Botanical training opportunities - Botanical survey training, quadrats and meadow assessments
2026-06-18 09:45 - 16:30 (Europe/London) | Newbiggin Village Hall, DL12 0TX
We are looking for volunteers to undertake botanical surveys on a selection of upland hay meadows that have been restored through seed addition, at locations across the North Pennines.
Time-scales: Botanical surveys are undertaken from third week of June until late July.
Methodology: Groups of two to three volunteers undertake 15 quadrats (1m x 1m square) per meadow. One meadow with 15 quadrats may take between one to two days.
We are offering a free three-day course for beginner’s and botanists wishing to refresh their skills, in exchange for a minimum requirement of helping to survey a meadow over one full day. Beginners are advised to attend all three days, if possible. More experienced botanists can choose which days to attend based on their previous experience. You will need to sign-up to these three training days separately:
Day 1: Wildflower Identification training, Thursday 4 June.
Day 2: Grasses and sedges Identification training, Thursday 11 June.
Day 3: Botanical surveys using quadrats training, Thursday 18 June.

We will spend the morning inside, looking at the key flowers and vegetation features of grasses and sedges. In the afternoon we will go on a walk looking at grasses and sedges in a nearby meadow, and along The Pennine Way.
Lunch provided in village hall, with refreshments provided.
The training will be undertaken by Ruth Starr-Keddle, if you have any queries, please email: ruth@northpennines.org.uk.
Please sign up using the Better Impact volunteer system

Botanical drawing workshop
2026-06-21 10:30 - 15:30 | High Forest Community Centre, Sinderhope, NE47 9SJ
Join artist Linda Garrard for a hands-on drawing workshop at High Forest Community Centre, Sinderhope, on Sunday 21 June, 10.30am to 3.30pm, inspired by the extraordinary plants that grow on the old lead mining landscapes of the North Pennines.
The workshop is suitable for adults of all abilities. No previous drawing experience is needed.
The session begins with an introduction to the rare lead tolerant flowers that survive in these challenging soils, including spring sandwort, alpine pennycress and wild mountain pansies. You will learn what makes these plants so unusual and why they matter.
You will also explore the work of artists who use botanical subjects in their practice. This short introduction ranges from traditional plant studies to contemporary artists who use botanical forms to explore ecology, fragility and place.
The practical part of the Rooted in Lead workshop focuses on charcoal and chalk drawing. Linda will guide you through different techniques for mark making, tone, texture and expressive drawing. Try out several ways of using these materials, from careful observational studies to bold drawings that capture the character of these remarkable plants and the landscapes they inhabit.
All materials and refreshments provided.
Please book your place using the link to TicketSource

Volunteer moth monitoring opportunities
2026-06-23 09:00 - 11:30, 2026-07-21 09:00 - 11:30 | Various locations
Monitoring moths is a fantastic way to measure changes in biodiversity on farms. Volunteer with us on Tuesday 23 June, and 21 July, 9am to 11.30am for a session in the North Pennines.
We’ll be working with (and testing out) new technology developed by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH). We’re looking for citizen scientists to help us.
Exact location details will be available nearer to the date of the session.
Please wear sturdy footwear and bring clothing suitable for all weathers. Suitable for adults and children (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult).
Tea & coffee will be provided. If you have access requirements, please let us know in advance so we can try to accommodate them.
Please sign up using the volunteer system Better Impact
© Buff tip – Martin Rogers

Historic environment on-site working day
2026-06-23 10:00 - 16:00 | Lady’s Rake Mine
Come along and get involved in recording historic structures on working days at sites around the North Pennines. Held monthly apart from March and August, 10am to 4pm.
Help document key features through structured field recording and targeted photography, and contribute invaluable data for ongoing conservation work. The photographs taken will also support the creation of detailed 3D models through photogrammetry and feed into Historic England’s Missing Pieces project, helping to build a richer national record of heritage sites.
You’ll have the chance to work with other volunteers and trained staff, while helping us to safeguard these important sites.
You will need to bring walking boots and clothing appropriate for spending the day outdoors in a variety of weather. You will also need a packed lunch, snacks and a drink. If you want to bring equipment with you, you are welcome to, but we will also have some equipment available for you to use.
Dates for 2026:
Future dates with locations:
• Thursday 26th February – Rookhope Arch
• Tuesday 28th April – Nenthead
• Wednesday 27th May – Beldon Lead Mine
• Tuesday 23rd June – Lady’s Rake Mine
• Thursday 30th July – Silverband Mine
• Wednesday 23rd September – Pike Law
• Tuesday 27th October – Middle Level Greenlaw
• Thursday 19th November – Stublick Colliery/ Langley Barony Mine
• Tuesday 8th December – Brandon Walls
Each day is from 10am to 4pm.
Please book using the Better Impact volunteer system

