Fashion Festival Launch for Historic New Tartan

Oct 14, 2023

On Saturday 18 th November, Re:Dress Scotland will host the second Scottish festival of Slow Fashion at the renowned Easterbrook Hall at The Crichton in Dumfries.

Re:Dress 23 presents a slick runway show with a difference: all clothes are recycled, vintage or preowned, and sustainable, and all the models are local people from across the community.

Sponsored by The Holywood Trust, Dumfries & Galloway Council and The Crichton Trust, this is not just a fashion show. With musicians, dancers, aerial performers, and info on how we can reduce waste and help slow climate change also on the bill, it’s a real festival atmosphere with an important environmental message.

A celebration of creativity, reuse, and sustainability in Scottish fashion, Re:Dress 23 contributors range from established designers and businesses to students and talented young people with no formal training.

“We founded Dumfries Slow Fashion Movement, better known as Re:Dress, as a community interest company to raise awareness of the impact of clothing and textiles on climate change, and to show that slow fashion, which is a reaction against the overproduction, consumption and waste of fast fashion, can be creative, modern, and fun!”, says Director Daniel McKinnon. “We wanted to do something beneficial, that could also give young people opportunities to get involved in creative industries through events like the Re:Dress Festival and our magazine, Pulp!”

This year’s event will also see the launch of a historic new tartan. The world’s first official slow fashion tartan, ReDress the Brave, promotes Re:Dress’s core values: creativity, community, care for the environment and hopes for a brighter future for fashion. It is also a new tartan for Dumfries and Galloway, showcasing colours of the region’s natural landscape.

“We really wanted to create something that represents Re:Dress and celebrates slow fashion. Tartan is an iconic design with a spirit that’s both traditional and rebellious, so it seemed like an obvious choice” Re:Dress Director, Marie McKinnon, says. “Dumfries doesn’t have its own tartan, so we wanted it to be something for the town as well. There’s tbeen a fantastic response, so far! We’ve been very lucky to have textile designer and weaver, Jonny MacKinnon, on board throughout, and we’re grateful to The Incorporation of Weavers of Glasgow, The People’s Project and Alex Begg for believing in the project and helping us bring the idea to life.”

Now in its third outing, and with two sell-out previous shows, three parliamentary commendations, a wide range of contributing designers and businesses, and more than 100 volunteers from across the region, Re:Dress is a real community event, and it has an important message, too.

Tickets for Re:Dress 23, priced at just £5, are on sale now online at www.redressscot.co.uk and at the Midsteeple Box Office in Dumfries.

Countdown to ‘Joseph’: Dumfries Musical Theatre Company Prepares for Spectacular Show

Oct 14, 2023

Dumfries Musical Theatre Company is in full swing with preparations for their upcoming production, set to take place at Dumfries Baptist Church from the 4th to the 10th of November 2023.

With lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, this new show promises to be an entertaining and memorable experience for local residents. The performance will start each night at 7:30 pm, with a matinee scheduled for Sunday, 5th November at 2:00 pm. It’s important to note that there won’t be a performance on Tuesday, 7th November.

Ticket prices for this event are as follows:

Adults: £15
Individuals aged 16 and under: £10

You can purchase tickets either at the Midsteeple Box Office or online through TicketSource. For more information and updates, you can follow Dumfries Musical Theatre Company on their social media platforms at @DumfriesMTC or visit their website.
This production is particularly special as it’s the first time Dumfries Musical Theatre Company is using the Dumfries Baptist Church as the venue. The church is the largest venue the company has ever used, adding to the anticipation of the event. This change in venue size promises to enhance the production and audience experience.

Rehearsals are a testament to the dedication of the cast and crew, who are working tirelessly to bring the performance to life. The Dumfries Baptist Church, located at Gillbrae Rd, Dumfries DG1 4EJ, is all set to host this remarkable show. It’s expected to bring the community together for an unforgettable cultural experience, made possible through the hard work of local talent. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a local production that promises entertainment, heartwarming moments, and a celebration of the arts within our community.

