One of the most popular events at England’s number one tourism attraction is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary and people are being urged to ‘act fast’ to secure tickets.Kielder Winter Wonderland, at Kielder Water & Forest Park in Northumberland, has been a sell-out for the last ten years and with tickets going on sale on Monday September 16 2013 at 10am, advice is to ‘book now so you don’t miss out.’Kielder’s spectacular magical forest is set to be transformed into an enchanted Winter Wonderland, full of festive surprises and attractions for the whole family.Throughout the day long celebration, visitors will join Santa’s elves in their magic workshop to help them prepare for the big day by becoming toy makers. Mrs. Christmas and her friends will take visitors on a glittering journey through the enchanted forest and there is also a Christmas Theatre show. Kevin Hudson, Customer Experience Manager at Northumbrian Water, which organises the event with Dodgy Clutch Theatre Company, said: "The day isn’t complete without a visit to Santa’s Secret hideaway, deep in the woods with elves to guide you and festive friends to entertain along the way."This year is extra special because it’s our 10th anniversary and we will be lighting up England’s darkest skies with beautiful twinkly lights on one of the tallest growing Christmas trees in the forest."Kevin added: "Because this is such a popular event at Kielder Water & Forest Park, visitors must pre-book and be aware that tickets are not available on site."With gifts for the whole family to take home, skating and snow tubing and the chance to visit Snowy Owl and friends at the Birds of Prey Centre, Kielder Winter Wonderland is a special and memorable, action-packed day out.Kielder Winter Wonderland is open every weekend from Saturday 16 November until Sunday 22 December 2013 including Friday 20 December. November dates cost £32 per person and December dates cost £35 per person. For children under the age of one the cost is £5. A booking fee of £4.50 also applies. Book tickets online at www.kielderwinterwonderland.com or by calling 0845 155 1553.To book a Kielder lodge and Winter Wonderland tickets together call 0845 155 1553 from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Group bookings of 12 persons or more should also be booked by telephone.

The Northumbrian Exchanges Project and Holy Island Partnership are pleased to announce the launch of the exhibition Island Perspectives at St Cuthbert’s Centre, Holy Island. The exhibition shows artworks and creative expressions produced by residents of Holy Island during a summer workshop programme, including photography, dance & movement, sonic mapping, theatre performance and drawing & painting.Northumbrian Exchanges (NX) is a one-year pilot collaboration between the departments of Music, Fine Art, the Centre for Rural Economy and Newcastle University Business School. The project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as a knowledge exchange project to consider the role of creativity in support of community development and local economy, and how the university can support creative community projects.David Suggett, Holy Island Partnership Development Officer said ‘the exhibition shows the depth of interest in the creative arts on Holy Island and the process of working on a knowledge exchange project with Newcastle University has shown are huge opportunities in enabling and connecting rural communities’. The Exhibition Preview for participants and residents of Holy Island is on Tuesday 17th September 7-8pm. The Exhibition Opens Wednesday 18th – Saturday 21st September, 11-5pm* (*Saturday 11-2pm)For further information contact David Suggett, Holy Island Partnership Development Officer on 01289 389 399 or [email protected]

