despite only living in Dumfries and Galloway for four years now, I find myself often craving the sanctity of peaceful village life while in cities. This warm dependence has been fostered by the loving and charming atmosphere of the region. Even driving down the roads, one would quickly notice these graceful moments when rural Scottish life proves to be a positive in their existence. On the thin lanes that some must question if they are actually truly paths, drivers will routinely wave at you while in a passing place with a patient smile. The brief moment of eye contact makes that kind smile a mutual subconscious expression. When the thankful driver decides not to raise their hand off the steering wheel, they will often give a quick flash of their hazard lights to show they notice you. Contrastingly, driving down south becomes a quick chore, and one would quickly spend a fortune on public transport to sit on chewing gum-caked seats and smell the dense odour of the horrific bus air conditioning. While bus transport in the local area can be infrequent, you can always trust that it is a safe journey with kind drivers and a cleaner atmosphere. Despite having brilliant outcomes, there is one thing that southern universities can't teach: the unwritten rules of rural life. Moving up here only half a decade ago, I often had to learn these uncodified social contracts between strangers. The subtle head bump and the “hi” to passers-by are a carefully written code that indicates to newcomers how to act while in public, such as on a walk. The atmosphere of the south unintentionally teaches that it is correct to be disassociated from all public social situations. In the city, despite being surrounded by more people, urbanites find themselves lonelier than ever. This is what must be called the paradox of ‘urban isolation’. Crossing back over the border and seeing that “Dumfries 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 and Galloway” sign, watching the landscape open into rolling, untamed hills of the Glenkens, the immediate relief is indescribable. In the fast-paced hubs of the south, success is measured in noise, speed, and pure numbers, mistakenly equating a crowded room with a fulfilled life. Yet, our region proves that true quality of existence thrives in the spaces between crowds. Here, the expansive skies and quiet glens do not represent an empty vacuum, but rather a rare sanctuary where a person has room to breathe. The brilliance of Dumfries and Galloway lies in its ability to maintain a fiercely independent spirit while remaining entirely unpretentious. It is a place where community is not an artificial networking tool, but a genuine lifeline, and where the pace of life allows people to value the human being standing in front of them rather than treating them as an obstacle in a race. Ultimately, leaving the shining glass canyons behind reveals a comforting truth: while the city forces you to block out the world to survive, Galloway invites you to look up, slow down, and feel entirely at home. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 9 Loch Ken Family Fun Day incredible spectacle and certainly one of the highlights of the day. It was great to showcase the fantastic work being carried out by so many local organisations and emergency services. W e would like to thank everyone who braved the weather and joined us for the Loch Ken Family Fun Day on Tuesday 4 August. Despite the rain, it was a fantastic day promoting water safety, learning valuable life-saving skills, enjoying outdoor adventures, and nature activities. It was great to see so many having fun on and around the water. Thank you to all our volunteers, stallholders, activity providers, emergency services, local organisations, our fantastic compere, and everyone who came along to support the event. The K9 Aquasports dock diving was an Thanks also go to all funders - the Glenkens and District Trust, Glenkens Community Shop, Drax Group UK and Dumfries & Galloway Council - who supported this event, and to everyone involved in making the day a success. We can't wait to do it all again next year! Autumn Junior Rangers The first of our Autumn Junior Ranger sessions took place recently, and was informative and fun - 'All about Eels', with thanks to Galloway Rivers Trust. We are very pleased that two of our young rangers have now achieved their Scottish Countryside Rangers Association Junior Ranger Awards, and are now working towards their Leadership Award. The Junior Ranger Programme is open to anyone aged 11-18 and spaces can be booked by emailing office@lochken.org.uk Dates of the programme are shown and you can join in at any point throughout the block. Thursday 10th September 6-8pm Thursday 24th September 5-7pm Saturday 10th October 5:30-8pm Monday 19th October 1-3pm Thursday 5th November 5-7pm Thursday 19th November 5-7pm Lindsay Stewart, Manager, Loch Ken Trust Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 10 Who decides the future of our glens? T he Glenkens; it’s our homeland, a special place many of us have fallen in love with, not least for its tranquillity and exceptional natural environment. From craggy peaks, rolling moors and hills to ancient woodland, marshlands, meadows, lochs and meandering rivers, this area has an incredible wealth of natural attributes. We also hold globally recognised designations, including UNESCO Biosphere, Regional Scenic Area (RSA), RAMSAR wetland and Dark Sky Park status – credentials to be proud of and not overlooked. Having lived here most of my life, my appreciation for the area only grows as time passes. I am protective of these lands which I cherish - I want to ensure future generations can live here and enjoy the same natural splendour I have known. Battles come thick and fast for rural Scotland, from depopulation, ageing demographics and school closures to council budget cuts, commercial forestry, centralisation of amenities and lack of affordable housing. But we fight on, making small wins and continuing to thrive regardless. There are larger forces at work now, however, with financially motivated developers setting their sights on the Glenkens. Gigantic global electricity companies are seeking land for large-scale industrial developments, having already covered vast swathes of rural Canada, Australia, Spain and elsewhere. There is, of course, no doubt that renewable energy is essential for our electricity demands, including both offshore and onshore wind. But these developments should not come at such a high cost to rural areas. Many wind farms already operate successfully here and have been carefully located. It comes down to the right development in the right place. Now for an example of the wrong development in the wrong place: our ongoing battle with returning invader, Canadian company Boralex, and its controversial planned Shepherds’ Rig wind farm. Shepherds’ Rig has been in and out of planning for around 10 years. The hint is in the name – a prominent hill where shepherds could spot their wandering flocks in any direction. The original development faced strong opposition from Dumfries and Galloway Council, local Community Councils, Mountaineering Scotland and numerous residents, visitors and hikers. Scottish Government Reporters also recommended refusal. substantial concrete foundations and excavation of peatland. Peatlands cover only around 3% of the world’s land surface but store more than twice the carbon of all the world’s forests combined. The extreme height of the turbines also requires red aviation warning lights in our renowned dark skies. With homes relatively close to the development, there are understandable concerns about the effect of turbine noise in these quiet glens. Indeed, Shepherds’ Rig’s own Turbine foundation construction in peatland on Shetland © SSE Renewables It seemed the Glenkens had won the battle of Shepherds’ Rig, but celebrations were not to be. Following changes to national planning policy, Scottish Ministers ultimately granted consent. For many locally, spirits sank and a sense of betrayal and loss was widely felt. Boralex has now returned with plans for turbines up to an eyewatering 220 metres tall and a 40-year operational life. Bigger turbines, in place for longer, potentially mean bigger profits for Boralex. But this has also given our communities another chance to speak out while the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit considers the updated application. If you are concerned about sacrificing our area to these mechanised behemoths, consider their scale: around twice the height of Blackcraig’s turbines and more than twice the height of London’s Big Ben. Their construction will require noise assessment records representative background sound levels in the 20-decibel range at several nearby locations, while predicting turbine noise reaching the mid-to-high 30s at some properties. There are also concerns about low-frequency noise and infrasound, subjects which have been studied internationally. Shepherds’ Rig’s assessment does not carry out a site-specific analysis of lowfrequency noise or infrasound, instead scoping these issues out. Significantly, the assessment relies on ETSU-R-97 guidance dating from 1996. Updated UK Government wind-turbine noise guidance was published in June 2026, before the latest Shepherds’ Rig application was submitted, replacing ETSU-R-97 and introducing updated provisions including for amplitude modulation. Surely it is reasonable to ask that Shepherds’ Rig is assessed against current guidance? Wind turbines can also pose collision risks to birds and bats, while construction and maintenance traffic will put considerable additional pressure on our small and often fragile rural roads. The Shepherds’ Rig development is unusual in that the original application faced strong opposition locally, including from Dumfries and Galloway Council and Carsphairn Community Council, while the Scottish Government-appointed Reporters who examined the proposal also recommended that consent be refused. Despite this, following changes to national planning policy, Scottish Ministers ultimately granted consent. In light of this, it feels reasonable to ask readers to consider making their views known on the new application. Local voices should be heard and, for many of us, the decision on the original Shepherds’ Rig proposal left a very real feeling that those voices had not been given the weight they deserved. The deadline for online representations is 5 October with written representations potentially still considered after this date. They can be sent to: Energy Consents Unit, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU. Alternatively, to submit an online representation, you can scan the QR code here or use the website and details shown below. In similar sentiment to the poet WGM Dobie, cited in the article by Bruce Keith in the last edition of the Gazette, “A raider comes today who kills, The glories of our glens and hills…” Don’t let these invaders take our glens! Mr Windy Miller NB: Please note that this is a reader’s submission and does not represent the views of the Gazette. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 11 Reading the Land a seasonal column by Paul Clarke This is the third in a regular column on permaculture, biodynamics, and reading the rhythms of the land in Galloway. Paul Clarke is the founding director of Naturally Smart CIC at Hensol Wood, outside Mossdale. T he hazels along the track caught me out again. I went up with an empty bag and great expectations on Tuesday 25 August, which according to my notebook is a good week earlier than I have ever done before, and found the ground beneath the hazels scattered with green husks, each one chiseled open neatly and emptied. The abundant source of just a few days earlier was gone. Above me a red squirrel was working through the canopy without any particular urgency. I stood there a while and we looked at each other, then it nonchalantly returned to harvesting. I took the point and went home. I will not however, be filing this encounter in my notebook under another of my many failures. The squirrels are clearly reading skilfully that which I keep missing. They don’t wait for a nut to look ready, they wait for the kernel to fill, and they can judge that from the outside in a way I have never managed to do. So what I take home instead of cobnuts is a different date for future reference, assuming I want to deprive the reds of their winter food preparations. For me it's a little luxury, but for them it's a mainstay over winter. More notable through the observation is the realisation that if the reds are stripping the hazels in mid-August, we can justifiably argue that the year is running ahead of itself, and everything downstream of that will be running ahead too. The squirrel and nut encounter told me more about the season than the calendar. And running ahead it has been. The plums came in heavy, early, and small, which is the signature of a tree that set a generous crop in a warm spring and then had to raise it on short water supplies. Sugars concentrated to the point of popping the skins, skins themselves were wrinkled and tough, stones large in proportion. They are good for eating, but poor for keeping. The apples have gone the same way, with early varieties dropping before I was ready for them and notably rotting very quickly. One tree dropped a third of its crop in a week without any notable wind. That is a tree doing the measurements and deciding it cannot carry on with its season's load, given the ground conditions. The arithmetic is worth spelling out, because it explains most of what has gone wrong and quite a lot of what has gone right over this strange summer. On the twenty-first of August the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) moved the Galloway Dee and the Urr Water into Significant Water Scarcity, the top of their four-step scale. The gauge at Dalbeattie, which is the reference for both, has now recorded more days of very low flow than in any year for two decades. We had thundery rain a few days before that and some rivers twitched in response, but the overall picture barely shifted. SEPA's own comment on it was blunt: when a river has been low for weeks, a few wet days do not change anything. Recovery needs sustained rain falling in the right places and we aren’t seeing that yet. That is the difference between rainfall and water, and it is the whole lesson of this year. Ground that has been baked shut sheds a heavy shower almost entirely. I watched it happen on the track below the barn, where an inch of rain in an afternoon arrived at the bottom gate as run-off within twenty minutes and left the soil six inches down as dry as it had been that morning. The same storm fell on the mulched beds and simply vanished into them. So what of the lessons learnt from this growing season? What managed to grow well this year was anything with a living roof covered over the soil. Deepmulched beds, the woodlandedge planting, the older fruit trees with grass and comfrey around their feet rather than bare ring-weeded circles. What suffered was everything I had left open and everything I had planted in the last two seasons, because a young tree has no reserves to draw on and no root depth to reach with. I lost two of a group of five apples I put in during the early spring, which is a straightforward consequence of planting into a warming climate and then not committing to water them through their first three summers. That error is on me. We have already enjoyed the mellow fruitfulness this autumn. It is the extended mists we seem to have gone short of; they are currently light and early in the morning and hover mainly on the already wetter ground as we would expect, the drier spaces barely getting a glimpse. Which brings the work of the coming weeks into sharp focus, and it is mostly about catching what water falls. The Met Office outlook to mid September points to a changeable, often unsettled spells with rainfall likely above average in the west, and some strong winds along with it, though they are careful to say the signals are weak and confidence is low. Take it as a reasonable bet rather than a promise. Either way, autumn and winter rain is what recharges the ground for next summer, and this year has shown us exactly how little slack the system has left. So: jobs to do… • Gutters cleared and downpipes checked before the first real windy days which will drop the autumn leaves fast this year in all likelihood and refill the gutters; the rinse and repeat of the gutters will pay dividends in every tank and water butt (once emptied of any sludge and made ready) as they will refill and be ready for use • Sort out gutter leaks and drips now rather than in the cold of February • Find additional storage and capture systems for water if possible and try to locate them where you observed it was absent this year • Leaves can be gathered and stacked to rot down rather than binned • Soil covered before November, whether with a green manure, a mulch, or simply whatever the season has already dropped will hold the moisture well into next year • Get the woodpile brought under cover • Get your new tree planting areas prepared in advance of the early winter planting window before the frost • Save seed from what actually performed this year as it begins to give you your own hardy resource; this season was a test paper, and a few things in the garden passed it , so the seeds from this year are an important set to keep for future use Enjoy the last of the summer sunshine and relish the return of the darkest dark skies. Upcoming Naturally Smart events & activities... Dark Skies Gathering – Friday 16 October, 7–9.30pm. Part of the Dark Skies Festival taking place across the region in October For more information about the Dark Skies Gathering, Mossdale permaculture programme and next year’s Listening to the Land Week, visit naturallysmart.world or email info@naturallysmart. world. You can also follow Naturally Smart World on YouTube @ naturallysmart101 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 12 Land and living in the Glenkens T his article continues the series in the Gazette exploring, through interviews, some of the issues facing the people who work in agriculture and forestry in the Glenkens. A series of articles by Nikky Wilson These are the people who shape the landscape so many of us love. They have a big influence on our lives as the producers of the food and materials we need to survive and thrive. We want to give them a voice and learn from them directly what matters to them, what they love about their work and how they deal with some of the problems they have faced. Some articles in this series have extended versions available on the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Jim Ramsay: Hill farming in the Glenkens S ituated on higher land close to Lochinvar reservoir, Milnmark Farm has been owned by the Ramsay family for over 50 years. Working the land there, Glenkens resident Jim Ramsay makes a living from livestock farming. I’m the second generation here; my father moved from a dairy farm in Wigtownshire moving first to Lagheadfarm near Gatehouse, where we lived for three years, before making the move to Milnmark. While my father was keen on dairy farming, beef cattle and blackface sheep, in particular, were always where his heart lay. I now manage the farm in partnership with my two brothers and hope that the next generation, my son and his cousins, who are all keen on farming, will carry on. My son Andrew works on the farm although he’s off shearing at the moment. Farming in the uplands is harder than on the more productive land in the lowlands; the soils are thinner and we get more rain. Tending to livestock is our main job throughout the year. We keep 800 blackface ewes and 100 Angus beef cattle. We have around 200 acres of in-bye land and manage to produce almost all our own silage for the cows. We raise hardy breeds that can stay out on the hill all year round, but they require feeding in the winter months. The calves are sold in the autumn to avoid having to overwinter them; they go to other farmers with better ground. breeding sales in October. We take stock to the local livestock sales at Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart and Ayr. In recent years we have ventured further afield to Lanark, Stirling and Dalmally. For livestock farms like ours, this is the ‘harvest time’ and most of our income is made during this period. The sales are also a great social occasion and a chance to catch up with other farmers; they’re good friends, even if you only see them once or twice a year. Taking animals to the agricultural shows is also another opportunity to meet up and show off your best livestock. We visit most of the local shows; Glenkens, Carsphairn and Dumfries. It’s always nice to see good stock other farmers have brought out and seeing them do well at the shows. At the end of the day, we’re all in the same boat. We lamb the ewes outside, usually starting around 7 April. After lambing, my time is taken up herding the ewes and their lambs, along with all the usual tasks that need to be attended to at that time of year. Ewes and lambs need wormed and the lambs all need to be vaccinated. This busy spell culminates with the shearing of the ewes. I enjoy working with livestock and get satisfaction from raising good quality, healthy animals, and it’s always nice if you can get a good price for them at market as well. I also like the challenge posed by breeding; it takes a bit of time and effort to work out what breeding combinations might be successful and deliver a prize beast, and sometimes it works...but sometimes it doesn’t. After shearing, this is a time of year when the pressure eases slightly before silage-making starts later in the summer. Come September it's time to start preparing sale animals for the There are always challenges. We have good and bad years with the weather, but BSE and COVID posed some really big challenges. One particular local issue is the increase in Jim Ramsay on his family farm at Milnmark afforestation in this area - that has a big impact on the value of the land. Most hill farms are viable, even if not that profitable, but forestry has inflated land prices locally and made it difficult for farmers to buy land, especially new entrants to farming. Tenancies for young people have have also become few and far between. Even in the instance when a farmer is retiring for example, it’s difficult to avoid selling to the forestry companies ‘loaded’ with city investors' cash and offering such high prices. Unfortunately, the Scottish Government’s targets for commercial forestry mean that South West Scotland is seen as the golden triangle for planting, which is having a real impact, not only on farming in the uplands, but also on ground nesting bird populations which the RSPB regard as being of international conservation importance. Once common birds such as the curlew and skylark are losing the land they rely on. Just like our rural populations, our native wildlife, that has evolved alongside upland farming for centuries, is quietly disappearing from the landscape. In my lifetime, I’ve seen a massive change in the landscape, mostly due to commercial forestry. Continued over the page... Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment Continued from previous page... The argument is that it provides jobs and helps the local economy, but I don’t support that view. In fact, in what I believe has been the only study done in Scotland to compare employment in forestry with the hill farming it is replacing – carried out around Eskdalemuir – the conclusion was reached that, once all the peaks and troughs of the forestry cycle were ‘smoothed out’ forestry actually provided 17% less jobs than hill farming. loss from soils when they are disturbed for tree planting. In addition, there are substantial global warming impacts from the albedo change when page 13 to raise the issue both locally and nationally, but the notion of growing trees to meet climate targets is such an easy answer for politicians. They, and indeed the press, are simply not interested in the actual science on this matter. Just like our rural populations, our native wildlife, that has evolved alongside upland farming for centuries, is quietly disappearing from the landscape. It seems quite mad to me, that in order to create five forestry jobs for far-off based forestry contractors, lorry drivers and foreign tree planters, six local shepherds and stockmen have to be displaced from the land. I also have no truck with the idea that planting coniferous trees in upland areas sequesters carbon in the trees and the soil. In fact the opposite is true, if you look at it from a longerterm perspective and take account of carbon the land cover changes from upland grassland to dark conifer forest. These forests absorb far more solar energy which in turn causes additional warming in the atmosphere. All that, then roughly a quarter of the ‘sequestered’ carbon is burned as biomass, pumping even more CO2 into the atmosphere. So the idea of ‘carbon credits’ being achieved from tree-planting is rubbish, in my opinion. I’ve done lots of research on this and have tried In the meantime, I just keep farming with my family. Reflecting on all changes on the land, not just in the last 50 years, but going right back to early civilisations, I think that those of us farming now are not so different from those who did so away back in the Bronze Age; we persevere and we evolve with the land. What drives most farmers on is the ultimate desire to pass the land on to the younger generation and hopefully ‘see’ our way of life carry on for many more generations to come. You can find Jim’s assessment of carbon offsetting and forestry in the Land Use Special in Issue 130, in the Glenkens Gazette archive at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens land use strategy game: what influences the way our land is used? A s part of the Glenkens Land & Livelihoods Initiative, in July farmers and representatives of local organisations took part in a Land Use Strategy Game at Dalry Town Hall. Developed by researchers from ETH Zurich University, this was the second time the game has been played in the Glenkens. The point of the game is to give people the chance to explore the varied pressures which shape decisions made by farmers and foresters, and to understand these from perspectives which might not be familiar to them. Some of the 15 participants stepped into the role of land managers, navigating everything from changing markets and government policy to extreme weather events and shifting subsidy schemes. Others played the role of the government officials who controlled those subsidies. A little amateur dramatics added to the fun, as people revelled in their roles! The officials in particular seemed to enjoy being difficult, telling farmers to look at (non-existent) websites, changing the rules abruptly and without reason, and generally wreaking havoc. Meanwhile farmers were trying to balance short term viability against long term prosperity, deciding whether to rent out land to wind farms, or to move out of sheep grazing into cattle farming - or turn their land over to forestry! Horse logging After the session participants reflected on the experience in a rich and rewarding discussion, from which we all learned a lot. Overall, it was a really engaging session that highlighted just how complex land management can be, while giving everyone a better understanding of the difficult decisions and competing priorities faced by those who manage our landscapes. The researchers used what they learned from the event to make the game more realistic, and later this year will hand over their final version to GCAT. This will give more people the opportunity to play it, and we can carry on developing it to more exactly suit conditions in the Glenkens. A big thank you to Anna and Johanna from ETH Zurich University for leading such an insightful and enjoyable session. The strategy game, mid-way through For more information about the Land & Livelihoods Initiative, and about the future development of the game in the Glenkens, email nikkyandsteve@gmail.com. Nikky Wilson & Steve Connelly Steve and Nikky have been commissioned by the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) as Development Officers for the Glenkens Land & Livelihoods Initiative: creating a nature restoration strategy for the Glenkens. To find out more visit the Glenkens Hub page at www. glenkens.scot/projects/naturerestoration W e had a fantastic day at Carsphairn Community Woodland with David and Steffi from Teamwork Horse Logging. It was great to see and experience the skill involved and see the attendees getting stuck in! Thank you so much to everyone who came along and to the volunteers that helped organise the event. Thanks also to Carsphairn Heritage Initiative for bringing along some heritage tools and equipment. Paul McCoy, CCW Development Officer Participants enjoy learning from Steffi and David - photo by Mark Mitchell Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEenvironment page 14 sponsored by Apple Day celebrations! A utumn is the season of apples. To celebrate the diversity and sheer versatility of this fruit – eaten raw or cooked, as a sweet treat or accompanying savoury foods, and drunk as juice or cider – Propagate and friends are holding an Apple Day event as part of the Glenkens Pollinators Project. It will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 24 October at Balmaclellan Village Hall, between 2pm and 4.30pm. We’ll also use the outdoor space, visiting the mature apple trees in the new community area. Join us to have some fun. There will be lots of apple-y themed activities for all ages, both indoors and outdoors: displays of apple varieties and tastings, pressing and juicing, games and a quiz, apple-themed art and creative activities, an apple pie bake-off, advice on storing apples and pruning apple trees, poetry and singing, and a workshop on the origins of apples... and so much more. All free of charge. Bring apples from your garden for identification, if you have any, or your favourite apple recipe to share – and help us map where apple trees grow in the Glenkens. The tradition of Apple Day was first started by Common Ground in 1990, as awareness grew of the loss of not only so many traditional Pressing fresh apple juice - delightful stuff!' varieties of this special Some can be stored for long fruit, but also its importance periods over the winter months, to our landscape, ecology and while others need to be eaten culture. almost as soon as they ripen. Here in Galloway, we of course have our own distinctive variety – the Galloway Pippin – not to mention the now famously native crab apples. Their blossom cheers up the landscape in the spring and provides a source of pollen for bees and other insects... and then they provide an abundance of fruit in the autumn. They come in so many shapes and sizes, colours and flavours – come and celebrate this amazing variety with us at our Apple Day! Volunteers and helpers are welcome – if you want to get involved, please contact abi@ propagate.org.uk This event is supported by the Galloway Glens Legacy Fund. Abi and Nikky Planting trees in the Glenkens landscape Scheme offers grants of up to £1,000 for small scale schemes – varying from adding trees to farmland, through to community orchards and riverbank planting. T he phrase “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is now” is thought to derive from a Chinese proverb. It has many metaphorical meanings, but has a useful literal one. As we edge into autumn, the Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands charity is gearing up for the tree-planting season. We were established in 2023, and it feels like each year our work takes us further into the Glenkens Landscape. At its smallest scale, the Dumfries & Galloway Tree Planting Grant By my calculation, to date we have supported more than 40 small schemes across the Glenkens Gazette area through this scheme. This includes farmers and private landowners, through to community groups such as Mossdale Village Hall and Kirkpatrick Durham Recreation Association. will be lost, others say natural selection is already underway and it will bounce back. With our changing climate, tree species not historically native to Galloway such as hornbeam are becoming part of the planting mix. Could the future see sweet chestnut coppice in the Glenkens? Just as important as planting the next generation of trees is helping landowners with the currently established trees of the Glenkens landscape. This includes site surveys and sharing experience elsewhere. If you’d like to talk to us about tree planting or options with your current woodlands, do get in touch or pop into our office in Balmaclellan Smiddy. To find out more about the work we're doing, visit our website at www.dgwoodlands.org.uk, where you can sign up as a member. Yew wood knot want to miss out… McNabb Laurie The Dumfries & Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme has been popular across the region but the Glenkens is definitely a hotspot – possibly due to adverts we’ve had in the Gazette recently! Even small planting schemes can have an impact – establishing wildlife corridors, shading the next generation of livestock in fields and building the future landscape. Our tree landscape is changing. Ash – possibly our region’s defining roadside tree – is in retreat. Some say 95% of our ash Young tree planters hard at work, leafing a legacy 