What’s on

Find out how to adopt a stream or section of river in one of these free sessions led by Tyne Rivers Trust for residents in and around Chopwell and Shotley Bridge.

Tyne Rivers Trust are looking for volunteers to help to monitor their local streams and rivers on a monthly basis.  We would love you to get involved with caring for and improving the rivers local to you and play a part in a much wider project across the whole Tyne catchment.

The information you record will help us to identify any issues and work with local volunteers to tackle them and improve the river generally.

We want to benefit mental and physical wellbeing with research suggesting that spending time in a green space and bringing nature into your everyday life can be hugely beneficial.

Join us to find out more on either Saturday 18 January or Wednesday 22 January on the River Derwent.  Booking essential – full details on times, meeting place and what to wear will be detailed on booking.

To register please contact the My Tyne Project Officer, Simone Price: email: s.price@tyneriverstrust.org or call: 01434 636903

This free training has been possible due to funding provided by Boundary Lane Wind Farm via Community Foundation Tyne & Wear.

Without their leaves to give us clues, it can be difficult to identify what types of trees we have locally, which means looking at buds, twigs, bark, the whole form of the tree and where they are. It is a bit trickier than summer tree identification, but it also gives us a chance to also take time and enjoy the shapes and silhouettes of the skeleton trees, as well as the subtle colours of winter.

Meet us at Thornley Woodland Centre Car Park at 10.30am for a walk, talk, and bit of fun, while you learn how to identify trees during winter months.

This event is suitable for adults and families with older children (aged 8 upwards).
Please wear weather appropriate clothing and suitable outdoor footwear.

Booking Essential

This course is part of the Geology & Wildlife Project delivered through the Land of Oak & Iron, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.

Built in the 1720s, Derwentcote Steel Furnace is the earliest and most complete steel-making furnace in Britain. 

English Heritage who manage the site, are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help bring this site to life.  There are a range of roles; from supporting the conservation of our woodland to leading guided walks and activities.

Please do pop along to the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre on one of the listed dates to chat to a member of the English Heritage team about ways to get involved.

Find out how to adopt a stream or section of river in one of these free sessions led by Tyne Rivers Trust for residents in and around Chopwell and Shotley Bridge.

Tyne Rivers Trust are looking for volunteers to help to monitor their local streams and rivers on a monthly basis.  We would love you to get involved with caring for and improving the rivers local to you and play a part in a much wider project across the whole Tyne catchment.

The information you record will help us to identify any issues and work with local volunteers to tackle them and improve the river generally.

We want to benefit mental and physical wellbeing with research suggesting that spending time in a green space and bringing nature into your everyday life can be hugely beneficial.

Join us to find out more on either Saturday 18 January or Wednesday 22 January on the River Derwent.  Booking essential – full details on times, meeting place and what to wear will be detailed on booking.

To register please contact the My Tyne Project Officer, Simone Price: email: s.price@tyneriverstrust.org or call: 01434 636903

This free training has been possible due to funding provided by Boundary Lane Wind Farm via Community Foundation Tyne & Wear.

Built in the 1720s, Derwentcote Steel Furnace is the earliest and most complete steel-making furnace in Britain. 

English Heritage who manage the site, are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help bring this site to life.  There are a range of roles; from supporting the conservation of our woodland to leading guided walks and activities.

Please do pop along to the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre on one of the listed dates to chat to a member of the English Heritage team about ways to get involved.

Built in the 1720s, Derwentcote Steel Furnace is the earliest and most complete steel-making furnace in Britain. 

English Heritage who manage the site, are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help bring this site to life.  There are a range of roles; from supporting the conservation of our woodland to leading guided walks and activities.

Please do pop along to the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre on one of the listed dates to chat to a member of the English Heritage team about ways to get involved.

As part of the Great Northumberland Winter Festival, families are invited to explore nature and heritage at Tyne Riverside Country Park, through a range of traditional and creative activities.

Join artist Shona Branigan to take part in fun printmaking activities, inspired by local naturalist and wood engraver Thomas Bewick.

Forest School practitioner Liz Beech will help families make a willow weaving bird feeder – helping to care for birds through the winter months.

Wood Colliers will have pole lathe demonstrations and traditional woodland crafts to take part in.

There will also be a self-led trail for families to explore the park.

Thanks to the Northumberland Cultural Fund all the activities are free – just drop in anytime to take part, we will be in or near the café.

Tyne Riverside Café will be open during the event.

Join Durham Wildlife Trust at the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre to learn more about otters, their ecology, and how to survey for signs of otter activity along the River Derwent.

We will begin the session indoors, moving outside to carry out a survey, so please dress warmly with sturdy footwear- wellies if possible.

Suitable for adults and families who enjoy the outdoors, children must be accompanied by an adult,

This course is part of the Geology & Wildlife Project delivered through the Land of Oak & Iron, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.

Booking Essential

This 2 day course held at Conkers Life in Hamsterley Mill, will be an opportunity to learn about and practice the skills needed to lay a section of hedge.

The theory and reasons for carrying out this traditional form of hedgerow management will also be covered.  The course will be led by Burt Hunter a highly respected local hedge layer.

Durham Hedgerow Partnership are funding the course, however we are asking people to contribute toward the costs by paying a booking fee of £20, payable in advance.

Only 6 places on the course – booking essential.

To find out more and to book a place, please call Peter Downes: 07484 093411

(Times of each day will be confirmed on booking).

Mary Eleanor Bowes, sole heir of Newcastle coal czar George Bowes, achieved notoriety in the Georgian era: her true legacy is often overlooked. This illustrated talk by local author Val Scully, presents a new interpretation of her dramatic and significant life, transforming this resilient and courageous woman from victim to feminist icon.

My Name is Eleanor is a fictionalised account of her life based closely on real people and events, including the influence of her formidable grandmother, Elizabeth Blakiston of Gibside.  After submerging herself in the life of Mary Eleanor, Val researched the 19th century story of the Land of Oak & Iron and published a sequel, Molly Bowes. 

This event was a sell out last year, booking is essential.

Tickets are £12.50 per person and include a glass of Prosecco or juice and delicious one-pot supper (vegetarian/vegan option available).

You will be able to buy these books at a special price of £5 each and have them signed by the author.

Book now.

Land of Oak & Iron is very dog friendly, and so we are offering an event just for your four legged friends!

Lindsey from Light Source Art will be taking paw prints and embedding them in ceramic, along with your dog’s name.  There will be a choice of designs to choose from, please see more photographs on Lindsey’s Facebook page ‘Scribble and Patch’.

The paw print will be taken away for glazing and firing and then brought back to the Heritage Centre for you to collect at a later date.

Cost is £20, booking essential.

To book an appointment for 8 March at the Heritage Centre, please text 07527047062 or email lindseygrieves@hotmail.co.uk