The Kielder Ospreys have made 2016 a record-breaking year with a healthy hatching of nine chicks – the most ever recorded since ospreys re-colonised in Northumberland seven years ago.The latest arrival on Kielder’s Nest 2 has completed the “new brood”, topping the area’s previous record fledging of eight in 2014. This includes four healthy chicks on Kielder’s Nest 1A, one of only two public nests in the UK to have hatched so many eggs this year.Joanna Dailey, Kielder Osprey expert volunteer, said: “It has been so exciting to watch the nests and see these eggs hatch, and the public visiting the web cams have been equally enthralled.“To have four chicks on one nest is very rare, a one in a hundred occurrence, so that’s particularly great to see.”There are now four chicks on Nest 1A, three on Nest 2 and two on Nest 3.Joanna said: “To have a record number of healthy chicks at Kielder is very rewarding for all involved. Ospreys re-colonised in Northumberland in 2009, following an absence from the region spanning more than 200 years, and we are seeing the species flourish here once again. The work the Forestry Commission Wildlife Rangers put into establishing these platforms is now so rewarding for everyone involved.”Wildlife lovers can keep up to date with all the stories as they unfold through the Kielder osprey blog at kielderospreys.wordpress.com

The Old Boat House in Amble has won the prestigious title of Coastal Fish Restaurant of the Year in the 2016 Fishing News Awards. The awards, held in Aberdeen last Thursday, celebrate excellence across all areas of the fishing industry. The Old Boat House Food Group, who also operate Blyth Boathouse restaurant and the newly opened Fish Shack at the Sea Quest in Amble hope the recognition from the awards helps encourage more people to visit the Northumberland region and to enjoy its produce. Owner Martin Charlton said, “We’re incredibly proud of the award win and to see our hard work recognised. The proud people of Northumberland and the North East really got behind us on this and we’re overwhelmed and humbled by the support. It’s really showed off what this region and our county has to offer.” The Old Boat House is committed using sustainable local produce and boast a fish licence that allows them to buy fresh catches straight from Amble’s fishing boats. The award’s host, TV Chef Simon Rimmer said, “The Old Boat House puts a lot of emphasis on creating sumptuous meals from a variety of whichever fantastic fish are available on the day. Their philosophy behind serving seafood is something restaurants up and down the country would do well to take note of.”

Our inaugural Picnic Games has been a huge success, with our iconic steam locomotive Barber inspiring fans both young and old to pay us a visit and bask in the warm weather that we ordered especially for the weekend. Our fabulous live music gave life to the platform, with brilliant local musicians playing for us over the weekend. Many visitors spent their whole day with us, nourishing both their body with extensive offerings from our Buffer Stop Café; and their soul, playing croquet in the marquee, and pitting their wits in a game of giant dominoes, noughts and crosses, and skittles. After a beautiful scenic train ride, taking in all of the glory that the South Tyne Valley countryside has to offer, and an enthusiastic exploration round our station on our treasure hunt, parents and grandparents were able to sit and relax with a well-deserved beverage, while the little (and some big) ones enjoyed our craft retreat. Our Picnic Games quiz added a sense of Mastermind to the event, with 'games' being a loose specialist subject, and inspiring some friendly debate on the answers. Our Discovery Centre was a cool haven from the bustle of the platform, with informative displays on the commemoration of the closure of the line, and the permanent display of the 'rise, fall, and rise again' of the railway. We hope we have inspired some lawn game athletes of the future, and look forward to welcoming visitors for our 2017 Picnic Games.

