Leaders of Northumberland National Park Authority have described 2018 as a momentous year for the Authority and tourism in the county.In March, for the second time, Northumberland National Park won the prestigious accolade of National Park of The Year in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2018.Almost 180,000 votes were cast by nearly 30,000 people, representing the biggest response in the award’s history and resulting in Northumberland National Park winning the strongest and most debated category.This has been followed by Northumberland recently battling it out in a public vote against nine other regions to be crowned the Best UK Holiday Destination at the 2018 British Travel Awards. Northumberland’s gold award brought an end to Cornwall’s four year reign in the hotly contested category.The event is the largest travel-awards programme in the UK with travel and tourism organisations viewing it as the highest of all travel accolades because it’s the visitor that determines the winner.In August, Northumberland National Park Authority’s flagship Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre on Hadrian’s Wall, welcomed over 172,000 visitors at the end of its first year of operation, well ahead of its expected visit or levels. During September the Park also made national and international headlines when HRH the Prince of Wales carried out the official opening of The Sill.Glen Sanderson, Chair of Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “This has been a tremendous year for the Park and the county as a whole. Northumberland winning gold in the Best Destination category at this year’s British Travel Awards really cements everything that is wonderful in the county and our National Park.“Winning these awards and the national recognition they bring is fantastic news for the tourism and hospitality industry both in Northumberland and the wider region. Through working together with our industry partners and businesses, we play an instrumental role in ensuring that the visitor experience and the welcome they receive to the area is of the highest quality.”Tony Gates, Chief Executive at Northumberland National Park Authority and a Director of Northumberland Tourism Limited, said: “There’s no doubt 2018 has been a momentous year. Northumberland National Park offers some of the very best outdoor recreational experiences in the UK and currently attracts more than 1.5 million visitors a year to the area.“In December we celebrate the 5 year anniversary of our International Dark Sky Park – still the largest ‘gold tier’ Dark Sky Park in Europe. Our Dark Skies have brought a welcome boost to tourism in the quieter months and a new set of first-time visitors to the county.“Northumberland National Park Authority has been at the forefront of its development as a tourism asset, also encouraging its conservation and working in collaboration with our partners Kielder Water & Forest Park to promote dark skies as part of the county’s visitor economy and ensuring the public appetite for such experiences continues to grow.”Glen Sanderson adds: “Northumberland is a beautiful and rightly ambitious county. We look forward to welcoming more visitors to have exceptional experiences in the National Park in 2019.“For example, the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail and the Sandstone Way Cycle Trail are two of Northumberland’s most popular routes which are managed and coordinated by the National Park Authority and our partners.“In this year’s National Park Visitor Survey, visitors cited peace and tranquillity and our beautiful scenery as the most special qualities they experienced in the National Park and 94% of them scored their overall experience as very good or exceptional.”