It’s a big ‘BOOM’ from Dr Bunhead, space ‘silliness’ from Helen Keen and ‘The Science Bloke’ (Marty Jopson) sets fire to things and makes a mess with eggs.Science is everywhere from 7-12 September when the British Science Festival comes to Newcastle and Life Science Centre, as a supporting partner, joins in the fun with an abundance of family and adult events to add further diversity to the programme. Life will be celebrating the opening day of the festival with a jam-packed day of family activities starting with Dr Bunhead, a man who turns science into a burning, bubbling, exploding ball of fun and positively encourages brave volunteers to get up on stage and help him with his show, ‘Volcano Head with Dr Bunhead’. (Tickets cost £5 per person).He explains: “It’s all about the build-up of pressure, the effects of temperature and explaining all the ‘bits and pieces’ like lava, magma, the pyroclastic flow ….in simple terms this is a story about squeezing a spot but on a massive geographical scale! It’s about how the earth vents its pressure.” There will also be free performances from BBC1’s The One Show presenter, Marty Jopson and science comedienne Helen Keen.Marty’s show at 2pm, is entitled ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’ and tells the story of how Newton came up with his ideas on gravity. He said: “It’s a series of simple demos, stunts and tricks, some of which can be tried at home and I’ll be setting fire to some things and making a mess with eggs”. Helen Keen will present ‘Space race!, a family show based on her popular Radio 4 series ‘It is rocket science’. She said: “Its space-based silliness with lots of audience participation promised! As a small child I was completely enraptured by space, and so I've tried to create a show that includes lots of my own childhood enthusiasms - space rockets, stamps comets, even dinosaurs!"Visitors who go on after the shows to visit inside the Life Science Centre will find the Curious Chemistry Show within the Science Theatre, a Colour Chemistry Workshop, a special planetarium show, Making Waves exploring wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum and an opportunity to meet scientists from the University of Hull and learn about the potted history of liquid crystal. Added to this visitors can enjoy the Age of the dinosaur exhibition, the 4D Motion Ride, the Curiosity Zone and Young Explorers Zone for the under 7’s. To find out more or to book tickets for Dr Bunhead, visit www.life.org.uk or telephone (0191) 243 8210.For the full list of Centre for Life British Science Festival events, visit www.life.org.uk

A best-selling author will make history come alive as he gets set to run in the footsteps of the Border Reivers at Kielder Water & Forest Park in Northumberland.Sunderland born, “Horrible Histories” writer, Terry Deary will join hundreds of runners for the Kielder 10K at England’s number one tourism experience on Saturday October 5, 2013.Kielder suffered severely with regular raids from the Border Reivers – gangs of horsemen who raided the borders of England and Scotland between 1300 and 1600.Terry, from Burnhope, County Durham, will tread the tracks of the Border Reivers but in what is now voted the most tranquil place in England.*This latest sporting challenge for the dedicated runner will come just three weeks after his 18th Great North Run in Newcastle and Gateshead on Sunday September 15.The Kielder 10K is part of the Kielder Marathon weekend of events, held on 5 and 6 October and hosted by Northumbrian Water.Terry will be supporting the events’ official charity with a donation to Cancer Research UK.The 67-year-old said: “Just because I’m past retirement age doesn’t mean I have to give up running and I’ve put a lot of extra effort in this year to lose weight.“It’s very relaxing running in a rural setting like Kielder and it will make a lovely change for me. It’s also nice to run through our regions history. ”Organiser of the event and Olympic medallist, Steve Cram, said: “Terry has always been a big supporter of our running events and I’m pleased to hear that he’s making his own history and taking part in his first event at Kielder.“It’s such an amazing place, seeped in history and with its spectacular scenery and impressive off-road course it’s a great place to run.“There is something for everybody to participate in over the Kielder Marathon weekend. I would urge anybody who wants to take part in any of the events to secure their place as soon as possible.”Set in the surroundings of northern Europe’s largest man-made lake and England’s largest working forest, Kielder Marathon is Britain’s most beautiful marathon.Other events include Kielder 10K, Kielder Run-Bike-Run relay event and Kielder Junior Races.Entries for all events close on September Monday 23, 2013. Marathon places will be allocated on a first come first served basis – there is no ballot this year. To book a place log on to the event website at www.salomonkieldermarathon.com. For enquiries telephone 01434 689 040.

