You may have noticed that some businesses seem to like the idea of bypassing the need for a website altogether, using Facebook instead.

You type their website address into your browser and you are taken straight to their Facebook page. Brilliant! You don’t need to worry about having to keep a website up to date, there is no web hosting fee to factor in, and everyone loves Facebook….don’t they?

That is where we find the first flaw in this masterplan.

Not everyone is a fan of social media, and many people – including some of your potential customers – avoid it as much as they can.

If they were to land on your Facebook page when trying to access what they think is your website, it could be enough to put them off you altogether.

You also actually have very little control over how your content is displayed, and to the chagrin of many Facebook users, they are forever tinkering with layouts, etc.

The only way to have overall control over how your messages are displayed is by having your own website.

Now, I am a fervent exponent of using Facebook, but not to the extent where you rely on it entirely for your online presence. Even worse is if you’re using it as your sole marketing channel. Putting all your eggs in one basket is never a great idea.

If you are solely relying on your website then you’re also missing a trick. Think of it as a marketing toolbox with a whole variety of marketing tools inside it.

As with any DIY job, you need a selection of tools to be able to do the job properly and you should carefully pick the marketing tools that will produce the best results.

Having a website is still a must, even if it is simply a one-page ‘business card’ with contact details and links to social media, etc.

There aren’t many businesses that do not benefit from running email marketing campaigns, so throwing this into the mix is more often than not a must-have.

And what about social media? I know that I’ve said not to rely solely on the likes (if you’ll pardon the pun) of Facebook, but that’s not to say that they won’t play a big role in your online marketing efforts.

Businesses of all sizes have seen huge returns on using social media…if it’s done right.

Using all these various tools from your box, being able to measure how successful each of them is vital. Fortunately, it is increasingly easy to do this, with stats available across a vast array of channels.

How many sales did that last email campaign generate and what was the total value? What’s the best performing set of Facebook ads you’re running at the moment? What search phrases are being used by your website visitors who make the biggest purchases?

Keeping all this manageable can be the biggest challenge, but get it right and it will pay dividends in the long run.

Andrew McEwan of The Web Workshop in Morebattle (www.thewebworkshop.net) helps businesses in the Scottish Borders and beyond with their online presence and digital marketing.

Borders farmers and other producers will be among those putting the finishing touches to livestock and other exhibits for the Highland Show later this month.

Livestock numbers are up for the 174th show, with almost 7,000 animals expected, and there are increased entries across the dairy cattle, sheep, dairy goats and horse sections.

Berwick’s Brian Redhead and Jonathan Watson of Bowsden Moor are taking Charolais cattle to the Highland for the first time.

Jonathan explained: “This is the first crop of calves that are entirely our own breeding and it’s to start advertising them.

“Selling pedigree cattle is the main part of our business and the show is a good shop window.

“We established the Charolais herd two years ago: I thought there was an opening and the breed was an obvious choice because Charolais bulls are becoming more popular again.”

The successful uncle and nephew team hope to take eight cattle – Limousin, British Blues as well as Charolais – to Ingliston, including the Limousin Tweeddale Hawkeye, last year’s Great Yorkshire’s reserve junior champion – and another Limousin, the now 19-month-old senior female champion of the Stars of the Future calf show at Stirling in November.

Among the sheep exhibitors, Roderick ‘Rocket’ Runciman of Allanshaws, Galashiels, who took the North Country Cheviot breed title for the third time on the trot last year, is taking up “seven or eight” he said. Up the valleys, last year’s breed championship winners Jimmy and George Irving, Mountbenger are putting forward four South Country Cheviots, while Steven Renwick of Craigdouglas is taking Texels.

Up the Kale Valley, Will Thomson of Hownam Grange will attend with North Country Cheviots and, close to Kelso, last year’s breed championship winners, Patrick and Denise Playfair return with Shetlands. And other ‘regulars’ from the region are expected.

The Highland Hall will be temporary home to almost 1,000 beef and dairy cattle and some 1,900 sheep are expected to fill five marquees.

Sheep entry numbers are up by 100 to reach an eight-year high, with notably Beltex on 231 entries, up by 21 and Hebridean with 77 entries up by 38.

Horse entries have again increased on last year in both the heavy and light horse sections, up by 102 entries to 1,713, with the Mounted and Moorland Ridden classes dominating with 212 entries and Coloured Horse entries up by 33 to 178.

