Between October 2012 and September 2013 there was a rise in both visitor numbers and spending in Scotland, according to new figures.

The number of domestic and overseas tourists coming to Scotland was two per cent higher than the previous year with spending by visitors up by four per cent.

The strong growth in the domestic market was fuelled by a rise in visitors to rural areas, the Scottish Government has stated.

A HOSPITAL ward remains closed to new admissions almost a fortnight after the first case of norovirus was discovered at the BGH.

Ward 10 has been closed to new patients since Friday, January 10, and since then parts of wards 4, 5 and 12 have also been affected.

The latest is that all of ward 10 is closed, with two bays in ward 12 and one in ward 4 also shut due to ‘gastro-intestinal symptoms’.

Dr Ed James, consultant microbiologist with NHS Borders’ infection prevention control team, said: “If there are signs that staff or patients are developing symptoms of viral gastroenteritis, then rapid closure of the ward, or part of the ward, must be considered.

“Conditions for reopening a ward or bay affected by diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms normally include at least a 48-hour break in the development of new cases.

“Another factor is the ability to deep clean the affected area, which can normally only be achieved once patients have been discharged or transferred. ­Areas dealing with patients with longer hospitals stays, such as rehabilitation units, may therefore be closed longer than general wards.”

Norovirus is highly infectious and can spread quickly between people.

RBS Premiership leaders, Gala, will play Stirling County at Netherdale in the RBS Cup quarter-finals, following the draw of the national competition.

Scotland under-20 players James Malcolm and Damien Hoyland took time out of their training camp to assist competition administrator Neil Crooks with the draw.

Last year’s runners-up Melrose and defending champions Ayr also have a home-tie. They will play Heriot’s and Glasgow Hawks at the Greenyards and Millbrae respectively.

The draw is concluded with Edinburgh Accies and Aberdeen Grammar meeting at Raeburn Place.

All RBS Cup quarter-final fixtures will be played on Saturday, February 15.

THE headteacher of Eddleston Primary School has said she is ‘confident’ about the progress pupils have made in their learning after an inspector highlighted a lack of evaluation in certain areas.

Overall, the HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) report on the school was very positive.

Headteacher Shirley Bean said: “I am delighted that our enthusiastic pupils and strong community links have been commended.

“I am confident that our children have made good progress with their learning in English language and literacy, mathematics and numeracy. This achievement is down to the hard work, skills and high level of commitment given by our staff to meet the needs of our pupils.”

She added: “The inspectors have clarified our thoughts about where we are doing well and have been very supportive in their suggestions and guidance for how we might approach our identified improvement priorities in the future.”

Inspector Elaine Merrilees stated in her report: “Overall, the school does not yet have a clear enough picture of children’s achievements, particularly in English, mathematics and health and wellbeing.

“Teachers are therefore not able to plan learning which ensures a stronger progression in children’s knowledge, understanding and skills.”

But her report did acknowledge key strengths, including “articulate and enthusiastic children”, “a mutually-supportive staff team” and “productive” community links.

Pam Smellie, chair of the parent council, said she was pleased with the inspector’s report.

“I believe it reflects the fantastic opportunities the pupils have had through community initiatives such as Community Passport and Friday Enterprise sessions for all pupils and pre-schoolers who live in the Eddleston area,” she said.

“As parents, we feel very fortunate to have such a dedicated and hardworking staff who not only support pupils in school but also go out of their way to support the children in the community too.”

MORE than 5,700 homes and businesses in the Borders will get fibre broadband as part of the £410 million Digital Scotland partnership.

The council is also investing £8.4m in the project which will see nearly 5,200 properties in Melrose and Selkirk receive high speed technology for the first time, while 570 additional premises will be connected in Galashiels, building on its existing fibre broadband.

Council leader David Parker said: “This is great news, not only for members of the public, but for the local economy as well.

“It makes these parts of the Borders even more attractive for new business start-ups and expansions.”

Councillor Parker added: “Scottish Borders Council is committed to the delivery of superfast broadband and we will continue to work towards getting even more communities in the region connected, as a matter of priority.”

Michael Moore MP also welcomed the news. He said: “For too long, people living rural areas have missed out on investment in broadband services and this has damaged businesses and been extremely frustrating for local people.

“I am glad that as a result of EU, UK, Scottish and local government funding and investment from BT, we will begin to see vastly improved broadband in the Borders over the next few years.”

wooler

At their weekly Prime Stock sale last Wednesday John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 629 hoggs and 368 ewes and rams.

Hoggs numbers tighter, but early week markets left well behind with trade above expectations, good to see heavy types in keen demand, more needed for buyers requirements.

Leading prices per head:- Tex.x:- £85 East Fleetham, £84 Auchencrow Mains (C. McAlpine), £84 (3) East Fleetham, £83.50 Village Farm, Seahouses, £82.50 Edlingham Newtown and Auchencrow Mains, £81.50 Mindrum Farming Co and Village Farm, Seahouses, £81 East Fleetham and Ladykirk. Char.x:- £82 Kettleburn. Oxf:- £82 East Fleetham. Bel.x:- £81.50 (2), £81, £80 (2) Ladykirk. Suff.x:- £80.50 Doune Brae and Auchencrow Mains, £80 Craigshouse, Castlelaw and North Sharperton. Ven:- £78 North Lyham. Jac:- £76.50 North Sharperton.

Leading prices per kilo:- Bel:- 207.7p, 205.1p, 203.8p Ladykirk. Tex.x:- 204.9p East Fleetham, 201.2p, 200p Auchencrow Mains, 200p Newstead, 198.8p, 197.5p Craigshouse, 198.7p Newstead, 196.3p West Longridge. Suff.x:- 196.3p Auchencrow Mains and Craigshouse. Chev:- 187.8p North Lyham. Jac:- 186.6p North Sharperton.

Ewe numbers tighter, with a similar show on offer.

Leading prices:- Tex:- £87 Hartside (A Hutcheon), £70.50 Fowberry Moor. Suff.x:- £78.50 Marigold Farming Co, £78 Gainslaw Hill, £76.50 Hendersyde, £76 Castlelaw. HB:- £77 Brandon. Mule:- £62 West Longridge, £56 Castlelaw, £52 Great Ryle, £51 Hendersyde. Bf:- £35 North Lyham. Rams:- Tex.x:- £88 Gainslaw Hill, £81 Craigshouse and Great Ryle. Chev:- £81 Great Ryle.

longtown

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC had forward 26 prime cattle, three young bulls, 52 over 30 month cattle, 3,099 prime hoggs and 5,961 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.

A similar show of prime cattle saw trade follow national trend with a top price of 224.5p for a Limousin heifer shown by D.J. Garthwaite and Son, Wyseby Hill Cottage.

All Black and White bulls over 16 months sold to recent rates. Top to 160.5p shown by Messrs R. Byers and Son, Woodslee.

A large show of 52 cast cows forward with many hill cows on offer and a shortage of big meat cows. Top price to 163.5p, 155.5p and 150.5p for Limousin cows from W.H. and D.A. Gass, Nunscleugh.

A smaller show of 3,099 prime hoggs (409 lightweights) were forward to the usual ringside of buyers, numbers were short of buyers requirements due to a very sticking trade all week, especially for heavyweight lambs, resulting in a much better trade.

The overall sale average of 184.9p per kilo (SQQ 188.7p per kilo). Top was £109 per head for Texels from W.S. Robson and Co., Yatesfield, with a top per kilo of 274p for Texels from Keith Farm. A similar show of 5,961 cast ewes and rams were forward to a smaller ring of buyers, horned ewes dearer on the week with fewer numbers forward and more demand.

ST BOSWELLS

At their weekly sale of prime stock on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 104 clean cattle, 70 OTM cattle, 2,070 old season lambs and 606 ewes.

Bullocks (40) averaged 217.9p per kg and sold to 248p (-2.4p on week), heifers (62) averaged 219.4p per kg and sold to 258p (-1.1p on week), two young bulls averaged 161.2p per kg and sold to 164p (n/c on week) and 70 beef type OTM cattle averaged 117.9p per kg and sold to 187p (n/c on the week).

Old season SQQ lambs averaged 194.4p(38-42kg) per kg (+13.2p on week) and sold to £92 while ewes averaged £47.42 and sold to £97, £81 for tups. Heavy ewes £63.75, light ewes £43.94.

Principal prices per head: Lurdenlaw £1694, £1483.50; Bee Edge £1537.50, £1535.10, £147.60.

Principal prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.58 Robert Wilson Butchers Edinburgh, 2.50, 2.42 M/s H Black and Sons, 2.49 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons, 2.48 (2) Denholm Meat Supplies and W Taylor(Lockerbie), 2.40 W Taylor (Lockerbie); Wester Ulston 2.45, 2.41 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons; Ramrig 2.43 M/s J Gilmour and Co Ltd; Saltoun Home Farm 2.42 M/s J Gilmour and Co Ltd, 2.39 M/s TA Shaw.

Cows per head: Ramrig £1353, £1105.05; Phantassie £1179.75, £1077.15, £996.30; West Meikle Pinkerton £1110.90; Winfield £1109.85; Grahamslaw £1093.95; Whitrighill £1058.20; Rosebrough £1049.45; Thirlestane £1034.90, £972.40; Caverton Mill £1000.35; Coates £993.84.

Cows per kg: Grahamslaw 1.87; Toxside 1.75; Ramrig 1.65, 1.39; Upper Samieston 1.65, 1.41, 1.37; West Meikle Pinkerton 1.61; Winfield 1.47; Phantassie 1.43; Whitrighill 1.43; Thirlestane 1.43; Rosebrough 1.39;Wester Middleton 1.37; Huntington 1.31; Northhouse 1.31.

Bulls: Meigle £1212 (1.01); Milkieston £7976.50 (1.05); Ruletownhead £969.15 (.91).

Lambs per head: Tex.x;- £92 The Lee, £88.50 Flex, Suff.x;- £85.50 Burnhouse Mains, £85 Huntington, Bel;- £85 Craighouse, Suff;- £83 Sundhope, GF;- £82.50 Hartside, Chev;- £82 Whitehouse, £80 Wester Ulston, Ham;- £81 Dunslaw, Lleyn;- £77.50 Highfield, HB;- £76.50 Marvingston, BF;- £70.50, £70 Williamhope.

Lambs per kg: Bel;- 236.1 Craighouse, 209 Bedrule, Suff.x;- 214.3 Helmburn, 197.5 Dunslaw, Suff;- 212.8 Sundhope, Tex.x;- 212.5 Crailing Nook, 209.7 Dunslaw, 209 Howden, Chev;- 198.8 Traprain, 195 Thornington, Ham;- 188.5 Dunslaw, HB;- 186.6 Marvingston.

Cast ewes: Tex;-£97 Corsbie, Suff;- £89 Meigle, Suff.x;- £73 Middlethird, £71 Hyndsidehill, Chev;- £65 Ruletownhead, £63 Raperlaw, HB;- £63 Marvingston, BFL; -£63 Craighouse, £61 Corsbie(Hedley), Bel;- £61 Ruecastle Cott., Char;- £61 Ruletownhead, GF;- £61 West Mains.L, CM;- £59 Wester Ulston and Hyndsidehill, BF;- £45 Marvingston, £43 Meigle and Toxside.

Rams: Suff;- £81 Hyndsidehill, £75 Meigle, Tex;- £67 Craighouse.

Point-to-point racing in the Borders comes under orders on Sunday when the Jedforest stages the first Scottish fixture of the season.

Course manager Jamie Innes has Kelso’s Friars Haugh course in great order for the popular sporting event, which has attracted 93 entries.

The first of seven races is off at 12.30pm with a five-strong members’ race, kindly sponsored by Storage Express and Border Berries. The potential line-up includes Silk and Roses from Wendy Hamilton’s Hawick stable and Rowan Road, a runner under Rules for Iain Jardine at Bonchester Bridge.

The Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club members race for novice riders is at 1pm and promises to be an interesting contest, despite just four entries. Galashiels handler Katie Scott already has a winner to her credit this term and bids to add to her tally with Raid Stane, while Sammy Spiderman – formerly trained under Rules by Alistair Whillans – could also be worth watching.

Sixteen entries have been received for the Aga ladies’ open race at 1.30pm – a qualifier for the championship final at Stratford in May. Douglas Julian started favourite at Alnwick last weekend and is joined in the possible line-up by last year’s runner-up Cast Iron Casey, who bids to go one better for Val Jackson from Morpeth. Former Irish chaser Page One Two Nine – a winner at Alnwick’s opening fixture – carries the hopes of Melrose owner Jo Luton.

The first three horses past the post in the Bonhams Men’s open at 2pm, will be eligible for the £7,500 final at the Hunter Chase Evening at Cheltenham on April 30. Prolific winner Gunner Jack, trained at Yetholm by Clive Storey, is one of 16 entries, which also includes course victor Glen Lord, owned by Nicola Neill.

There are 15 entries in the Norvite restricted race at 2.30pm, including Sugar Sensation from Alan Brown’s Hawick stable.

The Jockey Club/Brewin Dolphin mares maiden race, at 3pm, has 14 entries. Polobury bids to improve on last year’s performance, having finished runner-up for Kelso owner Emma Dunkley.

The concluding Billy Stenhouse Memorial open maiden race at 3.30pm has the largest entry of 23 including Bucko, Captain John, Flaming Thistle and Port Echo.

Race-goers can view televised live racing while enjoying a sit-down lunch in a heated tent by booking tickets from Kirsty Brown (kirsty@itfitzmarketing.co.uk).

Regular going reports, prospects, and updates, can be found at www.friarshaughraces.co.uk

ST BOSWELLS judoka Abbi Blackie has landed the Scottish Open Championship title in her weight category at just 17 years of age.

Competing at Meadowbank Stadium last Saturday, Abbi won gold in the 52kg class, a great achievement considering she is still a Junior player.

Abbi started Judo as a five-year-old at Sportif Judo Club in the Borders and trains with the club alongside additional training with the national squad. She is a member of the British team which she represented at last year’s Youth Olympics and European Championships.

The Scottish Open Judo Championships for Juniors and Seniors are Scotland’s premier international tournament attended by the best players in the country and abroad.

Sportif Judo players, coached by Peter Gardiner, won one gold, two silvers and four bronzes in total – a fantastic performance for the club.

For further information for judo classes in the Borders, please call 01578 730452.

AS THE curtain fell on another East Cross-Country League at Broxburn on Saturday, Team Borders’ runners came away celebrating three age-group league titles.

The Under-11 Boys, racing over 1.6km and leading by 32 points after the first two rounds, were the first to clinch silverware despite a strong Pitreavie team beating them into second on the day.

Corran Carrick-Anderson (Moorfoot) took third place with clubmate Ethan Elder (10th) and Chirnside’s Archie Fuller (16th), enough to secure overall victory by 60 points from Edinburgh with Pitreavie third.

The Under-13 Girls also led going into the third and final leg, but by a less secure margin of 13 points. Moorfoot club-mates Mairi Wallace and Beth Hobbs had a private battle of their own for fourth and fifth over the 3km course, Mairi getting up in the final few strides to just pip Beth on the line while Gala’s Susannah Godfrey-Faussett wasn’t too far behind in seventh.

The girls notched a seven-point winning margin on the day from Edinburgh and stretched their overall winning margin to 33 points from Central.

Next was the Under-13 Boys ,who only held a vulnerable four-point lead over Corstorphine. Jamie Logan (Gala) came in fourth with Euan Hood (Moorfoot) and Corri Campbell taking seventh and eighth places respectively for a seven-point win on the day for the Borders boys ahead of Fife with Corstorphine back in third, meaning a winning margin of 18 points overall, and the first time the Team Borders name will appear on the trophy. More results on page 73 and photos on page 72.

RISING TLJT middle distance star Adam Craig kept up his great run of form at the Great Edinburgh Winter Run in Holyrood Park.

Running for the East of Scotland team, Craig was second junior man home. The seven best junior men from the District Championships ran alongside the senior men over a punishing 8km course in the capital and only Scottish Internationalist Dale Coley beat the Lauder youngster, who came 28th overall.

Craig went on to run at Paxton in the Borders Cross Country League the following day, where he won both the Senior and Junior races.

SUNDAY’S Feel the Burns Hill Run in Selkirk was another success with some reasonable winter weather making for great running conditions.

A total of 173 entries took part with the muddy course proving no problem, as the winning time showed – an amazing 1.33.59 for Paul Faulkner from Carnethy, also the first Male Vet40 category winner.

First lady was Scout Adkin in 1.43.30 from Moorfoot Runners finishing an impressive 11th overall.

Organisers thanked Selkirk Sainsburys Local; Physio Plus and Borders Podiatry for their support. More than £1,000 will have been raised which all goes to Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue.

Scotland’s economy continues to strengthen, according to new gross domestic product (GDP) figures.

They reveal strong performance in construction, services and manufacturing in the third quarter of 2013.

The estimated figures show the economy growing over six consecutive quarters.

In the period July to September, total output in the economy grew by 0.7 per cent. On an annual basis, GDP grew by 2.1 per cent.

In recognition of the care and ongoing support from the BGH’s Special Care Baby Unit since their son Matthew was born prematurely in 2012, Shona (second from left) and Peter Valentine (far right with Matthew) of St Boswells presented a cheque for £2,026 to the unit. More than £800 was raised by a Santa’s grotto and stalls at the village’s Royal British Legion. An application to Santander’s Community Plus fund brought in £1,200.The couple would like to thank the businesses and individuals who supported the event.

Pictured with the Valentines are SCBU staff Jo Douglas, Shirley Syme and Fiona Bertram.

The Met Office has issued a ‘Be Aware’ weather warning for the region today, Thursday, due to forecasted heavy rain, hail and snow on higher ground.

In addition, a warning has been issued for Sunday, with heavy rain and gales likely to strike much of the country, which may lead to flooding.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES hopefuls Sammi Kinghorn and Jo Pettitt turned out at the Queens Centre in Galashiels on Friday to inspire primary school children from all over the Borders.

Taking part in the launch of Border Sport and Leisure’s 2014 Commonwealth Passport scheme Sammi, from Gordon, and Jo, from Peebles, encouraged the local kids to participate in all kinds of sporting events from now until August and earn themselves Gold, Silver or Bronze medals in the process.

A total of 34 children from nine local cluster schools took part in the launch of the scheme which offers 13 sporting opportunities to primary 4-7’s and seven to primary 1-3’s.

Wheelchair racer Sammi, who has already been selected to compete for Scotland in the 1500 metres at the Glasgow Games, told TheSouthern: “I’m so excited to have been given the opportunity to compete at my home Games.

“I would say to these kids today, don’t ever give up.

“Life is never a flat playing field and is full of ups and downs so you need to try different sports and keep striving to achieve.”

Scottish Commonwealth Games netball long squad member Jo added: “It’s the greatest honour to be representing your country.

“My advice to these children today would be work hard, enjoy it and go for your goals.”

Selection for the final 12-member netball squad will be made in May.

In the run up to the Olympic Games a similar scheme proved highly popular with both the children and local clubs, many of whom benefitted from new members, and Active Schools manager Graeme Murdoch hopes that even more primary school pupils will get on board for the Glasgow event.

“We had over 1,000 kids, from primary 4-7, taking part in the Olympic Passport scheme and we hope to be upwards of 2,000 this time around,” he told us.

The initiative is designed to encourage children to enter into the Commonwealth Games spirit and take part in sporting activities outside of school hours.

All primary school aged children in the Scottish Borders will receive a passport and be encouraged to participate in a range of sporting sessions held on the run up to the 2014 Glasgow Games.

A varied schedule of activities featuring a variety of Commonwealth sports will be available across the Borders from now until the Games’ closing ceremony on August 3. Children will be awarded points on their passport for each session they take part in.

