D & G Youthbank assessors recently attended the Moffat Ultimate Frisbee Event on 13 August to hand over a cheque for £300, which helped purchase the frisbees for each young person who participated in the event.
The event was supported by Moffat Community Group and Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Moffat Community Learning and Development Team.
Chairman of Community and Customer Services committee Cllr tom McAughtrie commented; “It is encouraging to see the D&G Youthbank support activities such as this and help get young people involved in a new sport.”
Ruaridh Edgar, young person representative of the group accepted the cheque and commented; “We have had over 30 young people attending the event today. They have received coaching on how to play Ultimate Frisbee and throwing techniques. This event will hopefully increase awareness of the sport and help young people develop core skills and improve their fitness and sense of well -being”
Youthbank provides small grants to fund young people’s good ideas. If anyone is interested in applying to Youthbank for funding or if you are a young person interested in becoming a Youthbank assessor, please contact Tracey Wood, Youthbank co-ordinator, 01461 207044 or email Tracey.Wood@dumgal.gov.uk
PHOTO ATTACHED BETHANY GRIEVE & SCOTT MUIR, YOUTHBANK ASSESSOR PRESENTING THE CHEQUE TO RUARIDH EDGAR OF MOFFAT COMMUNITY GROUP
Dock Park achieved a Green Flag earlier this year. As a result of that , the park automatically get put forward for the Green Flag People’s Choice Award. The voting is now open and closes on 30th September, with results being announced in October. The park needs your votes to be in with a chance of winning .
Maureen Farrel from Dumfries stated today ” If you can vote for Dock Park using the link below I will love you forever! Thanks “
To vote – Follow the link Click on ‘Scotland’ on the map or enter ‘Dock Park’ in the search box Click on the Green Flag icon which hovers over Dumfries Click on ‘More Details’ Click on ‘Vote for this Site’
Isla Robertson theDock Park Development Officer said ” If you are a member of another group then please forward this email onto them, as well as friends and family, so that we can get as many people voting for Dock Park as possible. “
You can find out more about the Parks green Flag Award on the link below
Sanctuary – 24 hours of experimental music, art and otherworldliness in a Scottish forest Experience new realities in Galloway’s Dark Sky Park
Find Sanctuary deep in a Scottish forest – an arts event in the heart of Galloway’s Dark Skies Park. It experiments with sound, light and space, exploring the unseen and in-between, featuring light installations and 24 hours of previously unheard music. Sanctuary takes place on 27th and 28th September Making a welcome return is The Dark Outside FM – a site-specific radio station curated by sound artist Stuart Maclean. For 24 hours, The Dark Outside FM will be broadcasting previously unheard sound and music from artists as diverse as, Carter Tutti, Bis, Craig Safan and Jon Brooks. Contributions come from Australia, Canada, the UK, Norway, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Germany, Denmark and the USA. This new work can only be heard at this site and the sound files will be destroyed afterwards. This year’s broadcast will also include a live multi-transmitter performance from veteran sound experimentalists :zoviet* france There will also be light installations including Robbie Coleman’s dramatic 100ft neon light sculpture called ENCLOSURE. Then there will be chances to discover aspects of otherworldliness – including explorations of the paranormal and strange psychic phenomenon – in the Dark Skies Lounge. The event, which takes place around Murrays Monument miles from the nearest town, is a collaboration between artists Robbie Coleman, Jo Hodges and Stuart Mclean. Jan Hogarth, from Wide Open, said: “This is one of the most exciting art collaborations to happen in the landscape of Scotland this year” “There will be amazing music that no one else will ever hear, most of it is composed for this event, a dramatic light installation and the chance to enter the world of the paranormal – all taking place in a remote forest in the Dark Sky Park in Galloway” “Jo Hodges, Robbie Coleman and Stuart Mclean are a highly imaginative team and they are offering the chance to experience a whole alternative reality.” The event will capture the region’s creative imagination and unveil the many senses of place within landscape. It is targeting both local and urban audiences, bringing them to the landscape of Galloway for an unforgettable experience. Hundreds of art and music enthusiasts are expected to come from far and wide to spend the night in the forest and take part in the event. Robbie Coleman said: “The Dark Sky Park is an incredible place to spend the night, looking at the stars and listening to music that’s never been heard before. It’s an exciting place to create experimental work.” Keith Muir, head of tourism for Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park, said “The Dark Outside FM event not only highlights the importance of darkness but will also help visitors and locals understand light and how it affects who and what we are. How often do you get a good reason to take a drive to the countryside in total darkness and listen to music? “For the Dark Sky Park art is proving to be one of the best ways to communicate the importance of light and darkness, the Sanctuary of music and the space it creates is a very powerful instrument and Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park is delighted to be able to host this event and the growing number of art works. “The visitors who come to be part of an event or see the art works all contribute to making the south west of Scotland the premier destination for environmental art which further enhances the new Unesco Biosphere status in the area”. Food and refreshments by the famous Moniaive Green Tea House will be available.
