Friday 8 March 2024
Welcome to Community, your Dumfries and Galloway community bulletin.
We are always keen to hear of any positive stories about things that are happening in your community and would like to feature them in Community – please email us at communitybulletin@dumgal.gov.uk and one of our reporters will get back to you.
 A to Z of Dumfries and Galloway Council
T is for Treasure
This is Andrew Nicholson.
Andrew is our archaeologist.
In Andrew’s own words: "archaeology is much more than digging up the ground to find old artefacts." And he isn’t exaggerating.
Andrew’s job sits within the planning department at Dumfries and Galloway Council and involves him looking at planning applications, forestry schemes and utility applications to see if they will have any impact on the incredible 31,500 archaeological sites and buildings in our region.
Yes, that’s correct, there are 31,500 sites of archaeological interest in our region.
Best part of the job?
“Sharing local history with local people. I have only ever wanted to be a county archaeologist, preserving heritage for future generations through my work within the planning department. It is 41 years since I graduated, and I can honestly say I look forward to coming to work every Monday morning – you never know what you’ll discover.”
From digitally mapping sites of historical interest, to delivering public talks and university lectures, to assessing planning applications, Andrew protects our region’s history and helps develop the future in equal measure.
So how does Andrew do this?
His role involves looking at historic environment records and cross-referencing new applications to see if new plans are likely to threaten archaeological sites, before recommending planning conditions that mitigate their impact. By using digital mapping tools, Andrew can record and maintain vital information for every listed building or building of archaeological interest, every maritime wreck on our region's shore, and every site of historical interest across our Dumfries and Galloway.
Andrew said: “Good data allows for better informed responses.” Through working together with planners, developers are informed of any planning conditions ahead of building work starting. This includes any archaeological site testing. By using geophysics (a range of scientific techniques used before digging), developers can check whether there is archaeological material below that needs to be analysed, preserved and recorded before starting with any building work. By following these processes and working alongside Andrew, history is recorded and saved for future generations to learn from – and developers can begin with building works.
Andrew’s role also includes giving guided historical walks, public talks and visiting schools where his never-ending bank of knowledge is shared with all around him.
Did you know that the village of Cummertrees’ name translates to ‘the settlement of the Welsh-speakers’? Neither did we before speaking to Andrew.
Did you also know that anything found under the ground in Scotland must be declared and reported within a month to Treasure Trove Unit in Edinburgh or your local museum or archaeology department in your local authority? This falls under the Treasure Act 1996.
Talking of treasure, Andrew was the archaeologist who answered a call a few years ago from a local metal detectorist who said he had found something interesting. Andrew, who is an expert in the early medieval period, arrived and knew instantly what he was about to excavate. It was the largest Viking-era hoard ever found in Scotland since the Skaill Hoard in 1858 – The Galloway Hoard. Items in this find dated back to 870–930AD and it is currently valued at £1.96 million.
To say that this internationally significant hoard of vessels, glass beads, jewel-encrusted brooches was a particularly good day at the office would be an understatement.
From the world-famous Galloway Hoard to Torhouse – a 10m-tall house with a neo-classical design at the front and medieval window openings at the back – Andrew really has ridden the archaeological rollercoaster while working for Dumfries and Galloway Council for 24 years.
Andrew said: “I have personally found and recorded over 700 sites in Dumfries and Galloway since starting all those years ago, but to stumble across Torhouse in the condition it was in stopped me in my tracks. People say their jaw hit the ground, and mine really did. It had been overlooked in previous surveys, with only the farmer and local fishermen aware it was still there. The archaeological establishment was completely oblivious to it.
“A lot of people assume archaeologists find things underground but that’s a very small part of the role. Finding this entire building and sharing this excitement with colleagues – both locally and with Historic Scotland – was another career highlight for me.”
Thank you for preserving our heritage while supporting our ever-developing landscape with knowledge, interest and enthusiasm like no other.
You truly are making a difference every day.
 Purple Friday Celebrated in Dumfries and Galloway
Purple Friday was celebrated in our region on Friday 23 February with a range of fantastic purple activities which taking place.
Langlands School had a very busy day on Purple Friday wearing purple, distributing badges and purple ribbons, eating purple snacks and having fun. Staff and pupils also signed or added their handprint to a pride flag to show their commitment to equality and inclusion for all. On top of all that, they also raised an amazing £50 too.
Also celebrating was part of the Regulatory and Statutory Services Hub Team from Dumfries and Galloway Council. Caroline made chocolate beetroot brownie to go with morning coffee – a tasty part of their five-a-day.
Councillor Ian Blake, Chair of the council’s Communities Committee said: “Our council is happy to support Purple Friday and all it stands for.”
Councillor Jackie McCamon, Vice-Chair of Communities Committee added: “Visibility is so important for LGBTQ+ young people because it shows them that they are seen and respected for who they are. Being a visible ally for LGBTQ+ equality opens hearts and minds, creating a more inclusive Scotland for all."
The Legion Scotland Best Kept War Memorial Competition 2024 is now open.
If you wish to submit and entry to the competition, here are some key dates:
- Completed entry deadline – 26 April.
- Area Judging – 10 May to 12 July.
- National judging – 19 July to 16 August.
- Trophy presentation at New Haig House, Edinburgh – 6 September.
Under the Best Kept War Memorial rules and regulations, completed entry forms should be submitted to the Legion Scotland area secretary: areasecgadg@legionscotland.org.uk and to head office: BKWM@legionscotland.org.uk
South of Scotland Destination Alliance Conference 2024
The South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) Conference is the key annual gathering for tourism and hospitality in the south of Scotland.
This year's event, being held on Wednesday 20 March at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, will launch and bring to life the new South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy, giving attendees the opportunity to feed into the implementation plan for the next three years.
The conference line-up includes a fantastic array of inspiring speakers, both local and global, as well as interactive sessions and discussions. It is your essential chance to network, connect, learn and build new collaborations.
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 Sanquhar Joins Biosphere Community
The town of Sanquhar has become a Biosphere Community, the tenth to be designated within Galloway and Southern Ayrshire since the region was awarded UNESCO status in 2012.
The Biosphere Communities scheme invites local people to explore the aspects of heritage and cultural identity that most inspire community pride, with a Sense of Place workshop in which favourite places, leisure activities and scenic spots are shared. The workshop output is collated into a destination page for the biosphere’s website, and features on Scotland’s UNESCO Trail – which promotes sustainable tourism between the country’s world class visitor attractions.
Businesses in and around Sanquhar will benefit from their new connection through destination marketing that promotes biosphere communities as places where visitors from near and far can enjoy outdoor, nature-based experiences and a taste of ‘Biosphere life’. The UNESCO region has attracted multiple tourism accolades for its unique offering in recent months, having been featured in Rough Guides, Wanderlust, Lonely Planet and National Geographic Traveller magazines. The UNESCO connection will benefit Sanquhar through the biosphere’s partnerships with VisitScotland and the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, which promote the region as a place for slow, sustainable tourism and a ‘live local’ ethos that centres the community-led visitor offer.
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere is one of more than 750 such designations worldwide with a shared remit to support and facilitate conservation, education, sustainable development and action on climate change. More information about the organisation’s projects and upcoming events is available at: www.gsabiosphere.org.uk
 Wild Fire Aware
Spring going into early summer is the busiest time for wildfires occurring in Scotland. Wildfires are extremely dangerous as they can spread rapidly over many hectares of land.
Wildfires pose a serious threat to Scotland's landscapes, wildlife and communities. Careless behaviour is often the cause of wildfires, which have the potential to burn for days or weeks, causing a significant challenge for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews.
If you'd like to find out more and see alerts when there is a high risk of wildfires and guidance on how to prevent wildfires, you can 'like' the SFRS Facebook page and get resources on their website.
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