ISSUE 12

Autumn/ Winter 2011-12

Creetown Iniave
The last few months have been extremely busy for Creetown Iniave.
A huge amount of work has gone into the King Georges Playing Field Park Project; fingers crossed we will hear in the New Year whether we have been successful in raising money to replace the ageing play equipment. The wind turbine and micro hydro schemes are moving forward and we will publish a detailed progress report in the New Year. The youth workers have been very busy and a number of very successful events have taken place. Aendance at these events has been fantasc which goes to prove just how desperate the youngsters are to do things. We plan to take the youngsters to the pantomime in Dumfries in December - a discount on ckets has been negoated, and Rob Ross Jnr got us a good deal on a coach; thanks Robert for that. However, even with all that, the trip will cost near to 600 so Creetown Iniave are chipping in with 300 from proceeds of the raffle that the Gem Rock Museum have been running for us. Many thanks to Tim and Carolyn for donang the Amethyst Geode. We hope to announce a number of other events for the youngsters in the coming months. At last the Creetown Football Clubs pavilion is being built - we are doing further work

FERRY NEWS LETTER

to support the development at Castle Cary Park and we all look forward to seeing the building open next year. Funds raised by our dear late friend Jim Lupton will be presented to Creetown Football Club by his wife Janee in the next few weeks. The money was raised by Jim through his work on the wonderful detailed and ornate Clock Tower door Jim and Archie Mckie made. It was Jims wishes that the money raised should go to Creetown Football Club. It will be a welcome boost to the club, and the door a long lasng legacy to the village.

Youth Photography Winners

Local photographer Val Horton ran a Youth Photograpy Compeon as part of the Day of the Region events this summer.
The theme of the compeon was My Creetown, and to the le is the winning picture in the Junior secon, taken by Erin Monteith. Connued on Page 7.

Byre on Church Brae

Jim Lupton played as goalie, pictured here in the dark shirt.

p2

Youth Update Youth Hood

Welcome to the first edion of Youth Hood!
This is the space for Creetowns youth. They dont oen get the chance to communicate with the rest of the community about whats going on with them. So, I figured I should try to act as the bridge between their world and yours.
Recap of the summer events:
In July we ran youth photography workshops and compeons under the tuion of local photographer Val Horton, giving children and teens the chance to get out and about and explore Creetown through the lens of a digital camera. This project was part of the Day of the Region events, and the photographs were displayed and judged on Saturday 1st October in the Waverley Hall. The standard was very high and all the entrants were congratulated for their hard work, each receiving a cerficate and cash prize. The two winners were Erin Monteith for the junior entrants and John Sloan for the senior entrants and the runners up were Emma McTeir and Megan Monteith. You can see some of their winning photographs in this edion of the Ferry News, on the front page and on Page 7. young people parcipang in the tug o war, rounders, football, and the epic obstacle course! The young people also wanted to be included in the Gala Day on 13th August, so they ran a tradional games stall in the park and raised 70 for their youth clubs. Addionally, Chrissie Hill, one of our youth workers, organised two gala floats for the young people to make and dress up for. We had a Grease float, complete with the Greased Lightning car, and the children dressed up as the T-Birds, Pink Ladies and Danny and Sandy, and a Wizard of Oz float with lots of the local children dressing up as the wellknown characters from the film. We raised 95 and came 2nd and 3rd! We have some very creave young people in the village and in light of this, we organised two arts and cras making aernoons on 1st and 2nd August in the Waverley Hall. The young people got to use their creave skills to make arts and cras to sell on Gala day. I am hoping these events will not only provide the young people with fun acvies to learn new skills, but will also give them a feeling of community inclusion and might encourage other children to join youth club. Everyone knows young people have a lot of spare energy and somemes pent up frustraon. At youth club we try to encourage young people to culvate their enthusiasm in a construcve manner and as such, young people had the chance to aend combined Kickboxing, FungFu and Self Defense sessions for a three month block with maral arts leader Kenneth Mckeand.

