When one considers the huge cost – in the region of £300million – of restoring rail services to the central Borders, the price tag for ensuring trains that run on the track are of a high standard must be pretty small beer.

The Campaign for Borders Rail is right to press for the refurbishment of the Class 158 diesels, which will be used on the Tweedbank-Edinburgh line next year, to be on a par with those serving the scenic Highland routes. As campaigner Simon Walton correctly points out, first impressions are important.

Giving commuters and tourists the best possible experience in terms of comfort and space will help make the route a success – and, in the case of the latter section of customers, the beautiful Borders countryside should do the rest. Even First Minister Alex Salmond, on a visit to this region last summer, emphasised the importance of giving people the best while “travelling along this incredible rail route”.

Emerging from the teeth of, at times, fierce opposition, this region is now getting a potentially-tremendous asset and everything must be done to capitalise on this.

We don’t think campaigners are asking for too much – after all, what’s good enough for the Highlands should be good enough for the Borders.

Nineteen people took part in last Saturday’s Galashiels and Langlee Community Council spring clean.

A total of 36 bags of rubbish – weighing 234kg – plus other waste was collected.

The areas covered were the left bank of the Gala Water at Comely Bank Mill Retail Park, Mill Lade near McDonald’s, Mill Lade at Bank Street, Bakehouse Burn in the Gala Policies, and the area between Heatheryett Cemetery carpark and the Ladhope Burn.

The next Gala Waterways Group work party will be on May 3, meeting at 10am at the parking area behind Prostrakan, 3 Queens Street.

Found in his underwear with a head injury, David Mitchell was rushed by ambulance to Borders General Hospital.

But the drunken 23-year-old began shouting and swearing while being assessed.

Mitchell, of North Street, Peebles, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the hospital on February 10.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told how police were called to a disturbance in Peebles at 2.10 am and found Mitchell in his underwear with a head injury.

She added: “He was extremely drunk and was taken to the BGH by ambulance and admitted at 3.30am. He was assessed, but responded violently, shouting and swearing, and flailing his arms around.”

Ms Bradley said the panic alarm was activated and Mitchell restrained. He calmed down, but at 7.40am was seen near the security door in his underwear with a blanket wrapped around him. Mitchell was taken back to the treatment room.

“He was belligerent and agitated, and the police were called to assist,” continued Ms Bradley, who said the accused paced about tearing plasters and tape from himself and threw them about the room. Mitchell continued to shout and swear, and was agitated and aggressive.

In reply to caution, Mitchell responded: “Go f**k yourself.”

Defending, Rory Bannerman said his client’s state of intoxication was through alcohol and Valium.

The solicitor added: “He has little recollection of what he did. He had been on a night out, fell over and ended up being taken to the best place for him – but a former aversion to hospitals caused him to act as he did.”

Mitchell was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work, with an 18-month supervision order.

PAYBACK TIME FOR SHOPLIFTER

A persistent shoplifter was sentenced to a six-month community payback order, with 130 hours of unpaid work.

Lee Wightman was caught on CCTV stealing from three Hawick shops on the same day – February 22.

The 29-year-old, of Eildon Road in Hawick, admitted stealing two packets of pork steaks worth £5 from Farmfoods, High Street; £9.99 of men’s moisturiser from nearby Semi-Chem; and £37.88 worth of groceries from Sainsbury’s Commercial Road store.

Prosecutor Claire Bottomley said the crimes began at 10.30am and Wightman was seen on CCTV stealing the goods, which were all recovered, apart from the men’s moisturiser.

Rory Bannerman, defending, said his client was “confused about life” as a result of medication.

At Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Friday, Sheriff John Halley told Wightman: “I am at a loss to understand what may be the basis of such a persistent record of stealing from shops.”

SELECT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF

An accused person asked to be sentenced by a sheriff who previously jailed him.

David Begg appeared on deferred sentence before Sheriff John Halley, but his solicitor asked that resident sheriff Derrick McIntyre deal with his client, claiming he would see a noticeable change.

Lawyer Rory Bannerman explained: “This happened at a time when his alcohol intake was out of control. He is so changed since Sheriff McIntyre jailed him, and I would ask that this be deferred for Sheriff McIntyre to see him.”

Begg, 48, c/o High Street, Hawick, admitted breaching an ASBO (antisocial behaviouir order)by banging doors and stomping around loudly at a house at Bountrees, Jedburgh, on April 23, 2012.

Sentence was further deferred until May 2, when Sheriff McIntyre will preside.

MEDICAL REPORT

A Hawick teenager who repeatedly called emergency services had sentence deferred until May 2 for a medical report.

Nineteen-year-old Andrew Birney, of Sunnyhill Road, pleaded guilty to persistently making emergency calls to control room staff at Bilston, Edinburgh, from his home on October 19 last year.

COUNTERFEIT NOTE

A proceeds of crime action has been launched against a Selkirk financial adviser involving £158,000.

Angela Lauder, 43, who is currently serving a 16-month jail sentence in Cornton Vale, admitted stealing the cash over a two-year period in order to save her business.

Now the Crown office and procurator fiscal at Selkirk have lodged an action in order to retrieve the sum of £158,000 under the Proceeds of Crime legislation. The case called at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday and on a defence motion the case was continued until May 27.

Lauder was acting for a husband and wife when she withdrew the money from their Friends Provident investment fund and paid it into her own account.

The offence took place between May 2008 and October 2010.

Woman admonished

An argument over her smoking again led Audra Scott to behave in an abusive manner.

She admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at her Forest Gardens home in Galashiels on January 8.

Hearing the 45-year-old had been of good behaviour during a period of deferred sentence, Sheriff Eric Brown admonished her.

SENTENCE DEFERRED

An Innerliethen man, found guilty after trial of having a lock knife, will be sentenced on April 14.

Ross Gilfillan, 33, of Buccleuch Street, denied having a lock knife on the A72 Peebles to Carnwath road near Neidpath Castle, Peebles, on February 15 last year.

Sentence was deferred for Sheriff Peter Paterson, who convicted the accused, to deal with the case.

CAUGHT WITH HEROIN

A woman found with £100 worth of heroin has had sentence deferred until May 5 for a DTTO (Drug Treatment and Testing Order) assessment.

