The community council have now called a public meeting on 28th August to gauge public support for development of Parton Kirk.

After the record-breaking success of last year, this year's organisers are hoping they can match, if not exceed, the 353 entries at the upcoming show on 29th August 2026.

The event formed part of a new programme of work at Glaisters Bridge, an innovative site where landowner Foresight Group, supported by EJD Forestry is working with a range of community groups to add local value.

Following the success of the first Glenkens Skills and Jobs Fair in September 2025, we are delighted to announce that the event is to be held again on Thursday 24 September at Dalry Secondary School.

Glenkens Food Month has been held each September since 2019.

The decision by Dumfries and Galloway Council to proceed with a formal consultation on the proposed closure of Dalry Secondary School has prompted renewed discussion about the future of rural education across the Glenkens.

The Dumfries & Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme is now open for applications. This supports native tree planting across the region with grants of up to £1,000. Recipients last year varied from farmers and landowners through to community groups and schools, all of whom benefitted from the flexible and easy scheme to make their small scale tree planting ambitions come true!

British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) is campaigning to re-open the 73 mile rail link between Dumfries and Stranraer, closed since 1965.

Funding has now been secured from the Glenkens & District Community Fund to build on existing work, supporting a further series of public events on the site and to contribute towards the establishment of a new car park.

The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere features alongside the UK’s 61 other UNESCO sites on an updated map published by the UK National Commission for UNESCO.

July's Citizen Science talk was fully booked with gardeners from the Glenkens and the wider area coming together in Kirkpatrick Durham Village Hall to learn how to make their gardens into havens for wildlife.

Over recent months, the bairns of the Carsphairn children’s group, Bairn Banter have enjoyed a variety of different sessions involving a very equine theme. 

The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere (GSAB) Partnership has announced its largest ever gathering will take place on Wednesday 29th July in Thornhill.

The theme for the day turned out to be ‘Connections, Past and Present’. Long may those connections hold firm.

The events are either designed for under 8-year-olds or over 8-year-olds, and aim to give our region’s young people the ability to enjoy and better understand our Coastal Woodlands.

Galloway Rivers Trust (formerly Galloway Fisheries Trust) are raising awareness of invasive non-native plant species (INNS) affecting coastal environments and to ask for your assistance in identifying and reporting any sightings on land you own, manage or access.

This summer, a new international exchange will link the Glenkens with Sülz in Cologne, Germany, exploring what keeps volunteers showing up and how shared spaces shape community life.

RISE OPEN 2026 is now open for submissions from visual artists under 25 living in Dumfries & Galloway. This is a FREE opportunity for emerging artists working across 2D and 3D visual art.

Are you aged 11–18 and passionate about nature, wildlife and the outdoors? Join the Loch Ken Junior Rangers and take part in an exciting programme of practical conservation activities, outdoor skills and environmental learning while working towards the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (SCRA) Junior Ranger Award.

Letter from Carsphairn Village Shop Committee Ltd (CVSL) on the ongoing redevelopment of the community shop and plans to re-open the village pub.