Summer activities in the North Pennines AONB

4 July 2023

Children and families can enjoy a summer of activities, based on nature, landscape and heritage in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and UNESCO Global Geopark.

Archaeology taster days

The North Pennines AONB Partnership is running a range of events, supported by a range of projects funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The summer programme begins on the weekend of 15 and 16 July, with free archaeology taster days for ages seven to 16. Community archaeology group, Altogether Archaeology are working at a site near Gilmonby, in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Children will be able to join in with a real archaeological dig and will spend the day exploring the history of the area, where Bronze Age hoards have previously been found, helping to look for further evidence of prehistoric activity. The sessions are free, but places must be booked via:

Wild Wednesdays

The AONB Partnership’s regular holiday activity programme, Wild Wednesdays, is back at Bowlees Visitor Centre, in Upper Teesdale. Wild Wednesdays are a chance to explore the AONB and Geopark with hands-on fun for ages five to 12. Themes this summer include mining the past, with a look at how lead mines were built and used, and seeds of summer, collecting seeds from our magnificent hay meadows. Each session costs £3 per child and can be booked at:

Bowlees Explorers

Under 5s have their own nature-based activity sessions every Thursday in the school summer holidays. For just £1 per child, parents and children can spend a morning with the team in and around Bowlees Visitor Centre, exploring the outdoors and getting to know the plants, creatures, rocks and rivers around us. Book at:

Geology Projects Officer, Naomi Foster, said: “Bowlees Explorers sessions are a chance for our youngest visitors to spend time in the outdoors in a fun and relaxed way. We will have a different focus each week, with themes ranging from rivers and streams, to the rocks and soils beneath our feet, and the trees in the woodland around Bowlees. Explorers will need wellies and waterproofs, and hopefully sometimes sun hats, as we’ll be enjoying the outdoors whatever the weather.”

Camp out at Fellfoot Sounds

Fellfoot Sounds, on 19 and 20 August, is a relaxed daytime and one night campout at Into The Woods, Glassonby, Cumbria. This small, environmentally friendly event is in a stunning dark skies area where you can listen, make, enjoy live performance, music and workshops. It is delivered by the North Pennines AONB Partnership with artists who create work in and about the environment.

Join artists for live performances and workshops on the campsite, in St Michael and All Angels Church next door, and a 15-minute walk away at Long Meg and Her Daughters Neolithic stone circle for a special sunset performance. https://northpennines.org.uk/event/fellfoot-sounds/

Archaeology in August

There are more free archaeology sessions later in August, this time joining Altogether Archaeology at a dig in the Gueswick Hills near Cotherstone in Teesdale. On 22, 23 and 24 August children from seven to 16, can help investigate an Iron Age settlement. Previous finds from the area include a paved surface and a brooch from circa 4th Century.

Funding

The summer activity programme has been funded through a number of projects supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Land of Lead and Silver, also supported by Historic England, is in its development stage. If funded, there will be a four-year programme of activity that will combine works on heritage sites with a rich programme of community activity that aims to explore much more, revealing the stories and people who shaped this place.

Through Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected the North Pennines AONB Partnership and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority are delivering an innovative programme of interpretation, activities and rights of way improvements, to enable people to discover, explore and enjoy the stunning landscape of Teesdale and Swaledale. At the heart of this is a drive to reveal to visitors how this landscape is managed and why it is special.

Expanding Horizons is a project to connect young people with nature, working with schools, groups and families within and beyond the AONB and Geopark. There is a particular focus on wellbeing and the benefits of connecting with nature.

Fellfoot Forward is a Landscape Partnership Scheme, focusing on an area stretching from the Cumbrian fellside of the North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark, to the River Eden and runs north from Melmerby to Hallbankgate.

All North Pennines AONB Partnership events can be found here: https://northpennines.org.uk/events/