Friday 28 August 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.
Kirkconnel Shines on National Stage as RHS Britain in Bloom Judges Visit
Kirkconnel welcomed judges from the prestigious RHS Britain in Bloom competition on Friday 9 August, as the village continued its remarkable journey of community transformation led by the dedicated volunteers of the Brighten Up Kirkconnel and Kelloholm Group.
The group secured its place in the UK finals after an outstanding performance at Beautiful Scotland 2025, where it was awarded Gold and named Best Small Village in Scotland. This impressive achievement saw Kirkconnel become one of only three Scottish communities selected to represent the country in this year's RHS Britain in Bloom competition.
Judges began their visit at 9am, touring the village and assessing entries across a range of criteria including horticultural excellence, environmental responsibility and community participation. With just 44 finalists from across the UK reaching this stage of the competition, Kirkconnel's place in the finals is a significant accomplishment and recognition of the community's hard work.
The success of Brighten Up Kirkconnel and Kelloholm is built on much more than colourful floral displays. Throughout the year, volunteers dedicate countless hours to enhancing public spaces, maintaining planting schemes, organising community litter picks and encouraging local residents to take pride in their surroundings. Their efforts have helped create an attractive, welcoming village that reflects the strong community spirit at the heart of Kirkconnel and Kelloholm.
The competition results will be announced later this year, with all finalists receiving either a Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver or Bronze award. Category winners will then go forward to compete for the coveted overall RHS Britain in Bloom 2026 title.
Whatever the outcome, the volunteers of Brighten Up Kirkconnel and Kelloholm have already achieved something truly special. Their passion, commitment and community pride have transformed the local area and created a welcoming environment that residents can be proud to call home.
The entire community wishes them every success as they await the results of the RHS Britain in Bloom competition.
Recycle Your Used Vapes from Home
From Monday 31 August, residents across Dumfries and Galloway will be able to recycle disposable and rechargeable vapes through the council's kerbside battery recycling service.
To recycle a vape, place it in your own clear, sealable plastic bag (around A5 size) and leave it on top of your bin on your normal collection day. Household batteries should continue to be presented separately in the council's pink battery recycling bags.
Vapes contain lithium batteries, which can cause fires if they are damaged after being placed in household waste or recycling bins. By recycling them separately, residents can help protect waste collection crews, recycling staff and facilities while helping to keep batteries out of general waste.
The new service builds on the success of the council's household battery recycling scheme, which has helped residents recycle batteries safely from home and reduce the risk of battery-related fires.
The council is encouraging anyone who currently puts used vapes in their household bin to start using the new collection service and recycle them safely instead.
Remember:
• Used vapes = your own clear, sealable plastic bag.
• Household batteries = council-provided pink battery bag.
• Leave both on top of your bin on collection day.
Step Aboard Alba Venturer at Stranraer Harbour
The Ocean Youth Trust Scotland (OYT Scotland) is inviting local people to visit its sail training vessel, Alba Venturer, during a free Open Day at Stranraer Harbour on Saturday 26 September.
Running from 10am to 2pm, the event offers visitors the chance to explore the 72-foot vessel, meet the crew and learn more about the charity's work with young people across Scotland.
OYT Scotland delivers residential sailing voyages that help young people build confidence, resilience, teamwork and practical life skills through adventure at sea.
The event is open to all ages, with no booking required and free to attend. Whether you're interested in sailing, looking for opportunities for young people, interested in volunteering, or simply curious to see life aboard a sail training ship, everyone is welcome.
Church Street to Reopen from 5pm on Monday 31 August
Church Street in Stranraer will reopen to traffic from 5pm on Monday 31 August.
The road was temporarily closed to allow construction and redevelopment works to be carried out safely around the former George Hotel building, which is being transformed as part of the wider regeneration of the town centre.
Progress on the project has now reached a stage where Church Street can safely reopen while the remaining construction works continue.
To support the safe operation of the road and ongoing works, a 7.5 tonne weight restriction will be in place. Appropriate signage will be installed and motorists are asked to follow all restrictions.
Reopening Church Street will reinstate access for residents, businesses and visitors while work continues on the redevelopment project.
We would like to thank the local community, businesses and road users for their patience and understanding during the closure.
Stranraer’s West Pier Closed to Public While Condition Assessments are Carried Out
Stranraer’s West Pier has been closed to the public while condition assessments are carried out.
As part of routine monitoring of council assets, issues have been identified regarding the condition of elements of the timber structure of Stranraer's West Pier.
Further investigations are now required into the condition of elements of the pier structure and, as a precautionary measure, the pier has been closed for public access while these assessments are carried out.