As Northumberland National Park celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, local businessman and outdoor enthusiast David Wilson, is taking on the epic challenge of walking the entire length of the Park, non-stop, to celebrate!Setting off at the crack of dawn this Friday 27 May, the 70 mile route will take him from the most northerly tip of the Park at Kilham, across the Cheviots, down the Pennine Way and eventually join Hadrian’s Wall to finish at Walltown. The route covers stunning areas including Yeavering Bell and Newton Tors along with practical areas that allow him to access food, water and other supplies.David, from Cramlington, is a Park volunteer when he’s not busy running his own financial advice company in Newcastle. He aims to use the challenge to encourage more people to enjoy the great outdoors by showcasing some of the most beautiful, remote and uninhabited countryside in England.“After living in the county all my life I still find hidden treasures in the Park and places I’ve never seen or heard of before. I hope that through my ‘Walk in the Park’ challenge I can show people that Northumberland National Park is on their doorstep and encourage them to go out and explore their own little piece of it.“Northumberland is a wonderful place, steeped in history and culture and I want to use the walk to showcase it from my perspective. I’m 37, running my own business while juggling family life with two young children and I hope this challenge will demonstrate that we can all find a bit of adventure and see and do amazing things right here without the need to travel for miles outside the area,” explains David.The trek is expected to take him 28-hours and the final route was created with the help of Northumberland National Park’s GIS Officer Ed Hudspeth using new Ordinance Survey (OS) data called the Detailed Path Network (DPN). The DPN will feed into an OS tracking map embedded on the Northumberland National Park website so people can follow David’s progress during the challenge in real-time.David has already clocked up a long list of achievements, including running the Great North Run twice in one day, walking the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall non-stop and volunteering to use the Google Trekker in the National Park last year to capture imagery for Google’s Street View service. David was responsible for catching one of the most iconic shots in the National Park; Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall.“I did the Hadrian’s Wall Challenge back in 2012 and felt the need to try something new ever since. The fact it’s the Park’s 60th anniversary this year presented the perfect opportunity. I’m a huge supporter of the National Park movement and having a young family I feel it’s very important to highlight the work they do to to make sure they are conserved and enhanced for generations to enjoy,” said David.Tony Gates, Chief Executive at Northumberland National Park, which was recently declared National Park of the Year in a public vote, said: “David is a wonderful ambassador for the Park. He’s worked with us on a number of occasions. It is fantastic that his experience and passion for the landscape has inspired him to show people how much there is to explore and do in and around Northumberland. He’s about to put himself through an enormous physical challenge and we all wish him every success in his endeavour.”David will be setting off on his non-stop trek from the north of the Park at 7am on Friday 27 May and is hoping to arrive at the Walltown site at the southern-most tip of the Park at 10am on Saturday 28 May. You can follow David and track his latest position on the Northumberland National Park website at: www.northnorthumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/walkinthepark .The team at the Park will also be sharing photos and links to the each of the areas David passes through and running a number of giveaways on Facebook and Twitter. You can follow on Twitter @NlandNP using the hashtag #WalkinthePark and on Facebook at Northumberland National Park.

Over the bank holiday weekend South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society commemorated 40 years since the closure by British Rail of the Haltwhistle to Alston branch line. As on the 1st May 1976, the weather was inclement but the staff and volunteers were delighted to see so many people brave the wind and rain to join in. Bishop Auckland District Pipe and Drum Band in full regalia, played throughout the day heralding each train as it arrived at and left Alston station. Barber, the steam loco, was decorated with a beautiful floral wreath to pay tribute to that final journey. The wreath scattered a few flowers along the track which added to the reflective note of the occasion South Tynedale Railway volunteers on the platform shared reminiscences with visitors, some of whom had been present back in ’76 to make that final journey and who remembered both the closure of the line and the birth of the Society which was created to reestablish contact with the Haltwhistle main line. As well as travelling along the first part of the line visitors were able to view the exhibition and videos about the old line in the Discovery Centre. The South Tynedale Railway “Futures Coach” rolled into the platform each time the passenger train departed to inform visitors about the future development of the railway enabled by the Heritage Lottery Fund Project. The information included plans and detailed what will be happening in the next twelve months when the Society opens at Slaggyford in April 2017. Quote from Heather Palmer, General Manager: "This was a very special weekend for the Society as it is our final year with Alston as our only station of the original five that closed in 1976. Easter 2017 will see us opening Slaggyford, the second station down the old Haltwhistle to Alston branch line. To have so many memories from people who were present at the closure was extremely moving and we are most grateful for their input to this event."

The North Northumberland Tourism Association (NNTA) has released a series of short films celebrating the beauty of the wildlife and landscapes of north Northumberland.Three short films have been produced, showing Spring & Summer, Autumn, and Winter in the wild and unspoilt landscapes of the ‘Secret Kingdom’, and a flagship version of the films amalgamates them into a 7-minute showcase.NNTA Chair Jeff Sutheran said: “We set out to create something visually stunning, to illustrate the unique and beautiful landscapes and wildlife of our area. Filming across a whole year, looking for specific events such as migrations and breeding seasons, has been an exacting and demanding process. But now we’re absolutely thrilled with the resulting films, and from those who have seen the final versions there has been one common response – ‘Wow!’”The films have been produced by local film-maker Cain Scrimgeour, and the project was supported with funds from the Northumberland National Park Authority and the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership, as well as monies from the Tourism Association itself.County Councillor John Woodman, Chair of the AONB Partnership said: “We want to attract visitors who come specifically to enjoy and appreciate the natural beauty of this area, and these gorgeous films illustrate that beauty more clearly than any words ever could. Importantly, they show the beauty of our surroundings at times outside the main holiday seasons, which are times we particularly want to encourage visitors, so we can spread the economic benefit throughout the year. The imagery is just stunning, and I’m sure they will be very powerful in attracting and informing visitors.”NNTA member Ian Kille added: “The way that we all research our holidays and short breaks has changed beyond all recognition in recent years, and we now expect to be able to see first-hand what we will experience, when planning a visit. Online video is very important in reaching visitors, and I’m so pleased that our Association has been able to steer this project to such a satisfying conclusion. These films will undoubtedly be good for businesses in North Northumberland.”The Association is keen for the films to be shared and promoted widely. “We know that social media is one of the best ways to enthuse people about our area, and so we’re really hoping that local residents and businesses alike will want to celebrate the gorgeous area we’re privileged to live in, by sharing these films in their social media streams” said Jeff Sutheran.The full version of the film is 7 minutes long, and can be viewed online: bit.ly/northumberlandseasons

The Morpeth Farmers’ Market will be celebrating all things British on Saturday May 7th.Victory in Europe Day is on May 8th - the same weekend as the market. To celebrate the event the Salvation Army Brass Band will be playing from 10am till 12pm at the heart of the market place and the market will be trimmed with Union Flag bunting.Local company the North East “Pig On A Spit” Hog Roast Company will be serving piping hot roast pork throughout the day.Also on the Market Place for the Day will be Morpeth Town Football Club with players and officials on hand to meet fans and sell Wembley scarves, hats and replica shirts all in support of their trip to the Wembley final later in the year!There will also be 21 stalls on the market place bringing the best of local produce to Morpeth. There will be fresh meat from Northumberland Poultry, fruit and veg from Julian and sausages from the ever popular Geordie Bangers all hoping to tempt taste buds on the day!Morpeth Market is managed by Northumberland County Council and Sanderson Arcade, working in partnership with Morpeth Town Council, Morpeth and District Chamber of Trade and other local organisations through the Morpeth market working group.The weekly Wednesday Market and The Farmers’ Market both run from 9am to 3pm at Morpeth Marketplace.

