Our outing on 24th Oct. was to Hamsterley Forest. The Visitor Centre was opened for us and after welcome refreshments Harry, our leader, told us something of the colourful history of this site. After the Great War, with the acute shortage of timber, the Forestry Commission was established in 1919. Between 1924 and 1937 the Government set up Labour Camps to re-train the long-term unemployed. The one here at Bedburn was run under a severe regime akin to ‘slave labour’. Reveille was at 6 a.m. The men dug ditches, built roads and planted trees. Later on the Wesley Boys from Blyth (young offenders) were sent here. In 1937 some oak woodland was planted to commemorate the coronation of King George VI. During the last war the camps housed German and Italian P.O.W.s. They had a football pitch and a swimming pool. They worked in the area on farms. One prisoner took a bike and walked up the hill to the Workmen’s Club in Hamsterley for a drink. Coming back down the hill at night he lost control, crashed and was killed. After the war the area was developed and now comprises 5,000 acres of forest with many activities such as walking, horse riding, cycling, orienteering as well as fungus forays, bat watching and other natural history events. About 14 of us took an easy walk following the Bedburn Beck upstream enjoying the lovely autumn colours. A fish was seen jumping. Pictures and verses on tree trunks marked the children’s Halloween Trail. A large bonfire was waiting to be lit. We walked past the Green Man wood sculpture, only spotting it on the way back! For the more adventurous Harry pointed out an extension – over the footbridge and up through the trees to a higher path which looped back. Afterwards we drove in convoy along the Forest Drive and out at the far end and so back to Hamsterley. At the Cross Keys we had a convivial, if latish, pub meal to round off our outing. Many thanks to Judith and to Harry for such a splendid day out. Ruth
 

Judith on
01325 266 725

Next outing will be on Friday 21st November to Skerningham. Meet at Cockerton car park or at the end of Glebe Road Darlington. Contact Ron/Pat on 466975 or Judith on 266725.

The following meeting will be on Friday 5th December We are meeting earlier in the month in order that we may visit Kiplin Hall to see all the Christmas decorations in the house. We will leave Cockerton car park at 10.00am and meet at the hall in time for coffee/tea and biscuits. After our tour of the hall and a short walk in the grounds for those wishing to do so, we will go to The Farmers’ Arms at Scorton for lunch. Menus are available and it would be helpful, and avoid a long wait, if you could make your choice before we go. The cost at the hall will be £1.65 for refreshments and £3.80 for the tour of the hall. Contact Margaret on 265024 or Judith on 266725 for more information.