The family-friendly summer-long initiative Great Northumberland comes to a musical end.Great Northumberland, a summer of free events across the county, finished on Saturday 1st September with a parade through the England’s most northerly town, Berwick-upon-Tweed followed by a concert which celebrated all facets of Northumberland, from the coast, to the hinterland, the people and the spirit.Devised and delivered by Northumberland County Council and inspired by the Great Exhibition of the North, Great Northumberland was the branding of all the arts, cultural and heritage events across the county to make planning a summer in Northumberland fun and simple. Hundreds of events took place across the region from June to September, many of which were family-friendly and over 80% of which were entirely free of charge.Venues from all over Northumberland were invited to list their events for promotion on the Great Northumberland website (which has since been entered into the Good Web Guide Awards) which allowed visitors to the site to view a calendar of events spanning the entire summer. In addition to the wealth of activities happening across the county, Northumberland County Council created brand new experiences for visitors and residents.Thousands of visitors attended the core Great Northumberland series of events, which spanned Blyth to Stamfordham, Mickley to Morpeth, Hexham to Berwick and everywhere in between, with venues reporting record-attendance, sell-out events and positive audience feedback, some highlights include:Complete sell-out for OUT THERE by Mortal Fools, an immersive theatre experience that took place in the landscapes around Prudhoe, Northumberland. Attendees took a leisurely walk through the scenic Northumberland countryside interacting with cast members and props as they experienced what it was like to explore the world for the first time through the eyes of the young stars of the show.5,000 people descending upon Blyth Beach to see an installation of over 600 handmade sail cloth flags. The flags were made by some 400 local school children, plus members of the local community, artists and creators from Headway Arts, all to celebrate the voyages of Captain William Smith, the first captain to discover Antarctica.Record visitor numbers to Cheeseburn Sculpture in Stamfordham, who saw over 1,200 people attending in just three days over the Bank Holiday weekend, their highest ever number of visitors in their four-year history. In total, approximately 2,100 people visited Cheeseburn to see a special Great Northumberland exhibition and performance, in which artist Joseph Hillier worked with dancers Lizzie J. Klotz and Maria Vincentelli to create sculptures of dancers in motion as well as live pop-up dance performances in and around the ten acres of landscaped gardens. Carnival Capers at Seaton Delaval completely sold-out and attracted brand new visitors to the National Trusts with early indications suggestion 75% of visitors were first-time attendees. A brand-new song, The Great Song of the North, composed especially for Great Northumberland by Dominique Le Gendre, it is a musical ode to Northumberland. Performed for the first time as part of the closing event of Great Northumberland to a sell-out crowd at The Maltings Theatre & Cinema, the song suite was performed by the community choir and Music Co-OPERAtive Scotland (McOpera), formed of players from The Orchestra of Scottish Opera.“We are delighted to have welcomed so many visitors to Northumberland this summer,” commented Peter Jackson, leader of Northumberland County Council, “we are incredibly proud of all our county has to offer, and we hope that we can continue to demonstrate just how great Northumberland is.”Sign up for the Great Northumberland newsletter on the website to hear first about future activity. Find out more at greatnorthumberland.co.uk.

Registration is now open for the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership’s 2018 Celebration Concert and Annual Forum on Thursday 11 October 2018 at Ellingham Hall.This year, to celebrate sixty years of their designation, the Partnership are hosting a concert - following on from the Forum - which will feature song, music and drama celebrating the cultural heritage of the Northumberland Coast. There will be an award ceremony and prize giving for the Written Word competition winners and a performance of the winning entries.Cllr Jeff Watson, Chair of the AONB Partnership said “ Sixty years is a significant milestone and we have marked the occasion over the year with several events. The concert will bring it all to a close and allow us to celebrate the extraordinary amount of talent we have within the AONB”.The Annual Forum will provide an opportunity to reflect on how the AONB came into being and how it can be looked after for future generations. As well as an excellent range of speakers and presentation throughout the afternoon, there will also be the chance to network with others who have a similar interest in conservation.We are delighted to welcome Robyn Brown, who is Assistant Director Operations with the National Trust, as one of our speakers. She will be talking about the work of the organisation on the Northumberland Coast. We also have a local resident, Jen Hall, giving us an insight into the preparation of a neighbourhood plan.This year, there is no cost to attend either event. However, as afternoon tea will be provided between the Forum and Concert, registration to either or both events is essential.To book your place visit our Eventbrite page: https://bit.ly/2N7TtVx or access it via the AONB Partnership’s Facebook page. For more information about the event contact the AONB Partnership on 01670 620306.

