NFU Scotland Blog – Recognising Responsibilities To Climate Change

May 12, 2020

Vice President Martin Kennedy states that the Scottish farming industry’s focus remains firmly on keeping food and drink on the nation’s table. But, in the background, it continues to recognise its responsibility to respond to climate change.

“Despite this uncertainty, Scottish farmers remain committed to producing high quality food in a way that reduces our carbon footprint and protects the environment,” writes Martin.

The Union’s ground-breaking work in partnership with the Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes (SEFARI) will bring clarity on the impact Scottish agriculture has on the climate when it is published over the coming weeks, summarising current knowledge and showing an accurate picture of agriculture, highlighting where there is certainty and areas where we need more research.

“Scotland is already recognised as being well ahead of the curve when it comes to climate change, and so long as we continue to drive positive measures to improve our position, market opportunities for our products can only increase,” concludes Martin.

Read the full blog at: https://www.nfus.org.uk/news/blog/vice-presidents-blog-11-may-2020

Forestry and Land Scotland is thinking post-COVID

May 12, 2020

Forestry and Land Scotland has vowed to deliver as much as possible of its business plan for 2020/21– with the preparations required for an eventual return to normal duties post-COVID19 underway.

With the majority of FLS staff now working from home, some are still involved with essential felling work – while also maintaining physical distance and following current government and NHS health advice.

Praising their efforts across the board, FLS Chief Executive, Simon Hodgson, acknowledged that there is a still lot of work to do.

He said:

“In a time of difficult adjustments and adaptations for the whole country, I am very proud of the remarkable effort that is being made by all of my colleagues.

“Like every public agency, our priority is the same as the Scottish Government’s – to implement the public health guidance to help prevent the spread of the virus, protect our NHS and save lives, including our staff and also the public.

“We are maintaining our contribution to the national effort to get through the health crisis. This remains our top priority.

“Beyond this, those of our staff who are not engaged in essential work are thinking about what we will need to happen, such that when current restrictions are lifted we can deliver on the actions set out in our Business Plan.”

Key elements of the Business Plan included proposals to create 650 ha of new woodland, the restoration of 150ha of vacant and derelict land, development work to expand FLS tree nurseries and the seed supply, and improvements to the offer to visitors and communities.

Simon added;

“This is an extremely challenging period for everyone in Scotland. Even when the immediate crisis has passed, this will leave a lasting burden.

“However, when it does recede – as it will – and current restrictions are eased, there will be a huge job to do in getting the country back on its feet. We are working hard to be prepared to play our part in that national effort.”

Ongoing essential forestry work includes harvesting work that is supplying timber for the production of pallets, biofuel, packaging and high-quality paper products that are underpinning the essential logistical, manufacturing and medical efforts of key frontline personnel.

15th Kendal Calling Cancelled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

May 11, 2020

kendall calling — Image Credit - Kendal Calling

The popular ‘Kendal Calling’ Music festival that was due to be held at Lowther deer Park in The Lake district on 30th July to the 2nd of August 2020, has been cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In a video shared on social media the organisers stated that they are heartbroken. The festival hedaliners for 2020 included

SUPERGRASS
STEREOPHONICS
FOALS

PRIMAL SCREAM *
CRAIG DAVID PRESENTS TS5
BLOSSOMS
THE KOOKS
DIZZEE RASCAL *

BILL BAILEY
YOU ME AT SIX
DMA’S
JOHNNY MARR
GOLDFRAPP
THE SLOW READERS CLUB

TGicket holders will receive an email about refunds in the coming days.

Full info can be found here https://kendalcalling.co.uk/lineup

Chief Executive Of NHS Scotland Stands Down Due To Ill Health

May 11, 2020

Malcolm Wright, Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and Director General (DG) Health and Social Care has tendered his resignation on health grounds due to an underlying medical condition.

Interim arrangements are in place and will continue until the end of August, at which point a view will be taken on commencing an open recruitment campaign.

To ensure that there is additional capacity to respond to the intense and challenging period of response and recovery from the COVID-19 emergency, Elinor Mitchell, Director for Community Health and Social Care has been appointed interim DG Health and Social Care and John Connaghan, Chief Performance Officer NHS Scotland and Director of Delivery and Resilience, has been appointed interim Chief Executive of NHS Scotland.

Announcing the resignation Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman said:

“I am very sorry that Malcolm Wright has had to resign from the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and DG Health and Social Care role. I know this was a difficult decision but one he has had to make for medical reasons. He leaves with my greatest respect and gratitude. I have valued the wealth of knowledge and experience that he brought to the role, especially at this challenging time. I wish him well for a happy and healthy future.

“I know that Elinor Mitchell and John Connaghan have worked closely with Malcolm as key members of his team and that they share my determination to equip our health and care system to meet the current challenges and to continue delivering an excellent service for the people of Scotland. I am confident they will continue to meet the challenges we face and continue to give our service the leadership it deserves.”

Spring Fling At Home – Artists & Makers Go Digital

May 11, 2020

Spring Fling At Home - artists and makers go digital — Kim Ayres

The organisers of Dumfries and Galloway’s Spring Fling are launching SF | At Home – a new programme of digital activities.

The initiative is to support Spring Fling audiences and artists though this period of isolation and fill some of the gap left by the postponement of Scotland’s leading open studios weekend.

A total of 87 artists and craft makers across Dumfries & Galloway were expecting to welcome around 12,000 visitors through their doors between 23 and 25 May.

Despite having to delay the long-running annual event its parent organisation, Upland CIC, has worked with artists, makers and supporters to go digital.

Some studios will offer virtual tours, there will be an online exhibition plus workshops and demonstrations suitable for all ages.

The website is also being updated to showcase all the studios selected for Spring Fling 2020 and with a variety of art and craft to browse and buy.

Joanna Macaulay, Assistant Director for Upland, said: “The next bank holiday weekend just won’t be the same without Spring Fling. It is one of the most successful events of its kind in the UK – a much-loved highlight of the year for visitors and participants alike.

“We hope that SF | At Home will fill some of the gap. Even though the artists and makers can’t open their doors in the usual way – people can still meet some of them online to see their studios, watch demonstrations and even take part in workshops.

“And hopefully it will inspire those who aren’t familiar with Spring Fling, or this beautiful region of south-west Scotland, to come and see us later in the year.”

“It is really important for us to keep our artists engaged with their audiences and to do our bit in providing creative opportunities for our Spring Fling visitors.

“Art and craft are good for wellbeing and we hope that our workshops and demonstrations will be welcomed by those in isolation. The timing is especially appropriate as 18-24 May is Mental Health Awareness week.”

Anyone wanting to use lockdown to develop their own art skills should watch out for the tutorials by established artists Bella Green and Liz Gilbey among others

Bella, who has 50 years’ experience in art education will run two sessions under the title of Making Your Mark.

Liz is filming short videos that introduce simple drawing techniques making use of materials available around the house when a full art kit is not available.

She said: “We are all eating and cooking at home at the moment and, so one of the things I’ll be doing is looking at the beauty of the ordinary in the kitchen – the fruit and veg, the glass and ceramics. I’ll be encouraging a free and loose approach to drawing and full expression in colour.”

SF | At Home will run from 18 to 25 May.

Emily Tough will present an online exhibition and virtual tour of the artwork she created as the Spring Fling Wigtown Book Festival Artist in Residence last year.

This saw her use recycled materials to create puppets inspired by stories and people at the book festival – all within a miniature big top.

The SF | At Home online activities are also an important way for Upland CIC to help support artists, makers and small businesses – many of them facing substantial challenges due to the lockdown. Upland plans to announce a new date for Spring Fling 2020 in the coming months.

As Dumfries & Galloway’s art and craft development agency Upland CIC is also introducing projects to support artists and makers.

Digital Diversions kicks off with live advice sessions to support and develop members’ skills in online selling and reaching audiences through video.

These will be led by Upland members Kim Ayres, a photographer from Castle Douglas, and Suzi Plunkett, of Little Dot Creations in Newton Stewart.

A further suite of sessions will take place in June and will see other members share their expertise.

Upland also plans an online exhibition A Postcard from D&G – We Wish You Were Here. The idea is for members to come up with 2D and 3D works that can be easily posted.

Amy Marletta, Upland’s Projects Director, said: “Our members are hugely talented and accomplished people, but many face extraordinary difficulties – with events and exhibitions cancelled, and galleries and studios closed.

“By sharing expertise we can give them additional skills to help rebuild and diversify. At the same time, A Postcard from D&G – We Wish You Were Here, provides an opportunity to prepare work for an exhibition and hopefully make some sales.”

The organisation has also adapted one of its planned major projects, Artful Migration, so it can go ahead under Covid-19 restrictions.

The artist residency project, in partnership with Ginnie Wollaston and Nicholas Parton Philip of Moving Souls Dance, will focus on the ospreys nesting at NTS Threave Garden and Estate to look at wider issues of climate change and migration.

Amy said: “While human society may be on hold, the ospreys are continuing their cycle of migration and breeding as usual.

“Even though the artists may not be able to spend time at Threave in the way we had hoped, the current pandemic may well raise interesting issues about our future relationship with the natural world.”

SF | At Home workshops and live tours are free but registration will be needed – check www.spring-fling.co.uk for details.
Digital Diversions activities are for Upland members and information will be available at www.weareupland.com.

