Riding the Bounds, Berwick's Tradition

The “Bounds” refer to the Bounds of the Liberties of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the land between the border and the River Tweed. The first description of the Bounds is in a charter created by Robert Bruce after he took the town in 1318 but this land extended only a little north of where the mediaeval walls stood (the Bell Tower area).

Today’s border between England and Scotland was defined in a truce in 1438. However, it was not legally binding and in 1542, it was stated that the Bounds were “to be perambulated so often as to keep them well known”. This would have been carried out by the town’s garrison. In 1603 the Union of the Crowns saw King James VI of Scotland become James I of England. In 1604, he granted a Royal Charter to the Guild of Freemen in which many of their rights and privileges that still exist were laid down. Prior to this Charter, most of the land within the Bounds was common land, free for all to use - Freemen and non-Freemen alike - for grazing animals and gathering hay (hence Liberties).

The Charter granted this land to the Freemen but the practice of common pasturing and haymaking continued. This gave rise to annual land disputes and in 1605 it was decided to divide the land into defined meadows. However, this did not take place until 1608 and the burgesses were ordered to pay 6d (2½p) for every acre of land they owned to pay for creating a boundary ditch between England and Scotland. In 1609, the “Riding of The Bounds” to check the integrity of these land divisions and ditch took place. In the first year the Riding was completed twice, but since, it has taken place on 1st May.

Many of the customs still observed took place in the early days; the decorating of the horses with ribbons, a race at Canty’s Bridge (said to commemorate the crossing of the border by Margaret Tudor on her way to be married to James IV of Scotland in 1502) and a meal afterwards for the participants.

The ceremony has taken place every year except between 1726 to 1729, when it was cancelled due to lack of funds. - Jim Herbert

Heritage Open Days in Northumberland 6th - 9th September

Heritage Open Days are your opportunity to re-discover Northumberland's incredible heritage, many of them might be right on your doorstep and you didn't even know! Running from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th September there are a huge number of activities and attractions throwing open their doors to all. This is the 8th year that the events have been organised and promises to be the biggest and most succesful yet. The list really is extensive, where will you go and what will you discover? There is simply no excuse for staying at home this weekend!!

Visit the Northumberland County Council website to download a brochure or visit any of the links below for more information on all the events and activities in Northumberland.

Aln Valley Railway: Walks and Talks Lionheart Station, Lionheart Enterprise Park, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 2HT
The Armstrongs’ Household and Farming Museum
North Charlton Farmhouse, North Charlton, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE67 5HX
Ashington Community Woods Off Lintonville Terrrace, Ashington, Northumberland
Clare Money: Open Studio Woodhorn Museum, QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF
Grace Darling Genealogy Surgery Sessions Woodhorn Museum, QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF
Oliver Kilbourn: My Life as a Pitman Woodhorn Museum, QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF
Winding House Opening Woodhorn Museum and Northumberland Archive, QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF
Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway Woodhorn Museum and Northumberland Archive, QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF
Pompeii and Herculaneum: Illustrated Talk Bedlington Station Residents Association, 16 Station Street, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 7JN
St Cuthbert’s Church, Bedlington Church Lane, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 5EL
St John’s Parish Church, Bedlington North View, Sleekburn, Bedlington Station, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 7ED
1 Wallace Green 1 Wallace Green, 15 Railway Street, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1EB
Archaeology and Artichokes Lions House Allotments, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland
Bank Hill Icehouse Bank Hill, 15 Railway Street, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1AP
Belford Hall Belford, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, NE70 7EY
Berwick Castle Tour Railway Street, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1NF
Berwick Watchtower West End, Tweedmouth, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2HE
Bondagers History Day Lady Waterford Hall, Ford Village, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2QA
Cumberland Bastion Coxon's Lane, 15 Railway Street, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1DA
Ecological Self Build House 1 West Back Lane, Belford, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, NE70 7NR
Holy Trinity Church Wallace Greeen, 15 Railway Street, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD5 1ED
Main Guard Palace Street, 15 Railway Street, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1HN
Sandstell Fishing Shiel Sandstell Road, Spittal, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1RE
Spittal Fishing Shiel Sandstell Road, Spittal, 15 Railway Street, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1RE
The Gunpowder Magazine 15 Railway Street, 15 Railway Street, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1JG
The Masonic Hall Church Street, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1ET
The Old Gaol Wallace Greeen, 15 Railway Street, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1ED
The Tower Tour Ness Gate, Pier Road, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1HS
Blyth Battery South Beach, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 3PQ
Heritage Coffee Morning Open Learning Centre, The Blyth School, Community College, Chase Farm Drive, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 4JP
St Mary the Virgin, Horton Horton Road, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 4HH
Flodden Battlefield Walks The Flodden Monument, Branxton, Northumberland, TD12 4SN
Coanwood Friends Meeting House Coanwood, Northumberland, NE49 0PU
Dilston Physic Garden Dilston Physic Garden, Corbridge, Northumberland, NE45 5QZ
Guided Walks Around Historic Corbridge Village Car Park, Corbridge, Northumberland
St Nicholas’s Church, Cramlington Church Street, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 6QQ
Forum Cinema Market Place, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1XF
Hexham Abbey, Tours of the Old Court Beaumont Street, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3NB
Hexham Moothall and the Hexham Riot of 1761 Hallgate, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1XD
Medieval Hexham Self-Guided Tour Hexham Tourist Information Centre, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1QE
Ninebanks Literary and Heritage Celebration Ninebanks Church Hall, Ninebanks, West Allendale, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 8DB
Secret Hexham Hexham, Northumberland
Wark Mechanics Institute and Town Hall: Victorian Library Main Street, Wark, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 3LG
The Hearth Main Road, Horsley, Northumberland, NE15 0NT
Kielder Observatory Kielder, Northumberland
Art Workshops at the Chantry Morpeth Chantry, Bridge Street, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1PJ
Bothal Castle Bothal, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 6SL
Bowls! An Exhibition Morpeth Bowls Club, Carlisle Park, Riverside, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1LW
Busman’s Holiday: A Coach Tour of the Morpeth District Morpeth Bus Station (Bay A), Sanderson Arcade, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1PB
Church of St James’ the Great, Morpeth Copper Chare, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1BP
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Morpeth St Mary's Field, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2QT
Collingwood House Oldgate, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1QF
From Past to the Present: Newgate & Oldgate Street Newgate Street/Oldgate Street, Morpeth, Northumberland
Heritage Talk: Newminster Abbey Morpeth Library, The Willows, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1TA
Heritage Walk: Lynemouth & Ellington Lynemouth Resource Centre, Bridge Road, Lynemouth, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 5YJ
Heritage Walk: Wallington to Little Harle Tower Wallington Hall, Cambo, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 4AR
Matmaking Demonstrations: Woodhorn Matters Morpeth Methodist Church, Howard Terrace, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1HH
Mayor’s Parlour: Meet the Mayor Morpeth Town Hall, Market Place, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1LZ
Meet Morpeth’s Time Team! The Chantry, Bridge Street, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1PD
Mitford Church Mitford, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3PZ
Morpeth Castle Carlisle Park, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2PP
Morpeth’s Town Treasures Town Hall, Market Place, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1LZ
Old Morpeth on Film St James Community Centre, Well Way, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1BN
SNAP! Event at Morpeth Library Morpeth Library, Morpeth, Northumberland
Spinning a Yarn: St George’s United Reformed Church Bridge Street, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1PD
Sporting Morpeth Exhibition Town Hall, Market Place, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1LZ
St Andrew’s Church, Bothal St Andrew's Church, Bothal, Morpeth, Northumberland
The Elsdon Murder Walk Winter's Gibbet, Morpeth, Northumberland
Tommy’s Field: Allotments and the Community opp entrance to St George's Hospital, Morpeth, Northumberland
Wallington Cambo, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 4AR
Biddlestone RC Chapel Biddlestone Village, Netherton, Northumberland, NE65 7DT
Hester Pit Disaster Exhibition New Hartley Memorial Hall, St Michael's Avenue, New Hartley, New Hartley, Northumberland, NE25 0RP
Newbiggin Maritime Centre Church Point, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland, NE64 6DB
St Bartholomew’s Church, Newbiggin Church Point, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland, NE64 6DR
Vallum Farm Artisans on the Wall, East Wallhouses, Military Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, NE18 0LL
History of Kirkley Hall Kirkley Hall, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE20 0AQ
Holy Saviour Church, Milbourne Main Street, Milbourne, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE20 0EE
Railway & Archive Film Screening St Mary's Church Hall, Thornhill Road, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE20 9PZ
St Mary’s Church, Ponteland North Road, Ponteland, Northumberland, NE20 9UH
Spetchells Centre 58 Front Street, Prudhoe, Northumberland, NE42 5AA
Cragside Cragside, Rothbury, Northumberland, NE65 7PX
St Cuthbert’s House 192 Main Street, Seahouses, Northumberland, NE68 7UB
Seaton Delaval Hall Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, NE26 4QR
Watch House Museum 3 Rocky Island, Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, NE26 4RB
Cherryburn Mickley Square, Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7DD
George Stephenson’s Birthplace Cottage Wylam, Wylam, Northumberland, NE41 8BP

Classic Cars at Bamburgh Castle

Saturday 25 August there will be a classic car show held at the famous Bamburgh castle, there will be live music from the local Wooler steel band. It will be fun for all the family, and best of all its FREE entry, with lots of classic cars and motor bikes on show, with cream teas from the pavilion which is only metres away from Bamburgh beach. For those of you with kids there will be fair rides and Circus workshop throughout the day.

Car mad organiser Bruce Emmett said “We need a car show in North Northumberland and Bamburgh Castle was crying out to me. This is the first year but already we have had a massive response”. Many North East clubs and other individuals are set to show off their vehicles. The pleasure in owning a classic car is driving it and the Coast Road to Bamburgh is second to none.

Graffiti artist from Rothbury, John Craggs is taking the opportunity to come and spray live art work he said “this has to be the most photographed and painted castle in the land so why not graffiti style.

If you would like to enter a car or need more information, please visit the website www.bamburghclassiccarshow.co.uk 01325 339107

Bamburgh Classic Car Show is supporting local RNLI.

Northumberland Music Festival Returns...

2012 Northumberland Music Festival Featuring “ Evenings with Opera North” 9th - 18th November 2012

Following the success of the first festival held in 2011, which attracted music lovers from across the UK, the second Northumberland Music Festival will feature a variety of concerts including Opera, Traditional, Brass, Classical Music and the ever- popular Gilbert and Sullivan. Highlights this year include Evenings with Opera North, Chetham’s School of Music, a Remembrance Sunday Concert with The Reg Vardy Brass Band, and Traditional Northumberland. The highlight of the Chamber Concert performed by the Liquid Architecture Ensemble is sure to be the Schubert Octet.

The concerts being held between the 9th and 18th of November will be performed in three of Northumberland’s grandest period houses, Eshott Hall, near Morpeth, Guyzance Hall, near Alnwick, and Doxford Hall, near Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Full details about all of the concerts can be found on www.nmfestival.com. Find us on Facebook/nmfestival and follow us on Twitter@Northmusicfest. For a brochure please telephone 01668283100

The Rock Festival Choir Concert

Rock Festival Choir Concert, Director Peter Brown, Organist Peter Hignett

The Rock Festival Choir will perform a concert at St Paul’s Church, Alnwick on Sunday 1st April at 7.30pm. The repertoire includes music from last April’s royal wedding - Paul Mealor’s Ubi Caritas, John Rutter’s This is the Day and I was Glad by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, whose well known anthem was also performed during the Queen’s coronation 60 years ago, evoking both the royal wedding and celebrating the Diamond Jubilee.

The Choir will also perform Bob Chilcott’s Requiem, which was first performed in March 2010 and which has been internationally recognised as a major new choral work. Peter Brown, Director of the Rock Festival Choir, believes this will be the first performance of this beautiful, reflective and memorable work in the North East of England.