Bird lovers in Northumberland are celebrating an early start to their season with the earliest ever sighting of a bird on the Kielder Osprey nest and now the safe return of two pairs of birds.Yellow 37 – one of the ringed Kielder males - was first seen at Nest 2 on the 24 March, coinciding with one of the Osprey volunteer training days, an unexpected bonus sighting for the team of Northumberland Wildlife Trust volunteers who were busy preparing for the season ahead. Not only is it the earliest return of any Kielder Osprey to the nest, Yellow 37 was the second male home across all UK osprey projects.Since the first sighting, Nest 1 has seen the return of “YA”, on the 26 March, another record early return date for this male, with his partner arriving shortly after. Meanwhile, on Nest 2, Yellow 37 didn’t have to wait too long for his mate to arrive, with “Mrs 37” arriving safely back on the 30 March. This rare species were extinct in England for 150 years but have bred successfully in Kielder Water and Forest Park every season since they returned to north east England in 2009. Tom Dearnley, Ecologist at the Forestry Commission said:“It’s always a pleasure to see the ospreys return and to watch this fantastic species continue to recover in Northern England. We don’t know quite why ospreys are early this year, as other migrants such as chiffchaff aren’t showing the same pattern, but March is certainly earlier that we have come to expect.”Joanna Dailey, Kielder Osprey expert volunteer, said:“It’s really exciting for the whole volunteer team whenever the ospreys return, and even more so when it’s so unexpectedly early. Now the birds are back, we’re looking forward to another successful season for the birds and for all the visitors who enjoy following their progress via our blog and live camera feeds.” The birds can be watched by visitors through nestcams on Nest 1 and 2, with footage beamed to a screen at the Kielder Castle café. Kielder Osprey Watch will be open every weekend at Leaplish Visitor Centre, from when the eggs hatch to when the chicks fledge, manned by the team of Northumberland Wildlife Trust volunteers.The Osprey Watch is organised by Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, with support from the RSPB. The partners are working hard to ensure that the ospreys are here to stay by maintaining a high quality habitat in Kielder Water & Forest Park and safeguarding and monitoring the nest site.Wildlife lovers can keep up to date with the story as it unfolds through the Kielder Osprey blog at kielderospreys.wordpress.com.The Kielder Ospreys will feature on Further Tales from Northumberland, broadcast on Monday 4 April, on ITV.

The 2016/17 edition of the popular Northumberland Coast AONB Visitor Guide will be available for the first time at the Alnwick Tourism Fair on Wednesday 16th March. This year the AONB Partnership has produced 10,000 extra copies to meet demand for this popular publication, which now has a print-run of 50,000.It is the fifth edition of the guide which is designed for post arrival use by visitors and contains information about the area and tips for enjoying your stay. This year’s guide includes articles on wildlife, historical features and geology as well as events, maps and places to visit in the AONB. The cover features a stunning photograph of Holy Island by local photographer Emma Rothera, who beat 103 other entries in the annual AONB photography competition to win this top spot.After the Alnwick Tourism Fair on 16th March, the guide will be available at Tourist Information Centres and other locations up and down the coast, and is downloadable now from the brand new Northumberland Coast AONB website (www.northumberlandcoastaonb.org). You can also contact the office on 01670 620306 for copies or to talk to us about advertising your tourism business in next year’s guide.Cllr Allan Hepple, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth said “I am delighted we have been able to produce an extra 10,000 copies of the Visitor Guide this year, as it has proved extremely popular with visitors in previous years and we are keen to ensure it is available all year.”Jeff Sutheran from the award-winning St Cuthbert’s House Bed and Breakfast in Seahouses said “The Visitor Guide is always very popular with our guests who use it to plan their time here, it’s a fantastic asset for the area”.

The team at Morpeth’s Sanderson Arcade have lined up a cracking day of Easter fun to kick start the Bank Holiday weekend. The fun starts from 11am until 3pm on Saturday 26th March where there will be a whole host of activities for children to take part in. There will be a craft tent where children can decorate Easter eggs to take home with them along with face painting where they can be turned into their favourite make believe character. There will also be the opportunity to pet and hold a variety of animals at Pets Corner including Easter chicks, rabbits and guinea pigs. Barnacre Alpacas will also be bringing their cria’s (baby Alpacas!) along for the day. Alice and the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland will also be on hand to meet and greet, and also help with the Easter Treat Trail from 11am which takes place around the Arcade with clues being hidden in the store windows! Finally there will also be the chance to win a super