Dino Park’s Halloween Magic Has Started: Don’t Miss the Fun!

Oct 14, 2023

Dates: 14th – 29th October 2023

Halloween at Dino Park has officially begun! From the 14th to the 29th of October 2023, visitors can immerse themselves in the spine-tingling, family-friendly festivities at Dino Park in Carrutherstown, Dumfries (DG1 4JX). Here’s a reminder of the exciting events and attractions that await you:

Halloween Ghost Hunt:

The Halloween ghost hunt is in full swing, and visitors are now experiencing the thrilling mysteries it holds. If you haven’t tried it yet, make sure to join in for a ghostly adventure.

Halloween Crafts:

The ‘Dino Den’ is bustling with activity as visitors engage in Halloween crafts, letting their creative spirits run wild. You can participate in crafting activities between 11.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m.

Spooky Mine Exploration:

For the brave souls among us, the ‘Spooky Mine’ beckons. Prepare for an unforgettable journey into the unknown, with each twist and turn unveiling eerie surprises.

Fancy Dress Competition:

The fancy dress competition is in full swing. If you haven’t worn your costume yet, now’s the time! You have a chance to win a Dino Park family pass or an illuminated walkway family pass.

Competition Details:

Week one winners will be drawn on Monday, 23rd October.
Week two winners will be drawn on Monday, 30th October.

Don’t miss out on the Halloween thrills and chills at Dino Park. Gather your family and friends and head over to enjoy these fantastic festivities. Whether you’re after ghostly adventures, creative crafts, eerie exploration, or a chance to win exciting prizes, Dino Park has it all.

Remember, this limited-time event only lasts until the 29th of October, so make your plans to visit soon and make this Halloween one to remember!

Sharks Feel The Bee’s Sting

Oct 12, 2023

On Saturday, the Sharks welcomed The Bees to Dumfries Ice Bowl for another weekend of ice action. Despite severe weather warnings in the area, Sharks supporters flocked to see the team and bring the noise to the Shark Tank!

The Sharks started the game with grit and determination, but despite producing
chances, they were hit with the 1-2 as the Bees were able to get a pair of goals and take
a lead into the first period break.

The second period was an end-to-end battle with both sides putting pressure on the
netminders, but Sharks goalie Calum Hepburn stood firm and kept the Bees at bay to
keep the score at 2-0.

As the Sharks applied extra pressure to get back into the game, the Bees scored to
make the score 3-0. The Sharks fought on and were rewarded with a goal thanks to
some excellent effort from Liam Stenton and Scott Henderson, who assisted Nolan
Gardiner. In search of another goal and pushing forward, the bees used the space to
score goal number four and win the Shark Tank 4-1.

Sharks forward Ross Murray said after the game “It’s been a hard few weeks adjusting to
this level. There have been moments where we are more than capable of competing at
this level, but we need to find a way to put a full 60 minutes together. Once again, the
fans have been unreal, and we can only apologise for the recent results, but be assured
we will turn this around”.

The Sharks travelled to Telford on Sunday evening to face the tigers, and they hoped to
apply their hard work and perseverance from the start. The team didn’t get off to the
best of starts, falling behind three goals in the first period when the Tigers took
advantage of the numbers advantage while the Sharks were serving penalties.
Craig Peacock scored in the opening period thanks to assists from John Dunbar and
Nolan Gardiner, showing that the Sharks were not discouraged and had a never-say-die
attitude.

As the game resumed in the second period, the sharks showed some grit when Olivier
Arseneau, after the officials’ whistle, dropped gloves with Tigers Lucas Price. The
following goal was scored by the Sharks’ John Dunbar, who received aid from Olivier
Arseneau and Craig Peacock.

The Bees came back into the game and were able to score a fourth and fifth goal to take
the game and the points as they secured the win 5-2.

A zero point weekend is not what we wanted going into that weekend. We were good in
spells of each game but that is not good enough. We need to hold ourselves as a team to
a higher standard and learn to play a full 60 minute game and try to grab our first two
points of the season this weekend when we welcome the Raiders to the Shark Tank said
Sharks defenceman Liam Stenton after the weekend’s games.

The Sharks will return to the Dumfries Ice Bowl this Saturday, October 14th, at 6pm,
with doors opening at 4.30pm, so buy your tickets now as they face the Raiders. Tickets
can be purchased online at http://sharksihc.com/tickets/.

Prizes For Guisers At Ellisland’s Halloween Celebration

Oct 12, 2023

Witches and bogles will return to the farm where Robert Burns wrote Tam o Shanter as Ellisland opens its doors for a family Halloween celebration on Sunday the 29th of October.

The day includes prizes for the best guisers, apple dookin, traditional music and spooky face painting as the museum hosts a celebration in the spirit of the Bard “wi’ merry sangs and unco tales”

Halloween was originally a Scottish Festival, and many of its traditions originate here. Burns was fascinated by the supernatural and returned to it repeatedly in his work. His epic tale of Tam O’ Shanter was written on the turf path at Ellisland and you can follow the trail where he wrote this famous tale of warlocks, witches and other “hellish legions!”

There will be hot food and beverages to purchase on the day, as well as home baking. There is also arts n crafts, an unlucky dip and you can pin the tail on Tam o Shanter’s Grey Mare Meg! There will be a roaring fire pit to warm yourself – all to the sound of traditonal live Scottish music.

Young trad group Spectrum will perform in the Tam o Shanter barn at 1pm.

Caitlin MacLeod the Education and Museum development lead for the Trust said that

“ The aim of our Halloween celebration is to provide a fun and an affordable family day out. Building on the success of our similar event last year we will provide more free Halloween games and activities. Get your spookiest or most creative costumes ready and join us for what is sure to be an enjoyable day. ”

“All the money we raise will go to the upkeep of the site”

Halloween at Ellisland is part of the Wild Goose Festival programme.

If anyone needs more information about attending the event or entering the competition the email is [email protected] or call 01387 740426. The event opens at 11am on Sunday the 29th October and will finish at 3pm.

Region’s Hat Trick Of Nominations In National Health Awards

Oct 12, 2023

A MIDWIFE, a speech and language therapist and a haematology team from the region are all in the running for national awards recognising their outstanding contributions.

Nominees in the annual Scottish Health Awards have all now been revealed, ahead of the awards ceremony which takes place in Edinburgh on November 2.

Midwife Lynn Young said: “I was overwhelmed to be nominated for this award, particularly as the nomination was from a family I had looked after during a bereavement in pregnancy, and then again during a further pregnancy with the happy outcome of a healthy baby boy.”

Nominated in the Midwife category, Lynn, who lives in South Ayrshire, added: “I work as a community midwife in Stranraer, and love my job which I have been in for 23 years.

“I have enjoyed the continuity of working with local families and getting to know them over the years. I am proud to have worked with an incredible team of midwives, obstetricians, maternity care assistants and support staff over many years, and nominations such as this reflect on the motivation of everyone in the team to provide the best care we can locally.”

Speech and Language Therapist Claire Dolan will meanwhile represent NHS Dumfries and Galloway in the category Allied Health Professionals (AHP), nominated for her work supporting a young boy.

She said: “I was nominated by a family that I worked with, supporting their little boy to move from full time use of a nasogastric tube to full oral feeding.”

Claire’s role sees her working with families in acute hospital care and in the community, supporting children and young people who have difficulty with eating, drinking and swallowing – also known as Dysphagia.

Working closely with colleagues, and with the families of patients, Claire said: “Their journey can sometimes be a long one and getting to know a family well is often part of the job.

Reacting to her nomination, Claire, who is originally from Gatehouse of Fleet but now lives in Dumfries, said: “I am humbled by the nomination as my role is a small part within a patient’s journey. I work with a fantastic group of therapists and community teams providing follow up developmental care to our families in the region and they absolutely deserve the recognition for the support they provide.