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 Downsizing – household items for sale/free: Set of golf clubs. Electric-assisted mountain bike. Electric sewing machine. Adjustable tailor’s dummy. Hostess trolley. Various household & garden items. Heavy-duty vacuum. Elna press. Contact: 07776 148 002 Horse manure, rotted and fresh, no weed killers used. Dig your own - bring sacks or trailer. Contact: 07889 229 340 Bunk beds. One double at the bottom, single on top, and one high bed with no bottom bunk, very solid. Contact: 07727 127 997 WANTED/OTHER Old lawn mowers/strimmers/other small machinery. Nonrunners/broken welcome. Contact: text/WhatsApp 07845 562 217 Shed clearances - any shed cleared, large or small. For further info or to arrange a visit contact: 07765 034 841 Local home-repair & maintenance - from small fixes to larger jobs, woodwork to electronics. Quality workmanship, flexible scheduling and fair pricing. Contact: Bruce on 07989 509 798 FOR SALE Renault Master MWB 9 Seat Combi Minibus, MM35 dCi 125. Low mileage of 57K, 11 months MOT, good condition, full-service history, owned from new by Galloway Community Transport, £10,000 ono (incl vat). Contact: 07704 662 925 to view or for further details. Joke of the Issue A wee wifey in the North East of Scotland phones a local paper to put an advert in about her husband passing away. "Certainly, the cost is £25 for up to 30 words, madam." "Nae bother, son, ah ken wit ah need tae say: 'Peter Reid, Peterheid, Deid'. "Anything else? You can use 30 words, perhaps a wee dedication or tribute about the man." "Nope: 'Peter Reid, Peterheid, Deid." "Really Madam, we must insist that you use more text, it will just look odd in the paper - even just a few more words, something, please!" "Fine, son. Peter Reid, Peterheid, Deid. For sale, used volvo 56k miles, full service history, one careful owner." Galloway Food Hub seasonal recipe A dapted from BBC Food online, this delicious seasonal treat is guaranteed to get you in the mood for cosying up as autumn rolls in... PUMPKIN PIE Ingredients with an asterisk can be found on the Food Hub (pumpkin can be swapped for squash if unavailable) - see ad below for info on how to order. Ingredients For the pastry Sweet shortcrust pastry case (or a packet of ready-made sweet shortcrust pastry with 40g crushed pecans mixed in) A simple recipe for the sweet shortcrust pastry can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/food/ recipes/shortcrustpastry_1278 175g *plain flour pinch *salt 85g *butter, cubed 2 tbsp caster sugar 2–3 tbsp cold water For the pumpkin pie filling 450g prepared weight pumpkin flesh, peeled and cut into 2.5 cm chunks 2 large *eggs plus 1 yolk (use the white for another dish) 75g soft *brown sugar 1 tsp ground *cinnamon ½ level teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg ½ tsp ground allspice ½ tsp ground cloves ½ tsp *ground ginger 275ml double cream Method Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. If using a shop-bought sweet crust pastry case, use one that is 23cm diameter and 4cm deep. If using your own pastry, roll it out and use it to line a 23cm pie plate (not loosebottomed). Bake the pastry case blind for 20 minutes. To make the filling, place the pumpkin chunks on a baking tray, cover with foil and roast until tender. This will take about 2030 minutes, depending on your pumpkin. Press the cooked pumpkin in a coarse sieve and to extract any excess water. Set aside to cool before blending in a food processor, or mashing by hand to a pureé. Lightly whisk the eggs and extra yolk together in a large bowl. Place the sugar, spices and the cream in a pan, bring to simmering point, giving it a whisk to mix everything together. Then pour it over the eggs and whisk it again briefly. Now add the pumpkin pureé, still whisking to combine everything thoroughly. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/350F/ Gas 4. Pour the filling into your pastry case and bake for 35-40 minutes, by which time it will puff up round the edges but still feel slightly wobbly in the centre. Remove the pie from the oven and place the tin on a wire cooling rack. Serve warm or chilled (stored loosely covered in foil in the fridge) with some chilled créme fraïche or whipped cream. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 16 Glenkens Scout group update Glenkens Cub Scouts got arty for their 100 Figures centenary project back in 2007. Taking inspiration from artist Antony Gormley, creator of the Angel of the North, the Cubs used clay to make 100 figures of their own. The only instructions were that they had to represent figures and have eyes. Once dried and fired, they were displayed, in true Scouting style, in a tent ready to be photographed. We had hoped to display them in a tent outdoors, but the Scottish weather had other ideas, so the tent was erected indoors instead. We also ran a stall at the Alternative Games, raising £120.48 for Cub funds. Thank you to everyone who donated, bought something or simply stopped for a chat. Thanks also to the organisers for creating such a warm, happy event. We look forward to taking part again in 2027. This year we are celebrating our 110th birthday, so out came the figures again – a few now bearing injuries! We were delighted to receive a £600 grant from Dalry Community Shop. Guy Pumpr has since renewed the south gable end of the Scout Hall with plastic cladding, replacing rotten timbers. A huge thank you to everyone involved. We decided to bring the collection up to 110, and before the summer holidays Hannah brought in clay for the Cubs to get busy making the extra figures. Our Galloway District Lead Volunteer, Chelsea Wilkinson, has been busy over the summer promoting Scouting and looking for adult volunteers to help make the magic happen for local youngsters. The Glenkens group particularly needs Beaver Leaders for six to eight-year-olds and Scout Leaders for the 10-to-14 age group. Cubs are also looking for new members aged eight to 10 after several moved on because of their age. Sadly, with no Scout section at present, there is nowhere locally for them to continue their Scouting journey. If you can help – or have a youngster who would like to give Cubs a try – please get in touch either through our Facebook page or you can call Heather on 01644 420 375. We finish with a lovely story about Cub Alexander FullorArmah, who lives near Newton Stewart. Alexander became a marathon helper for the Race Across Scotland on 8 August, which saw 215 runners travel from Portpatrick Harbour to Cockburnspath in the east. As runners passed Alexander’s gate, he and his mum spent five hours providing drinking water, melon and blackberries, helping with blisters and offering plenty of moral support. Well done, Alexander – we are so proud of you. You are a credit to the Glenkens Pack. Yours in Scouting, Heather and Hannah David 07513 180 960 Free Valuation Events JOINERY & CONSTRUCTION SERVICES We are currently inviting entries for our busy programme of auctions in 2026. Pop along to one of our free valuation events held in our Dumfries saleroom every Wednesday from 9.30am - 12 noon to see what your items may fetch. No appointment necessary. The Auction Centre Irongray Road Dumfries DG2 0JE 01387 721635 dumfries@thomsonroddick.com www.thomsonroddick.com Renovation & Conversions New Builds Extensions Groundworks Roofing Kitchen Fitting Windows/Doors Interior Finishings Covering Dumfries & Galloway Reliable Tradesmen Check out our projects on our socials! D.Mason Joinery @d.mason_joinery d.mason.joinery@gmail.com Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 17 T he Glenkens is a place with a strong sense of community, stunning landscapes and a growing network of people choosing to build their futures here. By highlighting local voices, championing sustainable ways of living and strengthening connections across the community, the Our Glenkens project aims to show that rural life is not only possible, but full of opportunity. Over the next few editions of the Glenkens Gazette, we will feature some of the project's participants, sharing their story and the unique perspective they bring to our community. This issue the Gazette speaks to Ross Sanderson and John Muir. Ross Sanderson & John Muir T he Dumfries & Galloway Rugby Podcast launched in October 2022 to shine a light on rugby across South West Scotland. At its heart is a desire to celebrate the players, coaches and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes. The podcast was founded by Ross Sanderson and New Galloway resident John Muir, Community Inclusion Lead for Local Initiatives in New Galloway (LING). Rugby has been a constant throughout John’s life. He spent more than 30 years involved in the game as a player and coach, including two seasons playing in Australia, and worked in rugby for more than 20 years as a Community Coach and Development Officer. John and Ross met at the gym and, through their shared interest in the game, the idea for a local podcast emerged. John said: “There was a real growth in rugby podcasts, but we felt there was a gap for something specifically local – something that recognised the talent, effort and sheer amount of work going on in the club game across Dumfries & Galloway.” Episodes feature guest interviews, local rugby news and coverage of the region’s seven clubs: Newton Stewart, Dumfries Saints, Stewartry, Annan, Langholm, Wigtownshire and Moffat. “We wanted it to feel like a conversation about the local game rather than the polished official stories – something made by people involved in the game, for people involved in the game,” added John. In 2025, the podcast was ranked 41st among rugby podcasts globally and fifth in Scotland. Now entering its fifth season, it will move from weekly to monthly episodes, allowing Ross and John to capture more stories from youth and senior rugby across the region. New chapter for Carsphairn’s Greystones pub W ith Carrick’s o’ Carsphairn general store and cafe reopening its doors (see front page article), Carsphairn Village Shop Ltd (CVSL) is already turning its attention to its next major community project: bringing the village pub back to life. Greystones Bar and Restaurant has been closed for a number of years and time has not been particularly kind to the building. The flat roof has failed, significant work is required and the once-impressive garden is heavily overgrown. Despite this, we believe it has enormous potential. Thornhill-based architect John Murray has been appointed to draw up initial plans, with early pre-planning discussions with Dumfries and Galloway Council providing some encouragement. Once drawings are available, we intend to hold a community open day so residents can see the ideas and help shape what we create. Our ambition is about much more than simply reopening an old pub. We envisage a community-owned business, operated by employed staff and initially opening Thursday to Sunday – hopefully including the return of a proper pub Sunday lunch! The hillside garden would be developed gradually, making the most of its setting and views, including the Devil’s Putting Stone at the very top. Importantly, we also want Greystones to become a warm and resilient community hub. Plans include a