Cyclists will be able to get a unique insight into the Battle of Flodden by riding the routes taken by the English and Scottish armies over one weekend later this month.The free guided rides have been organised by Wooler Cycle Hub to coincide with the final build up to the 500th anniversary of the battle.On Saturday, August 24, riders will be able to follow the route taken by the English, from Wooler Haugh to the battle site. Stops will be made at places of interest along the route to discuss their significance in the progress to the battle. Beth Mills from Wooler Cycle Hub said: “The route will take riders through some of the loveliest and most tranquil parts of Northumberland and will include the specially commissioned ‘Flodden Gates’ at Barmoor Castle Caravan Park, fording points on the River Till and Twizel Bridge, where the heavy ordnance and English supply train crossed the river. The ride, which is all on road, leaves from Wooler Milk Bar and Cafe, just off the A697, at 10am.The total distance is 42 miles and is graded moderate, but with some strenuous uphill sections. It is expected to last around six hours. Riders can bring a packed lunch, but a stop at a local pub is planned.The following day, a ride will shadow the route taken by James IV and his Scottish army from Coldstream to the site of their defeat.The route will take riders along the north bank of the Tweed to Ladykirk Church, Norham Castle and on to Etal and Ford.At the Flodden monument the group will be met by the creator of the Flodden Battlefield Trail, Clive Hallam-Baker, who will explain the events of the battle and point out their locations. This ride is also all on road and will start at the east end of Coldstream High Street, near the petrol station.It will set off at 10.30am and will cover 29 miles. It is graded moderate, with an expected duration of six hours.There will be a lunch stop at Etal for a pub or cafe lunch, or where riders can also enjoy their own packed lunches.Cyclists can take part in both or either of the rides, but participants must register in advance by emailing [email protected] or calling 01668 283703. Under 16s are welcome if accompanied by an adult.For more information on the Wooler Cycle Hub events programme see http://woolerwheel.com

Hexham MP Guy Opperman has given his support to p for Landscape Discovery Centre and Youth hostel in Northumberland's National Park.The Discovery Centre is set to create up to 156 new jobs when it opens in 2016 and attract up to 120,000 visitors a year. A recent Economic Impact study predicted that the creation of the site would also contribute up to £3.35 million to the local economy in its first year alone.Mr Opperman this week met with representatives at the site in Once Brewed to voice his support of the project, dubbing it a "...truly exciting project that will really help put Northumberland on the map."For more information about The Sill and the upcoming events, visit www.thesill.org.uk , find The Sill on Facebook or follow The Sill on Twitter @thesillproject.

‘To the Brave of Both Nations’ comes the world's first Contra-circumnavigation Trail Race, with obstacles, on Saturday 12 October 2013; to commemorate the Battle of Flodden Field 1513Durty Events, the award winning Selkirk based events company, have today (1/8/13) announced that BraveRunner, their first fun induced trail running event with natural obstacles, will be staged at Etal, Northumberland, on some of the key locations associated with the Battle of Flodden Field.On Saturday 12 October 2013 hundreds of runners, complete with head torches, inflatable claymores and pikes and impractical mediaeval fancy dress, will race from dusk into night over 15.13km of undulating trails and historical battlefield locations, whilst crawling through culverts, negotiating tunnels, wading through water and marching through mud.BraveRunner , a highlight of the Flodden 1513 Commemorations, is the world’s first Contra-circumnavigation Trail Race. In a ‘nod’ to the inscription on the Flodden Field Memorial, ‘To the brave of both nations’, runners will take sides – England or Scotland - and run opposite ways round the course meeting on the original battlefield, the halfway point of the run. The shouting and screaming of team battle cries coupled with inflatable encounters with the opposition should evoke a 21st Century flavour of the fierce and bloody battle where up to 10,000 scots were slain.Runners will enter this dusk to dark race as either a member of the England or Scotland teams, raising their Standards at the start (and finish) at Etal Village, Northumberland. They will not only experience the adventure and excitement of a night time trail race with obstacles they will also encounter music, light effects and projections at various points along the course; as well as taking in a number of Flodden 1513 Ecomuseum