Watch Border Life (2014 episodes)

As Border Life completes its first year - Fiona Armstrong presents a look-back at some of the programme's highlights in 2014.

Fiona Armstrong visits a new style of women's refuge in Dumfries and reports that the problem of women abused by their partners is, worryingly, still on the increase. Gill Brown meets a Borders artist making an impact with his unusual map art. And Emma Baker visits a hedgehog rescue centre in Dumfries and Galloway. Prog 37

Domestic violence is increasing - and the incidents are becoming more violent. That's the warning from a Scottish Women's Aid organisation in the region.

The Dumfriesshire and Stewartry group has been helping victims of domestic abuse for 35 years. Fiona Armstrong has been given an exclusive look inside their new safe accommodation for women who flee from violent partners.

If you’re affected by any of the issues in this report there are helplines available:

Women’s Aid (Dumfriesshire & Stewartry): 07710 152 772

Scottish Women’s Aid: 0800 027 1234

Watch the full episode of Border Life at 8pm on ITV Border Scotland or online after the programme, here.

Emma Baker joins search and rescue teams on a vital training exercise to get their dogs ready for the busy - and dangerous - winter season. Jenny Longden meets the South of Scotland's master of the metal detector and joins him in a hunt for buried treasure. Fiona Armstrong reports on a community scheme in Moffat where coffee waste is being used to help grow mushrooms for sale.

A local community-owned company in Moffat is making money from food waste.

Moffat Can is already known for recycling and repairs. Their aquaponics project uses waste from farmed fish to grow plants in water. Then there's the garden - all organic, of course.

This latest project involves the town's cafes and restaurants. Fiona Armstrong reports.

Fiona Armstrong takes a look at a drugs and alcohol service which has been helping the people of Dumfries and Galloway for the past 21 years.

Gill Brown checks on the progress of a venture for artists in Selkirk and Emma Baker dons her walking shoes to follow a pensioner who has climbed his local peak more than 1500 times.

Click here if you've been affected by the issues in this episode of Border Life.

A Dumfries and Galloway charity is warning about the growing problems of alcohol in Scotland. Staff at the Alcohol and Drugs Support group in Castle Douglas say alcohol has never been cheaper or more available and the problem is 'endemic'.

The group has has helped thousands of people with addiction problems over the past 21 years.

Fiona Armstrong went to see some of their work.

If you have been affected by the Border Life film about drug and alcohol dependency here are some numbers and websites you may find useful:

• Alcohol & Drugs Support South West Scotland (ADS):
• Tel: 01556 503550
• Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs:
• Tel: 08080 10 10 11
• ALCOHOL:
• Drinkline: 0800 7 314 314
• DRUGS:
• Helpline - Know the Score: 0800 587 587 9

With the Waverley line rail service for the Borders due to be re-introduced next year, Border Life looks back at the remarkable story behind one of the old stops on the route. Stobs Camp was an army training base which became a POW camp during the 1st World War. Emma Baker discovers that at one time 6,000 people lived there, producing a german language newspaper and making products for the local community. Plus Fiona Armstrong looks at a new plan to conserve fuel bills for the elderly

One year on from the violent death in China of its founder, Fiona Armstrong visits Samye Ling Buddhist monastery in Eskdalemuir - where they're celebrating an extraordinary life. Emma Baker finds out all about a new concept in organic farming called Wwoofing and Border Life meets the Borders gardeners whose mission is to preserve rare varieties of apples once eaten by the monks of Melrose Abbey.

Stephen Jardine goes in search of the story behind Waverley - Sir Walter Scott's first novel which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. But is Scott's reputation on the slide and is it time for a revival? Gill Brown meets the man whose fascination with the line that divides Scotland and England has prompted an expedition and a book. He takes Border Life for a walk along the border line.