Gala Events:
I havent lived in the local area for long, but I have quickly learned that the annual Gala week is a major community event in Creetowns calendar. I also couldnt fail to noce that the youth of the village didnt have any Gala events specifically tailored for them, so the Gala commiee kindly suggested the youth club organise acvies for the youths to parcipate in. The general consensus of the children was to have a fun sports aernoon with lots of different acvies. This event was on Saturday 6th August in Creetown Park and we had a great turn out of

p3

Youth Hood continued

Autumn Events:
their scarecrows. Halloween is fast becoming a popular autumn event in the UK, so this year the staff and volunteers of Creetown Youth Club decided to spook it up by holding two scarecrow making arts and cras days during the October holidays. This was open to all young people in the village to come along and make their own themed scarecrow. However, we also encouraged all members of the local community to get into the spirit(!) of things by creang their own scarecrow and displaying them outside their houses. We followed this by holding a youth Halloween party in the Waverley Hall 29th October, encouraging everyone to come along dressed up and bring Peter Foster from the Galloway Gazee kindly agreed to judge the compeon, resulng in 1st place Britney Hill, 2nd place Gordie and Evie Paerson, 3rd place Aimie Brown, Group Effort winner Kevin Ball and team and Family Effort winner The Monteith Family. Home-made spook-tacular cakes, pumpkin soup, worm jelly and witches eyeball punch, along with party music and games, made for a fun me had by all. We were so pleased with the turn out and managed to raise 125 for the youth of the village. Thank you so much to all the local businesses, organisaons and everyone who donated trophies,

cash and prizes for the raffle we couldnt have done it without you. Lets hope next years scarecrow compeon and party will be even beer!

Youth Community Tree Planng:

As you will probably be aware, currently one of the main community projects in Creetown is the regeneraon of the park. The members of the youth club wanted to become involved in helping to shape the park into an environment where everyone would like to be. The junior youth club spread seeds and planted fruit trees in November, and the senior youth club will be planng saplings in the near future. The young people are hoping to raise some funds for their youth club by asking for some sponsorship money for helping with a worthwhile community project. Please help our young people to create a beer park environment for you.

If you have any comments, ideas or quesons about Youth Club or about any events, issues or acvies affecng young people, please dont hesitate to contact me on 01671 820654 or amydeegh@gmail.com.
Amy-Dee Tighe, Lead Youth Worker, Creetown Youth Club

Kirkmabreck Parish C h u rc h S e r v i ce s
Weekly Sunday Service: 11.30am

Minister Rev P. Aiken

Church Sale - Sat 3 Dec, Waverly Hall, 2pm Watchnight Service - Sat 24 Dec, 11.30pm Christmas Day Service - 11am

01671 403361

Creetown Silver Bands annual Christmas Concert will be held in the Bandhall on Thursday 15th December at 7.30pm. Both the senior and the training band will perform. Entrance is free. There will be a raffle, and tea/coffee and mince pies will be provided.

CREETOWN SILVER BAND

Other band dates are:

25th Nov at Wigtown 4th Dec at Gatehouse 13th Dec at Creetown 16th Dec at the Isle of Whithorn 18th Dec at Kirkcowan Church 23rd Dec at the Cally Palace Hotel 24th Dec at Newton Stewart and Creetown

p4

The Way We Were...

And why is Adamson Square so called? Hopefully, if we get our facts right, a revised leaflet might be ready for the Spring to guide you on an interesng walk round Creetown.

Creetown Heritage Museum

The museum has closed now aer a very evenul, but difficult, year. In view of the present economic climate it was not surprising that visitor numbers should be a bit down on last years, but the efforts put in by everyone concerned have more than offset the problems we have faced in keeping the museum Above is an old, and not very clear, photo of the running and financially viable. quaintly named Dawson City Inn. Does anyone Special menon just has to be made of Val Johnson know anything about it? and Muriel Palmer in organising coffee mornings, The Local History Group producing the Creetown Cookbook which is selling It isnt all talk at the History Group! Things get done very well and increasing the range of goods for as well. One of the projects has been to review the sale in the museum. guided walk round Creetown first produced by John Archie McKie has taken over as chairman and is Cutland about twelve years ago. pung his own stamp on the way things should go Its surprising how things you could find a few years and is leading by example regarding the amount of ago can no longer be seen, or how easy it becomes work he is already doing. Not surprising then, that to say: Why did we miss that out?. we got a good report from VisitScotland following our bi-annual quality inspecon. Parcularly Could you, for example, say where an old poor pleasing though is the Cerficate of Nominaon house used to stand; or where the Temperance received from the Stewartry Celebraon of Hotel was; or where the Town Hall was; or the old police staon; or where there are sll metal brackets Achievement Awards 2011 scheme. With several developments to be tackled over the winter, we can for holding paraffin street lamps; or whether you look forward with confidence to opening again in can find the remains of an old pack-horse bridge? 2012. Andrew Macdonald