sites.Paul McGreal from Durty Events said: “Entries are now open for BraveRunner our fantastic new 15km trail running race, based on the famous Flodden Field battleground in Northumberland, with lots of audacious twists. This will be a fun and reasonably challenging run on an undulating rather than hilly course aimed at all fitness levels. Bring your head torch, ensure your inflatable swords are blown up and look out your mediaeval battle dress. Get signed up and start training now.”A campsite will be set up at BraveRunner HQ and there will be a post battle party with live music, a prize giving, and some bizarre and interesting stuff thrown into the mix in order to keep everyone entertained into the night.BraveRunner is also guaranteed to be a great race for spectators. Most of the course will be visible from HQ so friends, family and supporters will be able to watch the two trails of head torches as they progress through forest and field. Red and blue fireworks will also mark the passage of the lead runners through key points on the course.For those who want to make a weekend of it there are loads of fun, interesting and historical sites and activities for families to immerse themselves in nearby, including Northumberland National Park, a narrow gauge railway, mills and castles.Entries are now open for BraveRunner. Ticket Prices Scotland Team - Early bird entries to 14 August 2013 - £25 and from 15 August to closing date 1 October 2013 - £30. Ticket Prices England Team - Early bird entries to 14 August 2013 - £26 and from 15 August to closing date 1 October 2013 - £31. Runners must be 16 or older on 12/10/2013 to participate. For entries go to the BraveRunner website - http://www.braverunner.com/

England’s number one tourism experience will ‘head’ up a weekend to remember for one lucky couple.Kielder Water & Forest Park in Northumberland is giving away seven ‘epic experiences’ in an online competition and campaign to celebrate its national success.In one epic experience, leading north east chef, Richard Sim, will cook up a feast for the winning couple as they enjoy dinner and champagne inside an unusual art installation.Located deep in the heart of England’s largest working forest, Silvas Capitalis, (a play on the Latin for ‘forest head’) is a giant timber sculpture created in 2009 by American art group SIMPARCH, where visitors can enter through the mouth and literally get inside its head.It was inspired by the ‘watchers’ of Celtic folklore, mysterious beings who keep watch over the forest and its inhabitants.Richard, Executive Chef at the Boat Inn Restaurant and Bar at Leaplish Waterside Park, who will provide the dinner, has 25 years experience and trained in two Michelin starred restaurants, The Berkeley and Le Meridien. He said: "Kielder is a spectacular destination, the landscape is so inspiring. The winning couple will be able to enjoy a delicious meal set against the stunning backdrop of this very unique sculpture and Kielder Forest, England’s largest woodland."After being wined and dined, the winners will then be able to unwind in a hot tub under the stars, with a luxurious two night (Friday and Saturday) stay in a lodge in Northumbrian Water’s Leaplish Waterside Park.Elisabeth Rowark, Director of Kielder Water & Forest Park, said: "Our new competition and campaign focuses on the stunning and epic images of the Park which can now be seen on billboards, buses and the metro across the region. "As recent gold award winners in the Visit England Awards for Excellence, we felt we needed to offer everybody the opportunity to view this stunning scenery and invite them to come and discover England’s Best Tourism Experience for themselves. "There is so much to see and do at Kielder - this competition is a novel way to show off just what you can do here. You can’t get a more epic experience than to have dinner and champagne at the Forest Head cooked by a top chef!"The competition ends on Thursday August 8 2013 and winners will be announced on Friday August 9 2013. Entrants simply need to upload a photo of a person (or people) they would want to share an epic experience with and why, on Facebook or Twitter. The ‘epic experiences’ up for grabs include: * Epic Water Experience – an under and over water experience, including speed boat ride, tour of the dam and lunch at the Boat Inn for four people.* Epic Fishing Experience – A day boat fishing with Andrew Scott, who is in the England European Championship team and the England Rivers team, a visit to the salmon centre and lunch at the Boat Inn, for four people.* Epic Adrenaline Experience – Mountain biking through the forest with the Northern Downhill team and lunch at Kielder Castle Café, for four people.* Epic Nature Experience – A hawk walk, visit to the Birds of Prey Centre, lunch at the Boat Inn and a 4x4 forest tour, for four people.