“To be recognised as a key part in achieving such an important goal for a family is extremely special, and I am grateful to have been part of their journey.”

Meanwhile, Consultant Haematologist Dr Ranjit Thomas has paid tribute to his department – after it was nominated in the Top Team category.

Dr Thomas said: “We’re immensely grateful to the patients who have nominated us for this award, just as we are to all the patients who express their gratitude for the quality of treatment and care that they’ve received.

“I’d especially like to thank all patients for their understanding and patience amid the staffing challenges experienced over the past year.”

Recognising all the work which takes place in support of the service, the Lead for Clinical Haematology is keen to note the roles played by the secretarial team, the biomedical scientists and pharmacists, health support workers, specialist chemotherapy-trained and ward-based nurses, the embedded clinical nurse specialists and clinical pharmacists, support services and IT, as well as the medical colleagues who provide necessary specialist input.

Thanks are also due to numerous teams across the central belt, specifically the Beatson Oncology and Radiotherapy teams, the Bone Marrow Transplant and CAR-T teams, the Stem Cell Harvest teams, the Haematopathology Molecular and Genetics Diagnostic teams, and the Haemostasis team, all of whom continue to offer very specialist, world class support.

Artists and Scientists Work Together to Protect Scotland’s Migratory Birds

Oct 12, 2023

Artists, scientists and conservationists are collaborating on two connected initiatives aimed at protecting Scotland’s threatened migratory birds.

This week (14 October) sees the opening of Much Ado About Nightjars, an exhibition by fine art photographers Ted Leeming and Morag Paterson who spent midgie-infested nights photographing and recording the rare nocturnal birds at Lochar Moss, Dumfries and Galloway.

Then, on October 20 they will take part in the Artful Migration Conference (followed by an official exhibition launch event), in Dumfries, which will examine how the power of the arts can be harnessed to protect the future for some of Scotland’s most vulnerable visiting species.

Keynote speakers will include “the human swan” Sacha Dench, campaigner, UN Ambassador for Migratory Species and co-founder of Conservation without Borders.

The conference seeks to build on the success of three Artful Migration projects that saw artists take up residencies in reserves and wetlands near the Solway Firth. The artists worked with conservationists and scientists to look at the habitats of, and threats to, ospreys, whooper swans and nightjars.

Sacha said: “What scientists are great at is spotting problems, but what they are often not so good at is communicating those problems in a way that moves people.

“What I’m absolutely convinced of is that the arts and artists are essential when it comes to influencing people and persuading them of the need to take action to protect our wildlife and our environment.

“So, I absolutely welcome what Artful Migration has achieved.”

Sacha went on an expedition following the migration route of ospreys to Africa – the same route taken by nightjars.

She looked at the threats they faced, including helicopter spraying for mosquito control in Europe in nature reserves, that kill the insects at the base of the food chain and therefore also the base of the nature tourism industry they are trying to protect.

Then there’s the widespread destruction of wetlands, increasing plastics and light pollution and more and more extreme weather.

Sacha added: “There are, however, many people and projects that gave me reason to be hopeful.”

Lochar Moss offers one such sliver of hope as the ancient peat bog, one of their few Scottish strongholds, is being restored by Forest and Land Scotland.

This will hopefully strengthen the position of the shy nocturnal birds which fly thousands of miles to get there each year.

Morag said: “The story of the nightjars in Lochar Moss is a positive one with numbers increasing. But they remain rare and face many serious threats along their migration route between Africa and the UK.

“We believe that residencies like this can make a real difference – because artists can work with conservationists and communities in distinctive, imaginative and unusual ways that allow people to see the issues affecting our wildlife and environment from entirely new perspectives.”

Artful Migration is a collaboration between Upland CIC, Dumfries and Galloway arts development organisation, and Virginia Wollaston and Nicholas Paton Philip of Moving Souls Dance.