Kirsty Lawrence, 30, of Croft Street, Galashiels, pleaded guilty to possession of diamorphine at Church Street in the town on January 7.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told how police noted the accused seemed nervous and agitated.

She added: “As they approached, they could see she had something concealed in her left hand, and two wraps of brown powder were found during a police search. She said they contained heroin and she had paid £50 each for them.”

SHOPLIFTER’S ‘CHIB’ THREAT

When Stephen Wallace was challenged by a shop security guard over the theft of sweetener tablets, he began shouting and swearing. 
Wallace, 35, of Galabank Street, Galashiels, admitted stealing from Asda in the town’s Currie Road on November 18 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to threatening an employee, struggling violently with him and committing a breach of the peace.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said the security officer had seen Wallace stealing sweetener tablets at 6.45pm and challenged him, adding: “There was an altercation and he started shouting and swearing, saying that he would chib him.”

Sentence was deferred 
until May 5 for a medical 
report.

DRUNK OUTSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Ten days after breaking a window, Scott Morrison was caught breaching an ASBO (antisocial behaviour order).

Morrison, 27, of no fixed abode, appeared from custody and admitted recklessly breaking a window at the entrance to flats at Torwoodlee Road, Galashiels, on February 3. He caused £100 damage.

Depute procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley said: “Residents heard banging at the door and then the glass breaking, and saw the accused walking away.”

She added: “An old rug which had been put out for collection had also been removed and he was found asleep, under the rug, in the common stair to another block of flats nearby.”

Ross Dow, defending, explained: “He was due to stay with a friend and that was why he was banging on the door, and he recklessly smashed the glass panel while he was doing it.”

Morrison admitted breaching an ASBO by behaving in a drunken manner at Gala Park, Galashiels, on February 13.

Ms Bradley said: “He was directly opposite the primary school, where children were playing in the playground.”

Police received a report about a drunken man at around 1pm and saw the accused staggering along the pavement carrying a bottle of alcohol.

The prosecutor went on: “He had a 70ml bottle of Southern Comfort which was about a quarter full.”

Mr Dow said: “He has got so used to the prison environment that he takes the view that his life is easier there, and when he’s out he presses the self-destruct button.”

Sentence was deferred for three months, until July 14, for good behaviour.

Bowhill is open for business and this season looks set to be the best one yet, with locals being invited to drop by and try out the estate’s latest attractions.

With the revamped adventure playground now open and two exciting new house tours from next Friday (April 18), Bowhill’s season ticket ensures visitors are offered even more value for their money.

Making its debut next month is the Bedrooms and Beyond guided tour, taking visitors to areas of the house previously unseen by the public. Added to this is the Below Stairs tour, starting in July, which is a short tour of behind the scenes at Bowhill. Guests will have the chance to learn about the Victorian kitchen, the old laundry room and about some of the staff who have worked at Bowhill.

For the estate’s younger visitors there are two exciting zip-wires, each spanning an impressive 30 metres in length, while two embankment slides replace the ‘big slide’ and are placed on platform towers connected with a fun rope bridge. The new slides – one a 12-metre tunnel slide and the other an eight-metre-long open slide – will run down the banking towards the loch.

The pay once scheme returns this year, meaning visitors with a season pass can enjoy the house, gardens, adventure playground and walks as many times as they wish throughout the season.

The pass allows complimentary access to Drumlanrig Castle Estate in Dumfries and Galloway. And a special joint pass with Abbotsford House will also be available throughout the season for those who want to visit both attractions.

Helen Currie, House and Events Manager at Bowhill, said: “The joint ticket with Abbotsford and the ‘pay once’ pass offer fantastic value for money and our playground makeover is sure to maximise the ‘fun factor’ for our younger clientele.”

Farmers are being warned to be sure they are on solid legal ground if they have to shoot dogs.

The cautionary advice came from the National Farmers Union Scotland this week following a number of cases of sheep worrying, including one recently in the Borders, after which one lamb had to be destroyed by a vet, several others needed treatment and a ewe had an ear ripped off in an attack near Sprouston.

It led to further calls, this time from the injured animals’ owners, the Redpath family, for dog owners to keep their pets on leads when near stock and to issue a warning that farmers are entitled to shoot dogs found worrying livestock.

With Borders fields packed with thousands of young spring lambs, it is a crucial time of year for many.

Last week a Police Scotland spokesperson told us: “Farmers have the right to take necessary precautions to protect their livestock.”

The legislation relating to this is contained in the Dogs (Protection of Livestock Act 1953), in which worrying is defined as attacking livestock; chasing livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or abortion or diminution in produce; or being at large, not otherwise under close control or on a lead, in a field or enclosure where there are sheep.

The Animals (Scotland) Act, 1987, is also relevant, in which it is stipulated that, in any civil proceedings against a person for killing or causing injury to an animal (i.e. a dog), it shall be a defence for that person to prove it was for the protection of any livestock and it was believed that there were no other practicable means of ending the attack.

However, a person must have a lawful excuse for shooting or injuring a dog, or they could face an offence of causing criminal damage.

And shooting a dog can also give rise to potential firearms and animal welfare issues.

Gemma Thomson, NFUS legal and technical policy manager, says farmers must ensure they have solid legal reasons for shooting a dog.

“I wouldn’t describe it as a farmer’s right to shoot a dog, more as a defence. But they have to be really careful and need to see the dog actually worrying stock – physically chasing or injuring stock,” she said this week.

“Shooting a dog should only be a last resort, because they (farmers) do risk possible ramifications from owner.”

Ms Thomson also warned dog owners to be careful, saying some may believe the access to the countryside legislation of 2003 means they can go where and when they like and allow their dogs to run free.

“Some people might think if their dog is chasing sheep, it’s just playing – but that would constitute worrying, even if the dog isn’t actually attacking the sheep.

“Farmers and landowners are also within their rights to put up notices requesting people to avoid fields containing young lambs.”

Robbie King, farm trader at McCreath Simpson & Prentice (MSP) in Berwick, a trading division of Simpsons Malt Ltd, has been awarded a highly accredited BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection.

