A concert is organised in Berwick this month in aid of the Berwick and District Cancer Support Group, headlined by Beechy Colclough (pictured).

Beechy is bringing a band and backing singers to the Berwick upon Tweed Drill Hall for an evening of soul, rhythm and blues, supported by local musicians Stephen Cockburn and Gary Holland.

The singer-songwriter has returned to writing and touring after a period of 27 years and has recently completed his debut album.

Tickets are available from the Berwick and District Cancer Support Group at 5 Tweed Street, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 1NG, priced at £10 and £8 concessions. People are asked to mark the envelope "The Beechy Concert" and make cheques payable to "The Berwick and District Cancer Support Group". Tickets can also bought be bought from various local businesses in the town- see local posters for details.

Berwick were due to meet Border side Hawick YM in the First Round of the Scottish Hydro Shield. Due to the opposition being unable to raise a team the game was conceded on Thursday evening. As Cheviot Trees Limited were sponsoring the game and with a large number of guests expected for a pre-match lunch the race was on to find new opposition. Despite the Club's best efforts to try and rearrange one of the other outstanding fixtures it was only possible to arrange a Friendly against local rivals Kelso. To add to the unusual nature of the match the game was also played on the much smaller and narrower Colts pitch.

The Blacks team included some of the younger players in the squad with Dan Law making his debut at open side flanker for the game. All of this meant that there was freshness to the occasion. The game kicked off like a true Border derby with both sides fully committed to the tackle and ruck situation. With experienced Border referee Normal Steel in charge things didn't get out of hand though and there was some excellent attacking play from both sides.

Campaigners who failed in their battle to stop a Northumberland wind farm bid have accused a council of making it easier for the scheme to be approved.

As reported in yesterday's Journal, developer Catamount Energy has been given the go-ahead to put up six turbines 110 metres high at Barmoor near Berwick, although proposals at nearby Moorsyde and Toft Hill have been thrown out.

Anne Daniels, Amanda Worlock and John Daniels of Save Our Unspoilt Landscape

The Barmoor scheme had been opposed by hundreds of local people, led by action group Save our Unspoilt Landscape (SOUL), fearful at its impact on countryside views and the area's archaeological and cultural heritage, in particular Ford Moss Colliery and other scheduled ancient monuments.

Over £24,000 has been awarded to support seven grey squirrel culling projects in Northumberland.

Save our Squirrels, Northern Red Squirrels and local volunteer squirrel groups have been successful in their partnership bids to the Grey Squirrel Control Fund, launched in October 2009 by the Forestry Commission, Natural England and Red Squirrel Survival Trust.

The funding provides support for grey control in seven key areas around Northumberland for up to six months.

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne has a new signature dish after Northumbrian foodies got together to celebrate the best the area has to offer.

Berwick's Slow Food group held a three- course meal consisting of food almost entirely grown, raised, gathered, churned or baked within 10 miles of the Fenton Centre.

Among the dishes was a new one just for Holy Island, providing a new take on the celebrated seafood found in the region.

Voluntary and community groups in Northumberland have been warned they are facing a reduction in funding for their work - because of the recession and tough budget savings required by the county council.

However, County Hall bosses have reassured the sector that a funding package of £1.3m will still be available next year. Budget proposals recommend more money for charities directly supporting those people worst affected by the recession.

These will include services such as credit unions and the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

A fisherman who suffers from arthritis is helping others to cope with the condition.

Robin Crawford spent 40 years fishing in the North Sea.

But the physically demanding work left him in agony with arthritis, and he is now confined to a wheelchair. Now the pensioner from Berwick has found a new lease of life through a community befriending scheme run by St John Ambulance.

Woodland volunteers are hoping to plant an idea in Northumbrian gardeners' heads after collecting hundreds of thousands of seeds for a new project.

The team of volunteers from Northumberland Wildlife Trust travelled to Ford Moss at Ford, near Berwick, to collect bags full of birch seeds for planting next February.

They are now hoping their example will encourage others in the county to grow native species from seed for themselves, improving wildlife habitats and saving themselves a lot of money in the process.

The seed-gathering project was led by Geoff Dobbins, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Estates Officer.

Report sent in by Berwick Archery Club

There were smiles all round from this newly qualified group of archers when they completed their beginners' course at Berwick Archery Club.

The course provided 12 hours of tuition over two weekends to bring the newcomers to the level of proficiency required for entrants to the sport by the Grand National Archery Society (GNAS), the governing body for archery in the UK.

Leading the course was GNAS coach Gwyn Thomas (left) assisted by the Berwick club's GNAS archery leader John Gill (right).

People in Berwick marked International Older People's Day recently with an event at the Swan Leisure Centre.

Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith opened the Celebration of Age exhibition, where there were 25 stalls and 15 leisure activities.

"This event is a showcase of activities and proves that Berwick Upon Tweed is a marvellous place to live", said Sir Alan.