* Epic Adventure Experience – Your choice of either high ropes, the climbing wall or laser clay shooting, followed by an overnight stay at the Calvert Trust’s new lodge, for four people.* Epic Family Experience – Star gazing family astronomy event with a locally-sourced hot food hamper, for a family of four.* Epic Couples Experience - Dinner and champagne at the unique Captalis Silvas (forest head) art sculpture in the forest, with a weekend (Friday and Saturday night stay) in a luxury lodge at Leaplish, (includes use of hot tub) for two people.See www.facebook.com/kielder or www.twitter.com/visitkielder for more information. For more information contact Janine Scott, Communications Advisor (Kielder Water & Forest Park), on 0191 301 5538 or [email protected] Water and Forest Park, which spans 250 square miles, is home to the largest forest in England and the largest man-made lake in northern Europe.It was awarded the best Tourism Experience in England by Visit England 2013, and the most tranquil place in England by the Campaign to Protect Rural England. Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust is a registered charity working to develop the Park as an inspirational place. It aims to improve economic, social and environmental sustainability, provide public recreation and leisure facilities, facilitate education in all aspects of the natural environment and advance art and architecture in the Park.

Results from a three-month survey of puffins on the world famous National Trust Farne Islands, off the Northumberland coast, have shown an eight per cent increase in the number of breeding puffin pairs since 2008 when the last census showed a dramatic fall in numbers.A team of eleven National Trust rangers carried out a full census of the population, which happens once every five years, across eight islands with the final figures showing that there are just under 40,000 (39,962) pairs of nesting puffins.2003 was the peak year for puffins on the Farne Islands with over 55,000 (55,674) nesting pairs recorded and numbers had been steadily increasing since the 1960s. However the 2008 survey revealed a dramatic crash in numbers by nearly one third to just 36,835 pairs.David Steel, Head Ranger on the National Trust Farne Islands, commented, "The results of the puffin census come as a real relief following some difficult years for them – with the flooding of burrows last year and a very challenging winter. We had feared that the numbers of puffins would be down again as has happened on other colonies, including those on the Shetland Islands. “The bad weather during recent seasons has had some impact on numbers, but with a good nesting habitat secured by us and a plentiful supply of food in the area, numbers have been recovering pretty strongly, which is great news for the puffins and other seabirds.”Extreme weather has had a major impact on puffins in the north-sea in the last couple of years. The 2012 breeding season was hit hard with the second wettest summer on record flooding many burrows, where puffins live.Earlier this year, just as puffins were returning to the colonies in March, storms resulted in the deaths of thousands of seabirds along the coasts of north-east England and Scotland. Over 3,500 bodies were collected and ringing recoveries suggested that many of the birds involved were breeding adults from local colonies.Professor Mike Harris from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology added, "The wreck was unusual in that it occurred when puffins were returning to their colonies and were close to land. It's likely that a very high proportion of the total number of birds that died were found, therefore exaggerating the severity of the mortality.“The Isle of May puffin population, 100 km to the north of the Farnes, has also shown no sign of a decline in numbers following the winter puffin disaster. Puffin survival over the last winter was not exceptionally low, despite fears after the wreck.”The unmistakeable puffin with its bright beak and slightly comical walk is a much loved symbol of the British coastline. During the survey, which began in May, the rangers put their arms into holes to make sure that the nests are occupied.David Steel concluded, “The poor spring weather affected the timing of the breeding season, with the birds that did survive, breeding late”.“However this late start may result in puffins remaining at the colonies until later in the summer than normal, giving people even more opportunity to enjoy watching them.”For the first time, nest cameras have been inserted into puffin burrows to record the birds’ behaviour in intimate detail. The footage, along with details on how the rangers are progressing with the 2013 puffin census, can be seen at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/puffins or follow progress on twitter at #puffincensus.