Virginia said: “Our residencies underline how the arts have real power in helping people engage with the natural world.

“The arts affect us emotionally, they encourage us to act and it’s action that’s needed if we are to protect these precious migratory birds that face more and more man-made threats to their existence every year.

“It will be an immense task to turn this round, but this exhibition and conference will help spread the word that it can be done and will hopefully help generate new collaborations between artists and conservationists.”

Amy Marletta, Creative Director of Upland, added: “Artful Migration reminds us of how we are all deeply interconnected and responsible for our survival and the future of our planet.

“We are proud to be involved in its delivery and in helping ensure that the arts are at the forefront of debate about threats to wildlife and the environment.”

Another Artful Migration residencies involved the ospreys at the NTS Threave Nature Reserve and the third looked at the perilous annual migration of whooper swans from the Iceland to the WWT reserve at Caerlaverock.

The conference will bring together artists, conservationists, bird lovers, academics and policymakers to:

Reveal the achievements and challenges of the artist residencies.
Discover how the artists responded to the challenges facing the birds, including shifting weather patterns and changing habitat management.
Hear keynote speakers from conservation and the ecological arts.
Consider the implications of Artful Migration for global agendas on the conservation of migratory species.
Celebrate the partnerships and collaborations stimulated by Artful Migration, and discuss where these might lead in future.

Speakers will also include Chris Fremantle, Research Fellow and Lecturer at Gray’s School of Art, producer of public art and design projects.

Immediately after the conference there will be the official opening of the Much Ado About Nightjars exhibition which will take place from 5.30pm to 7pm at Gracefield Arts Centre, Edinburgh Road, Dumfries.

Conference

Friday 20, October 2023
9:30am – 5pm
Easterbrook Hall, Duncan Room, The Crichton, Dumfries, DG1 4ZE
Tickets from EventBrite

Exhibition

14 October to 11 November
Gracefield Arts Centre, Edinburgh Road Dumfries
Entry is free

See the Upland website at www.weareupland.com.

Galloway Prepares Bid To Become Scotland’s Newest National Park

Oct 12, 2023

The team behind the campaign for a ‘Galloway National Park’ is preparing to make the strongest possible bid after nominations opened today for Scotland’s next National Park

The Scottish Government has asked areas that believe they should have National Park status to put forward a detailed application by next February.

Communities and organisations are being invited to submit their proposals to become Scotland’s next National Park.

A key commitment in the Bute House Agreement is to designate at least one new National Park in Scotland by 2026, to bring positive benefits for the environment and economy.

For the first time, nominations for a new Park will be driven entirely by local communities and organisations, and all areas of Scotland are eligible to submit proposals. To meet the criteria, groups must be able to demonstrate, among other factors:

outstanding national importance due to natural or culture heritage
a distinctive character and coherent identity
how National Park status would meet the specific needs of the area
evidence of local support for the proposal

Detailed guidance has been published, and support will be available for any group looking to explore or take forward a proposal. The deadline for submissions is 29 February 2024.

Visiting Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater commented:

“Scotland’s National Parks are among our greatest assets. They are home to internationally renowned landscapes and nature, and provide outstanding opportunities for recreation and local communities. – They also play a crucial role in tackling climate change and protecting our precious natural environment for future generations.

“Now is the time to add to them. We believe that a new National Park should be founded upon local community demand, which is why we are launching this unique nominations process.

“In May we invited early expressions of interest and we have already had a really positive response from communities and organisations across the length and breadth of the country. This is not at all surprising given just how much Scotland has to offer.

“I encourage everyone that is considering putting forward a proposal to read the guidance that we have published on the Scottish Government website, and get in touch to find out about the support available.”

Convener at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority Dr Heather Reid said:

“It is clear that more than ever we need our National Parks to lead the way in showing what a more sustainable future could look like.