Calling enthusiastic young ecologists! Maybe you have always had an interest in wildlife or you are thinking about this as a career - or perhaps you are in the middle of writing your UCAS application? An exciting, hands-on opportunity “in the wild”, subsidised by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is being offered to students aged 13 – 18 at Kielder Water & Forest Park. Free transport is provided from Hexham (numbers limited) and the cost per student is just £10 per session. As part of the “Living Wild at Kielder” project, on Saturday 15th September and Saturday 13th October, students will venture deep into the Kielder Forest to investigate its amazing biodiversity and learn about projects to protect and improve our wild spaces. The first event is on Saturday 15th September and students can find out what biodiversity is and how we can actively improve it. According to international biologists, we are now undergoing the sixth mass extinction – the last of these was when we lost the dinosaurs. What are we doing about this crisis? How are we trying to solve these challenges? Participants will be learning all about this, as well as gathering data to find out how we measure biodiversity. And could the Kielder Wildwood project provide a solution? Then on Saturday 13th October you can explore aliens and re-introductions. What are alien invasive species? Why are they bad news for our native animals and plants? How can we solve some of this by bringing species back – like the Kielder water vole? Students will visit sites at Kielder Water & Forest Park where this has been happening – the popular ‘Restoring Ratty’ project - and also do some mammal detection with field signs, cameras and tracking. This fascinating, two-day programme is delivered for Living Wild at Kielder by Albion Outdoors, specialists in ecological education, based in Otterburn and working throughout the North East. Albion Outdoors is run by biology teachers with over 50 years’ combined expertise in teaching ecology outdoors, designing courses to meet exam board criteria and managing large numbers of pupils in the field. Lynn Turner, Director of the Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local young people and will enhance their understanding of the natural world with practical, hands-on experience at Kielder. The ‘Living Wild at Kielder’ project is all about bringing Kielder Water & Forest Park’s wonderful wildlife to life for everyone - helping people to enjoy, learn, share and immerse themselves in nature. The Young Ecologist Saturdays are an excellent and inspiring way to engage young people in this. I would like to thank National Lottery players and the Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting this project.” John Hartshorne, field tutor and Director, Albion Outdoors says: “The underlying idea of the Young Ecologists programme is to find a group of young people with an interest and enthusiasm for natural history and ecology, and offer them hands-on and engaging, “in the field” ecology experience which they wouldn’t necessarily get at school. We find students working outside in a group really inspire each other and collectively develop a deeper understanding – which may lead to some going on to work in ecology professionally.” Advance booking is essential . For more information and a registration form call 01830 520962 or email [email protected]

We would like to extend a warm invitation to the preview of our next exhibition at Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery. The exhibition is entitledBorders, Boundaries and Beyond and it is an exhibition of modern textile art by It Happens (Gillian Arkley, Rose Stanley and Chris Dixon)It will take place on Friday 7th September at 6:30pm in the museum. Please note that refreshments provided. Raffle tickets on sale. RSVP by 31st August.Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, NE66 1LX, Tel: 01665 605847

The return of ospreys to Kielder is one of our most exciting and successful conservation stories. Although ospreys are found worldwide, in the UK they are still relatively scarce with fewer than 300 breeding pairs. In England, ospreys breed only in Cumbria, Kielder (both natural re-colonisations) and Rutland Water (a successful translocation project). 2018 marks the tenth year that ospreys have bred at Kielder Water & Forest Park, situated on the doorstep of the Northumberland National Park.Historically, ospreys were distributed widely throughout Britain, however heavy persecution and egg collection in the 19th and 20th centuries resulted in dramatic population declines. They became extinct as a breeding bird in England by 1840 and persisted in Scotland only until 1916, although they still occurred as passage migrants. Ospreys remained functionally extinct in Britain until 1954, when they re-colonised naturally (most likely from Scandinavia) at Loch Garten, Abernethy Forest Reserve, Scotland.For many years, Kielder has been a regular stopping point for ospreys migrating to and from their breeding grounds in Scotland. In 2006, a young male was seen to be summering in the local area, prompting the Forestry Commission to establish nesting platforms at various suitable points within the Kielder Forest area. In 2008, one of the platforms was moved and additionally splattered with white paint to simulate osprey droppings from recent use. In 2009, a platform was occupied by an unringed pair of ospreys who raised three chicks. These were the first ospreys to breed in Northumberland for around 200 years. Since 2016, Kielder has been home to four active osprey