FALLAGO ENVIRONMENT FUND UPDATE INVESTING IN THE BORDERS ENVIRONMENT Issue 5: Autumn 2019 Fund Facts & Figures Established by EDF Energy Renewables and Roxburghe 128 applications Estates, the Environment Fund supports local and regional projects within the Scottish Borders area. 58 projects supported Designed to help fund a balance of built, natural and cultural Built Natural Cultural heritage projects, and support those parts of the Borders without Heritage access to other community benefit funds, it has, in addition to supporting 58 projects, helped lever in an additional £12 for £13,385,065 every pound invested by the Fund. Projects are chosen for their Total sum of successful projects contribution to supporting local rural communities (funding some of our excellent local organisations), helping preserve and enhance our special landscapes and biodiversity, preserving and telling the story of our heritage and enhancing the Scottish Borders as a tourism destination. £1,047,397 Total Fallago grant awards Fallago Environment Fund Applications up to September 2019 NORTH Eyemouth Whiteadder Water Leader Water Duns Berwick-upon-Tweed Gala Water Peebles Coldstream Earlston FEF Application* Galashiels River Tweed River Till Innerleithen Scottish Borders Melrose River Tweed Selkirk Kelso Main Rivers Yarrow Water Wooler Tweedsmuir National Park Ettrick Water Jedburgh River Teviot Hawick Jed Water *Some Applications are Borders wide 1 £1 Million Milestone e are marking the Fund’s fifth anniversary by Fund’s Management Committee: Luke Comins W announcing that over £1 million has been (Tweed Forum), Leanne Watson (EDF Renewables), donated to projects across the Scottish Borders His Grace, the late Duke of Roxburghe, Debbie in the last five years. Pictured are some of the Playfair and George Farr. New Projects Approved Five new projects have been approved since our last newsletter (Spring 2019). The Fund is supporting the development of a Village Heritage Centre in Yetholm; Kelso High School’s “River Tweed Pride of Kelso” which celebrates the Salmon rod fishery of the River Tweed; the creation of a Golden Eagle Information Centre and Café at Philiphaugh Estate (pictured, at the funding announcement with Fergus Ewing); the Border Countryside Day; and the creation of an Energy Union Agricultural Society’s annual Schools Advice Centre in the Selkirk Conservation Area. n PROJECTS n Gifford Community Woodland Adam White, Community Woodland Chair, and Project Manager, Neville Kilkenny, are pictured with their trophy at the 2019 Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards. Safe, all-ability access and a community orchard have been created with support from the Fund. 2 n Hume Castle Community archaeological digs have been underway at the castle and its surrounds. This project is working with the local community to research, excavate and record the rich history of Hume. n River Tweed Pride of Kelso This Kelso High School community learning project will celebrate the River Tweed through a carefully curated programme of activities. Surveying at the Old Smiddy, Hume Castle n Will H Ogilvie Commemoration Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Border Poet, Will H Ogilvie, a memorial stone and information boards at Holefield, near Kelso, were unveiled by the Kelsae Laddie. n Whiteadder: The Historic Heart of the Lammermuirs n Opening of the Jim Clark A recent archaeological excavation at Morham Castle (pictured) was a great success in this project to Motorsport Museum mitigate windfarm development in the Lammermuirs This fascinating museum, dedicated to Scots racing and reinstate a heritage routeway. driver Jim Clark, was officially opened in late August by Sir Jackie Stewart OBE. Image © SBC 3 n Muniments and Toy Collection at n Monteath Douglas Mausoleum Thirlestane Castle The Fund is supporting improvements to the This spectacular, B-listed, grand Victorian accessibility, display and interpretation of the monument has now been restored and opened Muniments and Toy Collection as part of ongoing to the public (Lord Lothian, pictured, cutting the work to provide an updated visitor experience. ribbon) with support from the Fund. n Ancrum Mantle Walls The Mantle Walls site contains buried remains of a suspected 12th/13th century Bishop’s palace. The project has conducted a community archaeological dig, with extensive community engagement to follow. n Borders Art Fair Another successful Borders Art Fair attracted over 6000 people to Kelso this year. Fallago Environment Fund is administered by Tweed Forum. Please contact us at [email protected], 01896 849723 or visit www.tweedforum.org/fallago 4.