Scottish Borders Housing Association’s director of technical services has said that any industrial action by staff will have an impact on tenants.

Alan Vass made the comment after the union Unite announced that members in the maintenance division will implement a work-to-rule for 12 weeks from today (Thursday).

It follows Unite members at SBHA voting in favour of industrial action by just one vote. They rejected strike action by 39 votes to 22.

Tony Trench, regional organiser for Unite, said maintenance staff will return vans to SBHA’s Selkirk headquarters today at the end of their shift, rather than take them home.

This will be repeated by those staff who are working tomorrow, and will continue at the end of each week until November 17.

Mr Trench said: “The staff want to make absolutely clear that their priority is tenants, and that is why they have not voted for a strike.”

On the action to be taken, he added: “This will not affect the emergency service, which will be fully manned. This was done to cause least disruption to tenants.”

But Mr Vass said this week: “Any industrial action does have an impact on the service we can provide, but the management’s job is to minimise the disruption as much as possible and we have done as much as we can to do that.”

Mr Vass added that the association welcomed the decision not to take action that would affect the emergency service for tenants.

An “all-options” review of the maintenance division will be carried out in the coming weeks to explore how efficiency can be increased, following the breakdown of talks between SBHA and Unite over staff starting work on site at 8am.

The feet are getting a bit sore and the muscles ache, but David Parker and Michael Moore are now halfway through their 97-mile charity trek .

The Scottish Borders Council leader and local MP, respectively, have donned their walking boots once again, this time for their Great Tweed Trek, raising funds for Radio Borders Cash for Kids appeal and Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team.

The intrepid duo, backed by support from the mountain rescue team, set off on Monday from the source of the famous river at Tweedsmuir.

Along the way, Mr Moore, a committed NO supporter in next month’s independence referendum, and Mr Parker, a committed YES supporter, have been holding a series of public ‘blethers’ along the route to Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Yesterday, it was the leg from Innerleithen to Melrose, and shortly before setting off, Mr Moore told us: “It’s going very well so far. The long-range forecast wasn’t so good, but yesterday [Tuesday] it was just glorious from Peebles to Innerleithen.”

And, on reaching what will be the site of the new rail station at Tweedbank yesterday, Network Rail and construction firm, BAM, were expected to hand over a cheque.

Two bottles of whisky – one signed by First Minister Alex Salmond and the other by leaders of the other main parties at Holyrood – are also to be auctioned off for charity.

Asked about his feet, Mr Parker said: “It’s hard going, but I think my feet have been the best of everybody’s so far!”

A building site labourer hurled racist abuse at a Muslim who was walking along a Galashiels street on Saturday night.

Carl Page was at a party in Church Street and standing on a balcony having a cigarette when he launched the tirade which was heard by people living in neighbouring properties.

Page, 32, of Talisman Avenue, Galashiels, appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday when he was fined £200 for behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and making racist comments, and was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the man he abused. He pleaded guilty.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said Page turned up at the party around 7pm, apparently under the influence of alcohol.

Ms Bradley explained at about 10.15pm he was standing with a woman on the balcony having a cigarette when the man walked past on the pavement.

She added: “He noticed the accused shouting at him, but could not understand what he was saying and ignored him. But to get to his flat, he had to walk past the accused standing on the balcony and as he passed, Page made a racist comment, and the woman having the party told him he would be asked to leave if he persisted.

“At this point he attempted to apologise, but another witness heard him swearing and shouting, ‘Muslim b******s’. A neighbour was aware that a Muslim lived nearby and at 10.36pm when the shouting woke her baby, the police were called and a complaint made that a man was randomly shouting and swearing, and racially-abusive towards Muslims.”

Ms Bradley continued: “At 11.18pm, the accused was arrested and he appears to have been straightforward with officers. He gave a full account in an interview. He admitted making the comments in a moment of stupidity and told police, ‘I said sorry, I was joking’.”

Defending, Mat Patrick admitted: “It was fairly mindless behaviour. He was extremely intoxicated.”