The qualification – which involved in-depth training on all aspects of crop protection and agronomy of cereals, oilseeds, peas and beans, root crops and grassland – allows Robbie to operate as an agronomist and give technical advice on crop protection.

Robbie has been with MSP for three and half years as a buyer of malting barley and all other grains, and a seller of fertiliser, seeds, grass seeds, animal feeds.

He also offers agronomy services, which is where the BASIS Certification will be invaluable.

Robbie covers Perthshire, Kinross, and also the West of Fife, but having BASIS will now allow Robbie to support his colleagues in Angus, allowing the division to offer agronomy services to the John Guthrie customer base.

“Simpsons Malt were very supportive during the course, giving me all the necessary training, and helping me gain field based experience,” Robbie said.

“Being both FACTS qualified and now BASIS qualified, I am able to offer my customers technical advice on growing all the crops in their rotation.”

Agrochemical/Grass Seed director David Cairns added: “The qualification enables Robbie to give agronomic advice to Simpson’s Malts’ farmer grower customers, and further strengthens their commitment to supplying the best advice to their customers.”

I sit down to write this having just heated the oven and put a chicken in to roast. It’s a wonderfully indulgent thing, a roast dinner.

In our home it starts with the chicken being rubbed with butter – strange how we inherit these rituals without questioning a) why we’re doing it, and b) how many percentage our chances of having a heart attack have risen with the act of doing it.

I then sling a few cloves of garlic inside and about it. Again, not originally my idea – I think I have Nigel Slater to blame for that one.

Then there are the roast spuds with the crispy bits, the broccoli, the Yorkshire puddings, thick gravy and, crowning it all, the chicken. Or rather, at Shoogly Towers, the cockerel. Chickens in full lay are too precious to eat because they are popping out valuable eggs which we sell. And some of these eggs turn into chicks.

We have been very lucky so far in that most of the chicks we have hatched (off-grid, as it were, under broody hens) have been lay-dee chicks. This last year we had four out of a total of 14 which turned into cockerels – not bad.

So we grew them on and despatched the first two last month, and the second pair the other week. Now, I’m hardly Hugh Farmers’ Market-Stall, but I believe everything deserves a good life and a good ending. In our experience, they usually start fighting each other at about six months’ old, so this is a good time to kill them and get them in the freezer.

We make sure they experience life’s chicken-y pleasures, even giving them some time with a couple of unwilling volunteer lay-dee chooks in the last couple of months of their lives.

And once they are ex-cockerels – plucked, cleaned and in the freezer – they then become a tasty (free) roast. Your very own supply of free, free-range (perhaps even organic depending on how you smallhold) chicken. And we have been getting some decent weights, 4-5lb.

Don’t get me wrong, the killing bit doesn’t come easy, but it is necessary if you want to eat the birds. And I think if you were not bothered by the actual act of slaughter, sparing a thought for the end of such a relatively short life, then that wouldn’t perhaps make you a very good chicken-keeper.

It’s worth a little soul-searching for a tasty Sunday roast that truly is ‘farm to fork’, washed down this week with a glass or three of bro-in-law’s homemade ale.

Slainte.

A plea has gone to Borderers who are ex-Queen’s Own Highlanders, to join a campaign to get the regiment’s name restored to its own museum.

The Queen’s Own Highlanders, which was formed in 1961 by an amalgamation of the Seaforth and Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders regiments, was in turn merged with the Gordon Highlanders in 1994 to create The Highlanders.

Up until 2000, the regimental museum was known by the title Queen’s Own Highlanders (Seaforths & Camerons), as The Gordons have their own museum.

After that, the museum board and trustees changed the name to that of The Highlanders Museum (Queen’s Own Highlanders Collection).

However, a growing number of veterans who served with the Queen’s Own Highlanders want to see that particular name restored to the museum at Fort George, Inverness, and have called on any ex-members of the regiment living in the Borders to join their campaign and sign a petition.

“It was not until the £2.9m refurbishment that many were aware of the changes to the museum,” ex-corporal and a member of the campaign, Kenneth Reid, told The Southern. “Many members 
of the regiment, their 
friends and families have taken part in a petition now with over 1,700 names, and there will be former members of the regiment in the Borders and we hope they will join us in 
this campaign It would be wrong not to mention The Highlanders, Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 Scots) who are highly respected by Queen’s Own Highlanders.

“But our name is being airbrushed out of history and we want it back.”

There was a recent response from the museum board to the campaign, however, which felt that the title ‘The Highlanders’ was all-inclusive and better reflected 230 years of history, and not just the 33 years of The Queen’s Own Highlanders.

In a recent letter, Maurice Gibson of The Highlanders’ regimental headquarters, stated the Ministry of Defence had reaffirmed changing the museum’s name again would limit support available and would affect the museum’s sustainability and occupation of an MoD-owned property.

With many people no doubt intent on making the most of the Easter holidays and the onset of spring by reaching for the tools or lawnmower, a major health campaign is urging DIY and gardening enthusiasts to be prepared.

As part of the NHS Scotland Be Ready for Easter campaign, people are being urged to take care and be prepared to deal with any minor accidents before tackling those all-important home and garden improvements.

By taking a few simple steps and knowing when their GP surgery is open, restocking their medicine cabinet and first-aid box if needed, and using local pharmacies to seek advice and to treat any minor cuts, bumps, bruises and scrapes, any enthusiastic painters, builders and gardeners can help ensure they stay healthy this spring.

Sheena Wright, executive director of nursing and care at NHS 24, said: “Every Easter we see an increase in calls resulting from DIY accidents, and we would encourage people to be prepared before they open the toolbox or garden shed.

“With many GP surgeries closed for four days over the Easter weekend, these are a few simple steps people can take to stay healthy.”

Although many GP surgeries will be closed at Easter – from Friday, April 18, to Monday April 21 – many may be working throughout this period supporting out-of-hours services across the Borders.

However, please make sure you ask your doctor if they will be working, asking time and contact details.

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.

Justice, which I chair, sits on a Tuesday morning and that coincided with April Fool’s Day, so I thought I would go for it and before the session started had great fun misleading the rest into thinking they would be obliged to return for an emergency sitting the next day at 9am.

