Last
updated on
07 May 2021
Walk It Walkerburn
to restart in June
Walk It Walkerburn has a new leader, Alice
Pringle. She can be contacted on 07974 782016. Alice is
organisiing a first walk and talk on
Wednesday, 9th June at
10am. Meeting at Alexandra
Park beside the children’s playpark.
This will be a gentle walk while we discuss what
day and length of walks people would like.
All you need to bring is yourself with outdoor
clothing to suit the weather and sensible footwear for walking.
If you wish to discuss this, book in, or have
any questions, please get in touch.
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.
Tweeddale citizen of the year 2020 - Denise Hanks
 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 has an
online service available at 10.30am each Sunday. Services can be
found on the church website at http://itwcos.org/category/online-worship/
or you can call 01896 404505 to listen to the service at any time
in the week. At 11:30am each Sunday we join together on Zoom for
coffee & chat and all are welcome to join us. Please get in touch
via the church website for more details.
This
information is repeated on this link
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
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.
3. Covid-19 restrictions mean finding a suitable venue would be
problematic.
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 resilience shed is
back in use.
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.
The grass has now been cut about once a
fortnight since April last year, some areas of wild flowers were 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.
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
Watch a video of the floods in December
2015
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.
|