The Rotary Club of Kelso recently enjoyed a visit to Stable Life at Dryden, Ashkirk.

Last year Vanessa Henderson of Stable Life spoke at a Club meeting about the work that the charity do with young people from throughout the Borders.

They provide a safe learning experience for children who are in need of some extra support using the horse and the environment of the stable yard to help young people reach their potential and experience successful confidence building.

The club decided to support this local initiative and subsequently held an Italian Night of great food and good music at Ednam in early March. £750 was raised on the night. The trip this week was to visit the stables, meet staff – both two and four legged – when president John Lafferty presented the cheque to Nicky Glendinning. Club members brought partners and friends along to the event and thoroughly enjoyed a warm and sunny informative evening in a beautiful setting.

A popular high street retailer is now stocking clothes to suit Britain’s expanding waistline - with sizes going up to XXXXXL.

Debenhams say they have begun stocking the 5XL size in male ranges to meet the rising need for larger clothes around the country, after being inundated with requests for bigger items.

The new big and tall range with clothes in 5XL have up to a 64-inch chest and a 20-inch collar.

Previously their stock stopped at 3XL, but demand for larger sizes of shirts, suits, tops, casual jackets and trousers had soared by 170 per cent in the last two years.

A spokesman for the fashion retailer said one in nine of all menswear purchases in its stores nationally are now larger than size 2XL, which is 50 to 52 inch chest and 18 inch collar.

He added: “We recognise that men are in general taller and stronger than previous generations and there is growing demand for mainstream men’s fashion in larger sizes.

“Our expanded range with more items in longer lengths, bigger chests and waist sizes is keeping pace with those changes.

“We believe that offering diverse and quality products means we can satisfy a greater number of our customers and we are delighted to be able to offer fashion to fit all.”

Retail analyst Columino said last year the UK spent £2.1 billion on XL garments, a rise of £200 million from four years ago, and predicts an increase by another £200 million in just the next 24 months.

Despite being home to some of the world’s most beautiful scenery, people in the UK are unaware of some of the most stunning locations throughout the rest of the country.

Britons were consistently unable to spot views from around the United Kingdom with more than one in three failing to recognise Wareham in Dorset.

Almost a third thought the image was Crete in Greece and 11 per cent thought it was Gdynia, Poland.

Brits may be more familiar with France as the survey found that it was the most popular country for a driving holiday - although just next door, the Netherlands was least-visited.

However, they may be more likely to make a return visit to the USA or Canada - with New York’s Times Square the second most underrated tourist attraction in the world - coming just behind Niagra Falls in the poll.

Other data from the survey by Rental Cars found that 31 per cent of motorists exceed the speed limit when abroad, while 27 per cent of UK motorists have driven on the wrong side of the road whilst abroad.

And almost one in ten said they have put the wrong type of petrol in their car when abroad.

Why not test yourself and take the quiz {http://www.rentalcars.com/en/worldwide-where|HERE|Click here to do the quiz}

Nearly 70 entries have been received for the Lauderdale point-to-point, which takes place at Mosshouses near Galashiels, this coming Sunday.

Two pony races take place at 1pm before the main races get under way at 2pm.

Six entries have been received for the Border Hunt Club members’ race, and recent winner For Yes looks to be the form horse.

Bentley Homes sponsors the young horse maiden, in which there are three runners, and it looks a very open race.

The ladies’ is sponsored by North Tyneside firm Owen Pugh and draws an entry of 11.

Local interest lies in Jack Clark’s Whisperdale, who finished second in the Fife ladies’ last weekend, and The Shrimp for Sandy Thomson.

In the men’s open, Cave Hunter is reappearing after a break and could be the one to beat, but Will Ramsay might not be far away on either Great Gusto or Pyjama Game, depending on his choice of rides.

Eight are entered for the AF Noble and Sons restricted, and this could be between Jane Hunter’s Paddy’s Wish and Jimmy Walton’s Strategic Island.

