GALLOWAY MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM NEED YOUR VOTE

Sep 11, 2014

Mountain Rescue Team needs your vote in the Bank of Scotland Community Fund
Galloway Mountain Rescue Team has been shortlisted for the Bank of Scotland Community Fund 2014 in South Dumfries and Galloway.
The team could potentially be awarded a grant of up to £3,000 from the Bank of Scotland, which would help greatly with their annual running costs of around £30,000.
Fundraising Officer Neil Dalrymple said, “ Our ability to provide a free, voluntary, search and rescue service, available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, depends greatly on public support and charitable donations. Our volunteers respond, at the drop of a hat when the need arises and many of our callouts necessitate us heading out into the hills in hazardous weather conditions. That said, in recent years, every resident of Galloway could potentially have benefitted from our services during periods of heavy snowfall and flooding. We’re not just a mountain rescue service, we respond to a wide range of local emergency situations”
This is an opportunity to show your support for the team, by voting online, by SMS Text or at a local branch of the Bank of Scotland. It only takes a few moments, but that vote will increase the team’s chances of receiving the maximum grant of £3,000.
To vote for Galloway Mountain Rescue simply text VOTE TBT to 82332 or follow the link from the team’s website at www.gallowaymrt.org.uk.
Voting closes on 10th October 2014

CRICHTON INSTITUTE ASKS WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE IN DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THEIR FUTURE

Sep 11, 2014

Crichton Institute asks what Young People in Dumfries and Galloway would like to see in their Future

Event: Crichton Institute Panel Discussion: What vision do young people have for Dumfries and Galloway in 2035 and how do we get there?
Date: Wednesday 17 September 2014 at 7pm
Location: Rutherford McCowan Building, Crichton Campus, Dumfries

Young people are vital to the future of Scotland’s rural areas: they bring ideas, energy, enthusiasm and skills. An upcoming Crichton Institute event on Wednesday 17 September will give them the opportunity to share their vision for the future of Dumfries and Galloway with organisations and individuals from across the region. The Crichton Institute will ensure that the messages emerging from this event in Dumfries and Galloway will be passed through to policy-makers nationally.

The Crichton Institute was launched in 2013 to support regional development in the South of Scotland. It is a collaborative venture involving the Crichton Campus academic partners (Universities of Glasgow and the West of Scotland, the Open University in Scotland, Scotland’s Rural College [SRUC] and Dumfries and Galloway College) and other organisations from across the region. SRUC coordinates the Institution’s policy-related activities, and this Panel Discussion is one of a series of discussion events which they are organising across the region over the next few months.

Young people aged 17 to 30 are particularly invited to attend this free event (however all ages are welcome) which will be held in the Rutherford McCowan Building on the Crichton Campus at 7pm. Participants will be asked to submit their questions to the Institute before the event for the panel members to consider, and these will form the basis for discussions on the night. We are particularly keen to focus on young peoples’ vision for the region in 2035, and what needs to be done to make sure that vision can be achieved.

The panel members include: a member of Scottish Youth Parliament for Galloway and West Dumfries, students based on the Crichton Campus, the Principal of Dumfries and Galloway College, the Employability and Skills Service Manager for Dumfries and Galloway Council, the Chair of Langholm Enterprise Academy Partnership, and the Manager of the Rural Policy Centre, SRUC. The Panel will be chaired by Dr Sarah Skerratt, Director of SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre and Editor of the Rural Scotland in Focus Reports.

Carol Turnbull, Principal of Dumfries and Galloway College, one of the Crichton Institute’s partner organisations, said: “Young people need to be engaged, listened to and involved in shaping the future of our region and, indeed Scotland. Our future economic and social health will depend on them so we need to do what we can to support and encourage them to participate and we need to listen to their views.”
Dr Sarah Skerratt added: “We are really looking forward to hearing what the young people of Dumfries and Galloway want for their region. We will be feeding this back into the national debate through our engagement with MSPs and other influential stakeholders.”

NFU SCOTLAND COMMENTS ON NEW LEGISLATION FOR GOODS VEHICLES OVER 3.5 TONNES

Sep 11, 2014

Jamie Smart, Legal and Technical Committee chairman for NFU Scotland commented:

“As of 9th September, drivers of goods vehicles, including floats, over 3.5 tonnes must have undertaken at least 35 hours of continued professional competence (CPC) training and do so every five years. Despite our efforts, the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency has stated that there is no blanket exemption available for agriculture.

“Most drivers who require a category C or D licence should have carried out the required training before this day. There is the potential for up to a £1,000 fine and penalty points on an operator’s licence if you are found to not have a CPC.

“For those that haven’t yet obtained a CPC, our advice is to go through the training as soon as possible. You can contact your local machinery ring, or use the course finder tool online to find a CPC course near you.