“Biodiversity is declining faster than at any time in human history and together with the climate emergency, these twin crises are already having an impact on the country our children and grandchildren will inherit.

“The people, communities and natural assets of Scotland’s National Parks – existing and future – can contribute significantly to Scotland’s efforts to restore nature, tackle climate change and have greener economic growth.”

Cairngorms National Park Authority Board Convener Sandy Bremner said:

“This is a great opportunity for communities in Scotland to join the family of National Parks to tackle some of the biggest challenges around nature loss, climate change & community development.

“National Park status can bring enormous benefits to a region. It offers a heightened focus on the protection and enhancement of the area’s natural and cultural heritage. It can attract vital support to hard-pressed communities, and bring people together to achieve inspirational change.”

Rob Lucas, Chair of the Galloway National Park Association (GNPA), said: “We are delighted that nominations are open and are preparing to make the strongest possible bid for Galloway to become Scotland’s next National Park.

“We strongly believe that the region, with its magnificent rolling hills, mountains, moors, rivers, lochs and long coastlines is the ideal location and will offer visitors a very different experience to the existing National Parks.

“It will also open up a wonderful, and economically fragile area in the south of Scotland to sustainable regeneration through tourism and other business development while protecting some of the country’s most beautiful countryside for the future.

“Our campaign is also distinctive because it has tremendous support from the public, business, MPs, MSPs and all three local councils covering the proposed National Park area.

“Indeed, support is growing all the time with increasing numbers of people becoming GNPA members or signing up as business champions.”

The case for Galloway

There is strong public and business backing for it to be in Galloway as it will bring lasting and widespread benefits by:

Making the most of our fabulous countryside and coastlines
Generating sustainable tourism
Creating business opportunities and jobs
Providing a marketing brand that will put us on a world stage
Attracting millions of pounds a year in investment and income
Making space for nature to recover and flourish as a key part of the area’s response to climate change
Improving health and wellbeing
Offering opportunities for leisure and outdoor activities
Encouraging young people and families to remain or return to the region.

GNPA also believes that Galloway is the best place for Scotland’s next National Park because:

It has a unique mix of rolling farmland, low hills, wild moors, mountains and coastline – adding real diversity to Scotland’s family of National Parks.
Unlike some parts of Scotland there is ample opportunity, and need, for an increase in sustainable tourism.
It offers easy access to wonderful countryside for all ages and abilities, including economically deprived communities across south-west Scotland.
Extensive public and business support for a Galloway National Park shows that the region is ready and eager to seize the opportunities it would bring.

Cumbria’s historic “Overloaded” Bridge To Reopen Without Strengthening

Oct 12, 2023

A Victorian railway bridge in Cumbria’s Eden Valley, which National Highways infilled amidst claims it was weak, is set to reopen without a weight restriction or any form of strengthening being needed.

The masonry arch structure at Great Musgrave, engineered by Sir Thomas Bouch in the early 1860s, has been closed for 13 weeks whilst 1,600 tonnes of stone and concrete were removed from around it to comply with an enforcement notice – the deadline for which was yesterday (Wednesday 11 October) – issued by the now-disbanded Eden District Council following refusal of a retrospective planning application.

In June 2021, the state-owned roads company caused controversy by exploiting emergency permitted development rights to bury the 160-year-old structure despite planning officers asking for work not to start. National Highways’ engineer claimed that “the bridge was being overloaded and that works were required to prevent the failure of the bridge and avert a collapse.” However, just 16 months earlier, an inspection found only a small number of minor defects, with NH recording the structure as presenting “no significant risk” to public safety.

As recently as six weeks ago, National Highways had claimed that it needed to “carry out additional necessary strengthening work so the bridge can continue being used safely by the public”. However, after a new capacity assessment was completed, the company has admitted that its “refurbishment work” – which has only involved localised repointing and repairs to stonework damage caused by excavation of the concrete infill – “will remove the need for a weight restriction, restoring the bridge to full capacity.”

According to campaigners, there is no meaningful difference between the condition of the bridge now and how it was before infilling.