Nature & Wildlife

The Oystercatcher is probably the most recognisable common wader in the UK.
It is a large black and white bird, with a prominent long orange bill, and stout pink legs. It is a very vocal wader and its `piping call can oen be heard at night as it can feed efficiently in the dark. Wintering populaons on Wigtown Bay have been quite stable since 1984, but did show a slight decline in the later 1990`s in line with the naonal short-term trend which was enough for the oystercatcher to be placed on the Amber list of Birds of Conservaon Concern. Typical peak numbers on the Bay are around 2500 and are rarely over the threshold for naonal importance of 3600. However, the Solway is internaonally important for overwintering oystercatchers, typically around 29, 000 on 10 sites around the Solway including Wigtown Bay. Oystercatchers have the strongest bill of the waders enabling them to feed on shellfish that other waders could not, such as cockles and mussels. Oystercatchers have developed two main methods for opening these bivalves: They either hammer through the shell, in which case their bills are blunted and chisel-like, or they stab into the shell and prise the two halves apart, in which case they have longer more pointed bills. The oystercatcher`s beak is, however, not necessarily constant, and is capable of exceponal growth. Blunted beaks from shellfish feeding may again become more pointed if inland feeding on earthworms is employed. This would seem to be a very unusual and useful survival trait. When shellfish numbers are depleted due to severe winters or overfishing, Oystercatchers will take to feeding in coastal fields on earthworms helping to preserve populaons in hard mes. The prey is oen located by probing or somemes found by sight. When a cockle is located it is `levered out and very oen carried to a pool to open and Items of food are oen washed before eang. Lugworms and ragworms are also located by probing, and there is somemes a brief tug of war before the bird gets its meal. Tellins are found and opened very quickly with a thrusng acon of the beak. Tellins move deeper in the mud in response to colder winter days and the long Oystercatcher`s beak ensures that they can sll reach this food source where some other waders could not. I have also seen Oystercatchers with part of their heads

p5

THE OYSTERCATCHER - AN ADAPTABLE WADER

underwater as the de was going out, probably locang cockles. Their long bill enables them to do this, and perhaps get a head start in the feeding race. It is probably also a tacc for locang bivalves with their shells partly agape underwater, filter feeding, in which case they may be easier to open. A pecking order is apparent in feeding groups, with one bird oen chasing off another just as the first bird finds or appears to find a food item. There seems to be less `squabbling when more of the mudflats are exposed. Due to their efficient feeding methods oystercatchers can quickly aain their daily food requirement, therefore leaving more me for roosng, preening, etc, which helps to keep the birds in good condion. This is evident when carrying out wetland bird surveys on Wigtown Bay. The Oystercatchers are always the first to arrive at their tradional high de roosts, and are also the last species to disperse from the roost to their feeding grounds. Roosng birds can oen be seen standing on one leg with their heads tucked under their wings over their backs, facing into the wind. As the de overtakes them, they oen lazily hop one legged ahead of it. Peter Robinson

p6

King George V Playing Fields Regeneraon Project

Elecrofishing in Moneypool Burn As part of the regeneraon of the park, Biologists Jamie Ribbons and Neil Dalrymple from the Galloway Fisheries Trust were invited to Creetown to hold an interacve educaonal session on the different types of fish living in Moneypool Burn.
To start the day off, Jamie gave an informave talk to Creetowns Primary School P3-5 class to teach the pupils about the amazing life cycle of salmon. The class then headed down to the park where Jamie and Neil gave an electrofishing demonstraon. Jamie explained that this technique is harmless to the fish and is used by the Trust to monitor fish species and numbers in water courses. During the demonstraon several salmon parr, trout and an eel were found in the burn and everyone was given the opportunity to view the fish and idenfy them. Jamie explained about the importance of a healthy water habitat for the fish and the work being undertaken by Kirkmabreck Community Council and Creetown Iniave to enhance Moneypool Burn by reducing over-shading of the water from excessive tree growth. This project is supported by Solway Heritage and Shanks Waste Soluons through the Landfill Communies Fund and D&G Council Biodiversity Partnership.

Group joined forces this month to help create a community orchard and wildflower garden in the park. Kirkmabreck Community Council and the Balloch Community Woodland Project donated a large selecon of apple, plum, cherry and pear trees which were planted by the volunteers. An area of ground was also prepared and sown with wildflower seeds which were specifically blended with plant variees that will support bird, bee and buerfly populaons. The wildflower seeds were purchased through funding Creetown Iniave successfully obtained from the CSV SNH Biodiversity Fund. The aim of this project was to enhance the park environment for the benefit of wildlife and the community. Next year once the garden area begins to come alive, there will be an abundance of nave wildflowers which will support the natural ecosystem and it will also be a beauful space in which the community can enjoy. The fruit trees will provide pollen in the spring which will benefit certain insect species. In late summer and autumn, the trees will produce fruit which we hope both wildlife and the community can enjoy!