bumper Easter Hamper on the day! All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is simply guess how many chocolate eggs are in the giant glass bowl and the winner will be announced at 3pm! All activities throughout the day are free! There will be live music throughout the bank holiday weekend including The KEVI Monsoon Steel band on Good Friday. For more information on events happening at the Arcade please go to www.sandersonarcade.co.uk or search for Sanderson Arcade on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Join us and help raise £10kAfter the huge success of our inaugural event in 2015, which saw over 650 join us for a feast of musical talent, the B Festival returns for a second year at Bamburgh. This a fantastic summer evening music festival that happens in the shadow (metaphorically speaking) of the iconic Bamburgh castle and the stunning Bamburgh coastline. The festival is a celebration of a multitude of genres of music from Classical through to Rock and many points in between.Our aim is to give you a great summer evening, lounging on picnic blankets or sitting in deck chairs, enjoying your own picnic, listening to some cool sounds and watching the sun set on Bamburgh castle – perhaps with a glass of chilled fizz or whatever tickles your fancy. We provide the venue, the music and the atmosphere, all you need to do is bring along the things you need to be comfortable - there can be few better ways to pass a late summer evening. VIP Brewery will be on hand to provide a Bar service, North Shore Coffee will be providing delicious freshly brewed coffee and Fantasy Prints will be selling very cool BFest T-shirts, printed while you wait with 50% of all sales being donated to HospiceCare - what’s not to love!Julie Frost, Marketing, PR & Corporate Co-ordinator for HospiceCare, who is organising the event said “we have an amazing line-up of musical talent again this year, offering a wide genre of music that will suit all tastes. We also have the added benefit of a dedicated BFestival website, which has been kindly donated and created by the Bamburgh based company ‘WebAuthors’. The website provides all the information you need to know about the B Festival – so why not take a sneak peek today: www.bfest.org.uk. Advanced tickets are now on sale at just £17.50 per adult with under 16’s FREE.Julie also said “last year the BFestival generated a profit of just under £7.5K, made possible by the generous sponsorship from Neil and Jackie Forsyth owners of local business ‘Staynorthumbria’, Their support enabled all ticket sales to go directly to the hospice and I’m delighted to say that they have kindly agreed to joined us again for 2016, which makes our target of £10k more achievable. HospiceCare is an amazing Palliative Care charity to have right on our doorstep here in North Northumberland, but it relies heavily on donations and fundraising. The B Festival offers everyone who attends the opportunity to not only have THE most special evening, but to also make a financial contribution to such a vital local service – which as they say ‘is music to my ears!”

This Easter, get into the great outdoors and explore all that’s on offer at the National Trust. The whole family can enjoy wide open spaces perfect for exploration, coast and countryside places brimming with wildlife and historic houses full of enchanting characters and stories; everything you need for great family fun during the holidays. If you want to try something new this Easter then the National Trust has plenty to offer. Get creative with craft events at Souter Lighthouse and Seaton Delaval Hall, become a lambing apprentice at Wallington or join the wild rangers club at Gibside. Plus, over the Easter weekend, the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt (25 – 28 March) will be inviting families to unleash their inner explorer with adventurous quests taking place across the North East. Everyone will be rewarded with a delicious Cadbury chocolate treat at the end of each completed hunt, and every single Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt will help support special places looked after by the National Trust for future generations to explore. Here’s a round-up of great days out for all the family, both over the Easter weekend and throughout the holidays, in the North East: Top Easter weekend egg hunts: Cherryburn Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Friday 25 – Monday 28 March, 11am – 3pm Thomas Bewick, a famous Northumberland artist who was born at Cherryburn, loved animals and went on to draw many of them. This Easter, your mission is to follow in Bewick's footprints and hunt for the hidden animals around the farmyard. If you can find them, you can claim your Easter prize. Each hunt costs £2 and normal admission charges apply. For more information telephone 01661 843276. Cragside Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Friday 25 – Monday 28 March, 11am – 3pm Bunny has been up to all sorts of mischief at Cragside, hopping around Tumbleton Lake, hiding clues and chocolate surprises for you to find. See if you can help the bunnies into their burrows to receive a Cadbury chocolate reward! Each hunt costs £3 and normal admission charges apply. For more information telephone 01669 620333. Gibside Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Friday 