nests.Once the birds had established themselves, it was clear that we needed to share them with visitors. For a number of years, Northumberland Wildlife Trust have run Osprey Watch from Northumbrian Water’s Kielder Waterside, a busy and popular family holiday park on the edge of Kielder Water. Osprey Watch is almost entirely volunteer led. Typically, there will be three volunteers working on an Osprey Watch day, showing visitors nest 1A through the scopes and manning the cabin with live video streams from three of the nests to further explain the lives and stories of these fantastic birds.The Heritage Lottery Funded Living Wild at Kielder project has enabled us to employ a seasonal osprey assistant in 2017 and 2018. This has allowed us to extend the season, offering extra days of Osprey Watch and additional family activities. Visitor numbers more than doubled in 2017, compared to the previous year. One of the best things about the location of our Osprey Watch is that a large proportion of our visitors are not people who would consider themselves to be particularly interested in wildlife or birdwatching, but who have come over to see what we’re all about as part of their day out at Kielder Waterside. It’s always a treat to see families learning and enjoying themselves with our passionate volunteers, and who knows what kind of spark we may be setting off in the young people who get to see these magnificent animals for the first time…To further expand the osprey watching opportunities at Kielder, we’ve teamed up with Calvert Trust Kielder, which is a wonderful charity that challenge disability through outdoor adventure activities. Through the summer, Calvert Trust Kielder offers wildlife and osprey cruises for visitors, and our volunteers act as guides on the boat. Although it can’t ever be guaranteed, there is a high success rate for these cruises seeing ospreys flying overhead, and sometimes fishing in the inlets of the reservoir. £3 from each ticket sold is donated to Osprey Watch, to help make it sustainable. Calvert Trust Kielder has also offered us invaluable advice in constructing a platform at the Osprey Watch cabin and adapting a tripod to make sure that wheelchair users are able to use the scopes to view the birds on the nest.2017 saw a landmark achievement for the Kielder ospreys, with the 50th chick fledging since the ospreys re-colonised. Chicks from previous years have been seen at several locations in the UK, including the Lake District, Balgavies Loch, Geltsdale and Derwent Reservoir, which is great news for the further recovery of the osprey in the UK.

Northumberland National Park Authority is celebrating the first anniversary of the award-winning Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre with a summer of fun-filled events.Since The Sill opened its doors to the public 12 months ago, the Centre has rapidly become one of the region’s leading visitor attractions, welcoming over 170,000 visitors and providing an iconic gateway for people to learn about and explore Northumberland National Park.Glen Sanderson, Northumberland National Park Authority Chairman, said: “We are delighted with the success of The Sill and the fantastic level of support it has received from the public.“The response from visitors has been very positive. Prior to opening we could never have imagined more than doubling our original visitor numbers in just 12 months. I’d like to congratulate the team at the National Park Authority and our fantastic partners for their hard work and dedication in helping to make this a truly magnificent first year for The Sill.“We are thrilled the Centre is fulfilling its purpose of connecting people with our wonderful county and we are looking forward to welcoming more visitors as we host a summer jam-packed with events and adventure throughout the Park.”Named after the nearby Great Whin Sill, The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre is the result of an innovative partnership between Northumberland National Park Authority, YHA (England & Wales), and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through a £7.8 million grant made possible by National Lottery players.In May, the Centre was presented with a RIBA North East Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for architectural excellence. The Sill offers exhibition, learning and event spaces, a café, business hub, YHA accommodation and a shop packed with local produce, arts and crafts. The building also features a world-first; fully accessible Whin Sill Grassland roof which provides a perfect spot for people to take in the iconic views of Hadrian’s Wall. The Sill also works with schools, community organisations and businesses to provide educational workshops, activity days and other opportunities.To celebrate its first anniversary, the National Park Authority has teamed up with a host of local partners to deliver a range of special events and activities designed to suit all ages and abilities.Tony Gates, Chief Executive at Northumberland National Park Authority, explains: “As the UK’s first dedicated National Landscape Discovery Centre, The Sill is designed to excite, inspire and enable people of all ages to understand and explore the landscapes, history, culture and heritage of Northumberland.“What has been particularly pleasing is to see three generations of the same family visit, exploring together and sharing their landscape stories. Our visitors range from school groups and university students learning in our classrooms to four generations of one family enjoying our accessible roof walk together, proving The Sill is providing a perfect gateway to engage people with our unique landscape. It has even been providing further inspiration to many well-seasoned landscape explorers.