As they sat down they were directed to additional papers for the meeting and something called an LCM. This, to give it its Sunday name, is a Legislative Consent Motion and emanates from Westminster. The justice committee has an aversion to them on account of the truncated timetable for their consideration.

Well, they pretty well all piled in, vociferous in their resentment and outright refusal to be dragooned into another meeting at such short notice. Deceit, of course, was not difficult for me. I am, after all, a politician, but the clerks, who were in on the ploy, had to be trained for their roles.

I let them argy-bargy till there was only two minutes before commencement of business – then let the cat out of the bag. I admit that until the last gasp I didn’t know how they would take it, but they roared with laughter and only then did they spot the clues dotted about the paperwork.

It was, for example, an “April” Amendment Order. We were to be the “lead” team to consider measures to reduce “barking” in dogs.

Speaking of cats

You may know that I have two cats – Newt (Newton) and Bossie (Boswell) – who came into my life when I entered parly.

Both are now 15 and beginning to show their age. (I say nothing about myself!). Bossie is a bit stiff in the old joints and does a measured journey from footstool to sofa to back of sofa, where she drapes herself come an evening. Newt eats for Scotland, but is a thin wee thing and has been checked over for the usual trouble (thyroid etc.) and got the all-clear.

And so I am facing, at some point in the near future and for the umpteenth time, dealing with ageing pets.

I chair the cross-party group on animal welfare and we are holding a week of displays in May to celebrate what animals, domesticated and otherwise, bring to our lives. We shall have at a guide dog, therapy dog, assistance dog and hearing dog for the deaf.

I was offered a horse, but hmmm...

PARLIAMENT Easter Recess

This runs until April 21, so the next Gala Tesco surgery will be May 17.

But fear not, I am doing street surgeries during part of the recess. My Bruv Tony (unpaid driver) and me will be coming to a street near you – I have ads running mentioning times and places.

I will be travelling in a blue Volkswagen caravanette and there will be stickies with my name on the side.

In the Chancellor’s recent budget he announced that the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) is to be extended without time limit.

The SEIS is an incentive to invest in new small company businesses and allows equity investors to obtain immediate tax relief on their investment.

The relief is available to individuals who subscribe for qualifying shares in a company which meets the SEIS requirements and is available for investments made after April 5, 2012.

Investors benefit from relief on their investment as their tax liability is reduced by 50 per cent of the cost of their shares, up to a maximum of £100,000. The relief can be carried back to the preceding tax year.

Additionally, relief from Capital Gains Tax is also available, as is reinvestment relief and Inheritance Tax Business Property. The shares must be held for a period of three years from the date of issue to avoid the withdrawal of relief and must be fully paid for at the time of issue.

In order to qualify for relief, the investor must meet certain conditions. These include the requirement that the investor or his associates must not be employees in the company, within a three year period, although they could be directors.

In addition to this, the investor or his associates must not own over 30 per cent of the company. Associates include immediate family members but siblings, unmarried couples and parents in law are not excluded and could qualify.

There are also several rules the company must satisfy in order for the investment to qualify. These include that the business must have fewer than 25 employees and assets of up to £200,000.

There are also requirements to ensure that the monies raised must be spent on qualifying business activities.

Contact Mairi Drummond for advice on mairi.drummond@renniewelch.co.uk or 01573 224391.

Gattonside war memorial is to benefit from a share in £33,000 of grant money being made available for essential restoration work.

Ten war memorials across Scotland will split the cash, which represents the latest round of awards from the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund’s allocation of £1 million.

The fund is available to local communities throughout Scotland to help them restore their monuments in time to mark this year’s centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. The grants were announced recently as part of a special seminar on the repair and conservation of war memorials.

Frances Moreton, director of the War Memorials Trust, said the charity was delighted to be administering the scheme on behalf of Historic Scotland and the Scottish Government and wanted to encourage communities across Scotland to get in touch if they want to repair and conserve their war memorials.

He continued: “We hope this announcement will help spread the word about the scheme and ensure war memorials across Scotland benefit from this funding over the next few years as we all mark the centenary of the First World War.”

Announcing the grants, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said the immense sacrifice of the Scottish men and women who died during the First World War and other conflicts, should never be forgotten.

“These memorials, which serve not to celebrate war but to honour those who died, are a tangible reminder of our history and heritage, and every effort should be made to maintain them for future generations,” she said.

“Projects like the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund, along with events like the repair and maintenance seminar, help the people of Scotland continue to pay their respects to those who fell during both world wars and other conflicts, and hopefully encourage more people to volunteer to maintain these monuments in future.”

As well as the Gattonside memorial, the others to benefit in this latest round of grants include those in North Uist, Orkney, the Highlands, Moray, South Lanarkshire, Aberdeenshire, Glasgow, and Dumfries and Galloway.

Gattonside Village Hall Committee, which owns the local war memorial, will receive a grant of £1,665, with the remaining quarter of the costs coming from hall funds.

Dave Lyal, a member of Gattonside Village Hall Committee, says a builder in Kelso has already agreed to undertake the renovation work and the hope is it will be carried out either later this month or during May.

“The memorial was put up in 1920 and it’s actually never been cleaned since then,” Mr Lyal told The Southern this week.

“It’s located under the avenue of lime trees and so has become covered in algae, The lettering all needs cleaned and repainted and the base needs repointing.

“We wanted to get it cleaned and restored ahead of this year’s anniversary of the start of the First World War,” said Mr Lyal, who himself has two uncles, killed during the conflict, named on the memorial.

Two Borders companies and the man behind Whitmuir Organics have been shortlisted for Scottish Business Awards.

GB Telecom, Plexus and Peter Ritchie are among over 120 people and businesses shortlisted for the awards, sponsored by Virgin Money.

The ceremony itself, the organisers state, will be the largest dinner gathering in Scottish history, with more than 2,000 people set attend the event at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on May 12.

The shortlisted companies will now be judged by a prestigious judging panel led by one of Scotland’s most iconic business figures Sir Tom Hunter, and featuring other business leaders, including Donald MacDonald OBE of MacDonald Hotels, Jennifer Cheyne, as well as Dragon’s Den star Shaf Rasul.