Britain's most beautiful marathon returns next year, with entries now open for its tenth anniversary.Founder and Olympic athlete, Steve Cram, was on hand to launch the tenth Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon, taking place on 12 and 13 October 2019, together with a group of runners who've taken part in every marathon since it started.Showcasing the nation's favourite holiday county, the 26.2mile course is based around Northumbrian Water's picturesque Kielder Reservoir in Northumberland, and organisers are encouraging runners to get in early to secure a spot.The weekend of events, which saw just three events Iaunched in its first year - the Run Bike Run duathlon, the junior runs and the marathon itself - now includes a 10k race, added in 2011, and, in 2014, a half marathon and a walk were added.From just 975 participants in 2010, there are now more than 3,000 runners from across the UK and even the world, who take part in the events across the weekend, and it draws in a further 5,000 spectators to the region.It's had its fair share of memorable moments over the years too, including its first marriage proposal in 2013, its oldest marathon runner in 2016 at 77-years-old and not forgetting of course, the 2011 runner who shaved six miles off the course and finished in third place by catching the bus.The Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon Weekend is delivered by Events of the North in conjunction with Northumbrian Water, Active Northumberland, Northumberland County Council and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.Race director and founder, Steve Cram CBE, said: "It's fantastic to be launching our tenth Kielder Marathon with our partners and some of our best supporters, the ‘ever presents', those runners who have been with us since year one."The last decade has seen the event grow and develop into something we're all very proud of. The Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon showcases the best of a region that's now been recognised as the UK's favourite county destination, and we're delighted that every year we can welcome runners from afar to experience this stunning part of the world."Reaching a decade of delivering the event is also a time to celebrate and thank all of our volunteers, partners and staff who make it possible year on year to deliver. We're all very much looking forward to our special anniversary and 2019 will undoubtedly be a tenth birthday to remember."Councillor Cath Homer, Cabinet Member for Culture, Arts, Leisure and Tourism, said: "Every year the Kielder Marathon weekend grows in popularity and profile which is fantastic. With Northumberland recently being crowned as the UK's Best Destination in the British Travel Awards, there's never been a better time to visit."Kielder provides an idyllic setting that gives contestants and their families the perfect spot to explore everything that Northumberland has to offer, often meaning they come back time and time again. I'd encourage those who haven't been before to experience it for themselves, and help make our 10 year celebrations the best yet."Northumbrian Water's David Hall, Head of Leisure Strategy and Transformation, said: "We're very proud to be able to provide the perfect backdrop to celebrate a decade of Britain's most beautiful marathon."It's put Kielder in the hearts of thousands of athletes, creating thousands of memories and we can't wait to welcome visitors back from far and wide for what will be a very special tenth birthday."For more information on the events taking place at Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon Weekend 2019 and to book an early-bird entry visit www.kieldermarathon.com. ACTIVE NORTHUMBERLAND KIELDER MARATHON WEEKEND FACTSOver the last nine years, there have been a total of:Nearly 17,000 runners taking part in the weekend of events.17 ‘ever present' runners who've taken part in every Kielder Marathon since it started.More than 1,000 volunteers to help marshal the course and ensure a safe weekend.More than 33 countries represented, from as far away as Venezuela and the Philippines.Around 18,000 cakes baked by Falstone and Kielder villages, with valuable funds raised for both villages and their residents.Memorable moments include:2010 First year of Britain's Most Beautiful Marathon, including Run Bike Run and Junior Run launched. Marathon won by Kenyan Zak Kihara in 2 hours 29 minutes and 10 seconds.2011 A marathon runner shaved six miles off the rain-soaked course by catching the spectator's bus and finishing in third place.2012 Athlete Aly Dixon, who went on to compete for England in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, won the 10k in a record time of 36 minutes and 2 seconds.2013 First Kielder Marathon marriage proposal at the finish line (and she said yes!)2014 Active Northumberland welcomed as new title partners to Kielder Marathon weekend.2015 Launch of Kielder Half Marathon and Kielder Marathon ‘walk' on the Friday before.2016 Oldest runner took part in Kielder Marathon at 77-years-old.2017 The Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon was the venue for the Police Sport UK (PSUK) National Police Marathon Championships.2018 Olympic legend Daley Thompson attended the full Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon weekend.

Northumberland hotel and restaurant Battlesteads, near Wark, has been named as one of the winners of the 2019 Good Hotel Guide Editor’s Choice Award for eco friendly hotels.Published on Monday 8 October, the 2019 Good Hotel Guide is the UK's leading accommodation guide with independent advice and reviews of luxury and boutique hotels, B&Bs and inns.The Editor’s Choice Awards highlight the top 10 hotels in the UK in each of 16 categories. Battlesteads has been recognised for its ‘unique blend of sustainable hospitality and astronomy’.Battlesteads has received glowing reviews from many of the Good Hotel Guide’s independent reviewers, including comments like “‘Our luxury lodge was superb, with every comfort,” and “The most fastidious traveller would struggle to find fault.”Owner of Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant, Richard Slade, said: “The Good Hotel Guide really is the ultimate guide to the best hotels in the UK, and we are delighted to have received one of the esteemed editor’s choice awards for 2019. We pride ourselves on offering a sustainable tourism experience without sacrificing luxury or comfort, and it is fantastic to have our eco-friendly efforts praised by the guide.”