“It’s a breath-taking turnaround by National Highways”, says Graeme Bickerdike, a member of The HRE Group of engineers, heritage campaigners and greenway developers. “For the past two years, they’ve told anyone who’ll listen that the bridge was weak and infilling was necessary for safety reasons. But this contradicted all the available engineering evidence.

“The new theoretical capacity assessment changes nothing in practical terms. They knew that the bridge was fine – or, at least, they should have – on the basis of inspection insight. But they contrived an alternative reality about a potential collapse to justify what, in truth, was an opportunistic act of vandalism for liability reduction purposes, facilitated by the local council’s initial acceptance that the work could be carried out as permitted development.

“It’s been a costly shambles from start to finish and the taxpayer has a right to understand the circumstances. The bridge’s return to its rightful place as a historic landscape asset is welcome, but the fact that no strengthening was needed completely undermines National Highways.”

The company has not yet published the new capacity assessment or revealed the cost of removing the infill. It had set aside £431K for the work, but this included a strengthening scheme which has proved to be unnecessary. £124K was paid to contractor AmcoGiffen for the original infilling.

The blockage at Great Musgrave threatened to derail the longstanding plans of two heritage railways to reopen the line under the bridge as part of a five-mile link between their bases at Warcop and Kirkby Stephen East stations. They were not consulted about the infilling, contrary to statements by National Highways.

“The first we knew about it was when one of our volunteers drove over the bridge and discovered that the contractor had set up a compound”, says Mike Thompson, Project Manager with the Stainmore Railway Company. “We were powerless; everyone connected with the operation here felt angry, upset and bullied.

“We’re obviously pleased that the bridge has been restored to its previous state so we can again focus on our extension northwards. But to discover that this whole shabby affair was for nothing sticks in the throat. How was it allowed to happen? Where was the oversight? It raises important questions about National Highways’ culture, honesty and competence, and therefore its suitability as the custodian of our legacy railway assets.”

Meanwhile, National Highways has made clear its intention to appeal after the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk refused the company’s retrospective planning application for the infilling of a historic bridge in Norfolk. The structure, on St Andrew’s Lane at Congham near King’s Lynn, was the last surviving complete example of a bridge built using a system of modular concrete components first introduced by the eminent engineer William Marriott. It was infilled under emergency permitted development rights in spring 2021, at a cost of £127K.

End Of The Road For Dumfries Community Radio

Oct 12, 2023

Dumfries Community Radio, known locally as DCR Online and located in purpose-built studios in the beautiful grounds of The Crichton, are taking off their headphones and laying them to rest on what will be their fifth anniversary on 26th October.

For five years, volunteers at the radio station have produced specialist music and talk shows, interviewed artists, musicians, entertainers and other people of interest, hosted charity events and promoted worthy causes for the community.

However, due to increasing financial costs and difficulty finding funding, DCR is no longer sustainable as a charity and will cease broadcasting from the end of the month.

Founder and Station Manager Fiona Jones says, ” I am devastated that it has come to this. With our trusty team of volunteers, we have worked hard to create a truly amazing radio station, and our presenters have produced some outstanding, award-winning shows. I wish every one of our presenters the best, and I hope they get snapped up by another radio station”.

The station will continue to stream live shows online until Thursday, 26th October; thereafter, shows will be available to listen on Mixcloud only.

On behalf of all presenters and volunteers, we would like to thank our listeners, sponsors, funders and the community for their support and loyalty over the years. We have loved every minute of creating content for you. Thank you, and good night.

Midwife Lynn Young said: “I was overwhelmed to be nominated for this award, particularly as the nomination was from a family I had looked after during a bereavement in pregnancy, and then again during a further pregnancy with the happy outcome of a healthy baby boy.”

She said: “I was nominated by a family that I worked with, supporting their little boy to move from full time use of a nasogastric tube to full oral feeding.”