Whitmuir farmer Pete Ritchie said: “I’m delighted to have been shortlisted for this award and to be in the company of so many great people working for a greener fairer and healthier Scotland.

“It’s great to see social enterprise recognised as part of the business landscape in Scotland.”

He added: “Whitmuir is growing and selling food, and creating local jobs, but at the same time we’re focused on improving the environment, educating children and supporting the wider community.”

Pete will go against seven other businesspeople for the Opito Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

GB Telecom, based in Galashiels, and Kelso-based Plexus will face each other for the RBS Customer Focus Award, along with firms like CalMac Ferries and the Energy Saving Trust.

Event organiser Josh Littlejohn said: “We are delighted by the shortlist for the 2014 awards – the companies and business leaders involved are truly the heartbeat of our economy.

“The idea that we could be hosting the largest formal dinner gathering in the history of Scotland is really beyond belief and is a tribute to the strength of the Scottish business community.”

Wandering up my favourite riverside path last week, I took to looking at the various trees and how they were beginning to burst into life after their winter dormancy.

Some, such as the hawthorn, were already showing signs of fresh green leaves bursting from their buds, while others, like the blackthorn, like to do things differently.

They produce their blossom before the leaves to try and entice any early flying pollinators.

This strategy is very weather dependant and failed miserably last year, as the long cold spell meant that there was little in the way of bees and flies on the wing so that little fruit was created (I know because I missed out on my sloe gin!)

Another tree adopting this early flowering strategy caught my eye by the water’s edge.

It was much bigger and the flowers were in small clusters and pinkish in colour. I’m not great at identifying trees without their leaves, but I recognised this one from its bark, having sawn up tons of it for my log burner, after it had succumbed to a fatal disease which swept the country – Dutch Elm Disease.

Yes it was an elm, once common on the river banks in the Borders, but sadly, mature specimens are now quite rare.

As I say, my tree knowledge is limited, but I think this may have been a wych elm. Pollinated flowers (which are pollinated by the wind), grow to become fruits called samaras, which are ovoid in shape with a small notch at the end, and are up to 2cm long and 1.5cm across.

A samara is a type of fruit in which the seed has a flattened wing attached to it, and in the case of wych elm, the seed is in the centre of the samara, and the wing surrounds it on all sides.

The samaras are initially a light, bright green colour, turning brown as they ripen, and are shed from the tree in early July.

Dispersal of the seeds is by the wind, and the wing of each samara enables them to travel further than the unwinged seeds of other trees.

On a different subject now, back in February, Selkirk reader J.K. handed in to me a dead bird.

Not much of a gift you may think, but this one was special as it had a ring on its leg.

The bird was a male siskin and was found poorly at his bird table and failed to recover.

I managed to remove the miniscule metal ring to read its unique number.

This I logged on the British Trust for Ornithology’s special ring recoveries website, along with other details of the bird’s demise.

After not hearing anything back for several weeks, I chased them on and was told that they get more than 300 such reports every week and it usually takes 4-6 weeks before a reply is sent. I have just received it and it makes interesting reading. The bird was originally ringed at approximately one year old in Peebles on June 30, 2012 and and was found 588 days after ringing and had travelled 25km.

Such data is vital to bird conservation and I would urge anyone finding a ringed bird to report it without delay.

Don’t forget, you can e-mail me with any unusual sightings or pictures of local wildlife you come across this spring at corbie@homecall.co.uk

We didn’t all have the same weather last week, but most parts of our area had at some time full days of mist and drizzle.

Some had that for three or four days in a row and it’s surprising how that sucks out enthusiasm and energy. But onwards and upwards, although the spells of heavy rain we have also had in the past fortnight have slowed land work and reminded us of what mud is. In my optimistic way I still expect the sun to break through any day now to give man, and beast, a welcome boost.

Climate change permitting, I suppose. The most recent apocalyptic warning that we’re all doomed unless “something is done” has come from the United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change. It reported that the extremes of weather caused by a forecast 2C increase in average world temperature will increase the threat of plant and animal disease, reduce food production, mean poverty for millions and even lead to wars. Cynics with some knowledge of history might suggest that’s business as usual for humanity, then, but the UN panel say their report is a call for action.

That call suggests an urgency hardly supported by a 2,600 page report by 300 scientists that took more than three years to complete. No layman and precious few specialists are going to read that in its entirety or even in parts. Throughout history it’s simple ideas and short books or pamphlets that have had an effect, not tomes. Climate change might be the threat it is claimed, but a 2,600 page report isn’t going to spur action.

I sometimes wonder when enough is enough for big landowners, specifically most recently the Crown Estate. Already with 360,000 acres in a property portfolio worth an estimated £8.6 billion, the Estate has just added Rio Tinto’s 4,500 Alcan estate near Lynemouth, Northumberland, for a reported £20 million. Small stuff for an estate that also owns Regent Street, Kensington Palace Gardens, more than £1 billion worth of regional shopping centres, racecourses, potash mines and about half of the entire UK coastline. But enough for most of us to be going on with. At least Crown Estate income is put to good use – 15 per cent of annual profit goes to the Royal family. Jolly good.

As long as some of that reaches the Princess Royal. Acerbic, but sensible, and capable of making her own breakfast, she told ‘Countryfile’ on Sunday night that genetically modified crops do have a part to play in feeding the world. It’s a serious business looking after the countryside, she said, but a much more serious business trying to feed a world population that is increasing by the billion. Compare and contrast with the reactionary views of Prince Charles, a man who in the difference between way he preaches and the way he lives has almost perfected the art of eating your cake and having it.

NHS Borders staff took centre stage on Friday at the health board’s Evening of Winners Awards.

Kelso’s Springwood Park was the venue for the first NHS Borders staff awards event to celebrate excellence.

The evening, which was hosted by local businessman and chairman of “The difference” charity, James Marjoribanks, was a celebration of dedication, clinical excellence and person-centred care.

The winners were:

Chairman’s Award – Michael’s Eye Operation Team. The team were nominated in recognition of the skill and care they showed in restoring a patient’s vision. A procedure which carried many risks due to the complex health issues that the patient, Michael, has.