Doctors Graduate Early To Support Dumfries & Galloway NHS In COVID Challenge

May 11, 2020

young drs — The interim FY1 doctors in the Education Centre at DGRI

A group of doctors who have graduated early to help the NHS meet the challenge of the coronavirus arrived in the region last week.

Anne-Marie Coxon is manager of the Education Centre in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. She said: “These FiY1 doctors are final year medical students who volunteered to graduate early so they can assist with the COVID-19 response.

“We have nine FiY1 doctors with us at the moment and there are another four due to arrive within the next couple of weeks. The doctors are working across medicine, surgery, the Emergency Department and the Critical Care Unit.

“Six of the FiY1s with us at the moment will be staying on from August to complete their foundation training with NHS Dumfries and Galloway.”

NHS Dumfries and Galloway Chief Executive Jeff Ace has welcomed the arrival of the interim FY1 doctors in the region.

Mr Ace said: “We very much welcome the arrival of these doctors, who have opted to graduate early so that they can help us address the challenges posed by COVID-19.

“Containment efforts have meant that we weren’t overwhelmed by the coronavirus in its first wave. However, we recognise that this is a challenge we’re going to have to live with over the coming months. The addition of these enthusiastic new interim FY1 doctors to our workforce is a fantastic boost, and very much appreciated.”

PICTURE:

The interim FY1 doctors in the Education Centre at DGRI

Supporting communities affected by coronavirus

May 10, 2020

Families on lower incomes and older people are to get more support with extra funding for lifeline services to cope with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The funding from the Scottish Government’s Supporting Communities Fund will go directly to more than 250 community groups.

The community groups operate as ‘anchors’, bringing together charities, volunteers, social enterprises and the public sector to co-ordinate the local response and channel support where it is needed. This includes making hot meals, organising grocery and prescription deliveries and providing wellbeing support.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said:

“We know that community groups working in the heart of our communities and neighbourhoods have a wealth of experience in responding to challenges. We have seen this through many examples of the incredible response to COVID-19 in the past weeks that have made such a huge difference to so many people. This inspiring work that is already underway in our neighbourhoods is proving essential to our nation’s resilience.

“This funding will be a valuable lifeline for the range of innovative support available for people in our communities, and we are working fast to get that support to where it is needed most.”

Background
The Supporting Communities Fund was announced on 18 March 2020 as part of a £350 million package to help those most affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Up to £10 million is being made available as an initial sum available to support community anchor organisations, and a further allocation of £10 million has been approved to support the second phase of the fund.

List of the community groups that will receive funding.

Police Scotland underlines that threats against officers and staff will not be tolerated

May 10, 2020

Police Scotland has underlined that coronavirus-related attacks and threats aimed at police officers and staff will not be tolerated, after more than 100 such incidents were recorded.

Officers and staff are visible in communities 24 hours a day as the service encourages people to stick with physical distancing requirements to protect the NHS and save lives.
They are engaging with the public, explaining the physical distancing requirements, encouraging people to comply with the law, and using enforcement only where necessary.
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone has thanked Scotland’s communities for the high levels of co-operation shown during this challenging period.

However, there have been occasions where frontline policing teams and personnel from the custody suites have been subjected to abusive behaviour including threats of deliberate transmission.

In some instances, officers and staff have also been spat at or coughed on.
Between 24 March, 2020 and 18 April, 2020, there have been over 100 crimes committed in Scotland, where police officers and staff are recorded as victims.

Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: “Police officers and staff are playing a vital role as we all make the changes and sacrifices needed to protect the NHS and save lives.
“I’d like to thank the vast majority of our communities for their co-operation and support as we all contribute to the national effort to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
“Those doing the right thing will agree these sorts of attacks on our officers and staff are outrageous and disgraceful.
“Abuse and assault is not simply part of the job for police officers and staff and will not be tolerated.
“The Chief Constable and Lord Advocate have made it clear that those engaging in this behaviour will be dealt with robustly by Scotland’s police and prosecution services.
“Threatening a member of Police Scotland personnel, or any other emergency service worker, while they are carrying out their duties to keep the public safe will result in immediate arrest.
“On the occasions where such incidents have occurred we have seen a very supportive approach from Sheriffs across the country and in some instances, offenders have been remanded in custody.”

Man Caught with £200,000 of Cannabis on A74(M) Lockerbie

May 9, 2020

Drugs with an estimated street value of £200,000 have been recovered by Police Scotland after a car was stopped in Dumfries and Galloway.

Road policing officers based at Lockerbie stopped a grey Toyota Avensis around 11.10am on Saturday, 9 May, 2020 on the A74(M) northbound carriageway near junction 15 at Moffat. Further enquiries led them to discover drugs within the car, believed to be cannabis, with a maximum street value of £200,000.

A 35-year-old man has been arrested and charged in relation to the incident. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

If anyone has any information relating to drug offences in their area, please contact us on 101.