25 – Tuesday 29 March, 11am – 3pm Join us for an Easter adventure around Gibside as you hunt for clues and collect your Cadbury chocolate prize. Each hunt costs £2.50 and normal admission charges apply. For more information telephone 01207 541820. Northumberland Coast, Low Newton Easter Trail and Rockpool Ramble Sunday 27 & Monday 28 March, 10.30am – 2.30pm Join the National Trust Rangers on the beach for a free rock pool ramble, and take part in our seashore Easter Egg trail. It costs £2 per hunt and the rock pooling is free. For more information telephone 01665 576874 Seaton Delaval Hall Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Saturday 26 –Monday 28 March, 11am – 4pm Bunny has been up to all sorts of mischief, hiding clues and treats that lead to a chocolatey surprise! Follow the hunt around the gardens and woodland to be rewarded with a Cadbury chocolate treat! It costs £2 per hunt, and normal admission charges apply. For more information telephone 0191 2379100. Souter Lighthouse and The Leas Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Friday 25 – Monday 28 March, 11am – 4pm An Easter adventure with a chocolate reward. Follow the clues to earn your delicious Cadbury prize! It costs £3 per child, for more information telephone 0191 5293161. Wallington Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Friday 25 March – Sunday 10 April, 11am – 4pm Visit Wallington, home of the adventurous Trevelyan family and follow our Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt through the West Wood to claim your yummy Cadbury chocolate reward. It costs £2.50 per hunt and normal property admission charges apply. For more information telephone 01670 773600. Washington Old Hall Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt Friday 25 – Monday 28 March, 11am – 4pm Follow the creature footprints around the garden to win your Cadbury chocolate surprise. It costs £1 per hunt and normal admission applies. For more information, telephone 0191 4166789. Other great family events and activities over Easter Cragside Eggsperiment with Eggs! Thursday 31 March, 11am – 4pm Experiment with different methods of dying paste eggs and see which brings out the best colours and patterns. Then decorate your hard-boiled egg with your favourite method. The event is free but normal admission charges apply. For more information telephone 01669 620333. Cragside Help Bunny cross the lake Thursday 7 April, 11am – 3pm Can you help Bunny cross Tumbleton Lake? Come along and design a boat to help him get across safely. Can you design the best boat? The events Is free but normal admission charges apply. Drop in at the Young Engineer's zone to take part. For more information telephone 01669 620333. Gibside Easter Holiday Fun Wednesday 30 March – Friday 8 April, 11am – 3pm Free family activities and outdoor adventures during the school holidays. Join us for Explorer Monday, Foodie Tuesday, Wildlife Wednesday, Adventure Thursday and Fit Friday. Each event is free but normal admission charges apply. For more information telephone 01207 541820. Gibside Wild Ranger Club 31 March, 1, 7 & 8 April Drop your kids off at Gibside to join our adventure filled club. Become a wild ranger, learn to track wildlife, get hands-on looking after habitats, learn some bushcraft skills and discover some of nature's secrets. Each day costs £7.50 per child and normal admission charges apply. For more information telephone 01207 541820. Seaton Delaval Hall Make and Do for Easter Wednesday 30 March & Wednesday 6 April, 11am – 1pm Try your hand at children's craft activities during the Easter holidays for only 50p per child. Normal admission charges apply, for more information telephone 0191 2379100. Souter Lighthouse and The Leas Get Crafty! 30 & 31 March, 5 & 6 April Keep the kids busy this spring - get hands on and creative, let your imagination run wild! Suitable for ages 3 and upwards. It costs £3 per craft, for more information telephone 0191 5293161. Wallington Broomhouse Farm Event – Lambing Shed Live! Friday 25 March – Sunday 10 April, 12.30 – 2pm & 2 – 3.30pm Take a short scenic tractor trailer ride through the Wallington estate to Broomhouse Farm where you will get a close-up experience of lambing on a working farm. Enjoy a guided tour of the lambing shed, visit the' lamb hospital' to see how we look after new born lambs in intensive care and help to bottle feed the lambs..........you might even see a lamb being born! £6 adult, £5 child, booking essential via www.broomhousefarm.co.uk Wallington Broomhouse Farm Event – Lambing Apprentice Friday 25 March – Sunday 10 April, 2 – 4pm Join the lambing team at Broomhouse Farm for an afternoon shift, caring for the pregnant ewes and new born lambs, helping with all of the routine tasks in the lambing shed and getting hands-on experience. This is the only place in the North East where you can be part of a team lambing a large commercial flock and places are limited to two people per session, to ensure you get the best quality experience. No experience needed. Suitable for ages 10+ (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult). £30 per person, booking essential via www.broomhousefarm.co.uk For more information about great days out in the North East with the National Trust over Easter, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/northeast