Student of the Year – Kirsty Baxter. The Hawick student has shown excellence in the planning and performance team since she began a 10-week work placement from Borders College. Her IT skills have been particularly sought after and she has helped the web team in designing and creating NHS Borders’ new website which will launch in May.

Person-centred Care – Special Care Baby Unit nursing team. The team actively encourages families to have hands-on involvement with their baby, and their patience and understanding provides vital support to both parents and babies in the Borders.

Working in Partnership – Jenny Baird, IM&T project manager. Jenny has shown a strong commitment to partnership working, delivering on various innovative and improvement changes to the service, always taking her colleagues with her. Her proactive, positive attitude ensures service requirements are met.

Improving Health – Alison Quinn and Kerrie Blake, maternity care assistants. Both women are essential and enthusiastic members of the obstetrics and gynaecology team. They have shown excellence in care by providing targeted one-to-one and group support for women, including teenage parents, women with a learning disability or difficulty, substance abuse issues, those in difficult social circumstances and families where there are child protection issues.

Innovation and Improvement – Gill Lunn, midwife. Gill has also been seconded to be the Scottish Patient Safety Champion for NHS Borders. She has led by example and her work is showcased nationally, in particular for the smoking-cessation work across primary and secondary care. Her continued enthusiasm, optimism, dedication and willingness to go the extra mile made her 
a deserving winner.

Volunteer of the Year – The Borders General Hospital Participation Group, chaired by Ann Purvis. The group is made up of 12 volunteers who have shown an exceptional commitment to work with the BGH staff to improve patient care. Special thanks was given to Ann Purvis.

Behind the Scenes – Cameron Miles and the Bedbusters team, discharge liaison service. Cameron and his colleagues transfer patients throughout the hospital, ensuring efficient patient movement. Cameron has driven and implemented improvements in Bedbusters and is cheery, friendly and consistently goes the extra mile to support staff on the BGH wards.

Clinical Excellence – Melburn Lodge. The team worked in partnership with NHS Borders Falls Prevention Team to introduce new technology and practice in preventing, reducing risk and 
management of falls. This resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in falls in first six months and an overall reduction of 75 per cent in the year.

Leading by Example – Rachael Marples, baby-friendly initiative lead. Rachael has led NHS Borders to achieve UNICEF “Baby Friendly” status quicker than any other health board in Scotland. Through her enthusiasm and drive, she has proven herself to be an inspirational team leader.

Reflecting on the success of the evening, chairman of NHS Borders, John Raine, said: “Friday night was a very special night for NHS Borders, our staff, partners, volunteers and invited guests.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who nominated and contributed to making the evening such a success. Celebrating Excellence is now firmly embedded in NHS Borders’ annual calendar of events, and I am already looking forward to next year.”

It has emerged some homeowners are gravelling and paving parts of their gardens to avoid long trips to recycling centres with green waste.

Kelso Community Council vice-chairman, Dean Weatherston, chairing this week’s monthly meeting of the council, revealed the surprising development during a discussion about the halting of local authority green waste collection services.

Scottish Borders Council ended uplifts of garden waste from outside homes at the end of last month, but the three Kelso members on SBC believed they had been given assurances that temporary measures would be put in place to cover the gap in provision until the town’s new recycling centre opened next year.

An article in a recent issue of ‘Kelso Life’ magazine also informed residents the garden waste collection service was to continue in the town.

But a Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said the article was incorrect: “There is no interim garden waste service being provided for the Kelso area. Garden waste collections stopped on March 31, across the Borders, including Kelso.

“We are aware of a discussion that took place at the Cheviot Area Forum last week and of a possible motion from Councillor Alec Nicol – supported by councillors Simon Mountford and Tom Weatherston – to the April meeting of council.

“We understand the motion would request that consideration be given to the use of Quality of Life funding to provide an interim garden waste service for Kelso during 2014/15.

“We have been informed the Kelso councillors are in discussions with a private contractor before they decide whether they can pursue this at the council meeting on Thursday, April 24.”

If the councillors put forward the motion for approval by the full council later this month it needs a suspension of standing orders.

Mr Mountford told community councillors he felt “very let down”, that officers’ plans to try and create a stop-gap service had been “trumped” after it was made clear that minutes of December’s local authority meeting which agreed the end of the collections, stipulated there was to be a total cessation of the service.

Mr Weatherston said it put Kelso and its citizens at a clear disadvantage compared to other Borders towns, as government rules stated any town with a population above 4,000 must have a recycling facility within 10 miles.

“We were given an assurance that Kelso was a special case and we would get something [interim scheme] and that was then later withdrawn,” he said.

Vice-chairman Dean Weatherston then told how he had recently taken garden waste to his nearest recycling centre at Galashiels - a 40-mile round trip.

“When I was there, the queue of cars stretched from the facility right out to the public road. I spoke to a few people who were saying they’d been chopping down trees and bushes in their gardens because they couldn’t face going to Galashiels every couple of weeks with garden clippings and the like.

Asked afterwards if he thought the cancellation of household green waste uplifts would see such practices continue, even though there might be a new recycling centre for the town, Mr Weatherston agreed, saying many people, particularly more elderly, may not be able to make trips to a recycling centre.

“It won’t be very good for local wildlife if larger numbers of people start ripping up their gardens,” he told us.

Primary 7 pupils in Innerleithen organised dinner for their family, friends and teachers after attending a 12-week cookery programme.

More than 20 guests sampled food prepared on the day by the youngsters, with support from You Can Cook staff Alex Wilson and Chloe Downs, who has been volunteering for the project since last year. You Can Cook – a social enterprise based in Peebles – has been running this project since last year.

Bosco Santimano, founding director of the company, said: “We at You Can Cook believe that for a project to succeed, we had to give the young people responsibility for making it work.”

Two interesting items of news this week trickled into my awareness zone; firstly a report of research by some obscure bod who reckons the long-held principle of eating five portions of fruit or veg each day is out of date and we should move up to seven. The other is climate change, but we will look at that later.

Naturally some parts of the media decided seven portions a day was nowhere near scary enough, so they ramped it up to 11.

Sticking to five portions of fruit or veg per day is entirely possible, although there will be days when most people will be either over or under the score. I should point out that spuds do not count, so that’s your fish supper regime out of the window.

I like fresh fruit and enjoy plenty of veg; I’ll spare you my routinely tedious self praise about growing my own, but it does help lots.

Having a first- class greengrocer in the town works well although the products in supermarkets are greatly improved in the last few years. My main issue with supermarket fruit is over-packaging as it prevents close pre-purchase scrutiny of the goods and is so wasteful.

Raising my intake to seven or more portions would probably cause me a few problems as, like everyone else, I have an upper limit of consumption which can have devastating results when exceeded; I won’t go into details. That also makes me wonder if there is a longer-term hazard to excess intake of such natural foods, as it overlooks the small details that human beings are able to devour a wide range of nosh ranging from meat to raw carrots, and more or less everything in between. I suspect this came about in long ago days, and I mean really long ago days, when survival depended on our ability to eat and process more or less anything; very handy when food supplies ran low, usually in winter.

Evolution is maybe the best way for any species to keep its rightful place in the food ladder, and mankind has managed to stay at or near the top for thousands of years due to a willingness to sample anything, having first tried it out on an animal or someone considered expendable.

There will have been a few hiccups along the way, but now we know more or less what will keep us alive and what will not.

But there’s a snag. It cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that in what are laughingly called developed nations, as a species we have become too successful, now showing signs we are eating ourselves out of the game.

Obesity is rife, causing a whole range of sinister ailments.

Before the howls of protest kick off, I realise many people who contract such horrible diseases or conditions lead very normal lives, drink in moderation and maintain a healthy diet, but as time goes by they are in a shrinking minority.

So what are we to do? Our eating habits are often trapped in the demands of our lifestyle, too many rushed meals at the wrong time of day, too much processed food, and certainly too much food overloaded with salt, fat and sugar. Unless we lead what might be compared with a lifestyle of monastic ritual, we will remain so confined and suffer the consequences. Upping our fruit and veg intake might well help, but without a serious look at how we lead our lives the benefits will be low. A good starting point might be getting children into an early fruit-eating habit. Sending the little blighters off to school with an apple would certainly reduce the scourge of crisp packet litter in Thornfield for a start.

The UK and similar countries really need to take an urgent look at how other countries run their dietary affairs.

It could be very revealing, and while we would be unlikely to change what we do on a Road to Damascus basis, a few good ideas might come our way.

As a nation we sit about too much; the couch potato label is apt in many folk, and a few minutes watching the traffic chaos in Selkirk town centre proves that for many, walking is something of a lost skill.

A turn round Selkirk Hill a few times per week, or for muddy times a brisk promenade along the A7 walking path to the Tweed Brig is not only beneficial, but good fun, and in the latter case, loads of your pals will see you doing the exercise thing.

Oh yes, I mentioned climate change at the start of this piece.

The hairy scary climate change mob are at it again with their predictions of catastrophe and doom – I find many of the climate gurus’ claims laughable when I consider the carbon footprint of their major jollies to discuss and promote their theories and “research”.

They have got it wrong so often a wait and see policy is advisable, but for now I leave you with something to ponder.

One of the so-called major threats to our global well-being is methane, said to be at a level whereby cows have to be banned. But if we all scoff seven portions of fruit and veg per day, surely the subsequent human methane emissions will rocket and we be in even more trouble.?

wooler

At their weekly primestock sale held at Wooler last Wednesday John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 286 hoggs and 235 ewes and rams.

Hogg numbers again tight, fleshy types keenly sought after.

Leading prices per head:- Suff.x:- £102 Castlelaw, £101 Brandon and Fawdon, £100 Newstead. Tex.x:- £99.50 Hartside (A Hutcheon), £99 Brandon, £97 North Wing and Todrig. Chev:- £96 Biddlestone Home Farm, £94.50 Hartside. GF:- £90 Ladykirk, £87 Shotton. Bel:- £87.50 Ladykirk. Bla:- £85.50 Hartside. BF:- £81 Hartside.

Leading prices per kilo:- Bel:- 230.3p Ladykirk. Tex.x:- 227.6p, 226.9p Ladykirk, 219.8p Fawdon, 218.3p Shotton. Suff.x:- 226.7p Shotton, 214.6p Ladykirk, 212.5p Biddlestone Home Farm. Chev:- 221.3p Biddlestone Home Farm, 205.6p Fawdon. GF:- 212.2p Shotton. Bla:- 208.5p Hartside. BF:- 202.5p Hartside.

Ewes more numbers about, all classes in firm demand

Leading prices:- Tex.x:- £121 The Hagg, £91 North Wing and Todrig, £89 The Hagg and Todrig. Suff.x:- £99, £97 Middle Ord, £93 Reavley Greens. BFL:- £91 Fawdon. GF:- £87.50 Reavley Greens, £83 Middle Ord and Todrig. BF:- £85 Fawdon, £70 Moorlaws Farm, £69 Reavley Greens. Cha:- £81 Moorhouse Farm. Chev:- £77 Biddlestone Home Farm, £74.50 Humbleheugh, £71 Sourhope.

Rams: Suff:- £110 Todrig. Tex.x:- £89 Biddlestone Home Farm (B Dixon), £79 Ladykirk. Chev:- £81 Biddlestone Home Farm.

st boswells

At their weekly primestock sale on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 66 clean cattle, 26 OTM cattle, 2,584 old season hoggs and 242 ewes.

Bullocks (21) averaged 216.8p per kg and sold to 249p (+8.3p on week), heifers (45) averaged 216.8p per kg and sold to 256p (+3.8p on week) and 26 beef type OTM cattle averaged 131.8p per kg and sold to 185p (-13p on the week).

Old season SQQ hoggs averaged 236.2 per kg (+10.2p on week) sold to £120, averaged £93.71 per head and ewes averaged £82.40 and sold to £119. Heavy ewes £97.92, light ewes £55.26.

Principal prices per head: Bee Edge £1523.90, £1498.98; Longnewton £1495.48, £1433.12; Mosstower £1412.64.