“We are still working to see how we can make the system work better for farmers, and continue to liaise with the National Farmers Union in England and the British Agricultural Bureau in Brussels to see how it is working elsewhere in Europe. In the absence of any derogation, farmers should be considering training.”

For NFU Scotland members who need advice, there is a free Agricultural Vehicle Helpline, manned by Jamie Smart on 07733 136 424 and members can also log onto our website to read further information.http://www.nfus.org.uk/

WIGTOWN TO CELEBRATE ANCIENT TRADING HISTORY

Sep 11, 2014

The ancient trading routes of an historical port and market town will come to life at the end of the month in an innovative arts event that will highlight forms of transport from a bygone age.
As part of the celebrations of Wigtown’s Book Town festival, Trading Journeys will commemorate the Royal Burgh’s historical importance as a county town and trade route as well as give a nod to Billy Marshall, the Gypsy King, who travelled the roads into town.

Organised by The Stove Network, an artists collective based in Dumfries, and involving the local schools and communities, the celebration takes place on Saturday, September 27, and will see a few intrepid travellers journeying into Wigtown by different methods of transport by land and sea.

The day will then culminate in one big celebration of the good old ways, which includes a gathering, parade, flotilla, home-made scones and jam, a mobile forge and a “surprise” performance in the evening.
Stove artist and event curator Will Levi Marshall said: “The idea came from the environmental festival we held last year. We became very aware that the festival’s organisation involved a lot of travelling to and from different places and how the journeys became part of the art experience.”
“We decided to integrate travelling into this new event; exploring different methods of travel around the region.”
“Trading Journeys is a chance to celebrate Wigtown’s historical importance as a trading hub and pilgrim route. By bringing different people and materials into town using diverse forms of transport, each separate element is recognised then fused into new creations.”

In the first journey, five days before the event, Auchencairn artist Alice Francis will begin her 60-mile route to Wigtown by horse and cart. She will pay homage to the legendary tinker, Leveller, and “King of the Randies”, Billy Marshall. On her way, she will collect tokens and wooden spoons left in the hedgerow by local schoolchildren and craft a “standard” from the tokens to form the centrepiece of the parade.
“The spoon is a significant part of this event,” Will explained, “as it is closely associated with Billy Marshall: his gravestone is etched with crossed spoons. Spoons will play a big role on the day with opportunities to make a spoon mould and cast them in metal in the specially commissioned mobile foundry which will be powered by bicycle and heated with charcoal made by Creetown Primary School children.”

Leaving around 9am on September 27 from Balmaclellan, Uula Jero will be peddling his bicycle-powered furnace to Wigtown, picking up cyclists on the way through Galloway Forest Park.
At 12.30pm on the day, a flotilla of small boats will launch from Creetown harbour by the A75. The Creetown flags will be raised and new Ferry Bell rung. These boats will be travelling with charcoal. The boats are expected at high tide (2pm) in Wigtown harbour.
At the gathering, there will be spoon crafting, flag-making and drumming workshops and the boats and cart will be dressed with bunting. There will be music throughout the day and an opportunity to try out the home-made scones and jam.
The parade begins at 4pm with a procession around the town centre. This will
include horses and carts, boats, flags, drumming and the travelling foundry.
Casting the spoons will take place at the corner of the County Buildings from 5pm.
A “surprise performance” closes Trading Journeys 2014 around 7pm.

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY SET TO CELEBRATE WILD AUTUMN

Sep 11, 2014

Wild Autumn Homecoming
Celebrate a spectacular wildlife homecoming at the Dumfries & Galloway Wild Autumn Festival

Wildlife experts in Dumfries & Galloway are looking forward to one of Scotland’s most spectacular wildlife homecomings. Welcoming tens of thousands of geese, swans, ducks and wading birds to their winter home on the Solway Firth this October. Our feathered friends will return and create one of the most impressive wildlife spectacles due to their sheer numbers and swooping patterns in the skies

Many thousands of geese mainly, Barnacle, Pinkfooted, Greylag and White-fronted as well as Wildfowl and Waders, including Wigeon, Pintail, Golden Plover and Dunlin choose to fly to the Solway each autumn and make it their winter home. The Solway is one of the top estuaries in Britain for numbers of wintering birds.

And to celebrate Homecoming Scotland 2014, the region’s Wild Autumn Festival (taking place from 11 October to 2 November) is offering three weeks of events, many free and hosted by countryside experts, for families and wildlife fans with opportunities to see the region’s wildlife and enjoy the stunning landscape.