St Boswells-based Whiterigg and Eildon Hill Stables support the NPPA club members’, which looks a competitive affair.

Alison Hamilton trains Danehills Well for her husband Gavin, and he could be the pick of the field.

Musselburgh Racecourse and Royal Dick Vet are supporting the card’s final race, the open maiden. Locally-trained Worcester Pearmain could be the one to beat there.

Mosshouses is situated four miles north east of Galashiels, between the A7 and A68, and the admission price on the day includes a racecard.

The Kings of the Sevens 2016 festival makes its first stop of the weekend in Kelso on Saturday – and the hosts hopes to serve up a great day out as well as some thrilling rugby.

A fine hospitality package has been lined up and everyone at Poynder Place hopes those who invest in it can enjoy some great food and entertainment.

“At Kelso, we do try to go big on hospitality,” said club president Terry Frame.

The catering is being done

by Peter Allan, of the local racecourse, while there is a disco and dance after the tournament. There is also a hospitality Q&A session with Andrew Ker, one of the most decorated players in the Borders game.

On the field, the 16-team line-up features, as ever, all the big familiar names from the south, along with travelling line-ups from around Edinburgh, Fife and Tayside.

Good weather, a large crowd and attractive, attacking rugby is hoped for. Of the contest so far, Mr Frame said: “It’s interesting the way things have panned out.”

Kelso’s sevens lynchpin, Andrew Skeen, is injured, which, said Mr Frame, summed up the side’s “unlucky season”, but everyone was looking forward to the day. Kelso will also be showcasing its new ladies’ team, which will be playing at 1pm, an hour before the main action starts.

– either against other oppsitoin or two sevens agaisnt each other – before the main action starte at 2pm got a XV line-up showcase them A Q 7 A session in hsoptialaty with one of Borer rugby’s most decorated players, Andrew Ker. We have an unlucky season Andrew Skeen noramlly the lynchpin of any sevens team struyllgging with injurh struggle a bit to get the winning habit but lookgin forward to the day

Sheep worrying by dogs is causing around 85% of affected farmers to experience elevated levels of anxiety and stress, a survey conducted by the National Sheep Association (NSA) has revealed.

The questionnaire of 233 sheep farmers across the UK shows just how serious the repercussions of dog attacks on flocks can be, with 85% of respondents listing stress as one of the main impacts on them and their flock.

While the cost and extra time needed to deal with attacks was also highlighted, a worrying trend about the personal impact was revealed – 46% of farmers surveyed listed anxiety about spending time away from their farm, 35% said it had a negative impact on their family/social life, 30% cited depression and 24% went as far as to say they had considered giving up sheep farming. When asked what the single most damaging impact was, the most frequent answer was living with the anxiety of another attack.

Adding to the stress linked to dog worrying, the farmers surveyed revealed the unpredictable situation they find themselves in when asking a dog walker to abide by the law and keep their dog on a lead. The survey showed 30% receiving a mixture of positive and negative responses from dog owners and 25% only receiving negative responses. Just under half (44%) described this negative response as verbal abuse. In line with previous NSA findings, the survey also shows the majority of attacks occur in private or enclosed fields with no public footpath or right of way.

Police figures highlight a rise in the number of reported sheep worrying cases and NSA believes this is just the tip of the iceberg. The survey suggests only 34% of farmers report every incident, so most attacks go unreported.

All of NSA’s survey resultscan be viewed at www.sheepworrying.org.uk.

At the time of writing, I have just received the first record of a calling cuckoo and it is snowing outside!

Yes it’s been that kind of a spring.

At the moment in Selkirk, it is like living in Telly Tubby land with grass mounds and banks everywhere in the riverside area, due to the ongoing flood protection scheme.

The bits which were finished first are already greening up, thanks to a combination of artificial re-seeding and natural regeneration.

It is interesting to see what comes through on its own accord, some seeds being already in the topsoil and possibly moved around from another area.

As well as the expected bittercress and dandelions it was interesting to see large areas of red dead-nettle coming through in one particular area.