Volunteer day at Bowlees tree nursery
2026-06-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Bowlees Visitor Centre
Volunteer at Bowlees Wildflower and Tree Nursery on the last Wednesday of each month from 1pm to 4pm. There are also extra drop in sessions on 11 March, 15 April, 13 may and 10 June.
You can help with our nature recovery work by seed collecting and sowing, potting on, and watering plants. For more information email molly@northpennines.org.uk.
Delivered as part of the Tees-Swale: naturally connected programme. Tees-Swale is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and led by the North Pennines National Landscape team in collaboration with the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Sign up on the volunteer platform Better Impact

'Diaries of a crank' - decoding the secret diaries of an assayer
2026-06-24 18:00 - 20:00 | The Hive, Nenthead
Come along to The Hive in Nenthead on Wednesday 24 June, 6pm to 8pm, to learn about Nenthead’s most eccentric Edwardian, Caldwell Harpur, who left behind 20 volumes of personal diaries, all encrypted in his self-invented alphabet, which he called “Lenish”.
Caldwell was a dabbler in mysticism, a lifelong vegetarian, a science fiction author, and an avid book collector. He also wrote compulsively, corresponding with everyone from close family to Russian radicals, spiritualist mediums, and science fiction author, H.G. Wells.
This event launches an exciting new volunteer project to decode the diaries that Caldwell kept every day during his 20 years in Nenthead. There will be an illustrated talk exploring his stranger-than-fiction life, followed by an optional activity where participants can try their hand at deciphering his code.
Complimentary refreshments will be provided. Suitable for ages 14+. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Sign up using the Ticketsource link below:

Adder survey training - new volunteers
2026-06-26 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-07-16 09:00 - 12:30, 2026-07-17 09:00 - 12:30 | TBC
Would you like to contribute to the conservation of adders in the North Pennines National Landscape?
We are offering free in person volunteer training for new participants to become volunteer adder surveyors for the North Pennines National Landscape. The training dates are 25 and 26 June, also 16 and 17 July, 9am to 12.30pm.
Aimed at people who haven’t joined on an adder survey training session previously, you will learn how to survey for adders and other reptiles and amphibians in the North Pennines. Training will cover survey techniques, animal identification, adder ecology and safety.
Full details of the meeting points will be given when signing up to volunteer. Locations are in the areas of Castleside and Eggleston.
The session is suitable for adults, and children over the age of 12 who are supervised. Unsuitable for wheelchairs, dogs and young children.
Please use the Better Impact volunteer system to sign up.

Saturday stroll - a guided walk
2026-06-27 10:30 - 14:30 | Garrigill, CA9 3DS
Enjoy the outdoors on a guided walk through a historical landscape on the last Saturday of every month. Join a small group of people taking in the surroundings, and learn about what shaped the landscape as well as the mining heritage.
Saturday strolls are approximately three miles in length on mostly flat ground and with rest breaks along the way.
This month’s walk starts from Garrigill, beginning at 10.30am and finish at approximately 1pm. You are welcome to join us after the walk for free refreshments in the village hall, finishing by 2.30pm. Exact meeting location to be confirmed.
All ages are welcome (children must be accompanied by an adult and must be able to walk or be carried as the paths may not be suitable for pushchairs). Well behaved dogs on a short lead are welcome.
The final details of the walk are subject to change, please check back closer to the event for final details. There are likely to be a couple of stiles to climb over on this walk.
Optional donation – suggested amount £3. Your donation enables the North Pennines National Landscape team to protect and restore this special place and help people connect with nature.
Please use the Ticketsource link to book.

Youth leader training - outdoor activities
2026-06-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Are you a current youth worker/ do you work with young people who would like to deliver more activities outdoors?
Join this free online workshop with mountain leader, Rachel Tweddle, on Monday 29 June, 6pm to 8pm.
The session will take you through the process of leading outdoor experiences for groups. This will include support with planning, such as creating session plans, risk assessments, and how to book a residential.
Examples of venues, activities and good practice will also be shared. The workshop aims to help increase your confidence as a youth leader to deliver sessions in the outdoors and to make outdoor activities accessible for a broader range of groups.
There are further opportunities to book places to attend in-person sessions at Bowlees Visitor Centre on 6 July which include walking within the local area.
Please book using the link to Ticketsource

