2011 is rapidly coming to an end, as is this series of blogs. Over the year, I have taken hundreds of photographs and used the ones that I like best to illustrate how the grounds and Walled Garden have changed season by season.
With the House now closed except for a few planned events, the property has started to get very quiet with a gradual reduction in visitor numbers. As usual here at Wallington, there are some planned weekly events, in the run up to Christmas.
My weekly visits to help this year started in the first week of January and hopefully will continue into December - weather permitting!
Saturday 3, Monday 5 & Tuesday 6 December, 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Come and make special festive wreaths using materials from the woods and gardens at Wallington.
£38 per person including tuition, materials, refreshments and lunch.
Booking essential through the Estate Office on 01670 773600.
Friday 2 December, 5.00 - 7.00 pm
See Wallington in a different light - visit after dark and see the house beautifully decorated for Christmas and illuminated by "candles". You can also do some Christmas shopping with late night shopping in our gift shop then grab a cuppa in the café too.
House only admission charges apply.
The situation at Rio Tinto Alcan took a turn for the worse last week with the company's
announcement last Wednesday. I met the joint trade union panel the following day and had a meeting scheduled with the management for Monday morning. I requested an urgent meeting with the Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills, which will take place today, Wednesday.
I also requested an urgent meeting with the Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change and am awaiting his response. I will continue to work with anybody and everybody to try and secure a future for the smelter and power station.
Councillor Jeff Reid, Leader of Northumberland County Council
These are difficult economic times for everyone, local authorities included. We have had to make some very difficult decisions about how we can make savings while still providing top class services to the residents of Northumberland.
The news that the Rio Tinto Alcan smelter is to close is very sad news for those who are employed at the plant and their families, as well as for the local community as a whole.
We had hoped for the best, but feared for the worst in respect of the smelter.
Morpeth Lions Club recently held its annual Street Collection on a day blessed with dry weather and kind hearts.
(L-R) Morpeth Lions Les Sage and John Gray, helpers Ken Brown and David Hunt with Lion President Dave Wheeler.
At what is becoming an annual fixture, 100 guests sat down to enjoy the Morpeth Lions Club Chinese Charity Banquet at the Mulan Restaurant in Morpeth. This year, however, the event was held twice - on successive Mondays.
This event started just after the 2008 floods that had affected the recently opened restaurant. In a gesture of sympathy for all those more drastically affected the owner Kevin Liu allowed two fundraising banquets to take place. These raised over £2,000.
Lorraine Dryden, left (Northumberland County Blind Association) and Ann Purvis (Castle Morpeth Disability Association) receive cheques for £250 each from Morpeth Lions Club vice-president Simon Pringle
A Northumberland advice service has spoken out against workplace bullying following last week's anti-bullying week.
The spotlight was thrown on bullying recently as part of national Anti-Bullying Week 2011 - from November 14 to 18 - and the awareness-raiser coincided with the publication of Government economic figures that showed, despite a slight drop in inflation, unemployment was still rocketing.
Meanwhile, figures from Cardiff and Plymouth Universities, also published this month, revealed that one million people have experienced violence in the workplace in the past two years.
Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 November, 11.00 am - 3.00 pm
Come and help us plant hundreds of trees on the Estate as part of National Tree Week. Free entry to everyone who plants a tree! There will also be the opportunity to sponsor a tree - just £1 per tree or £15 for a block of 15 trees - an ideal Green Gift for Christmas!
Email wallingtoncountryside@nationaltrust.org.uk for more information or to sponsor a tree.
Tuesday 22 November and Saturday 26 November, 10.30 am - 3.00 pm
Spend the day with our Head Chef learning how to be a cut above in the kitchen! In the morning there will be demonstrations showing you how to make perfect party food, then following a delicious seasonal lunch, you'll discover the art of cake decoration.
£30 per person, including refreshments and lunch.
Booking essential through the Estate Office on 01670 773600.
Morpeth Links
John Dawson - Local history tales
Wildlife - With Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara
Ian Lavery - Updates from the MP for Wansbeck
Ray Purvis - Through the seasons at Wallington
DAWN Advice - Liz Chadwick from the advice charity
Robson and Prescott Vets - Pet advice
Morpeth Lions Club - By Lion Simon Pringle
Wendy Errington - Volunteering at Wallington
Andrew Gibson - Fishing and photography
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