Wednesday 1st November 2023 – Tuesday 2nd January 2024

Our next exhibition in the ‘Inside Out Gallery’ at the Heritage Centre is by local artist and designer Rhianne Siân.

Rhianne specialises in illustration and surface pattern design.  Over the past 5 years, Rhianne has built up her collection of classic and contemporary Illustrated artwork, showcased across her unique artworks, prints and a wide range of British made homeware and gift products.

Wednesday 1st November 2023 – Tuesday 2nd January 2024

Our next exhibition in the ‘Inside Out Gallery’ at the Heritage Centre is by local artist and designer Rhianne Siân.

Rhianne specialises in illustration and surface pattern design.  Over the past 5 years, Rhianne has built up her collection of classic and contemporary Illustrated artwork, showcased across her unique artworks, prints and a wide range of British made homeware and gift products.

Land of Oak & Iron are excited to host our Christmas Meet the Maker Market, bringing together some of our past Meet the Makers and new local artists and creatives too!

We love hosting our seasonal Meet the Maker Markets, they’re great events for buying hand crafted items, getting inspired and meeting new local makers and artists – we’re especially excited for our festive Christmas market.

We have some amazing artists lined up which we have picked out perfectly for this event, including:

Shore & Tide Sea-glass Jewellery, Lizzie Mint Makes, Sital Art, Blue Tyne Creations, Dave’s Soap Kitchen, Scribble & Patch, Artisanne, Four Cats to Feed and Mollymac Art.

All of the incredible makers are bringing a wide range of products from prints and jewellery to soap and so much more!

No need to book this event, free to attend!

Lindsey of Scribble and Patch is taking bookings for ceramic paw and children’s handprints (first 10 to book receive a small gift metal heart). You can do this through her Facebook page where there are also lots of examples, or you can send a text to 07527047062 or email [email protected]

Our café will be open for breakfasts, lunch, snacks and a range of hot and cold drinks to enjoy. (Please note only food and drink bought from our café may be consumed on our site, including the Courtyard, planters and benches).

A weekend of festive themed activities and family-friendly crafts, live music and delicious food and drinks to enjoy from our café.

It looks like Father Christmas will be making a special visit too – we’re so excited!! Look out for more details and times coming soon.

This year’s Frost Fest will include family-friendly crafts for children, live music with Major Cough Cough’s Thunderbox on Saturday morning, Julie Wilmore and William Blythe on Saturday afternoon, and Axum Folk Ensemble on Sunday afternoon. See separate listing for more info about the musicians: FROST FEST LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC – The Land of Oak & Iron (landofoakandiron.org.uk).

And of course, not forgetting the fabulous return of our Mischievous Elf Trail – what are they getting up to this year? Our resident Derwent Threads Sewing Group have been busy making little outfits for all the elves!

On Saturday evening we also have a great event just for the grown-ups to enjoy – our Festive Wine Tasting, Cheese & Charcuterie evening, with the Newcastle Wine School. Find out more and book a space here.

Pop the dates in your diary and look out for updates! We hope to see you here – a great way to get into the festive spirit in the run up to Christmas 2023!

This was such a popular workshop at last year’s Frost Fest and was fully booked very quickly – so we thought it would be a good idea to run it again this year too!

This creative workshop will show you how to make your own, unique willow and paper lantern – it’s yours to keep, but we would really love it if you could come and be part of our little musical lantern parade on Sunday afternoon too.

Suitable for both adults and children aged 6 and over. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Younger children will need an adult to work with as it’s a little bit tricky for little fingers to make.

Places are limited.  Due to room space, we kindly ask that it’s 1 person per lantern booking, or 1 (free) accompanying adult with a child making a lantern.

Workshop cost £10 per lantern (per person), including all materials.

Willow Lantern Workshop | Land of Oak and Iron

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

As part of our Frost Fest weekend, we will be joined by some of our musician friends for festive acoustic tunes and songs playing in the Heritage Centre Café.

Saturday 9th December 10am, Major Cough Cough’s Thunderbox. 2pm Julie Wilmore and William Blythe.

Major Cough Cough describes the musicians as a .“…diminutive but ever popular Parlour Orchestra, presenting a musical entertainment suitable for the most discerning of audiences. Messrs Jackson, Wheeler and Dixon will perform a symphonic confection of lyrical dexterity and terpsichorean melody employing musical instrumentation of a diversity too extensive to be listed. Don’t be late! A splendid time is guaranteed for all.” Expect experienced musicians mixed with quirkiness and merriment!

Julie and William are regular volunteer musicians with Beamish Museum and at the National Trust sites of Washington Old Hall and Gibside – and have become regular favourites at our Heritage Centre too. They will have some little hand-bells for you to join in with the festive tunes.

Sunday 10^th December 1pm, Axum Folk Ensemble.

Axum Folk Ensemble is an eight-piece folk band from the north-east of England. They bring traditional tunes from around the British Isles and beyond performed in lush new arrangements. They will be performing a selection of beautifully arranged traditional carols and Christmas tunes to get you in the festive mood.

“Stunningly beautiful music mixing tradition with invention to deliver a truly haunting sound that draws out every fibre of each tune they approach.” Tim Carroll, Folkwords

“Drenched with atmosphere and real emotion.” The Crack Magazine

These music sessions are free for our cafe customers to enjoy – no booking required.

Café open for drinks, snacks, breakfast, lunch and sweet treats – seating both indoors and outdoors if you fancy braving the cooler weather.

Polite notice – only refreshments/food bought in our café can be eaten in and around the Heritage Centre (including our benches and planting areas). If bringing your own food/picnic you are very welcome to use the field area just over the mound from the Heritage Centre.

Love wine? Love Cheese? Love Charcuterie? Then our wine, cheese and charcuterie evening with Newcastle Wine School is perfect!

The Newcastle Wine School will be hosting this festive evening at the Heritage Centre, where you will explore a range of delicious cheese and charcuterie matched with classic, quality wines from around the globe.

You will learn how to taste wine like a professional and how to recognise and describe wine aromas.

A range of lovely cheeses from the fantastic Cheese Shop in Morpeth.

Come along and get some great tips for your Christmas wines, cold cuts and cheeseboard (vegetarian option available instead of the charcuterie).

Cost £45 per person including a selection of quality wines to taste, along with cheese and charcuterie.

If you would like to give this as a gift, please get in touch and we can make a personalised gift voucher.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Wrap up warm for this winter guided bird walk in the lower Derwent Valley – part of our Frost Fest weekend celebrations.

As well as helping you with identification skills, local ornithologist Michael Turner will uncover the life story and fascinating facts behind Britain’s favourite bird and Christmas icon, the Robin…but be warned, things aren’t always as they seem.

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 £9.50

BOOKING ESSENTIAL.

A weekend of festive themed activities and family-friendly crafts, live music and delicious food and drinks to enjoy from our café.

It looks like Father Christmas will be making a special visit too – we’re so excited!! Look out for more details and times coming soon.

This year’s Frost Fest will include family-friendly crafts for children, live music with Major Cough Cough’s Thunderbox on Saturday morning, Julie Wilmore and William Blythe on Saturday afternoon, and Axum Folk Ensemble on Sunday afternoon. See separate listing for more info about the musicians: FROST FEST LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC – The Land of Oak & Iron (landofoakandiron.org.uk).

And of course, not forgetting the fabulous return of our Mischievous Elf Trail – what are they getting up to this year? Our resident Derwent Threads Sewing Group have been busy making little outfits for all the elves!

On Saturday evening we also have a great event just for the grown-ups to enjoy – our Festive Wine Tasting, Cheese & Charcuterie evening, with the Newcastle Wine School. Find out more and book a space here.

Pop the dates in your diary and look out for updates! We hope to see you here – a great way to get into the festive spirit in the run up to Christmas 2023!

Artist and children’s author Monique Scott is leading another of her very popular children’s watercolour and illustration class at our lovely Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill.

Monique has illustrated and written several children’s books and taught lots of children how to draw and paint.  She will share her illustration and painting techniques with children during this two hour art class.

Monique will teach the children how to draw and then add colour to their drawings using watercolour paints, as well as blending and brush techniques.

All materials will be provided. Suitable for ages 6  years and older – the session will be adapted for different ages and abilities.

Tickets £12.50 including tuition and all painting materials.

Limited places available and booking essential. Monique’s classes book up really quickly, so please reserve your place as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

Monique will also have signed copies of her books, along with some of her other illustrated merchandise for you to look at and purchase.

Please note an adult needs to stay in the room with children aged 8 and under, and to stay on site for older children.

BOOK HERE

As part of our Frost Fest weekend, we will be joined by some of our musician friends for festive acoustic tunes and songs playing in the Heritage Centre Café.

Saturday 9th December 10am, Major Cough Cough’s Thunderbox. 2pm Julie Wilmore and William Blythe.

Major Cough Cough describes the musicians as a .“…diminutive but ever popular Parlour Orchestra, presenting a musical entertainment suitable for the most discerning of audiences. Messrs Jackson, Wheeler and Dixon will perform a symphonic confection of lyrical dexterity and terpsichorean melody employing musical instrumentation of a diversity too extensive to be listed. Don’t be late! A splendid time is guaranteed for all.” Expect experienced musicians mixed with quirkiness and merriment!

