The annual excavations at the Roman fort of Vindolanda in Northumberland are starting this year with the help of some very special volunteers. The Vindolanda Trust has given 10 of its highly sought after excavation places in the opening two week period to Operation Nightingale, an award winning project run by the Defence Archaeology Group (DAG) which uses archaeology to aid the recovery of injured service personnel.Under the supervision of experienced Vindolanda archaeologists, serving personnel and veterans will be working alongside volunteers from around the world with the shared ambition of discovering more about this fascinating Roman site between 30th March and the 10th April. The team will be carrying out their operation ‘Exercise Mars Tablet’ in the late 4th Century barrack blocks within the south east quadrant of the last stone fort, near the area where last year a volunteer at the site uncovered an exceptionally rare gold coin of the Emperor Nero.Dr Andrew Birley, Director of Excavations explained: '‘The serving personnel and veterans will be involved in everything we do, as well as introducing the skills of excavation, surveying, artefact handling and recording, the volunteers at Vindolanda also foster mutual support, lasting friendships and take away with them some of the pride and passion which Vindolanda has in abundance’Some of the service personnel and veterans have both physical and mental injuries sustained in operations in Afghanistan and other environments and Dr Birley noted: ‘there will be challenges for individuals and for us as a team. We are aware that one gentleman has no upper limbs due to his combat injuries and another is registered blind, but support is in place to ensure that all participants can gain as much as possible from the experience within their individual abilities’. Sgt Diarmaid Walshe RAMC, Project Manager of the Defence Archaeology Group and himself a qualified archaeologist commented: ‘We are very fortunate to be working with the Vindolanda Trust on this unique site. Our programme uses archaeology as a pathway to their recovery, giving individuals something useful and rewarding to do which in turn can help them rebuild their self-esteem, provide them with a sense of purpose and give them something positive to strive for’. It also has the addition benefit to prove a focus to both our service personal and veterans to put something back into the community as a way of showing their gratitude for all the public support shown to them.In addition to the service personnel who are taking part in the dig the Vindolanda Trust is extending its generosity to serving personnel who wish to come along and support their colleagues by giving them free entry into the site. The Trust’s spokesperson said: ‘we hope the public will come show their support for the volunteers. Serving military personnel will be admitted free if they show their MOD card to our staff during these two weeks’.The Vindolanda excavations run this year from the 30th March to the 25th September and will see nearly 400 volunteers take part in the longest ongoing excavation on Hadrian’s Wall. Last year was an outstanding season for discoveries and with the excavations continuing in the same areas it looks like 2015 may be just as exciting.

Birders in Northumberland are in a flap after two amorous ospreys returning from Africa before their other halves have enjoyed a sneaky fling.The two-timing birds are the first ospreys to be seen returning to Kielder Water & Forest Park, with the male arriving first and the female three days later.With their partners still away, they shared a romantic encounter before the male sealed their new found affection with a gift - a freshly plucked trout from Kielder Water.The rare species, which normally form faithful pairs for life, were extinct in England for 150 years but have bred successfully in the Park every season since they returned to the North East in 2009.This is the first year at Kielder that an established female has returned before her male and another established male is already present without his female partner to court.While the ospreys’ fowl play might initially ruffle the feathers of their partners, it’s hoped that they too will return home safely to breed with their respective half and all will be forgotten.Joanna Dailey, Kielder Osprey expert volunteer, said: “We’re very excited by the arrival of our birds. “This ‘hedging the bets’ is normal behaviour, and it is fascinating to observe, but we hope it will end very soon with the arrival of the long term partners!” The antics are being watched by visitors through a camera on the nest and footage is beamed to visitors at Kielder Castle.Wildlife lovers can also keep up to date with the story as it unfolds through the Kielder osprey blog at kielderospreys.wordpress.com.

