Friday 31 July 2026
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.
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Scotland Through Ukrainian Children’s Eyes
Dumfries will welcome 26 children and two teachers from Liubotyn, in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, this August for a two-week educational visit celebrating creativity, friendship and cultural exchange.
Before travelling, the children explored Scotland’s history, culture and national symbols through art. Their paintings offer a unique view of Scotland through young eyes and reflect the resilience, hope and creativity of children whose lives have been affected by war. The exhibition will also feature artwork from classmates unable to make the journey.
Children from Ukrainian families living in Scotland are invited to contribute an A4 picture titled 'My Scotland', sharing a favourite place, memory or experience of life in Scotland. Artwork received by 20 August will be displayed alongside the Ukrainian collection.
Scottish children, schools and youth groups are also encouraged to create artwork inspired by Ukraine. Pieces received by 29 August will be sent to Liubotyn for display, helping to build friendships and connections between young people in both countries.
The exhibition will take place on 22 August 2026 at The Standard, 135–139 High Street, Dumfries, from 10am to 6pm, with free children’s creative workshops running from 11am to 2pm.
Original paintings created by the visiting children will be available to purchase, with proceeds helping to provide art materials, creative workshops and future opportunities for children in Ukraine.
Everyone is welcome to attend and support this inspiring celebration of art, culture and international friendship.
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South of Scotland Dark Sky Festival Launches This October
A new 10-day Dark Sky Festival will take place across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders from 9 to 18 October 2026, celebrating the South of Scotland's internationally renowned dark skies.
Organised by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Partnership, the festival will feature a wide range of events, including guided stargazing, wildlife safaris, astrophotography workshops, dark sky saunas, wild swims, food experiences and family-friendly activities.
The festival comes as plans move forward for a new Scottish Dark Sky Observatory near New Galloway and aims to highlight the importance of protecting natural darkness for both people and wildlife.
With Galloway Forest Park being one of the first places in the world to receive Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park status, and Moffat recognised as Scotland's first Dark Sky Community, the region is one of the best places in Europe to experience the night sky.
Loch Ken Family Fun Day
The Loch Ken Family Fun Day returns for its fourth fantastic year on Tuesday 4 August 2026.
The event is all about helping families stay safe around water during the summer holidays, with lots of hands-on activities, rescue demonstrations and opportunities to learn more about the water safety code.
One of the big attractions this year is K9 Aqua Sports, visiting Scotland for the first time since before Covid. Expect to see some amazing dogs jumping and swimming, with chances for spectators and participants to get involved. There will also be dog water safety sessions throughout the day.
There will be lots happening on the day including
- Free water safety sessions.
- Rafted canoe trips.
- Ranger boat tours.
- Wild swimming.
- Emergency services displays and rescue demonstrations.
- Nature activities mini golf, facepainting and fairground stalls.
- The Great Loch Ken Stone Skimming Championships.
- Live entertainment and local organisations.
Citizens Advice Creates an Oasis of Calm
Working in partnership with the local community and church gardeners, Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service (DAG CAS) has created an oasis of calm in the garden of their outreach at Castle Douglas Parish Church.
Church gardeners have worked hard to transform the garden area into a bright, tidy and cared-for space. Noticing how many people in the community use the outreach, they thought it would be nice to have a quiet garden in the community for them come and sit.
The community has donated plants and flowers, some in remembrance of loved ones and two new benches have been installed, so people can come and enjoy the space.
Many who attend the outreach come in times of crisis. Now DAGCAS can offer the reassurance of good advice and a calming environment too. Thanks to the gardeners for all their hard work and dedication to the community.
The Citizens Advice outreach service at Castle Douglas Parish Church operates on Wednesdays and Fridays, offering advice on a wide range of issues. Call 0300 303 4321 to make an appointment or visit their website at www.dagcas.org to find out more.
The Dumfries and Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme Open for Applications
The Dumfries and Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme supports native tree planting across the region with grants of up to £1,000.
Recipients last year varied from farmers and landowners to community groups and schools, all of whom benefitted from the flexible and easy scheme to make their small scale tree planting ambitions come true.
The planting of native trees in Dumfries and Galloway delivers a wide variety of benefits, from biodiversity and habitat provision, through to landscape benefits and carbon capture.
This year, there is a particular focus on ‘woodland connectivity’ – how can a small-scale intervention contribute to native woodland nature networks and wildlife corridors. This covers everything from connecting remaining blocks of woodland through to simply designing your small-scale project with habitat connectivity in mind.