Today Northumberland National Park Authority welcomed The Prince of Wales on a special visit to commemorate the official opening of The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre on Hadrian’s Wall.His Royal Highness was given a guided tour of the award-winning building, which includes an 86-bed Youth Hostel operated by YHA (England and Wales). The Sill is the UK’s first dedicated National Landscape Discovery Centre and the result of a pioneering partnership between Northumberland National Park Authority, YHA (England and Wales), and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through a £7.8 million grant made possible by National Lottery players.Named after the nearby Great Whin Sill, one of the UK’s most significant geological features, the Centre provides a gateway to inspire and enable people of all ages to understand and explore the iconic landscapes, history, culture and heritage of Northumberland.To mark his visit, The Prince of Wales unveiled a special commemorative stone on the Centre’s Whin Sill grassland roof, and took time to enjoy the iconic view of the Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site.Glen Sanderson, Northumberland National Park Authority Chairman, said: “We are honoured to welcome His Royal Highness here today to join us in celebrating The Sill and its purpose of connecting people with our wonderful countryside.“The Sill provides an important opportunity for people to explore, understand and nurture our landscapes and the people, heritage and wildlife that shape them.“Today’s celebration is testament to years of hard work and the firm belief that our nation’s exceptional landscapes should be enjoyed by as many people as possible. We want Northumberland National Park to be a sustainable cultural asset that benefits the region for many years to come.”Since opening to the public in July 2017, the Centre has rapidly become one of the region’s leading visitor attractions, welcoming over 170,000 visitors and well ahead of the National Park Authority’s original projections in just 12 months.During the tour, His Royal Highness met with local school children from St Agnes School in Ryton and Henshaw Primary School in Bardon Mill, along with several Sill project partners and local stakeholders.Ivor Crowther, Head of HLF North East, said: “With Hadrian’s Wall, International Dark Skies, stunning landscapes and many other parts of our incredible heritage on its doorstep, The Sill is the perfect starting point from which to explore Northumberland National Park. Thanks to National Lottery players, this state-of-the-art discovery centre has already attracted thousands of visitors and its year-round programme of exhibitions and activities for all ages is sharing this area’s incredible stories and unquestionable beauty with more people than ever before.” Built at a cost of £8.7 million, The Sill represents the single largest investment ever made in a UK national park. In May this year, the building received a RIBA North East Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for architectural excellence. It has also been nominated in the Construction Industry Research and Information Association’s (CIRIA) Biodiversity Awards.The Centre offers exhibition, learning and event spaces, a café, rural business hub, YHA accommodation and a shop packed with local produce, arts and crafts.Peter Gaines, Chairman of YHA (England and Wales), said: “YHA The Sill is one of our flagship youth hostels, helping us reach more young people and their families and introducing them to the fabulous Northumberland landscape. Since opening we have welcomed more than 8,000 young people staying with their families and schools.“As a leading youth charity it is so important to us that we inspire and support many more young people both locally and nationally and help them on their personal journey of travel, adventure and discovery and our accommodation at The Sill is helping us with that mission.”The building’s fully accessible Whin Sill grassland roof is a world first and planted with a unique community of native plants including slow growing grasses and wildflowers. Its walkway and viewing platforms provide sweeping views of the iconic Northumbrian landscape and Steel Rigg on Hadrian’s Wall.The design and the structural materials used to create the building are inspired by The Great Whin Sill and it is positioned to mimic this dramatic geological outcrop with natural undulations and flowing lines.It was designed by Ponteland-based architects JDDK and built by Sir Robert McAlpine. Local materials were used in its construction, including local sandstone, whinstone and larch cladding. A south facing timber canopy supports photovoltaic cells to provide a renewable energy source as well as shade from the sun.Through The Sill and a pledge to deliver 30,000 activity days, Northumberland National Park Authority is working with schools, community organisations and businesses to provide educational workshops, activities and other experiential opportunities connected to the landscape, which are designed to suit all ages and abilities throughout the Park.