Limousins will dominate the cattle hall with 123 entries, up by 21 on 2013. Scottish breed entries have also seen a rise, with both Belted Galloway and Highland entries up to 28 and 95 respectively.

Organisers, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland’s chief executive Stephen Hutt: “The numbers speak for themselves and reflect the widely held view that the Highland is the place to exhibit, and hopefully, win. And winning is no mean feat, with the very best calibre of livestock on show.”

Judging at the four-day event starts at 8am on the first day, Thursday June 19.

Northumberland College’s land-based Kirkley Hall Campus is to be one of the main sponsors of this year’s Glendale Show.

The Glendale Show, held on the outskirts of Wooler is the premier show in North Northumberland, and attracts 15,000 visitors annually. It is one of the largest livestock shows in the county with sheep, cattle and goat classes. The industrial and horticultural section of the show is always a highlight along with the many equine classes.

The college, who are the leading provider of land-based and animal training in the region, will have a stand near the main arena with reptiles from its zoo. College staff will be available on the main trailer to give information and advice on courses and bursaries including the new 24+ Advanced Learning Loan.

Northumberland College’s Marcus Clinton, pictured above, said: “As the leading provider of land-based training in the county we are proud to be one of the leading sponsors of The Glendale Show this year.

“We like to support activities and events that also support the rural community, and as such believe the shows provide both a very important and relevant opportunity to promote our offer in terms of training and education. The Glendale Show is a truly rural showcase, we have attended in the past as exhibitors and really felt this year that we wanted to up the ante in terms of our support.”

A £3m investment at the Kirkley Hall Campus is expected to be completed by December 2014.

The 2014 Glendale Show takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25.

Great weather and some great crowds saw this year’s Tweedbank Fair turn out to be one of the best, according to the event’s chairman.

Rob Goudie was speaking after the 2014 programme of events came to an end, and had nothing but praise for the young principals involved.

“I have to say this year’s Tweedbank Lad and Lass, Josh Wright and Katie Wilson, together with their attendants, did an absolutely fantastic job,” Mr Goudie told The Southern.

“All in all, we had a great week with a lot of hard work put in by a reduced number of committee. Every single member worked really hard to ensure this year’s event was as good as ever.”

Although the elements last Wednesday were not too kind, the fancy dress event avoided the rain by moving inside to the school.

However, the warm, sunny weather at the weekend saw a large crowd turn out for the flower parade and the Chris Doyle memorial football tournament, and the rest of the fair events.

Mr Goudie added: “ We are very grateful to our sponsors, S & S Joiners and Simpsons Malt, as well as those other local businesses which contributed.”

The Tour o’ the Borders sportive is set to be the region’s first – and only Scotland’s second – closed road cycling event this summer.

Organisers say the council has agreed in principle to close roads for the ride which passes through Peebles, Cardrona, Selkirk, Clovenfords and Roberton on Sunday, August 10.

It means the 3,000 or so amateur cyclists expected to take part will be able to enjoy the route traffic free for the first time.

Cyclists are expected to take between three and a half to eight hours to complete the 55- and 76-mile circuits.

The event – calculated to be worth around £500,000 to the Borders – is backed by the council and EventScotland, and has grown from 286 riders in 2012 to the predicted 3,000 this year.

Tour director Neil Dalgleish said: “There will be some disruption caused by the road closures, but we hope people see the economic benefits outweigh that.

“The economic impact of the event stands at around half a million pounds – a huge sum for a one-day event.”

Scotland’s only other closed-road sportive, the Etape Caledonia in Perth and Kinross, is currently worth £1million to that area.

Tour o’ the Borders new supporters this year include sponsors Scottish cycle clothing brand Endura and charity partner MacMillan Cancer Support.

For more information about the event and closed roads, visit http://tourotheborders.com/

Wildlife researchers are asking bird watchers to send in sightings of raptors as they update records.

The local Wildlife Information Centre (TWIC) last week launched their latest public survey focusing on buzzards, kestrels and red kites across the Borders and Lothians.

TWIC’s records ecologist, Natalie Harmsworth, said: “The Wildlife Information Centre holds a comprehensive database of species and habitats found in the Lothians and Scottish Borders.

“However, we feel that a survey of buzzards, kestrel and red kites is needed to gather information on the distribution of these birds, and to raise awareness of their importance.

“We hope to develop a clear picture of the status of the birds of prey in this region (and)... develop a baseline to monitor what is happening to our raptor populations in the future.”

To take part, fill in and return a survey postcard or go to the ‘Record a Raptor’ page of TWIC’s website at www.wildlifeinformation.co.uk/raptor_sightings.php to submit details of the sighting, including the date the bird was seen, where it was, how many there were, and whether it was dead or alive.

The biological records centre is based at Gorebridge and the charity aims to provide “an objective, independent wildlife information service for people and organisations from all sectors”, supplying data to the likes of councils for screening planning applications, consultants preparing environmental assessments and conservation bodies writing management plans.

I woke up last Saturday at the ungodly hour of 4am and couldn’t get back to sleep again.

Lying there, mind racing, I suddenly remembered that I still had the last leg of my dawn breeding bird survey to do, so I dragged myself into an upright position and got dressed.

It was too early even for Treacle the dog who simply lifted her head as I made for the door, then went back to sleep.

As I left the house, the sun hadn’t come up yet, but the sky was clear and I could see dozens of bats flying around the rooftops.

I don’t think they were catching insects, but seemed to be chasing one another.

By the time I reached the starting point for my annual survey, in Philiphaugh Estate, the sun was just poking its head above the distant Eildons.

Bird song at this time of year at dawn is quite prolific and it is quite a challenge to try and separate out the different species, but it does get easier with practice.

It really is a magical time of day and as I climbed higher, the views to the east over Selkirk became more spectacular as the sun’s early rays bounced off the thin layers of mist and haze in the valley below.

The low angle of the sun makes it a great time of day for photography and my camera was kept busy as well as my pencil on the survey sheet.

I had just completed the last section and was about to put the form away when I heard a bird song I hadn’t heard in this area before.

It was a rattling sort of warble, ending with a flourish of musical notes coming from the top of a huge oak tree.

I made my way to its base and looked up hoping to catch a glimpse of the bird just to be sure.

Half-an-hour later, I still hadn’t seen it in the tangle of leafy branches and my neck was breaking, not to mention my back.

I was just about to leave when it suddenly broke cover, flew to an adjacent Scots pine and gave a quick burst of its song.

It only remained for a few seconds, but just long enough for me to get a good view of a handsome male redstart in his best breeding plumage.

A nice ending to my breeding bird survey for the year and a just reward for my early start.

Remember, you can email me with your nature news and pictures – corbie@homecall.co.uk

Members of the council’s planning committee expressed disbelief that a fellow councillor erected a canopy over a balcony at his Stow home without planning permission.

A retrospective planning application for the structure, which committee member Councillor Donald Moffat said looked “alien in the neighbourhood”, was submitted by Councillor Sandy Aitchison.

On Monday, council colleagues approved the application, but not without criticism of Councillor Aitchison.

Councillor Stuart Bell said he was “astonished” to see a retrospective application being made by a councillor.

Councillor Michelle Ballantyne added: “Some hand-slapping is in order in terms of not getting things in the right order.”

Planning committee chairman, Councillor Ron Smith, said: “We hear that there was an assurance that a planning application was never needed for it, but we need to emphasise that it is incumbent on any applicant to double check that with the planning department.”

Mr Smith added: “I’m sure the situation that Councillor Aitchison finds himself in is an embarrassment.”

In documents with the application, Mr Aitchison said: “There is a lesson there that nobody should accept what sales people say.”

My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who were so tragically killed at the weekend as they watched the Jim Clark rally.

Likewise, I hope those who have been injured will have a speedy and complete recovery.

The emergency services and countless others worked tirelessly on Saturday following the accidents, and it is important that we all acknowledge and pay huge tribute to their efforts.

There is still a palpable sense of shock everywhere in the Borders this morning, as there has been throughout the weekend. We also understand locally that the tragic loss of life is felt across the country and amongst all who follow motorsport.

Like many in the Borders, I have followed the rally myself on many occasions and find it hard to take in what has happened this year. Many questions are now being asked and we must ensure that Police Scotland, the sport’s governing body, the rally organisers and other agencies, such as the council, all have the time and resources required to ensure they are answered.

I welcome the announcement of a review into motorsport safety in Scotland and will do all that I can to aid Police Scotland, the Motor Sports Association, Scottish Borders Council and other key stakeholders, in their investigations.