Peter Norman, Biodiversity Officer at Dumfries & Galloway Council said: ““The great thing about Dumfries and Galloway’s wildlife is that there’s something to see all the year round. Just as our summer residents are departing, thousands of geese, ducks and wading birds arrive at their winter home; their massed flights provide a spectacular sight. But our resident species are also worth seeking out, from weird and wonderful fungi in autumnal woods to roaring red deer stags in the Galloway Hills. ”

The views across the Wigtown Bay to Cairnsmore of Fleet and the Galloway Hills are especially dramatic in the autumnal light and the ancient woodlands create a real spectacle of autumn colour.

Festival events take place across Dumfries & Galloway and the designated Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, which recognizes the outstanding natural environment and the way in which the local community works to conserve it and is home to the Galloway Forest’s Dark Sky Park.

For further information about the festival visit www.wildseasons.co.uk

DUMFRIES MART WEEKLY PRIMESTOCK REPORT

Sep 11, 2014

DUMFRIES PRIMESTOCK –10.09.2014

Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart held their Weekly Sale of Primestock in Dumfries on Wednesday.

Small show of Prime Cattle far short of buyers needs. Trade sharper
British Blue to 235.5p from Upper Tinwald, Torthorwald to B Taylor Butchers Lockerbie. Limousin to 223.5p Neill, Upper Tinwald, Torthorwald to B Taylor Butchers Lockerbie
82 OTM Cattle – All classes keenly bid. More leaner types forward buyers actively seeking greater numbers.

Per Head
Simmental to £1529.45, £1526.75 Newbie Mains
Limousin to £1080.40 Meikleholm, £1051.20 Cocklicks
Stabiliser to £1057.50, £1032.75, £1013.80 South Mains
Hereford to £1000.35 Tregallon
Friesian to £901.80 Bruntshields
Per Kilo
Simmental to 181p, 155p Newbie Mains
Friesian to 149p Drum, 131p Lakehead, 117p Barony, 113p Bruntshields
Limousin to 146p Meikleholm, 146p Cocklicks, 137p Courance, 135p Laught Mains
Stabiliser to 141p, 137p, 135p South Mains
Blue Grey to 135p Auchengruith
British Blue to 129p Third
Luing to 121p Chanlockfoot
Angus to 117p, 115p Upper Rigg
Hereford to 117p Tregallon

1974 Prime Sheep Forward

972 Prime Lambs – Trade better than expected considering the early week trend. Sale average 155.4p

Lambs 25.5-32Kg ave 161.1p to 163 Auchencairn
Lleyn to £52 Auchencairn
Blackface to £42 Gilchristland

Lambs 32.1-39Kg 158.7p to 170p Townpark
Texel to £62.80 Townpark, £62 Over Abington
Suffolk to £61.50 Nether Cargen
Charollais to £61.80 Laneside
Lleyn to £61.80 Laneside

Lambs 39.1-45.5Kg ave 153p to 175p Hillend
Beltex to £73, £70 (x2) Hillend
Texel to £68.50 Belzies, £68.20 Shambellie Grange, £68 Bush
Suffolk to £67.50 Abune the Brae, £66.80 Newlands, £66.80 Shawhill
Charollais to £66.50 Horseholm
Mule to £63 Foregirth, £61.20 Guelt
NCC to £63.20 Archwood

Lambs 45.6-52Kg ave 142.3p to 158p Skipmyre
Suffolk to £68.50 Nether Cargen
Texel to £76 Skipmyre, £70.50 Shambellie Grange, £70 Bush
Excellent Show of 1002 Cast Ewes & Rams forward still selling well. Top price on the day was £129.50 for Texel Rams from Hayfield.

Heavy ewes averaged £68.02
Texel to £124.50, £107.50 Newfield, £107.50 Skipmyre, £104.50 Belridding, £104.50 Hall of Drumpark
Suffolk to £91.50 Bush of Craigs
Mule to £82.50 Belridding, £76.50 South Mains, £75.50 Shawsmuir, £74.50 Capelfoot, £74.50 New Cample
Chev Mule to £74.50 Upper Longbank
NCC to £87.50 Annefield, £76.50 Dressertland

Light Ewes averaged £45.00
Cheviot to £76.50 Newfield, £68.50 Castle Crawford
Blackface to £59.50 Leeroch, £53.50 Foregirth, £51.50 Auchencheyne, £51.50 Hayfield
Lleyn to £59.50 Laneside, £44.50 Stenhouse

Rams ave £103.50
Texel to £129.50 Hayfield, £124 New Cample
Leicester to £108 Macqueston

SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE LAUNCH FRESHERS WEEK FIRE SAFETY CALL

Sep 11, 2014

Freshers’ Week fire safety call

With students moving to study at universities and colleges throughout Scotland firefighters are calling on everyone to help keep themselves and their new communities safe from fire.