The family-friendly summer-long initiative Great Northumberland comes to a musical end.Great Northumberland, a summer of free events across the county, finished on Saturday 1st September with a parade through the England’s most northerly town, Berwick-upon-Tweed followed by a concert which celebrated all facets of Northumberland, from the coast, to the hinterland, the people and the spirit.Devised and delivered by Northumberland County Council and inspired by the Great Exhibition of the North, Great Northumberland was the branding of all the arts, cultural and heritage events across the county to make planning a summer in Northumberland fun and simple. Hundreds of events took place across the region from June to September, many of which were family-friendly and over 80% of which were entirely free of charge.Venues from all over Northumberland were invited to list their events for promotion on the Great Northumberland website (which has since been entered into the Good Web Guide Awards) which allowed visitors to the site to view a calendar of events spanning the entire summer. In addition to the wealth of activities happening across the county, Northumberland County Council created brand new experiences for visitors and residents.Thousands of visitors attended the core Great Northumberland series of events, which spanned Blyth to Stamfordham, Mickley to Morpeth, Hexham to Berwick and everywhere in between, with venues reporting record-attendance, sell-out events and positive audience feedback, some highlights include:Complete sell-out for OUT THERE by Mortal Fools, an immersive theatre experience that took place in the landscapes around Prudhoe, Northumberland. Attendees took a leisurely walk through the scenic Northumberland countryside interacting with cast members and props as they experienced what it was like to explore the world for the first time through the eyes of the young stars of the show.5,000 people descending upon Blyth Beach to see an installation of over 600 handmade sail cloth flags. The flags were made by some 400 local school children, plus members of the local community, artists and creators from Headway Arts, all to celebrate the voyages of Captain William Smith, the first captain to discover Antarctica.Record visitor numbers to Cheeseburn Sculpture in Stamfordham, who saw over 1,200 people attending in just three days over the Bank Holiday weekend, their highest ever number of visitors in their four-year history. In total, approximately 2,100 people visited Cheeseburn to see a special Great Northumberland exhibition and performance, in which artist Joseph Hillier worked with dancers Lizzie J. Klotz and Maria Vincentelli to create sculptures of dancers in motion as well as live pop-up dance performances in and around the ten acres of landscaped gardens. Carnival Capers at Seaton Delaval completely sold-out and attracted brand new visitors to the National Trusts with early indications suggestion 75% of visitors were first-time attendees. A brand-new song, The Great Song of the North, composed especially for Great Northumberland by Dominique Le Gendre, it is a musical ode to Northumberland. Performed for the first time as part of the closing event of Great Northumberland to a sell-out crowd at The Maltings Theatre & Cinema, the song suite was performed by the community choir and Music Co-OPERAtive Scotland (McOpera), formed of players from The Orchestra of Scottish Opera.“We are delighted to have welcomed so many visitors to Northumberland this summer,” commented Peter Jackson, leader of Northumberland County Council, “we are incredibly proud of all our county has to offer, and we hope that we can continue to demonstrate just how great Northumberland is.”Sign up for the Great Northumberland newsletter on the website to hear first about future activity. Find out more at greatnorthumberland.co.uk.