Dark sky chiefs in Northumberland are aiming to submit an ambitious bid to have a large part of the region designated as an international preserve dark sky park for the quality of its starry skies by this Autumn.Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Northumberland National Park and Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society are seeking the prestigious status for 400 square miles of stunning countryside to protect the area's rural character and promote star gazing and sustainable tourism in England's remotest corner.Now bid organisers can reveal an exciting new development. After detailed consultation with the Tucson-based International Dark Skies Association (IDA), which grants the award, it is likely that the whole proposed dark sky area will apply to become Europe's largest Dark Sky Park.Previously, the National Park was seeking reserve status, similar to that already awarded to Exmoor and the Brecon Beacons by the IDA - whilst Kielder Water & Forest Park would become a Dark Sky Park. But thinking has changed.Chair of the Dark Skies Working Group, Elisabeth Rowark, explained: "We have taken hundreds of light meter readings and worked hard behind the scenes to audit external lighting in the combined area. It is clear that we have what is probably England's largest expanse of remaining truly dark and starry skies. A significant part of the National Park has been discovered to be just as dark as the forest and that means we have raised our sights and will most likely go for one Dark Sky Park designation for the entire area. Creating such a large park in Europe is breaking new ground and we are working with the IDA to refine our proposal before seeking their ultimate adjudication, hopefully by the end of the year."Currently Europe's largest Dark Sky Park is Galloway in South West Scotland. Northumberland 's proposed park area is larger and if the bid succeeds it would create one of the largest such parks in the world, joining the likes of Death Valley, California, and Big Bend National Park, Texas, in the USA.The finishing touches are now being put to a lighting audit to provide vital data for the drafting of a Lighting Management Plan, which will outline the measures proposed to keep our skies dark sky friendly. That document will not say that lights must be switched off in the dark sky area, but rather that new buildings should have eco-friendly and less polluting external lighting fixtures where light shines downwards and not beyond property boundaries. So far the audit has revealed that Northumberland is near to meeting the compliance benchmark set out by the IDA. Elisabeth Rowark continued:"We have parish councils represented on the working group and we are also engaged in extensive consultations with local businesses, who are massively behind the proposal. In addition we have gained the support of prestigious bodies like the Greenwich Royal Observatory and local tourism bodies. We have a really good story to tell the IDA about the huge success of the Kielder Observatory and about the outreach work already underway to introduce people to the wonder of the heavens. This is an exciting time for us all, especially with Kielder Water & Forest Park being voted England's number one tourism experience in the recent VisitEngland 2013 Awards for Excellence."Keep up to date the dark skies quest at:www.visitkielder.com/play/discover/dark-skieswww.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/visiting/thingstodo/stargazing Note to Editor1. Kielder Observatory, run by the Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society, has become one of the region’s top visitor attractions since it opened in 2008. It offers an acclaimed programme of star watching activities and night watch events. To find out more visit www.kielderobservatory.org2. Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust is a registered charity working to develop the Park as an inspirational place. It aims to improve economic, social and environmental sustainability, provide public recreation and leisure facilities, facilitate education in all aspects of the natural environment and advance art and architecture in the Park. The Trust works with the range of communities to benefit from these activities. Members, who have appointed directors/trustees to serve on the board, are Northumbrian Water, Forestry Commission, Calvert Trust Kielder and Northumberland County Council. Affiliate organisations that are not members but have a close working relationship with KWFPDT include Arts Council England, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, The Scout Association and local decision making bodies such as the parish councils.3. Northumberland National Park encompasses the landscape and cultural heritage of 405 square miles (105,000 hectares) - over a fifth of Northumberland from Hadrian’s Wall to the Scottish border, and adjoins Kielder Water & Forest Park along its western boundary. With the help of our dedicated volunteers the National