It has a long flowering period and is normally obscured by other vegetation but here it has little competition and is quite spectacular.

The name dead-nettle comes from its similarity to the stinging nettle and its inability to sting.

Despite looking like a nettle it is not related and is in fact a member of the mint family.

It does have at least one valuable asset in that it is much loved by bumble bees and provides a vital food source for them when there is little else available.

The plant has edible leaves and flowers and these may be picked when the plant is blooming and dried for later use.

The leaves are, more or less, available all year round, which is good if you happen to cut yourself near a plant, as the leaves, bruised and placed on wounds will help to staunch the bleeding.

The leaves may be used in salads and used to flavour soups, stews and sauces, providing vitamin C, iron and fibre, among other minerals and flavonoids.

It is fascinating to learn that so many plants we now look on as weeds, were once eagerly sought out by herbalists for all kinds of remedies, some of which are still used today and it is amazing how many common weeds are edible and indeed quite tasty.

Kirsten Darling has told of how proud she will be when she becomes only the second woman ever to cast a flag at Selkirk Common Riding.

The 33-year-old follows in Fiona Deacon’s footsteps after being named Selkirk Ex-Soldiers’ Association’s standard bearer for 2016.

She said: “Fiona really did set the standard. I really admired what she was doing, and it has opened the door for other women to apply.

“It is a great honour and a privilege to follow in the footsteps of my predecessors.

“It will be one of my greatest achievements.”

Kirsten, born and bred in Selkirk, has followed the Common Riding all her life.

The first time she followed the standard bearer on horseback was when she was four.

She was in the Royal Air Force between 2000 and 2004, serving her time as a military chef.

After attending her training at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, Kirsten spent time working in the junior ranks’ mess, sergeants’ mess and officers’ mess at various postings before settling at RAF Leuchars for her final two years’ service.

Kirsten has been with her husband Roland – who will buss the flag for her – for 11 years, and the couple have been married for two years.

She has a daughter Cora, 11, who attends Philiphaugh Community School, and two stepchildren – Stuart, 21, a shepherd, and Emma, 18, who has just completed her sixth year at Selkirk High School.

Kirsten has recently gone back into catering and currently works at the Waterwheel Cafe.

Before that, she worked at the HGS call centre in the town for seven years.

She also plays in the Selkirk Flute Band – alongside daughters Emma and Cora – and enjoys baking and decorating cakes as a hobby.

This year will be extra special for the family as Kirsten’s stepfather Kenny Firth celebrates his 25th anniversary as Selkirk Royal Burgh standard bearer.

Husband Roland will buss her flag at the 2016 Selkirk Ex-Soldiers’ Association Annual Dinner, Bussin and Dance on Friday, May 27.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the association, or becoming a standard bearer can contact chairman David Deacon on daviddeacon666@hotmail.co.uk

Beavers and Cubs at Kelso Scout Group have become high-tech horticulturalists after sowing seeds that have been into space.

In September, 2kg of rocket seeds were flown to the International Space Station on Soyuz 44S, where they spent several months in microgravity before returning to Earth in March.

The seeds have been sent as part of Rocket Science, an educational project launched by the Royal Horticultural Society and the UK Space Agency.

Kelso Scout Group has received a packet of 100 seeds from space, which are growing alongside seeds that haven’t been in orbit, so they can measure the differences over seven weeks.

The out-of-this-world experiment will enable the Beavers and Cubs to think about how we could preserve human life on another planet in future, what astronauts need to survive long-term missions in space and difficulties surrounding growing fresh food in challenging climates ... and it’s also part of their space badge.

The life and times of Robert Paterson – immortalised by Sir Walter Scott as ‘Old Mortality’ – have been painstakingly researched for a new book.

Iain Wilson, a historian in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, has spent years compiling facts about the stonecutter’s life, from his birth in Hawick 300 years ago to his death in Caerlaverock in 1801.

Iain had been researching gravestones in the area, and Paterson’s name kept coming up, which piqued his interest.

“It’s taken me quite a few years to put it together, but I thought the tercentenary of his birth – and the bicentenary of Scott’s novel was a good time to bite the bullet and publish,” said Iain.

In 1816, Scott introduced to the world the character of the old stonemason who travelled through south-west Scotland for much of the 18th century erecting and repairing the gravestones of the Covenanters, Protestant fundamentalists of the 17th century.

This book explores the origins of the story of ‘Old Mortality’, the evidence on which Scott drew for the development of his character, and the life and times of Paterson, the real-life individual on whom the character was based. It also deals with the history of Hawick and social conditions during Paterson’s time in the town, as well as other towns in Dumfries and Galloway with which he was associated, his family, his trade and the Covenanters.

Iain self-published the book, In The Tracks Of Mortality, and it is currently available for sale (cost £8.99) at the Tower Textiles Visitor Centre in Hawick; Forest Bookstore and Scott’s Selkirk in Selkirk; Abbotsford House visitor centre and Masons of Melrose.

It can also be ordered directly from the author by visiting www.thespiritofplace.co.uk

The owners of a new restaurant in Galashiels have agreed that no children under 15 or unaccompanied young people, aged 16 or 17 should be on their premises after 10pm.

Trond Dalby and Will Haegland, who also run the County Hotel in Selkirk, made that clarifying amendment to their operating plan for Grapevine – Now You’re Talking ahead of Friday’s meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s licensing board.

That allayed the concerns of Dr Tim Patterson, the region’s joint acting director of public health, who wanted a limit imposed on the time youngsters would be exposed to the consumption of alcohol at the 80-seater Douglas Bridge eatery.

Councillors unanimously approved the duly-amended premises licence application.

That will allow the restaurant, due to open this week, to serve alcohol from 11am till 1am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and until midnight during the rest of the week.

A similar curfew on children and young people was sought by the police and licensing standards officer Ian Tunnah in respect of the Clovenfords Hotel, the owner of which, Punch Partnership, was seeking to amend its operating plan.

Again, the applicant had agreed before the meeting that, unless attending a pre-arranged function, children and young people will not be allowed to stay on the premises beyond 10pm.

That time limit will also apply to all drinks being consumed in the seated area outside the front of the village hostelry, which Punch wanted included in the hotel’s “licensing footprint”.

“The hotel is surrounded by residential properties, and the use of this area throughout core hours – 11am till 1am on Friday and Saturday and until midnight during the rest of the week – could lead to noise nuisance and disturbance of those neighbouring properties,” said Mr Tunnah.

At the same meeting, the Co-op food store in St Boswells was granted an amendment to its operating plan, allowing it to open, subject to customer demand, from 6am till 10am daily.

The Main Street shop current opens at 7am.

Gala Fairydean Rovers’ walking football team won the Inaugural Scottish Borders Walking Football Festival at Netherdale on Sunday afternoon.

The home side won a tightly-contested final against Midlothian on penalties.

Other teams taking part included Annan, Kelso, Peebles and Newcastleton.

The youngest player at the sessions is 49 and the oldest is in his 80s.

The findings of a new survey have backed up those drivers who say that it is more difficult to park their vehicles than it used to be.

Research by esure looked at the growth in car ownership,the waiting periods for parking permits and increases in parking zones by local authorities.

And the survey found that Borderers are feeling the pinch in more ways than one.

Research shows since 2011 car ownership has grown at twice the rate of residential parking spaces with more than two million extra cars on the road. The effect of this growth on available parking spaces has been exacerbated by the fact that only half (53%) of local authorities have increased the number of parking zones in their area. More than one in 10 (13%) drivers now describe finding parking on their street as ‘difficult’.

Jon Wilshire, chief underwriting officer at esure, said: “Drivers are not imagining it – it really is harder to find a parking spot for your car.”

One of the reasons given for the trend toward declining parking space is that the proportion of households now living in flats has risen from 21% to 23% over the past five years - and with only a third of flats having off-street parking available, cars and vans have been forced into surrounding residential roads.

The squeeze in parking is not only putting up the cost of a residential parking permit across the country, but in some cases leading to more than a nine-year wait to get one. Information obtained by a Freedom of Information request found that Scottish borders Council is one of six bodies that admit residents have had to wait over a year for a parking permit.

A Selkirk High School library book which was taken out 50 years ago has been found during a clear out.

Keith Anderson (66), a former Knowepark Primary School and Selkirk High School student, discovered the missing book while he was clearing out books from his current home in the Willowbrae area of Edinburgh.

Mr Anderson said that he was in the process of donating over a thousand books to the Marie Curie hospice when he came across the forgotten library book entitled ‘A Practical Course in Secondary English’.

Speaking about what he plans to do with the book now, he said: “Well I should possibly return it to Selkirk High School... I think I should return it for its 50 year anniversary.”

The English book was available in the Selkirk High School library up until the time Mr Anderson sat his ‘O’ level in English.

He borrowed the book in 1966, exactly 50 years ago. It was first taken out in the year 1952.

He added: “I’m not keen on keeping it and I don’t think my children would want it either.”

It is unlikely that the book would be very useful to Selkirk High School students today as ‘O’ levels were replaced with Standard Grades back in 1977 and, in 2014, Standard Grades were replaced by Nationals.

Mr Anderson is not alone in forgetting to return a library book for many years. US President George Washington borrowed a book from the New York Society Library in 1789 and the book was not returned for 221 years. The fine would have cost him $300,000 if he had been alive.

The most expensive fine ever paid to a library was $345.14 (£203.29), according to Guinness World Records.

A cloudy and wet day greeted the friendly match between Hawick & Wilton and Gala, played at Buccleuch Park on an artificial pitch.

It was not the greatest of days for cricket but both teams deserved plaudits for completing the match and getting much-needed practice before next week’s opening league fixtures.

Gala batted first and got off to a slow start, but gradually built up the pace.

Opener Jack Halls batted well after retiring 53 not out, while there was another great contribution, from the new player Rory Hawes, with a solid 46.

Gala eventually ended up with 181 for the loss of six wickets.

The pick of the home bowlers was Phil Mactaggart, claiming three wickets for 19 runs.

The Hawick & Wilton chase did not get off to a great start after three wickets fell for only five runs.

The innings began to take some shape with a partnership of 57 between Ryan Johnston and Evan Alexander, with Alexander falling for 25 but Johnston continuing, carrying his bat for a fine 57.

With Alexander dismissed, the Gala bowling ran through the lower order and Hawick & Wilton could only muster 107 all out.

Gala’s bowlers had a good day as Caitlin Ormiston took three wickets for seven runs and New Zealander Rory Hawes captured three for only six runs.

Robbie Pringle and Jamie Crooks picked up two wickets each.

A survey is underway in the Borders to see if there is sufficient interest to start up a car-sharing club in the region.

A car club is a member-based organisation that providing access to pay-as-you-drive vehicles.

These are available for hire for as little as 30 minutes up to several days at a time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week accessed with a smart card or phone app.

Vehicles are usually parked in dedicated spaces close to the homes and workplaces of car club members.

The Developing Car Clubs in Scotland (DCCS) programme was launched in October 2010, funded by Transport Scotland as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions from transport and improving air quality in towns and cities.

An example of a successful rural car club was started by Fintry Development Trust in Stirlingshire to tackle the problems of lack of public transport in a village with a population of 700.

Fintry Energy Efficient Transport active car club has three cars – a seven-seater Mazda, a Ford Fusion and an electric Nissan Leaf.

Carplus is carrying out the Borders survey, and a spokesperson said: “As the national charity supporting car clubs and car-sharing in Scotland, Carplus is delighted to have the support of the Scottish Borders Council to look into the possibility of setting up a car club in the area.

“Car clubs offer access to a range of vehicles in different locations, and members can save money on travel if they only need a car from time to time.

“Cars can be booked online or over the phone for a little as 30 minutes at a time, and are accessed with a smart card or phone app.

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “The council is taking part in the feasibility study into a car club being introduced into the Borders being led by Carplus.

“The study’s findings will be included in an initial report expected to be presented to the council in June, with a final report to be considered later in the year.”

To take part in the online survey, open until Friday, May 13, go to www.research.net/r/2NRMP9J or email scotland@carplus.org.uk

The offshore investment fund picked by Scottish Borders Council to finance a £21m waste treatment facility at Galashiels is half-owned by a company registered at the British Virgin Islands offices of the law firm at the heart of the ‘Panama Papers’ tax-dodging scandal.

It is the latest revelation in the aftermath of the council’s decision last February to scrap its contract with New Earth Solutions (NES) for the provision of an advanced thermal treatment (ATT) plant at Easter Langlee and then to write off the £2.4m already spent on the procurement process.

So far, in response to Freedom of Information requests by blogger and retired Borders journalist Bill Chisholm, the council has only released heavily-redacted documents relating to the costly saga, citing a confidentiality clause in the now-defunct contract as a reason for non-disclosure.

And last month, the council declined to publish the outcome of an internal investigation into the affair intended to identify lessons to be learned.

As reported in the Southern Reporter last week, the council agreed in private in May 2011 to a deal with NES for the delivery of a conventional composting mechanical biological treatment (MTB) plant at the landfill site.

Despite interest from a range of established banks and financial institutions, councillors, on the advice of agents for NES, agreed that the MTB project should be financed through the investment fund of New Earth Recycling and and Renewables (NERR) Infrastructure, an investor in all New Earth Solutions Group companies, including the one specially set up to build the Borders plant.

In October 2012, councillors were told NERR could “no longer get bank funding” for the MTB plant without the ATT plant being added from the start of operations and agreed a deed of variation to the original contract.

It is now a matter of record that, nearly four years after the first deal was struck, NERR could still not come up with the money for the Galashiels plant.

When the deal was finally ripped up in February 2015, “insurmountable funding and technological problems” were cited.

Papers obtained by Mr Chisholm reveal that NERR is run by the offshore Premier Group (Isle of Man) and that in November 2013, trading in the Sterling cell of the fund was suspended on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange.

According to NERR’s 2014 accounts – the most recent to be published – 50% of the fund’s shares are held by a company called Premier Group Distribution.

It has a registered address in the Akara Building in Wickham’s Cay on the British Virgin Islands, a property occupied by Mossack Fonseca, the law practice from which 11 million confidential documents relating of offshore businesses and trusts were recently leaked into the public domain, leading to allegations of tax avoidance and evasion.

“It has got to be a matter of concern that the council pinned its hopes for so long on a funding solution which was, to say the least, labyrinthine and which ultimately failed to deliver this major and important project at great cost to the local taxpayer,” said Mr Chisholm.

Your view counts and is valued – that’s the message behind Police Scotland’s new online public survey which takes just 15 minutes and will help shape priorities across the force.

The survey allows communities to tell Police Scotland what’s important to them and what they want local officers to prioritise. The process is open to everyone and runs all year round, around the clock.

Police Scotland have listened to feedback from the public over the last year and used it to re-design and re-launch their consultation process for local policing priorities. The process has evolved with support from key partners and stakeholders including the set of questions used.

The public can visit www.scotland.police.uk/yourviewcounts and respond to the consultation process will be continuously monitored, with quarterly progress reports published on the Police Scotland website.

Chief Constable Phil Gormley helped to launch the survey earlier this month and said: “Over the last year, we have listened to partners and communities who gave us feedback that they wanted better opportunities to tell us what is important to them.

“The new process is about accessibility and flexibility. The benefit of an online system is that you can take part at a time which is convenient for you. If you don’t have personal access to a computer, you can use community facilities with free internet access in hundreds of locations.