Julie and William are regular volunteer musicians with Beamish Museum and at the National Trust sites of Washington Old Hall and Gibside – and have become regular favourites at our Heritage Centre too. They will have some little hand-bells for you to join in with the festive tunes.

Sunday 10^th December 1pm, Axum Folk Ensemble.

Axum Folk Ensemble is an eight-piece folk band from the north-east of England. They bring traditional tunes from around the British Isles and beyond performed in lush new arrangements. They will be performing a selection of beautifully arranged traditional carols and Christmas tunes to get you in the festive mood.

“Stunningly beautiful music mixing tradition with invention to deliver a truly haunting sound that draws out every fibre of each tune they approach.” Tim Carroll, Folkwords

“Drenched with atmosphere and real emotion.” The Crack Magazine

These music sessions are free for our cafe customers to enjoy – no booking required.

Café open for drinks, snacks, breakfast, lunch and sweet treats – seating both indoors and outdoors if you fancy braving the cooler weather.

Polite notice – only refreshments/food bought in our café can be eaten in and around the Heritage Centre (including our benches and planting areas). If bringing your own food/picnic you are very welcome to use the field area just over the mound from the Heritage Centre.

Join us at the Heritage Centre for a fantastic live music evening, helping to raise money for our charity Groundwork NE & Cumbria.

We will be joined by 4 local bands, who will each perform a set during the evening. Come along for a great night of food, drink and live music. Cheer for your favourite band – the audience’s favourite wins the night!

THE BANDS:

Reservoirs: A 5 piece band from Consett, with influences from the likes of Talking Heads and Vampire Weekend, with country and jazz influences mixed in.

Detroit Tourist Board: A local band with Patrick on mic, uke and violin, Dom on acoustic guitar and mic, Nicola on uke and mic, Tom on bass and Liam on drums.

TALES: A 4 piece alt-rock band from Newcastle and Sunderland, with Michael Goodfellow (vocals and guitar) and Colin Wan (drums), Eliott Brown (bass) and Sam Fisher (lead guitar). Their first single, ‘Amitriptyline’ was released in 2019, with their second single, ‘Muscle Memory’, released in 2020. This earned the band their first radio airtime through ‘BBC Introducing North East’. They went on to release three further singles; ‘Nosedive’, ‘What We Talk About’, and ‘Icarus’, receiving further radio coverage and featuring in NARC magazine. They continue to gig and write new music to this day, always keen for a rocking show!

Holiday in Tokyo: A four-piece alt-pop outfit from County Durham. The band focus their song writing on being as honest as possible, leaning heavily into themes of jealousy, nihilism, love and nostalgia. Sonically, they blend elements from 70s funk, neo-soul bedroom pop and early 2000’s alternative rock.  Their shifts in genre are held together by a cohesive sound of chorus guitars, snappy drums and warm vocals.

Café & Bar: Our café will have a special evening menu, including burgers, nachos, loaded fries and some of our favourites for the evening (vegetarian available) along with tea/coffee, alcoholic and soft drinks, and sweet treats to enjoy alongside the live music.

No need to book, just turn up for a great evening.

Doors open 6pm, bands playing from around 6.30pm, (last food order 8pm, last drinks orders 11pm). Get here early to grab a seat, order your food and settle in for a great evening of live music.

Shake off those post-Christmas blues, take a break from festive TV and get set for the New Year on this guided bird walk around the 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, forget that last piece of turkey, put the Christmas chocs’ away and join our refreshing winter bird walk as we look for red kite, buzzard, kingfisher, jay and others.

Pop into our café and grab a cuppa to take with you, or why not treat yourself to a lovely breakfast or brunch on your return as you chat about the birds and nature spotted on your 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.

Sorry, no dogs please.

Tickets £9.50 per person

BOOKING ESSENTIAL.

Wednesday 1st November 2023 – Tuesday 2nd January 2024

Our next exhibition in the ‘Inside Out Gallery’ at the Heritage Centre is by local artist and designer Rhianne Siân.

Rhianne specialises in illustration and surface pattern design.  Over the past 5 years, Rhianne has built up her collection of classic and contemporary Illustrated artwork, showcased across her unique artworks, prints and a wide range of British made homeware and gift products.

Start 2024 with a feel-good walk – wrap up warm and have a New Year 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!

Buy a cuppa from our café to take with you, or why not treat yourself to a New Year’s breakfast or brunch and a hot drink from our café to warm you up as you chat about the birds you spotted on your walk.

Tickets £9.50 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.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL.