Latest news with #BeltedGalloway
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
New group announces plans to restore iconic Dumfries and Galloway landmark
The Restoring Kelton Subgroup has been launched to give a fresh look to Kelton the Beltie in Castle Douglas. Plans are being made to restore an iconic Castle Douglas landmark. The Restoring Kelton Subgroup has been launched to give a fresh look to Kelton the Beltie – a three-metre tall willow sculpture of a Belted Galloway bull on market Hill. The artwork was created by Auchencairn artist Trevor Leat, who also made the statues for The Wickerman Festival with Alex Rigg. Kelton was originally commissioned for the Royal Highland Showcase and has since become a beloved local landmark and gateway to Galloway, representing both the strength of our agricultural roots and the character of our market food town. The subgroup is made up of representatives from the town's community council, Castle Douglas Development Forum, Men's Shed, Rotary, Forward Rotary, the common good sub committee and the place plan team. Local councillor and group member Pauline Drysdale said: 'This is more than just a restoration. Local artists Alex Rigg will work alongside Trevor Leat, to re-create Kelton on Market Hill, so we can all see them at work. 'We are also planning a community activity programme to include school and nursery pupils and a celebration to bring our community together over the summer. 'We are actively fundraising and we will publicly thank all sponsors and donors on a permanent plaque near the sculpture, as well as across social media and printed materials. 'This is a wonderful opportunity to be part of something meaningful and visible, right at the heart of Castle Douglas. If you'd like to support the project or would like more details I'd be delighted to speak to you.' Pledges have been received from local businesses, charities and societies, with the Belted Galloway Society donating £2,000. The group aims to raise around £5,000 extra to support a community programme and lights for the structure. Some funding will come through grants, which will be identified and managed by Castle Douglas Development Forum on behalf of the Restoring Kelton Subgroup. Councillor Drysdale added: 'Many thanks for all pledges so far. Do please contact myself should you like join any of our meetings or should you wish to contribute. We next meet at The Mad Hatter on June 4 at 7pm. All welcome.' There are plans for community events celebrating the story of the Belted Galloway and its importance to the agricultural economy, as well as a public celebration bringing the community together around Kelton. Community willow weaving, arts and crafts workshops and willow talks and demonstrations are also in the works.
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Our Yorkshire Farm star Reuben Owen's family wish as he finds perfect match
Amanda and Clive Owen's son, Reuben Owen, has come a long way from his TV debut as a youngster. The Mirror spoke to the 21-year-old about life in the Yorkshire Dales today and his rather unusual ideal date Reuben Owen and Jessica Ellwood are far from your average 21-year-olds. Reuben, who like his eight siblings grew up on smash hit 5 documentary Our Yorkshire Farm, says his ideal date involves his digger and it seems he's found his perfect match. Jess hails from a farming family eight miles away from Ravenseat, the isolated farm Reuben grew up on with his shepherdess mother Amanda, 50, and her ex-husband Clive, 70. Viewers will meet her on new 5 series Reuben Owen: My Yorkshire Life, which focuses on his plant hire business. And it seems she is thoroughly on board when it comes to his passion for machinery. "I could work with you all day in any sort of environment," said the smitten Yorkshireman as he sat down for his first joint interview with his equally in love other half. "Last weekend we were felling trees. In terms of our hobbies, I think digging. Jess is very good on the digger. She's better at driving a digger than I am milking cows." Talented Jess, who describes herself as a "proper homebird", rides and drives horses for a hobby and by day she works on her family's beef and dairy farm, milking 90 cows and looking after a herd of 15 Belted Galloway cows and 350 sheep on the fells. "I've loved animals since I was small," she said. "I always knew what I wanted to do. At my school's careers evening I walked in, put my name down for agricultural college and walked out." The couple met by chance at the night do of the Westmorland County Show, known locally as the Kendal Show, an annual event celebrating agricultural life across the border in Cumbria. "I was working on Stainmore (an area on the Yorkshire/Cumbria border) with one of my mates on the digger and he asked me if I fancied coming to the show's night do," said Reuben. "I turned up and somehow managed to get talking to Jess and it went from there. It's the biggest stroke of luck ever - I never really went to show night dos, it was just by chance I ended up at one. "We got talking about sheep and cows, I managed to pretend I knew something about cows, she probably thought I was talking utter rubbish. We just got talking and never really stopped." "He's very handsome and we just got on really well, we clicked," added Jess. "We have similar interests." Eight months on, to maximise the time the busy young couple are able to spend together, Reuben helps Jess complete milking at her farm and in return she helps him at the quarry. "I still do a little bit on my family's farm but now my brothers have gotten older they do the main bulk of the farming and I concentrate on the digging and groundwork," he said, of his famous family abode which is home to around 1,100 sheep. "But recently I've found myself doing a lot more farmwork..." "Jess is absolutely gorgeous and great to be with, I love spending time with her whatever we're doing," added Reuben. "Her family are a lovely bunch, they're great and look after me so well." The 21-year-old has previously appeared in Reuben: Life in the Dales and Beyond the Yorkshire Farm: Reuben & Clive. Viewers of the new series can expect to see the young businessman and his team, made up of pals Capper, Sonny and Tommy with brothers Miles and Sidney helping too, tackle a variety of jobs with their heavy machinery. We will also witness Reuben trying a very old-fashioned pastime, Tug Of War, which is popular with young farmers. And while he displays some impressive brute strength, it doesn't sound like this is an activity he'll be repeating. "It took me a week to recover from that," he laughed. "I felt like I'd been run over." Unsurprisingly, while many 21 year olds want a big party for their landmark birthdays, traditional Reuben had different ideas about how to celebrate his big day in November. "Jess and I were looking at my vintage tractors, which she doesn't have a lot of faith in," he said. "We went round and there were maybe eight in the shed. I told her what was wrong with them all and we decided we were going to drive seven of them from our house to fish and chips at Whitby." Reuben's workmates, brothers and Jess joined him for the epic three day, 80-mile adventure, to the North Yorkshire coast, praying the vintage machines would hold up. "It was a really fun way to spend my 21st birthday and quite inexpensive," he said. "We had plenty of disasters along the way, I went up Sutton Bank and my tractor threw all its water out and overheated. We had to put a new head gasket on it in the car park, the engine on it had come to bits. "We managed to find a gasket at a garage a few miles away and we resealed it between us. It was an adventure. We had cake on the beach." The machinery wizard's immense knowledge comes mainly from his father Clive who like his hill-farmer mother Amanda remains on hand to advise him. "I've been through college and I don't know anyone with the knowledge Reuben has," said Jess. "He learned from such a young age." "I speak to a lot of young people and try to encourage them to have a go," added Reuben. "I remember dad sitting me on the digger when I was really small. It's nice to think we're in a place with the business now where my brothers can be involved and make a few quid out of it. We've got a really good team of lads on with us." Reuben's parents famously split up a few years ago, after 22 years of marriage. Amanda and Clive later reunited to co-parent their children - Raven, 23, Reuben, Miles, 18, Edith, 16, Violet, 14, Sidney, 13, Annas, 11, Clemmy, nine, and Nancy, eight - and recently teamed up for series two of Channel 4's Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids, which sees them breathing new life into a derelict farmhouse. Reuben has been on TV since he was six or seven - or as he puts it "so long ago now, I can hardly remember" - and says the cameras have never really made a difference to his life. "The hardest time of year is winter, when the ground gets soft and boggy and we're always getting stuck and there's a camera there," he laughed. "We're good friends with the crew and it seems to be whenever something goes wrong, there's a camera." "Round here everyone just knows me as someone that's always riding around in a battered pick up," he added. "When you get a bit further afield, people tend to want selfies, it's sweet. You don't realise until you get away from here how many people watch it and enjoy the programme." Reuben may be one of nine siblings, with Jess in the middle of three sisters but both say a family as big as the Owens isn't on the cards. "Not after Easter Sunday - we took my siblings and your younger sister to a classic fair and I don't think I've ever been so stressed in my life," he said. "There were six kids, we picked up some more, their friends turned up and I was left with them all. I was so stressed, in the crowds of people. Given my attention span, I don't want that many."
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
This 300-acre former farm has undergone a transformation in response to 'catastrophic' fears: 'We need to take what action we can'
Former farmland on England's eastern coast is being rewilded to welcome a wide array of flora and fauna. The BBC reported that all 289 acres of Martlesham Wilds Nature Reserve were an organic farm a few years ago. Today, it's owned by Suffolk Wildlife Trust, a charity dedicated to helping nature flourish. The organization purchased the land in 2023, and rewilding efforts are fully underway. Martlesham Wilds sits beside the Deben Estuary in Suffolk. It's home to many habitats, such as grazing marshes, salt marshes, woodlands, and reedbeds. As the land returns to its natural state, several species have made homes there. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. SWT introduced Herdwick sheep and Belted Galloway cattle to the grazing marsh. These animals will improve the plant diversity and invite more critters. Creatures like wading birds, wildfowl, and woodlarks can thrive surrounded by this diverse flora. Jessica Ratcliff, the reserve's warden, highlighted the beauty and importance of encouraging biodiversity. She told BBC, "It's such a lovely diversity of habitat, providing the connectivity that's so important when restoring habitats." Without biodiversity, humans and most other species would not survive. The human population relies heavily on pollinators, small creatures that are responsible for reproducing numerous food crops and flowering plants. Preserving natural wetlands and grasslands also reduces flooding, protecting homes from water damage. Pollution, deforestation, expanding agriculture, and other manmade problems threaten biodiversity. However, conservation and rewilding efforts can counteract species decline. Ratcliff told the BBC that there's a "decline across the board in terms of birds, insects, and mammals," adding that "we are seeing precipitous declines, an average of 70% across insect species." She explained the ramifications: "This could be catastrophic, so we need to take what action we can and bolster populations to give them safe havens and stop decline becoming extinction." Luckily, places like Martlesham Wilds only need a little nudge. Michael Strand from SWT explained that they want to intervene as little as possible. "We're allowing nature to show what it wants to be in whatever place," he said. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Associated Press
14-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Globally-Acclaimed Chef's Rural Scottish Venture Earns Top Industry Awards Within First Year
New Luce, Scotland--(Newsfile Corp. - February 14, 2025) - The Kenmuir Arms, under the leadership of international chef Christopher Dougan, has been named Scotland's Dining Discovery of the Year and awarded 5 AA Gold Stars and 2 AA Rosettes within its first year of operation, marking a significant shift in fine dining towards rural destinations. After 25 years of experience in global culinary capitals including Singapore and London, Dougan chose the village of New Luce to establish his vision of modern Scottish hospitality, combining traditional farmhouse dining with contemporary techniques. The venue has quickly become a benchmark for rural hospitality excellence. 'What stood out was our ability to provide a unique offer that would attract those seeking a culinary experience, yet at the same time stay true to our roots and provide for our locals alike,' says Christopher Dougan, Chef-Patron of The Kenmuir Arms. 'This marked the true success of our journey and set our style on the right path.' The Kenmuir Arms has established strong partnerships with local producers, including Barnbarroch's organic Belted Galloway beef suppliers and The Wee Aird Dairy, emphasizing the venue's commitment to authentic Scottish produce. The restaurant's signature dishes showcase both primary and secondary cuts of meat, complemented by foraged vegetables and innovative presentations that reflect the local landscape. To maintain its community focus while achieving culinary excellence, The Kenmuir Arms has introduced several initiatives, including a Local Loyals special offer during off-peak times. The venue regularly hosts community events in collaboration with the New Luce Community Council and Village Hall Committee. 'Despite the awards, we aim to remain accessible to all,' Dougan adds. 'Whether it's a quiet drink with a loved one or a special occasion shared with family, The Kenmuir Arms is a place where memories can be made for generations to come.' About The Kenmuir Arms Located in New Luce, Dumfries & Galloway, The Kenmuir Arms is an award-winning restaurant with rooms that combines traditional Scottish hospitality with contemporary culinary excellence. Under the leadership of Christopher Dougan, the venue has earned recognition as Scotland's Dining Discovery of the Year, along with 5 AA Gold Stars and 2 AA Rosettes.