Shop Online or Click & Collect With Hetland Garden Centre’s New Website

May 9, 2020

Hetland Garden Centre have just launched their new eCommerce website which means you can order online for local delivery or click and collect.

hetland.co.uk

Bedding plants and compost are among the most popular products and the website allows you to choose from hundreds of products including plants, gardening equipment, bird food, gardening furniture and everything you need for your garden.

There are multi-buy deals and offers on dozens of products

Local Delivery

The team at Hetland Garden Centre now provide a fast and efficient delivery service Monday to Friday across Gretna, Annan, Lockerbie, Lochmaben and Dumfries and within a maximum of 12 miles from the nursery.

Delivery is charged at a flat rate of £0.50 per mile with a minimum order of £35.00

Click & Collect

It’s easy to Click & Collect your order from their store 5 days a week. Simply choose your products, select Click & Collect as your delivery option and choose your day and time slot to collect. It couldn’t be simpler.

Both services adhere to stringent social distance rules.

Online Gift Vouchers

You can now also buy gift vouchers online which can be redeemed towards hundreds of products and offers or send it as a gift for someone special.

Full Website Development With Zero Face To Face Contact

The website has been designed and developed, clients trained and made live with zero face to face contact!

Hetland Garden Centre and Hoggett Creative are both sponsors of DGWGO and David contacted Derek at DGWGO to ask advice on the best way forward.

David Wilson of Hetland Garden Centre
“A full eCommerce website was something we had thought about before but it seemed like a daunting task. I saw the amazing job that Simon and his team did for Paterson’s Fruit & Veg and I got in touch.

Simon and his team at Hoggett Creative have done a fantastic job and it has all been achieved remotely. Simon and I, along with the help of Derek at DGWGO, have all worked remotely to create the site, I can’t believe what we have achieved without meeting up”

“Hopefully, it won’t be too long before I can meet up with Simon and finally meet him!”

“Scotland is already recognised as being well ahead of the curve when it comes to climate change, and so long as we continue to drive positive measures to improve our position, market opportunities for our products can only increase,” concludes Martin.

“In a time of difficult adjustments and adaptations for the whole country, I am very proud of the remarkable effort that is being made by all of my colleagues.

“Like every public agency, our priority is the same as the Scottish Government’s – to implement the public health guidance to help prevent the spread of the virus, protect our NHS and save lives, including our staff and also the public.

“We are maintaining our contribution to the national effort to get through the health crisis. This remains our top priority.

“Beyond this, those of our staff who are not engaged in essential work are thinking about what we will need to happen, such that when current restrictions are lifted we can deliver on the actions set out in our Business Plan.”

“This is an extremely challenging period for everyone in Scotland. Even when the immediate crisis has passed, this will leave a lasting burden.

“However, when it does recede – as it will – and current restrictions are eased, there will be a huge job to do in getting the country back on its feet. We are working hard to be prepared to play our part in that national effort.”

Full info can be found here https://kendalcalling.co.uk/lineup

Joanna Macaulay, Assistant Director for Upland, said: “The next bank holiday weekend just won’t be the same without Spring Fling. It is one of the most successful events of its kind in the UK – a much-loved highlight of the year for visitors and participants alike.

“We hope that SF | At Home will fill some of the gap. Even though the artists and makers can’t open their doors in the usual way – people can still meet some of them online to see their studios, watch demonstrations and even take part in workshops.

“And hopefully it will inspire those who aren’t familiar with Spring Fling, or this beautiful region of south-west Scotland, to come and see us later in the year.”

“It is really important for us to keep our artists engaged with their audiences and to do our bit in providing creative opportunities for our Spring Fling visitors.

“Art and craft are good for wellbeing and we hope that our workshops and demonstrations will be welcomed by those in isolation. The timing is especially appropriate as 18-24 May is Mental Health Awareness week.”

Amy Marletta, Upland’s Projects Director, said: “Our members are hugely talented and accomplished people, but many face extraordinary difficulties – with events and exhibitions cancelled, and galleries and studios closed.

“By sharing expertise we can give them additional skills to help rebuild and diversify. At the same time, A Postcard from D&G – We Wish You Were Here, provides an opportunity to prepare work for an exhibition and hopefully make some sales.”

Amy said: “While human society may be on hold, the ospreys are continuing their cycle of migration and breeding as usual.

“Even though the artists may not be able to spend time at Threave in the way we had hoped, the current pandemic may well raise interesting issues about our future relationship with the natural world.”

“This funding will be a valuable lifeline for the range of innovative support available for people in our communities, and we are working fast to get that support to where it is needed most.”

Local Delivery

Click & Collect

Online Gift Vouchers

Full Website Development With Zero Face To Face Contact

DGWGO Sponsorship

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