“As part of our first anniversary celebrations we want to share the magic and encourage visitors to return to the National Park or to join us for the first time. Whether you’re seeking adventure or something more chilled, we have activities for everyone throughout the summer.”Over the coming weeks visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in virtual reality at The Sill’s state-of-the-art ‘Digital Landscapes’ exhibition which uses pioneering interactive technologies to bring treasures of the National Park to life, making its wild and beautiful landscapes accessible to all.Running until 30 September, Digital Landscapes is an innovative exhibition and events programme that showcases how digital technology can be used to gain a deeper understanding and enjoyment of landscape and the natural world. The exhibition demonstrates the benefits that new technologies such as 3D modelling, drone surveys and digital mapping have had on tourism, leisure, land management and conservation.The Digital Landscapes exhibition is supplemented by a series of exciting public events from Minecraft on the Wall using a Raspberry Pi to discover how Roman architects constructed Hadrian’s Wall to guided walks and bike rides. There’s also nature hunts, hidden history tours, star gazing, mammal monitoring and action packed family shows including ‘Rock n' Stroll’, which is storytelling, theatre, comedy and music at its best. Rock n’ Stroll takes visitors travelling through the tropical deserts, swamps and Ice Age to leave you with a brain full of new scientific facts and a big smile.

Some of the finest locally produced food and drink will take centre stage in a special showcase event in the Houses of Parliament.MPs and government ministers will be able to find out more about the fantastic local businesses and top quality produce that is being promoted under the Produced In Northumberland brand.Produced in Northumberland is run by Northumberland County Council that highlights and promotes the local businesses that make, sell or serve foods produced within the county. The scheme guides residents, visitors and holiday makers towards authentic Northumberland delicacies to experience and take home.On Wednesday 13 June, eight local businesses will head to Westminster with the council, to exhibit and present an array of food and drink produce to tantalise the taste buds.Leader of Northumberland County Council, Peter Jackson said: “Northumberland is proud to be home to a fantastic variety of businesses that make, serve and sell a diverse range of high quality foods and beverages that are produced within the county.“It’s vital that we use our influence and continue to make an impact where we can to have our voices heard, and we’re determined to shout about all that’s great about Northumberland. This event will provide a great opportunity to raise our profile as a leading visitor destination of choice for visitors to our county, with a food and drink offer second to none.”Following prime-time food television programmes, consumers are developing a higher expectation over the quality of what they eat and drink. Hairy Biker Si King is an ambassador for the scheme, highlighting the importance of knowing the source of our food, right down to the raw ingredients.With the ever-growing popularity of food tourism, and the increased importance of food provenance to the consumer, the scheme provides customers with the confidence that the origin of the food is directly from Northumberland.During 2016, 9.7 million people visited Northumberland contributing £852m to its economy, supporting employment of 14,152 people. The food and drink sector plays a crucial part in Northumberland’s tourism offer - food and drink contributed £307m to our local economy in 2016, accounting for 36% of the overall economic impact.Produced in Northumberland also has the backing of the Prime Minister who has recently tasted some of the produce.“I was delighted to sample some of the products and to learn more about this excellent scheme which follows the production process from farm to shelf. By doing so, it lets consumers know that the food and drink they're buying is locally sourced, ethically produced, and of a high quality,” Mrs May said.Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Northumberland County Council, Cath Homer, said: “The food and drink sector plays a crucial part in Northumberland’s tourism offer, which contributed over £300m to the local economy in 2016.“We hope this opportunity to network on a national stage will raise awareness of our food and drinks industry among key decision makers, and highlight the importance of buying local produce which will help these local businesses to develop and grow.”Hosting some of the nation’s finest manufacturers, Produced in Northumberland includes some of the highest quality brands, like Lindisfarne Mead and Alnwick Rum, whilst Marlish Water supplies Michelin star restaurants in the North, combined with Hepple Gin who were this year’s finalists for the BBC Best Drinks Producer. And Doddington Dairy won Gold in the BBC Food and Farming Awards for their Darling Blue Cheese last year.Alongside, Kitty's Homemade Ginger and family-run Turnbull Butchers of Alnwick, the exquisite Carrolls Heritage Potatoes, and the Northumbrian Bakehouse, as well as award winning Old Boathouse Food Group, this forms the eight-strong delegation heading to Westminster with the county council on 13 June.

