Members' Pages

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This item was provided by Simon Warren.

Seasons reflected in Dunning's Burn

Since time began Dunning's Burn has been an important part of the village. It is no longer our main water supply and few signs remain of the mills it used to power, but it still provides a source of interest. There are several miles of burnside footpaths which provide enjoyable recreation and places for summer picnics or swimming. Even within the village where these photos were taken, it is a habitat for wildlife and a focus for several activities. Children still catch fish and eels here, and we have an annual duck race and a model raft race. The level, colour and force of the water is a common topic for discussion whenever people meet on the banks or on one of the bridges.

In August 1993 the water level was hardly sufficient for the Duck Race and some of the slower ducks needed encouragement. For comparison, not long after the 2002 race even plastic ducks wouldn't have liked it!

In winter the burn often gets icy, but it's a few years since it froze over solidly enough for youngsters to play on without risking a soaking. This photo is from Christmas 1995.

And this one is taken from almost the same position in September 2002, when the water might have been warmer, but was certainly no more welcoming.

It was this picture which generated the idea for this page, because flooding has been very much in the news this year, and Dunning did not escape.

However, although the burn has sometimes occasionally covered the adjacent road, it is very seldom that nearby houses are threatened with flooding. It wasn't the burn which flooded these gardens in Croft Avenue, simply a long spell of very heavy rain.