Tuesday 7th December 2010 Rally car stolen from Scottish hotel
A rally car valued at about £50,000 has been stolen from outside a
hotel in Scotland. Police in south west Scotland have launched an
investigation after the car went missing some time between 0020 and
0720 GMT on Sunday from the Urr Valley Hotel in Castle Douglas. The
white Subaru Impreza belonged to a crew over from Ireland to take part
in the Galloway Hills Rally being held in the area. Police have
appealed to the public for any information about the car and its
whereabouts. Dumfries and Galloway

Monday 6th September 2010 Man rescued after lighthouse fall
A man who appears to have fallen from a lighthouse into the sea off
the coast of Dumfries and Galloway has been rescued. The victim was
picked up by Royal Navy helicopter crew based on HMS Gannet in
Prestwick when it was called out after reports that a man had fallen
from Port Logan Lighthouse. The Royal Navy winched the man to safety
from the water and he was then transferred to Crosshouse Hospital in
Kilmarnock. Early reports said the man had suffered head injuries and
a broken wrist. Dumfries and Galloway

Thursday 20th May 2010 Annandale whiskey to flow again
After 90-years without producing a drop of whiskey the Annandale
Distillery in southern Scotland is to reopen. A £4m project was given
the green light by planners and promises to bring jobs and financial
benefit to the local economy. A visitors centre with a shop and café
are included in the plans to revitalise the old site, with the hope of
attracting 25,000 visitors annually.

The scheme received approval from the Dumfries and Galloway Council’s
Annandale area committee yesterday. The plans have been helped by the
injection of £150,000 Regional Selective Assistance grant two years
ago. The Scottish Whiskey Association welcomed the news of the
proposed lowland distillery, which would join just five others
currently in production in the region. Dumfries and Galloway

Wednesday 5th May 2010 Baby porcupine born in Scottish park
The Galloway Wildlife Conservation park in Kirkudbright in Dumfries
and Galloway is celebrating the arrival of a baby porcupine, born on
Saturday and doing well. The new infant is a North American porcupine
and has inevitably been named Spike. Weighing just 1lb 7oz (649g) the
welcome addition to the park’s population was born without hitch after
a seven-month pregnancy.

On birth the North American porcupine looks hairy rather than spiky.
Mr Denerley, of Galloway Wildlife Conservation park, explained: “When
the baby is born, its quills are soft. They harden about an hour after
birth If attacked, contrary to popular belief, the porcupine does not
throw its quills," he said. Instead, it drives its tail against the
assailant and dozens of quills detach easily from the skin to remain
embedded in the attacker." Dumfries and Galloway

Friday 9th April 2010 Geese satellite tracked for wind farm plan
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) have tagged five male Svalbard
barnacle geese amid concerns that offshore wind farms could interfere
with their migration. The geese spend winter in the Solway Firth
before migrating north to the archipelago of Svalbard for the summer.

Dr Larry Griffin, WWT principal research officer, said: "If they are
flying through there in the darkness or in sea fog conditions, my
concern is there is potential of a collision. It may well be that they
spot these things easily and use them as a navigational marker, but it
just concerns me a bit the time of day they are going through that
area and that they have quite a narrow route.” Dumfries and Galloway

Monday 16th November 2009 Galloway Forest Park - UK’s first Dark Sky Park
Scotlands Galloway Forest Park has officially been named as Britain’s
first Dark Sky Park. The International Dark Sky Association’s award
confirms Galloway as one fo the best places for stargazing in the
world. Experts visited the park to check the skies above the forest
were pitch black at night.

Keith Muir, Forestry Commission Scotland's head of tourism and
recreation in Galloway, said: "We have boldly gone where no-one in the
UK has gone before. Tourism is the single largest economic development
opportunity for south west Scotland. Currently, the Galloway Forest
Park welcomes around 850,000 visitors each year and we have big plans
to double this over time." Dumfries and Galloway

Friday 6th November 2009 Scottish Santa school
Wannabe Father Christmases can now go to school to learn the ho-ho-ho
rule. Students attending the ‘Santa School’ set up at Mabie Farm Park
near Dumfries will even get a ‘certificate of competence’ to play the
part of Santa if they complete the training successfully.

The Dumfries and Galloway based training is in its second year and is
aimed at ensuring people playing Santa in shopping centres and
children’s parties are properly trained. Candidates will learn the
history of Santa, voice training and make up techniques. Dumfries and Galloway