Tickets available on the door, £7.50 (£6.50 Concessions)

Alnwick History Town Walk

Bailiffgate Museum are running a unique event  - Alnwick Town Walk with Adrian Ions on Saturday 11th February at 10am – Book now to avoid disappointment!

Discover Alnwick through the eyes of Adrian Ions, well known local historian, a founder of the Bailiffgate museum and a great storyteller! There will be an Alnwick Town Walk starting at 10.00 am on Saturday 11th February, starting from the Bailiffgate Museum during which Adrian will bring tales about the town and Northumberland into colourful life. There will be coffee and biscuits available in the museum following the walk. Numbers will be limited to 12 people, so it is essential to book a place by visiting the Museum or emailing ask@bailiffgate.co.uk or phoning on 01665 605847. Tickets are £2.50 per person. Even more information about Alnwick can be discovered by visiting the Historic Alnwick exhibition at the Museum which runs till March 4th 2012.

This is a unique and interesting opportunity, so you will need to act quickly if you would like to take part.

Organised Firework Displays in Northumberland

Be safe this Bonfire Night and attend an organised Firework Displays in Northumberland. Information courstesy of Northumberland County Council.

Ashington Football Club Bonfire and Fireworks Display

• Date: Sunday 6^th November 2011
• Time: TBA
• Price:Tickets cost £3 each (for both children and adults) and they are available from a number of newsagents and post offices around Ashington
• Venue: Ashington Football Club, Woodhorn Lane, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9FW

Alnwick Round Table Bonfire and Fireworks Display

• Date: Saturday 5^th November 2011
• Time: Door open 6pm Display starts 7pm
• Price: Adutls £5 Children £3
• Venue: Alnwick Rugby Club, Greensfield, Alnwick NE66 1BE

Hexham Round Table Annual Charity Bonfire and Fireworks Display

• Date: Saturday 5^th November 2011
• Time: Bonfire lit at 18:30 hrs (Fireworks at 19:00 hrs)
• Price: Free, however donations for local charities accepted on entry
• Venue: The Sele, Hexham
• Website: For further details visit www.hexhamroundtable.org.uk/bonfire.html

Higham Lakes, Ponteland, NE20 0DH, Bonfire and Fireworks Display

• Date: Saturday 5^th November 2011
• Time: Bonfire Lit - 17:00 hrs (Fireworks at 18:30 hrs) - Ends 20:00 hrs.
• Price: Adults - £5, Juveniles (5-16 year old) £2, Under 5's - Free
• Venue: Higham Lakes, Ponteland, NE20 0DH
• Website: www.highamlakes.com

Beal near Holy Island, Fireworks Display

• Date: Sunday 6^th November 2011
• Time: Fireworks starts 6.30pm
• Price: Family Ticket: 2 Adults, 3 Kids, Under 5's Free - £10.00 (Up to Nov 3rd, £15.00 after)
• Adult ticket - £4.00 (up to Nov 3rd , and £6.00 after)
• Child ticket - under 5s free - £2.00 (up to Nov 3rd, and £3.00 after)
• Venue: Beal near Holy Island
• Website: www.barnatbeal.com/news.php?ID=34

Morpeth Rugby Club Bonfire and Fireworks Display

• Date: Sunday 6^th November 2011
• Time: Doors open at 17:00 hrs (Event starts at 18:00 hrs)
• Price: TBA
• Venue: Morpeth Rugby Club, Mitford Road NE61 1RJ
• Directions: You can view a streetmap, or view a roadmap to help find this event.

Prudhoe Town Football Club Firework Displays

• Date: Saturday 5^th November 2011
• Time: 19:00 hrs
• Price: Free
• Venue: Kimberley Park, Broomhouse Road, Prudhoe, NE42 5EH

Rothbury & Coquetdale Round Table Firework Displays

• Date: Sunday 6^th November 2011
• Time: Gates open 5:30pm Display starts 6pm
• Price: £5
• Venue: Cragside House, Rothbury.