Four Northumberland busesses have been named as a finalist in the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015.Tourism Event of the Year - Kielder Winter WonderlandLarge Hotel of the Year - Matfen HallHoliday Park/Holiday Village of the Year - Seafield Caravan Park, SeahousesSustainable Tourism Award - St Cuthbert's House B&B, SeahousesThe finalists now go forward to the glittering Awards Ceremony which is being held on Monday 11 May 2015 at the Sage Gateshead. The Awards will take place in the North East for the first time, coinciding with an exciting year that also sees Rugby World Cup 2015 coming to NewcastleThe VisitEngland Awards attracted a total of 345 applications. All 70 finalists will have to wait until the Awards Ceremony to find out which award they will receive. All are guaranteed to receive either a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Highly Commended Award.James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland said: “It’s been another successful year for our Excellence Awards as we’ve received hundreds of applications of an extremely high standard. That’s why all the finalists should be incredibly proud that they’ve been short-listed against such tough competition. I’d like to congratulate all the finalists who now represent the top five in their category in England and wish them all the very best of luck on Awards night at the Sage Centre in Gateshead - a spectacular venue to celebrate the industry’s best.”Speaking on behalf of Northumberland Tourism, general manager Jude Leitch said: "We are so proud of everyone at St Cuthbert's House, Matfen Hall, Kielder Winter Wonderland and Seafield Caravan Park. They have done a remarkable job to be nominated as finalists and we wish them every success at the VisitEngland Awards."

A new music and creative arts festival for over 18s taking place on Beal Farm Northumberland this September 4th - 6th has revealed its first wave of acts. Music will be showcased from a range of internationally renowned artists, as well as a selection of up and coming acts and North East talent. Headliners for the festival include Reverend and The Makers, Craig Charles, DJ Yoda, Smoove and Turrell and The Skints. Further acts including another Friday evening headliner are still to be revealed and will be announced in due course.Set within 4 different marquees opposite the Holy Island, entertainment will be on offer from the Friday evening, all day Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday. A great range of North East talent will be showcased including; Nadine Shah, The Lake Poets, Johnny Dickinson, Hannabiell and Midnight Blue, Frankie & The Heartstrings, The Happy Cats, Trev Gibb, Backyard Rhythm Orchestra, Shields, Slow light Quartet, Mister Tooley, World Headquarters (WHQ) and Dancing with Ghosts.The first wave line up also includes internationally renowned Ghetto Funk All-stars and acts JFB, Jackie Oates, The Church, Sean Taylor and The Tribe.The Lindisfarne Festival will be a truly niche, intimate 2 day camping festival with a capacity for 2000. The event promises to have something for everyone and includes music from indie rock, soul and funk, blues, folk and jazz to hip hop.Tickets are available to buy online at £78 for the weekend or £50 for the Saturday from 9am on the 24th March via http://www.lindisfarnefestival.com/. Ticket prices include camping and entertainment for either 1 or 2 nights.Conleth Maenpaa, Owner of Nokomis and Bor Events and Founder of Lindisfarne Festival commented: “We are delighted with the artists we have managed to secure for our inaugural Lindisfarne Festival. Being in its first year it was important that we started off small to create an intimate setting, whilst securing a range of credible acts and entertainment. We feel we have something for everyone. A great combination of internationally renowned performers as well as a range of up and coming artists too. It was also very important that we secured a good concentration of acts from the North East, showcasing the amazing breadth of local talent we have here and capturing a strong regional flavour.”Conleth Maenpaa added:“Whilst the heart of any festival is the music, it is important to add that Lindisfarne Festival aims to be so much more with a range of creative therapies, wonderful gastronomy and the breath-taking back drop of Holy Island. We do hope people will join us in making this an event to remember and one that will become part of the fabric of the North East for years to come.”Further details of the festival are available via http://www.lindisfarnefestival.com/ or on our facebook and twitter pages @lindisfarnefest

Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant in Wark, near Hexham, is proud to announce the opening of its new on-site observatory. Launching in March 2015 the observatory is located within the hotel grounds, sitting at the edge of the Northumberland National Park which gained Dark Sky Park status in December 2013. The Northumberland National Park is the largest protected Dark Sky Park in Europe, offering an unrivalled vantage point from which to admire the county’s dramatic night-time sky.The observatory will be fully accessible throughout the night to guests staying in one of the hotel’s five newly constructed eco-lodges. Facing south, it can accommodate up to 25 budding or seasoned astronomers and is equipped with the latest telescopes chosen for their technical prowess and ease of use. These include a Celestron C11 OTA on a EQ8 mount, an enormous set of 25 x 100 mounted binoculars specifically for guests with wheelchairs, plus a range of smaller telescopes targeted at true beginners.Under the watchful eye of Roy Alexander, professional astronomer and teacher, Battlesteads will run courses targeted at all levels of stargazer, from introductory ‘Get to know your telescope’ sessions to sessions focussing on identifying and tracking some of the night-sky’s star performers.Courses will be priced from £15 and the eco-lodges are priced at £165 per night for bed and breakfast based on two people sharing.Commenting on the Dark Sky Observatory, Richard Slade, owner of Battlesteads, says:“This marks an exciting new chapter for Battlesteads. We have had a vision to open up our beautiful skies to guests for many years and to see these plans now come alive is out of this world. Astro-tourism is an emerging and growing leisure market. With such a world-class environment for studying the stars on our doorstep it made sense to embrace this and add to the many reasons to visit Battlesteads and the county of Northumberland.”The observatory has been constructed and developed in accordance with Battlesteads’ ongoing green credentials, using sustainable materials and powered by the hotel’s 36-panel solar PV tracker. Previously awarded a Platinum level rating in TripAdvisor’s GreenLeaders Programme in 2014, a scheme that helps travellers make greener choices when deciding on a hotel trip, Battlesteads also boasts a Three Star Sustainability Champion status from the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA), and was previously voted Considerate Hotel of the Year (Considerate Hotelier) and Green Hotel of the Year (Hotel Cateys) in 2011.The project is supported by a Rural Economy Grant, North East Small Business Growth Fund, for which the funds are provided by the Rural Development Programme for England. Defra is the Managing Authority, part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.For more information on Battlesteads’ Dark Skies Observatory, the astronomer courses available and to book your stay visit www.battlesteads.com.

The delights of Alnwick have been exposed to a whole new audience as the Downton Abbey Christmas special, filmed in the Northumberland town, screened in America this morning.The historical drama has been a big hit in the States, showing on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) on Sunday evenings and attracting around nine million viewers, placing it second only to the CBS channel in the ratings for the 9pm slot.The Alnwick episode hit US screens at 2am (UK time) on the east coast and 5am on the west coast.With such a high-profile exposure, it will be viewed as another huge boost for the tourism industry in the town which relies heavily on the visitor economy.Almost six million viewers on this side of the Pond tuned in to ITV to see the Christmas Day episode, which used locations in and around Alnwick Castle during filming last summer.The quintessentially British series has won a string of awards in the US, including the award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards held in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 25, 2015.And Joanne Froggatt landed the gong for best supporting actress in a series, mini-series or TV movie at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 11, 2015, for her role as maid Anna Bates. She won the award for a rape storyline which shocked its devoted viewers. The star’s character was attacked by the valet of a visiting guest and although no sexual violence was shown, the scene prompted 244 complaints to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom. Story from Northumberland Gazette

The beginning of March heralds the start of a new visitor season for some of the region’s best loved attractions, and this year there are lots of new things to discover.Iconic buildings including Cragside, Wallington and Souter Lighthouse are all dusting down the furniture to open their doors to the thousands of visitors who enjoy National Trust attractions each year.This year, the Trust is opening up new spaces at Wallington and tempting visitors with tasty treats from the new bakery and butchery at Gibside, and from Cragside’s newly restored kitchen range. The conservation charity will also be celebrating 90 years caring for the Farne Islands on the Northumberland Coast and 25 years caring for Souter Lighthouse in South Tyneside.Joanna Royle, Head of Marketing and Supporter Development for the National Trust said:“Every year we welcome over 1.7 million visitors to National Trust places in the North East, from tourists visiting for the first time to family members who enjoy events and activities on weekends and school holidays. We’re constantly looking for ways to improve the experiences we offer our visitors and supporters, to make their visit as enjoyable as possible. Our aim is for people who love the places we look after to continue to support us by visiting regularly, joining as members or volunteering. It's only through this type of support that we can exist as a charity.”With a new visitor season just around the corner, here are just some of the highlights you can expect from the National Trust across the North East in the year ahead….Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland2015 is general election year and the Trust has got campaign fever at Wallington, the home of the very political Trevelyan family. Beginning his political career at the age of 22, Sir Charles Trevelyan was passionate about politics and people. His socialist beliefs led him to give his 13,500 acre family estate to the National Trust back in 1941, to be enjoyed by everyone for generations to come.This generous gift is at the heart of what is set to be a very democratic year at Wallington, beginning with the opening up of the west wing of the house. From late March to June, visitors can join a tour to see the west wing for the first time, hear stories of the Trevelyan family who lived there, and cast their vote on its future use. Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, NorthumberlandAfter Rangers caught an Otter family on video on the river Allen for the first time this winter, the National Trust were devastated when the wildlife camera was later stolen. Spring sees a turn-around in the charity’s luck as environmentally conscious wine brand Banrock Station has come forward with funding not only to replace the stolen equipment, but also to help protect Otter habitat on the river. This money will enable National Trust Ranger’s to monitor the Otter family to see if any more young are born this summer and identify where habitat improvement work can be done along the river. The funding has been secured through Banrock Station’s ‘Vote For Nature’ initiative in partnership with the National Trust. Launched last year, the initiative asked the nation to decide how £100,000 should be shared between National Trust projects benefitting five endangered species; pine martens, puffins, red squirrels, bats and otters. Allen Banks has also been successful in securing funding to monitor the Red Squirrel population in the area.Gibside, Rowlands Gill, GatesheadIt’s all about getting a taste of the region at Gibside this spring as the newly opened butchery and bakery get into full swing. Housed in a new building within Gibside’s market square, where regular farmers’ markets take place, the butchery and bakery give local suppliers the facilities they need to help their businesses thrive. In addition, Gibside has converted more spaces into creative studios. Gibside is the National Trust’s fastest growing attraction in the North East, with visitor numbers increasing from 65,000 to 200,000 in the last ten years. It’s easy to see how Gibside’s diversification benefits both local businesses based there, and the Trust as a charity which relies heavily on visitor support. Next time you’re there we’d recommend a pizza from the wood fired oven.Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, South TynesideThe National Trust first opened the doors of Souter Lighthouse to visitors on 19 July, 1990. 25 years later and it’s on course to have one of its most successful years to date with over 28,000 expected. In its 25th year, Souter will be carrying out major restoration work to the metal and glass diamond panels in the lantern room at the top of the tower. Outside along The Leas, The Trust is working with the local Coastal Conservation Group to undertake the first ever annual wildlife survey of this stretch of coastline. This includes an intensive eight week Storm Petrel ringing project, the longest of its kind.Cragside, Rothbury, NorthumberlandVolunteers at Cragside will be getting to grips with Victorian cooking in April on the newly restored kitchen range. Thanks to money raised through raffle ticket sales last year, the National Trust has restored the kitchen range in Lord Armstrong’s impressive kitchen, which has the first example of a working dishwasher, a service lift and a water powered spit. Victorian baking days will take place every Wednesday in the house and visitors will be invited to taste a slice of Victorian life with a variety of historical cakes.Lindisfarne Castle, Holy Island, NorthumberlandLindisfarne Castle is showing its age and is currently experiencing severe water ingress problems that are affecting the external stonework, internal plaster and decor of the building. The castle has 101 historic windows, 38 of which currently leak in bad weather.In 2014 the National Trust undertook survey work to inform a programme of works going forward. This summer, they will begin trial works to investigate the best conservation techniques to help make the building watertight for the future. The conservation work will begin in 2017, and is estimated to cost over £1million. The Trust will be launching a major fundraising campaign to help fund the work.Farne Islands, NorthumberlandThe Farne Islands are one of the most exciting seabird colonies in England with unrivalled views of 23 species, including around 37,000 pairs of puffins. It's also home to a large grey seal colony, with more than 1,000 pups born every autumn. 