Our engineering and design team is being asked to assess the extent of the issues and advise on any work that may be required.
Public safety is our priority and restricting access at this stage is the most appropriate course of action while further information is gathered.
We appreciate this may be disappointing for some users of the pier and ask everyone for their patience and understanding. Further updates will be provided once the assessment process has been completed.
Help Shape Scotland's Digital Wellbeing Policy
The Scottish Government is inviting children, young people, parents and carers to share their experiences of using smartphones, social media and the internet.
A survey for children and young people explores how they use screens, apps and social media. It also looks at the impact these may have on wellbeing and how confident young people feel about staying safe online.
A separate survey for parents and carers asks about their own screen use, how confident they feel supporting their children's digital activities, and what information or resources would help them.
The findings, alongside a review of existing research, will help inform future Scottish Government policy aimed at reducing online harms and supporting digital wellbeing.
Both surveys are open until mid-September.
Great Corsock Show Celebrates 20 Years
The Great Corsock Show returns on Saturday 29 August, celebrating its 20th anniversary and marking two decades as a popular community event in the Glenkens.
This year's show is particularly significant as it honours the contribution of founder and long-time supporter Judi Shaw, who sadly passed away earlier this year.
Last year's event attracted a record 353 entries. This year, judges will assess entries across 59 categories, ranging from baking, preserves and produce to flowers, crafts and woodwork.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Alongside the main competition, residents can enter the popular scarecrow competition for the chance to win a cash prize. The special Judge's Challenge for 2026 is an individual pavlova.
The show programme, including entry details and a full list of categories, is available from local shops, the porch at Corsock Hall, or online at Great Corsock Show programme and entry information.
Whether you're entering, competing or simply coming along to enjoy the atmosphere, the Great Corsock Show promises a celebration of local talent, creativity and community spirit.
Golden Day Club Celebrates 40 Years
The Golden Day Club in Castle Douglas is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Since opening in 1986, the club has provided friendship, activities and support for older people in Castle Douglas and the surrounding area, helping members stay active, connected and independent. Today, it continues to offer a welcoming environment with a range of social activities, outings and freshly prepared lunches.
To mark the milestone, the club is hosting a special celebration on 22 September, featuring photographs, memories and tributes to the many staff, volunteers and members who have contributed to its success over the past four decades. The event is open to all, with doors opening at 12 noon and a celebratory cake cutting at 1.30pm.
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Partners Come Together to Tackle Hate Crime
Colleagues and partners from local government, public services and the third sector recently came together at a Hate Crime Toolkit Workshop in Dumfries and Galloway.
Hosted by the Equality and Diversity Working Group, with support from the Community Cohesion Project, the event explored how organisations can work together to prevent hate crime, support those affected, and promote inclusive communities.
Attendees heard about the refreshed Hate Crime Toolkit, developed by the Scottish Government and COSLA, and took part in discussions on community engagement, education, reporting and victim support.
The workshop highlighted the importance of partnership working in creating communities where everyone feels safe, respected and valued, regardless of their background or identity.
RBCFT Film of the Week
The RBCFT Film of the Week is director Alan J. Pakula’s Klute, a thriller that marked the beginning of what would later become known as his "Paranoia Trilogy" (alongside 1974’s The Parallax View and All the President’s Men from 1976).
Jane Fonda delivers one of the defining performances of the 1970s and deservedly won the Academy Award for her haunting portrayal of the high-priced call girl being stalked by a psychopath. The film proved to be a massive commercial success upon its release in 1971.
Donald Sutherland plays small-town detective John Klute, whose friend has disappeared. The search leads him to New York and into the life of Bree Daniels (Fonda), a call girl and aspiring actor who may hold the key to the mystery. As Klute places her under surveillance, he is gradually drawn deeper into a world he has never experienced, while Bree finds herself at the centre of an increasingly dangerous investigation.
In Pakula’s film New York is a landscape of shadows, anonymous streets, and hidden threats reflecting the film’s wider concerns with surveillance, power and alienation. Rather than relying on action or conventional suspense, the film creates tension through observation, uncertainty and a growing sense that unseen forces are always watching.
Intelligent, tense, and anchored by Jane Fonda’s Oscar-winning performance, Klute stands as one of the finest American films of the 1970s and an essential entry point into Pakula’s exploration of power, corruption and paranoia.
You can see Klute on 8 October – as well as the remaining films in the “paranoia trilogy” – as part of the Power, Corruption and Lies on Screen season at the Robert Burns Centre. This themed run of films explores how power can be misused, how corruption develops and how truth can be manipulated.
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