Discover a beautiful private woodland and help with scrub clearance in preparation for some hazel to be planted in the autumn, which will grow to become a hazel coppice.

Please meet outside The Fox and Hounds pub at Coalburns, from where Peter will lead the way into the woodland.

All tools, equipment and gloves will be provided as well as tea and coffee; please wear stout footwear and suitable clothing for outdoors and bring a packed lunch and a drink. You may wish to bring waterproofs or sun hat and cream, depending on the weather.

Come along and learn new skills, make friends and have fun whilst carrying out a programme of practical woodland and access tasks.

To find the volunteers on the day, please call Peter on 07484 093411.

Download the current programme.

Learn how to manage the grassland in the traditional way with scythes. We will also be doing some cutting back along the footpaths so visitors can enjoy exploring the beautiful woodland.

All tools, equipment and gloves will be provided as well as tea and coffee; please wear stout footwear and suitable clothing for outdoors and bring a packed lunch and a drink. You may wish to bring waterproofs or sun cream and a hat, depending on the weather.

Come along and learn new skills, make friends and have fun whilst carrying out a programme of practical woodland and access tasks.

Please meet in the Derwentcote Steel Furnace car park on the south side of the A694. To find the volunteers on the day, please call Peter Downes on 07484 093411.

Download the current programme

Discover map making, create mini sculptures and learn how to do clay leaf impressions with our summer activities.These are just some of the crafts on offer throughout the school holidays. No need to book just turn up on the day and enjoy.

We’re hoping for summer sunshine so we can run the activities outside, but if the weather is bad we will move indoors. We will also have activity trail sheets for families to take and use to explore Derwenthaugh Park.

Two sessions will run on each day: 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30 – 3.30pm.

There is no charge for these sessions, though donations are welcome towards the cost of materials. Please note activities may change dependant on materials.

Learn how to manage the grassland in the traditional way with scythes. We will also be doing some cutting back along the footpaths so visitors can enjoy exploring the beautiful woodland.

All tools, equipment and gloves will be provided as well as tea and coffee; please wear stout footwear and suitable clothing for outdoors and bring a packed lunch and a drink. You may wish to bring waterproofs or sun cream and a hat, depending on the weather.

Come along and learn new skills, make friends and have fun whilst carrying out a programme of practical woodland and access tasks.

Please meet in the Derwentcote Steel Furnace car park on the south side of the A694. To find the volunteers on the day, please call Peter Downes on 07484 093411.

Download the current programme

Discover map making, create mini sculptures and learn how to do clay leaf impressions with our summer activities.These are just some of the crafts on offer throughout the school holidays. No need to book just turn up on the day and enjoy.

We’re hoping for summer sunshine so we can run the activities outside, but if the weather is bad we will move indoors. We will also have activity trail sheets for families to take and use to explore Derwenthaugh Park.

Two sessions will run on each day: 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30 – 3.30pm.

There is no charge for these sessions, though donations are welcome towards the cost of materials. Please note activities may change dependant on materials.

Discover map making, create mini sculptures and learn how to do clay leaf impressions with our summer activities.These are just some of the crafts on offer throughout the school holidays. No need to book just turn up on the day and enjoy.

We’re hoping for summer sunshine so we can run the activities outside, but if the weather is bad we will move indoors. We will also have activity trail sheets for families to take and use to explore Derwenthaugh Park.

Two sessions will run on each day: 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30 – 3.30pm.

There is no charge for these sessions, though donations are welcome towards the cost of materials. Please note activities may change dependant on materials.

Discover map making, create mini sculptures and learn how to do clay leaf impressions with our summer activities.These are just some of the crafts on offer throughout the school holidays. No need to book just turn up on the day and enjoy.

We’re hoping for summer sunshine so we can run the activities outside, but if the weather is bad we will move indoors. We will also have activity trail sheets for families to take and use to explore Derwenthaugh Park.

Two sessions will run on each day: 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30 – 3.30pm.

There is no charge for these sessions, though donations are welcome towards the cost of materials. Please note activities may change dependant on materials.

Discover map making, create mini sculptures and learn how to do clay leaf impressions with our summer activities.These are just some of the crafts on offer throughout the school holidays. No need to book just turn up on the day and enjoy.

We’re hoping for summer sunshine so we can run the activities outside, but if the weather is bad we will move indoors. We will also have activity trail sheets for families to take and use to explore Derwenthaugh Park.

Two sessions will run on each day: 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30 – 3.30pm.

There is no charge for these sessions, though donations are welcome towards the cost of materials. Please note activities may change dependant on materials.

A rare opportunity to see inside this 18th century furnace which is a Grade 1 Listed Building and is one of the few remaining examples of this type of furnace in the country. Learn how wrought iron was turned into steel through the cementation process; this is the last remaining piece of evidence of cementation steel making in the north east.

Feel free to browse the information boards at your leisure, see the workers cottages, explore the beautiful woodland on our family trail, learn how a rusted wooden bench is crafted and have a go at wood carving or take part in a free art activity.

Family friendly event with a toilet, refreshments and free parking; dogs welcome on a lead. The site is uneven, with access from the car park down a stony track; it is accessible to off-road pushchairs but would be difficult with everyday pushchairs.

Over 300 years ago, hollow blade swords were made at Shotley Bridge with steel forged from iron produced at Allensford. Discover the blast furnace, hidden on the Northumberland bank of the River Derwent with archaeologists Tony Liddell & Alan Williams. Find out about the history of the site, its purpose and what remains can still be seen.

Wear sturdy footwear, woodland walking with some steep slopes. The site itself is down a steep slope with steps, it is not accessible to wheelchairs, pushchairs or those with limited mobility. Cafe (and customer toilets) nearby at Allensford Caravan Park and Derwent Manor Hotel.