Digital Forum

In a rapidly-changing world, the speed at which we communicate with one another is of increasing importance to our quality of lives.

Alongside Scottish Borders Council, I recently hosted the Borders Digital Forum in Hawick to discuss various issues, including broadband and mobile phone coverage. The event brought together senior figures from BT, the Scottish Government’s Digital Scotland Initiative, mobile phone companies and mast operators.

When the local community works closely with partners, we deliver results.

Just a few weeks ago, I was delighted to welcome the news that Earlston, Lauder and St Boswells have been announced as the next areas to be connected to high-speed fibre broadband, thanks to the further roll-out of the £410million Digital Scotland partnership.

The scale of the challenge of delivering fibre broadband into rural areas like ours outstrips any other part of the UK and will generate significant economic benefits, including new jobs and increased productivity.

The forum was a great opportunity to update a series of local elected representatives, as well as a cross-section of local business leaders and constituents, about the progress being made in delivering increased connectivity to the region.

This week, The Southern’s columnist in Afghanistan, Union Jack, tells of his long-awaited final journey home to the Borders and family.

“Despite a strong desire by all returning UK forces to travel home as fast as possible, everyone undergoes decompression in the Mediterranean.

Decompression is designed as a half-way house between the dangers of an operational tour and returning to domestic life.

On arrival, we changed into civilian clothes and handed our uniforms in to be laundered.

After lectures and briefings, including from the psychiatric nurse and padre, we were able to buy up to four beer or wine tokens.

The only alcohol available in theatre [Afghanistan] is communion wine on a Sunday, so this limit is designed to encourage sensible consumption.

Dinner was a barbecue, followed by a show with comedians and a music duo.

The following morning, we were off to the beach where we were offered a variety of activities – once we had passed a swimming test. I chose to paddle a sea kayak and afterwards, suitably darkened by the sun, we returned to camp after lunch.

The next morning it was back in uniform and off to the airport. After several hours’ flying and a few more waiting, I arrived back to the embrace of my wife. Given the long journey home, we decided to break the journey north and so it wasn’t until six days after leaving Kabul that my kids could finally show me their banner: ‘Welcome home Daddy! We love you!’

Tweedbank Primary School pupils took part in an archaeological workshop delivered by Archaeology Scotland.

It comprised of a series of activities that replicated the process of an archaeological excavation, looking at how an archaeologist excavates, records the site, analyses and identifies what they find.

All children were involved and had a fun day working as archaeologists.

The Inner Wheel Club of Galashiels celebrated its 44th birthday with a dinner at the town’s Kingsknowes Hotel.

Club president Rosemary McCosh welcomed visitors from Inner Wheel clubs in District 2, chairman of District 2 Vi Romanis and the president of Rotary in GaIashiels and district, Isobel Johnston.

Photographs of club events over the past year were also displayed.

The next meeting is the AGM on June 17. A cheque presentation will be made to Borderer Samantha Kinghorn, who is taking part in the 2014 Commonwealth Games as a wheelchair racer.

Electricity from a controversial wind farm in the Borders has been bought by BT and is enough to power the communication giant’s entire operations in Scotland, writes Bob Burgess.

Campaigners against the construction of the 48-turbine farm at Fallago Rig in the Lammermuirs near Oxton lost a six-year battle to stop the development.

They conceded defeat when Lord McEwan rejected their call for a judicial review into approval granted to North British Windpower.

The company later sold its share in Fallago Rig to EDF for an undisclosed sum. And this week BT confirmed it was buying half of the energy produced by the farm in a deal worth around £300million over the next 20 years.

Brendan Dick, BT’s Scotland director, commented: “It is fantastic that all our Scottish infrastructure and estate will be matched with energy from renewable sources in Scotland in a deal which gives us long-term price certainty.

“Our deal reinforces our commitment to make a positive contribution to society and the environment. It’s also a huge vote of confidence in Scottish renewable energy.”

Scotland’s energy minister, Fergus Ewing, has welcomed the deal.

He said: “It is great news for Scotland and the environment that a company the size of BT is taking a local and sustainable approach to sourcing its electricity in Scotland from renewable and low-carbon sources. It also secures generation at the site for the long-term future.”