2015 is the 90th anniversary of the acquisition of the Farne Islands by the National Trust. The conservation work carried out by the National Trust has resulted in a thriving natural habitat for wildlife, making it one of the most important seabird nature reserves in the country.Seaton Delaval Hall, NorthumberlandThe gardens and grounds at Seaton Delaval Hall are sure to put a spring in your step this season, with new woodland walks enabling you to enjoy the beautiful displays of bluebells and historic daffodils. Families can enjoy a year of Georgian themed activities and events and look out for newly carved Delaval sheep. The Central Hall will also be fully open after a number of years of major conservation work.Washington Old Hall, Tyne & WearThe National Trust will be bringing a warm glow to the inside of Washington Old Hall this year. Six out of the seven fireplaces in the hall have been fitted with a realistic fire setting, giving you a better idea of what it would have looked, felt and even smelt like in the 17th century.Hadrian’s Wall and Housesteads FortRekindle your love for Hadrian’s Wall this year with guided walks and talks from experts on Saturday 18 April to celebrate World Heritage Day – the International day for Monuments and Sites. The day aims to highlight the importance of conserving monuments and sites of cultural heritage as well as celebrating the diversity of our heritage. The National Trust look after six miles of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hadrian’s Wall from Sewingshields in the east to Cawfields in the west. The charity work in close partnership with English Heritage to conserve Housesteads Roman Fort, one of the best preserved Roman Forts in Britain

Runners are being given an out of this world opportunity to race under the darkest night skies in England.The inaugural ‘Dark Skies Run’ at Kielder Water & Forest Park, Northumberland, will take place on Saturday April 18, 2015.Kielder was awarded gold tier Dark Sky Park status by the International Dark Skies association in December 2013, making it the perfect venue for the ultimate starlit running challenge.Organised by Trail Outlaws and supported by Northumbrian Water and the Forestry Commission, the 26.5 mile challenge will start at Hawkhirst Scout Activity Centre and follow the Lakeside Way trail around northern Europe’s largest man-made lake.Entries into the unique race, which will take place during International Dark Skies week, will open at midday on Sunday February 8.With space for just 300 people to take part, event organisers are urging people to book their place quickly.Ultra Marathon runner and organiser, Phill Turton said: “We’ve ran in events all over the north of England, but a late training run around Kielder Reservoir was something we’d never experienced before.“The combination of the stunning Lakeside Way Trail and Kielder’s darkening skies made this something really special. It sounds crazy but it wasn’t just running, it was an almost spiritual experience and we knew we had to share it with other runners in an organised event.”Customer Experience Manager at Northumbrian Water’s Leaplish Waterside Park, Peter Pattinson, said: “We’re really excited about this long distance race. It’s a special opportunity for runners to take advantage of our starry skies as this is a run that’s not normally allowed. Safety is our top priority – the event is organised by professionals and head torches are mandatory.“This event adds to the growing number of sporting events available at Kielder both on the water and in the forest.”Entries are open from midday on Sunday February 8 at www.trailoutlaws.com. The price is £40 and entries are restricted to over 18s only. ENDS For media information, contact Janine Scott, communications advisor from Northumbrian Water, on 0191 301 6713 or [email protected] (photo credit Ian Glendinning)Notes to editorsKielder Water & Forest Park is a growing destination for sporting events. Only this week, Steve Cram unveiled a new Half Marathon race at the Kielder Marathon weekend held on 3-4 October 2015. The weekend includes the Kielder 10K, Run Bike Run and Junior Races. Entries are available at www.kieldermarathon.com.About Kielder Water & Forest ParkKielder Water and Forest Park, which spans 250 square miles, is home to the largest forest in England and the largest man-made lake in northern Europe. It was awarded the number one tourism experience in England by Visit England 2013, and the most tranquil place in England by the Campaign to Protect Rural England. For more information see www.visitkielder.com.About Trail OutlawsTrail Outlaws was set up in 2014 by North East based Ultra Marathon Trail Runners Phill Turton and Tim Bateson. Their aim is to promote trail running along the trails they love to run in the North East. As well as the Dark Skies Run, 2015 sees the first running of the 200km “Sandstone Way Ultra Marathon” which allows people to run the full length of Northumberland in one go and the “St Cuthberts Ultra Marathon” which starts on Holy Island and follows the 100km St Cuthberts Waymarked trail into Melrose in Scotland. They are also currently developing an urban trail series with the aim of highlighting some of the hidden gems that exist on the outskirts of many of the regions towns and Cities. The first of these events was a half marathon and 10km trail event at Penshaw Monument in Sunderland which was hugely successful and is now into its second year, with an additional marathon event. To learn more visit www.trailoutlaws.com or call 07897 700059.