generator, flood resilience measures, a shower and basic provisions, providing somewhere safe, warm and powered during severe weather or power cuts. There is still a considerable journey ahead, but Carrick’s has taught us an enormous amount about turning a community idea into something real. Greystones has stood quiet for long enough. We now have an opportunity to create somewhere that provides employment, attracts visitors, strengthens our resilience and gives Carsphairn another warm and welcoming place to come together. Emily Wall, on behalf of CVSL Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 18 Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity page 19 for Fun at the Glenlair feastival Shout-out pupils from A rriving at the Glenlair Feastival on a warm Saturday afternoon in August, I received a great personal welcome from the hosts, Angus and Frances Ferguson, and found a party in full swing. Billed as a ‘feast and a festival in one’, and hosted in the courtyard of the steading where Demijohn, the liquid deli is based, it offered a wonderful array of food and drink. There was Bossman Middle Eastern wraps, coffee and brownies by Gower Cottage and Glen Urr icecream as well as displays of local produce from The Ethical Dairy and Galloway Scottish Pasta. But best of all were the cocktails, mixed with enthusiasm and flair by Angus’s family and friends. These are all based on the amazing collection of liqueurs produced by the Demijohn team at the Steading. I had a zingy Citrus Sundowner and my companion chose one with an aronia base (also known as a chokeberry, this unusual ingredient is a dark berry from North America) which was fruity and flavoursome. Both were truly delicious and slipped down easily as we chatted and listened to live music in a very relaxed atmosphere in the courtyard. At the end of my visit, Angus gave me a tour of the selection of liqueurs on offer at Demijohn. He also surprised by offering an unusual taster of salad dressings made from Portuguese olive oil mixed with fruity spiced vinegars – not your normal ‘tipple’ but they were wonderful! If you are looking for some interesting liquid presents for friends and family...or just for yourself, you can visit the Glenlair Steading on any weekday, between 10am and 4pm. They also hold other events during the year, including taking part in D&G SpringFling and a Christmas fair. Lots more information – where to find them and what’s on offer –www. demijohn.co.uk/pages/glenlairsteading I will certainly be heading back to make some purchases and put the next Glenlair Feastival (7 August 2027) in next year’s diary! Nikky Wilson Pipe Band opened proceedings at 2pm to begin an afternoon of unique events and entertainment, including a guest performance of circus skills from Cirqulation Ensemble. Livingston won Gold, Thomas Edgar took Silver, and Charlotte Jackson came in third place despite a dramatic fall on the home straight. Other gold medallists were: Tractor Pull – Alexander McKenna & Ellie Caldwell Tossin’ the Sheaf – John Muir & Alexander McKenna (1st equal); Lillie Coulman & Nicole Bygrave (1st equal) Hurlin’ the Curlin’ Stane – John Muir & Becca Windle Gird ‘n’ Cleek World Championship Finalists – Esme Murray, Thomas Edgar, the Dalry Primary class of 1941 Dear Editor, I'd just like to say how much I appreciate reading the back copies of the Gazette. I grew up in the Glenkens, attending Dalry school from 1941, first teacher Miss MacQueen, till1948 when I went on to Kirkcudbright Academy. I now live in Nova Scotia, Canada, and I do not think I will get back for another visit. Six years ago I stayed at the Ken Bridge Hotel and went to look where the plane crashed during the war but could find no trace of it . I wonder if there are many of that first class still around? Dave Briggs Alternative Games draws record crowds A record crowd gathered in New Galloway Park on 2 August for the 49th year of the Games, first held in Parton in 1977 to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. The Games moved to New Galloway in 2001, making this their 25th year in Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh. The Buccleuch & Queensberry After some keen competition in the Gird ‘n’ Cleek racing, which included reigning five-time World Champion Alexander McKenna and several former holders of the title, a new World Champion triumphed at the end of the day. In a keenly contested world final, Mark Shade from Charlotte Stafford, Charlotte Jackson, Mark Shade & Rob Long. The committee would like to thank all stallholders, helpers, entertainers and everyone who came along on the day to make the Games such a success once again. We now look forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the popular event next year! Brian Edgar Photographs from this year's Games taken by Ian Biggar GAZETTEcommunity Learning bridge in the Glenkens Glenkens Gazette W hen I first went along to the Glenkens Bridge Group a little over eighteen months ago, I knew very little about the game beyond the fact that it involved cards. I’d not previously played any card game (unless you count Happy Families and Old Maid!), but I liked the idea of giving my brain a new challenge. Since then, I have discovered that bridge is not only stimulating – and rather addictive! – but also friendly, sociable and great fun. The group began after a casual bridge event held at the community café in Dalry Town Hall and now meets each Monday evening in one of the rooms at the Lochinvar Hotel, Dalry. It is fair to say that, at first, I felt like I was learning a foreign language. There were some occasions when I was certain I would never ‘get’ it. But steadily, I improved. I think what helps is that bridge can be played at many different levels - socially, competitively, or somewhere in between - and the Glenkens group reflects that. We are still learning together, revisiting topics, asking questions, discussing hands, and building confidence. The system I have learned is Acol, the standard bidding system widely used in the UK. At first the language of bidding, partners, tricks and contracts can feel rather daunting, but it soon begins to make sense. Every hand is different, and that is part of the attraction: bridge keeps you thinking, but it also teaches patience, partnership, and good humour. We benefit from the support of the South District of the Scottish Bridge Union (SBU) which helps players and clubs across the region. The wider Scottish bridge community offers opportunities Are you looking to plant some trees? We have grants available for small-scale native planting schemes. For full info, visit: www.dgwoodlands.org.uk Registered as a SCIO, no 052525 page 20 to learn, play online, take part faceto-face, and find events elsewhere in Scotland. For anyone curious about the game, the SBU website is a useful starting point (www.scottishbridge. org). One highlight of my own bridge journey was, along with my bridge partner Clare, being awarded Best Improved Beginners for the SBU (South District). We even got a trophy! I mention this not because I have mastered the game - far from it - but because it shows how encouraging the SBU can be. Improvement comes a little at a time, often through mistakes, discussion, and that satisfying moment when a hand finally makes sense. The Monday evening group is probably best suited now to people who have played before, or who are currently playing and would like to practice in a friendly setting. However, brand new learners are very welcome too, and there is a small and friendly Thursday evening group for those taking their first steps. Mondays sessions are from 7-9pm, and Thursdays from 6-8pm at the Lochinvar Hotel, Dalry. The winter season starts in September. Anyone interested in learning or playing bridge can contact Rosie Moffat at rosiemoffat@btinternet.com For me, bridge has become much more than a game. It is a challenge, a conversation, a puzzle and a pleasure. Most importantly, it is a way of bringing people together - and our warm, friendly group has gone from strength to strength. Laura Rimmer Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEcommunity Glenkens MUGA makes progress Y ou may have noticed some activity at the MUGA on Dalry's Kirkland Street - and we are delighted to share some very good news! The Dalry Community Properties Trust (DCPT) has taken ownership of the Glenkens Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) in Dalry from D&G Council through an Asset Transfer, with the aim of creating a facility for the whole Glenkens to enjoy. We have now completed the first stage of the upgrade thanks to funding from Glenkens & District Trust through Foundation Scotland, Carsphairn Renewable Energy Fund Ltd, Awards for All and the Stewartry Area Committee. The old, worn-out surface has been removed and replaced with a new asphalt surface, providing a much more durable and easily maintained foundation for many years of community and school use. A huge thank you to Doe Sports for their patience, professionalism and understanding throughout the project, particularly as we have page 21 experienced a few setbacks and delays along the way! There is still work to be done. We are continuing to seek funding for the final sports line markings and new equipment needed to support a variety of sports and activities. We are also looking for volunteers to join the team and help make the MUGA a welcoming community facility. Membership options and payas-you-go use will be available. To get involved or for further information email dcptbookings@gmail.com Once the first work is complete, we will hold a community event to celebrate the improvements and officially welcome everyone onto the new pitches. The transformation has begun - and we can’t wait to show you what’s next! Michele Owen, Chair, DCPT What's happening in New Galloway? L ocal Initiatives in New Galloway (LING) continue to keep the hall busy and engage the New Galloway community. Since the last Gazette, we have hosted a Murder Mystery and Cheese and Wine Night, and partnered with New Galloway Golf Club on a Summer Camp. All were well attended and thoroughly enjoyed. By the time of print, we will also have hosted our Night to Remember with local musicians Déjà Vu and our annual Craft Fair. Preparation is already underway for our winter programme. The Christmas Lights Switchon returns on the first Sunday of December, along with our annual Senior Citizens’ Lunch, with sit-in and takeaway meals available. We are also launching a Gamers, Geeks and Nerds night, featuring games including Magic: The Gathering, One Piece and Dungeons & Dragons, alongside Xbox and Nintendo Switch. After an initial delay, work on the play park is due to begin on 19 October, including a new path and gates, repairs to the iron kissing gates and new accessible play equipment. LING has worked alongside several local organisations and Dumfries and Galloway Council to enhance provision for young families in the village. We have also been reinstated as custodians of New Galloway’s famous artwork. Jessie King’s New Galloway and Kells Roll of Honour and Anna Hotchkis’ New Galloway in Autumn have returned home to the Town Hall and are displayed under protective glass in the Upper Hall. Joining