New life is breaking through in Northumberland with the year's first new Kielder ospreys having hatched.While the ospreys' breeding season at Kielder Water & Forest Park has been delayed slightly by weather conditions, such as the Beast from the East, a flourish of hatchings have now begun with the first two chicks breaking through within two hours of each other - on the same nest!Over the weekend, the final egg on that nest also hatched, while there were three other hatchings on other nests.The new additions to the Kielder osprey family continue Kielder's ‘soap opera in the sky', following a flurry of ‘cast' changes earlier in the season. While one regular, a male osprey that normally makes its home on nest three, failed to return, he was replaced by a new arrival that has quickly settled in with the usual female.Three eggs have been spotted on each of the four nests, leading to optimism that 2018 -the tenth year that ospreys have bred at Kielder- will be a bumper year for young osprey hatchings.Kielder osprey expert volunteer Joanna Dailey said: "We should see a flurry of activity now as the eggs start to hatch, bringing another year of new life to the Kielder osprey story. The time between the first two chicks is possibly a UK record for the shortest interval between hatches, although eggs have hatched within 24 hours on a number of nests, including Nest 4 last year."The new arrival and his mate have done very well, as have the returning ospreys, in gifting us a dozen eggs, with the promise of continuing the growth of the Kielder osprey family."Now comes the tough part for the chicks, as they strengthen and prepare to fledge, so that they can hopefully thrive and be ready for their migration at the end of the summer."Kielder Osprey Watch runs on weekends and bank holidays until mid-August, with additional Wednesdays from July.The Kielder Osprey Project is a partnership between Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Forestry Commission, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumbrian Water and Calvert Trust Kielder. 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 sites.

Northumberland restaurant bidding for third restaurant of the year winThe Old Boat House in Amble, Northumberland have been nominated for the prestigious title of ‘Coastal Fish Restaurant of the Year’ in the 2018 Fishing News Awards, having scooped the prize in both 2016 and 2017.The Awards celebrate outstanding achievements, expertise and innovation in the coastal and fishing industries. Last year the restaurant was commended for its use of local produce and friendly service and the owners are hoping to win the 2018 prize so they can continue to raise Amble’s profile and see it’s coastal community thrive. The Old Boat House Food group was founded in 2014 by husband and wife duo Martin and Ruth Charlton who now run four venues in Blyth and Amble, employing 32 staff. Their initial offering, The Old Boat House Amble has since become a nationally renowned destination for seafood fans. Mr Charlton believes this is partly due to their previous award wins.“Last year’s award gave us the confidence to open a new venue in Amble, La Famiglia creating a further 6 full time jobs. We also launched Northumberland Restaurant Week to give people far and wide a chance to experience what the region has to offer with great value deals. We hope this proves our continued support in growing the local economy and providing employment opportunities in the area”.To coincide with the award bid the food group plan to expand and modernise The Old Boat House which will create eight more jobs and draw more people to Amble Harbour Village, helping to further establish Amble as a growing tourist destination. Ruth Charlton added, “We’re dedicated to engaging with our local community in a number of ways; from supporting apprentices through Northumberland College to using a range of local suppliers and fisherman. We hope this commitment shines through when people are deciding whether to vote for us”.The restaurant group will be running a range of competitions and giveaways to celebrate the nomination and thank it’s customers for their support. For more info visit boathousefoodgroup.co.ukVoting in the Fishing News Awards 2018 closes on midnight Friday, 27th April 2018. Voting forms are available through the link tiny.cc/amble or via the Fishing News website fishingnews.co.uk/awards

