If you have been in Cumbria and southern Scotland recently, you can't fail to have noticed a lot of military activity.
Thousands of troops from around the world are taking part in a huge military exercise called Operation Joint Warrior.
Hannah McNulty went to see them in action:
More than 3,000 troops are taking part in "Operation Joint Warrior" in and around Galloway Forest in Dumfriesshire.
A group of British and French paratroopers are also carrying out a parachute drop near to the Braid Fell area.
More than 3,000 troops including British and French paratroopers are taking part in a joint training exercise in the Galloway Forest near Dalbeattie.
It will involve a parachute drop in the Braid Fell area, as well as a substantial amount of fixed wing and helicopter flying.
Routine movement of MOD vehicles can be expected between Galloway Forest and the north of Dalbeattie, and convoys may be present on the A75.
Environmental charities want seven areas of the Scottish countryside to be established as National Parks, including two in the borders.
The Cheviots, which straddle the border with Northumberland and the National Forrest Park in Galloway, have been put forward by The Scottish Campaign for National Parks and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland.
The charities hope it would help to protect some of the world's best landscapes, as there are currently only two national parks in Scotland.
– Alex Fergusson MSP, Galloway and West Dumfries, Conservatives"The time is right to renew this call. In Galloway we already have 3 National Scenic Areas, a National Forest Park, the highest mountain outside the Highlands, the Dark Sky designation and the Biosphere as well as a stunning diversity of lowland and coastal landscape.
"The case for a Galloway National Park is a very strong one - particularly since the need to protect the remaining natural wild land of Scotland has never been greater."
A facebook page set up by local residents from in and around Galloway has been praised for providing an extremely helpful service throughout the snow storm.
The page has attracted almost 2,000 'likes' and has enabled locals to share information on the latest weather situation where they are.
A poem titled 'The Big Sna' has been written to sum up the community spirit shown in the area.
We have shown a few verses below, but visit the 'Galloway Sno Aid Helping Page' on facebook for the full version.
"WE NEVER SEEN IT COMING, ACH IT WILL JIST MELT, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE WERE ALL TELT
""WELL IT STARTED DROPPIN, DIDNAE KEN WHUN TAE STOP, HEAVEN MUST BE EMPTY, COS AM SURE WE GOT THE LOT
"POWER OOT! HEATIN AFF, WHIT WE GAN TAE DAE, HUDDLE CLOSE THE GETHER,CLOSE OOR EYES AN PRAY
"OOT CAME THE COUNCIL, SHOVELS SALT N GRIT, BUT THE BIGGEST POWER OF ALL, A COMMUNITY STARTED TO KNIT"
The new organisers of the Galloway Country Fair said their first year in charge has been a big success. It is the 11th year of the show and its 2nd year at Drumlanrig Castle. Its aim is to promote local and rural businesses and provide a boost to the rural economy.
It's the second day of the Galloway Show at Drumlanrig Castle. The show promotes Scottish produce and celebrates the countryside.
Galloway Mountain rescue have unveiled two brand new vehicles for their rescue fleet.
They are a purpose built Land Rover and a converted Mobile Incident Control Vehicle.
The environment and the landscape that makes up Galloway and Southern Ayrshire has become to the first in Scotland to be recognised as 'significant'.
The United Nations has awarded the area Biosphere Status.
It means the area joins and elite group of environmentally important Biosphere's across the world, which include Mount Kenya, Niagara and the Hawaiin Islands.
Andy Burn has sent this report:
