Fitness Club
The recently introduced village fitness class - dubbed the “Wishful Shrinkers”, is continuing apace. Classes are held every Monday morning at 10.00. Initially they will be conducted via video and Wi-Fi, but the longer-term aim is to find an instructor.
You can follow your own diet / healthy eating plan and have the benefit of being weighed each week at no extra cost.
It is emphasised that these exercise classes are about fun, friendship and well-being. The classes are there to help us all to feel a little fitter and better about ourselves. Exercises for all levels are catered for. All we ask is that you wear loose clothing, appropriate footwear and if you have an exercise mat, bring that too. Please come along and join us---All welcome. For more information please contact.
Joan Little on 07748 227778 or email joanlittle55@yahoo.com or Anne Burgess on anneb2551@gmail.com or Jenny Mackie on jennybirgham@gmail.com.
Regular Activities & Amenities
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Move It / Stretch It
FITNESS CLUB
[a.k.a. The” Wishful Shrinkers”]
This club meets in the Village Hall every Monday morning from 10:00 to midday. All welcome.
For more information, please contact Joan Little on 07 748 227 778 or email joanlittle55@yahoo.com.
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Watch It | Enjoy It
HILDA ELLIOT FILM CLUB
Meets in the Village Hall, usually twice a month during the winter months and monthly in the summer. All are welcome.
Check out the BCDT Facebook page for upcoming dates and film titles. Recommendations and suggestions of films for future screenings would be greatly appreciated.
Entry is free but a donation at the door would be appreciated.
Organised by Bill Burgess
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Sew It | Knit It
SEWING & KNITTING CLUB
Meets in the Village Hall every Thursday afternoon from 2-4pm.
All welcome.
Organised by Jennie Mackie
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Sip It / Savour It / Note It
WINE CIRCLE
Definitely no skills or experience required to join this club! Come along and enjoy some convivial company and learn about wines from around the world, food pairings, and various other aspects of wine making. From time to time, we have expert guest speakers from the wine trade.
The Wine Circle has an annual membership fee of £10.
The Wine Circle meets regularly in the Village Hall. Check Facebook for upcoming dates, times, and wine selections.
Organised by Iain Harkess
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Paint It | Draw It
ART CLUB
Birgham Village Artists, was set up in September 2022 for residents in the village and surrounding areas who are interested in participating in an informal, social art group. Beginners and experienced members come together to work on their own or in group sessions in a friendly environment.
All art forms and abilities are welcome. Demonstrations and sessions in Watercolour, Mono Printing, Oil and Acrylic Painting, Art Movement Lectures and Gallery visits have been points of interest offered to the group since its opening.
A second highly successful Art Exhibition was held in September 2024.
The club meets on the first and third Tuesday morning of every month at 10am in the Village Hall.
Organised by Caroline Walker.
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Dig It | Grow It
GARDENING CLUB
Birgham Garden Club meet on the second Wednesday of the month, at the Village Hall. Times vary depending on the event. Times for garden visits vary and we share transport where possible.
New Members always welcome.
Annual Membership £10. Visiting guests £2 per meeting.
For further information please contact: Liz Howell, or Roger Macklin
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Read It / Return It / Donate It
VILLAGE HALL LIBRARY
A real hidden gem in the village is our own wee library in the Village Hall. Whether you are looking for a compelling read for the dark cold winter nights or a light read for the sunbed for the lazy summer afternoons, then the Birgham library should be your first stop.
You'll find the library in the foyer of the Village Hall, offering a good selection of both fiction and non-fiction books. - free for villagers to borrow. And if you have any surplus books that you’ve finished with; we would welcome your donations. Just drop them off.
To access the library, just open the external hall door to access the foyer area from morning to early evening [access to the main hall is separate from this and is locked].
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Use It / Read It
SBC MOBILE LIBRARY
The Mobile Library visits Birgham regularly, but please check the Live Borders website for changes and updates to the schedule.
The library stops at East Haugh from 13:30 to 13:55 and Treaty Park from 14:00 to 14:45 on the dates listed on the Live Borders website:
Mobile libraries are an endangered species, USE IT OR LOSE IT!
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Join It / Experience It
SCOTTISH WOMENS INSTITUTE
All women in Scotland are welcome to join the SWI, an internationally recognised and well-respected membership organisation which was created by women, for women.
We are women supporting women to live their best lives by experiencing lifelong learning, fun, and lasting friendships.
The Birgham SWI meet in the hall on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm. Our next meeting is on 21st February. Gill Cooper from Earlston will give a talk and demonstrate the art of quilting.
All welcome. For more information, please contact Joan Little (President) on 07748227778 or email joanlittle55@yahoo.com
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Sell It / Buy It / Lend It
BUYING, SELLING, & LENDING CIRCLE
Something new and experimental for Birgham - currently under consideration for introduction on a trial basis.
While a buy and sell page on a community website is commonplace, some communities have adopted an innovative scheme, also referred to as “A Library of Things” whereby a community organisation or member facilitates the lending out of items within its local community, promoting a sharing economy - and encouraging an ethos of “DON’T SPEND - LEND!”. These items are often items that are only used in ‘one-off’ or occasional situations. They can be anything, from DIY equipment and tools, garden machinery, child seats, roof boxes, camping gear, trailers, event and catering equipment and other useful household maintenance tools.
The community benefit concept is to save money by not buying items for one off or occasional use that may be available next door or on the next street
BORROW… DON’T BUY!
Initial details to be announced next month.
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Suggest It / Organise It
WHAT OTHER CLUBS, ACTIVITIES, AMENITIES OR FACILITIES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE VILLAGE?
This page lists all the clubs, activities, and amenities that village residents currently enjoy - but are there other activities that we should be considering?
We may only have a population of less than 200, but if you would like to see a new club, activity, or amenity introduced, then please come forward and suggest it, check out if there is sufficient interest and organise it.
Activities can be monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly.
Feel free to consult with the committee to get advice on funding, resources, assistance, and organisation.
Other villages have activities that include Fit & Fabulous, Seated Fitness, Indoor Car Boot Sale, Short Mat Bowls, Quiz, Bingo, Mens Shed, and clubs such as – Speakers, Book, Heritage, Walking, Yoga, Pilates, Crafting, Drama, Computer / IT [lessons] etc.
MAYBE WE ARE HAPPY WITH WHAT WE HAVE… AND IF SO THATS FINE… BUT “IF YOU DONT ASK YOU WON’T GET “ - YOU NEVER KNOW, THERE MAY BE OTHER LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS IN THE VILLAGE!
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Shoot It / Share It
PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB
[Shooting with a Camera!]
The club meets on the first Tuesday of every month. Our club is an informal meeting of enthusiastic amateurs who enjoy photography and meet monthly to share their photos and learn from each other. All are welcome, irrespective of photography experience or camera used - some of our best photos are from camera phones, while others are from a range of cameras and kit. At each meeting we share photos of a different theme, ideally with most of these being taken during the month. If interested, pop along to our next meeting or email Bob Hope @ bobhopeprojects@gmail.com for further information.
The Park
The park is a much-used facility in the summer, hosting the village’s Summer Fete.
There is a pavilion, a childrens’ play area, including a climbing wall and a small football pitch.
On the corner of the park near the War Memorial there is a plaque, kindly donated by property developer Hudson Hirsel which describes and commemorates the “Treaty of Birgham”.
Fishermans Arms Pub
The pub has been a focal point in the village since at least 1750. For many years it was in community ownership but has changed hands several times in recent years. Sadly, the pub like so many others is facing the stark economic challenges of the modern world.
Cosy surroundings, tasty food and a convivial atmosphere means that it’s well supported by villagers…. when it’s open! We must heed the adage “use it or lose it!”
The Birgham Cairn - War Memorial
The War Memorial - the ‘Millenium Cairn’ is located at the park, on a prominent corner site and memorialises those from the village that fell in both world wars.
The Birgham Riverside Walk
The Birgham Riverside Walk
Between the village and the river Tweed lies an area of land, called ‘Birgham Haugh’ (Scots; meaning a piece of flat alluvial land by the side of a river, forming part of the floor of the river valley) where a pleasant, if not sometimes bracing walk in a headwind can be taken on the farmland alongside the river.
The 3km / 2-mile walk commences from the lane next to the cemetery, and adjacent to Birgham House in the east end, thr trail follows the steep farm track down to the ’Haugh,’ heads west alongside the Tweed and up through a woodland path back to the main road at the west end of the village.
There is a small parking area adjacent to the cemetery, but please be mindful that residents require access to driveways and that farm tractors and heavy machinery regularly use the lane, so please park with due care and consideration - and watch out for farm machinery on the lane sections of the walk too.
The route consists mostly of grass farmland and farm tracks and can be muddy and slippery after rain, so sturdy footwear is advised. (Watch out for sheep droppings too!). The walk is not considered to be suitable for the less able, those new to exercise or returning from injury, for those using mobility aids, wheelchairs, or infant and other buggies. There are a couple of benches enroute - if you need a rest.
As the farmland is in active use, mostly for sheep, it is vital that you make sure that each gate on the walk is properly closed behind you and that dogs are kept under your control at all times.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU PICK UP, BAG, AND PROPERLY DISPOSE OF YOUR DOG’S POOP!
