Land of Oak & Iron are excited to host this new solo exhibition #birdiefriday by Katherine Rodger, a local artist and art tutor based in Rowlands Gill.

Katherine’s #fridaybirdie began with a lockdown challenge on Instagram to paint a bird every day – the challenge grew from there and Katherine is intending to keep going with #fridaybirdie by continuing to paint one bird a week until it’s been a full year!

Katherine began her working career in 1987 as a graphic designer and illustrator and then went on to become an art teacher, taking up her first teaching post at Newcastle’s Gosforth High School in 1993.

After teaching Art at Gosforth High School for over eight years, Katherine then moved to New Zealand in 2002. A teaching post at Lynfield College in Auckland progressed to an ‘Artist in Residence’ role at the College which gave Katherine more opportunity to pursue her own art and painting whilst still teaching.

Since returning to the UK, Katherine has continued to focus on her own artwork. She also teaches acrylic painting techniques to small groups and individuals, runs a crafts group for Rowlands Gill Primary School and teaches the school’s ‘after school art club’.

Please show your support for our local artists and makers, call in to see the exhibition and maybe buy or commission an original artwork.

The Heritage Centre and all our events are fully risk assessed and Covid-19 compliant.

The Heritage Centre has some mischievous Christmas visitors who are playing hide & seek!  Can you find all the little elves peeping out at you?

All the elves have their own little bag with their names on – thank you to the ladies of Gibside Sewing Group for making the elves their little accessories and giving each elf its own special name.

Visit the Heritage Centre between 5th December and 3rd January to pick up a trail sheet – find and name all the elves to claim your ‘Elf for Christmas’ finger puppet activity page to take home.

Suggested donation to take part is £3 per child (all donations help us to organise family friendly activities).

All the elves hiding inside the Heritage Centre can be seen from outside – so no need to come inside, unless you would like to treat yourself to something delicious from café shrub who will be open for take-aways, along with lots of lovely gift items in our shop from local makers.

You can also buy your very own ‘Elf for Christmas’ in our shop!

COMPETITION TIME:

Take a photograph of your finished finger puppet and upload to our Facebook page with child’s first name, age and the tag #oakandironchristmaself

Our team at the Land of Oak & Iron will then pick our favourite finger puppet with the winner receiving an afternoon tea voucher for up to 4 people to be redeemed at café shrub, either as an eat-in or take-away option next time your visit the Heritage Centre.

Entries into the competition will close on 5 January 2021, with the winner picked and announced via the Land of Oak & Iron Facebook page on 13 January @landofoakandiron

Land of Oak & Iron are excited to host the next of our new ‘Meet the Maker‘ events at the Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill.

Our next event is ‘Wood n Words’, with woodworker Kevin Boyle and his wife, local author Val Scully.

Kevin has always loved working with wood, especially oak, and now he’s free from work, having been a railway civil engineer for 30 years, he spends much of his time restoring old garden furniture, replacing rotten wood with oak hardwood slats.

Although he’s lived in Blaydon for 32 years, he is originally from Yorkshire and hates waste, so with the oak offcuts, he makes Christmas decorations for your tree and table, including beautiful varnished oak tealight holders.

Some tree decorations are treated with Danish oil, and some are left raw so you can add your own touches to personalise them with stamps, paint or glitter.

You can meet Kev and buy his Christmas items. He’ll also be available to discuss his garden furniture, customised log stores and planters, and he’ll be taking orders for spring.

Have a look at his website www.woodythings.co.uk for more information and photos.

Kev will be accompanied by his wife, local author Val Scully, who will be available to talk about her novels and current research into Gibside estate families. Her books will be available at the special event price of £8. Val will be happy to sign and dedicate them – perfect Christmas presents!  www.valscully.co.uk

You’ll also be able to buy beautiful cones from Kevin & Val’s Corsican pine!

ALL PROCEEDS ARE IN AID OF MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT

CASH ONLY – ALL ITEMS LESS THAN £10

The Heritage Centre and all our events are fully risk assessed and Covid-19 compliant.

‘Meet the Maker’ will be outside under cover of the gazebo, social distancing will be in place for both the artist/makers and our visitors.  We have enhanced cleaning regimes in place, sanitiser and hand gel is available at both entrances to the Heritage Centre and face coverings to be worn when entering the building to use toilets, shop area and café shrub for both take-away and table service.

Social distancing will be in place for both the artist/makers and participants.  We have enhanced cleaning regimes in place, sanitiser and hand gel is available at both entrances to the Heritage Centre and face coverings to be worn when entering the building to use toilets, shop area and café shrub for both take-away and table service.

Local children’s author Monique Scott will be in our cosy Courtyard marquee reading some of the tales that were written especially for Land of Oak & Iron, along with a special Christmas story to get you feeling festive!

We will then sit around the campfire toasting marshmallows to make sticky s’mores and singing campfire songs.

All followed by a lovely cup of hot chocolate, nibbles and sparklers for all the children taking part.

It will be a lovely, alternative and special evening in the run up to Christmas.

Places strictly limited to 10 children plus one adult accompanying each child, so we can all follow social distancing while enjoying an evening of stories, sticky treats and sparkles! Wrap up warm and bring your favourite cosy blanket to snuggle under.

Suitable for 5 – 10 years. Booking essential £9.50 per child, 1 accompanying adult free.

As with all our events and activities, this event is fully risk assessed and following current Covid-19 guidelines. There are limited tickets available to allow social distancing.

Booking Essential

Local children’s author Monique will be in our cosy Courtyard marquee reading some of the tales that were written especially for Land of Oak & Iron, along with a special Christmas story to get you feeling festive!

After listening to stories, we will then sit around the campfire toasting marshmallows to make sticky s’mores and singing campfire songs.

All followed by a lovely cup of hot chocolate, nibbles and sparklers for all the children taking part.

It will be a lovely, alternative and special evening in the run up to Christmas.

Places strictly limited to 10 children plus one adult accompanying each child, so we can all follow social distancing while enjoying an evening of stories, sticky treats and sparkles! Wrap up warm and bring your favourite cosy blanket to snuggle under.

Suitable for 5 – 10 years. Booking essential £9.50 per child, 1 accompanying adult free.

As with all our events and activities, this event is fully risk assessed and following current Covid-19 guidelines. There are limited tickets available to allow social distancing.

Booking essential £9.50 per child.

Booking Essential

Local children’s author Monique Scott will be in our cosy Courtyard marquee reading some of the tales that were written especially for Land of Oak & Iron, along with a special Christmas story to get you feeling festive!

We will then sit around the campfire toasting marshmallows to make sticky s’mores and singing campfire songs.

All followed by a lovely cup of hot chocolate, nibbles and sparklers for all the children taking part.

It will be a lovely, alternative and special evening in the run up to Christmas.

Places strictly limited to 10 children plus one adult accompanying each child, so we can all follow social distancing while enjoying an evening of stories, sticky treats and sparkles! Wrap up warm and bring your favourite cosy blanket to snuggle under.

Suitable for 5 – 10 years. Booking essential £9.50 per child, 1 accompanying adult free.

As with all our events and activities, this event is fully risk assessed and following current Covid-19 guidelines. There are limited tickets available to allow social distancing.

Booking Essential

Local children’s author Monique will be in our cosy Courtyard marquee reading some of the tales that were written especially for Land of Oak & Iron, along with a special Christmas story to get you feeling festive!

After listening to stories, we will then sit around the campfire toasting marshmallows to make sticky s’mores and singing campfire songs.

All followed by a lovely cup of hot chocolate, nibbles and sparklers for all the children taking part.

It will be a lovely, alternative and special evening in the run up to Christmas.

Places strictly limited to 10 children plus one adult accompanying each child, so we can all follow social distancing while enjoying an evening of stories, sticky treats and sparkles! Wrap up warm and bring your favourite cosy blanket to snuggle under.