Garden club - volunteer opportunity
2026-06-30 10:00 - 12:30 | Bowlees Visitor Centre
Volunteer to help look after ‘Helen’s Garden’ at Bowlees Visitor Centre, and the raised beds and planters alongside the Centre on the last Tuesday of each month, 10am to 12.30pm.
General maintenance including weeding, dead heading, cutting back and planting. Watering the gardens when required. Tidying, sweeping the surfaced area around the Centre and painting garden benches. Hedge trimming and maintaining the willow arch in the car park.
Usually work for two to two and a half hours and finish with refreshments which are provided.
Sign up on the volunteer platform Better Impact

Historic environment: indoor working day
2026-07-03 10:00 - 16:00 | North Pennines National Landscape office, 1 Martin Street, Stanhope,, DL132UY
The monthly volunteer indoor working days at our Stanhope Office build on our historical research /field recording work and gives volunteers the opportunity to develop their skills further.
Historical Research volunteers
For volunteers working on historical research projects (such as “Unlocking the Asylum Archives” and “Caldwell Harpur: Diaries of a Crank”) these monthly research meetings are an excellent opportunity to meet others working on the same project to share exciting research findings, explore emerging themes, and work on any tricky transcriptions together.
Staff will be on hand to offer guidance on resources, answer questions, and help you work through any challenges and supply much needed tea and biscuits.
Photogrammetry and Archaeology volunteers
Photogrammetry volunteers can process the photographs collected on site to create detailed photogrammetry models, exploring how digital techniques can enhance our understanding of historic landscapes. Volunteers will also work with a range of sources—including written accounts, LiDAR data and QGIS mapping—to place the recorded lead mining sites in their wider historical context. Our findings will be added to Historic England’s Missing Pieces project, helping to expand and enrich the national record.
No previous experience is needed; these sessions are designed to support beginners while offering plenty of scope for those wishing to grow their research and digital heritage skills. You do not need to have attended the associated site day to join us for these indoor work sessions.
Refreshments are provided throughout the day but please bring a lunch if needed. If you want to bring equipment with you, you are welcome to, but we will also have some equipment available for you to use.
Dates for 2026 – all at Stanhope are drop in sessions from 10am to 4pm:
• Friday 1st May
• Friday 5th June
• Friday 3rd July
• Friday 7th August
• Friday 2nd October
• Friday 30th October
• Friday 4th December
• Friday 18th December)
Please sign up using the Better Impact volunteer system

Youth leader training - outdoor activities
2026-07-06 11:00 - 14:00 | Bowlees Visitor Centre
Are you a current youth worker/ do you work with young people who would like to deliver more activities outdoors?
Join this free in-person workshop at Bowlees Visitor Centre, with mountain leader, Rachel Tweddle, on Monday 6 July, 11am to 2pm.
The session will take you through the process of leading outdoor experiences for groups. This will include support with planning, such as creating session plans, risk assessments, and how to book a residential. There will also be a walk within the local area.
Examples of venues, activities and good practice will also be shared. The workshop aims to help increase your confidence as a youth leader to deliver sessions in the outdoors and to make outdoor activities accessible for a broader range of groups.
Please note that the session will be held upstairs in Bowlees Visitor Centre and is not wheelchair accessible. Lunch will be provided.
Please book using the link to Ticketsource

Youth leader training - outdoor activities
2026-07-06 17:00 - 20:00 | Bowlees Visitor Centre
Are you a current youth worker/ do you work with young people who would like to deliver more activities outdoors?
Join this free in-person workshop with mountain leader, Rachel Tweddle, on Monday 6 July, 5pm to 8pm.
The session will take you through the process of leading outdoor experiences for groups. This will include support with planning, such as creating session plans, risk assessments, and how to book a residential. There will also be a walk within the local area.
Examples of venues, activities and good practice will also be shared. The workshop aims to help increase your confidence as a youth leader to deliver sessions in the outdoors and to make outdoor activities accessible for a broader range of groups.
Please note that the workshop will be held upstairs in Bowlees Visitor Centre and is not wheelchair accessible. Food will be provided.
Please book using the link to Ticketsource

CANCELLED - Mine site maintenance
2026-07-07 10:00 - 15:00 | TBC
Cancelled.
Volunteer opportunities to undertake maintenance works to various mine sites across the North Pennines, on the first Tuesday of each month, commencing 3 March 2026, 10am to 3pm.
In this monthly activity you will join Gary and Arran of Heritage Consolidation, to undertake maintenance tasks at lead mining structures.
Steel toe capped boots and gloves are strongly recommended for this task, gloves can be provided.
More details will be provided upon signing up. Suitable for 18+
Locations will be decided closer to the date.
Dates are:-
3 March
7 April
5 May
2 June
7 July – Cancelled
4 August
1 September
6 October
3 November
1 December
Sign up using the Better Impact volunteer link