Park Authority looks after more than 1100 kms of Rights of Way - including two national trails and a number of long distance walking, cycling and horse riding trails, and the central, most visited section of Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site. 32 Sites of Special Scientific Interest covering over 10,000 hectares, one Ramsar Site; three National Nature Reserves and 6 European Special Areas of Conservation fall within the boundary of the National Park. We are also home to one of the country’s official Dark Sky Discovery Sites (Cawfields) and are part of the Northern Upland Chain Local Nature Partnership. We work with farmers and landowners to maintain healthy soils, clean water and dark skies, to enhance wildlife habitats and help rural businesses adapt to climate change. We are supporting sustainable enterprises, transport and green tourism and encouraging domestic and community-scale renewable energy. We have also invested in a network of electric vehicle charging points at keys places in the National Park and along Hadrian’s Wall as part of a network installed around the North East. www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.ukMedia calls: Richard Darn [email protected] 0775 367 0038

An art installation of 30,000 glass jars filled with water coloured with ink will help recreate the vibrancy and fusion of colour from the time of the Lindisfarne Gospels at Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island later this month.The Gospels on the Grass installation entitled ‘Carpet’ by environmental artist Steve Messam, will be a 100 sq metre visual spectacle in the priory grounds from 28 June – 7 July. It is part of the Festival of the North East finale weekend and a summer of Gospels themed celebrations on Holy Island.Northern artist, Steve, works primarily outside the gallery environment creating site-specific installations in rural or urban settings, often specialising in historical relics and vacant architecture that helps people perceive the familiar environment in a new way. For the Gospels on the Grass installation he will create an Anglo-Saxon style ‘carpet’ pattern in the grounds of the Priory. The piece recalls the importance of colour in 7th Century Britain, replicating the colour and designs featured in the famous manuscript.Steve said: “I love to work in historic spaces to create extraordinary pieces and creating a new interpretation of the Lindisfarne Gospels in what is essentially its birthplace is very exciting and a real honour.“The elaborately patterned pages in the Lindisfarne Gospels which preceded each of the four gospels are known as ‘Carpet Pages’. Their geometric designs are a blend of Celtic, Pictish, Germanic and middle-Eastern styles. This blend reflects the cosmopolitan society within the Priory at the time. Today’s 'Carpet' artwork is made from the same palette of seven colours used in the gospels: red, yellow, blue, green, purple, black and white. My design is made using the same geometric techniques used in the manuscripts using dividers and compasses.” The installation will start to take shape from Monday 24 June when 30,000 glass jars of water coloured with ink will start to be arranged on the grass in patterns taken from the Lindisfarne Gospels. Measuring over 100 sq metres, the intensity of the colour will transform the lower end of the Priory and will become particularly magical in sunlight. On Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 June there is opportunity to assist in the creation of this work. A limited number of public participants can help Steve place the jars in either of two sessions each day. Sessions run at 10am – 12pm & 2pm – 4pm. Places are limited so booking is essential. Contact Lindisfarne Priory on 01289 389200.Gospels on the Grass has been made possible with the support of Arts Council England.The event and display will kick-start the North East’s Lindisfarne Gospels celebrations as the region prepares to welcome Britain's most significant medieval manuscripts to Durham from 1 July to 30 September 2013. Admission to Lindisfarne Priory costs: £5.20 for adults, £4.70 for concessions and £3.10 for children. For more information about Lindisfarne Priory, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/Lindisfarne> or call 01289 389200.

On Saturday 25 May to Sunday 2 June. 10am – 5pm, take part in the 150th anniversary of Cragside and mark the occasion by making your own dream flag.Prayer flags can be found strung along the mountain ridges of the Himalayas today and are used to bless the surrounding countryside. Lord and Lady Armstrong created a Himalayan landscape at Cragside so we want to collect your dreams in a similar way.Pick up your family pack of dream flags and design your own. Then follow ‘the Path of Dreams’ to the labyrinth and find the tree hut where you can display your dream flag and be part of the Cragside dream.£4.50 per family, normal admission charges apply, for details visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside