Murray The Magician in Dumfries Town Centre for In Our Town Plainstanes Performance

The magnificent Murray the Magician is the latest al fresco act to appear on the In Our Town programme of summer events in Dumfries town centre.

Murray provided a spell-binding performance, on the Plainstanes in Dumfries High Street,  as he took his audience back to 1930s America to showcase some good old-fashioned magic in his eye-popping Firelight Show.

There was mind reading, impossible escapes, blindfolded stunts, spirit cabinets and even a game of Russian roulette.

In our Town is a free two month programme of free family events in Dumfries Town Centre.

In Our Town Website – Dumfries Events Facebook Page – In Our Town Twitter Page

 

DGWGO FRIDAY FOCUS -ALIVE 107.3FM DOES THE 24 HOUR BROADCAST CHALLENGE

 

Saturday 20th September sees DGWGO Media partners Alive 107.3 presenters Iain Renicks and Tony Charlesworth take on the challenge of broadcasting for 24 hours solid , all in a 1 a 1 a alive fridaybid to raise funds for the Dumfries charity community radio station . The guys will kick off at midnight and will be producing as well as presenting a wide and varied schedule of shows during their gruelling day .

1 a 1 a alive 6 1 a 1 a alive 7
Now in there second 5 year licence Alive 107.3 have been going from strength to strength and have became well known within the region for there community based and orientated broadcasting . Staffed entirely by volunteers and receiving no central funding Alive work very hard at raising funds to keep there team on air .
If you would like to support the guys you can sponsor them via the station website www.aliveradio.net , just click the DONATE button alternatively you can sponsor via Alive Team members who have sponsor sheets

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY POLICE HOLD MOTORCYCLING OPEN DAY

 

Police Scotland remains determined to engage and help riders, of all experience, to become better and safer motorcyclists. In order to promote safer motorcycling, Dumfries and Galloway Division will be hosting an Open Day event at Lockerbie Police Station on Saturday 20th September 2014 between 10am to 4pm. It is aimed primarily at motorcyclists, although all road users are welcome.

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“Often the police are seen as simply being the enforcement arm of road safety but it is important to understand that Police Scotland also work closely with many partners to educate people about road safety, help to find solutions to road safety problems and offer encouragement to all road users through local and national campaigns, all of which aim to deliver long term road safety solutions” explains Sergeant Peter Forsyth of the Roads Policing Unit. “More and more people are using motorcycles for travel and recreation. Unfortunately, this increased usage is also reflected in a rise in the number of motorcyclist casualties in Scotland. In terms of the number of casualties, motorcyclists come third after car occupants and pedestrians, but they are proportionately more at risk of being killed or seriously injured in a road crash than any other type of road user. Police Scotland want to reverse the trend in motorcycle fatalities. We want to ensure safe riding through education and training of both motorcyclists and drivers of other vehicles. We want to find ways to decrease the risks and risk taking without inhibiting the enjoyment of riding.

DSC_3741“The open day is about bringing motorcyclists together with a host of experts who can give advice and explain how riders can stay safe on our roads. Observers and examiners from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (I.A.M.) will be presents alongside trained police motorcyclists and collision investigation officers. A number of displays will be available providing information and assistance in all aspects of road safety. As part of the day, I.A.M Motorcycle Observers are offering a free half hour road assessed ride on your own bike. It is not a test, just a relaxed session with an observer and will help remind you of good riding procedure, identify any bad habits and give you a reassured feeling of confidence on increasingly busy roads. Places are restricted and will be offered on a first come first served basis. Anyone wanting this assessed ride should contact Constable John Irving, Lockerbie Trunk Road Policing Group on the police non emergency telephone number 101.”

LOCAL LANDOWNER PAYS PRICE FOR FALLEN TREE

On Boxing day 2013 Allan wright of Parton, Had a one of his neighbours trees Blow down and land in his daughters horse stable and destroy it, just moments after she had left it ! This then led on to  court to decide who was to fit the bill!

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Amber with Daisy the horse

 

Allen stated today to DGWGO that  “My Daughter Amber’s pony stable was destroyed in the storms by a neighbour’s tree – she was in the stable with Daisy 20mins before – all a bit scary. Our neighbours refused to compensate for the damage so I had to take them to court. I had my “day in court” late July and only just recently got the verdict. “

Allans Neighbour ‘Lady Hunter Blair’ of Parton Estate has had to pay £1,500 in damages , Plus ‘interest . and to repair the damage done by the tree that came down last year ! The Court heard that Lady Hunter Blairs estate manager had been warned that the tree was ‘Highly Vunerable’ a month before it fell after the clearing of several other of the estates trees had left the poplar exposed to the elements  ! The decision in Mr Wrights favour was decided recently by Sheriff Marie MacTaggart at Dumfries court!

Mr Wright represented himself in court to save costs , He stated  “Not an experience I wish to repeat any time soon but actually quite and interesting one at that. I elected to represent myself (mostly for lower risk/cost reasons) but also because I felt confident enough to see it through – it can’t be that difficult surely? The process was not easy, given I am generally averse to bureaucracy. There I was playing court lawyer for the day but for real, the whole thing, cross examining witnesses and all that stuff we see on the telly. It was pretty intense  it was also immensely frustrating at times , I am pleased to have won but I take no pleasure in retrospect given how much stress was experienced and how much time was in effect wasted “

 

 

 

 

SOLWAY SHARKS MATCH REPORT -SHARKS v NORTH AYRSHIRE WILD

 

This weekend the Solway Sharks, sponsored by Building Craftsmen (Dumfries) Ltd, begin their competitive season with two games in the inaugural English Challenge Cup. This new cup competition features four EPL sides, Manchester Phoenix, Peterborough Phantoms, Sheffield Steeldogs and Telford Tigers and will provide the Sharks with their stiffest ever test. However, this weekend the Sharks will be looking to get the cup competition off to a flying start with fixtures against old rivals Billingham Stars and the Blackburn Hawks. Face-off at Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday evening against Billingham is at the usual time of 7pm and admission charges have been held at last seasons prices. There are limited spaces available for any supporters who would like to travel on the team bus to Blackburn on Sunday and they are advised that the coach will leave the Ice Bowl at 1:30pm sharp and the fare is £10 not including rink entry.

Last Saturday the long summer came to a close for Dumfries ice hockey fans as their favourites, the Solway Sharks, sponsored by Building Craftsmen (Dumfries) Ltd, took to the ice for a pre-season challenge match against a young and eager North Ayrshire Wild. Sprinkled amongst the visiting youngsters were a number of well-known faces from the Scottish National League and Sharks “old boy” Alan Gibson. While the Sharks eventually ran out seven-one victors the visitors acquitted themselves well and gave the local side a good work-out.

Solway took the opportunity of introducing a number of junior and SNL players to their ranks for this match together with their summer signings and they all turned in some good performances. However, it was one of the older heads and new club captain, Alan Crane, who opened the scoring in the third minute when he pounced on a loose puck and drilled home his shot from the high slot. While they were often on the back foot the visitors showed a willingness to move forward when the opportunity arose and both Richard Thorp and Alan Gibson forced Sharks keeper Gary Russell into action. Indeed it took Solway until the sixteenth minute to add to their lead when “new boy” Richard Bentham collected an Alan Crane pass and shot low past the visiting netminder.

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After the first interval the Sharks returned to the ice in attack mode and within three minutes they had their reward when Struan Tonnar and Aidan Fulton combined to send another “new boy”, Marc Fowley, down the right wing and he duly shot home from the face-off spot. Four minutes later the Speirs boys combined to add to Solway’s tally when Duncan set up younger brother Connor to fire home goal number four. If the supporters expected this to signal an avalanche of goals they were to be disappointed as the Wild regrouped and again held the Dumfries side at bay until the second intermission.

