Spooky season is just around the corner! We have a great range of exciting Autumnal and Halloween events for the full family. From bird walks, to dog fashion shows, to free family crafts, there is something for everyone.
Don’t miss out on delicious food from our cafe! We have a range of tasty dishes that will warm you up after a beautiful walk along the Derwent Valley.
Blacksmithing Workshops
Saturday 20th September, choose from 9.30am, 12pm or 2.30pm (All 2 hour sessions)
You will be guided through the process with support throughout, enabling you to create your very own beautifully crafted ironwork by the end of the session. In these workshops we will be hand forging a candle holder.
Heat the iron in the flames of the forge, hammer and bend, twist and notch into shape on the anvil, and learn cooling techniques to finish your piece. You can then take your finished piece away, a truly individual and unique gift, or to have as a special keepsake in your own home.
So why not treat yourself to this great workshop – learning the traditional skill of Blacksmithing and taking away something special that you have hand-made yourself. Come along with a friend, or maybe buy the workshop experience as a unique gift for someone special.
Tickets £63 including all materials. Limited places and booking essential.
Autumn Needle Felting Workshop
Saturday 18th October, 10am – 1pm
Join local artist and tutor Gail for this creative needle felting and embellishment workshop – learn how to turn a bundle of fluffy wool fibres into something beautiful and Autumnal.
Gail will teach you how to turn bundles of colourful, fluffy wool fibres into your own Autumnal creation inspired by nature and the Derwent Valley. You can then embellish and add detail with stitching and beads if you would like to.
Your felted creation would make the perfect gift for someone special (or maybe keep it all to yourself). Why not buy the workshop as a gift for a friend or loved one (we can create a gift voucher – please get in touch after booking your ticket).
Booking essential as places are limited, tickets £28 including a tea/coffee!
The Folklore of British Birds
Sunday 19th October, 9:30am – 11:30am
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.
Local ornithologist Michael Turner will help you to identify the birds of autumn and uncover some of their ancient folklore, while enjoying the autumn colours and beautiful surroundings of the lower Derwent Valley,
We will then return to the Heritage Centre, where there’s the option to purchase brunch and a hot drink in our café to warm you up after the walk and chat about the birds spotted and the strange tales discovered.
This one is suitable for adults only. Tickets £9.50 per person.
FREE Halloween Jar Light Workshops
Sunday 19th October, 2pm-4pm
Our charity Groundwork NE & Cumbria is very focused on making a positive impact on the environment – so we’re really looking forward to this series of fun workshops based on ‘reduce, recycle and re-using’! This workshop is already fully booked! We will look at hosting other free crafts around Halloween, keep an eye on our socials for updates.
Blue Tyne Creative Pop-Up Stall
Sunday 19th October, 10am – 4pm
Lorna from Blue Tyne Creative will be at the Heritage Centre with her wonderful pop-up stall selling a fantastic range of hand made arts and crafts, including Autumn and Halloween themed items.
Lorna is raising funds to purchase specialist sensory equipment for a special young man called Sam to support his transition into his new home in an assisted living space. Sam is severely autistic, non verbal and partially sighted. When Sam becomes anxious, sensory activities are used to help him feel more calm and distracted.
Please pop down to the Heritage Centre to say hello to Lorna and buy some of the lovely hand-crafted gifts, all of which will help to support fund raising for Sam’s sensory equipment.
Howl-o-Ween
Friday 26th, 10am – 4pm
‘Howl-O-Ween!’ is a great Halloween event especially for our canine friends!
This is a lovely little event for you and your dogs to come along to, with dog themed stalls to purchase something special for your pooch, along with our fun fancy dress dog competition.
Howl-O-Ween Dog Parade is at 2pm: Bring your pooch dressed up in a spooky costume and enter our parade – it’s a lot of fun, will make everyone smile and the best dressed dog will win a doggie prize! Limited places, so please book soon – see below.
Stalls: From 10am there will be some doggie themed stalls too with David’s Dog Deli for their home-baked doggie goodness, Lindsey of Scribble & Patch who creates beautiful paw (or baby/child’s hand) print ceramics (book a place using link below), Mammuy’s Dog Bakery with a wide range of dog food, chews, toys and much more, All That Wag with their handmade dog coats (all proceeds to dog charities), and Bad Bones & Bows will be back again with their unique denim jackets for dogs!
Scribble & Patch are taking bookings now, just drop her an email to find out more: li************@********co.uk or take a look at her Facebook page.
Trick for a Treat: Ask your pooch to do a paw shake or trick for one of team members, to be rewarded with a little doggie treat!
We would love to see photographs or films of your spooky pooch at the Heritage Centre – so please upload to our Facebook page with the tag #howloweenoakandiron25
