North Pennines National Landscape

North Pennines Young Archaeologists' Club
2026-05-19 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-13 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-07-11 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-22 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-12 10:00 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | 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.

Garden club - volunteer opportunity
2026-05-26 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-06-23 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-07-28 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-08-25 10:00 - 12:30 | Bowlees Visitor Centre, Newbiggin, DL12 0XF
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 on-site working day
2026-05-27 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-23 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-30 10:00 - 16:00
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:
Wednesday 28 January – Nenthead Mines, Cumbria. Cancelled due to adverse weather conditions
Future dates with locations TBC:
• Thursday 26th February
• Tuesday 28th April
• Wednesday 27th May
• Tuesday 23rd June
• Thursday 30th July
• Wednesday 23rd September
• Tuesday 27th October
• Thursday 19th November
• Tuesday 8th December
Each day is from 10am to 4pm.
Please book using the Better Impact volunteer system

Volunteer day at Bowlees tree nursery
2026-05-27 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-10 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-24 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-22 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-26 13:00 - 16:00 | Bowlees Visitor Centre, Newbiggin, DL12 0XF
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 william@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: indoor working day
2026-05-29 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-26 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-31 10:00 - 16:00 | North Pennines National Landscape office, 1 Martin Street, Stanhope,, DL132UY
These indoor sessions held in Stanhope, build on our field recording work and gives volunteers the opportunity to develop their skills further. During the day we will process the photographs collected on site to create detailed photogrammetry models, exploring how digital techniques can enhance our understanding of historic landscapes.
The first indoor session for 2026 is Friday 30 January, 10 am to 4pm.
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; this session is designed to support beginners while offering plenty of scope for those wishing to grow their research and digital heritage skills.
Please bring your lunch. Refreshments will be provided throughout the day. If you want to bring equipment with you, you are welcome to, but we will also have some equipment available for you to use.
You do not need to have attended the associated site day to join us for these indoor work sessions.
Dates for 2026 – all at Stanhope are drop in sessions from 10am to 4pm:
• Friday 30th January – Cancelled due to adverse weather conditions
• Friday 27th February
• Friday 1st May
• Friday 29th May
• Friday 26th June
• Friday 31st July
• Friday 25th September
• Friday 30th October
• Friday 27th November
• Friday 11th December)
Please sign up using the Better Impact volunteer system

Saturday stroll - a guided walk
2026-05-30 10:30 - 14:30, 2026-06-27 10:30 - 14:30 | TBC
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 on 28 February will begin at 10.30am and finish at approximately 1pm. You are welcome to join us after the walk for free refreshments finishing by 2:30pm. Exact 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.

Mine site maintenance
2026-06-02 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-07-07 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-08-04 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-09-01 10:00 - 15:00 | TBC
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
4 August
1 September
6 October
3 November
1 December
Sign up using the Better Impact volunteer link

Access improvements
2026-06-11 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-07-09 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-08-13 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-09-10 10:00 - 15:00 | TBC
Volunteer with us to improve access to various lead mine sites across the North Pennines on the second Thursday of each month starting 14 May, 10am to 3pm.
In this monthly activity you will join Adam, Access Officer at the North Pennines National Landscape, to help make improvements to footpaths leading to mining sites.
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+.
Exact locations will be decided closer to the date of the activity.
Dates for 2026, second Thursday of each month, 10am to 3pm:
9 April – postponed
14 May
11June
9July
13 August
10 September
8 October
12 November
10 December
Please sign up using the link to Better Impact volunteer system