Five minutes into the final period Solway extended their lead once more when Stevie Moore and Aidan Fulton combined to allow Ross Murray to shoot home through a packed Wild rearguard. Two minutes later a Bentham pass allowed Struan Tonnar to cut in from the right and score with an excellent wrist shot from the face-off circle. Again the visitors refused to crumble and duly scored the consolation goal that their efforts deserved when Ian Clark and Chris Underwood combined to allow Alan Gibson to score with a shot from close range that deflected into the net from Kyle Johnston’s pads. Johnston had replaced Russell in the Sharks goal at the second interval and, while he was unlucky to concede this goal, had shown enough to suggest that he is one to watch develop in the juniors. The final word, however, was to be with the Sharks and two minutes from time Iain Bowie netted their seventh and final counter with a strong shot from the slot after good work from Craig Mitchell and Joe Coulter.

This was a good work out for the Sharks but they will know that far stiffer tests lie ahead starting with their final challenge match against Elite League Braehead Clan on Wednesday and in their forthcoming league and cup campaign.

Scoring statistics for the Sharks were as follows: Alan Crane, Struan Tonnar and Richard Bentham all one goal and one assist, Iain Bowie, Marc Fowley, Ross Murray and Connor Speirs all 1+0, Aidan Fulton 0+2, Joe Coulter, Duncan Speirs, Stevie Moore and Craig Mitchell all 0+1. Gary Russell in the Sharks goal saved all thirteen shots that he faced (save percentage 100%) before being replaced for the last twenty minutes by Kyle Johnson who saved seven of the eight shots that he faced (save percentage 87.50%).

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAYS HOTTEST NEW FESTIVAL ‘ELECTRIC FIELDS’ REVIEW

The DGWGO Review for the hottest new festival to hit the Dumfries and Galloway Music scene ‘ Electric Fields ‘ !

Electric Fields is a new festival that has risen from the ashes of another  ‘Comlongon Rocks’  , Still held within the grounds of a castle in D&G like its predecessor , this time being the Wonderful Drumlanrig Castle at Thornhill , Electric Fields is quirky and vibrant , and although the new kid on the D&G festival block , and the last major outdoor festival for the 2014 D&G festival season , thanks to the fab team and energy  it has behind it, it still managed to get a huge crowd and have a vibe and energy of an established large festival !

Team DGWGO arrived at the festival at around 5.oopm , so we missed the Afternoon entertainment and bands , But we arrived in time to hear one of R.B’s favourite Ska bands starting their set , the wonderful ‘Bombskare’ Who had the whole of the 1,500 strong crowd Skanking their socks off in the glorious D&G Saturday afternoon sunshine !

‘The Next band up was ‘Prides’ The Glasgow 3 piece group , of Lewis, Stewart and Liam , Who recently played at the Glasgow 2014 closing ceremony . For a new small festival to have a band with such a following as Prides was pretty amazing , and they were just the start of one of the best wee line ups you could find anywhere in Scotland , and all for a tiny price of £25 entry ! Prides had an amazing on stage energy , rocking out hit after hit , and their drummer is just one of the best characters I have had the pleasure of photographing for some time , never have I seen such a great sound coming from such a tiny drum kit !

  The Festival was set up in a great 2 main stage format as well , so basically as soon as one band finished the next would start , so there was no time wasted , and very little energy excelled moving from  stage to stage as they were right next to each other ! Which is a festival set up I have never seen before and to be honest , I found it total genius , and so did most of the crowd too as far as we could see !

 

Next Band up for DGWGO to watch was Neon Waltz from Caithness , who once again had fantastic stage presence , and had the crowd dancing and swaying to their tunes ! We even spotted local rocker Cammie Black up at the back of the stage tapping his toes along to their music (pictured below) .

As far as team DGWGO’s opinion goes , Electric fields was turning out to be one of the best wee lineups of any Scottish festival this year , it was perfect , great atmosphere , great music , not to far to walk for Food or the bar , plenty of toilets , a good view of the main stages from anywhere in the field , just about heaven for any festival reveler ! Although , I must admit one thing , and It can be forgiven as this festival is just starting , the choice of food vendors was limited , and team DGWGO love their festival food , but I’m very sure as the festivals popularity grows so will these kind of choices and facility’s. 