Registration is now open for the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership’s 2018 Celebration Concert and Annual Forum on Thursday 11 October 2018 at Ellingham Hall.This year, to celebrate sixty years of their designation, the Partnership are hosting a concert - following on from the Forum - which will feature song, music and drama celebrating the cultural heritage of the Northumberland Coast. There will be an award ceremony and prize giving for the Written Word competition winners and a performance of the winning entries.Cllr Jeff Watson, Chair of the AONB Partnership said “ Sixty years is a significant milestone and we have marked the occasion over the year with several events. The concert will bring it all to a close and allow us to celebrate the extraordinary amount of talent we have within the AONB”.The Annual Forum will provide an opportunity to reflect on how the AONB came into being and how it can be looked after for future generations. As well as an excellent range of speakers and presentation throughout the afternoon, there will also be the chance to network with others who have a similar interest in conservation.We are delighted to welcome Robyn Brown, who is Assistant Director Operations with the National Trust, as one of our speakers. She will be talking about the work of the organisation on the Northumberland Coast. We also have a local resident, Jen Hall, giving us an insight into the preparation of a neighbourhood plan.This year, there is no cost to attend either event. However, as afternoon tea will be provided between the Forum and Concert, registration to either or both events is essential.To book your place visit our Eventbrite page: https://bit.ly/2N7TtVx or access it via the AONB Partnership’s Facebook page. For more information about the event contact the AONB Partnership on 01670 620306.

Calling enthusiastic young ecologists! Maybe you have always had an interest in wildlife or you are thinking about this as a career - or perhaps you are in the middle of writing your UCAS application? An exciting, hands-on opportunity “in the wild”, subsidised by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is being offered to students aged 13 – 18 at Kielder Water & Forest Park. Free transport is provided from Hexham (numbers limited) and the cost per student is just £10 per session. As part of the “Living Wild at Kielder” project, on Saturday 15th September and Saturday 13th October, students will venture deep into the Kielder Forest to investigate its amazing biodiversity and learn about projects to protect and improve our wild spaces. The first event is on Saturday 15th September and students can find out what biodiversity is and how we can actively improve it. According to international biologists, we are now undergoing the sixth mass extinction – the last of these was when we lost the dinosaurs. What are we doing about this crisis? How are we trying to solve these challenges? Participants will be learning all about this, as well as gathering data to find out how we measure biodiversity. And could the Kielder Wildwood project provide a solution? Then on Saturday 13th October you can explore aliens and re-introductions. What are alien invasive species? Why are they bad news for our native animals and plants? How can we solve some of this by bringing species back – like the Kielder water vole? Students will visit sites at Kielder Water & Forest Park where this has been happening – the popular ‘Restoring Ratty’ project - and also do some mammal detection with field signs, cameras and tracking. This fascinating, two-day programme is delivered for Living Wild at Kielder by Albion Outdoors, specialists in ecological education, based in Otterburn and working throughout the North East. Albion Outdoors is run by biology teachers with over 50 years’ combined expertise in teaching ecology outdoors, designing courses to meet exam board criteria and managing large numbers of pupils in the field. Lynn Turner, Director of the Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local young people and will enhance their understanding of the natural world with practical, hands-on experience at Kielder. The ‘Living Wild at Kielder’ project is all about bringing Kielder Water & Forest Park’s wonderful wildlife to life for everyone - helping people to enjoy, learn, share and immerse themselves in nature. The Young Ecologist Saturdays are an excellent and inspiring way to engage young people in this. I would like to thank National Lottery players and the Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting this project.” John Hartshorne, field tutor and Director, Albion Outdoors says: “The underlying idea of the Young Ecologists programme is to find a group of young people with an interest and enthusiasm for natural history and ecology, and offer them hands-on and engaging, “in the field” ecology experience which they wouldn’t necessarily get at school. We find students working outside in a group really inspire each other and collectively develop a deeper understanding – which may lead to some going on to work in ecology professionally.” Advance booking is essential . For more information and a registration form call 01830 520962 or email [email protected]

