Sue Hodnett: Appreciates Hadrian’s Wall Country

A question and answer interview with Sue Hodnett, site manager at Housesteads. She talks about her love of Hadrian’s Wall country, and reveals her favourite things in Nortumberland. Her favourite market town is Hexham.

Newcastle Gateshead weekend breaks in 2012

Fans of food, culture and sport are in for a summer of great events at NewcastleGateshead in coming months. Things begin in just over a month with Cakebook Britain, set to take place in Saltwell Park July 15. Then there is the VAMOS! festival in June and July, Newcastle Pride, the Bupa Great North 10Km in July, the comedy festival and then The Big EAT! rounding off July. August sees the Bridges Festival and then some fantastic Olympic and Paralympic Games Football at St James’ Park.

Belsay goes for gold with Victorian fashion weekend

Enjoy a focus on Victorian era sporting fashion at Belsay hall this weekend. As part of Belsay Hall’s spectacular month-long Fashion from the Past event, visitors are invited to enjoy the sporting fashion in vogue more than a century ago. There’ll be a focus on all kinds of sporting clothing, with particular focus on women’s sporting pursuits, including swimming, cycling, horse riding, croquet and tennis.

Scottish Borders and Edinburgh may host Tour de France

The Scottish Borders and Edinburgh may be the stage for the Tour de France as part of an attempt to bring the cycling event to the UK. The idea would involve the Scottish capital and surrounding area hosting a short time-trial in 2017 called the Tour prologue.

Newcastle’s Life Science Centre’s new dimension

With a £1.2million investment, there will be thrilling things taking place at the Life Science Centre very soon. On 26 May, the centre in Newcaslte will launch North East England’s only 4D motion ride, along with a host of new hands-on exhibits entitled The Curiosity Zone. The 4D motion ride will use wind, water spray, smoke and smells as well as moving seats to bring the 3D action on screen to life.

Planting at Newcastle’s Exhibition Park

Members of the public are invited to plant wildlife-friendly plants around the Lakeside in Newcastle’s Exhibition Park later this month. The event, which is taking place on Wednesday May 30, between 10.30am and 12.30am is part of the The Lakeside Explorer Project in partnership with Exhibition and Brandling Parks Community Trust.

Belsay sleepover part of Museums at Night

English Heritage’s Belsay Estate still has places left at its first-ever sleep-over. The event, taking place on Saturday evening, is part of Museums at Night and will give participants a chance to stay in the fascinating building and experience an overnight say, stories and food at this Northumberland property. The experience will also include a tour of the old castle and some ghostly story telling.

Hauxley Nature Reserve buoyed by donations

Hauxley Nature reserve – destroyed by fire two years ago – has been bowled over by donations it has received. More than £38,000 has been collected so far.

Win a Cheviot Hills’ walking book

Northumbrian Byways and Geoff Holland have teamed up to give readers a chance to win one of Geoff’s walking books. The books available to win all focus on the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland. Find out more about this special place and how you can win on of these excellent books.

Kielder Reservoir to celebrate 30th anniversary

Kielder Reservoir is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary on May 26 and 27. It was in 1982 that the largest man-made lake in northern Europe was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth. Now, a range of activities are planned for the celebratory weekend. One of the highlights will be an exhibition called What the Reservoir means to Me, a show which tells deeply personal stories and encapsulates the reservoir’s history.