Monday 20th December 2010 Rare flower saved by transplant
A transplant operation has successfully saved a colony of rare plants
unique to Northumberland. Alchemilla micans, also known as shining
lady's-mantle, was moved due to the expansion of quarrying activity
near Humshaugh. It is now thriving in a specially-prepared area
nearby. The plant, which is found in the UK only in Northumberland, is
the rarer cousin of the popular Alchemilla mollis or lady's-mantle
which is still grown in many gardens. The plant was used by alchemists
and herbalists during the Middle Ages who would use the dew from its
leaves. Tony Laws, from Natural England, said: "Of course, it's always
better to conserve important habitats and species in situ rather than
try and move them to a new site, and this was very much a one-off
operation.” Northumberland

Tuesday 21st September 2010 Ringed sea-bird is UK's oldest recorded Arctic Tern
A sea-bird originally ringed as a chick on the Farne Islands on 28 June, 1980, has been declared as the UK's oldest recorded Arctic Tern. The bird was recaptured this summer on the islands just off the Northumberland coast. The Tern is at least 30 years, two months and 23 days old. Atlantic Terns typically live 13 years. The bird was first ringed by John Walton back in 1980 when he was working as a seasonal warden for the National Trust, which owns the Farnes. Northumberland

Thursday 26th August 2010 Kielder Forest bats thriving according to study
A new study has indicated that the bats of the Kielder Forest in
Northumberland are thriving. A Forestry Commission survey revealed
eight species living in the 155,000 acre man-made forest in
specially-created bat boxes. The long, hard winter of 2009 has boosted
populations in Northumberland according to experts. Staff have been
sexing, weighing and measuring bats in Kielder's 232 bat boxes for the
study. It’s good news for the bats after a century of decline because
of habitat loss. Forestry Commission ecologist Tom Dearnley said: "A
hard winter is good for hibernation, and so for subsequent bat numbers
the next year. If a winter is cold-warm-cold-warm it causes a
variation in the bats' body temperature and hibernation can be
disturbed. Bats are a good indicator of the health or otherwise of the
local habitat.” Bats are now are now on the European Protected Species
List. Northumberland

Thursday 14th January 2010 Plan to light the length of Hadrians Wall
Volunteers are being sought to create a line of lights stretching the
entire length of Hadrian’s Wall. Around 500 people are needed to take
to the wall on 13 March to light up the entire length of the old Roman
defensive wall. The wall stretches from Bowness-on-Solway on the
Cumbrian coast to Segedunum Roman Fort at Wallsend, North Tyneside, on
the east coast of Britain.

Linda Tuttiett, chief executive of Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd, said:
"We want to give people from all over the country, as well as local
people, the chance to get involved. It really will be a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and something we think people will
remember for a very long time." Northumberland

Thursday 17th December 2009 Trust saves Northumberland stately home
The National Trust has stepped in to save the 18th century Seaton
Delaval Hall for the country. The stately home is a Grade I listed
building and was built between 1718 and 1731 by Sir John Vanbrugh.
More than £3m was raised in an appeal for funds to purchase the hall.

Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust, told the
press: "This is a wonderful Christmas present for the nation. From the
start of the campaign we've worked together with the public - and
especially the local community - to shape Seaton Delaval Hall's future
and decide how the building, gardens and grounds can best be used for
the benefit of everyone." Northumberland

Friday 27th November 2009 Storm strands wildlife team
A team of wildlife experts have been stranded on a remote island of
the coast of Northumberland after storms prevented them from leaving
or being resupplied. Five men are on Farne Islands to count seal pups
and are without mains electricity and are running out of food and
water. The situation has become so desperate that the men are eating
seaweed to supplement their diminishing food stocks.

The National Trust property is usually manned between March and
December by warden David Steel, who has been joined by four other
experts.

Mr Steel said: "There are five of us stuck in this small cottage on
the island at the moment and it would be fair to say we are getting
cabin fever. It is hard enough trying to stand up outside and to try
and attempt to reach the mainland would be foolhardy. If things start
to get any worse then we will have to call the coastguard and be
airlifted off, but we want to avoid that if we can." Northumberland

Tuesday 14th July 2009 Wallaby on the run killed by car
An escape attempt by a wallaby from a Northumberland wildlife centre has ended in disaster after the wallaby was hit by a car and killed.

The two-year-old male marsupial ‘Hopper’ from the Keilder Water Bird of Prey Centre dug his way to freedom and even jumped a nine foot wall during his time on the run.

Hopper was subsequently hit by a car on the C200 near Tower Knowe and died of his injuries on his way back to the centre. Hopper had been on the run for over a month, surviving on the ample grazing in the area near the centre. Northumberland

Friday 19th June 2009 Chip shop art
The organisers of Northumberland’s Seahouses Festival came up with a novel solution when plans to showcase the work of 12 Northumberland artists in a local gallery fell through at the last minute. Rather than scrap the show they came up with the idea of using shop windows in the main street of Seahouses instead.

Customers of Mike Armstrong’s Pinnacles fish and chip shop can now enjoy local art while they queue for their dinner. “I think it’s a fantastic idea;” said shop owner Mike Armstrong, “I fully support it and what could be better than two mainstays of cultural activities? Art and fish and chips - fantastic.” Northumberland