Tweeddale citizen of the year 2020 - Denise Hanks

Denise Hnaks Nominated by the Walkerburn and District Community Council with widespread support from local residents, Denise has been named Tweeddale ciutizen of the year 2020

The award recognises her significant contribution to community life over a number of years particularly her involvement with a range of groups in Walkerburn including: the Development Trust, Burning Issues Newsgroup, Flower and Vegetable Society, Crafts 4U, the Public Hall

For this she has been recognised as a ‘High Street Hero’, (see below) including collecting and redistributing surplus food from local supermarkets to the community.

Councillor David Parker, Convener of the selection panel said “Denise is a very worthy winner of Tweeddale Citizen of the Year 2020 for her considerable efforts to improve the lives of those in her local community. Her dedication is admirable and has been particularly evident throughout the challenges of the past year. She has been tireless in supporting those who have been shielding, in isolation. She truly is a prime example of how a committed and selfless individual can make a substantial positive impact within a community, and she should be justifiably proud of this well-deserved award."

Denise said “I am extremely honoured to have been selected but would like to stress that it really has and continues to be a team effort. We are such a strong and supportive community here in Walkerburn and initiatives like Food HUGS just wouldn’t have been possible without that collective effort of all the volunteers, who have given their time willingly. My small part in this particular venture was to bring all the necessary parties together and it was by that joint working that we were able to create something really special in these difficult times. I truly believe that the volunteers and organisations have been such an important part of Food HUGS and deserve all the recognition. Together we can be very proud of what is being achieved in and for our community.”

WALKERBURN & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

(Information update for residents) What Has Been Done Over Recent Months?

Your Community Council has not been idle despite the restrictions and you can read what has been going on by clicking on this link. The document is also available through the Community Council minutes page on the site.

Update from Resilience (Virtual Kindness) group

As the lockdown and restrictions continue, please do contact Heather Martin (Email: martheather@googlemail.com; Tel: 01896 870579) if you find you are having to self isolate or in need of some extra help. There are still plenty of volunteers willing to support with shopping, delivery and pick up of prescriptions etc.

Food HUGS continues once a week with lots of extras from Food Share. If you can't get to the Public Hall delivery of a meal or any food items can be made. Please contact Denise Hanks (Email: hanks_denise@yahoo.co.uk ; Tel: 01896 870200).

Walkerburn Sharing SHED still offers a lot of extra food items as well as all sorts of interesting extra items! If you have anything specific you are looking for or want to make a request then contact Aimee Swartz (Email: swartz4209@hotmail.com; Tel; 01896 870253) or use the Walkerburn Sharing Shed Facebook page. The Shed also has a 'sister' Shed in Innerleithen (based in the Co Op car park) which is there for anyone going to Innerleithen to use. The Walkerburn Shed inspired our 'next door neighbours' so be proud!

Wednesday Zoom Prayers and ITW Church Services

Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn Church of Scotland is holding online services at 10.30 each Sunday. See more information by clicking here.

Also on Wednesday morning each week at 9.30am they would like to welcome anyone who wishes, whether members of any faith community or not, to gather on "Zoom" for just 20 minutes to pray for people in Walkerburn and Innerleithen, particularly those most in need.

Wednesday Zoom Prayers will be hosted by people from various local churches over time and anyone can take part. Those interested will need to download "Zoom" onto a computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone, and email the Rev Cedric Blakey, a retired Episcopal priest living nearby, for the link "Zoom" invitation. The email is revcanclb@gmail.com

On line consultation on wind farm proposal at Scawd Law, north of Walkerburn

You may have read about a proposal to put 12 turbines on Scawd Law which is a couple of miles north of Walkerburn. As yet there is no definite plan for this development, but the consultation process is starting with local communities and the local council. You can read more about the proposal on the following Scottish Government website
http://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx?cr=ECU00002111&T=5

You can view the information about the development by following this link. You can read about the siting, size and visibility of the turbines there.

There is also a newsletter from Fred Olsen Renewables available here.

See these great videos of Walkerburn and surrounding area

This 5 minute video made in November shows just how beautiful the area is! Click on this notice.

And another one! Winter scenes above the village click on this line to view.

Local High Street Heroes

Denise Hanks has been recognised as a High Street Hero for her work in organising and running the village's FoodHUGS project since April.
Also a hero locally is the Co-op store in Innerleithen.

Scotland’s High Street Heroes have been honoured for the remarkable ways in which they have helped their communities during the coronavirus crisis.

Scotland’s Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell praised each and every one of them for their efforts, saying: “I would like to thank these High Street Heroes for going the extra mile to help their communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am pleased the Scottish Government has been able to support these awards through our funding for Scotland’s Towns Partnership. They typify the kind of community spirit that has supported people and improved lives.