“Police Scotland wants to gather and understand views which reflect the needs of communities. Local policing is at the heart of what we do and that’s why we’re committed to listening to the public – we want to provide a high standard of service which delivers effective policing, tailored to meeting local needs across the country.”

Chief Inspector Andy McLean, local area commander for the Borders, added: “ I wholeheartedly back Mr Gormley’s views. The new electronic, online consultation process is a fantastic new development and allows us to reach more members of our communities than ever before. It is especially useful in areas such as the Borders which cover vast geographic areas, and I would encourage everyone to use the survey to influence local policing here in the Borders.”

The Selkirk local fundraising committee for Cancer Research UK held its annual sponsored walk on Sunday.

A cold and snowy morning saw 76 participants take to the hills.

The flakes were short-lived, however, and the weather brightened almost immediately, and sunshine and blue skies made walking conditions perfect.

The route follows the Southern Upland Way from Dryhope in the Yarrow Valley to Traquair where the participants receive soup and a Mars Bar (courtesy of the Co-op) to help them refuel before the long climb out of Traquair up past the Cheesewell and then over the Minch Moor to the Three Brethren. Then its back to Selkirk via the Corbie Lynn, finishing at Selkirk Cricket Club for refreshment.

Since it started in 1988, the walk has raised in excess of £140,000.

Organisers are grateful to First Bus for transporting participants to the starting point and Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team for support.

The committee is celebrating 50 years of raising funds this year and have a number of events planned, including a Bus Pass Challenge to be held in June – how far can you travel on a bus pass in 12 hours?

For details of these events, contact Mary Smail on 01750 21616.

They might not look very different to the naked eye, but counting brown trout effectively can be key to preserving stock.

And on the River Tweed, technology is providing a helping hand when it comes to logging numbers.

Until recently, there had been no practical way of recording recapture rates of trout on the river.

A number of external tags are available and could be used for this, but they are a snag risk and not that suited to a fish which likes to squeeze under tree roots and overhung banks.

Now, however, river managers have pattern recognition software which allows them to recognise individual trout from the complex spot patterns found on their gill covers – the spotting is even different on either side of the same fish.

Over the two previous trout fishing seasons (in 2014 and 2015), Jim Cairns from the Coldstream and District Angling Association had been collecting scale samples from the brown trout that he caught (originally as part of a different project to establish the male to female ratios of Tweed brown trout).

Along with each scale sample, Jim took a picture of the trout which was later run through the new software.

After this was done, it appeared that most trout caught weren’t recaptured (by Jim, at least), although there were six recaptures picked up.

The recaptures occurred anything from three to 313 days after Jim initially landed the fish, with two brown trout even being caught twice in a week.

How often fish are caught is one of the most important pieces of information that is required in managing fish stock.

After all, if a brown trout has the potential to be caught multiple times over, in the space of a single season, then killing a trout can potentially reduce the catches of the following anglers.

This is particularly the case for larger and older trout where compensatory mortality may no longer be in effect.

In effect, the losses of younger trout from the river can be compensated for by better survival of others.

River Tweed commissioners can now log trout into their database and check for recaptures from pictures taken by anglers on mobile phones or digital cameras. And they are currently putting together a simple trout photographing protocol and which, once completed, will be put out in an appeal to anglers to take photos of the trout they catch.

As of yet, there is no discernible pattern in the recaptures and they appear very variable. It may be that trout recaptures are highly variable based on differences in levels of aggression or feeding risk-taking between individual fish.

In fact, given the recaptures are of fish already caught on rod and line, the samples may already consist of fish which are more likely to be caught.

However, it was interesting to see that although Jim generally fishes in the same area there was little localised movement of trout and it was particularly surprising to see two trout caught almost a year later in the same spot.

Had they gone upstream to spawn then returned to the exact same beat, or had they not spawned for some reason and overwintered in their summer feeding grounds?

Hopefully, fishing photos will clear up the mysteries of the River Tweed’s fish.