Suitable for 5 – 10 years. Booking essential £9.50 per child, 1 accompanying adult free.

As with all our events and activities, this event is fully risk assessed and following current Covid-19 guidelines. There are limited tickets available to allow social distancing.

Booking essential £9.50 per child.

Booking Essential

Local ornithologist Michael Turner will lead you on this guided walk around the Lower Derwent Valley, helping you to identify the birds of autumn and uncovering some of their ancient folklore.

Why do we have a ‘murder’ of crows? What garden bird was hunted and sacrificed on St Stephen’s Day and which of the nation’s favourite birds has a darker side?

All will be revealed and much more on this fascinating walk.

After the walk there is the opportunity to join Michael for Q&A session if you would like to – there’s also the option to purchase brunch and a hot drink to warm you up as you chat about the curious stories linked to the folklore of birds and the ones you spotted on the walk.

Suitable for adults only.

Tickets £8.50 per person. Booking essential via Eventbrite:

Booking essential.

Please bring binoculars if you have them and dress appropriately with stout footwear. No dogs please.

As with all our events and activities, this walk is fully risk assessed and following current Covid-19 guidelines for outdoor educational walks. There are limited tickets available to allow us all to social distance on the walk.

Social distancing will be in place for both the artist/makers and participants.  We have enhanced cleaning regimes in place, sanitiser and hand gel is available at both entrances to the Heritage Centre and face coverings to be worn when entering the building to use toilets, shop area and café shrub for both take-away and table service.

Wrap up warm for this winter guided bird walk around the stunning lower Derwent Valley.

Local ornithologist Michael Turner will help us identify the rich bird life that is still around even in the depths of winter.  So before you get too involved in Christmas shopping, join our winter bird walk as we look for red kite, buzzard, kingfisher, jay and others.

After the walk there is the opportunity to join Michael for Q&A session if you would like to – there’s also the option to purchase brunch and a hot drink to warm you up as you chat about the birds you spotted on your walk.

Limited places to enable social distancing.  Tickets £8.50 per person.

The walk will be on regular pathways with some slight gradients.  Please bring binoculars if you have them and dress appropriately with stout footwear, waterproofs may be necessary depending on the weather.

No dogs please.

Tickets cost £8.50

Booking essential.

Wrap up warm for this winter guided bird walk around the stunning lower Derwent Valley.

Local ornithologist Michael Turner will help us identify the rich bird life that is still around even in the depths of winter.  So before you get too involved in Christmas shopping, join our winter bird walk as we look for red kite, buzzard, kingfisher, jay and others.

After the walk there is the opportunity to join Michael for Q&A session if you would like to – there’s also the option to purchase brunch and a hot drink to warm you up as you chat about the birds you spotted on your walk.

Limited places to enable social distancing.  Tickets £8.50 per person.

The walk will be on regular pathways with some slight gradients.  Please bring binoculars if you have them and dress appropriately with stout footwear, waterproofs may be necessary depending on the weather.

No dogs please.

Tickets cost £8.50

Booking essential.

Start 2021 with a feel good walk – wrap up warm and wander through the stunning lower Derwent Valley, spotting winter birds as you go.

Local ornithologist Michael Turner will help you with identification skills and spotting the rich bird life that is still around even in the depths of Winter.  A great way to welcome in the New Year!

After the walk there is the opportunity to join Michael for Q&A session if you would like to – there’s also the option to purchase brunch and a hot drink to warm you up as you chat about the birds you spotted on your walk.

Tickets £8.50 per person including optional Q&A session with Michael after the walk.

The walk will be on regular pathways with some slight gradients.  Please bring binoculars if you have them and dress appropriately with stout footwear, waterproofs may be necessary depending on the weather. No dogs please.

As with all our events and activities, this walk is fully risk assessed and following current Covid-19 guidelines for outdoor educational walks. There are limited tickets available to allow us all to social distance on the walk.

Booking essential.