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FORGING AHEAD
          30 March 2020

    
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With many of our normal daily activities on hold due to the current situation - we now have time to slow down a little and appreciate the simpler things in life, such as the beautiful nature and wildlife to be found in our green spaces, woodlands and back gardens.

Stay connected with nature when you're out on your daily exercise (remembering to practice social distancing as advised).

Welcome to the Land of Oak & Iron Newsletter

Our Forging Ahead newsletter normally comes out once a month, but with the Land of Oak & Iron team now working from home and with a little more time to spend on communications, we will be sending out a more regular newsletter - looking back at some of our amazing achievements and keeping you up to date with current and future projects, along with ideas for keeping busy and staying connected with nature. Watch a short film about the Heritage Centre by one of our funders and other films on our YouTube channel.
Pitmen and Ponies

Some of our fabulous volunteers from the Land of Oak & Iron Trust have been working with local schools - engaging children in fun, hands on workshops, exploring the fascinating heritage in the Land of Oak & Iron.

One of the heritage projects looked at the poems and songs of 'Pitman Poet' Tommy Armstrong, who was born in Shotley Bridge, a small village in the Derwent Valley.

Tommy was affectionately known as the 'Pitman Poet' and also 'The Bard of the Northern Coalfield' due to the songs and poems he wrote about the miners, their families and the bleak working conditions.

After learning all about Tommy Armstrong and the mining heritage of the area, Year 6 children at Whickham Parochial Primary School produced some lovely charcoal drawings of miners and pit ponies.

The Trust will be continuing their work with schools later in the year.

Find out more about the Land of Oak & Iron Trust volunteers and the work they do.

 

Fireweed and Furnaces

A week or so before the Heritage Centre closed, our Events & Interpretation Coordinator installed a series of framed lino print artworks by local artist Cathy Duncan.  Hopefully you managed to visit the exhibition which also included Cathy's sketches and linocuts, but don't worry if you didn't, there's still a chance to take a look when the centre re-opens.

The illustrations were commissioned for the newly installed interpretation panels, situated at heritage locations across the Land of Oak & Iron.

You can find out more about the project on the Land of Oak & Iron website's news page, where you can also take a look at some of Cathy's beautiful illustrations in the on-line gallery.

Framed and unframed prints, along with a little booklet of illustrations and poetry will be available to purchase from the Heritage Centre when it re-opens.

 
Connecting with Nature

Are you looking for ways to keep busy and stay connected with nature?

Our friends over at Tyne Rivers Trust are sharing regular challenges that you and your family can do from the comfort of your garden, looking out of the window or while outdoors on your daily exercise (practicing safe social distancing).

Tasks include finding and identifying native species, making bird feeders and wildlife structures or getting creative with art and craft activities - all of which are great ideas if you're also home schooling the kids.

If you take part in any of the challenges, please take photographs and share them via Tyne Rivers Trust and Land of Oak & Iron social media pages using the tags @TyneRiversTrust  @LandofOakandIron

The first challenge is to find and identify a butterfly.

Best of luck - we're looking forward to seeing what you can find.
 

Last Autumn, Land of Oak & Iron began working in partnership with Gibside Art Club, who are based in Rowlands Gill Community Centre.

The Art Club. which began in 1965 with only 7 members - now has over 40 members who meet weekly and exhibt their work at the annual exhibition in the first weekend of October.

The Art Club are now busy working on artworks for a new exhibition to be displayed in the Heritage Centre this summer - all the artworks will be based on the theme 'Land of Oak & Iron', which will include works depicting the landscapes, nature and heritage of the area.

Date to be confirmed.
 
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