Land of Oak & Iron are excited to host our ‘Meet the Trust‘ event, under cover of the gazebo a the Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill.

The beautiful Heritage Centre at Winlaton Mill is one of the huge benefits that the Land of Oak & Iron Landscape Partnership has brought to the Derwent Valley area, along with new awareness of our proud history, improved wetlands, woodlands and pathways, interpretation, educational initiatives, traditional skills, heritage orienteering, music, drama and publishing.

We are a group of people from all over the valley who want to keep the impetus going, engaging young people, improving our environment and breathing new life into the history and heritage of the area for future generations to enjoy.

With those aims, we’ve formed a charitable Trust and already have major achievements under our belts: an ambitious mapping project; heritage materials and activities for schools; a woodland volunteer group working with Durham Wildlife Trust; and we’ve published three books!

Whatever your area of interest, come along and talk to us – we want to hear your ideas and maybe even persuade you to join us when it’s safe to do so.

Come along and meet members of the newly-formed charity that aims to keep the impetus going – you will find us in the gazebo near the Courtyard at the back of the Heritage Centre.

The Trust

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

Our next event is with Katherine Rodger, a local artist and art tutor based in Rowlands Gill.

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 say hello and maybe buy or commission an original artwork.

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 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.

Come and join the amazing Time Bandits as they bring history alive with the story of swords through the ages – with live demonstrations of fighting styles and an extensive collection of swords.

The history of sword making in the Derwent Valley began in the seventeenth century when immigrant swordsmiths from Germany established a flourishing business in Shotley Bridge, where the fast flowing River Derwent provided a ready water supply and an iron-founding industry already established in the area.

The Shotley Bridge blades they forged were so flexible that story tells of a wager to find the most flexible sword.  Swordsmith Robert Oley appeared at the meeting place with no sword in his hand – but then revealed to his puzzled competitors, his double edged sword coiled around the rim of his hat. Oley was instantly declared the winner!

The Time Bandits will show you how various swords through time were hefted, from the Siege of Troy through to the Prisoner of Zenda along with demonstrations of sword fighting!

This event will be held outside the Heritage Centre, near the Courtyard area.

We will be adhering to current Covid-19 guidelines and ask that all visitors follow the guidance, including social distancing and wearing face masks if entering the Heritage Centre building.

Learn about heritage basket tools, then prepare for the autumn harvest by trying your hand at making a traditional Foraging Basket (using modern tools).

You will learn how to make a traditional willow basket using natural materials, under the guidance of experienced basket makers Liz Beech and Sheila Walton, both members of the Northumbria Basketry Group.

Cost £55 including all materials, tea, coffee and home-made café shrub cookie.

Places limited to 5 to enable social distancing – we will be following current Covid-19 guidelines.

The workshop will take place outside the Heritage Centre under cover of our gazebo (near the Courtyard area), only participants plus the tutor will be allowed inside.

Booking closes Saturday 10th October.

Booking essential.

Get festive and creative with this popular workshop, which will show you how to weave with natural willow, developing skills and techniques to create your own willow based Christmas Wreath for your home.

You will learn how to twist and weave a natural base from willow, then attach natural seasonal materials to create an eco friendly, welcoming wreath for your door this Christmas.

Create your Christmas Wreath using just natural materials under the guidance of outdoor education leader and experienced basket maker Liz Beech, member of Northumbria Basketry Group.

This year’s workshop will take place under cover of our large gazebo, outside the Heritage Centre, near to the Courtyard area.

Only 5 places available on each workshop to enable social distancing – we will be following current Covid-19 guidelines.

Cost £35 including Eventbrite fees, materials, hot drinks and mince pie.

Booking essential.

Get festive and creative with this popular workshop, which will show you how to weave with natural willow, developing skills and techniques to create your own willow based Christmas Wreath for your home.

You will learn how to twist and weave a natural base from willow, then attach natural seasonal materials to create an eco friendly, welcoming wreath for your door this Christmas.

Create your Christmas Wreath using just natural materials under the guidance of outdoor education leader and experienced basket maker Liz Beech, member of Northumbria Basketry Group.

This year’s workshop will take place under cover of our large gazebo, outside the Heritage Centre, near to the Courtyard area.

Only 5 places available on each workshop to enable social distancing – we will be following current Covid-19 guidelines.

Cost £35 including Eventbrite fees, materials, hot drinks and mince pie.

Booking essential.