Embargo Tuesday April 17thNew research reveals nature’s beauty increases happiness30 Days Wild connect peoples with natural beauty Northumberland Wildlife Trust13 April 2018The countdown has begun to The Wildlife Trusts’ annual nature challenge - 30 Days Wild which encourages people to do something wild every day for the month of June, and last year 250,000 people took part.This June’s 30 Days Wild challenge from The Wildlife Trusts will encourage thousands of people across the UK to make their neighbourhoods wilder - to help wildlife and get communities sharing the joy of the wild.Academics at the University of Derby who have monitored the challenge since it began in 2015 have discovered that spending time in nature makes us feel good. 30 Days Wild encourages people to notice nature on their doorsteps every single day and gives them a multitude of exciting and fun ways of doing it.The University’s evaluation* of 30 Days Wild 2017 included new measures and reveals that people’s perception of beauty in the natural world is a key ingredient to unlocking the benefits of well-being and happiness experienced by participants in the challenge.Dr Miles Richardson, Director of Psychology, University of Derby explains: “Over the past three years we’ve repeatedly found that taking part in 30 Days Wild improves health, happiness, nature connection and conservation behaviours. Now we have discovered that engagement with the beauty of nature is part of that story.“Tuning-in to the everyday beauty of nature becomes part of a journey which connects us more deeply to the natural world. As people’s appreciation of natural beauty increases, so does their happiness. We respond to beauty - it restores us and balances our emotions. This, in turn, encourages people to do more to help wildlife and take action for nature.” The latest set of results from the study of 30 Days Wild also confirms that the benefits of the challenge last well after the month has ended. There are indications that the beneficial impact of taking part could last an entire year.Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive said: “Northumberland Wildlife Trust is urging everybody to do get behind 30 Days Wild which is a lovely way to get closer to nature and marvel at the everyday wildlife that lives all around you. Sit quietly and enjoy watching dragonflies dance over a pond or take a moment to sow a window box of wildflowers to help bees.“Get together with your neighbours to create hedgehog highways or sow front-garden meadows along the length of your street. No matter how small the action, it all counts!”Anybody interested in 30 Days Wild can register at www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild and receive a free pack with a booklet of inspirational ideas for Random Acts of Wildness, a recipe for wild strawberry and thyme ice cream, wildflower seeded paper to sow, a wall chart to record your activities and wild stickers.There is also a 30 Days Wild app which is available at www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild/AppThis year’s 30 Days Wild theme is all about helping wildlife in your neighbourhood and our pack has inspiring ideas for sharing the challenge locally. See great ways to green-up your street from carving hedgehog holes in fences to putting up bird and bat boxes and doing a local litter pick.As part of the 30 Days Wild campaign, the first ever Big Wild Weekend of wildlife events will be held across the whole of the UK on the 16 - 17 June, and in this region, a series of events will be held at the wildlife charity’s Hauxley and Northumberlandia reserves. For more information visit: www.nwt.org.uk/whats-on

It’s happy days for festival fans as Lindisfarne Festival announces alt-rock legends Happy Mondays as their Friday headliner for the 3 day summer music festival which takes place from 30thAugust-2ndSeptember 2018 on Beal Farm, Northumberland. The announcement is made alongside plans to raise much needed funds at the festival for UK homelessness charity Crisis through the Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) initiative.One of the most famous bands to emerge from the 1980s Manchester scene - with a slew of hits includingStep On,Kinky Afroand24 Hour Party People– Happy Mondays will join Brighton folk-punk band the Levellers at the top of the bill for the popular Northumberland festival.Plans for the 4thannual festival, which crowdfunded £75k in 6 weeks last October are going from strength to strength, with organisers confirming record ticket sales for the 2018 event so far.Happy Mondays are avid supporters of the grass roots rock music movement (MAH), which has already raised more than £100,000 for UK homelessness charities since the project launched in 2016, backed by patron Alan McGee.Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder commented:“We're all really looking forward to headlining Lindisfarne Festival on 31st August. It’s going to be a great party!! Love that the festival supports Musicians Against Homelessness too - a great cause!”A regularly shortlisted finalist at the UK Festival Awards, Lindisfarne Festival 2018 will showcase 150+ acts over its 8 festival stages, with live music & DJs until 4am over the weekend.Other acts already announced for the over 18’s festival include The Showhawk Duo, Ferocious Dog, Colonel Mustard & the Dijon 5, Bombskare, Detroit Social Club, Bessie & the Zinc Buckets, Hip Hop Hooray, and local music sensation 13 year old singer-songwriter Tom ‘Mouse’ Smith.Conleth Maenpaa, founder of Lindisfarne Festival commented:“We are absolutely thrilled to add Happy Mondays to what is undoubtedly our biggest and best line up to date. This year we are stepping things up in every way imaginable and with ticket sales currently exceeding all our expectations, we know that this year is going to be the most incredible party the North East has ever seen!”As well as a new dedicated rock & blues bar, this year the festival will also see the addition of a new acoustic busking stage, which will give up & coming musicians the opportunity to expose their talents to the festival’s anticipated 4000 attendees, whilst encouraging charitable donations for the MAH campaign.Festival organisers are working closely with Musicians Against Homelessness to curate a strong lineup of unsigned talent for the new stage and maximise fundraising opportunities both at the event and in the months leading up.Conleth added:“We are exceptionally proud to be supporting Musicians Against Homelessness again in 2018. The organisation is a true inspiration and its dedicated volunteers are not only a huge credit to the music industry but to humanity! Last year our festivalgoers helped raise a substantial amount for the campaign and this year we’re committed to doing everything we can to support both their fundraising efforts and their mission to create opportunities for more unsigned musicians.”Independent, affordable and unpretentious, Lindisfarne Festival has become revered for being the perfect value for money party festival – offering a boutique festival experience without the expensive festival price-tag.Tickets with camping are currently priced at £59 - £95 and can be bought athttps://lindisfarnefestival.comA range of glamping options are also available.Photo credit - Paul Husband

March 2018 marks the 60th anniversary of the designation of the North Northumberland Coast as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Throughout the year the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership will be organising a number of events so everyone can join in to discover more about our beautiful coast and learn how to look after it for future generations.To launch the celebrations, the team will be spending the day on the Coast! OnFriday 23rd March, the Partnership, guests and volunteers will be be planting 60 hedgerow trees near Bamburgh, before heading back to the village for afternoon tea and birthday cake. In the evening, John Grundy, local historian and TVpresenter, has been invited to give a talk. He is a passionate enthusiast for the history and architecture of the North East, bringing stories vividly to life with his unique and engaging style. His talk - "Castles to Cowsheds: the extraordinary buildings of the Northumberland Coast" - will be perfect for anyone who shares his love of the area. The talk is free of charge and bound to be popular, so tickets need to be booked early to avoid disappointment.The Partnership have also been awarded a grant of nearly £900 from The Pen and Palette Club to help them stage further events. Over the summer months, the Partnership will be hosting a written word competition for people from Northumberland and beyond to reflect on and write about the Northumberland Coast, with stories that reflect on local people and places encouraged.The competition will be open to three age categories: 7-11 years, 12-16 years and adults. Entries could be short stories, poem or verse, as long as they meet the terms of entry. The winning entries will be published on the Northumberland Coast AONB website and used in other displays and presentations as part of our diamond celebrations.The Finale will be in the autumn, with a concert featuring song, music and drama celebrating the cultural heritage of the Northumberland Coast. There will be an award ceremony and prize giving for the written word competition winners and a performance of the winning entries.Jeff Watson, Chair of the AONB Partnership said: ”Sixty years is a significant milestone and it deserves to be acknowledged. We hope that people will share their energy and enthusiasm for the area with us but at the same time, be mindful of the responsibility to preserve it for future generations”.Catherine Gray, Funding and Communications Officer for the AONB Partnership said: “There is an extraordinary amount of talent within the AONB and we wanted to find as many different ways as possible to celebrate that. We hope to add to these events throughout the year and would welcome any suggestions people might have. We’d particularly like to see any photos of the area from the 1950s”.