After 15 years leading the Watson Birds project, having reached the age of 80, Roger Crofts would like to hand the project over to new folk, giving the local project new life and impetus.

Scottish Women's Institute (SWI) member Margaret Brown of Carsphairn has been presented with the organisation's Loyalty Award by Mary Burney, the SWI's national president.

It’s 6:30am and, armed with my tow float, I take a deep breath and plunge into the ice cold loch. Frost twinkles as the water laps all around as I swim. I feel clarity and calm. It’s stunning, so peaceful, yet 100% invigorating.

President, Dorothy Faulds welcomed everyone to the first Carsphairn SWI meeting of 2024 on 25th January. There was a lot to share and discuss throughout the evening.

Carsphairn SWI members and friends met on 7th December to celebrate the Season and Isobel Cuthbertson with a certificate for loyal service.

Children from all around the Glenkens joined the Carsphairn based children's group Bairn Banter for a haunting Halloween party in Lagwyne Hall on Saturday 28th November.

Melissa introduced Mary Burney, fellow Stewartry Institute member and National President of the Scottish Women’s Institutes (SWI). Mary gave members a very clear overview of the SWI. She talked about how it began in Canada in 1897.

Carsphairn Community Woodland are holding a Volunteer Open Day, bringing the community and volunteers together to carry out various woodland tasks, from sowing seed right through to tree planting.

Upper Urr Environmental Trust (UUET) have signed a community lease agreement with Foresight Sustainable Forestry Company (FSF), FSF’s first charitable community collaboration since launching in 2021.

Dorothy welcomed everyone to the first meeting after the summer break.

Saturday 26th August was the day of the Great Corsock Show, with exhibitors and visitors coming from far and wide to attend a vital feature in the Stewartry’s event calendar.

The Glenkens & District Community Action Plan was published in 2020, and is owned and kept relevant by the CAP Steering Group, who felt it was timely to publish an Update Report on the progress of the Community Action Plan to date.

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

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.

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

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.

There is more development proposed in the Upper Urr catchment in the next ten years than was undertaken in the last 50.

Are you aware of what is happening in the Glenkens? Before long, every hilltop between Dalmellington in the northwest, Sanquhar in the northeast and Parton in the south will be covered with giant wind turbines.