Northumberland News issue 26 Autumn 2013 www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400 Heritage Open Days 2013 Autumn county shows Children’s book festival Plus Flodden 500 / Award-winning parks / Photo winners / What’s on 11 13 6 19 25 Northumberland In this issue: News Now available online, by email or in 4 Heritage Open Days 2013 print. 5 Robson Green’s Northumberland Northumberland News is a quarterly magazine 6 LOVE Northumberland Awards packed with features and news articles written specifically for county residents. 14 Photo competition winners Published in September, December, March 16 Flodden 500 events and June it is distributed free of charge by Northumberland County Council. Every effort is 18 Summer campaigns made to ensure that all information is accurate at the time of publication. 23 Green Flag winning parks If you would like to receive 25 New website launched Northumberland News in large print, 28 What’s on Braille, audio, or in another format or language please contact us. Front cover: Brother and sister Oscar and Lily Warr at Cherryburn, the birthplace of artist Thomas Bewick. The National Trust Telephone: 0845 600 6400 owned property in Mickley is just one of the locations taking part in this year’s Heritage Type Talk: 18001 0845 600 6400 Open Days event. Full story page 4. Email: [email protected] 2 www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400 Welcome to Northumberland News This summer has been Hexham Abbey Festival featuring Heritage Open Days highlight full of special events in jazz, classical and world music the impressive venues and for nine days at the end of open air spaces we have Northumberland and September. Looking ahead, the in Northumberland and this there are still plenty of Northumberland Music Festival is also done as part of the activities planned to keep will run concerts at venues council’s LOVE Northumberland throughout the county during campaign. This year’s third residents and visitors November. annual awards once again show entertained. the dedication that local people Details of all of these events, as take to preserve and improve their environment (page 6). Popular events include the late well as many more, are listed in summer country shows (page the What’s on section pages 28 In other awards, seven 22) and a string of autumn to 30. Northumberland parks were festivals taking place across given Green Flag status last Northumberland. The 500th anniversary of month recognising the high the battle of Flodden is fast standards they have reached approaching. A guided walk will In Berwick a triple bill is planned and maintained (page 23). be led on 9 September, the date beginning with the Food Improving the environment of the famous battle, and details and Beer Festivals in early is also linked to the council’s September, the Film and Media about this, as well as other work to keep the streets of Festival at the end of the month commemorative events taking Northumberland pristine. and the Frontier Music Festival in place, are listed on page 16. October. A campaign to encourage dog Final preparations are also owners, who fail to pick up after The Alnwick Food Festival is also being made for the ninth their pets, to take pride in their being held in September. This annual Heritage Open Days’ surroundings, was launched last year will see the return of chef event, which will run from 12 month (page 19). Jean-Christophe Novelli who will September. The council is be making a special appearance coordinating this national event Wherever you are in the county as part of the programme. within the county and is hoping this autumn, please enjoy all that to match the success of 2012. the countryside and towns have Music is on the agenda in the Venues taking part are listed on to offer and help us to keep west of the county with the page 4. Northumberland beautiful. Find us on: Facebook at: www.northumberland.gov.uk/facebook Twitter at: www.northumberland.gov.uk/twitter YouTube at: www.northumberland.gov.uk/youtube 3 Heritage Open Days 2013 Heritage Open Days programme is packed with more return this month giving than 90 attractions opening us all an opportunity to their doors across the county. Ever-popular venues, such explore Northumberland’s as Cragside, Wallington Hall, historic treasures free of Seaton Delaval Hall, Lindisfarne charge. Castle and Hexham’s Forum Cinema are all taking part once From Thursday 12 to Sunday again. There are also new 15 September people can additions to the list of locations take advantage of the annual ensuring there is something for event that gives free access to everyone to enjoy. buildings that are usually closed, have restricted access, or Highlights this year include, charge admission. the Royal Northumberland As well as heritage attractions Yacht Club, a range of there will be a wide range of exhibitions celebrating Emily tours, events