• Sanctuary and The Dark Outside FM – A 24 Hour Arts Event from 12 noon on 26th – 12 noon on 27th September 2014 at Murrays Monument, A712, 7 miles from Newton Stewart. • The event is free and everyone is welcome. It will be enchanting for all ages. • Sanctuary starts at noon on 27th September to Noon on 28th September. • Featuring The Dark Outside FM, a radio broadcast of sound and music contributed by artists from all over the world, none of which has been heard before and all of which will be deleted after the event. Much of the work has been composed specifically for the site. • Last year The Dark Outside FM took place as part of the Environmental Art Festival Scotland (EAFS) • Visit The Dark Outside FM HQ at the top of Murrays Monument – join the crew for a friendly chat, a comfy sofa and a fantastic view. • There’ll be installations during the day and a large scale light sculpture after dark. • The Dark Star Lounge will offer a social space to hang out and listen to the broadcast, and a fire to warm yourself at night. • Talk by paranormal investigator, Innes Smith in the Dark Skies Lounge at 9.30pm • Food on 27th is being provided by the Green Tea House. • Please bring a radio and a torch and there is wild camping available for the adventurous. • More info www.thedarkoutside.com
Dumfries and Galloways Newest Festival ‘Electric Fields’ Lights up with a bright start !
With the end of August only a days away, 1500 people could be found partying to more than 40 bands, artists, and DJ’s, under the watchful gaze and sun-filled serenity of Drumlanrig Castles green and verdant tree-lined grounds. So, as a new adventure, a one-dayer, the new kid on the festival block smashed it. We’d like to this think that this was a fantastic way to close the summer festival season in Dumfriesshire, if not Scotland.
Co-founders Alex Roberts & Chay Woodman, as well as the rest of our truly dedicated team, would like to thank everybody that turned up. The atmosphere veered between the best festival we’ve ever been to,including having families galore, and a classic Hogmanay vibe with the atmosphere turned up high. The music ran from 11.30am to 00.30am and apart from one DJ being replaced due to illness, the full brace of bands arrived, played and partied with everyone else, including our stunning headliner, Fatherson. Having Alex Kapranos from Franz Ferdinand strap on his guitar and jump onstage for the last song with his old band The Amphetameanies was a fantastic surprise. Thankfully we managed keep that one a secret, in between a lot of grinning.
Stanley Odd
Copyright R.B Photography
Fatherson
Copyright R.B Photography
The La Fountaines Copyright R.B Photography
Will the festival get any bigger? There’s always room for expansion.
Sadly, a handful of tents did have some items stolen, which is being dealt with by the police. Although the loss figure is quite high, half of this is roughly due to one particular tent containing a very expensive high end camera & lens as well as a significant amount of cash. We are of course disappointed that this happened, however, this does seem indicative of all festivals. The crowd, other than this incident and one person being arrested for drunk and disorderly, behaved impeccably, and we salute their greatness immensely.
Chay Woodman and Alex Roberts (co-founders) stated
“We’re delighted with the overall success of the first and now inaugural Electric Fields. The weather was kind and the festival goers were in great spirits. We feel that we’ve created a family friendly event that stands out from everything else in Dumfries & Galloway, including musically. The feedback has been overwhelming and with the majority of ticket buyers coming from outside of the region, we’re obviously on the right path nationally. More than enough reason to start planning for 2015!’
Jim Gellatly of XFM Radio
Jim Gellatly – DJ & Broadcaster, XFM Radio. Who introduced the bands onto the stages stated – “My dream festival line-up, with so much amazing emerging music from Scotland.”
The Full DGWGO review with Loads more photos and video footage from the festival will be Online soon.
Mountain Biking Opportunity for secondary aged children
History will be made on 14 September.
For the first time in Dumfries and Galloway, The 7 Stanes at Dalbeattie will be hosting the regional mountain biking competition. Mountain biking is delivered in a number of different ways in our secondary schools and through partnership work with Scottish cycling and the organisers of the SXC Mountain bike racing series 2014, we have been able to create a regional competition.
The event will be running alongside Round 6 of the SXC Mountain bike series on the day which will see many Commonwealth and World Class athletes competing. The event is being piloted alongside this event to promote the sport, and it is hoped that our schools will promote this to as many mountain bikers, experienced and beginners to enter the event and compete on the day and have the chance to further develop their skills and competitive experiences.
Working alongside Scottish cycling to create this event for the regions secondary schools is a key task for our Council. Not only can our regions pupils represent their own school in an entirely new school competition, they can do it on a national stage alongside some of the world’s best. This is a great opportunity and our Council are hoping to make it an annual event.
Cllr Tom McAughtrie, Chairman of the Council’s Community and Customer Services Committee, “It is good to see so many sports being promoted at this level in our regions schools. We as a country have had the spotlight placed on us for a couple of years now with the Commonwealth Games and it seems we are determined to keep it on us with fantastic events like this growing all the time.”
Fiona Walker from Scottish Cycling also commented, “Scottish Cycling are keen to support competitive cycling in schools and we are confident that this event will be the first of many cycling opportunities for pupils in Dumfries and Galloway. Combining a schools’ event with the main Scottish Championships allows pupils to race against the best riders in the country and hopefully will encourage pupils to progress in the sport of cycling.”
The work to upgrade the Loreburn Hall into the temporary home of DG One Leisure Complex’s ‘Dry-Side’ is well underway. The Hall is due to open for business on 6 October, whilst DG One undergoes remedial works.
A huge amount of work has already taken place to bring the flooring, insulation and wiring up to standard. Construction of the changing rooms, showers, toilets and gym area where equipment will be placed is now taking place. The gym space will hold almost all of the equipment stations the current gym in DG One holds.
Area for court based sports likes badminton and netball as well as an area for fitness classes will be partitioned off from the main gym areas, as will changing facilities. Our pictures from inside the hall give an indication of how the hall will be set up.
Chairman of Community and Customer Services, Cllr Tom McAughtrie was shown around the Hall earlier this week and commented: “Our Council said we would provide alternative facilities during the DG One remedial works and the Loreburn Hall is shaping up well to providing such facilities to a high standard. It is important to remember this is a temporary facility but judging by what I have seen today, the customer will have a thoroughly enjoyable experience when they visit ‘DG One @ Loreburn Hall’. The Hall is more than big enough to cope with the various strands of health and fitness our Council offer and I look forward to the opening of the facility in October.”
Improvements to the roof of the Loreburn Hall are due to take place in the next week or two. With less than 5 weeks to the opening of the facility, the almost 200 year old building is taking shape well. Painting, sanding and plumbing works are taking place, and the facility is on schedule to open its doors to treadmill walkers, badminton players and Zumba enthusiasts on Monday 6 October.
Chairman of Nithsdale Area Committee and Provost of Dumfries, Cllr Ted Thompson joined Cllr McAughtrie on the site visit and said after: ” I am really pleased with the way works are progressing. On talking to the workmen it is clear that there is a real enthusiasm to restore the Hall to its former glory. I have nothing but good memories of the Loreburn Hall and this work initially to turn it into a temporary fitness facility will create a good basis for its future use as a community asset. I would also congratulate the Council’s DGFirst team who managed the project with 84% of the construction works and business procured locally and recycling of materials rates of around 95%. This is a great example of what can be achieved when we work in partnership with others demonstrating the Council’s commitment and ability in promoting the local economy.”
‘DG One @Loreburn Hall’ will open on Monday 6 October. There will be signage and timetable information produced in the upcoming weeks so you can see exactly what the facility has to offer. For up to date information, please visit www.dgone.co.uk
Mark Smith of the River Of Life Church Dumfries Said to DGWGO This evening “We were hosting the team of four on Monday evening, as they departed by vehicle from the route, leaving at Beattock and returning to the same spot this morning. Tomorrow (Wednesday) they will be moving from Lockerbie to Carlisle, via Gretna Green, where I hope to catch up with them again.”
• Marathon runner, Dave Hall, on epic 40 day, 40 marathon back-to-back challenge to provide 40 new homes with Home Leone • Show your support for Dave as he runs through Dumfries and Galloway followed by his sleeping shack!
This summer, 50 year old Chartered Accountant Dave Hall is running 40 marathons back-to-back from John O’Groats TO LAND‘S END, sleeping each night in a shack that should be in a slum in Sierra Leone. Dave is currently running through Dumfries and galloway and staying the night in the shack at several locations in the region , you may of spotted him already .
Dave Hall is the Man in a Shack and he is taking on this extreme endurance challenge to raise funds for the new charity Home Leone; started by NIGEL HYDE, THE FOUNDER OF established GLOBAL CHARITY, Mission Direct, which has already provided homes, schools, wells and other vital infrastructure to MANY African communities. The aim is to raise enough money to build 40 new homes in Sierra Leone and change the lives of 40 families who currently live in abject poverty in the Freetown slums. Having taken up running in 1999, Dave has since completed 130 marathons, including 6 ultra-marathons, and has is successfully completed the London marathon 11 times. Following a visit to Sierra Leone in June, Dave was moved to USE HIS PASSION FOR RUNNING TO do something to try to relieve the poverty that he witnessed while visiting the villages. Dave began his challenge at John O’Groats on 18th August and plans to cross the finish line at Land’s End on 26th September. A replica of a slum-town shack will be driven along the route with Dave and this is where he will sleep each night. Dave said: “I’m looking forward to getting started and I know the challenge that faces me is incredibly tough. [However], My visit to Sierra Leone has inspired me to do something positive and with the help of the team at Home Leone, we’ve developed this challenge to help raise awareness of the families suffering extreme poverty and more importantly raise much needed funds for the cause of what is happening in the country. “I’m looking forward to visiting Dumfries and Galloway and I hope to educate THOSE I MEET as to why I’m doing this and inspire people to donate to the worthy and immediate cause. I welcome the town to show their support by visiting one of my overnight stops or running alongside me part of the way – anything to give me added boosts will be greatly appreciated.”
Nigel Hyde, Chief Executive of Home Leone, added: “With the world’s deadliest outbreak of the Ebola virus taking place in Western Africa as we speak with over 1,000 victims already, it’s more important than ever for new homes to be built to enable clean and [comfortable] HEALTHY living. “We’re overwhelmed that Dave has agreed to take on his challenge on behalf of the charity and wish him all the very best along the way. I’m sure the support of the British public will spur him on and essential funds are raised to help those who need it.” Dave’s progress can be followed here www.maninashack.com and donations can be made at https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/davehall Dave is on Twitter @dave404040 and on Facebook.com/ManinaShack Challenge.
Jo McIntyre is co-owner of GJ Wildlife photography and lives near Lockerbie. She studied zoology at Edinburgh University, and loves animals, but her interest in photography only began 6 years ago, when she was looking for a new (cheap!) hobby.
I started off with an entry level Nikon camera, but now use a Canon 1Dx, and a variety of Canon lenses, tripod and beanbag. I really enjoy taking wildlife images as there’s no time to over analyse, and even with two people in the same place, your image is unique; I love the challenge that you can’t ask an animal / bird to go back and to do the move again!
I moved up to Aviemore in the highlands of Scotland in 2011, to make a life change and move away from 50+hours a week job, including travel, to focus on my photography whilst working full-time.
In August last year I moved down to Dumfries and Galloway, to be closer to family, and further away from the snow! And formed after meeting a group of people from Dumfries camera club, GJ wildlife photography with well-known local commercial photographer Gordon Rae.
In April this year GJ wildlife photography was growing at such a pace I changed jobs and moved to working just 3 days a week, as a regional manager for Cottages4You, leaving more time for the photography business.
This year I have had an image Highly Commended in the British Wildlife Photography Awards, and my images have featured in several national newspapers, and in the competition circuit I have won over 15 awards, including 5 gold medals. In the last 2 years, she has also had an image bought by the BBC for advertising purposes for Winterwatch 2013, and several other images sold for books, greetings cards, and calendars.
GJ Wildlife photography is based near Lockerbie and we offer tuition, as all levels from beginner upwards, hide hire, including red squirrels, woodland birds, and new hides to be added in the next few months. We also run photographic tours across the UK, to include wildlife such as osprey, kingfisher, little owl, red squirrel. In addition I/We do commissions, and image sales in either print or canvas, in a variety of sizes. GJ wildlife also have a display of our images in Glaisnock café in Wigtown, which is also featuring in the Wigtown book festival.