them is an Adam Thomson print of New Galloway (pictured), with the original painting held by the National Gallery. If you would like to see the paintings, feel free to join one of our classes or events. Alternatively, on the now rare occasion the hall isn’t being used, stick your head in and ask a member of staff if you can nip up to the Upper Hall and have a look. John Muir, LING Exciting project for the Glenkens youth group E arlier in the summer I was contacted by video artist and filmmaker John Wallace, who is involved in a project called BURN. The project documents and celebrates Scotland’s burns, streams and watercourses, while exploring how climate change is affecting them. He was looking for young people to get involved as part of the Glenkens Land Notes Festival, and we were thrilled to be asked. Our first session started with a demonstration on basic outdoor filming using a smartphone. We then headed to the CatStrand Burn in New Galloway Park, where the youngsters chose different subjects to film, with some great results. The following morning we met John again, along with local marine biologist Jenna Cains. After learning about aquatic sampling and the importance of monitoring and recording results, we returned to the burn to take carefully timed and placed kick samples. The youngsters then identified, categorised and filmed some of the invertebrates living in the burn, while considering how what we do today might change what is found there in future. Some of our footage may be used in a BURN installation at next year’s Land Notes Festival, alongside workshops and debate around the issues raised. The youngsters were praised for their enthusiasm and excellent footage. We learned so much over the two days and, most importantly, had great fun too. Many thanks to John and Jenna for encouraging us to guddle about in a local burn! Thank you to everyone who continues to support our group and, as always, to the Glenkens Community and Arts Trust. For more information email glenkensyouth@gmail.com Sue Curtis, Glenkens Youth Group Deliverer Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 22 Galloway Retold with Angela Miller Robert the Bruce in the Glenkens Y ou’ll know by now that I like to jump about through history, and have covered everything from Neolithic sites to the Hydros. So today you’ll excuse me when I jump back to the War of Independence and Robert the Bruce. In the days between Bruce’s supposed contemplation of a spider in a cave, either in our Galloway hills or on Rathlin Island, off the north coast of Ireland, and the Battle of Bannockburn at Stirling, Robert was an outlaw, wandering Galloway, building his strength to take on the English. After the ‘Battle’ of Glentrool, where his men overcame a much larger English force using the narrow terrain, came the ‘Battle’ of Raploch Moss, where again the Bruce surprised English forces and used novel tactics to beat them. He then found himself at Kenmure Castle. At the time, Kenmure Castle belonged to the Balliols, and it’s rumoured that John Balliol, son of Lady Devorgilla and hapless King of Scotland under Edward I of England, was born there. When Robert arrived, it was billeting English troops, so he decided to try to burn it down. Maybe after two successes he was feeling a little overconfident, but the attack did not go well, and Robert supposedly took to the trees of the ancient Kells Forest to evade capture. Dr Robert Trotter, who wrote Galloway Gossip, describes 'the Bruce' leaping from tree to tree ‘like a squirrel’ all the way to Barskeoch, pursued by English soldiers with hounds. It’s quite an image, whether it’s accurate or not. Eventually, his tactic paid off. Dr Trotter continues that he lost the English soldiers and came to the old village of Polmaddy. Just across the River Deugh was Kars Castle, the remains of which you can find near the car park at the start of the Dundeugh Round. Stationed at Kars Castle were more English troops, so the laird must have been loyal to Balliol. Robert was a fugitive, king or not, and when he got to Polmaddy, he chose the mill barn on the westernmost edge of the village to hide. There he hid behind sacks of flour. The story goes that the miller and his wife did not see eye to eye on who should be King of Scotland. The miller was a staunch supporter of Balliol, but his wife supported the Bruce. Lucky for Robert, it was the miller’s wife who discovered him and helped hide him from the English troops searching the village. After the war, he is said to have repaid her by granting her and her husband the lands of Polmaddy. She is said to have built the Carlin’s Cairn as a monument to the King. He may have passed through the village again on his final pilgrimage to Whithorn. I have an entire series of stories about Robert the Bruce on my channel, covering his time as a fugitive in the Galloway Hills. Angela Miller is the librarian at Dalry Library, a keen local historian and the creator of the YouTube channel Galloway Retold. Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEhistory page 23 Major Cathcart - a Carsphairn connection R esearch into the history of Ardendee, a house near Kirkcudbright, has uncovered an interesting connection with some well-known Carsphairn and Glenkens families. For many years Ardendee was home to Major Frederick Adrian Cathcart and his wife Margaret. Although Frederick Adrian was born and spent his early life in Yorkshire, the Cathcart family had significant connections with Carsphairn, where Major Cathcart became a substantial land and mine owner. It looks as though Frederick Adrian Cathcart may have inherited the properties around Carsphairn through a family connection with Colonel Frederick MacAdam Cathcart, who died without heirs and left them to a nephew in Yorkshire. Frederick Adrian was born and spent his early life in Yorkshire, suggesting a possible link. Colonel MacAdam Cathcart had established and run the Woodhead Lead Mines near Carsphairn and also provided a school and library for his workers. Frederick Adrian Cathcart appears to have lived at Brockloch during the early years of his marriage before later making Ardendee his home. Records from 1920 and 1921 list him as its owner and resident. Major Cathcart had served in both the Boer War and the First World War, but he was also well known locally as a keen sportsman. He was President of the Carsphairn Angling Club at Kendoon Reservoir, was apparently a determined pursuer of poachers and played an important part in the formation of Carsphairn Golf Club. The connections between the families continued. Following the Second World War, Miss Alice Clark Kennedy moved from Knockgray, Carsphairn, to stay at Ardendee with her great friend Margaret Cathcart while renovations were carried out to a Clark Kennedy property in the Glenkens. Miss Alice was a daughter of Viscount Lifford. Major Cathcart died in 1943 and is buried in Carsphairn Parish Church Cemetery. Margaret, a daughter of the 3rd Earl and Countess of Minto, remained active in social and charitable life and died in 1956. It is another fascinating example of how the histories of individual houses and families can reveal connections stretching right across the Glenkens and beyond. Bruce Smith Left: Arandee, taken by the current residents. Below: Major Frederick Adrian Cathcart out for a day’s walking, courtesy of Carsphairn Archives GAZETTEarts Glenkens Gazette page 24 It Shouldn't Happen to a Medic: Chapter 2 Glenkens resident Barry Bryan-Dixon proves that truth really can be stranger than fiction in his memoir, It Shouldn't Happen to a Medic. We'll be sharing Barry's story in instalments, following his journey from young army recruit to seasoned combat medic through a series of unforgettable, often humorous, real-life experiences. “ That, lad, was built in protest against us shooting our missiles. "The monument is the same height as our missiles when on the pad – 50 feet – and at the same time the locals put a curse on our shoots. Ever since then, one missile on almost every shoot has misfired in some way or other. Must stress that the Corporal Missile was very unreliable.” “So I should keep my head down?” “We keep our head down anyway, lad! Ha ha ha.” True enough, our very last shoot misfired. The previous five were perfect. We were allowed to stand in the open at a safe distance, say 400 to 500 yards, to watch the launch, but we did have bunkers nearby for emergencies. So, shoot No. 6...Countdown: “30 seconds... 20... 10... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Alpha... Bravo... Charlie... Delta... Foxtrot... MISFIRE!” The missile stayed exactly where it was, with the liquid oxygen and alcohol spewing out a white cloud like steam from a kettle. But in no time at all, the whole launch pad and missile were completely enveloped in the cloud. We all ran for cover. It was a dirty underwear moment. We learned later that one of the technicians had put the fuel valve in upside down. DRILL CHAOS In 1962, I reported to the Royal Army Medical Corps Depot in Mytchett, Surrey, for trade training after transferring from the Royal Artillery on the recommendation of my Medical Officer, who I had worked for for nearly two years. On arrival at the RAMC Depot, I joined 29 other transferees to form our squadron alongside the new recruit squadrons. We all had at least two years’ service under our belts, and that was a huge problem for us all. Throughout the Army, different regiments and corps have different traditions and histories, which dictate the uniforms they wear, parades, drills and commemorative events, as well as their marching paces. For example, most regiments and corps have a marching pace of 120 paces per minute. The Light Infantry (the Rifles) marching pace is 140 and 180 paces per minute. Some regiments, when on parade and given the order “Attention!”, come to attention and do a right turn. Other regiments come to attention, right turn and march off. Others, like my own, come to attention and wait for the next command, which is “Right turn!”, then “Quick march!” You can imagine, all of us had had our own peculiar drills for the past two years and were expected to change overnight. It was carnage, absolute chaos. We automatically did our own drills and were bumping into each other, knocking each other over. It was hilarious. We couldn’t stop laughing. Our Drill Sergeant and RSM were getting frustrated with us and tearing their hair out. We all thought that we should have cracked it well before our passing-out parade. We had six months to do it in. And we didn’t. On the morning of the parade, our Drill Sergeant said: “Right, lads, we are going to get it right today, aren’t we? Because it’s a very important day – our passing-out parade. ISN’T IT, LADS?” “YES, SERGEANT!” Sold for Parts Only O ver the last few years, I have spent quite a lot of time working in southern China, where the megacities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou are located. I began writing a journal during my visits, trying to capture something of the dissonance a Western visitor encounters in environments so different in scale and dynamic. It evolved into observations about what life in the future might become. It wasn’t, however, the