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PREVIEW: Get to Grips with New Skills this Spring In Bishop Auckland

Posted on March 4th 2019 by Whats on Northeast

Green shoots of inspiration will be springing up in Bishop Auckland as a range of new activities get under way.

Whether it’s getting green fingered to learn about sustainable horticulture, digging deeper into the region’s fascinating past or trying traditional crafts, The Auckland Project, in Bishop Auckland, is giving everyone the chance to learn something new this spring.

On Wednesday 6 March, the visitor destination will launch a branch of the Incredible Edible movement in Bishop Auckland. The national scheme challenges people to think differently about food and how un-used land in a town can be transformed to create attractive, wildlife friendly spaces.

Hundreds of towns across the country have already become Incredible Edible, and at the launch event, Mary Clear from Incredible Edible Todmorden will be giving an inspirational talk about how the scheme has transformed her small Yorkshire community.

Those attending will also be able to learn more about the work of food partnership, Food Durham and get advice on reducing food waste from Durham County Council. Visitors will be invited to enjoy leek and potato soup, made using the produce grown in Auckland Castle’s historic gardens and to start growing their own produce by planting a vegetable seed to take away with them.

Following the launch, Seed Planting Workshops will be taking place at No.42 Bishop Auckland from Saturday, 13 to Sunday,14 April. All ages are welcome to come along and get their hands dirty.

As well as getting busy with spades and trowels, The Auckland Project, which is supported by the National Lottery, is also giving people the chance to delve deeper into the area’s unique history.

Young Archaeologists’ Club meets on the second Saturday of every month where members, aged between 7 and 11, explore different aspects of archaeology, gain skills and see the past from a new perspective. The club has been established by The Auckland Project, as the latest in a nationwide network of Young Archaeologists’ Clubs, co-ordinated by educational charity, the Council for British Archaeology.

Elsewhere, all ages are invited to learn more about one of Bishop Auckland’s oldest structures, the West Mural Tower. Dating back to the 15th century it was originally built in the grounds of Auckland Castle as a defensive gatehouse and is now the focus of a series of Heritage Days on Thursday 7 and Thursday 21, March.

These history workshops will shine a light on the historical significance of the Grade I listed building and the exciting programme of restoration taking place there.

Art lovers can also get involved in history and try their hand at traditional craft skills. Weekly Tower Arts sessions will run from 2 March to 13 April and the finished results of each session will be combined to create a large collaborative piece of art.

The drop-in workshops are suitable for all ages and abilities and will be designed and run by a local artist. They have been established as a celebration of the culmination of the programme of heritage skills classes run by The Auckland Project thanks to National Lottery players via the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Booking is required for the Incredible Edible launch event, Young Archaeologists’ Club and Heritage Days events, to book a place call 01388 743 797 or email bookings@aucklandproject.org. To get involved in the Incredible Edible project email: incredibleedibleba@aucklandproject.org. For more information about other workshops and activities, visit aucklandproject.org or follow The Auckland Project on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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