Wildflower seed collecting opportunities
2026-07-09 13:00 - 16:00 | Upper Teesdale
Help us to restore and enhance meadows and other habitats in the North Pennines by collecting wildflower seeds from sites across Teesdale, 9 July and 6 August, 1pm to 4pm.
Wildflower seeds will be sown in the Autumn and then grown on into plants. The plants we will be collecting from will depend on the date they set seed, but could include: wood crane’s-bill, native lady’s mantle species, melancholy thistle and meadow crane’s-bill.
Please wear outdoor clothing, bring waterproofs and wear sturdy shoes. All ages welcome, children must be supervised by an adult.
The session going ahead on this date is dependent upon seasonal variations in the ripening of seeds. If the session has to be re-scheduled this will be communicated to people signed up no later than 24 hours prior.
Sign up using the volunteer system Better Impact

North Pennines Young Archaeologists' Club
2026-07-11 10:00 - 13:00 | Alston Moor Recreation Ground and Pavilion, Alston, CA9 3HS
North Pennines YAC is open to everyone aged 8–16 years interested in archaeology.
Become a member of the North Pennines Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC) and get involved in all sorts of activities, including visiting and investigating archaeological sites and historic places, trying out traditional crafts, taking part in excavations, and lots more.
The club meet once a month on a Saturday at Alston Moor Recreation Ground and Pavilion, 10am to 1pm. The first session of 2026 is 17 January. We encourage signing up for as many sessions as possible to get the best experience.
YAC is the place for young people who might want to become a professional archaeologist in the future, or just feel like taking up an amazing new hobby. It offers 8 to 16 year olds the chance to get their hands mucky, participating in archaeology and discovering why it matters. The clubs explore all eras of human history, including the Romans, Vikings, Ancient Egyptians and Victorians, and members take part in all sorts of hands-on activities, such as investigating archaeological sites and historic places, taking part in excavations, and working with artefacts.
The club also run lots of craft-based activities based on archaeological periods and technology, with members trying out many traditional crafts.
Please note that the location and timing of some sessions may change depending on the activities planned. Please check back closer to the date or email rebecca@northpennines.org.uk for more details.
Please use the link to Ticketsource to book.

Metal point drawing workshop
2026-07-11 10:30 - 15:30 | High Forest Community Centre, Sinderhope, NE47 9SJ
Explore the unique qualities of metal point drawing in this Rooted in Lead workshop, on Saturday 11th July, 10.30am to 3.30pm at High Forest Community Centre, Sinderhope.
The workshop is suitable for adults of all abilities. No previous drawing experience is needed and will be led by artist Carole McCourt. You will draw using metals that directly reference the mining history of the North Pennines and the materials once extracted from its hillsides such as lead, silver and copper.
The session begins with an introduction to historical metal point techniques, learn how metal point works, why artists have used it for centuries, and what makes it so distinctive.
You will then create your own detailed botanical drawings inspired by the rare metalliferous plants that grow on former lead mining sites and explore the fine lines, subtle tonal shifts and luminous qualities that metal point can produce.
All materials and refreshments provided.
Please book your place using the link to TicketSource

Westgate Village history evenings
2026-07-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Westgate Village Hall, Front Street, Westgate, DL13 1RX
As part of the village histories project, we’ll be exploring and recording the natural and cultural heritage of Westgate and its surrounding area. There are sessions every month on a Wednesday, 6pm to 8pm, starting 25 February in the village hall at Westgate.
This exciting project aims to bring together local knowledge, memories, and research to create a lasting record for future generations, and there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved.
The group is aimed at residents of Westgate, those who live nearby, or simply have an interest in the history of the village.
Free refreshments will be available throughout the session.
Please use the Ticketsource link to book.

Image (c) – Tom Baldwin

Part of the Land of Lead and Silver project led by the North Pennines National Landscape team and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.

Westgate Village histories archive visit
2026-07-17 12:00 - 17:00 | Westgate Village Hall, Front Street, Westgate, DL13 1RX
The Westgate Village Histories archive visit, on Friday 17 July, 1pm to 4pm, will explore the Weardale Chest Collection, held at Palace Green Library, Durham.
The manuscript material found in the chest dates from 1579 to 1660 and includes first hand witness testimonies from Westgate residents. It tells the fascinating story of a commonwealth era legal battle between Weardale tenants and their new Parliementarian landlord, Sir Arthur Hesilrige.
The workshop will include a palaeography training session using original documents, led by archivist Andrew Gray. As well as the rare opportunity to view the sixteenth century oak chest, situated in the historic Bamburgh Library.
Transport will be provided to and from Westgate Village. The minibus will leave Westgate Village Hall at 12 noon and return for around 5pm.
• Please note: The Barker Research Library, where the workshop takes place, is wheelchair accessible. However, the original chest is stored upstairs in a historic library. Unfortunately, this means that wheelchair users will be unable to view the chest in person.
Please use the Ticketsource link to book.

