Advertiser Series 2 No. 8378 Established May 1848 Thursday November 5, 2020 www.eladvertiser.co.uk 80p BRIEF ING NEWS Fairy Loup Disappears Historic deal to ONE of Canonbie’s most iconic landmarks has disap - peared overnight during bDukue wilyl sel l 5m,200 acores oto cormm uanity gfor ar naeturee resed rve stormy weather. SOUTHERN Scotland’s largest com - overwhelming. munity buyout is set to go ahead after “We can never thank the major donors Full story: Page 3 one of the most ambitious community and thousands of members of the public fundraising campaigns ever seen. enough for their contributions. NEWS The Langholm Initiative has agreed a “A team of dedicated people have deal with Buccleuch to buy 5,200 acres worked tirelessly to achieve something Town’s priceless of Langholm Moor after raising the final special here, most of them volunteers, asset funds needed in the nick of time. who continued to strive to make this The landmark community buyout happen against what, at times, felt like agreement of £3.8m paves the way for impossible odds. the creation of a huge new nature “Community ownership can be a cata - reserve to help tackle climate change, lyst for regeneration, which we want to restore nature and support community show can be done with the environment regeneration. at its heart. The sale covers the southern part of the “We hope the success here will moor up to but not including Tarras encourage and inspire other communi - Lodge and includes the Common Moss ties in Scotland and in the UK. LANGHOLM Day Centre and Muckle Knowe. “Realising the full potential of com - have delivered more than 6,000 Discussions will continue over the munity ownership will take time – and meals to their members over remaining 5,300 acres of land the com - the hard work is really just about to 159 days since lockdown Caz Graham of BBC Radio Four’s Open Country interviews Kevin Cumming of the Langholm munity has expressed an interest in buy - Initiative about the successful community buyout of 5,200 acres of moorland begin.” ing. Margaret Pool, who chairs the Full story: Page 9 The purchase, to be finalised by next raise millions of pounds. surge of more than £50,000 of donations Langholm Initiative, added: “This is an January, will lead to the creation of the At times during the summer the project to the charity’s public crowdfunder, amazing result for Langholm and will SPORT Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, with appeared to be seriously at risk. including £24,000 on one day alone, live long in the memory. globally-important peatlands and In the run-up to the deadline meant the appeal’s £200,000 target was “Our community has a strong cultural Seven in a row for ancient woods restored, native wood - Buccleuch and the Initiative agreed a achieved and topped. connection to this land, which has never stellar Polaris lands established and a haven ensured revised £3.8m price for the purchase. Nearly 4,000 people have supported been sold before, and securing it for gen - for wildlife, including rare hen harriers. With the Initiative still needing sub - the crowdfunding appeal since its launch erations to come means so much to so stantial funding in the final weeks, on May 7. many. Huge thanks to Buccleuch for Regeneration £500,000 was secured from the Bently their positive engagement.” The project will also support commu - Foundation. Woodland Trust Benny Higgins, executive chairman nity regeneration, including through Camille Bently, director of the Bently In the final 48 hours before the dead - of Buccleuch, said: “We’re absolutely plans for the community to capitalise on Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to line, and with the community still some delighted to have reached a significant new nature-based tourism opportunities. support this community-led environ - £150,000 short of the total funds needed, agreement with the Langholm Initiative The Langholm Initiative had until last mental project. the Woodland Trust agreed to contribute and this deal shows what can be Saturday to raise the funds for a deal and “We wish them every success and look £200,000 to the project, taking the achieved when everyone involved is NEWCASTLETON hound avoid the Scottish Land Fund withdraw - forward to visiting the new Tarras Valley Langholm Initiative over the line. committed to working together.” Polaris made it seven wins in ing its £1m offer, a proviso which left Nature Reserve in the future.” Kevin Cumming, project leader, said: a row when he won the seniors the community with only months to During the final week an extraordinary “The support for our vision has been >Turn to Page 2 at Middlemoss last Saturday. Full story: Page 16 THE ESKDALE & LIDDESDALE ADVERTISER • Owned by the Community, Published for the Community 2 Thursday November 5, 2020 Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser www.eladvertiser.co.uk Deaths Church Notices SP2 Pupils, uLangholmp Academiy ls thrilled CANONBIE UNITED & LIDDESDALE THERE was an enthusiastic yes HARVEY PARISH CHURCHES from Langholm Academy S2 pupils when asked whether they On 29th October 2020 in Cumberland Infirmary, Sunday 8th November thought the buyout was good for Robert (Bobby) Harvey, dearly loved husband of the town . Remembrance Sunday The pupils, who have done their the late Margaret (nee Scott). John Muir awards with Carys Funeral private due to current circumstances. Liddesdale 10am Mainprize of Wild Eskdale, gave a Canonbie 11.30am wholehearted thumbs-up. led by They had done all sorts of activities Rev Morag Crossan BA such as den-building, pond-dipping, Langholm Academy S2 pupils are delighted about the sale which will give them more ac - Thanks for Sympathy going for walks to the Laverock cess to the moorland where they have previously done their John Muir Trust awards Due to government birdhide, making campfires and restrictions there will be learning about the wildlife on the Colin Smyth, South of Scotland MSP “I wish Langholm every success “THIS is a truly outstanding as they move forward to realise HOGG NO act of remembrance moor. achievement by the team behind their dream. at the War Memorials Seth Brown said: “It’s definitely David and Anastatia wish to thank everyone for the bid and a fantastic day for the “It’s an exciting development, a good thing. It means people will their sympathy on the sad passing of Robbie. There will be a service of Eskdale community. bringing important land into public remembrance in the be able to go to the moor a lot “Although I’m sure they will be ownership and creating an environ - Special thanks to David Erskine, the Rev Eric Church, and that due to more and will motivate them into Dempster for his lovely words and to the people focused on the huge amount of mental resource we can all enjoy restricted numbers, seats going outdoors to experience work which lies ahead in turning for generations to come.” of Langholm for lining the streets at Robbie’s will need to be booked by wildlife.” either phoning their vision into a reality, they should farewell to the town. They all expressed a wish to help take a moment to sit back and pat Oliver Mundell, Liddesdale - Session with the project as volunteers. Dumfriesshire MSP clerk 07469 397065 themselves on the back. “This is southern Scotland’s largest "I'M DELIGHTED funding for or Canonbie - Session the Langholm Moor project has Clerk 07704 201875 email Roger Maxwell, chairman, buyout and the community of In Memoriam [email protected] m Langholm Common Riding Langholm really are history-makers. been successfully secured. “THE members offer their con - “We cannot underestimate the pos - "The community group's ability gratulations and thanks to the itive impact this could have on the to raise the funding and adapt the RYDE project to achieve their goal in the Shaun, our son, brother & uncle who left us on Langholm Initiative and all those economy through eco-tourism and involved in this historic buyout. A the boost to the environment through midst of a pandemic is impressive. 5th November 2019. LANGHOLM, "This achievement shows the com - momentous day. better protection and enhancement munity has the skills and resilience ESKDALEMUIR, “The words of the first fair on of a Site of Special Scientific needed to help make the project a Though absent, you are always near EWES & WESTERKIRK Common Riding day have never Interest. ” Still missed,loved and always dear long-term success." PARISH CHURCHES rung more true: “. we to the Moss "I look forward to continuing to do steer, To see gif a oor mairches Joan McAlpine, Always in our thoughts, Church services on support the group's efforts as the 8th November will be in they be clear”. South Scotland MSP project progresses." Mum, Dad, Sarah, Tooty & Girls x “Never again will there be any “THIS is brilliant news for the LANGHOLM Church doubt as to the ownership of this people of Langholm and the envi - Langholm Alliance “WE’RE thrilled with the efforts at 10.00am ancient piece of land and the mark - ronment. The dream of creating a ing of the boundaries will continue community-owned nature reserve of the Langholm Initiative, the wider Funeral Services to protect wildlife, tackle climate community and the support of those Contact us for transport on each Common Riding day as it change and support regeneration around the world who love wildlife 0744 885 8818. has done without a break, including will now go ahead. and wild places in securing this Social Distancing in 2020, since 1759. “The team have worked hard to buyout. will be observed.