I’ve been on a mission to explore all our local National Trust sites, and with Cherryburn recently opening every Thursday and Friday, I was pleasantly surprised by what this little, quaint space had to offer. Tucked above the Tyne Valley near Stocksfield, Cherryburn tells the story of Thomas Bewick, one of the great figures of British printmaking and natural history. Managed by the National Trust,… Read More »Exploring Cherryburn
If you’re looking for a day out that goes a little deeper than the usual café stops or coastal walk, Woodhorn Museum certainly delivers. Nestled within the restored buildings of a former pit, this Ashington attraction offers an immersive glimpse into the lives, creativity and resilience of Northumberland’s mining communities, making it an ideal hidden gem for locals keen to explore something both meaningful and… Read More »Exploring Woodhorn
When I was a young teenager, I was always roaming the countryside looking for and learning about wildlife and places, etching out my own territory where I gradually got to know all that lived there. One of my favourite animals to watch was the water rat, or water vole, as its more accurately called. A small burn near where I lived was the place to… Read More »Ratty On the Tyne!?
At the time of writing, it is winter, an early afternoon that is cold and grey. The warmth of a coffee shop beckons, and it’s the perfect time and place for contemplation. The Odd Olive Eatery is relatively new in Ryton, but with multiple fantastic reviews from family members, I knew I just had to go. It’s just before Christmas, that time of winding down… Read More »Coffee & Contemplation
in the Winter. It’s not every day you get a national treasure and a lead thinker and broadcaster on wildlife and Nature speak up on your behalf and encourage people to donate to your cause. Sir David Attenborough, long term President and supporter of Wildlife Trusts, including Northumberland, did exactly that recently, taking time in his 100th year to prepare a video on the importance… Read More »Tyne Valley
With summertime at its peak, I’ve been on the hunt for the best outdoor garden spaces to relax and explore. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Botanic Garden not far from Corbridge that I quickly fell in love with: Dilston Physic Garden. Just off from the Devil’s Water, Dilston Physic Garden sits tucked away, a wealth of nature that you can both relax and… Read More »Dilston Physic Garden
‘Butterfly watching’; there is, believe it or not, several books with this title, a subject slightly ethereal and to most folks eliciting the response “what?”. Colourful in passing, intriguing even and increasingly uncommon (this year is a good one, last year abysmal) most people appreciate a butterfly fly by and welcome them in their gardens. But actually, standing and closely observing their detail, and behaviour,… Read More »Butterfly Watching
I’m walking the line, the line connecting the Northumberland hills to the estuary, along the bank of the Tyne. I’m just near Stocksfield, it’s early morning and a cold bright day. The sun is glancing off the ripples across the water and the willows and the occasional alder buckthorn have burst into blossom, like white and yellow candyfloss. For once there is no wind and… Read More »Walking the Nature Line
It’s a while since I’ve written for Tyne Valley Express about the Tyne Valley, so before putting words to pc, I went to seek guidance from NWT’s long serving Vice President and former RSPB Northern Director, Ian Armstrong, who is a long term Tyne Valley resident and has observed the landscape and wildlife here for decades. I was seeking oversight and insight of where to… Read More »Wild Tyne Tales
