The first of Heron and Willow’s Summer Sunday activities is later this month. A brilliant session aimed at families with @thegrizzlyforager - a brilliant chance to learn what can be foraged and the brilliance of nature right on your doorstep!

Free to attend but limited places so sign up here: www.heronandwillow.scot

From intimate courtyards to sweeping lawns and mature trees there is something for everyone. Abundant Borders will also be opening their wonderful community garden so it's a good opportunity to check out the brilliant work these dedicated people do and to learn about sustainable planting and 'food to table' gardening. Come along to the Volunteer Hall, Langtongate, Duns, TD11 3AF to buy your ticket and map. Children free, dogs on leads please.

Abundant Borders: Last Autumn we propagated over 20 elder trees with the view to creating a small elder woodland at the side of the Eyemouth Community Garden. As well as their benefit to wildlife, these trees should ultimately also offer us a plentiful supply of elderflowers and elderberries to use in our workshops. The time has now come to plant them out! If you'd like to get involved, come along to the Community Garden next Thursday afternoon, 1-3pm. We will also have gooseberry and currant bushes to share - just call into the garden on the day. Under-16s welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday 16 July, 10.30am–2.30pm

Oakwood Mill Farm, near Selkirk

Register here

Join us at Oakwood Mill Farm near Selkirk for an interactive workshop to explore what a Whole Farm approach to animal health looks like.

Animal Health and Welfare Plans (AHWPs) are one of 5 audits now required for the new Whole Farm Plan, which farmers and crofters must complete in order to receive Basic Payments.

AHWPs, and equivalent organic livestock management plans, aim to ensure high standards of animal health, welfare, and environmental sustainability. Key components include identifying risk, preventative measures, potential treatment strategies, breeding, nutrition, biosecurity and record keeping.

The Henry family, who are certified Organic and operate an outwintering system with their beef cattle, have worked hard over the last few years on breeding, genetics and management so that the Treatment part of their animal health plan can be very light touch. Being organic also means that their existing livestock management plan can be used in place of an Animal Health and Welfare Plan (AHWP) for the Whole Farm Plan requirements.

Join us for a look at what a proactive, whole-farm approach to animal health planning can look like in practice, and how it links to other aspects of the farm – soil, carbon, biodiversity and integrated pest (& disease) management.

Hot lunch included. 

FREE and open to farmers, crofters, growers and land managers. Booking required. 

Book online

For more information contact Colleen on 07972298576 / cmcculloch@soilassociation.org.  

This event is being delivered in partnership with Scottish Borders Climate Action Network (SBCAN).

Funding for this programme is being made available through the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF), which is funded by the Scottish Government. 

Do you live in the Coldstream area and want to get involved with some gardening with friends? Come along to the organic garden at Coldstream Primary School on 10 July 2 p.m. when they will be pruning apple trees. Contact coldstreamlarder@outlook.com

Ayton Community Garden, pick your own soft fruit event! Just bring a container!!!

Transform Arts CIC invite you to their Summer monthly drop in creative workshops.

The theme is upcycling fashion and textiles, so get creative with waste and bring new possibilities to discarded fabric. Tackle one of the world's biggest polluting problems (fast fashion) with inventiveness and fun.

Screen Print T-shirt day 

Saturday 5TH JULY 10.30am-2pm

Make a statement that you care about the environment with a screen printed  item featuring your own cool design!  Bring an old pale/ bright plain t-shirt or we can provide t-shirts or fabric to upcycle . (Ideally cotton)

All welcome to join us here:

Little Art Hub, 17 Channel St, Galashiels.

Join us to get creative in a friendly space.

All ages welcome. parents must accompany children.

These workshops are made possible by funding from the Scottish Borders Climate Action Network and from the Little Art Hub Crowdfunder, thank you for all your donation's!

No Booking required just drop in.

The venue is wheelchair accessible although the toilet is not fully accessible, there is one nearby at the tapestry.

It is also the Heartland Market days in town so you can visit the fabulous local stalls as well NOW AT THE SQUARE

Hope to see you there! Get in touch if you have any questions. transformartscic@outlook.com

Gala Waterways’ next project will be on Saturday 05 July, 10 am to 12 noon. We will be removing fallen wood from the Bakehouse and Mossilee Burns in the Gala Policies. Please wear gloves and wellies if you have them. Meet at 10 am at the entrance gate beside the Swimming Pool in Livingstone Place, TD1 1DQ. For more information contact 07763 850087 or galawaterways@gmail.com

Advice on energy bills and reducing energy usage will be on hand from 1.00 p.m. at Coldstream Community Larder, courtesy of Sustainable Borders.

Farm Wildlife Walks - Borders | Events helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Join us at Harelawside farm near Grantshouse for the latest in our programme of FAS Farm Wildlife Walks.

An opportunity to see how the Blackman family have transformed the farm to benefit wildlife and biodiversity.  24 years ago, the farm had little wildlife habitat, but today, crops grow and livestock graze amongst a mosaic of woodlands, hedgerows, ponds and field margins which are home to healthy populations of songbirds, mammals, insects and amphibians.

