Looking back at the Benty 1970 & 1995 REPORTS ON THE BENTY RIDE -OUT : PAGE 12 Series 2 No. 8364 Established May 1848 Thursday July 16, 2020 www.eladvertiser.co.uk 80p Buccleuch boss pledges tBoenn y gHigegints c ripticisres oScojttiesh cLantd Futndo fo r titsh rigiedity olviern its ge rant Langholm Common RidingSCIO no. SC044989 The members of Langholm Common Riding would like to thank all those who made the effort to respond to the statement placed in the E&L Advertiser on 2nd July. They have considered all the comments made and appreciate the concerns of local people at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Roger Maxwell, Langholm Common Riding chairman, tells Alex Thomson about the traditions of the event and the importance of the Common Moss to the townspeople BUCCLEUCH’S chief He said: “I spoke to Kevin “I think that’s far too rigid, As we said in our statement placed in the paper on 26th March, executive has pledged his Cumming (project manager) probably on both counts and Common Riding 2020 could not take place in its customary way. We continued personal support and Margaret Pool (chairwom - especially getting all the legals also said that we would consider any restrictions in place as we for the Langholm Moor an) on Tuesday and they are done. community buy-out. committed to getting to the “I made the point that the reviewed options nearer the end of July. In an exclusive interview figure which came out of the rules be amended a little and with the E&L Advertiser joint valuation. it was better to give them more Although restrictions are gradually being eased the virus has not Benny Higgins said he would “I said I was keeping my time. gone away. The members have at no time wished to risk large do whatever he could to help fingers crossed for them. They “I certainly propose to write the Langholm Initiative achieve know we’re still hoping they to Roseanna Cunningham, sec - crowds potentially bringing the virus to the town. It is clear from the its ambition. will get there.” retary for environment, climate responses we have received that the public also take this view. His comments came on the He was conscious that it was change and land reform, to day that a Channel 4 News a tricky environment currently suggest it would be better if team spent the day in but the project was all good the government gave them Therefore, with regret, Langholm Common Riding 2020 is cancelled Langholm interviewing people and, if the Initiative needed to more time. but the boundaries will be marked at some point. about the £6.4m project to buy talk to him, he would try to be “I’m comfortable with giving 25,000 acres from Buccleuch. flexible and would be prepared them more time and the Mr Higgins was critical of to give them more time. Initiative is still determined to the Scottish Land Fund (SLF), He said: “The problem with stick with Plan A. A bit more which has awarded £1m on that is the SLF imposed a time would give them that the basis that the Initiative target and wants proof of funds chance.” find the rest of the money by and that all the legals are done the end of October or it will by that date and that’s not > Turn to Page 2 Langholm Common RidingSCIO no. SC044989 lose its grant. acceptable. 2 Thursday July 16, 2020 Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser www.eladvertiser.co.uk Births Church Notices Reds get priority JAMMEH CANONBIE UNITED & LIDDESDALE Squirrel group focuses efforts on Eskdale We are delighted to announce the birth of Thomas PARISH CHURCHES THE Esk valley has become a Telford Jammeh, a son for Jessica Kershaw and priority area for saving the native Although Covid-19 has red squirrel. Saikou Jammeh born at Simpsons, Edinburgh on meant our doors are closed Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels 7th July. we remain available to offer (SSRS) has adjusted its Priority support where we can. Areas for Red Squirrel Conservation A grandson for Dawn Foggo, Alieu Please contact the Session (PARCs) in southern Scotland to Jammeh and Mairi Telford Jammeh Clerks on 013873 25255 or better protect existing populations and a nephew for William Jammeh. [email protected]. of red squirrels. Both mother and baby are doing well. Canonbie Treasurer Fiona PARCs were first introduced in Smith has received the new 2014 as a new approach to red weekly offering envelopes. squirrel conservation action in south - If you would like to receive ern Scotland. Funeral Services yours or wish to donate by They target limited project bank transfer please contact resources to the areas where they her on 013873 71616 or will provide the greatest benefit to [email protected] red squirrel populations. FUundnerteakrera &l M Donuimrenetacl Sterovirce s for details. The Esk Valley red squirrel group New Memorials supplied was set up in 2019 to protect red All Services squirrels along the length of the Additional Inscriptions and Cleaning CANCELLED valley to take in