Depending on the number of points a child accrues they could receive a Bronze, Silver or Gold medal to mark their efforts.

There will be two versions of the passport scheme available, one for all P1-P3 children and another one for all P4 – P7 children.

Local clubs can still get involved by contacting Graeme at graeme.murdoch@bslt.org.uk

Name: Morven Cawthorn

Age: 15

Home Town: Ashkirk

Sport: Hockey

Position/Discipline: Right Defence/Right Midfield

Club/Team(s): Fjordhus Reivers/Scotland U16 Girls

Coach(es): Katie Dun, Janet Jack, Bill Robson

Your own best moment in sport so far?: Winning 7-1 against Wales at the 2013 Sainsbury’s school games in Sheffield and being awarded with a silver medal as a result.

Aims for the next 12 months?: To be selected for all the international matches that will be coming up this season and to play well if I do.

Who in your sport has inspired you most and why?: Sarah Robertson and Emily Newlands both inspire me as they are from the same school as me and have both worked hard to make their way up through the different age groups of Scottish Hockey, so I hope to do this too.

Fav TV sporting moment of all time: Super Saturday at the London 2012 Olympics when Jess Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all won gold in the space of 46 minutes.

Best thing about your sport?: Having a laugh with the new friends I have made and winning international matches are the best things.

Fav piece of kit/equipment?: My hockey shoes are probably my favourite at the moment as they are really comfy and are providing inspiration for the design of my own pair in Art and Design at school.

If you had the chance to change one thing in your sport, what?: Have training closer to home because the early starts are really annoying!

Venue at which you most aspire to compete: I have been lucky enough to have already played on the 2014 Commonwealth Games pitch and the famous smurf turf of the 2012 Olympic pitch. So I’ll say Keith Hunt Park, Labrador, the venue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast.

If not in this sport, would like to compete in: I like a lot of different sports but I would probably choose football or athletics as I used to be involved in both of these a lot before hockey took over.

Current most played song or track on your i-pod or MP3: Can’t hold us by Macklemore gets me fired up but I also like a lot of John Mayer, The Kings of Leon and Taylor Swift’s stuff.

……but can’t stand: Any heavy metal.

Competition superstition or “must do” personal routine: I don’t think I am too superstitious, the only things I really do are tighten my hairband and jump up and down a couple of times before starting a match.

When not competing or training I like to: Relax and watch a film with family or going out with friends. I also like to play guitar when I can.

The Borders Athlete Support Programme (ASP) is funded through Borders Sports and Leisure Trust and provides support services to promising athletes from the Borders who are recommended by their National Governing Body. For more information see www.sportborders.org.uk/asp

An appeal has been lodged with the Scottish Government by Minto man Jim Shanks, who is seeking to build a nine-turbine wind farm near Stow.

Mr Shanks first submitted a plan for the community-owned Shaw Park scheme to the council in August 2011, but it was rejected two years later.

The reasons for rejection were: interference with the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array; unacceptable impact on landscape character, particularly Stow and Lauder Common, and unacceptable impact on a range of ‘receptors’.

The appeal statement, submitted by Green Cat Renewables on Mr Shanks’ behalf, says: “The landscape and visual impacts of this development are low overall and this scheme should be viewed much more favourably than any alternative.

“Cumulative impacts are contained by Shaw Park being adjacent to an existing wind farm, largely avoiding wider impacts on Lauder Common or the A7/A68 corridor.”

It adds: “Views would be minimal from the sensitive historic core of Stow, including the conservation area and parish church.

“The Shaw Park turbines would also relate to existing wind energy development in the area – in particular Longpark wind farm, appearing as an extension to this array with no design compatibility issues.”

The appeal document concludes: “The Shaw Park proposal has significantly greater positive benefits than most similar developments as it is planned as a 100 per cent community-owned co-operative.”

Mr Shanks has previously stated that the local community could benefit to the tune of more than£25million over 25 years.

The 19-turbine Longpark wind farm was also initially rejected by the council but approved following an appeal.