We would like to extend a warm invitation to the preview of our next exhibition at Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery. The exhibition is entitledBorders, Boundaries and Beyond and it is an exhibition of modern textile art by It Happens (Gillian Arkley, Rose Stanley and Chris Dixon)It will take place on Friday 7th September at 6:30pm in the museum. Please note that refreshments provided. Raffle tickets on sale. RSVP by 31st August.Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick, NE66 1LX, Tel: 01665 605847

The return of ospreys to Kielder is one of our most exciting and successful conservation stories. Although ospreys are found worldwide, in the UK they are still relatively scarce with fewer than 300 breeding pairs. In England, ospreys breed only in Cumbria, Kielder (both natural re-colonisations) and Rutland Water (a successful translocation project). 2018 marks the tenth year that ospreys have bred at Kielder Water & Forest Park, situated on the doorstep of the Northumberland National Park.Historically, ospreys were distributed widely throughout Britain, however heavy persecution and egg collection in the 19th and 20th centuries resulted in dramatic population declines. They became extinct as a breeding bird in England by 1840 and persisted in Scotland only until 1916, although they still occurred as passage migrants. Ospreys remained functionally extinct in Britain until 1954, when they re-colonised naturally (most likely from Scandinavia) at Loch Garten, Abernethy Forest Reserve, Scotland.For many years, Kielder has been a regular stopping point for ospreys migrating to and from their breeding grounds in Scotland. In 2006, a young male was seen to be summering in the local area, prompting the Forestry Commission to establish nesting platforms at various suitable points within the Kielder Forest area. In 2008, one of the platforms was moved and additionally splattered with white paint to simulate osprey droppings from recent use. In 2009, a platform was occupied by an unringed pair of ospreys who raised three chicks. These were the first ospreys to breed in Northumberland for around 200 years. Since 2016, Kielder has been home to four active osprey nests.Once the birds had established themselves, it was clear that we needed to share them with visitors. For a number of years, Northumberland Wildlife Trust have run Osprey Watch from Northumbrian Water’s Kielder Waterside, a busy and popular family holiday park on the edge of Kielder Water. Osprey Watch is almost entirely volunteer led. Typically, there will be three volunteers working on an Osprey Watch day, showing visitors nest 1A through the scopes and manning the cabin with live video streams from three of the nests to further explain the lives and stories of these fantastic birds.The Heritage Lottery Funded Living Wild at Kielder project has enabled us to employ a seasonal osprey assistant in 2017 and 2018. This has allowed us to extend the season, offering extra days of Osprey Watch and additional family activities. Visitor numbers more than doubled in 2017, compared to the previous year. One of the best things about the location of our Osprey Watch is that a large proportion of our visitors are not people who would consider themselves to be particularly interested in wildlife or birdwatching, but who have come over to see what we’re all about as part of their day out at Kielder Waterside. It’s always a treat to see families learning and enjoying themselves with our passionate volunteers, and who knows what kind of spark we may be setting off in the young people who get to see these magnificent animals for the first time…To further expand the osprey watching opportunities at Kielder, we’ve teamed up with Calvert Trust Kielder, which is a wonderful charity that challenge disability through outdoor adventure activities. Through the summer, Calvert Trust Kielder offers wildlife and osprey cruises for visitors, and our volunteers act as guides on the boat. Although it can’t ever be guaranteed, there is a high success rate for these cruises seeing ospreys flying overhead, and sometimes fishing in the inlets of the reservoir. £3 from each ticket sold is donated to Osprey Watch, to help make it sustainable. Calvert Trust Kielder has also offered us invaluable advice in constructing a platform at the Osprey Watch cabin and adapting a tripod to make sure that wheelchair users are able to use the scopes to view the birds on the nest.2017 saw a landmark achievement for the Kielder ospreys, with the 50th chick fledging since the ospreys re-colonised. Chicks from previous years have been seen at several locations in the UK, including the Lake District, Balgavies Loch, Geltsdale and Derwent Reservoir, which is great news for the further recovery of the osprey in the UK.