 
 
   

We Then headed off across the site to the ‘RED BULL STUDIOS LIVE’ which was mainly Electric dance type music , which was really well attended , and like a mini festival in its own right , I have never seen this set up before , and was really impressed , a great stage to have at a brand new festival , and something that I really enjoyed photographing  ( Pictures Below )

Whilst on our wee walk around the beautifully set festival site , we popped into the bar to see what was going on , where we bumped into the lads of ‘ Jurassic Hard Copy Music & Film ‘

who were celebrating that their shop in Dumfries had been trading for exactly 5 months to the day , supplying Music , T shirts , Movies and much more , The lads were over the moon to be included as one of the stalls at the electric fields , and they told DGWGO they had sold so many Electric fields  T shirts that they had to go print extra top keep up with demand  !

Kevin Sloan

Then It was back to the press pit at the front of the main stages for team DGWGO , which as far as press pits at festivals go , was one of the friendliest and best I have had the honor of working in ! Team DGWGO were working with Kevin Sloan of Kss Images  to , Kevin has been fantastic help to us at DGWGO  , You can see his photos from the event at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.574901645954802.1073741985.181309905313980&type=1

Kevin at work

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Final Four bands that team DGWGO  got to see where Stanley Odd , The La Fontaines, We Were Promised Jet packs ,  and the fantastic Fatherson .Who all put on a fantastic show and banged out tune after tune that kept the crowd warm even as the sun went down and the air cooled down in the D&G  late summer . Pictured below are a mixture of shots taken from these four bands and the crowd .

Chay Woodman and Alex Roberts (co-founders) Of Electric fields both said

“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 – DJ & Broadcaster, of XFM Radio said .
“My dream festival line-up, with so much amazing emerging music from Scotland.”

So basically The DGWGO Round up of Electric fields 2014 is , WOW , brilliant , a real seed has been planted here , to grow into something amazing , you can just feel that this wee festival has the potential to become a real name , and be one of the main music events in the D&G summer calendar ! A massive well done to all those involved , and team DGWGO would like to thank the Electric Field guys for inviting us along , we can not wait to see what you pull out of the Box for 2015 !

The DGWGO electric Fields 2014 video will be coming very soon !

ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT TO R.B PHOTOGRAPHY , (contact info@dgwgo.com if you wish to use any of our photos , no copying without prior permission)

DUMFRIES MUSEUM LAUNCHES STRANDLINES EXHIBITION

From plastic ducks to mermaid’s purses and mysterious messages in bottles, a wide variety of weird and wonderful objects wash up on the coastline of Dumfries and Galloway. The Strandlines exhibition at Dumfries Museum showcases the local coastline and explores the diversity of natural and manmade objects found on its beaches.

“Making the Most of the Coast” was a two year project managed by the Solway Firth Partnership and this exhibition is one of its outcomes. Nic Coombey who worked on the project said: “Every object washed up on a beach has a story to tell. Sea life and plants on the strandline give us an opportunity to see things that normally live under the sea. Most of the manmade objects have been first washed down into the Irish Sea from the west coast of Scotland, England and Wales and the east coast of Ireland. Because of the currents and prevailing winds they are then blown onshore in Dumfries and Galloway. The more you look the more you find and each tide born treasure holds the secrets of its origins.”

A launch event for the Strandlines exhibition will take place at 7pm on Thursday 11 September at Dumfries Museum and everyone is welcome to come along. Nic Coombey, Coastal Ranger with Solway Firth Partnership, will talk about natural and manmade objects found tossed up on the Solway Strandline. Answers will be provided for those difficult questions: What is it? Why is it here? How did it get there? Become a curious beachcomber and discover what the tides reveal. Refreshments will be served. If you would like to come along please give Dumfries Museum a call on 01387 253374.

The exhibition runs until Saturday 29 November. Full details and museum opening times are available in the museums’ programme, free to pick up from museum venues and tourist venues, at

www.dumgal.gov.uk/artsandmuseums

Or by telephoning Dumfries Museum on 01387 253374

 

KIRKCUDBRIGHT’S WHITEHOUSE GALLERY PRESENTS ‘COUNTRY PURSUITS X’

The Whitehouse Gallery in Kirkcudbright is to host the tenth of its annual ‘Country Pursuits’ exhibitions, focusing upon different interpretations of the rural life theme. The exhibition will open from 11am on Saturday 13th September, and will run through until Sat 1st November. All are welcome to attend the opening, and enjoy a glass of fizz and chocolates by the Cocoa Bean Company.

