Did you know Galloway Glens are running a Public Survey? All feedback on the Galloway Glens Scheme – whether positive or negative – is sought. And one lucky person who completes the survey will win a £50 delicatessen voucher.

The world premiere of Geoff Davidson’s The Passion was performed at Dalry church on Easter Saturday. A capacity audience of over 150 people enjoyed a dramatic performance of the new choral work from the Glenkens Parish Choir with church members taking the spoken roles of Pontius Pilate, the high priest Caiaphas and choir members reading Peter, Judas and ‘Doubting’ Thomas.

Local Glenkens children’s group Bairn Banter, along with Carsphairn Heritage Centre, organised an egg-cellent fun-filled weekend of free Easter-themed activities.

The Glenkens Food Hub are carrying out a survey to find out what the local community know about food hubs and whether they would use a food hub to purchase their food.

The latest Galloway Glens supported Intern started in post at the beginning of April. Andrew Murdoch secured a six-month Internship working with Drax Group, owners of the Galloway Hydro Scheme. The role will give Andrew an introduction to work in the hydro-electric sector and supporting a range of tasks across the overall Hydro Scheme.

The ‘Can You Dig It’ community archaeology project – part of the Galloway Glens Scheme – has worked with hundreds of volunteers over the last 4 years to inspire and understand the archaeology and history of the Ken/Dee valley in Galloway – showcasing archaeological processes and approaches. From digs to field walks, from self-led covid friendly study work to the phenomenally popular series of online events, the project has been wide ranging.

Quantans Hill Wind Farm developer announce their upcoming Open Day.

Local photographer, Duncan McNaught, has landed another prestigious national award, taking first place in the Botanical category in the Scottish Nature Photography Awards 2022.

An Easter Passion sung in the Scots language will receive its world premier in Galloway next month.
A Tale o’ Guid Friday an Ayont follows the classic format of an Easter Passion with soloists, speakers and choir, but uniquely all the participants will speak and sing in Scots, using words from William Lorimer’s translation of the New Testament published in 1983.

Carsphairn SWI met in Lagwyne Hall on 16th March. A healthy turnout of members was welcomed by Dorothy Faulds. Business was carried out which included invitations to join Clarebrand and Shawhead Institutes for their open nights.

A packed room at the Smiddy for our Glenkens Housing Forum last week. Thanks so much to everyone who came along and for the positivity in the room.

The Glenkens Community Shop opened nearly eleven years ago, and is flourishing. So much so that we need a few more volunteers!

Becca Nelson, the Network Facilitator, was delighted to welcome 12 stalwarts of our Village Hall, Town Hall and Kirk committees to the meeting.

Kenmure Castle, the most famous of the Glenkens castles, stands just south of New Galloway and has been touched by much of Scottish history. It was a Balliol stronghold in the wars of independence and was a refuge for Mary Queen of Scots on her flight from Scotland and was sacked by her enemies. It was sacked again by Cromwell for supporting the Royal cause and after the Jacobite uprising the 6th Viscount Kenmure was beheaded in the Tower of London for backing the rebels. Robert Burns predictably was a guest on his way to Kirkcudbright.

Regular readers of the Gazette will know that I wrote a series of articles on Air Crashes in the Glenkens (issues 89, 95, 100 and 112). As these were well received, I thought that you might like to read about a few nearby air crashes, mostly in the Stewartry.

In commemoration of the near completion of John Paterson’s splendid new house at Barskeoch, I intend to look at some placenames recorded on the Plan of the Enclosures of Earlstoun and Barskeoch belonging to John Newal Esq. This map was drawn by James Gregg in 1779 and is available on the National Library of Scotland website.

Thinking back over our first operational year at the community woodland, it has certainly been action packed! A little over a year ago we commenced work, firstly felling the diseased larch and created a site for the yard and shed. Stone was then laid and the shed went up in March thanks to funding from South of Scotland Enterprise. We took on staff, Andy and Phoenix, who have proved to be a great asset, running the woodfuel enterprise, alongside the many tasks they undertake in the woodland.

What a year it has been for the Loch Ken Trust!
Our Annual General Meeting was held in November, and it was great to reflect on all our achievements throughout 2022.