Come along and see the transformation, where productive agriculture and wildlife management now sit comfortably side-by-side growing food and protecting our biodiversity.

Borders Women in Agriculture - Greening and Grant Schemes | Events helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

This summer event is an opportunity to learn about the changes to greening going forward, a reminder on current grant schemes which can be used to help with the whole farm plan and hear about the new capital grant scheme.

There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion around the changes.

Hearing about the changes for 2026 now gives an opportunity for discussion, allowing you to figure out the best options for your business, as well as giving time for changes to be implemented on the ground where required for 2026 and beyond.

Join us at Greycrook for a relaxed discussion followed by lunch. Open to everyone.

Booking is essential for catering purposes.

Please use the above map for an exact meeting location. Alternatively, use the following What3Word location: SAC Consulting St Boswells.

Webinar Invitation: Understanding Carbon Audits – What They Mean for Your Farm and for Scotland

Are you curious about what a carbon audit can really do for your business? Join us for a practical and engaging webinar exploring the value of carbon audits, not just as paperwork for policy, but as a tool for making better on-farm decisions.

What to Expect:

• A clear introduction to what carbon audits are and how they work

• Real-world insights from a farmer using audits to inform day-to-day decisions

• A chance to ask your own questions and explore what it could mean for your farm

Hosted by Nikki Yoxall, farmer, researcher, and Technical Director at Pasture for Life, this session will unpack how carbon audits fit into the bigger picture of sustainable farming in Scotland – from reducing emissions to enhancing soil health and accessing funding. Nikki brings experience working with a range of farmers across the UK, supporting nature-friendly practices through research and farmer-led learning.

With guest speaker Jock Gibson of Edinvale Farm, a Pasture for Life certified business in Moray. Jock brings a farmer’s perspective on carbon auditing, having used audits to improve efficiencies, strengthen the farm’s environmental performance, and support his decision-making. He’ll share practical reflections on what’s worked, what’s been challenging, and how carbon data is helping him shape the future of his farm.

This webinar is ideal for anyone in the Scottish farming community looking to:
✅ Make sense of carbon audits in plain language
✅ Hear directly from another farmer’s experience

Event meeting link (which will also be sent out before the event): https://tinyurl.com/UnderstandingCarbonAudits

Join South of Scotland Enterprise, Local Energy Scotland & Communities about net-zero, renewables & clean heat opportunities.

The event will be hosted at Duns Swimming Pool.

Find out more and get your tickets here: Developing a Community Energy Project Tickets, Tue, Jun 10, 2025 at 1:30 PM | Eventbrite

ILLUSION HORSE - Art Workshop

Transform Arts CIC are delighted to announce our next monthly drop in creative workshop for all ages and abilities coming up, SEE POSTER ATTACHED.   

All welcome to join us on:

Saturday 7th June 

10.30 am-2pm  

Little Art Hub, 17 Channel St, Galashiels.

Join us to decorate a giant horse puppet with eye bending optical illusions for the Braw Lads day fancy dress parade!  Learn how to create optical effects using simple drawing and collage techniques.

Also make your own optical illusion accessories & have a go at making a retro animation inspired by Eadweard Muybridge the first person to capture the animated movement of a Horse, before film.

Join us to get creative in a friendly space, Make art using recycled & donated/reclaimed materials.

All ages welcome. parents must accompany children.

No Booking required just drop in.

This event has been made possible by all your generous donations to the Little Art Hub CROWDFUNDER- Hooray we hit our target, THANKYOU SO MUCH. Look out for more activities coming up at the Little Art Hub.

The venue is wheelchair accessible although the toilet is not fully accessible, there is one nearby at the tapestry.

It is also the Heartland Market day in town so you can visit the fabulous local stalls as well NOW AT THE SQUARE

Hope to see you there! Get in touch if you have any questions.

Heat Hack: Saving Energy on Buildings, Friday 30th May, 9.30-11.30am.

Our friends at East Lothian Climate Hub would like to invite you to the upcoming event Heat Hack: Saving Energy on Buildings on Friday 30th May in Dunbar. This event will be run by Heat Hack. It aims to support people who manage buildings to create a high-level plan that covers everything from checking the heating controls are fit for purpose to undertaking a full building retrofit.  This workshop is for anyone that manages community buildings such as churches, villages halls and sports clubs.

The session will cover topics such as:

• What matters for thermal comfort; ways to keep people warm without trying to keep warm air in hard-to-retrofit buildings

• Retrofit options for reducing heat loss

• Dealing with increased/harder rainfall

• Achieving consensus and planning for change

• How to have the right conversations with professionals and convince funders that your plan is a good one

Please share this with any groups managing community buildings that you know of, and feel free to ask any questions: tess@eastlothianclimatehub.org

Please register here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/eastlothianclimatehub1/1644314

Address: St. Anne's Scottish Episcopal & Methodist Church, 1 Westgate, Dunbar, EH42 1JL

Penicuik Storehouse/ Penicuik Community Garden are hosting a plant and seedling swap.

The event will be hosted at Penicuick Storehouse.

In celebration of Bee Day we are sharing our surplus plants and seedlings with an emphasis on pollinator-friendly plants.

Join us in Berwickshire to celebrate Green Health Week in Eyemouth as we celebrate inclusive access to nature and wellbeing for all. This event highlights how connecting with the outdoors can support mental and physical health while also fostering a deeper appreciation for our environment.

Try an e-bike or e-trike in a taster session with Sea the Change from their Cycle Shack in Eyemouth and then head down to Gunsgreen House where we will learn from our NHS Borders Ways to Be Well presentation. There will then be the opportunity to hear about the Scottish Borders Climate Action Network and opportunities on how we can share ideas on nature, climate, and wellbeing to inspire one another. Fingers crossed the sun shall be shining!

Explore how small changes—active travel, time in green spaces, and community action—can benefit both personal health and the planet.

Enjoy tea, coffee, and refreshements, meet like-minded people, and discover new ways to embrace nature sustainably. Free event – all welcome!

The event is hosted by Sea the Change, Scottish Borders Climate Action Network (SBCAN) and NHS Borders.

If you have any questions please email sbcan@sup.org.uk

Celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day by joining us to hear the birds singing on Bowden Common. No need to be a bird expert.

Meet at Bowden Common for 6.30am.

Our next project will be on Saturday 03 May, 10 am - noon. We will be removing rubbish from the left bank of the River Tweed near the Sewage Works. Meet at 10 am at the Scottish WATER depot off Winston Road, TD1 2DA (What three words: villa.washing.serenade). The meeting point will be signposted from the gates of the depot / sewage works. Please wear gloves and boots or wellies. For more information contact 07763 850087 or e-mail galawaterways@gmail.com

Hike and Bike

Walk description - on this walk, we will take in sections of the Cross Borders Drove Road and the Southern Upland Way. Leaving Traquair, we will walk through the Tweed Valley Forest Park and on to Minch Moor. After a break at the iconic Three Brethren, our route takes in Yair Bridge before we head over the hills and back to Galashiels.

Meet at Hub at 7.30am

Bus at 7.45am

Start walk at 8.30am

Return by 5.30pm

Walk description – Leaving the Hub, we will walk up through Ladhope Gorge and around Ladhope recreation ground, across Blaikies Hill and Wester Hill before descending back to Galashiels town centre.

Meet at Hub at 12.00pm

Start walk at 12.10pm

Return by 3.30pm

Galashiels Walking Festival Spring 2025 - Ladhope, Blaikies & Wester Hill Tickets, Sat, Apr 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite

Walk description – We'll get the bus from the Hub to our start point at the Kingsknowes Hotel. We will then walk alongside the River Tweed to Boleside, crossing over near the old Tweed Bridge to Faldonside before following the riverside path to through the Abbotsford estate, past Abbotsford House (the home of Sir Walter Scott), before returning to the Kingsknowes Hotel.

Meet at Hub at 9.45am

Bus at 10.00am

Start walk at 10.10am

Return bus at 3.00pm

Distance 8km / 5 miles

Grading – Easy

Galashiels Walking Festival Spring 2025 -Kingsknowes, Boleside & Abbotsford Tickets, Sat, Apr 26, 2025 at 9:45 AM | Eventbrite

Unfolding a story about female leadership, human rights activism and climate justice,  MRS ROBINSON (directed by Aoife Kelleher ) tells the inspirational life story of change-maker Mary Robinson: Ireland's first female President, a pioneering UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the successor of Nelson Mandela as Chair of The Elders and the co-founder of Project Dandelion. Film trailer (33) MRS ROBINSON TRAILER - YouTube A reforming constitutional lawyer and senator in her early career, Mary Robinson detonated an electoral earthquake by winning the Irish Presidential vote in 1990. Later, as a crusading UN High Commissioner, she built a lasting legacy; fearlessly challenging perpetrators of human rights abuses all over the world. To this day, she exerts power and leadership as the Chair of The Elders; the independent group of global leaders (founded by Nelson Mandela) who work for peace, justice and human rights. Following the film (52 mins) there will be refreshments, and we will hear from three women in the Scottish Borders who are taking action around climate change in different ways, with time for discussion.

There are only 25 tickets available so to avoid disappointment please reserve your seat in advance by signing up here

MRS ROBINSON - Sun, Apr 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM BST | Kinema

This is a free screening but donations on the door are welcome to help Films for Change cover venue and refreshment costs.

Spring Clean, 09:45 to 12 noon. Meeting in the riverside car park near the Transport Interchange, Stirling Street. Please wear stout shoes or boots. Litter-pickers, gloves and bin-bags provided. For more information phone 01896 664739 or e-mail galawaterways@gmail.com

Meet artists, crafters, hobbyists, menders and makers. Hear what people told us in our recent survey. Join the discussion about what to do next.

Please join us for this symposium on developing sustainable district heating in rural Scotland.

Scotland Beyond Net Zero - Rural District Heating Symposium Tickets, Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 9:30 AM | Eventbrite

Please join us for this symposium on developing sustainable district heating in rural Scotland.