1 a 1 a white house_edited-1David Greenall and his wife Ruth O’Dell live on the Isle of Lewis, and their everyday experiences of rural life are captured through their painting. Greenall’s landscape paintings are infused with a knowledge and understanding of light, and by mixing his own colours from raw pigments and blending mediums such as wax, resin, oil and egg tempura, he produces works of great vigour. In contrast, Ruth O’Dells pastel works are small and intimate, capturing moments of everyday life in Lewis from the winter feeing of sheep in the snow, the first spring lambs, to turfing and cutting the peats in early summer. O’Dells captures wildlife in a sensitive fashion, and her work is full of charm and vitality.
From the Isle of Lewis to Ireland, we are pleased to welcome renowned Irish artist Neal Greig to the list of exhibitors. Greig aims to capture the beautiful, rich and changing Irish landscapes and translate them into exceptional, dramatic and powerful art works for others to enjoy.
Another new addition to the gallery, Janet Cleghorn’s interpretation of the rural theme is rather interesting, by taking traditional everyday objects which carry a sense of nostalgia and giving them a contemporary feel. You can see Cleghorn’s background in textiles is a large influence in her work.
Injecting some colour and fun into the exhibition will be Claire West, with her happy paintings. West believes in the power of colour therapy in uplifting the spirit, so her work explores colour and its vibrant and intense nature. She works on canvas in acrylics and inks, preferring to layer the paint to add texture to the work.
Although a familiar name to the gallery for her mixed media sculpture and framed wall pieces, Shirley Vauvelle will be providing some of her paintings for the first time. Shirley’s paintings explore colour, texture and space on the canvas rather than representational responses to the moments that inspire her. Like West, Vauvelle loves to layer paint to add texture, and creates energy by rubbing away or using different instruments to mark the paint with. Vauvelle will also be exhibiting some of her gorgeous freestanding and wall hung sculptural pieces.
Returning to the gallery will be four of our favourite artists; Pamela Grace, Catherine Rayner, Helen Tabor and Gordon Wilson.
Grace is best known for her solar plate etchings, but in this exhibition we are being treated to some of her original watercolour, pen and ink works, in which she captures the local countryside beautifully. Rayner is an award winning children’s book author and illustrator, who has been exhibiting her wonderful silk screen and original paintings of animals with the gallery for many years. Tabor’s paintings have a certain mystical, ethereal quality to them, whether she is depicting figures and still life or seascapes and landscapes. Tabor’s main interests are in the properties of colour, the effects created by the movement of the paint and the mood created in a painting. Wilson is also interested in colour, with his deep love of the west coast of Scotland shining through in his evocative work. Painting from the heart, Gordon’s expressive oil paintings reflect the ever changing moods of both the countryside and the artist himself.
To complement the fine art, there will be a rich selection of applied art and craft on show, including exquisite jewellery collections by Anna De Ville and Sheena McMaster, ceramic vessels and wall tiles by Jacqui Atkin, ceramic bowls and bird sculpture by Debbie Barber, mixed media horse sculpture by Alexandra Shorey, wire and paper sight-hound sculpture by Lorraine Corrigan, driftwood sculpture by Lynn Muir, wooden sculpture by Michael Lythgoe and textiles by Jo Gallant.
The Whitehouse Gallery is a member of the Own Art scheme.

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY TO BENEFIT FROM SHARE OF GLASGOW 2014 SPORTS EQUIPMENT

Boost for next generation of potential TeamScotland stars

Young people in Dumfries and Galloway are set to benefit from the legacy of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Organisers of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and sportscotland aim to empower a new generation of sporting stars by distributing over £600,000 of sports equipment used at the event to facilities around the country.

As part of the Glasgow 2014 legacy plan, Dumfries and Galloway Council will receive an allocaton of items through sportscotland’s Active Schools Network. This will include the likes of rugby balls, netballs, shuttlecocks, whistles, stop watches, and more.