Denise and all your team, and staff at the Co-op, thanks for all your efforts in these difficult times

Congratulations to Windlestraw

Windlestraw, Walkerburn's own luxury boutique hotel, has been awarded a third AA rosette in recognition of the work of chef Stuart Waterston. John and Sylvia Matthews, owners of the hotel said “We are delighted that chef Stuart Waterston’s talent, hard work and exceptional cuisine, long appreciated locally, has now been recognised on the national stage" They hope that this award will help promote the Scottish Borders as a great destination for tourism.

Food HUGS – Healthy Uncomplicated Great Scran!

HUGS -Healthy Uncomplicated Great Scran is for anybody in need in Walkerburn, who was self isolating, or is in financial difficulty due to Coronavirus. The project was awarded a grant from the Scottish Government's Comunity Wellness Fund administerd by the Corra Foundation allowing it to continue this excellent work.

Food Hugs continues to deliver about 35 meals each Tuesday to those in need in the village. This is about the same as were delivered at the start of the project, but less than the 50+ at the peak during the lockdown.

This relies on the help of a group of volunteers and there is always space for anyone who wishes to get involved in preparing the meals on Tuesdays. Get in touch with Denise whose details are given below if you are interested.

The project has received valuable support from a number of sources including the local Rotary Club and the CORRA foundation.

This project is to help the most vulnerable. If you were self-isolating, or are in financial difficulty and want to receive a meal get in touch with Denise via hanks_denise@yahoo.co.uk or 01896 870200.

The priority is for folk who received the shielding letter, those self isolating because of age or other health reasons and those who are experiencing financial difficulties.

Remembrance Day wreath laying in Walkerburn

There was no remembrance service in the village this year, however despite this, there was a wreath laying ceremony, with social distancing in place.
Link to video of wreath laying ceremony The video should download and you can then open it on your computer etc.

Development of land at West Bold by Forestry and Land Scotland

The Walkerburn & District Community Council has decided that a Forestry and Land Scotland public consultation about the West Bold Plan is unnecessary for three reasons: /span>

1. F&LS’s Plan 10 has addressed nearly all of the concerns we had about the original plan.

2. WDCC’s Information Event on 15th August was well-attended by residents who almost unanimously supported Plan 10.

Ideally we would prefer that F&LS abandons completely its plan to plant on West Bold, but we think this is not going to happen and the concessions they make in Plan 10 is the best compromise we are going to get.

Anyone disagreeing with this decision can email WDCC members to express their views. Contact details can be found in July’s Newsletter which was delivered to every EH43 address, or on Walkerburn.com.

Staying Healthy and Entertained with Dignity - the SHED

Inspired by the town in Perthshire that converted a disused phone box into a village larder a group of residents thought something like this would be very welcome in Walkeerburn. At first the community council agreed to allow the transformation of the Community Resilience Shed by the village hall. The idea was shared on Facebook: they were overwhelmed by the generosity of the village. In less than 24 hours the shed was full. & Now a new shed has been purchased and is at the other side of the Village Hall, and the resili

Maintenance of Jubilee Park - the area next to the allotments

You may have seen people out cutting the grass on the area during this period of social distancing.

It was decided that it was important to continue to try to maintain the grass at a reasonable length.

The grass has now been cut about once a fortnight since April this year, some areas of wild flowers have been left hoping that with time these plants will help to keep the grass under control. The ongoing task is to keep it looking the way it is now. In all it's probably about 4 - 5 hours work to cut all the grass. If anyone wants to go out with a strimmer or mower and cut some grass, please feel free to do a bit. What is five hours for one person is only 1 hour for five. It's good exercise for the whole body. Many hands make light work.

Cutting has now stopped as the grass has slowed down! Please respect the area which is for everyone's use and benefit. It is not a rubbish tip.

Walkerburn Public Hall

All events at the hall are now cancelled until further notice. This decision has been taken in the light of advice from government.

Innerleithen and Walkerburn First Responders need volunteers

We need more volunteers to join us to become active responders. The more of us there are, the more coverage we can supply, more incidents we can attend and more lives we can help save. If you are interested, or want to find out more, then please get in touch and we can answer all your questions.

Facebook.com/iwcfr
07808 767 299
heartstart@iwcfr.org

This 10 minute video was taken by Air Cam Pro on 6th December 2015 and shows the extent of the flooding around the village. Click on the headline to see the video. You may find it interesting to compare this with some of the images from 1926 in the Old Walkerburn section of the photo gallery.

What's happening in and around Walkerburn and in the Village Hall click here