Welcome...

Here we have the 50th Anniversary photographic competition winning and commended photographs. The winner was `Evening` (a shot of horseriders on the beach at Bamburgh) by Paul Willows. Highly Commended was Peter Sutrcliffe with `Pilgrim's Way`, Lindisfarne and commended were Dot Tindal with `Church Hill Alnmouth`, Glynis Frith with `Lindisfarne Castle`, and Paul Wiilow with `Bracing`. 

 

 

Festivals on the coast this summer
 
 
 
 
`Seaside Rock Festival`
 
To mark the launch of the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan a discover geodiversity festival has been organised. The festival consists of fours Geology Walks along the Northumberland Coast AONB with Berwick Geologist Dr Ian Kille
 
Ancient Seas and Rivers
Meeting Place:        Boulmer. Meet on the corner opposite the pub in Boulmer. There is a small car park just a little further down the coast in Boulmer
Grid reference:         NU 266 143
Date & Time:           Saturday 19th June         14:00 - 16:00
Health and safety:    Some scrambling on rocks at low tide which will be slippery. Circa 5km of walking. If wet/windy will need warm clothes.
In the Carboniferous times this area was a huge delta which was repeatedly was overrun by the sea. This trip will explore the fascinating variety of rocks and the amazing structures in them which tell the story about the many different environments in the delta and what happened as the sea advanced and retreated in its battle with the river.
 
The Dikes and Sills of Dunstanburgh Castle
Meeting Place:        The car park just south of the harbour at Craster.
Grid reference:         NU 159 198                                       
Date & Time:           Monday 5th July  14:00 - 16:00
Health and safety:    Some scrambling on rocks at low tide which will be slippery. Circa 4km of walking. If wet/windy will need warm clothes.
The Whin Sill is a hugely important feature in this area of Northumberland, intruded hidden underground at the end of the Carboniferous age. We will have an opportunity to look at the part of the Whin Sill which forms the crags on which Dunstanburgh Castle sits. We will follow these crags to the south looking at different ways in which the molten rock was intruded and ask why? We will also look at some of the rocks into which the magma was intruded including a marine lime-stone rich in fossils, maybe including some trilobite fragments.
 
Hidden Volcanics
Meeting Place:        By the railings under Bamburgh castle just down the road from the triangle in Bamburgh village. There is parking on the triangle and in the Castle car park.
Grid reference:         NU 183 350
Date & Time:           Wednesday 4th August   14:00 - 16:00
Health and safety:    Some scrambling on rocks at low tide which will be slippery. Circa 2km of walking. If wet/windy will need warm clothes.
Another opportunity to look at the Whin Sill which here forms the impressive crags on which Bamburgh Castle sits, and look into more detail about its formation. How hot was the liquid rock when it was intruded? Which way was the rock flowing? Why was the magma intruded underground? These are some of the questions that will be discussed as we look at the rocks in this impressive setting
 
Giant tree ferns
Meeting Place:        Spittal. Meet at the end of Spittal Promenade. There is parking on the road above the end of the promenade and by the sea nearer the centre of town.
Grid reference:         NU 010 511
Date & Time:           Sunday 12th September 13:00 - 15:00  
Health and safety:    Quite a bit of scrambling on rocks at low tide which will be slippery. Circa 2km of walking. If wet/windy will need warm clothes
Just along from the promenade there is an addit leading from the Scremerston coal mine to allow water to drain from the tunnels. On this trip we will not only be able to see a coal seam, formed from the rotting plants in the soupy swamp within this ancient delta, but also the remains of branches and roots from the giant tree ferns which lived in these swamps. We will also be able to see a wide variety of rock types and structures as well as many other fossils from corals to algal mats.
For more information www.ourcoastoursea.org.uk
Or telephone Tom Cadwallender 01665 511203
 
 
 
`Festival of the Northumberland Coast Path`
 
Walk the length of the Northumberland Coast with the originator Iain Robson. Each section will be accompanied by a local specialist. Each day walk is designed to coincide with local public transport which will be used for return journeys where possible. The public transport timetable had not been published at the time of writing so please check www.ourcoastoursea.org.uk or ring Iain Robson 01665 511206 to make a booking and for more details.
 