Principal prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.49 M/s W.T.S. Forsyth and Sons, 2.45 Malone of Edinburgh; Lennoxlove 2.25 Denholm Meats, 2.24 M/s T.A. Shaw; Gospelhall 2.25 M/s J. Saunderson; Upper Nisbet 2.21 W. Taylor(Lockerbie); Longnewton 2.18 M/s J.A. Waters and Son, 2.12 Falside; Smailholm Mains 2.18 Gosford Bothy Shop; Saltoun Home Farm 2.18 Ramsay Family Butchers, 2.05 Falside; Mosstower 2.16; Crookhouse 2.14 M/s Duff Ltd; Nisbet 2.10 Malone of Edinburgh.

Bulls: Smailholm Mains £1210.02(1.29); Woodheads. L £1094.36(1.09).

Cows per head: Mosstower £1298.70; Nisbet £1053.50; Berryhill £1046.22; Shotton £1036.68, £973.56; ; Milrighall £937.26; Dunslaw £935; 57 Mount Road £897.26; Mervinslaw £882.88; Hoselaw £864.58; Sanson Seal £853.20.

Cows per kg: Mosstower 1.85; Mervinslaw 1.78; Nisbet 1.75; Greenknowe 1.72; Dunslaw 1.70; Shotton 1.63; Townhead 1.59; Berryhill 1.41; Hoselaw 1.39; Sanson Seal 1.35; Shotton 1.33.

The 2,584 old season lambs averaged 225.3p (SQQ 236.2p).

Hoggs per head: Tex.x £120 Clochnahill, £110 The Lee and Crookston, £108.50 Lurdenlaw, Suff.x;- £108, £107 Clochnahill, £106 Boghall(St Andrews), £105.50, £105 Clochnahill, Chev;- £104 Lurdenlaw and Buchtrig, £103.50 Boghall(St Andrews), £103 Saughtree and Easter Whitmuir, CM;- £104 Wester Ulston, Lleyn;- £101.50 Dryburgh Mains, GF;- £96 Bedrule, £94 Camieston, BF;- £95 The Knock.

Hoggs per kg: Tex.x;- 251.3 Thornington, 248.8 New Blainslie, 246.3 Thornington, 246.2 New Blainslie, 246.3 Thornington, 246.2 New Blainslie and Lower Ashtrees, Chev;- 250, 246.1 Boghall (St Andrews), 243.6 Lylestane, Suff.x;- 245.1 New Blainslie, 245 The Knock and Boghall(St Andrews), 242.3 The Knock, ML;- 233.3, 231.3 Whitmuir, EC;- 232.9, 228.8 Kilnknowe, GF;- 228.6 Bedrule, CM;- 226.1 Wester Ulston, 225 Lylestane, SD;- 225.6 Belford on Bowmont, BF;- 220.9 The Knock.

Ewes: Tex;- £119 Wantonwalls, £118 Pirnie Hall, £112 Birkenside, Suff.x;- £112 Lochside, £111 Primside, £110 Lochside and Whitsome West Newton, Chev;- £98, £89 Gospelhall, £89 Easter Whitmuir, CM;- £93 Belford on Bowmont, GF;- £91 Bonjedward Mill, £90 Whitsome West Newton and Birkenside, HB;- £89 Bonjedward Mill, BEL;- £85 Pirnie Hall, Lleyn;- £85 Kilnknowe.

Rams: Char;- £100 Townhead (Cockburnspath), Suff;- £90 Currie Inn.

longtown

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC had forward 32 prime cattle, 16 young bulls, 38 over 30 month cattle, 5,391 prime hoggs and 3,286 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.

At the Easter Show and Sale of prime cattle, young bulls and cast cows, Mr Ross Anderson, of C.J. Anderson and Sons, made a fantastic job of judging each class and the show was kindly sponsored by Clydesdale Bank. In the prime cattle section Mr Anderson placed a Limousin bullock shown by Messrs W. and W. Faulder, Houghton House as Champion clean beast which later sold to 248.5p to Border Meats Ltd, Butchers, Lockerbie. The first prize heifer was a Limousin from Messrs A. and W.J. Taylor and Son, Dashwell Green, which sold to 240.5p also purchased by Border Meats.

Mainly dairy bred bulls were on offer for the show. Beef bull first prize went to Messrs J.C. and D. Nicholson, The Gill, and sold to 199.5p. The first prize dairy bull was a Fresian from firm of C.P. Robb, Dinwoodie Green and sold to 167.5p. Top price of the sale was 218.5p twice for Limousin’s both from J. and P. Routledge and Son, Netherton.

A larger show of cast cows were presented and the first prize was awarded to Messrs J.W. and E.S. Woodmass, Howard House and sold to 156.5p with second prize from A. and A. Ewing, Dumbretton, selling to 167.5p.

Another fine show of 5,391 prime hoggets were forward to the usual busy ring of buyers with all firms keen for sheep in the build up to Easter. More Blackface hoggets and heavy hoggets were forward with fewer runs of best Cheviot hoggs although best quality hoggs keenly bid for resulting in an average of 219ppk (227.5ppk SQQ).

The sale was topped at 316p for Beltex from RN Scott, West Meiklethwaite, and to £128 for Beltex hoggs from A. and B. Fisher, Lairdlaugh, whose run of 57 excellent hoggs averaged £124.84 and 290ppk.

Another excellent show of 3286 cast ewes and rams were forward to a crowded ring, all keen for sheep with 2109 heavy ewes averaging £99.69.

border livestock

Last week Border Livestock Exchange Ltd sold 189 prime cattle including 61 cast cows, 841 prime sheep including 294 ewes and 240 store and breeding cattle.

Aberdeen Angus cross heifers sold to 390p per kg from Fenwick Steads, Belford, to Well Hung and Tender, Berwick. Aberdeen Angus cross steers from Howden, Jedburgh, sold to 388p per kg and £1,636 per head. Organic steers from Tullochallum, Keith, sold to £1,826 per head.

Prime lambs were considerably dearer as numbers of old season lambs start to run dry. Export weight Texel crosses to 470p per kg. Suffolk crosses to 465p per kg and Romney crosses to 460p per kg and £96.60. Heavy pure Texel lambs to £110.

Store cattle continue to sell extremely well with regular customers snapping up quality consignments on farm at very satisfactory prices.