stereotypical Blade Runner scenario. Instead, I became interested in the spaces where people lived out their lives in mundane, quiet and sometimes meditative ways. Sold for Parts Only grew from these observations. Set in a future Guangzhou, it follows Lin Yu, a young repairer who makes a living among the discarded machines and remnants of a city that has grown old around its inhabitants. When Lin Yu brings home what should have been another broken machine, she discovers something living inside it. What follows is not really about technology at all, but about repair, paying attention, and the strange relationships between people, machines and the living world. It’s an unconventional story, and I wanted to experiment with how it was released. I was influenced by Chinese fashion designer Ma Ke, with whom I had the opportunity to work. Her philosophy explores things being made, mended and sustained rather than simply disposed of. Rather than waiting for a printed edition, I began working with AI to explore generating and recording the human voice. The result was an audiobook capturing the sole voice of Lin as she moves through the city. It is deliberately a little clunky, in keeping with the dysfunction of the environment she inhabits. The work evolved further when I came across a book of illustrated Victorian tales and decided to explore a contemporary version of the idea. The result is an illustrated serial, with images evoking the ageing streets, workshops, markets and rain of Guangzhou. The project has grown considerably. The audiobook has become a 16-episode YouTube series, a printed edition is being prepared, and shortly www. soldforpartsonly.com will bring together the book, audio, films and visual world that has grown around the story. At its heart, Sold for Parts Only asks a simple question: in a culture increasingly inclined to replace and discard things, what might happen if we became better at paying attention to what we already have and learned to repair and mend? To find the audiobook visit https://www.youtube.com/@ soldforpartsonly-ist Paul Clarke Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 25 Help shape next steps for CatStrand Creatives T here’s an exciting few years ahead for CatStrand Creatives after we were successfully awarded £64,080 from the National Lottery Young Start Fund. The funding will support our work with children and young people over the next three years. Alongside our current funding from the Holywood Trust and Creative Scotland (until March 2027), this will help us develop more opportunities locally for young people to get creative, try something new and build their skills. This will include more arts, drama and music activities, Arts Award opportunities and work experience for young people interested in creative careers. New activities will begin from December, so keep an eye out for what’s coming up and how to get involved. Most importantly, we want young people themselves to help shape what happens next. This autumn we’ll be running our Youth Voice Lab, giving children and young people the chance to tell us what they want to see happening in the Glenkens. What would you take part in? What’s missing? Is there something you’d love to learn, make, perform or organise? We want to hear from young people of different ages, including those who haven’t been involved with CatStrand Creatives before. Their ideas will help shape our programme over the next three years. There’s plenty happening already too. We’re delighted to welcome Erin Macfarlane, our new Creative Intern, who’ll be supporting the CatStrand Creatives programme and working closely with our under10s, running singing lessons and Dramarama. Youth Players rehearsals have also started, but there’s still time to get involved. We’re looking for young performers as well as those interested in backstage roles, including set design, props and helping bring the production together. We also continue to offer music tuition, Dramarama, art workshops and Arts Award in the three local schools. It’s an exciting time for CatStrand Creatives, so watch this space for the Youth Voice Lab, new activities and plenty more opportunities to get involved. Catherine Campbell, Programme Manager, CatStrand Creatives called Horace, will make an appearance. Similarly, the king’s men will be represented by the bold Captain Valiant, along with Private Spit and Private Polish. If you haven’t guessed yet, this year’s show is a slightly different – and hilarious – take on the famous story of Humpty Dumpty! The title character may not be exactly as you’d expect, but be prepared for plenty of laughs and audience participation as we follow his fluctuating fortunes. Along the way we’ll meet good fairies, Jinxit the Wizard, the King, Queen and Princess, and not forgetting Patsy Putumup, landlady of the local B&B! ‘King Humpty Dumpty’ by Paul Reakes promises to be another great show in traditional panto style and will be staged four times over the weekend of Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December. Tickets go live on 1 October, so please book early to avoid disappointment. They’ll be available from the CatStrand Box Office (01644 420 374) during opening hours or online at www. gcat.scot/arts Brian Edgar CatStrand Players' Christmas panto R ehearsals are now underway for the annual CatStrand panto, and this year it involves all the king’s horses and all the king’s men! Well, maybe not all the King’s horses – they wouldn’t fit on the stage – but one of them, Time Seeds by Margaret Elphinstone T he boundary between poetry and prose can be like that between England and Scotland; sometimes, without a sign to tell you that a line has been crossed, you may be unaware of the change. And it may take a little while in the new country into which one has travelled to realise that the differences are real and significant. So, when a celebrated writer of novels and short stories like Margaret Elphinstone publishes a volume of poetry, it is only natural to look at the differences and similarities of her approach to the two genres and to ask what this new place is like. In an excellent forward to the book, well-known local poet, Jane McBeth, tells us that Margaret does indeed make use of her transferable writing skills: “There are stories here, contained in the vessel of poetry”. Some of these stories are told using rhyme and rhythm while others have a freer form, but all them are poetic in their imagery and beauty of language. Her poems are told in an honest voice that speaks out against oppression. In Greenham Soup we learn of the idealism that allowed the women protestors to endure great hardship: Mittened hands clutch mugs, cups, bowls, pans; searchlights rake the sky, glance spears of light. Sirens howl beyond barbed wire. Warm wall of women huddle, fire at our feet, But she concludes with honest realism: We thought we were going to change the world. I made soup. There are descriptive poems here that will awaken shared memories of the countryside; reflective poems that will amuse; and sad poems about the world’s injustices. But what is most delightful is the way that Margaret has used her powers of description and story-telling, together with the occasional application of a twist in the tail, to make her poetry distinctive and entertaining. One of my favourites is Christmas Eve, with its realistic description of a Glenkens midwinter: In desperate need of angels I seek out flocks by night, Through the gate and up the field To the copse on the hill… …And here they are, the sheep, Sodden grey like lichened rocks, Huddled in the lee of the knoll Against this bitter rain… …What do these yowes know of angels? Why would anyone seek Peace on Earth in a wet field At midwinter? And the twist in the tail? You’ll have to buy the book, which is available from the CatStrand or all good bookshops. Andrew Mellor Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEarts page 26 From the Bookroom In 'From the Bookroom' Glenkens-based author of the novel The Road From Damascus, co-author of Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, and author of the brand new The Blood Between Us: Syria After the Fall of Assad, Robin Yassin-Kassab, takes readers on a journey into his world of writing, reading and general thoughts on life. A sle is a successful artist, an old man now, living on the west coast of Norway. He has long grey hair tied back in a ponytail, and a bald patch. In the nearby town lives a friend of his, an artist called Asle. He isn’t quite as successful as the first Asle – the narrator – but he too has long grey hair tied back in a ponytail, and a bald patch. This Asle is an alcoholic in very poor health. When the reader learns that the narrating Asle used to drink too much but gave up after a physical collapse, he suspects that the two Asles are different versions of the same person. Yet the one isn’t simply imagining the other, because the two interact. Asle is a widower who lives alone. His only neighbour is a fisherman called Asleik. This name in Nynorsk (the minority Norwegian language in which Jon Fosse writes) means something like ‘not-Asle’. Asleik has a sister, usually referred to as Sister, but her actual name is Goru. She was once married to a fiddler, and in some mysterious way she seems to be the same person as, or a version of, a woman called Goru who lives in the town, who used to be married to a fiddler, and who then had an affair with drunken Asle, or perhaps with Asle the narrator. Asle observes a man with long brown hair and a woman with long black hair. Soon the reader understands that these are a younger version of Asle with his wife Asel, GATEHOUSE HEARING CENTRE 32 High Street, Gatehouse of Fleet but they aren’t simply memories. The younger versions observe old Asle too. Then there is Asle as a child, and both Asles as young men, and Asel at different stages of her life, and also in death. All of these possible versions of the people in time are present simultaneously, in the same mysterious moment. Sometimes, in the later books of this seven-book novel, the perspectives of older and younger Asle are unified. This is Jon Fosse’s remarkable novel Septology, a transformative reading experience that breaks the conventional rules of time, space and personality. Everything merges, like the paint on Asle’s canvas. The text breaks the rules of punctuation too; there are no full stops, just one unending sentence signifying the unstoppable flow of consciousness. Septology may be formally and philosophically ambitious, but it’s not at all difficult to read. Instead it is compulsive, sometimes hypnotic, sometimes like a prayer. Indeed, each of the seven books ends with Asle praying, and Fosse is himself a committed Catholic, someone for whom writing is a spiritual practice. He calls writing “listening”, and says he tries to think of nothing, or not to think, while he writes. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2023. While the Nobel Peace Prize has often been awarded to war criminals and terrorists, from Kissinger to Begin, the Literature Prize – with laureates including Faulkner, Beckett, Bellow, Mahfouz and Garcia Marquez – is genuinely worthy of respect. We’re a small, dedicated local team offering professional laundry for holiday lets, hotels and private customers, always with a personal touch. Charles Middler, MSHAA, HCPC Reg'd Free hearing tests Rechargeable hearing aids Home visits available Reasonable prices 07980 136 248 www.homehearingcare.co.uk Crisp. Clean. Consistent King Steet, Castle Douglas DG7 1DS 01556 288 008 Glenkens Gazette EST. 2007 GAZETTEarts CatStrand page 27 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER QUINES - THE BUBBLY JOCK COLLECTIVE FRI 23 OCT 7:30PM Celebrating the voices and music of remarkable Scottish women composers. THEATRE DO NOT PASS GO JORDON & SKINNER WED 28 OCT 7:30PM A bold and hilarious show uncovering the hidden story behind a famous board game. BIRDVOX SAT 31 OCT 7:30PM Blending Scots, Shetland dialect, old Norn and English in vibrant altfolk songs from their debut album, Shamming The Drama. THE RAZORBILLS SAT 7 NOV 7:30PM Folk ’n’ Roll! Soaring fiddle, acerbic lyrics and solid rhythms to move and provoke you! MALIN LEWIS TRIO TUE 10 NOV 7:30PM Hair tingling, philosophical and dance inducing melodies. HIGH ST, NEW GALLOWAY 01644 420 374 GCAT.SCOT Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation page 28 LOCAL ORGANISATIONS/GROUPS Glenkens Community Shop: Contact Kate Bone on 07900 312425 9 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 Michelle Owen at sjtdalrycc@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 hello@ gallowayfoodhub.org.uk or visit www. gallowayfoodhub.org.uk 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 & District Community Councils Balmaclellan: Bi-monthly, 7.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall - contact Martin on 07939 261 391 Carsphairn: Bi-monthly, last Monday of the month, 7pm, Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn - contact carsphairncc@gmail.com or 07531 035 824 Dalry: First Monday each month, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall - contact sjtdalrycc@gmail.com or 07940 313 445 New Galloway & Kells: Second Monday each month, 7.30pm, New Galloway Town Hall Corsock & Kirkpatrick Durham: Third Tuesday each month, Corsock Village Hall, contact ckpdcc.secretary@ hotmail.com Balmaghie: Wednesdays monthly, 7pm, contact balmaghieccsec@gmail.com or 01644 450679 for dates of upcoming meetings Parton: contact ericaporteous@hotmail.co.uk or 01644 470 277 Crossmichael: Second Wednesday each month contact crossmichaelcc@gmail.com or 07803 204 433 Full minutes of local Community Council meetings can be found at Dalry Library or www.glenkens.scot GLENKENS CHURCH TIMES CHURCH OF SCOTLAND SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH St Margaret’s Church, New Galloway, DG7 3RP Sunday Services Crossmichael Church Hall, 9.30am: all Sundays Balmaclellan, 11.15am: 4 Oct, 1 Nov, 29 Nov Carsphairn, 11.15am: 11 Oct Kells, 11.15am:18 Oct, 15 Nov Dalry, 11.15am: 25 Oct, 22 Nov Sundays:10.30am, Holy Communion with refreshments after the service. All welcome. Tuesdays: open for private prayer if the 'church is open' sign is outside. Prayer Requests: please let us know if you would like us to pray for a particular person or circumstance. Email stmargaretsnewgalloway@gmail.com *8 Nov tbc For info contact Ian Knox on 07840 506 516 or i.knox29@btopenworld.com, or Irene McCreath on 07974 861927 or at irenemccreath.im@gmail.com For further information please contact Christine Rankin, Vestry Secretary, on 07749 212 201 or visit www.stmargaretsnewgalloway.org Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEinformation GLASS RECYCLING • Balmaclellan: beside the shop, Balmaclellan • Carsphairn: in lay-by on A713, south of village • Crossmichael: Memorial Hall, St Michael's Road • Dalry: playpark car park, Kirkland Street • New Galloway: Carson's Knowe car park • Kirkpatrick Durham: St David Street USEFUL NUMBERS ● Pothole Hotline: 0845 276 0000 page 29 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 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 2026. 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. Local Job Vacancies Up-to-date job and volunteering opportunities can be found online at the Glenkens Hub on www.glenkens.scot ADVERTISE IN THE GAZETTE Gordon McAdam (price per issue incl VAT) Plumbing & Heating SMALL: 22 Kirkland Street St John’s Town of Dalry 1/4 PAGE: 07834 321 789 6cm x 6cm, £50 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 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 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 GAZETTEevents WHAT 'S ON page 30 October/November OCTOBER closure of Dalry Secondary School closes 10 October, (see p3 for details) Wed 7, Dalry Film Club: H is for Hawk, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 10, Glenkens Producers’ Market, 10am-1pm, Dalry Town Hall Thu 8, Stewartry Birdwatchers Talk: The Glasgow Peregrine Project, 2.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Fri 9, Survey on bus services in the region closes 9 October, (see p3) Sat 24, Glenkens Apple Day, 2-4.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall, see p14 Fri 9, The Bonny Glenkens: A celebration of the poetry and music of the Glenkens, 7.30pm, CatStrand Fri 9-Sun 18, South of Scotland Dark Sky Festival, to find out more visit www.ssdalliance.com/darkskyfestival Sat 10, Formal consultation on the Sat 17, Dalry Film Club: 9-5 starring Dolly Parton, 2.30pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 24, Craft Fair, 10am-3pm, New Galloway Town Hall Hall, Carsphairn, see p6 NOVEMBER Glenkens Community Action Plan Refresh Sessions, dates tbc - check www.glenkens.scot for updates Wed 4, Dalry Film Club: Hamnet, 7pm, Dalry Town Hall Sat 31, Save Parton Kirk appeal donations close on 31 October, (see p5 for details of how to donate) Thu 12, Stewartry Birdwatchers Talk: 'East Renfrewshire's Tree Sparrows: back from the brink - a community success story, 2.30pm, Balmaclellan Village Hall Sat 31, Bairn Banter’s Children’s Halloween Party, 4–6pm, Lagwyne Sat 14, Glenkens Producers’ Market, 10am-1pm, Dalry Town Hall Visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot for more Glenkens events and activities! Wonderfully secluded Endless possibilities Run Away to the Hills with Barwhillanty Estate Tucked up inside 5,000 acres of rolling Galloway hills, Barwhillanty Estate has been family-run since 1884. Here you'll find a beautiful kind of wild that invites you to reconnect with the things that really matter. It's this feeling that makes Barwhillanty the perfect setting for the most important day of your life. find out more. quest a copy o our we rochure >> Re With thousands of acres of breathtaking views, you can choose your own special spot to share your vows, before heading to the Pavilion to celebrate in style with up to 100 guests. For those who'd like to linger a little longer, five characterful Estate cottages await. Create the day you want, surrounded by the people who matter the most. Speak to our team today: enquiries@barwhillantyestate.co.uk For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette GAZETTEevents page 31 REGULAR EVENTS & OPENING TIMES Balmaclellan Village Hall Tuesday Afternoon Teas, 1st Tues each month, 2.30-4pm, Julia.higgins55@ outlook.com Kettlebells Exercise Class, Tue, 6-7pm Glenkens Crafters, Wed, 10am-12noon Community Library, Saturdays only 10am-12pm Make Do & Mend, fortnightly from 14 Feb, 7-9pm Stewartry Birdwatchers, 2nd Thu each month (Sep-Apr, 7.30pm; Oct-Mar, 2.30pm) Men's Shed, Balmaclellan General Opening Times: Mon, Wed & Fri, 9.30am–12noon Lagwyne Hall, Carsphairn Tuesday Morning Social, 11am-2pm, 07710 124 255 Carsphairn SWI, 3rd Thu each month, 7.30pm Craft Group, Fri, 10am-12noon, carsphairncraftgroup@gmail.com Bairn Banter; family stay & play session, Sat, 10am CatStrand, New Galloway Energising Yoga Flow, Tue, 9.30am Musical Misfits, Wed, 3.30pm, Dramarama, Wed, 4.15pm, term-time Piano Lessons, 4–6.30pm, term-time Morning Flow Yoga, Thu, 9.30am CatStrand Singers, Thu, 11am Piano lessons, Sat from 9.30am, term time excl last Sat of the month Dance Steps, Sat 1pm, monthly during term time The Smiddy, Balmaclellan Tai Chi, Wed, 2-3pm Art Explorers, Sat, 10.15, fortnightly Saturday Sketchers, Sat, 11.15am, fortnightly Keyboard lessons, Sat, 12.30pm, termtime Guitar lessons, Sat 1pm, term-time, excl last Sat of the month Art Explorers, Sat 10.15am, every other week during term-time Treble Makers, Sat, every other week during term-time Contact Cat on 0164 4420 374 New Galloway Town Hall Men’s Monday Morning Coffee, Mon 9.30-11am Community Cafe, Mon, 12.30–2pm Dance for Wellbeing, Mon, 2.30pm (adults) & 4pm (children) Social Dance, Mon, 7pm (beginners) & 8pm (improvers) Wet Felting Group, Tue, 10am Tai Chi, Tue, 3.30pm Sports Evening, Tue, 7pm (carpet bowls or table tennis) Zumba, Wed, 6.30pm Ukulele Group, Wed, 6.30pm Hubbub, Thu, 12noon–3pm drop-in Martial Arts, Thu, 5.30pm, all ages New Galloway History Group, Fri,10am (meets monthly) COMMUNITY LARDER - open whenever the Town Hall is open For further info email info@ling.org.uk, phone 07749 249 781 Glenkens Community Centre Glenkens Youth Group, Mon, 7-8.30pm Wee Wonders, Thu, 9-10am Kickback Martial Arts, Thu, 5.30-7pm, kmabrian@gmail.com or drop-in Song Share, 1st Fri each month, 8-11pm, anne.chaurand@btinternet. com 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. 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 Keep Fit with Alex, 7.15-8.15pm, Kirkpatriack Durham Village Hall 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 1.30-4.30pm & Hearse Hoose Mon-Sat, both Apr-Oct Cub Scouts, Wed 6.15-7.30pm, Scout Hall, New Galloway Dragon Boats on Loch Ken, Sun 9.30am, Galloway Activity Centre Knockvennie Snooker Club, contact Andrew on 01556 690 677 Outdoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Fiona on 07500 554 751 Snooker/Indoor Bowls, Dalry, contact Gordon 07834 321 789 Mum & Baby Movement, Thu, 9.3011.30am, Laurieston Village Hall Crossmichael Youth Club, Fri, Crossmichael Memorial Hall Carsphairn Community Woodland Volunteer Day, last Sunday each month VACANCY Assistant Bid Coordinator Natural Power, Dalry Natural Power is looking for an Assistant Bid Coordinator at its head office at The Green House, Forrest Estate. For full details and to apply visit www. naturalpower.com/uk/careers or scan the QR code here Dalry Town Hall Tai Chi, Mon, 2pm Dog Training, Tue, 7pm, 07831 590 822 Gentle Movement, Tue, 2pm Mossdale Village Hall Mossdale Painters, Wed, 9.30-11.30am Soup Saturday, 1st Sat each month, 12noon-3pm Various Bumps, Babies & Beyond, every 2nd Mon, 10.30am, Kirkpatriack Durham Village Hall Learn to Play Bridge, Mon, 7-9pm & Thu 6-8pm, Lochinvar Hotel For up-to-date information visit the Glenkens Hub at www.glenkens.scot Glenkens Gazette 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 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 necessarily 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 156 Description An account of the resource Editor: Sarah Ade Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GG-155 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource GCAT Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Glenkens Gazette Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2026