Image (c) – Durham University Library

Part of the Land of Lead and Silver project led by the North Pennines National Landscape team and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.

Volunteer opportunity to remove invasive Garden Lady’s-mantle
2026-07-21 10:00 - 15:30, 2026-07-30 10:00 - 15:30 | Langdon Beck
Join us for a practical day to help dig up and remove invasive Garden Lady’s-mantle (Alchemilla mollis) from an area around an Upper Teesdale beck.
This area of Upper Teesdale in the North Pennines National Landscape is especially important for the population of rare native plants that are found there. If the garden Lady’s-mantle is left to set seed, it poses a risk of spreading to further sites and possibly out competing and replacing the important native plant communities.
This activity requires a good level of fitness as well as the ability to navigate uneven terrain. Training will be given on the morning of the event.
Exact location will be sent 48 hours prior to the event. Suitable for all ages; children must be supervised by an adult.
Please sign up using the Better Impact volunteer platform.

Garden club - volunteer opportunity
2026-07-28 10:00 - 12:30 | Bowlees Visitor Centre
Volunteer to help look after ‘Helen’s Garden’ at Bowlees Visitor Centre, and the raised beds and planters alongside the Centre on Tuesday 28 July and 25 August, 10am to 12.30pm.
General maintenance including weeding, dead heading, cutting back and planting. Watering the gardens when required. Tidying, sweeping the surfaced area around the Centre and painting garden benches. Hedge trimming and maintaining the willow arch in the car park.
Usually work for two to two and a half hours and finish with refreshments which are provided.
Sign up on the volunteer platform Better Impact

Wild Wednesday - campfire cooking and foraging
2026-07-29 10:30 - 12:30 | Bowlees Visitor Centre
Wild Wednesdays are activities suitable for children aged five and over to enjoy and be creative.
Forage for food to cook on the campfire at Bowlees Visitor Centre, 29 July, 10.30am to 12.30pm. Enjoy a walk to forage for fruits of the season, identify plants that can be used in recipes and make dips and fillings for your bread on a stick around the campfire.
Suitable for children aged five to 12 years. All children need to be accompanied by an adult. (Younger siblings are welcome but do not need to book). £2 per child (accompanying adults and under 5s free).
Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make this event more accessible and enjoyable for your family, such as sensory needs. Please email kerryanne@northpennines.org.uk with any allergies/dietary requirements.
Please wear sturdy footwear, and clothing suitable for the weather and potentially messy activities. The event is not suitable for dogs and is not wheelchair accessible.
Please use the Ticketsource to book

Volunteer day at Bowlees tree nursery
2026-07-29 13:00 - 16:00 | Bowlees Visitor Centre
Volunteer at Bowlees Wildflower and Tree Nursery on the last Wednesday of each month from 1pm to 4pm. There are also extra drop in sessions on 11 March, 15 April, 13 may and 10 June.
You can help with our nature recovery work by seed collecting and sowing, potting on, and watering plants. For more information email harry@northpennines.org.uk.
Delivered as part of the Tees-Swale: naturally connected programme. Tees-Swale is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and led by the North Pennines National Landscape team in collaboration with the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Sign up on the volunteer platform Better Impact

Historic environment on-site working day
2026-07-30 10:00 - 16:00

Nenthead big dig
2026-08-01 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Bowlees Visitor Centre
Get involved in an archaeological dig taking place in Nenthead this summer. No experience is necessary. We are investigating the domestic lives of the lead miners who lived and worked in Nenthead in the past.
The dates for the digs are 1 to 4 August and 6 to 11 August, 10am to 4pm each day. Meeting point is Nenthead Village Hall. Each day has a limit of eight spaces available.
Supervised by professional archaeologists, this is a chance to have a go at real hands-on archaeology. Suitable for ages six years and up. All children must be supervised by an adult (please book a space for each child and adult that would like to attend).
Volunteers and local community members, with a professional archaeologist, will dig a series of small test pits in gardens and fields around the village. We are likely to find things like broken pottery, bits of clay pipes, and maybe some broken personal items, such as toys and buttons.
You don’t need any special equipment as this will be provided.
The digs are free to attend. Donations are welcome and enable the North Pennines National Landscape team to protect and restore this special place and help people connect with nature.
Sign up using the link to Ticketsource