April 3 has been set as the target date for the Shaw Park appeal to be decided.

Bird-lovers across the Borders are being asked by a national charity to log the feathered friends who visit their garden at the weekend.

RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch asks participants to note bird visitors for an hour sometime during Saturday and Sunday, January 25 and 26.

RSPB Scotland’s Louise Smith said: “Every single person who takes part in the Big Garden Birdwatch is helping us learn about what is happening with our much-loved feathered friends.

“These are birds that really count on us.

“The situation has been dire for birds like starlings and sparrows over the last 30 years, but by knowing the exact situation, we can help to put things right.”

The Big Garden Birdwatch, launched in 1979, is the largest garden wildlife survey in the world: more than 2,050 people in the Borders took part last year and over 47,000 Scots joined in.

The most common garden visitor in the Borders was the chaffinch, with an average of seven spotted at any one time.

Results have been used to alert conservationists to species decline.

For the first time this year, RSPB also wants to know whether people ever see deer, squirrels, badgers, hedgehogs, frogs and toads in their gardens, to see how important gardens are for giving all types of wildlife a home. The information will be shared with conservation partners.

Visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch for more information.

After my “stushie” last week about seeing what I thought was a glaucous gull on my local stretch of the Ettrick, I finally received confirmation from the experts that it was indeed that rare arctic visitor, after seeing my photographs.

How can I top that? Maybe I can’t, but reader P.Y. has already gone one better. While walking her dogs along the banks of the Tweed last week, she was excited to spot a pure white egret on the opposite bank, being stalked by a heron.

It didn’t stop there.

Just as she attempted to take some pictures (without the benefit of a telephoto lens), an otter popped out from an upturned boat and moved into the frame.

So not only did she capture the heron (good) and the egret (brilliant) but also the otter (once in a lifetime).

I have reproduced her picture here for your collective amazement.

Don’t forget, if you see anything of interest and manage to get a decent picture, drop me an e-mail to corbie@homecall.co.uk

The fine open weather has restricted the birds in my garden to basic numbers, but last week I did notice a couple of handsome male bramblings amongst the chaffinches.

There seems to be a few around this year, so it is worth checking chaffinch flocks for these more brightly coloured Scandinavian visitors, whose white rump is a giveaway when they fly off.

On the subject of garden birds, I hope you have all registered for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which takes place during this coming weekend (January 25 and 26).

I have just done so and will be sitting with binoculars at hand and a supply of coffee and Hobnobs, ready for all-comers.

Sunday was my first wildfowl count of the year and the lack of ice at the three lochs which I survey, facilitated quite a high count.

At one loch, I was particularly pleased to account for an unusually high number of whooper swans (23).

It was flat and calm, and the birds’ eerie honking was echoing off the surrounding hills, making a strange cacophony of sound, mixed in with the whistling of more than 40 wigeon.

CONSERVATION charity, the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), which manages six reserves in the Borders, celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

The charity started its anniversary celebrations last week when Sandy the Squirrel shared a hazelnut-shaped cake the size of a beachball with People’s Postcode Lottery staff in Edinburgh.

The trust’s chief executive Simon Milne said: “This is a fun and tasty way to get started, and importantly, it highlights how thankful the SWT is for the ongoing support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.”

The membership-based charity was founded by a group led by Sir Charles Connell in April 1964. In 1967 the Tweed Valley branch became the first local members group. By 1990 the trust had 84 reserves, 50 full-time staff, 150 trainees and 8,800 members and the Prince of Wales became its patron. By 2002 it had more than 120 reserves. Last year, membership passed 35,000.

The charity’s objective is to advance the conservation of Scotland’s biodiversity for the benefit of present and future generations.

SWT aims to protect all of Scotland’s wildlife and is spearheading efforts to protect the native red squirrel alongside other organisations such as Red Squirrels in South Scotland. SWT has reserves at Whitlaw, near Hawick, Hare and Dunhog Mosses, near Selkirk, Bemersyde Moss, Melrose, Yetholm and Hoselaw Lochs and Din Moss, near Yetholm, Gordon Moss and at Duns Castle.