The Scottish Borders Sustainable Development Fund, part of the Langhope Rig wind farm community benefit package, has launched today. This fund, worth £125,000 in the first round, is available to non-profit making organisations, community groups and charities from across the Scottish Borders local authority area with applications over £5,000 being accepted, however extra weighting will be given to projects that are situated near the wind farm.  The fund is worth £40,000 per year but in order to fund a number of big, transformational projects the fund will open with three years worth of funding at £125,000. The fund is expected to open every three years, and will be worth at least £1million over the lifetime of the wind farm.

Langhope Rig Trial Run Rescheduled - 6th and 7th May

Due to unforeseen delays to the road improvement works at Martins House, the Langhope Rig Trial Run which was due to take place on the afternoon of Tuesday 22nd and morning of Wednesday 23rd April, has been rescheduled and will now take place on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th May 2014.

The rescheduled trial run will take place at the same proposed times as originally planned however timings are subject to change depending on conditions:

The Valley Website has been operational for a few months now and has seen a steady rise in visitors and regular readers, but we would like to increase the content to make it more current.

We would like to see more valley residents as contributors to the website. You would be able to post articles that you think would be of interest to the valley as a whole. This could be farming-related, event-related, whatever you think the valley would like to read about.

No website management experience is necessary and it is very easy to post an article, edit it, delete it etc..... Full training would be given if required.

The Forestry Commission are holding a consultation meeting at the Forman Hall on Wednesday 7^th May between 3.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. about the future of Craik Forest.  The CDT has been led to believe that the Forestry Commission may cease maintenance of the footpaths and cycle routes and dispose of the buildings including the toilet block.  A copy of the Forest Design Plan can be downloaded from the Forestry Commission Scotland website (see link below).  Please try to attend the consultation meeting to let the FC have your views.

The Beshara School will be holding a free taster day at Chisholme House on Saturday 3rd May from 9.30am to 4.30pm

On Saturday 17th May at 4.30pm, Katharine Tiernan will speak about the life of St Cuthbert, with readings from the Venerable Bede, and extracts from her new book:

The Mobile Library will be calling at the Forman Hall on Tuesday 29th April at approximately 10.00 a.m.  Tea, coffee and a selection of home baking will be served beforehand.  If you're not a member of  the library the librarian has membership forms available. 

Please come and join us, you will be very welcome.

Eighteen members of the Gardeners’ Forum attended the Welsh Night themed supper at the Forman Hall on, appropriately enough, the 1st March, St David’s Day.

The Forman Hall was decorated with Welsh flags and daffodils and lots of posters and a video depicting the beauty of Wales.  Welsh music, including many examples of Welsh Male Voice Choirs, provided background music to drinks before the group sat down to a feast of goats cheese and caramelised onion tart followed by Welsh cowl, chicken and leek hotpot and to round the meal off Bara Brith bread and butter pudding. 

What a great night !

There’s something very charming about being a part of an evening like last night. A community, sharing a valley, coming together to celebrate a pinnacle moment in our Valley Newsletter – its 100th edition !

Started 13 years ago as the brainwave of Michael Shallis (sadly departed), it has gone from strength to strength, and I’m sure a great deal of the valley rely on it for their monthly valley-based news.

Last night was all about celebrating that it’s still here and going strong, still achieving the purpose Michael originally intended, thanks to the efforts of Judith Hutchinson and Jennifer Warwick.

I think it’s fair to say the evening was enjoyed by all.