Swarland Sports Club Bonfire and Firework Display

• Date: Friday 4th November 2010
• Time: Gates open 18:30 hrs
• Price: Adults £3, Children £1, Conc £1.50
• Venue: Swarland Sports Club, Viner Park, The Avenue, Swarland. NE65 9HU
• Refresments and Mulled Wine available plus the first 150 children get a free toffee apple!

Tweedmouth Green Bonfire and Fireworks Night

• Date: Saturday 5^th November 2011
• Time: 18:00 hrs
• Price: Free
• Venue: Tweedmouth Town Green, Dock Road, Tweedmouth

Ulgham Playing Fields, Ulgham Lane, Ulgham, Northumberland, Fireworks Display

• Date: Friday 4^th November 2011
• Time: 18:30 hrs - 20:30 hrs
• Price: £10 Family, £5 per adult
• Venue: Ulgham Playing Fields, Ulgham Lane, Ulgham, Northumberland

Broadway West Playing Fields, Broadway West, Gosforth , Newcastle NE3 2HY Fireworks Display & Bonfire

• Date: Saturday 5^th November
• Time: 18:30 hrs
• Price: Entry Adults £3.00, Children £1.00
• Venue: Broadway West Playing Fields, Broadway West, Gosforth , Newcastle NE3 2HY
• Website: http://www.gosforth.roundtable.co.uk/

Events and What's On Guide for the week ahead

The summer holidays are always a busy time for Events with kids off school and the supposedly better weather. But this weekend in particular is really cram packed with things to do, it's actually a difficult choice of where to go! There are Shows, Seaside Festivals, Food and Drink Fayres, Craft fairs.... all too many to list again so head over to www.yournorthumberland.co.uk/events to have a read through and decide where you'll head this weekend.

We are really sorry to report that Simonside Fair has had to be cancelled due to a waterlogged show ground.

Events and What's On Guide for the week ahead

That time of the week again when we release your Events and What's On Guide. There's loads going off this weekend and you really shouldn't leave the house without having a read! There's the Powburn Show on Saturday, Alnwick Music Festival comes to a climax at Alnwick Playhouse and there's loads of things for the kids to do in the holidays. Check out your guide at www.yournorthumberland.co.uk/events

What's on this week?

Looks like being great weather this weekend (unless they get it all wrong again) so don't head out of the house without reading our packed 'Events and What's On' bulletin for the week ahead.

www.yournorthumberland.co.uk/events

This week's Events and 'What's On' Bulletin

Events and What's On this weekend and beyond

Week Commencing Friday 22nd July 2011

The number of events and activities really gets going this week with the start of the kid's summer holidays. Here's our breakdown of what's on this week.

Friday 22nd July sees the start of the Burgham Horse Trials at Burgham Park near Felton (just off the A1), three days of action packed sporting events for all the family! There will be top-class Showjumping, Eventing and Dressage. There is also a retail village with a whole host of interesting stalls, food and a children's area. Tickets cost from £6 on the day, but can be booked online at a discounted price.

The Glendale Festival is on Sunday 24th July in Wooler. There are events and activities running throughout the day from Alnwick Pipers and dance performers to Punch and Judy and many food and craft stalls. This free event is a great day out for the whole family.

Alnwick Castle has a Wizarding Weekend on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th, great for the kids and includes Dumbledore and Hogwartian style magic! The Wizarding festivities also continue on the 26th and 27th July. While we're in Alnwick, The Playhouse has Oscar Wilde's 'An Ideal husband' a production from the Clockhouse Theatre Company on Wednesday 27th July.

Running through the week at the Alnwick Garden is an Images of Northumberland Exhibition by Darryn Wade in the Retail Gallery (admission free). It features his own landscape and seascape photography in beautiful handmade driftwood frames. Also in the Garden this week you can have a guided tour of the Garden with one of their top gardeners (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12 midday) and on Friday 22nd July there is a 'Butterfly Gardening' session.