 
Wed 28th July Cresswell to Warkworth
 
Wed 4th August Warkworth to Craster
 
Wed 11th August Craster to Seahouses
 
Wed 18th August Seahouses to Belford
 
Wed 25th August Belford to Fenwick
 
Wed 1st September Fenwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed
 
 

Plan launched at Meadow Haven
 
Launch of the Northumberland Coast AONB and Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast EMS Management Plan 2009-14
 
The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership and Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast European Marine Site Management Group launched their joint Management Plan at 12.30pm on 22 October 2009. Over 60 representatives of various government, private, community and voluntary sector groups, each a key stakeholder in the management of these designated areas, gathered at Meadow Haven, Berwick-upon-Tweed. They raised their glasses to toast the Plan and begin the task of implementing it through until 2014.
 
In the spirit of integrated coastal management a joint management plan has been prepared for the Northumberland Coast AONB and Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast EMS.  The integration of management for these two designated sites connects the land and sea across the intertidal area and the border for the first time in the UK.  The Plan focuses on delivering an ecosystem approach, informed conservation, stakeholder and community engagement, climate change adaptation and mitigation and sustainable development.  The themes in the Plan cover the natural and historic environments, environmental quality, enjoyment, living and working and land use and marine planning within the sites.
 
Cllr Pat Scott, AONB Partnership Chair, opened the event saying: “This shared Management Plan is a milestone for both our organisations. We have always worked closely with our colleagues across the Border and believe this plan will deliver our shared goals and ambitions to conserve and enhance this most beautiful and spectacular coastline of Northumberland and Berwickshire with it’s great variety of colourful marine life and stunning coastal scenery
 
Natural England’s Chief Executive, Dr Helen Philips said:  “The Northumberland and Berwickshire coast is a nationally important environmental treasure and a uniquely important natural asset for northern England and the Borders.  I’m delighted to welcome this pioneering management plan, which is the first of its kind in the UK to take into account the future management of both the area’s coastline anditsinshore waters.  All the partners have worked closely together on this innovative project and I congratulate everyone involved on a ground-breaking approach to the future management of a beautiful coast.
 
“As well as being an amazingly beautiful part of the country in its own right, this coastline contributes to the regional economy by attracting thousands of visitors, creating employment, anddelivering many far reaching public benefits.  This new plan willensure that this superb natural asset remains well-managed for future generations to enjoy.”
 
Dr Ian Jardine, the Chief Executive of Scottish Natural Heritage who also spoke at the launch said: “This is an important time for marine conservation with the Scottish Marine Bill currently going through the Scottish Parliament.
 
“This management scheme combines a breadth of vision with focused activities and will help conserve and enhance our internationally important areas of coastline while providing sustainable recreation, access and enjoyment.” Dr Jardine also used the event to commit a further two year’s financial support for the EMS Officer.
 
Northumberland County Council has a statutory duty to conserve the AONB and EMS. The Executive Member for the Environment Cllr Alan Thompson, in a colourful speech interspersed with poetry, said: “The Council takes this duty very seriously. We are an active member of the governing bodies of both designations. We also help to fund and resource their management.” Cllr Thompson stressed the importance of sustainability and self-sufficiency. He also encouraged people to think positively about the coast to the south of the AONB: “while the launch is about the area from North Berwick to Amble I would like to have the very positive advances that have been made in areas like Newbiggin by the Sea recognised through extending protection status to the whole of the Northumberland coast from the border to Tynemouth.  He thanked Helen Phillips for the ongoing financial support provided by Natural England for managing the AONB and EMS.
 
Mel Nicholls, AONB Officer said: “This special place required a special Plan. There are two of everything to contend with: nations, designations, legislation, realms of land and sea and sets of stakeholders. It’s sometimes been a labour of love, with a lot of sweat and some pain, but it is great to have everyone along to celebrate the birth!”
 