“To be recognised as a key part in achieving such an important goal for a family is extremely special, and I am grateful to have been part of their journey.”

Dr Thomas said: “We’re immensely grateful to the patients who have nominated us for this award, just as we are to all the patients who express their gratitude for the quality of treatment and care that they’ve received.

“I’d especially like to thank all patients for their understanding and patience amid the staffing challenges experienced over the past year.”

Sacha said: “What scientists are great at is spotting problems, but what they are often not so good at is communicating those problems in a way that moves people.

“What I’m absolutely convinced of is that the arts and artists are essential when it comes to influencing people and persuading them of the need to take action to protect our wildlife and our environment.

“So, I absolutely welcome what Artful Migration has achieved.”

Sacha added: “There are, however, many people and projects that gave me reason to be hopeful.”

Morag said: “The story of the nightjars in Lochar Moss is a positive one with numbers increasing. But they remain rare and face many serious threats along their migration route between Africa and the UK.

“We believe that residencies like this can make a real difference – because artists can work with conservationists and communities in distinctive, imaginative and unusual ways that allow people to see the issues affecting our wildlife and environment from entirely new perspectives.”

Virginia said: “Our residencies underline how the arts have real power in helping people engage with the natural world.

“The arts affect us emotionally, they encourage us to act and it’s action that’s needed if we are to protect these precious migratory birds that face more and more man-made threats to their existence every year.

“It will be an immense task to turn this round, but this exhibition and conference will help spread the word that it can be done and will hopefully help generate new collaborations between artists and conservationists.”

Amy Marletta, Creative Director of Upland, added: “Artful Migration reminds us of how we are all deeply interconnected and responsible for our survival and the future of our planet.

“We are proud to be involved in its delivery and in helping ensure that the arts are at the forefront of debate about threats to wildlife and the environment.”

“Now is the time to add to them. We believe that a new National Park should be founded upon local community demand, which is why we are launching this unique nominations process.

“In May we invited early expressions of interest and we have already had a really positive response from communities and organisations across the length and breadth of the country. This is not at all surprising given just how much Scotland has to offer.

“I encourage everyone that is considering putting forward a proposal to read the guidance that we have published on the Scottish Government website, and get in touch to find out about the support available.”

“It is clear that more than ever we need our National Parks to lead the way in showing what a more sustainable future could look like.

“Biodiversity is declining faster than at any time in human history and together with the climate emergency, these twin crises are already having an impact on the country our children and grandchildren will inherit.

“The people, communities and natural assets of Scotland’s National Parks – existing and future – can contribute significantly to Scotland’s efforts to restore nature, tackle climate change and have greener economic growth.”

“This is a great opportunity for communities in Scotland to join the family of National Parks to tackle some of the biggest challenges around nature loss, climate change & community development.

“National Park status can bring enormous benefits to a region. It offers a heightened focus on the protection and enhancement of the area’s natural and cultural heritage. It can attract vital support to hard-pressed communities, and bring people together to achieve inspirational change.”

Rob Lucas, Chair of the Galloway National Park Association (GNPA), said: “We are delighted that nominations are open and are preparing to make the strongest possible bid for Galloway to become Scotland’s next National Park.

“We strongly believe that the region, with its magnificent rolling hills, mountains, moors, rivers, lochs and long coastlines is the ideal location and will offer visitors a very different experience to the existing National Parks.

“It will also open up a wonderful, and economically fragile area in the south of Scotland to sustainable regeneration through tourism and other business development while protecting some of the country’s most beautiful countryside for the future.

“Our campaign is also distinctive because it has tremendous support from the public, business, MPs, MSPs and all three local councils covering the proposed National Park area.

“Indeed, support is growing all the time with increasing numbers of people becoming GNPA members or signing up as business champions.”

“It’s been a costly shambles from start to finish and the taxpayer has a right to understand the circumstances. The bridge’s return to its rightful place as a historic landscape asset is welcome, but the fact that no strengthening was needed completely undermines National Highways.”

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