and activities Wilding Davison, several new running to bring local history and guided walks and the special culture to life. ‘Illuminating the Lindisfarne Gospels Festival’ at Now in its ninth year, Heritage St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Open Days is England’s biggest Blyth. and most popular voluntary cultural event. The aim is to The event is coordinated locally encourage people of all ages to by Northumberland County develop a healthy curiosity for all things cultural. Last year, visitor Council. The national scheme is numbers nationally reached supported by English Heritage around 1.7 million and this year and a partnership comprising is set to be just as successful. The National Trust, The Civic Northumberland’s 2013 Voice and The Heritage Alliance. To view a full list of this year’s attractions visit www.northumberland.gov.uk/open You can also join in online and become part of a huge national network of people who share a passion for local places, heritage and culture. Try posting your stories, thoughts, comments, photos and videos on Facebook at www.facebook.com/northumberlandevents or on Twitter @EventsNE. 4 www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400 County features in prime-time series Pictured: Robson Green filming for his new series on The Farne Islands. Actor Robson Green has deeper into its history to Northumberland County Council, been filming on home turf discover stories that he did not said: “Robson really immerses even know himself. himself with local people and for a new, eight-part, ITV places for this series and it’s prime-time series about From counting puffins on the fantastic that Northumberland is Northumberland. Farne Islands, camping on to be showcased in this unique Hadrian’s Wall, smoking kippers and interesting way. Robson, who was born in in Craster, dining on the roof of Northumberland and knows the Bamburgh Castle to joining an “I’m really looking forward to area well, has been meeting impromptu gig at Low Newton seeing our magnificent county some of the people who make his adventures take him around explored on national television.” this part of Britain so special. a part of the country that means so much to him. Robson Green’s For Robson it has also Northumberland is expected to been a nostalgic journey Councillor Val Tyler, policy be aired on ITV later in the year. as he reconnects with his board member for community The series has been produced Northumberland roots and digs infrastructure and culture at by Shiver. 5 Rewarded for LOVEing Northumberland The Duchess of Best new project went to Wylam There was a new category Northumberland helped Community Orchard Biodiversity this year for the best business Group; best urban project to related project – which was won to celebrate the best the Old Bakehouse Millennium by the Whistle Art Stop Smartz in community and Green Trust in Morpeth; and best Club in Haltwhistle. voluntary environmental coast or countryside project to the Friends of Holywell Dene. A second new category for work at a special LOVE the individual whose efforts or Northumberland awards commitment help to enrich the event last month. environment of Northumberland was presented to the Friends Eleven groups were honoured of Bedlington’s Gallagher Park with winner or runner-up awards (pictured below) in memory of in seven categories, along with George Webster. George worked two schools who received their tirelessly to make significant awards in the Northumberland improvements to the park and Schools’ Recycling Green Points sadly died earlier this year Challenge. The best young people’s following a lengthy illness. project category was won by A number of highly commended the Cowpen Quay Community entrants also attended the event Association’s Buffalo Junior at The Alnwick Garden, which Wardens for their Ridley Park was again supported by main project in Blyth and the best sponsor the Banks Group and children’s project by Belsay hosted by BBC Look North’s First School for their biodiversity Carol Malia. project (pictured above). Pictured: Councillor Kath Nesbit, civic head of Northumberland County Council, with the Duchess of Northumberland, BBC’s Carol Malia and the winners and sponsors of the LOVE Northumberland Awards. 6 www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400 Rewarded for LOVEing Northumberland Grange View Church of “The spirit of the LOVE Also sponsoring the awards, England First School at Northumberland Awards for the third year, were the Co- Widdrington was the winner matches our own commitment operative Community Fund in of the first Northumberland to improving the communities in the North East, and one of the Schools’ Recycling Green categories was sponsored by Points Challenge after pupils which we operate. the team at Blyth McDonalds as got involved in a wide range of part of their Planet Champions ‘green’ activities.