Northumberland National Park Authority is celebrating the first anniversary of the award-winning Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre with a summer of fun-filled events.Since The Sill opened its doors to the public 12 months ago, the Centre has rapidly become one of the region’s leading visitor attractions, welcoming over 170,000 visitors and providing an iconic gateway for people to learn about and explore Northumberland National Park.Glen Sanderson, Northumberland National Park Authority Chairman, said: “We are delighted with the success of The Sill and the fantastic level of support it has received from the public.“The response from visitors has been very positive. Prior to opening we could never have imagined more than doubling our original visitor numbers in just 12 months. I’d like to congratulate the team at the National Park Authority and our fantastic partners for their hard work and dedication in helping to make this a truly magnificent first year for The Sill.“We are thrilled the Centre is fulfilling its purpose of connecting people with our wonderful county and we are looking forward to welcoming more visitors as we host a summer jam-packed with events and adventure throughout the Park.”Named after the nearby Great Whin Sill, The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre is the result of an innovative partnership between Northumberland National Park Authority, YHA (England & Wales), and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through a £7.8 million grant made possible by National Lottery players.In May, the Centre was presented with a RIBA North East Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for architectural excellence. The Sill offers exhibition, learning and event spaces, a café, business hub, YHA accommodation and a shop packed with local produce, arts and crafts. The building also features a world-first; fully accessible Whin Sill Grassland roof which provides a perfect spot for people to take in the iconic views of Hadrian’s Wall. The Sill also works with schools, community organisations and businesses to provide educational workshops, activity days and other opportunities.To celebrate its first anniversary, the National Park Authority has teamed up with a host of local partners to deliver a range of special events and activities designed to suit all ages and abilities.Tony Gates, Chief Executive at Northumberland National Park Authority, explains: “As the UK’s first dedicated National Landscape Discovery Centre, The Sill is designed to excite, inspire and enable people of all ages to understand and explore the landscapes, history, culture and heritage of Northumberland.“What has been particularly pleasing is to see three generations of the same family visit, exploring together and sharing their landscape stories. Our visitors range from school groups and university students learning in our classrooms to four generations of one family enjoying our accessible roof walk together, proving The Sill is providing a perfect gateway to engage people with our unique landscape. It has even been providing further inspiration to many well-seasoned landscape explorers.“As part of our first anniversary celebrations we want to share the magic and encourage visitors to return to the National Park or to join us for the first time. Whether you’re seeking adventure or something more chilled, we have activities for everyone throughout the summer.”Over the coming weeks visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in virtual reality at The Sill’s state-of-the-art ‘Digital Landscapes’ exhibition which uses pioneering interactive technologies to bring treasures of the National Park to life, making its wild and beautiful landscapes accessible to all.Running until 30 September, Digital Landscapes is an innovative exhibition and events programme that showcases how digital technology can be used to gain a deeper understanding and enjoyment of landscape and the natural world. The exhibition demonstrates the benefits that new technologies such as 3D modelling, drone surveys and digital mapping have had on tourism, leisure, land management and conservation.The Digital Landscapes exhibition is supplemented by a series of exciting public events from Minecraft on the Wall using a Raspberry Pi to discover how Roman architects constructed Hadrian’s Wall to guided walks and bike rides. There’s also nature hunts, hidden history tours, star gazing, mammal monitoring and action packed family shows including ‘Rock n' Stroll’, which is storytelling, theatre, comedy and music at its best. Rock n’ Stroll takes visitors travelling through the tropical deserts, swamps and Ice Age to leave you with a brain full of new scientific facts and a big smile.