September sees young people arrive in cities and towns across the country for Freshers’ Week and as students get familiar with their new surroundings, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) wants them to act to prevent tragedies.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, the SFRS director of prevention and protection, said: “Many young people will be leaving home for the first time and it’s obviously an exciting point in their lives.

“When moving into halls of residence or rented accommodation there’s a lot for these students to take in, but it’s absolutely crucial everyone recognises the danger posed by fire and understands the steps needed to reduce the risk.

“Our message to students is that you’re responsible for your own safety and that of the people around you.

“We need you to help us protect the communities you’re now part of, so please take a minute to look at our student safety leaflet – it’s essential reading.”

Firefighters will visit universities and colleges across Scotland throughout September to offer advice and help raise awareness of fire safety as an issue.

Parents also have a role to play, and SFRS is eager for anyone who has a son or daughter moving away from home to discuss fire safety with them.

There can be a greater risk of fire within shared rented accommodation and people should check to ensure there are working smoke and heat alarms.

Everyone should also make sure there are no bars on the windows and that they can be easily opened from the inside, and check for fire resisting labels on the furniture. Furniture made before 1988 may not be match or fire-resistant.

ACO Ramsay added: “People’s actions have a big impact on the chances of a fire starting or causing injuries or deaths.

“We want students to recognise that if you have consumed alcohol then your decision-making and judgement will be impaired, putting you and other residents at higher risk from fire.

“Choosing never to cook while under the influence of alcohol is a key step that will significantly reduce the risk of a tragedy.

“Similarly, anyone who is under the influence of alcohol should avoid smoking while sitting down, as it’s too easy to nod off and start a fire with potentially horrific consequences.”

In halls of residence, false alarms are a particular concern. Most emergency fire calls to student accommodation are false alarms caused by carelessness and negligence.

Having to attend false alarms risks lives, as firefighters may be delayed in getting to a real emergency where every second is critical.

The SFRS student safety leaflet – which also contains simple tips to avoid false alarms caused by cooking, smoking materials, candles, steam from bathrooms and more – is available online in the Your safety section of www.firescotland.gov.uk.

To join Scotland’s fight against fire and book a free home fire safety visit text ‘fire’ to 61611, call 0800 0731 999, or visit the SFRS website to complete an online form.

NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND HOLDS FREE STRANRAER WORKSHOP

Sep 11, 2014

FREE full day project with the National Theatre of Scotland Learn Team. On 16th September, the Ryan Centre Stranraer. The National Theatre of Scotland are looking for people 14 to 20 years old who are excited about devising a piece of theatre together, who can work well as part of a creative team and who are passionate about exploring how theatre can be used to carry a positive political message. Musicians and songwriters would also be very welcome. What is it all about?

Making Positive Protest Theatre. This means creating a short piece of contemporary theatre from scratch that has a strong political message, inspired by the poem I am the Common Man. It will be passionate and thought provoking. It will be created using voice work, spoken word and movement. If you attend the workshop you can have a free ticket to In Time O Strife NTS performance the same evening. For further information and to book a place contact carolyn@literaturedevelopment.org

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL PAY VISIT SCOTLAND £240,000 TO PROMOTE REGION

Sep 11, 2014

Visit Scotland secures Council funding for 2014-2015

At Tuesday’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, Councillors approved the allocation of £240,000 to Visit Scotland ensuring that they will continue to market our region both nationally and internationally.

Tourism is recognised as one of the main drivers for the regional economy and is a key sector supported by the Council. The value of tourism to the region’s economy in 2013 was £290.5 million and it is estimated that the sector employs 5,713 people directly and another 1,221 people indirectly.

VisitScotland has a remit to market Scotland as a quality destination, provide information for visitors, deliver quality assurance for the industry, and attract and support national and international events. It is also the only organisation of this type that can effectively deliver and measure economic impacts of campaign.

Councillor Colin Smyth, Chair of the Council’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure committee said:
“I am highly supportive of this funding, as our region relies heavily on tourism so it’s important that we invest in this sector and continue to attract people from the UK and beyond. One of our key Council priorities is to grow the regional economy and tourism plays a key role in this, not only in terms of visitor numbers but also in terms of employment. We have always enjoyed a good working relationship with VisitScotland and I am delighted that this fruitful partnership will continue.”

Paula McDonald, Regional Director, VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders said:
“We are delighted that Dumfries & Galloway Council have approved this funding recommendation for 2014/15. Tourism 2014 is the spring board for economic success in 2015 and beyond. VisitScotland is privileged to work in partnership to support Dumfries and Galloway’s vision to promote the region as a world-class destination where visitors receive a warm welcome, outstanding service and where quality exceeds customer expectations. We have a long term commitment to working in partnership with public sector and industry partners to maximise the visitor economy and build on the successful development of tourism in the region”