Eskdalemuir, until further notice Langholm, Canonbie and Bentpath. Once a common sight in southern Scotland, the native red squirrels David W. Erskine are being driven out by the invasive Briery Bank, Ewes, Langholm grey squirrels which out-compete Tel: 013873 81251 or 07710 906257 the reds for food and space. From years of project experience Efforts to save the red squirrel in Eskdale are being stepped up LANGHOLM, SSRS knows that, to successfully FUNERAL ESKDALEMUIR, protect red squirrels, it is essential such as the presence of healthy red concentrations of habitat which are EWES & WESTERKIRK that grey squirrel control operations squirrel populations, the urgency favoured by grey squirrels, in which are sustained and co-ordinated in a DIRECT ORS PARISH CHURCHES of threat from grey squirrels, support red squirrels are often excluded by For a Personal Service landscape. and co-operation from landowners the presence of greys. With no services the Measures and the presence of existing volun - The spokesperson said: “By tar - Hedle y and Tur nbull church is getting little or Focusing its work on priority areas teers and red squirrel network groups geting efforts to the grey squirrels’ no income. gives the organisation a stronger or sufficient human populations preferred woodland, we can create 013873 75404 / 013873 75532 / 0789 655 7941 If you wish to donate by chance of achieving this. from which new volunteer networks reservoirs of high-quality habitat making a bank transfer A spokesperson said: “While we could develop.” for red squirrels to reoccupy. The Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser please contact the trea - try to create enduring networks of Many of the PARCs sit alongside “This creates breeding populations is part funded by the following organisations along surer, David Johnstone, red squirrel protection measures in large upland conifer forests where of the native species as a source for with charitable trusts and individuals from the on the phone numbers be - these PARCs to ensure they remain red squirrels have a natural advan - recolonising conifer forests should community of Langholm. tage over grey squirrels. the populations there chance to low and he will supply effective, it is necessary that the Supported by the come under pressure because of Dumfriesshire East Community Benefit Group necessary details. PARCs retain some flexibility so which is funded by we can adapt to changing situa - Habitat seed-crop failure. ScottishPower Renewables Ewe Hill Windfarm tions.” These include Galloway Forest “In better conifer-seed years red Tel: 013873 80859. In 2019 several of the original Park, Ae Forest, Eskdalemuir, Craik, squirrels in the forests would like - Mobile. 07543 179469 PARC boundaries were reviewed Wauchope and the Tweed Valley wise be able to colonise neighbour - All Services and redrawn based on the latest forests. ing lowland PARC areas. CANCELLED evidence on the ground. The PARCs generally occupy “This complementary system will Cunhatirlit yfu nrot.h SeCr Ono11ti9c4e 6 The spokesperson added: “Deci - lower-lying areas with greater better secure the species’ future in sions were based on various factors accessibility to people and with southern Scotland.” What we have achieved shows what is possible > From Page 1 nities and environment. by the issues of inequality, education Thomson, chief correspondent of He said: “This is obviously a good and unemployment. Channel 4 News, as was Roger “In circumstances like this, if they opportunity for us. I’ve always said He said: “We’re going to face quite Maxwell, Langholm Common Riding get a bit of traction with one benefactor, that if we have values, we have to a surge in unemployment; there is no chairman. it gives encouragement to others.” have action and evidence that we treat other way to put it so a business like He understood the reason why the them with importance. ours must manage itself carefully. That Speaking on the moor, Roger de - SLF had such a strict timetable because “What we’ve done in Newcastleton was a motivation to sell.” scribed the cultural and historic if the £1m was not taken up by the and what we’re doing in Langholm is He was surprised by the amount of importance of the Common Moss to Initiative, it would give the SLF time a chance to show our values give com - publicity the buy-out had attracted but the people of Langholm who had to redistribute the funds to other projects munities enhanced opportunities to do land reform was a big issue. marked its boundaries since 1759. before the end of the financial year. what they want to do.” He said: “What we have achieved in Also interviewed were Kevin Asked how important the buy-out Mr Higgins was also asked why Newcastleton and what we’re getting was to Buccleuch based on what the Buccleuch did not consider doing a close to in Langholm and Wanlockhead Cumming, Margaret Pool, Langholm land would be used for, he said similar project itself.