Some of the finest locally produced food and drink will take centre stage in a special showcase event in the Houses of Parliament.MPs and government ministers will be able to find out more about the fantastic local businesses and top quality produce that is being promoted under the Produced In Northumberland brand.Produced in Northumberland is run by Northumberland County Council that highlights and promotes the local businesses that make, sell or serve foods produced within the county. The scheme guides residents, visitors and holiday makers towards authentic Northumberland delicacies to experience and take home.On Wednesday 13 June, eight local businesses will head to Westminster with the council, to exhibit and present an array of food and drink produce to tantalise the taste buds.Leader of Northumberland County Council, Peter Jackson said: “Northumberland is proud to be home to a fantastic variety of businesses that make, serve and sell a diverse range of high quality foods and beverages that are produced within the county.“It’s vital that we use our influence and continue to make an impact where we can to have our voices heard, and we’re determined to shout about all that’s great about Northumberland. This event will provide a great opportunity to raise our profile as a leading visitor destination of choice for visitors to our county, with a food and drink offer second to none.”Following prime-time food television programmes, consumers are developing a higher expectation over the quality of what they eat and drink. Hairy Biker Si King is an ambassador for the scheme, highlighting the importance of knowing the source of our food, right down to the raw ingredients.With the ever-growing popularity of food tourism, and the increased importance of food provenance to the consumer, the scheme provides customers with the confidence that the origin of the food is directly from Northumberland.During 2016, 9.7 million people visited Northumberland contributing £852m to its economy, supporting employment of 14,152 people. The food and drink sector plays a crucial part in Northumberland’s tourism offer - food and drink contributed £307m to our local economy in 2016, accounting for 36% of the overall economic impact.Produced in Northumberland also has the backing of the Prime Minister who has recently tasted some of the produce.“I was delighted to sample some of the products and to learn more about this excellent scheme which follows the production process from farm to shelf. By doing so, it lets consumers know that the food and drink they're buying is locally sourced, ethically produced, and of a high quality,” Mrs May said.Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Northumberland County Council, Cath Homer, said: “The food and drink sector plays a crucial part in Northumberland’s tourism offer, which contributed over £300m to the local economy in 2016.“We hope this opportunity to network on a national stage will raise awareness of our food and drinks industry among key decision makers, and highlight the importance of buying local produce which will help these local businesses to develop and grow.”Hosting some of the nation’s finest manufacturers, Produced in Northumberland includes some of the highest quality brands, like Lindisfarne Mead and Alnwick Rum, whilst Marlish Water supplies Michelin star restaurants in the North, combined with Hepple Gin who were this year’s finalists for the BBC Best Drinks Producer. And Doddington Dairy won Gold in the BBC Food and Farming Awards for their Darling Blue Cheese last year.Alongside, Kitty's Homemade Ginger and family-run Turnbull Butchers of Alnwick, the exquisite Carrolls Heritage Potatoes, and the Northumbrian Bakehouse, as well as award winning Old Boathouse Food Group, this forms the eight-strong delegation heading to Westminster with the county council on 13 June.

New life is breaking through in Northumberland with the year's first new Kielder ospreys having hatched.While the ospreys' breeding season at Kielder Water & Forest Park has been delayed slightly by weather conditions, such as the Beast from the East, a flourish of hatchings have now begun with the first two chicks breaking through within two hours of each other - on the same nest!Over the weekend, the final egg on that nest also hatched, while there were three other hatchings on other nests.The new additions to the Kielder osprey family continue Kielder's ‘soap opera in the sky', following a flurry of ‘cast' changes earlier in the season. While one regular, a male osprey that normally makes its home on nest three, failed to return, he was replaced by a new arrival that has quickly settled in with the usual female.Three eggs have been spotted on each of the four nests, leading to optimism that 2018 -the tenth year that ospreys have bred at Kielder- will be a bumper year for young osprey hatchings.Kielder osprey expert volunteer Joanna Dailey said: "We should see a flurry of activity now as the eggs start to hatch, bringing another year of new life to the Kielder osprey story. The time between the first two chicks is possibly a UK record for the shortest interval between hatches, although eggs have hatched within 24 hours on a number of nests, including Nest 4 last year."The new arrival and his mate have done very well, as have the returning ospreys, in gifting us a dozen eggs, with the promise of continuing the growth of the Kielder osprey family."Now comes the tough part for the chicks, as they strengthen and prepare to fledge, so that they can hopefully thrive and be ready for their migration at the end of the summer."Kielder Osprey Watch runs on weekends and bank holidays until mid-August, with additional Wednesdays from July.The Kielder Osprey Project is a partnership between Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Forestry Commission, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumbrian Water and Calvert Trust Kielder. The partners are working hard to ensure that the ospreys are here to stay by maintaining a high quality habitat in Kielder Water & Forest Park and safeguarding and monitoring the nest sites.