Winners at Ettrick Flower Show held in the Boston Hall last Saturday display their trophies. The weather was fine, if a bit chilly, for the 57th event.

Once again, this small community produced a fine display of quality entries and a steady flow of visitors throughout the afternoon viewed exhibits and enjoyed a sandwich tea with home baking.Before presenting the awards, chairperson Roxy Stephen congratulated entrants on the high standard of their exhibits and thanked supporters of the show, especially the committee.

TROPHY WINNERS

Napier Cup (most points in flower section) – Sheila Tyldesley; Best exhibit in flower section – Lucile Macleod; Pot Plant Trophy (most points in pot plant section 2) – Sheila Tyldesley; best exhibit in pot plant section 2 – Roxy Stephen; Strang Steel Cup (most points in decorative section 3) Maureen Ayling; George Stephen Quaich (best exhibit in decorative section 3) – Maureen Ayling; MacVicar Rose Bowl (most points in vegetable section 4) – Ian Monteith; best exhibit in vegetable section 4 – Karen Purvis; Jack Goddard Trophy (best box of salad vegetables) – Thomas Bryson;

James Baird Shield (most points in baking section 5) – Jeff Ayling; best exhibit in baking section 5 – Irene McFadzen.

Photography – best exhibit in each class of section 6 – Sunny Ettrick!, Jenny Sugden; Water, Alma Dowle; Faces, Royston Thomas; photograph with a caption – Ian Hood; Andrea Ashburn Trophy (most points in photography section 6) – Alma Dowle and Bridget Thomson; Golden Anniversary Trophy (most points in craft section 7) – Carole Howdden; best exhibit in craft section 7 – Maureen Ayling; Jim and Joan Dodds Trophy (most points in show) – Sheila Tyldesley; Flockfield Potato Trophy (Potato Beastie) – Josh and James Oliver.

Children’s trophies – most points in each age group of Section 8 – 12-18 years, Rowan Davidson; up to 11 years, Hamish Reid; George Milne Trophy (best exhibit in juvenile section 8) – Hamish Reid.

Gala F’dean Rovers 3

Edinburgh City 6

A 15-minute hat-trick by substitute Ross Allum saw Edinburgh City extinguish Gala’s hopes of a third Lowland League win, writes Kenny Paterson.

Missing a number of personnel, including experienced duo Stuart Noble and Sean Paliczka, Gala’s young side showed plenty of heart to pull themselves back from 2-0 to lead 3-2 early in the second half.

But the side’s old defensive fragilities came back to haunt them as City notched four goals without reply to run out comfortable winners.

Gala boss Stevie Noble said: “City were more streetwise and tougher than us, and our guys have got to learn from that.

“I have a 22-man squad, but was missing seven or eight players today. However, that is not an excuse for our second-half showing.”

The game sparked into life on 29 minutes as City’s Ross Guthrie volleyed in after John Dodds had made a superb block to deny Mark Osbourne.

And two minutes later, Ian McFarland fired a fine 25-yard shot into the top corner.

Gala fought back with two goals before half-time as Lee Stephen’s excellent free kick was headed in by Ross Aitchison on 37 minutes, followed by a stunning 35-yard shot by Jamie Gibson.

Another Stephen free kick was nodded in by Ashley Langford on 51 minutes to give Gala the lead for the first time, but Allum’s arrival on the hour in place of Osbourne proved pivotal.

After Guthrie headed home a corner on 63 minutes, Allum put City back into the lead four minutes later.

With 13 minutes remaining, a Paul Hossack mistake was punished by Allum and to cap the victory, the forward completed his hat-trick with a 25-yard free kick.

Vale of Leithen 1

Selkirk 4

Selkirk remain unbeaten in the Lowland League this season – but that must have seemed unlikely at half-time at Victoria Park.

A 10th-minute Josh Morris strike was the perfect start for the home side, and although Selkirk hit the post through Phil Addison, they couldn’t make the breakthrough.

In the end, it took them over 60 minutes to equalise, Benjamin Huteau slamming the ball home.

But the Souters were soon in their stride after that and there was no longer any doubt about where the points were going.

Jon McInally gave them the lead with a superb curling free kick, before Addison made sure of the win with a good header.

And Garry O’Connor, who has been a bit of a revelation since joining Selkirk, made it five goals in four games by scoring the fourth with his head in injury time.

Joint second place in the Lowland League is a far cry from their position last year.

Kelso United 3

Eyemouth United 1

Kelso opened their league season with a win against the Fishermen at Woodside Park.

The Tweedsiders got off to the perfect start and went one up in less than a minute, central defender Dean Clark driving home from close range after Eyemouth keeper Adam Mutch parried Sean Spoor’s shot straight at him.

The home side made it two seven minutes later as Owen Benzies calmly lobbed the ball into the net over the advancing keeper.

On the half-hour mark, Kelso had an appeal for a penalty when the returning Des Burnett clashed with Gordon McInnes in the box, but referee Stewart Luke waved play on.

The Fishermen got a goal back in the 66th minute as a free kick from the half-way line found Scott Adamson at the back post and he made no mistake from eight yards.

Kelso increased their lead with 12 minutes of the match remaining. A long clearance from home keeper Elliot Turnbull saw Bonnington take the ball in his stride down the left and after beating the defender, cut inside and shot into the top corner of the net past the advancing Mutch.

New Kelso manager Scott Dowie said: “We have a few young players and I’m pleased with the way these boys performed.”

Hawick Royal Albert 3 ­

Newton Stewart 0

Thanks to a dazzling secondhalf performance that produced three goals, Hawick earned a place in the first round of the Scottish Cup at Cove Rangers, writes John Slorance.

Before a big crowd, the Albert came close to opening the scoring in the first minute of the game, when Andy Noble fired in a fierce angled drive that appeared destined for the net until being tipped round the post by Newton Stewart keeper Harry Fidler.

Hawick number one Craig Dunsmore then proved his worth, keeping out a Liam Muir shot at the other end.

Minutes later, the woodwork came to Hawick’s aid as a close-range shot from Liam Duff rebounded off the base of the post.

The Teries replied with a sweeping raid that saw Nick Ramsay surge forward and round Fidler before shooting into the side netting.

With six minutes of the second period gone, Hawick took the lead.

And what a beauty of a goal it was.

On finding space down the left, Gordon Ramsay, who had been a thorn in the flesh of the Newton Stewart defence from the start through some darting runs, floated over a cross. Nick Ramsay met the ball on the drop and his effort raged past the helpless Fidler.

Five minutes later, the Albert Park men struck again. Gordon Ramsay once more emerged the goal provider, hurling a long throw into a crowded goalmouth and Nicky Cairns did the rest, finding the net with a glancing header.
Hawick were now well and truly buzzing and Gordon Ramsay had a shot diverted round the post by Kyle McCutcheon, before he shaved the upright with a well-struck free kick.

Then Nick Ramsay shot inches past the target on being fed by a Michael McKenzie pass.

In the 83rd minute the Albert deservedly went further ahead, and it was fitting that the livewire Gordon Ramsay should be the scorer, slotting away a shot from close range after having dispossessed Stewart Chalmers.

Hawick manager Graeme Chadwick told The Southern: “I am absolutely delighted for the players, the club and our supporters. It was a great win for us. In the first half, Newton Stewart slowed the game down by stopping us playing.

“But in the second half, we got two quick goals and dominated the game. The guys played some good football and showed great team spirit.

“I am just thrilled that we have reached the next round of the Scottish.”

Following the removal of the kerbside garden waste collection service, Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is picking up unwanted garden waste bins for a 12-week period, starting this week.

Households can either keep their bin if they have a use for it, or if they do not want to retain it, they can phone the council on 0300 100 1800 to book a free uplift.

A booking system is being used and customers who call will be given a specific date when their bin will be collected. Due to the 12-week timeframe, households are advised to book a collection as soon as possible.

The free collection service will end in November, after which households can still have their unwanted bin uplifted, although a charge will apply.

SBC is still offering a free home composter to each household that previously used the kerbside garden waste collection service.

If you would like one, phone 0300 100 1800 to make a request.

Peebles Rovers take on Burntisland Shipyard in their second league outing at Whitestone Park on Saturday, writes John Slorance.

Rovers manager John O’Hara told The Southern: “We did okay in the League Cup and it was a decent start to the season for us, but our main aim is the league. I was pleased by the way we beat Ormiston in our first game.

“Our team news is a bit grim at the moment, though, as we have six guys set to go through fitness tests.”

In another First Division encounter, Hawick Royal Albert travel to face Eyemouth United at Warner Park.

Kelso United are at home to Tynecastle in the Alex Jack Cup.

New Tweedsiders boss Scott Dowie said: “Being a manager is something completely different for me, but I am loving it.

“We only had eight players when I took on the job, but I have brought in some new faces. Tynecastle have had a couple of bad results, but in their last game they hammered Craigroyston 7-2 – I don’t know what to make of all that.”

Gala Fairydean Rovers are away to East Kilbride in the Lowland League, while Vale of Leithen hit the road to tackle Dalbeattie Star and Selkirk entertain league newcomers BSC Glasgow at Yarrow Park.

A thief who travelled with his co-accused from Edinburgh to the Borders to steal from cars will be sentenced next month.

Twenty-year-old John McMurray, of Walter Scott Avenue in Edinburgh, appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to forcing open a locked car parked in Earlston Square on December 28 and stealing power tools worth £1,550.

McMurray also admitted forcing open a locked vehicle at Summerfield in Earlston and stealing an iPod worth £100 and entering an insecure vehicle in Pathhead on his way back to the capital and stealing two iPods and headpohones worth £150.

Sentence was deferred until September 22 for background reports to be prepared.

Last month, his co-accused, 24-year-old John Campbell of Fernieside Avenue, Edinburgh, was jailed for 168 days for his part in the expedition.

A Jedburgh van driver who seriously injured a biker in a collision on the A68 escaped a ban from the road.

Thirty-three-year-old Richard Dodds, of Old Bridge End, pleaded guilty to careless driving and knocking Charles Beaton off his Harley Davidson.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told last Friday the bike was left in pieces, while Mr Beaton suffered several fractured ribs and had to spend 10 days in Borders General Hospital.

The accident happened as unemployed lab technician Dodds pulled out of the B6400 junction at Ancrum onto the A68 on the evening of July 1.

Defence lawyer Rory Bannerman described the offence as a “momentary lapse of concentration” and that he never saw the motorcyclist.

Sheriff Ailsa Carmichael fined Dodds £600 and placed seven penalty points on his driving licence.

REMANDED IN CUSTODY

A teenager accused of committing offences in Galashiels and Selkirk last weekend was remanded in custody.

John Spedding, 19, of Muthag Street, Selkirk, denied causing a breach of the peace by struggling and fighting with others in Ladhope Vale, Galashiels, on Sunday. He also pleaded not guilty to stealing alcohol, a laptop computer, clothing, milk and a rucksack from a house in Heatherlie Terrace, Selkirk, later that day.

The Crown opposed bail and Spedding was remanded in custody. His trial was fixed for September 30, with an intermediate hearing on September 8.

FALSE 999 CALLS TRIAL

A Selkirk man who only has six months to live will stand trial in December on charges of making false 999 calls.

Robert McMillan – who is currently serving a prison sentence after being caught driving while disqualified for the eighth time – pleaded not guilty.

The 54-year-old is alleged to have dialled 999 on March 24 to say a house in Allerley Crescent, Jedburgh, was on fire. Five days later, he is said to have phoned 999 again to falsely claim that a male was brandishing a shotgun and uttering threats of violence towards a female at the same house.

McMillan, of Back Row, Selkirk, will face trial on December 18, with an intermediate hearing on November 21.

When he was jailed at Jedburgh Sheriff Court earlier this month, his lawyer, Rory Bannerman, said McMillan had a heart problem and doctors had given him only six months to live.

But after being told McMillan had clocked up his eighth conviction for driving while disqualified, Sheriff Kevin Drummond jailed him for four months, saying he had “no consideration for issues of public safety”.

DOOR-DAMAGE CHARGE

Kevin Laidlaw, 27, of Minto Place, Hawick, denies wilfully or recklessly punching a door and damaging it at Chay Blyth Place in Hawick on November 10, 2013.

His trial will take place on September 18.

NOT-GUILTY PLEAS

A Southdean man will stand trial next month on five motoring charges.

Greig Pole, 24, of Falside Farmhouse, is accused of driving while disqualified and with no insurance near Jedburgh on August 3 last year. He also pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident to police within 24 hours and failing to give a police officer information about the driver of a car.

HEROIN OFFENDER

A Galashiels man found in possession of heroin had sentence deferred to see how his methadone programme works over the next three months.

Kevin Dixon, 29, of Marigold Drive, pleaded guilty to the offence which was committed in Abbotsford Road, Galashiels, on May 15.

Prosecutor Claire Bottomley said: “It was at 2.40pm on a Thursday when police officers were on foot patrol in Galashiels town centre.

“They had their attention drawn towards the accused who appeared to be under the influence of something. They spoke to him and his speech was slurred and he appeared nervous.

“A search was organised and he was found in possession of two wraps of brown powder with a weight of 0.6 grammes and a street value of £60.”

Sheriff Ailsa Carmichael deferred sentence until November 10 at Selkirk Sheriff Court to monitor Dixon’s progress and ordered him to be of good behaviour.

STRUGGLED WITH POLICE OFFICERS

A 23-year-old man warned police officers that if they arrested him they would have a fight on their hands.

When Niall Gray was arrested in Scott Street, Galashiels, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner and started kicking and headbutting the walls inside the cage of a police vehicle.

Due to his behaviour, Gray was taken straight to enhanced custody facilities during the early hours of February 5 when he struggled violently with officers at the charge bar.

Claire Bottomley, prosecuting, said: “The police visited his home in relation to another matter and spoke to the accused. He informed a police officer he normally fights with the police, but in his case he would not as he was too old.

“He said if they arrested him they would have a fight on their hands. He started calling them f*****g c***s and there were three officers present at the time.

“During this he made attempts to shake hands with the officers and apologised, but then would start up again.

“He had been drinking with a female companion and was eventually arrested.

“Due to his behaviour the vehicle turned round and went straight to Hawick police station because of the enhanced custody facilities.

“On arrival, they attempted to remove him from the police vehicle and at the charge bar he struggled with the officers.

“He was restrained with a ground-pin manouevre until he calmed down.”

Defence lawyer Rory Bannerman said: “He had been drinking to excess and cannot recall anything about it. He has moved to Campbeltown so that he can get away from getting into trouble with the police.”

Sheriff Ailsa Carmichael deferred sentence on Gray until September 22 for the production of a Criminal Justice Social Work Report.

DATE SET FOR HEARING

John Szabo, 52, of Rosevale Street, Hawick, will stand trial on September 18 on a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, shouting and swearing and uttering threats of violence.

The offence is said to have happened at farm cottages near Jedburgh on November 23.

ACCUSED DENIES COMPLAINTS

A Hawick accused faces trial on two complaints of hounding a man.

Christopher Monaghan, 33, of Drumlanrig Mews, has been accused of embarking on a course of conduct between January and December in 2013 that was likely to cause a man fear and alarm by telephoning him, approaching him, uttering threats of violence, following him in a vehicle and damaging the tyres on his vehicle in streets in Hawick on various occasions.

He has also pleaded not guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in Weensland Road, Hawick, on February 7, by repeatedly driving past a stationary vehicle in which the same man was a passenger and staring at him in a threatening manner.

The trial is scheduled to take place on September 18.

CASE IS CONTINUED

Peter Borland, 24, denied assaulting a man at his home in Wellfield Road, Hawick, on March 31.

The case was continued until August 29.

SENTENCE DEFERRED

Natasha Elder appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to an assault charge following an incident at her home in Allars Bank Crescent, Hawick,on Saturday morning.

Her co-accused – Stephen Milliken, 31, who gave a bail address of Kirkbrae in Galashiels – pleaded not guilty to a similar allegation and a trial date was fixed for December 10, with an intermediate hearing on November 12.

Sentence was deferred on Elder until November 12.

LAST CHANCE FOR BOOZE THIEF

An alcohol thief who failed to turn up for a meeting with social workers so that background reports could be compiled has been given one more chance.

David Connolly, 30, of Bright Street, Hawick, had previously admitted stealing a bottle of vodka from B&M Bargains in Hawick on July 10 and a can of alcohol from Spar in Galashiels on March 29.

He also pleaded guilty to breaking into the Scottish Borders Council social work offices in Abbotsford Road, Galashiels, and stealing stationery on January 30.

COMMUNITY PAYBACK ORDER

A Hawick man involved in a bust-up at his partner’s home has been ordered to attend the Caledonian Men’s Programme.

Robert McLeod, 33, of Stonefield Place, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a house in Whitehaugh View, Hawick, on July 13, by acting in an aggressive manner, shouting and swearing, and repeatedly banging on doors.

Prosecutor Claire Bottomley said McLeod had initially been granted access to her home when he arrived on a Sunday afternoon to see his two children, but he confirmed her suspicions that he had been drinking.

She continued: “She then refused him access to the children. But 15 minutes later he returned to the address and, in an aggressive manner, started banging on the door.”

A two-year community payback order with supervision was imposed.

It’s always tempting to credit a TV documentary with more influence than it has, especially if it deals with a subject you know something about.

As I know a little about farming, livestock, and meat production I found Dr Michael Mosley’s recent two part documentary on the effect of meat eating on people and the planet fascinating and potentially mind-changing.

But on reflection a) how many viewers were there for its BBC2 showing and, b) how many vegetarian converts did it produce?

It should be said that wasn’t Dr Mosley’s intention. He brings an open mind to every subject I’ve seen him tackle and there’s no doubt that animal welfare campaigners, never mind vegetarians and vegans, wouldn’t like his pragmatic conclusion that intensively reared chicken is the answer to steadily increasing world demand for meat.

Regardless of any other factor, demand for meat increases as income increases. One statistic will do: in the 1960s meat consumption in China averaged about 4 kilos a year per person, it is now 55 kilos and increasing steadily. With a population of well over one billion, that’s a lot of meat and a significant part of the 65 billion animals eaten in the world each year.

Dr Mosley concluded what most of us might guess that as part of a balanced diet meat is a good source of the nutrients we need. An excess, that is 100 grammes or more of red meat a day, is not good for us, and processed preserved meat in any quantity such as bacon, ham, sausage and salami certainly isn’t. There is also the environmental effect of ruminating animals burping out methane – livestock contribute about 14% to the planet’s gas emissions - and how to deal with vast amounts of animal dung.

The immediate answer, Dr Mosley suggested, ensuring no Christmas cards from livestock farmers, is for each of us to eat less meat, particularly if it is processed.

Some of us might do that, but there seems no likelihood that general demand will decrease. That should be good long term news for livestock producers in spite of inevitable ups and downs for prices and the never-ending rows in the UK about what subsidies are available from Europe’s common agricultural policy.

Two weeks ago several former NFU Scotland former presidents came out to support the campaign for Scottish independence.

Last week six former presidents came out in favour of Better Together with the suggestion that “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

The six included Borders farmers Jim Stobo and Sandy Mole and two who went on to become high profile in politics and with public bodies, George Lyon and Ian Grant. Also backed by a clutch of former vice presidents, including Bob Howat, the Vote No group believe that devolution has been good for Scotland and will be even better in the future with no real or long term benefit from full independence.

The debate can only get more heated on countdown to September 18.

Work is ongoing on Innerleithen’s £5.5million mountain bike uplift and now organisers want anyone interested to help by filling out a survey.

Local volunteers, AIMUp, plan a toboggan ride, as well as the uplift, cafes, toilets and showers, bike facilities and shop, with a ‘best case scenario’ opening of late 2016.

AIMUp’s Ian Campbell said: “We’re looking for bikers and non-bikers to complete the survey, which should only take five or so minutes.

“With greater numbers completing it, we get a more reliable picture of the interest in it. The resulting data should provide additional support for our business case, which is vital to securing financial support for the project.”

The team is waiting for the new Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) funding rules to be published.

Ian said: “This has long been a potential target for significant funds for the project, although it has taken longer than expected for it to be finalised. Securing an anchor funder would allow us to subsequently progress numerous applications to sources of funds that have been identified.

“Meantime, we engaged a consultant to refine and update our business plan, to ensure suitable supporting evidence was in place for the case being made.

“We are also undertaking our own market research, where previously we have relied on data from others.”

Find the survey on AIMUp’s ‘Support the Innerleithen Uplift’ Facebook page.

Walkers and farmers have welcomed the Scottish Government’s rules on creating new hill tracks.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is pleased planners will be able to “intervene (on proposed tracks) to ensure that design, siting and appearance are acceptable”.

But the body, which represents climbers and walkers, is disappointed there is not an immediate ban on bulldozing tracks in hills without permission.

MCofS’s David Gibson said: “The present government has approved developments, leading to an unprecedented reduction in wild land across Scotland, so we naturally welcome the introduction of measures by them which we hope will mitigate further damage to Scotland’s landscape caused by bulldozed tracks.

“We look forward to seeing the detail about the planning controls and being able to confirm that there will be real protection for the landscape from hill tracks.

“We would have expected an immediate moratorium on building tracks without permission, because experience has already shown that such delay only creates a window of opportunity during which more damage can be done.”

Historically, agricultural and forestry tracks could be constructed and upgraded under permitted development rights, meaning that provided they met certain criteria a planning application was not required.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland’s Gemma Thomson said: “NFU Scotland welcomes the decision by the Minister to adopt a Prior Notification process for hill tracks, as opposed to seeking full planning permission.

The warmth of summer seems to have left us and there’s a fresher feel to the air.

Last weekend, I ventured slightly south for a weekend break in a town which claims to be the geographical centre of Britain – Haltwhistle in North Northumberland.

It is just a couple of miles from Hadrian’s Wall and on a glorious sunny Sunday morning, I sat on this amazing Roman structure and marvelled at how it was made, in the days before JCBs and trucks.

As one of the promotional leaflets said: “Built in sandals – walked in boots”. Considering its remoteness, it was a veritable thoroughfare of hikers “doing the wall”.

The local economy must benefit greatly from having this historical rocky ribbon running right through it.

The return journey was through the immense Kielder Forest, which would have been quite pleasant had it not been for the mad bikers careering along the narrow roads in gangs, frightening the living daylights out of us senior motorists.

However, it was nice to get off the road and onto one of the nice reservoir woodland walks, where the shades of pink and purple were stunning thanks to the heather, willowherb and scabious, which were all vying for prominence.

At this time of year, my mailbox is usually heavily occupied by readers asking me to identify a strange creature found in their garden.

Nine times out of 10 it turns out to be the caterpillar of the elephant hawk moth.

This large, beautiful caterpillar has two pairs of eye markings, which are made even more prominent when it withdraws its head into its body.

They are, typically, a blackish-brown colour, but are sometimes green, and though their ‘eyes’ make them look quite dramatic, they are completely harmless.

However, they can strip a fuchsia of its leaves at night. Active from mid- to late-summer, they can be found hiding during the day on the undersides of leaves.

The caterpillars overwinter as chrysalides, hidden amongst low vegetation or in the soil.

Reader L.F. sent me this week’s picture of one of the aforementioned caterpillars found recently on an Earlston footpath.

Don’t forget, if you come across something interesting in the Borders countryside, take a picture and email it to me at corbie@homecall.co.uk

Or if you have any questions about our region’s flora and fauna, why not drop me a line?

The Tories won just one – that’s right, one –

Westminster seat out of 59 north of the border

On Saturday, Galashiels Academy’s extra-curricular hockey and rugby began with a bang, with more than 150 pupils attending the sports sign-up morning.

Throughout the event, pupils received coaching from members of the school’s PE department and parent helpers who make up the coaching team. There was also a crossbar challenge, raffle, breakfast barbecue with tea, coffee and traybake for the parents.

Pupils also had the opportunity to meet and receive advice from former Galashiels Academy pupil and current Edinburgh Rugby professional Ewan Mcquillan. He was on hand all morning offering advice to current pupils with aspirations to play sport at the top level.

Galashiels Academy prides itself on the opportunities that extra-curricular sport gives to the pupils at the school. However, the hockey and rugby would not run without the hard work and enthusiasm of the PE department and the volunteers who assist them.

The PE department would like to thank Booker Cash and Carry for kindly donating the sausages, bacon and water for the barbecue, and those who donated a prize to the raffle, especially The Salmon Inn, BSLT and the Trophy Guy for their kind donations.

It’s always tempting to credit a TV documentary with more influence than it has, especially if it deals with a subject you know something about.

As I know a little about farming, livestock and meat production, I found Dr Michael Mosley’s recent two-part documentary on the effect of meat eating on people and the planet fascinating and potentially mind-changing.

But on reflection, a), how many viewers were there for its BBC2 showing and, b), how many vegetarian converts did it produce?

It should be said that wasn’t Dr Mosley’s intention. He brings an open mind to every subject I’ve seen him tackle and there’s no doubt that animal welfare campaigners, never mind vegetarians and vegans, wouldn’t like his pragmatic conclusion that intensively-reared chicken is the answer to steadily-increasing world demand for meat.

Regardless of any other factor, demand for meat increases as income increases. One statistic will do: in the 1960s meat consumption in China averaged about 4 kilos a year per person, it is now 55 kilos and increasing steadily. With a population of well over one billion, that’s a lot of meat and a significant part of the 65billion animals eaten in the world each year.

Dr Mosley concluded what most of us might guess that, as part of a balanced diet, meat is a good source of the nutrients we need. An excess, that is 100 grammes or more of red meat a day, is not good for us, and processed preserved meat in any quantity such as bacon, ham, sausage and salami certainly isn’t. There is also the environmental effect of ruminating animals burping out methane – livestock contribute about 14 per cent to the planet’s gas emissions – and how to deal with vast amounts of animal dung.

The immediate answer, Dr Mosley suggested, ensuring no Christmas cards from livestock farmers, is for each of us to eat less meat, particularly if it is processed.

Some of us might do that, but there seems no likelihood that general demand will decrease. That should be good long-term news for livestock producers in spite of inevitable ups and downs for prices and the never-ending rows in the UK about what subsidies are available from Europe’s common agricultural policy.

Two weeks ago, several former NFU Scotland former presidents came out to support the campaign for Scottish independence.

Last week, six former presidents came out in favour of Better Together with the suggestion that “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

The six included Borders farmers Jim Stobo and Sandy Molek, and two who went on to become high profile in politics and with public bodies, George Lyon and Ian Grant.

Also backed by a clutch of former vice-presidents, including Bob Howat, the Vote No group believe that devolution has been good for Scotland and will be even better in the future with no real or long-term benefit from full independence.

The debate can only get more heated during countdown to September 18.

Ten local children were entertained at a mythical monster mask-making event at Selkirk library as part of the Tesco Bank Summer Reading Challenge initiative.

Run by charity The Reading Agency, in partnership with library services and Tesco Bank, the challenge involved children joining the library and reading six books during the summer holidays.

Each year the challenge is based around a new theme to inject fun and creativity, motivating children to read for pleasure. This year’s theme – “Mythical Maze” – illustrated by award-winning artist Sarah McIntyre, invited youngsters to discover more about myths and legends from all over the world.

During Tesco Bank’s four-year support of the programme in Scotland, the number of children participating has continued to rise, with more than 40,000 completing the challenge last year.

Library supervisor Morag Cockburn said: “Each year the challenge enables children to build on their reading skills and develop a love of books and libraries.”

Certificates and medals will be presented to children who completed the challenge in the library on September 10 at 4.15pm.