Booking essential, registration opens 12pm on Wednesday 24th July.

Enjoy a 5 mile guided walk around the Pont Valley led by keen local historian David Marrs. David is passionate about the area, a member of Pont Valley Network and the Chair of Land of Oak & Iron. The Pont Valley is steeped in history, the area was mined and evidence of this industrial activity can still be seen today.

Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for a countryside walk, waterproofs or sun hat and cream may be useful depending on the weather on the day. This is a medium grade walk, there will be muddy paths, slopes and steps; it is not suitable for wheels of any kind unfortunately. There will be toilets available at the end of the walk.

Booking essential, registration opens 12pm on Wednesday 24th July.

A rare opportunity to see inside this 18th century furnace which is a Grade 1 Listed Building and is one of the few remaining examples of this type of furnace in the country. Learn how wrought iron was turned into steel through the cementation process; this is the last remaining piece of evidence of cementation steel making in the north east.

Hear how the furnace operated and what it was like to work there several hundred years ago, from our knowledgable local volunteers who are passionate about it’s history. Visit the remains of the workers cottages and discover what life was like in this idyllic woodland setting.

The site is uneven, with access from the car park down a stony track.

Booking essential, registration opens 12pm on Wednesday 24th July.

Was Crowley’s Mill No. 1 the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution? Find out all about Crowley’s Ironworks and then decide for yourself at this informative session.

Browse the exhibition about the heritage of Derwenthaugh Park in the brand new Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre, before buying a drink in cafe shrub. Our knowledgable volunteers will then give a short presentation about the history of the Ironworks. The talk will be followed by a walk through the Park to see the low dam and spillway which have recently been uncovered. These are the only visible remains of what was once the largest ironworks in Europe, employing over 1,500 men. Hear all about the remarkable social structure Ambrose Crowley imposed on the workers, with it’s own ‘laws’, courts, schools, welfare and pensions system.

The Heritage Centre is fully accessible. The walk through Derwenthaugh Park is on surfaced paths.

Booking essential, registration opens 12pm on Wednesday 24th July.

Was Crowley’s Mill No. 1 the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution? Find out all about Crowley’s Ironworks and then decide for yourself at this informative session.

Browse the exhibition about the heritage of Derwenthaugh Park in the brand new Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre, before buying a drink in cafe shrub. Our knowledgable volunteers will then give a short presentation about the history of the Ironworks. The talk will be followed by a walk through the Park to see the low dam and spillway which have recently been uncovered. These are the only visible remains of what was once the largest ironworks in Europe, employing over 1,500 men. Hear all about the remarkable social structure Ambrose Crowley imposed on the workers, with it’s own ‘laws’, courts, schools, welfare and pensions system.

The Heritage Centre is fully accessible. The walk through Derwenthaugh Park is on surfaced paths.

Booking essential, registration opens 12pm on Wednesday 24th July.

Learn about the history of the coke ovens, which were the last to operate in Britain up until 1958 and enjoy a guided walk towards the tunnel at Victoria Garesfield, spotting other archaeological remains along the way.

Join Penny Middleton, Northern Archaeological Associates built heritage and conservation specialist, as she leads a guided walk around the coke ovens and surrounding area. Penny was involved in preparing the first detailed survey of the coke ovens, in preparation for the Land of Oak & Iron restoration project which is now underway. Find out the history of this nationally significant site. Discover how the coking battery worked when all 193 ovens were in operation and hear about the state of the art ‘structure through motion’ technology which was used to record the monument.

After the tour of the ovens, walk along the route of the former mineral line towards Victoria Garesfield Colliery, learning about other archaeological sites, before returning to the start.

The site itself includes some steps to access the ovens, however there is a more accessible path leading through the woodland to a viewpoint overlooking the ovens. The walk along to Victoria Garesfield is on a narrow, unsurfaced path which isn’t suitable for wheelchairs; please wear suitable footwear.

Booking essential, registration opens 12pm on Wednesday 24th July.

A rare opportunity to see inside this 18th century furnace which is a Grade 1 Listed Building and is one of the few remaining examples of this type of furnace in the country. Learn how wrought iron was turned into steel through the cementation process; this is the last remaining piece of evidence of cementation steel making in the north east.

Hear how the furnace operated and what it was like to work there several hundred years ago, from our knowledgable local volunteers who are passionate about it’s history. Visit the remains of the workers cottages and discover what life was like in this idyllic woodland setting.

The site is uneven, with access from the car park down a stony track.

Booking essential, registration opens 12pm on Wednesday 24th July.

Discover heritage as we celebrate a centenary of forestry in probably the most popular wood in Land of Oak & Iron. Demonstrations and activities for the whole family including green woodworking, willow weaving, charcoal making, wool spinning, clay tile and pot making and flint napping. See vintage forestry vehicles, heavy horse logging and find out how to enjoy our fantastic natural heritage in the modern day.

Family friendly event with toilets and free parking, dogs welcome on leads. Bring a picnic or food and drinks will be available to buy.

Chopwell Woodland Park has links as far back as 650AD, with the name Chopwell thought to be derived from Ceoppa, the name of a Saxon Chieftain who lived in the area. The woodland has had many different forms throughout it’s life from wild forest, to part of the Manor of Chopwell and then to what we see today. The present size of Chopwell Wood is similar to that of Roman times around 2000 years ago. Join us on a gentle walk to explore the vast history of this woodland, at the heart of Land of Oak & Iron.

The walk will use forest paths and tracks and include some steep slopes. Please wear stout footwear and outdoor clothing suitable. Unfortunately this walk is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.

Booking essential, registration opens 12pm on Wednesday 24th July.