Below is a selection of some of Jo’s pictures
osprey-fishing-in-the-mist.
fishing-osprey
dumfries-goshawk-hunting.
Kingfisher
Jo is a member of Dumfries camera club, and in 2012 Jo was one of 14 members of Wigan10 camera club, who won the FIAP World Cup, winning 1st place as the best photography club in the world.
You can find out More on the links below www.gjwildlifephotography.co.uk
A new guide has been launched by the team at Making the most of the coast
This online guide can help you identify 16 of our native seaside flowering plants that can be found on beaches along Dumfries and Galloways Solway Coast , The more you look the more you will find.
Exploring Auchencairn Bay Copyright R.B Photography
The team do state for you to enjoy your search for seashore plants but remember a wild flower always looks better in the ground than in your hand.
You can find flowering plants that have adapted flourish on all different types of seashore in D&G , and to aid identification this guide shows you images of the flowers you are likely to find on our local saltmarsh (merse), sand dunes, shingle banks and rocky coast.
Sandyhills beach , Copyright R.B Photography
You can download a copy of the Flower Guide at this link: Have fun and do keep safe while exploring !
Dumfries, Scotland — Tuesday 2 September, 2014; Returning to Europe after making its global debut in Canada last month, Albatec Racing heads to France this weekend for round eight of the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy. The Circuit de Lohéac plays host to arguably the biggest event on the 2014 schedule, where the Lochfoot-based team led by Team Principal Andy Scott, will be joined by Briton David Binks, the duo piloting a pair of 600bhp Albatec Peugeot 208 Supercars.
A recent string of fine results has seen the Dumfries businessman qualify for four of the five semi finals contested. Buoyed by that performance and by the pace shown in Lohéac last year, the 2011 British Rallycross Vice-Champion will be determined to continue that form into the weekend’s event, which has attracted nearly 40 Supercars among a quality field.
David Binks
With regular driver former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve busy with television commitments, the French-Canadian’s place in the squad has been taken by former Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) star Binks. A regular front runner and no stranger to domestic rallycross success, David looks set to be the dark horse in the pack. Returning to race action after his sponsor pulled out of rallycross, the Newcastle-born racer is arguably a contender for race honours, and will stop at nothing to kick-start his World RX campaign with victory.
Although home to just 700 residents, the entire village of Lohéac in Brittany turns out in force, and last year around 70,000 enthusiasts soaking up the frantic race action around the 1.1km track joined them. This year World RX of France features 37 Supercars vying for race honours, among them 2003 WRC Champion Petter Solberg, American Gymkhana star Ken Block and reigning French Rallycross Champion Jerome Grosset-Janin.
The weekend starts with scrutineering on Friday and the all-important driver draw at 16.00, which determines the grids for heat one. Track action gets underway with open practice at 11.00 on Saturday, with the first of two heats at 13.30. Sunday’s action resumes with warm-up at 08.00, the first of the final two qualifying heats at 09.15 and the semi finals at 15.00, followed by the Final at around 15.30. Further event information, live timing and streaming is available at www.rallycrossrx.com. All times remain provisional and please check the website for details of local coverage.
Andy Scott, Team Principal and driver Albatec Racing
Andy Scott
“I’m particularly excited about racing in Lohéac as I’ve had some success there in the past and last year we came very close to qualifying both cars, so we have a bit of unfinished business. It’s been a busy time re-prepping the cars since they returned from Canada, but the team has worked hard to ensure they are both in good shape to take on the challenge of France.
“I’m very interested to test with David this week ahead of the weekend, and hopefully together we can work to develop the optimum set-up to allow us both to challenge for a strong result.”
David Binks, driver Albatec Racing #81 :
“I can’t wait to get back in the driving seat, it’s been far too long. I had a seat fitting at the team’s Dumfries workshop over the weekend and that felt great just sitting in the car, never mind driving it. I’m really looking forward to the test on Wednesday, I think we have a good base set-up from which to work, and hopefully between myself and Andy, with all his experience of the car, we can head to the race with a good package to give us the best chance of success.
“I can’t thank my sponsors enough, JBT Waste, recyclieitall, Codemasters, Harsh Ltd, Smuggling Duds, Ripla and Crosswrap for all their support and I will do everything I can to repay their confidence in me.”