New Illustrated Map Invites Adventure and Discovery Across the UK’s 62 UNESCO Sites
The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere has been highlighted on a newly updated illustrated map showcasing all 62 UNESCO-designated sites across the UK.
Published by the UK National Commission for UNESCO, the map brings together the UK's World Heritage Sites, Creative Cities, Global Geoparks and Biosphere Reserves, helping visitors discover internationally recognised places to visit, explore and enjoy.
As Scotland's first UNESCO Biosphere and the largest in the UK, the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere joins other world-renowned destinations featured on the map. The publication aims to inspire residents and visitors alike to explore the UK's outstanding landscapes, heritage and cultural attractions, many of which are accessible by public transport and free to visit.
The Biosphere team says the map will help raise awareness of the region's unique natural and cultural heritage while encouraging sustainable tourism and local pride.
Fitness to Drive Roadshow 2026
From 29 July 2026 the Fitness to Drive campaign is going back on the road to engage with mature drivers at locations across Scotland, inviting them to take a ‘Driver MOT’.
Drivers will be encouraged to learn more about the changes to driving abilities that can come with age, and reflect on their own driving and any changes they may have noticed. Drivers will be assured they are not alone in this, with a dedicated team on hand to advise on the steps drivers can take to feel more confident on the road.
While decisions around driving abilities and the right time to stop driving are up to the individual (unless medically advised to do so), friends and family of mature drivers also have a role to play in ensuring they initiate conversations in a supportive and constructive way.
The ‘Driver MOT’ team will be live across 76 days in various towns and cities throughout Scotland. They will visit Dumfries and Galloway at Caulders Garden Centre, Hetland on Wednesday 30 September from 10am to 4pm and at Garden Wise Garden Centre, Dumfries on Thursday 1 October from 10am to 4pm.
Air Quality Across Dumfries and Galloway Remains Very Good
Dumfries and Galloway Council’s latest Air Quality Annual Progress Report has found that air quality across the region remains generally very good, with no breaches of Scottish Air Quality Objectives and no Air Quality Management Areas currently in place.
Based on monitoring carried out during 2024, the report confirms that air quality across Dumfries and Galloway continues to meet national standards.
The highest annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentration recorded in Dumfries was 20.5 µg/m³ at Buccleuch Street. While this is above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2021 guideline value, it remains around 50% below the Scottish Air Quality Objective of 40 µg/m³.
The findings follow recent media coverage highlighting air quality figures for Dumfries town centre. These figures were based on national modelling data rather than measurements taken by the council and estimated annual average concentrations of 7.4 µg/m³ for fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and 4.2 µg/m³ for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
While the estimated PM₂.₅ level is above the WHO guideline value, it remains below Scotland’s current air quality standard. The estimated NO₂ level is below both Scottish and WHO guideline values.
The council continues to monitor air quality across the region and remains committed to protecting public health and the environment.
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RBCFT Film of the Week
The Robert Burns Centre Film of the Week is this summer’s box office smash The Odyssey. Director Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s classic epic follows the legendary Greek hero Odysseus as he struggles to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, facing mythical creatures, vengeful gods and countless personal challenges along the way.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its sense of adventure. From encounters with the Cyclops to the dangerous lure of the Sirens, the story maintains a steady pace and offers a series of memorable episodes that keep viewers engaged. The journey is not only physical but emotional, as Odysseus is forced to confront his pride, resilience and determination to reunite with his family.
The film features a massive cast – mostly well-known names and faces – and the performances are uniformly excellent, particularly Matt Damon as Odysseus, the flawed yet admirable hero, John Leguizamo as the ally Eumaeus, Robert Pattinson as the slippery Antinous and Samantha Morton as Circe (her back and forth with Odysseus is one of the film’s numerous highlights).
Visually, the film is stunning, establishing shots of wide-open seas and Mediterranean islands are gorgeous, and the entire film captures the grandeur of Greek mythology with the music, costumes, settings and production design immersing the audience in the ancient Mediterranean world. Nolan is well-known for his use of practical effects with minimal CGI. Some of the effects are spectacular and they all serve the story well creating an atmosphere of wonder and danger.
The Odyssey is a stunning achievement, a hugely entertaining and ambitious retelling of a timeless story combining action, mythology and human drama. Never has 173 minutes passed by so quickly. You can see The Odyssey at the RBC from Friday 31 July.
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