Warkworth Castle - The cuts hit the cuts! UPDATE

I received a phone call yesterday from a journalist at the Northumberland Gazette who had seen my last blog post about the grounds maintenance at Warkworth Castle. He too had been in touch with customers services at the English Heritage and would like to write an article about the situation. This I feel is great news and will hopefully raise awareness of the issue locally and help to save the daffodil display in the Spring! I look forward to reading the article and will of course post my response once it's published.

Don't forget to read Your Guide to Warkworth over on the main website.

Warkworth Castle - The cuts hit the cuts!

Some people may have noticed that the grass banks around Warkworth Castle have been left uncut this year and frankly, to my mind, it looks a mess. I've had a few people contact me, both visitors and people who live in the area commenting about how untidy it looks. Warkworth Castle is such an imposing and beautiful Castle and we've gotten used to how it has looked with it's tidy, well kept grassy banks. After driving by recently I decided I'd contact the English Heritage to find out what's going on, their initial reply was that the grass in the moat had been left 'to encourage wildlife' to the area.

Now I'm all for encouraging wildlife, but I replied and suggested that the tops of the bank could surely be kept neat and tidy as it's seen so prominently from the road and the Village. I also expressed concern that the Spring display of daffodils, such an iconic image of Warkworth Castle, could be under threat if this area wasn't maintained. The reply I received to this, to give English Heritage their due was a detailed one from Mick Wilson, their Landscape Manager, and a summary of the response is copied below:

"Dear Andrew

As you may be aware English Heritage is currently having to respond to significant cut-backs in government funding.Considerable cost savings have had to be made across all service areas including grounds maintenance and we have had to introduce similar reductions in service levels across the majority of sites in the Northern Territory.

Thankyou for your recent communications to English Heritage regarding grounds maintenance at Warkworth Castle.

The long grass areas at Warkworth were previously cut on at least two occasions per annum but this regime was very expensive and along with other sites in the north it was decided to leave grass on banks uncut on a trial basis in order to meet cost savings targets. As the summer progressed this year we found that the banks at Warkworth became quickly covered in tall weeds and so all banks were cut and cleared as a one off exercise to control the potential spread of weed seeds.

As things stand the next cut at Warkworth is currently planned to take place in 2013. We are however now aware of the rapid growth of weeds on the banks and so the possibility of re-introducing at least one cut and clear of herbage each year will be reconsidered at a forthcoming 'end of year one trial period review' meeting to be held in early November. Your communication and concerns will be reviewed at this meeting and maintenance of the annual display of daffodils will also be taken into account.

Please be assured that all concerns and comments both positive and negative are being taken seriously and all letters and e.mails will go forward for further consideration and review at the end of this initial trial period. Your particular concerns for the future survival of daffodil display at Warkworth and the importance of the site in terms of tourism will certainly be taken into account during this review process. In the meantime if I can be of any further assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Mick Wilson

Landscape Manager

English Heritage"

While I do have complete sympathy with every organisation that has been hit by the government cuts, I don't think that their current plan for the next grass cut at Warkworth to be in 2013 is an acceptable one. If you are resident in Warkworth, or have visited the area and feel that your views should be taken into account in their November review meeting, I would encourage you to email Mick at mick.wilson@english-heritage.org.uk and also warkworth.castle@english-heritage.org.uk with your views.

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.