Fallago Rig is the fifth largest onshore wind farm in the UK and is majority-owned by Hermes GPE Infrastructure. EDF has a minority holding and will continue to manage the Lammermuir site.

Things to do when you are told you are going to die: No. 1: Write (and hopefully publish) a trilogy…

Peter Maley has been writing since he was five years old. He used to write on old newspapers as a child when he couldn’t get hold of proper paper; such was his desire to tell stories.

Peter has incurable cancer, knowledge that he and his family have been living with for many years. And now he wants to tell two very different stories; one is the story of Tom Wolfe, a historical fantasy-come-detective story; and the other story is a deeply personal one about his experience of cancer.

Ten years ago Peter was being treated for cancer of the thyroid. It was during time spent in isolation on the ward whilst receiving iodine treatment that the idea for the story of Tom Wolfe came to him.

Four years later, when he was told that there was no cure, he embarked on a creative surge of writing that continues to this day. He said: “Cancer is not the end. It can do the opposite. It can motivate”.

These are the words that Peter said to himself when he was told that he could not beat his cancer.

“I set myself a goal,” says Peter, “a seemingly impossible goal that I would complete a trilogy.”

The first book, The Lost Gods, is already available to buy online, while the second book is currently being typed up by one of Peter’s friends from his handwritten notes.

Three months ago Peter became very ill. He was so ill that he cannot remember the ambulance arriving.

He was taken to The Margaret Kerr Unit, in need of their specialist care, and in his own words, he “got fixed again by the inspirational team of nurses and doctors”.

From being so very poorly, he simply could not believe that he was well enough to be discharged. And being given the freedom to go home was the motivation Peter needed to finish the final book in the trilogy.

Despite no longer being able to read, barely being able to see and only just being able to write, Peter has been getting up early every morning and writing. He has been so driven that his wife and children have asked him on more than one occasion to slow down!

His cancer means he can become muddled and forgetful, however, an irony is that the cancer has also made him far more reliant on his memory when it comes to story telling. The final chapter of the third book in the trilogy was completed two weeks ago.

Peter describes the community nurses, carers and the team at the Margaret Kerr Unit as extraordinary, professional and caring.

He added: “They helped turn me round and want to keep living. They supported me at a time when I felt that I was facing a death sentence.

“Life is about making choices that have consequence. I would like to inspire other people who are in the same position as me to find something to go after because it makes a difference. I have no idea how long I have got, but what I wish for now is to spend time with my family, perhaps embark on a new book, for which I have a great idea, and see my trilogy published.”

Peter and his family have taken the time to make all the necessary legal arrangements for his death, such as writing a will and assigning power of attorney; and they know how and where he would like to die. This means that the family can now enjoy the time they have left together.

You can meet Peter, buy his book and hear his inspirational story at the Borders Book Festival. He will be in the Margaret Kerr Unit tent on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15.

z If you can offer help with the publishing of Peter’s books, please contact NHS Borders Communications department on 01896 828287 or 828261. Or email: communications@borders.scot.nhs.uk

The Gytes in Peebles welcomed Attic Avenger Lesley Mitchell, along with an array of ladies in lavender tutus.

As part of the Sport Relief 5x50 challenge, fitness instructor Lesley was fundraising for Borders charity The Lavender Touch, which provides holistic treatments for cancer patients. To make the evening fun, and to have a lilac theme to it, Donna Renwick, fellow 5x50 challenger, came up with the idea to have a lavender theme. She took orders for lavender tutus, contacted local seamstress Isla Barber, who set about not only making them for the group, but donating £1 for each one she made to The Lavender Touch.

The event raised more than £150.

My first, and to be fair last, sheepdog cost £10 as a pup and after a few weeks that will never come again of trying to train it I was happy to pass it on to a new owner for nothing.

It wasn’t the pup’s fault , I simply failed as a trainer. I am only grateful that I had the sense to follow American grouch WC Fields’s maxim of “If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Then quit. No point being a damn fool about it.” It was worth £10 to learn that lesson. The episode also gave me lasting admiration for those who can train sheepdogs and get them to respond to shouts of “Come bye’, “Get away out” and “Lie down.” Especially lie down.

Because of that admiration I don’t find it surprising that top quality trained dogs make remarkably high prices. At a recent sheepdog sale in Wales, the top two sold for 5200 and 5100 guineas respectively (£5460 and £5355 although why they’re still sold in guineas is anyone’s guess.) At another sale at Skipton the top price was 3200 guineas (£3360.) No doubt the breeding and ancestry of such top dogs will be packed with lore and mystique and many of the top prices will be paid with an eye to future sales of pups. But that commercial sheep farmers are prepared to pay several thousand pounds for a working dog indicates how important they remain to good sheep management in these days of bigger and bigger flocks, fewer and fewer shepherds and quad bikes.

No surprise either that a sheepdog trial was one of many features at the National Sheep Association Scottish Region’s Scotsheep at John and Iain Macfarlane’s Quixwood farm.

As auctioneer David Leggat, chairman of the organising committee, notes in an introduction to the event’s programme: “NSA Scotsheep couldn’t have come along at a better time to help sheep farmers catch up with all the latest political, practical, technical and market developments, and plan ahead for a profitable future under what will be a very different (EU) support system than we have seen in the past.”

Practical aids to sheep farming and the chance to see a top quality sheep farm and flock at close quarters will be the main attractions. But seminars on how common agricultural policy (CAP) subsidy changes might affect sheep farmers from next year and options for increasing lamb consumption could be standing room only. Not least because the Scottish Region of the NSA disagree with NFU Scotland about how the CAP changes that are at the limited discretion of the Scottish government might be applied.

More than 11 million shoppers never buy lamb at all while more than four million never buy beef. But nearly all shoppers at some time buy chicken, including an increasing amount of frozen chicken. There is no use being good at producing top quality crops or livestock if no one wants to buy them.

Peeblesshire craftsman Mark Norris has unveiled the latest creation to evolve from a much-loved elm tree felled 11 years ago at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE).

The Stobo expert has created an aeolian harp, played by the wind, which recently went on display in the gardens, in the pavilion he also created.

He told us: “I had to build the (pavilion’s) roof structure and its brass cupola separately, so I had never seen the completed work myself until it was installed. I was a little nervous my nine months of work would look small and insignificant when placed out of doors, but I am very pleased with the final effect.”

The commission is the largest Mark has undertaken and he says it may be the only aeolian harp he creates.

“Any harp begins to sound on its own in a strong wind and this Aeolian harp is simply made with thinner, lower tensioned strings which respond more easily to the wind.”

The commission came about after Edinburgh poet and friend, Valerie Gillies heard about the RGBE’s Wych Elm Project to create furniture and other work from the 200-year-old felled native and suggested the idea.

The pavilion stands at over five metres tall including its elm wood finial, turned by Bruce Frost of Woodworks, Peebles.

Mark said: “It is substantially built, from 2,500kgs of elm timber, brass and glass, so I hope it will survive the Scottish elements for a good few years and will be enjoyed by visitors to the gardens for many decades to come.

“The delighted reaction from visitors to the gardens, both during and after the three-day installation has been lovely.”

The 55-year-old creator grew up next door to the daughter-in-law of musical instrument creator Arnold Dolmetsch in Peebles and trained at Dolmetsch’s respected workshops, specialising in harpsichords, spinets and clavichords in Surrey.

Mark met and, in 1979, married renowned harpist and composer Savourna Stevenson “which is why I started designing and making harps”.

He returned to Peebles in 1981 to set up his own workshop making harps and has worked out of The Old School, Stobo for the last 20 years .

Asked if he had made harps for anyone famous or sent them anywhere unusual, Mark said: “I am happy to be married to one of the most famous harp players, Savourna Stevenson; I made a harp to be played at Madonna’s wedding and recent harp customer Anna McLuckie performed on the TV show ‘The Voice’ and has clocked up 7,000,000 views on YouTube with her Norris harp.

“I have made harps for many professional performers around Europe, Scandinavia, the USA, Canada, Japan and my most unusual international harp delivery to date was to Outer Mongolia!”

Asked why he enjoys his work, he said: “It is enormously satisfying to design and make musical instruments because, in addition to creating a beautiful object, you are also creating something which goes on to inspire further creativity from musicians and will give pleasure to audiences through concerts, broadcasts and recordings.

“I have many beautiful CDs which have been recorded on Norris harps.”

Saturday, June 7: Eildon Ramblers circular – Melrose/Rhymers Glen/Cauldshiels/Faldonside/Abbotsford. Starts at 10am, 6.6 miles, Grade C+. Bring coffee/packed lunch. Contact walk leader on 01896 820300 or eildon.ramblers@gmail.com to register intent to walk and collect the start location.

Saturday, June 7: Coldstream Ramblers – Selkirk, Lindean Church,Faldonside, Lindean Reservoir, Kittythistle Plantation. Meet at Halliwell’s House Museum, Selkirk, NT470284 at 10 am. Contact leaders John and Heather Smith on 01896 848810 to register intent to walk.

Reaction has been mixed to the final report of the Scottish Government’s independent Land Reform Review Group, published last week.

The group was set up in 2012 to suggest ways more people and communities could have a stake in owning and managing land and ideas to promote new relationships between the land, people, economy and environment.

Berwickshire-based environment minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “I am pleased to read the recommendations on improving the availability of land, both rural and urban, and the need to increase access to rural housing. These are issues that will have a direct impact on many people’s lives. The group has also highlighted the need to address transparency of land ownership in Scotland which I believe is crucial to taking forward this agenda.

“I also welcome that the benefits of community ownership have been highlighted.”

And he said he would set up a working group to progress its target of getting 1,000,000 acres into community ownership by 2020.

But Peeblesshire gamekeeper Alex Hogg, who chairs the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, fears job losses and said: “This is a state-centred programme of recommendations which, if implemented, would greatly discourage private investment... (and) will place a major burden on Scottish tax payers.

“We hope ministers consider these major proposals carefully and take into consideration the massive contribution Scotland’s rural workforce makes to the country’s economy and natural heritage.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA) is concerned about the group’s recommendation that there be a limit on the area of land that can be held by private owners and it fears other comments could lead to farming, forestry and other land-based businesses no longer being exempt from non-domestic rates.

SCA director Jamie Stewart said: “Although we wholeheartedly support greater community involvement in land ownership/management, we fear the proposed changes will seriously damage private investment in Scotland which will put the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of people in the most marginal rural communities at risk.”

The 260-page report contains 62 recommendations.

This week the Borders has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. What should have been three days of fast and furious sporting fun for those who enjoy rallying turned instead into death, injury, grief and untold misery.

Three people dead and two more seriously injured in accidents during the Jim Clark Rally – ironically, perhaps – run in memory of a man, a Borders farmer, who lost his life competing in the sport he loved.

Foremost, of course, the tragedy has brought tears and mourning to the families and friends of those who died, and ongoing anguish to the loved ones of those who are fighting, perhaps for their lives.

The tragedy of Saturday will also have affected many others – those who witnessed it; the shocked and stunned who somehow managed to muster enough true grit to offer what assistance they could; the professionals from the emergency services; the volunteer stewards who give of their time in order that others can enjoy; and the organisers, again volunteers, who donate so much of their time and expertise to stage this major event.

And, of course, it will have affected the participants – the crews, and in particular the two in the car involved in the fatal incident. It will be a long time – if ever – before some of those directly involved can erode their memories of what happened last weekend.

It is only right and legally binding that proper enquiries into what happened are under way.

That two accidents of this nature should happen within a couple of hours of each other must be worrying. There are questions which must, and I’m sure, will be asked.

The Scottish Government has shown it is taking the tragedy seriously by the fact that the country’s senior law officer, Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland (pictured), and Holyrood Justice Secretary Kenny 
MacAskill have become directly involved. It will be Mulholland’s decision whether there is any prosecutions and if a fatal accident inquiry should be held. On the latter, there must be no doubt. It must be held, but will only be done once – if – any prosecutions are brought.

Had these deaths happened just a few miles away, across the border in England, there would have been automatic coroner’s inquiries – public court hearings looking into all aspects of the fatalities.

In Scotland, we don’t have such a system. We rely on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to decide if a fatal accident inquiry, in public before a sheriff, should be held. In the case of the Jim Clark Rally tragedies, there should be no doubt whatsoever in Frank Mulholland’s mind. He must use the “serious public concern” option open to him to order such a probe.

Fatal accident inquiries do not apportion blame. Their findings cannot be used as an argument in any civil hearing where one side seeks financial recompense from another. They are held to determine what happened; what, if anything, went wrong; what, if anything, could have been done to prevent death.

And, to me, more importantly, to determine what can be done to prevent, as far as possible, a tragedy of similar like happening again.