Community Tree Planng Project

On the 20th November, Kirkmabreck Community Council and Creetown Iniave asked volunteers in the community to come forward and help plant 420 saplings in the park. An applicaon to the Woodland Trust by Creetown Iniave earlier in the year was successful and the community has been awarded a pack of saplings which will bring year-round colour to the park landscape.

Community Orchard and Wildflower Garden

Volunteers and members of Creetowns Junior Youth

p7

News from the Church

In August we ran a successful Flower Fesval to which we invited local organisaons to tell us about themselves, with the aid of floral arrangements.
In this way we were able to make the fesval a truly community event. One spin-off from the fesval has been the producon of a small booklet which gives informaon on groups and acvies within the Creetown area; this was distributed to homes in Creetown in September. In the summer months we provided teas for visitors aer our morning service, and from October onwards we offer a soup lunch once a month. This gives the congregaon an opportunity to chat and enjoy fellowship together.

Autumn is driing slowly into winter and this marks the start of a new Guild programme. The Guild is raising money this year for two important causes Mission Aviaon Fellowship and World Mission Council which focuses on coexistence in Israel/Palesne. The money raised will contribute to the Guilds naonal appeal and raise a substanal amount for these parcular projects. The Guild are delighted to take part in this naonal programme of giving to such worthy causes; it underlines the prominent role the Guild plays as one of Scotlands leading charitable organisaons. Christmas is round the corner and, like many other churches across the country, we are taking part in the annual shoebox appeal. Many thanks to all who are supporng this worthwhile project. With best wishes and prayers, Kirkmabreck Parish Church

Youth Photo Comp - connued from front page...

As part of Creetowns Day of the Region acvies I was asked to become involved with a Photographic Compeon, says Val Horton.
This led to workshops involving some of Creetowns young people. On four evenings spread over two weeks in July varying numbers of youngsters aended and enjoyed using the cameras which were provided by Creetown Iniave. Some of them also borrowed the cameras and took pictures in their own me. Several hundred pictures were taken in total... There was a considerable difference in ages, but Im sure youll agree that they all worked extremely hard on this project and all their entries show great enthusiasm for the various subjects and great promise. There were 25 entries, and from them a Junior (under 12) and Senior (12+) winner and runner-up were chosen. The winner of the Senior Youth Photography Compeon was John Sloan, and you can see his winning phototo the right.
John Sloans winning photo of the old mill.

Creetown Market
EVERY 2ND SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
commencing March 2012

10am unl 3pm

at King George V Park, Creetown, DG8 7HZ
2012 will see the introducon of our very own Creetown Sunday Market showcasing the best of our regions quality producers, arsts and makers

Stalls will include outdoor bred pork, highland beef, lamb, smoked produce, bread, cakes, preserves, dog treats, jewellery, herb cosmecs, chocolates, gis, and much more...

CRAFT AND PRODUCE FAYRE

FREE ADMISSION
Shop local, shop smart, shop at the Creetown Fayre

Sunday 11 December 2011

10am unl 4pm
at the Gem Rock Museum Chain Road, Creetown, DG8 7HJ Want to find a unique gi or a Christmas dinner with a difference? Come and buy from local arsts, makers and producers... Stalls include Christmas trees, jewellery, painngs, wood carvings, herb cosmecs, handmade books, knitwear, cards, fragranced gis, candles, fruit and veg, butchers meat, bread, cakes, honey, preserves and hampers, plus much more...
The Gem Rock tearoom and gi shop will also be open all day and there will be free admission to the Museum for all customers on Sunday 11 December.
(The Gem Rock Museum, tearoom and gi shop is open seven days, 10am-4pm, unl Thursday 22 December inclusive)

To contribute to the Ferry News Letter, please contact Carolyn Stephenson on 01671 820216 or carolynmackay@btinternet.com
Your input is vital so please do get in touch with any news, views, events or advertising.

THE NEXT ISSUE IS DUE TO BE PUBLISHED IN MARCH

Printing the Ferry News is just one way of expressing our commitment to the communities we work in. www.standardlife.com