Heading to Morpeth there is a Reel to Reel Ceilidh band playing music in Morpeth Chantry from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday 23rd July. Nearby Wallington Hall (National Trust) has a 'Mad about Monks' event between 1pm and 4pm also on Saturday 23rd July, an event for the whole family where you can try on monk's habits and make your own illuminated manuscript! On Wednesday 27th July they also have an evening Bat Walk.

Warkworth sees a Medieval Clash of Knights event at the Castle (English Heritage) on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th July between 12pm and 5pm. The Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields are also performing at St Lawrence Church in Warkworth on Tuesday 27th July at 7.30pm (tickets £5).

Monday 25th July sees the start of a number of Summer Reading Challenges at local libraries around the County. Check out this link for a list of libraries taking part that includes Haltwhistle, Widdrington, Haydon Bridge, Hadston, Allendale, Blyth, Newbiggin, Bedlington, Cramlington and Berwick.

Elsewhere Farmer's Markets this week are taking place on Saturday 23rd July in Hexham and Sunday 24th July in Berwick-Upon-Tweed. The Beadnell WI Summer Fete is Wednesday 27th July with Bric a Brac, Tombolas and cake stalls, admission is 20p! Also this weekend is the Blyth Summer Fayre held in and around the market place.

Remember to 'Like' our Facebook Page to receive our weekly Events Bulletin automatically.

Events coming up this weekend and beyond

Rothbury Traditional Music Festival kicks off the weekend on Friday 15th July and runs through Saturday and Sunday. It's a weekend of traditional music and dance and the line up this year includes: Tyneside Maritime Choir, Hielen Toe and Friends, Gary Forrest and Roddy Matthews, High Spen Blue Diamonds, Hexham Morris, Hexham Lasses, Benny Graham, Bash the Haggis and more. Tickets are on sale from Rothbury Family Butchers or the Coquetdale Centre, Church House, Rothbury or call 01669 620887 for more information.

Also running over the weekend is the Northern English Springer Spaniel Rescue Fun Weekend at Druridge Bay. It's running both days (Saturday and Sunday) and is an excellent day out with dog shows, displays, birds of prey and many stalls, all in a wonderful location. It's for a good cause as well so make sure you visit at some point over the weekend!

Alnwick Castle has a Theatre of Alchemy Dragon Show between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 16th July, great for the kids and includes a dragon procession! Also on at the Castle this weekend is a medieval crafts demonstration. While we're in Alnwick, The Playhouse has Light Classics for a Summer Evening, Jazz in the Studio and a Youth Band Night over the weekend. Saturday 15th and Monday the 18th July sees a guided tour of the Alnwick Garden's roots and shoots gardens with a member of the Alnwick Garden Staff, 12 midday to 1pm. Also in the Garden on Sunday is the Dansons Music Group and Choir between 11am and 4pm and an Images of Northumberland Exhibition in the Retail Gallery (admission free).

Saturday and Sunday (16th and 17th July) also sees the return of the Otterburn Festival with loads of stalls, motorcycle stunts and things to do for all the family. Elsewhere and worthy of a mention is the Seahouses Car Boot Sale at the Golf Club 10am to 12 midday and the Castle's Triathlon Challenge kicks off from Bamburgh beach on Sunday 17th July which is always a spectacle.

'Best Shopping Street' to get Royal Visit

It's been somewhat of a 'double whammy' this month for the town of Alnwick. Not only has Bondgate Within won Google's Street Award for Best Shopping Street in the UK, it will also have the honour of Royal endorsement from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. The Royal visit is set for Wednesday the 22nd of June when the Town will hold a special party to recognise the valuable work of carers and volunteers from around the County. The event will take place in Alnwick Castle, The Alnwick Garden and a walk around Alnwick's town centre. With 8,000 people on the list of invitations it's going to be a busy day! An excellent reason to visit (or avoid!) Alnwick on the 22nd depending on your views. The Castle will be open to the public from 2.30pm to join in the celebrations, although normal entrance fees apply.

We would like to extend our congratulations to the Town's shopkeepers and businesses for creating such a brilliant, award-winning shopping experience. Click here for Your Guide to Alnwick's Shopping.