Aisling Lannin, previously EMS Implementation Officer, now with Natural England, added: “This has been a very exciting process to be involved with. Although having no template was a challenge, what has been produced is a new way of working together for the overall benefit of the sea and land, historic and natural, and of course for people as custodians of the environment around us.” 
 
Unfortunately, Miranda Krestovnikoff of the BBC Coast programme and The One Show, andthe EMS Patron, who was to be one of the keynote speakers at the launch, was unable to make the event through succumbing to the flu a day before. In a message related by John Elliot, Chair of the EMS Management Group, she congratulated the AONB and EMS staff and governing bodies on their commitment to managing the designated sites in a pro-active, dynamic and integrated way especially by forming partnerships that contributed so much to management. She also encouraged them to keep up the good work and wished all those responsible the best of luck in implementing the plan.
 
The Plan is available in printed form and as a CD. It can also be viewed to on-line at the link on the side bar on this page and www.xbordercurrents.com. Copies of the Plan will be available to view in Berwick, Amble and Seahouses, Eyemouth libraries, and various other public buildings throughout north Northumberland and Berwickshire. 
 
If any organisation feels it would benefit from a discussion on the Plan then they are invited to contact Mel Nicholls to arrange a meeting.
 
The event also saw the formal launch of Our Coast Our Sea – a new website packed with free downloadable activities and information sheets for visitors to use. These detail ideas for games, historic exploration, natural history learning, make and do and general learning about the coast.  
 
 
 
A dedicated section for teachers and lecturers planning coastal trips includes information about venues, accommodation, learning providers, safety, activity ideas, information sheets with curriculum links and contact details for local experts is also on the website.
 
There is something for all individuals, families, organised groups or schools at www.ourcoastoursea.org.uk 

 

 

 

A NEW WAY TO EXPLORE, LEARN AND GET INVOLVED WITH THE BERWICKSHIRE AND NORTHUMBERLAND COAST
 
The Berwickshire and Northumberland ‘Our Coast Our Sea’ partnership has launched an information-packed new website to provide local people and holidaymakers with fun and stimulating information about this special coastline.
 
This coast is teeming with wildlife, castles and historic sites, nature reserves and activity trails.  Information about these sites and many more is now available with the click of a mouse on the new Our Coast Our Sea website – click on the link in the side bar
 
Each location includes things to do, visitor information, special ‘Inspire me’ sections and links to related websites. There are loads of photographs to view and a chance to add your own posts from the coast.  You can even play Coast Bingo! 
 
The website is packed with free downloadable activities and information sheets for visitors to use. These detail ideas for games, historic exploration, natural history learning, make and do and general learning about the coast.
 
Welcoming the Our Coast Our Sea website, Miranda Krestovnikoff, presenter of the BBC Coast programme said: “Our Coast Our Sea allows people of all interests and abilities to explore this coast for themselves and understand the value of our coastal heritage. It is a really inspiring project.”
 
Some of the activities and topics described are storytelling walks in popular places, castle trails, information about the area’s coastal icons including puffins and Grace Darling, and encourages discussion of topical issues such as climate change.
 
A calendar of events is updated regularly to help anyone planning a visit to the coast. There are 33 great events in August alone! There is also a section on ways to get involved in conservation efforts or management of the coast through volunteering.
 
A dedicated section for teachers and lecturers planning coastal trips includes information about venues, accommodation, learning providers, safety, activity ideas, information sheets with curriculum links and contact details for local experts is also on the website.
 
The head teacher of Seahouses First School said “The Our Coast Our Sea website was absolutely brilliant for the school and particularly for progressing the family learning and outdoor learning programmes.”
 
The Berwickshire and Northumberland coast is full of exciting spots where you can get more from your visit.  Whether you are a local or visiting from afar, an individual or a family, an organised group or a school there is something for everyone at www.ourcoastoursea.org.uk  
The Our Coast Our Sea partnership includes the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast European Marine Site, Natural England, English Heritage, the National Trust, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve and Northumberland County Council’s Learning Landscapes.

 

 

 

This past year has been very special for the Northumberland Coast AONB as it was 1958 when it was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

  

 
 AONB Highways Design Guide
 AONB Design Guide for the Built Environment