In addition the national agency for sport, sportscotland which is managing the process in partnership with Glasgow 2014, has also arranged for larger sports items to go to clubs and sports facilities. This is being allocated across 13 Sports Governing Bodies, 30 clubs and 13 facilities/trusts.

The Sport Governing Bodies will receive over £200,000 of equipment, with another £200,000 going to the clubs and facilities. Separately £200,000 of weightlifting and powerlifting equipment will go to the sportscotland Institute of Sport to upgrade and replace existing items. The Active Schools Network allocation is valued at over £15,000.

A key role of the Glasgow 2014 Sport Operations team was to identify more than 300,000 individual sport specific equipment items required to stage each of the 17 Games sports. This was a significant project in terms of coordinating the purchase, hire or shared use of items from around the world and then working with key stakeholders including sportscotland to ensure distribution across Scotland after the Games.

The Leader for Dumfries and Galloway Council, Ronnie Nicholson said;
“It is excellent news to hear that some of the sporting equipment used to deliver the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is coming to Dumfries and Galloway. The Council’s Active School and Community Sport team deliver a wide range of programmes including many Commonwealth Games sports and this can only add value to the excellent work being done across the region. It is also fantastic news that the sportscotland investment will benefit Nithsdale and Stewartry Athletics Clubs, Bravehearts Amateur Boxing Club, Dumfries Amateur Swimming Club, and Dumfries Ice Bowl. It highlights how communities across Scotland are benefiting from the legacy of staging the games and hopefully the equipment can inspire athletes from this region to be future TeamScotland athletes”

 

BIG BURNS SUPPER 2015 , YOUR CHANCE TO ENTERTAIN THE WORLD

Your Chance to Entertain the World at Europe’s Largest Winter Fringe Festival
Time to sign up for the nine-day Big Burns Supper 2015

DSC_1489Whatever the art form, whatever the style – if you’d like to entertain at Europe’s largest winter fringe festival, then Big Burns Supper is for you.
The 2015 festival will be bigger than ever, lasting a whole nine days from 23rd to 31st January, attracting tens of thousands of people from Scotland and across Europe.
It’s a great chance for musicians, bands, comedians, theatre makers, club acts and many others to be part of a huge celebration of all that’s best about contemporary and traditional Scottish culture.
Now in its fourth year, Big Burns Supper in Dumfries is an amazing mix of art forms and entertainments of every scale. The line-up ranges from absolute beginners and emerging talent to established performers and famous names – like Fred MacAulay and Big Country in 2014.
Graham Main, festival founder and director, said: “We are looking for acts of every size, shape and art form to come to Dumfries and be a part of Big Burns Supper 2015.
“Whether you aim to fill a hall or hold an intimate jamming session in a pub, there are great venues and audiences keen to enjoy entertainment of every kind.
“While the festival is wrapped round the Bard’s birthday, performances don’t need to have any connection with Robert Burns, they just have to be in the spirit of an event which is all about coming together with friends, family and visitors.”

Le Haggis
Le Haggis

Big Burns Supper is amazingly diverse with everything from children’s entertainment featuring the delightful Hamish the Haggis, through to pop and rock bands, dance, theatre and Le Haggis, Scotland’s sexiest cabaret.

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For 2015 the organisers are hoping to see a really strong representation of traditional and classical music.
Graham said: “The feedback we get shows there’s a tremendous appetite for traditional and classical music at the festival and this is something we really want to build on.”
This year saw groups such as Caileag, the Gallovidians and the Cairn String Quartet get a tremendous reception.

Performers wishing to register for Big Burns Supper 2015 can do so online at www.bigburnssupper.submittable.com. It’s free to register.
Headline acts will be announced later this year but a centrepiece of Big Burns Supper 2015 will be a huge and fabulously lit street carnival on January 25th to mark the UNESCO Year of Light.

There will also be a welcome return for the Spiegeltent – a fabulously atmospheric temporary venue lined with mirrors.
The festival is made possible by support from many organisations including Creative Scotland, Homecoming Scotland, Winter Festivals Burns Night, 8020 and Dumfries and Galloway Council.

All Photos copyright R.B Photography