The hugely popular Wooler Wheel cycle sportives will number three in 2015, with a second cross-border event added to the calendar.Two of the rides will be limited to 1,000 riders and the other 500, and as the word continues to spread about the highly respected Wooler Wheel events it is more important than ever to enter early.Entries for the Wooler Wheel Borderlands in May, the new Big 'Un in July, and the Classic in October are now all open via the British Cycling website.Beth Mills of Wooler Cycle Hub said: "The Wooler Wheel events have grown year-on-year, and we are delighted to have now created the 'Triad', with the launch of our second cross-border ride - the Wooler Wheel Big 'Un."Many riders have tackled the previous two Wooler Wheel sportives in the same year, and we have now issued our entrants with a new challenge - to join the Wooler Wheel 300 Club by completing the three longest distances in 2015. Those riders who do so will cover just over 300 miles, and we will recognise that achievement appropriately."Beth added: "The Wooler Cycle Hub's 'Routemaster' has created a fantastic challenge with the Big 'Un, taking riders around the Cheviots, along the south bank of Kielder Water and past the Kielder dam, and all avoiding the few busy roads in the area. This is a wonderful ride, aimed at elite riders, which covers 200km of some of the most incredible cycling roads in north Northumberland and the Scottish Borders."Once again the 2015 rides will all start and finish at John Swan Ltd's auction mart in Wooler, and the organisers are indebted to the local company for their support. Further support for the 2015 events has come from Kielder Water and Forest Park, Marshall Leisure, Doddington Dairy and Northumberland National Park. Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative have continued their unstinting support of the events and will again provide mechanical support on the rides."We could not run the Wooler Wheel events without the support of all our partners, sponsors and especially all the volunteers who help to make the rides so special for those taking part," Beth said."Time after time the feedback we get from riders after the events is full of praise for our cheery marshals who provide encouragement to riders and of course for the wonderful routes themselves, which show off the very best of our region."We are looking forward to welcoming even more cyclists to north Northumberland and the Scottish Borders in 2015 with the expanded calendar of Wooler Wheel rides. We established the rides to bring people to the area, and in turn give local businesses a boost, and as our events continue to grow and rider numbers increase so too does the impact on the local economy, which is as important now as it has ever been." Wooler Wheel route descriptions:Saturday, May 16 - WW BorderlandsA repeat of the sportive introduced in 2014, with routes of 60, 100 and 170km, and a dedicated junior sportive of 30km.The 170km ride takes in some of the best cycling routes in north Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, and iconic viewpoints, including Lindisfarne and Bamburgh castles, Scott's View near St Boswells, and the memorable climb up to Whitton Edge.Entries close on May 3.Saturday, July 25 - WW Big 'UnA complete circumnavigation of the High Cheviots on quiet roads covering 209km (130miles), with an estimated total ascent of 3200m and a maximum altitude of 396m.On reaching Kielder Castle, around the halfway mark, riders will not only be met with sight of a feed station but also the opportunity to grab a free sports massage. This ride does not go down any stretches of the A68.Entries close July 12.Saturday, October 3 - WW ClassicThe original Wooler Wheel, and still a firm favourite. With routes of 50 or 100km, this is a great introduction for first time sportivers, but is still demanding enough for experienced cyclists. It is also the perfect way to wind down the season for elite riders.Entries close September 20.

War ravaged naval personnel were helped on the road to recovery at a little-known rehabilitation centre at Kielder.And the fascinating period of Northumberland’s history will be brought back to life in a unique event at Kielder Water & Forest Park.In February 2015, the award-winning Park will go back in time to a little remembered period during World War 2 through an experience known as Live Action Role Play or LARP.Around 40 people are expected to take part, exploring the story of Kielder’s HMS Standard – a unique naval rehabilitation centre for service personnel diagnosed with a variety of psychiatric conditions, and volunteers are urged to enlist for the project.HMS Standard, which was in use between 1942 and 1945, was based at a disused labour camp in Lewisburn, established by the Ministry of Labour prior to the Second World War.The Royal Navy took the camp over in 1941, concerned by the number of men suffering from behavioural problems and worked to help the men return to active service, using forward thinking therapies based on fresh air, exercise and physical work.The LARP event, titled Stone Frigate (a term given to onshore Royal Navy bases), is a project by Blaydon-based artist Matt Stokes and commissioned by Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust through its Art & Architecture programme.Peter Sharpe, Kielder Art & Architecture curator, said: “The Stone Frigate is an exciting project that offers the public the opportunity to get involved with an innovative form of art, as well as learning about a fascinating part of Kielder’s unusual history.“Today’s soldiers are also able to attend centres to help them recover from the rigours of recent combat but it’s not widely known that Kielder was a ground-breaking centre for military rehabilitation years ago.”During the LARP, which will take place Friday 27 February to Sunday 1 March 2015, participants will return to this era and live in character for the duration of the event, acting out the story as it develops and serving as their own audience.Peter added: “Where the audience once watched, they will now participate and are central to the process of delivering this historical adventure. We’re really looking for people to come along and engage in this fascinating project.”Kielder Art & Architecture is seeking participants to write their own history by taking part in the LARP and is interested in hearing from residents who may have direct memories or information connected to HMS Standard.Volunteers are also being sought to help with the preparation and behind the scenes action during the event.For more information about getting involved see http://stonefrigate.wix.com/1942 or contact [email protected]. (sign-up closes on Wednesday 31 December)

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A photo taken by a visitor to Dunstanburgh Castle has been chosen as the front cover image for next year’s Northumberland Coast Visitor Guide.Andy Freeman from Cheshire snapped a shot of his son, Ben, looking out from the ruined castle. The image was chosen as the winner of the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership’s photographic competition and will feature on the cover of forty-thousand visitor guides next summer.Andy said “The photograph was taken during our visit to Dunstanburgh Castle. My son loved the castle and was taking in the view of the Lilburn Tower when I asked him to stand still so that the top of the tower looked like a crown on his head, and he was a king surveying his land below. I thought that the shot conveyed how much fun kids can have in the castles around Northumberland whilst, hopefully, learning something too”Chair of the AONB Partnership, Cllr John Woodman and Andy Craig, a photographer from Christon Bank, were the competition judges. Explaining why the image caught his eye Cllr Woodman said “This is such a fun shot, it portrays what the visitor guide is all about - telling people what there is to see, do and learn about on the Northumberland coast. Judging was very difficult; the standard of entries was very high. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to enter”.Andy was delighted to have won the competition and said “This is fantastic news for me because I have just started a Higher National Diploma in photography so that I can make a mid-life career change. This is my first publicly published photo so will always have pride of place in my portfolio".As well as having his image on the front cover, Andy will join Andy Craig on a half-day Photo-trail along the coast as part of his prize.The Northumberland Coast Visitor Guide provides information to visitors about the landscape, history, wildlife and villages of the coast as well lots of things for visitors to do and see during their stay. The guide will be published next March, businesses wishing to advertise in the guide should contact Mike Jones at PDP on 01665 713899 or email [email protected] judges also highly commended three other entries:Two Arctic terns on Inner Farne by Amy Nathan from SheffieldThe Aurora Borealis over Bamburgh Lighthouse by Dru Dodd from Warkworth andHoly Island Causeway by Norma McKellar from Benton in North Tyneside