By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara
There is nothing better than a good walk in the countryside through the lanes and along the rides, over the moors or even through the woods.
Each time of the year holds something different - spring greens, summer bursts of life, autumn golds and even in this overcrowded little island of ours, there are still places where you can find peace and solitude.
36 Scouts from across Northumberland will arrive at Newcastle International Airport on Monday to fly off to the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden. The Scouts will join 4,000 other Scouts from across the UK and 34,000 others from nearly every country in the world for two weeks of activities, fun and making new friends in the most truly international event on the planet.
The UK Scouts are flying to Denmark for three days in which the capital, Copenhagen, will be taken over by the Scouts getting to know each other, seeing the sights and taking part in activities, before they travel to the Jamboree site in the South of Sweden.
Ian Watkins sent this picture of Arklow Willow docked at Alcan at Blyth quayside.
Send your photos to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk to see them on this site.
By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara
One of the hardest things to do in conservation is to try to repair the damage of the past.
Why this can be so difficult probably falls into two areas.
One is quite obviously the limitations of cost, and the second - which can be equally difficult - is trying to convince people that there is a problem which needs to be remedied.
Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell writes for the Blyth & Cramlington Extra
The current debate on care for the elderly is one that isn't going to end soon and nor should it.
The reality is that as our society grows older we will continue to face a growing situation where caring for the elderly becomes a higher and higher priority and some would say drain on our resources. Personally I don't call this need a drain; instead, I see it as a testimony to the success better standards of living and health care has been having.
Daft as a Brush is a cancer patient transport charity that takes patients, free of charge, to hospital appointments in your area. Why not join us as a volunteer driver or companion. Visit our website www.daftasabrush.org.uk or give us a ring on 0191 23 28 999. We need you!
By Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara
I stepped forth from the airport foyer to be greeted by over a dozen wheeling white storks directly overhead. What a sight; I was definitely in Portugal.
The sun was shining and on the way to the hotel, amidst the bouts of childish 'lads' humour I spotted numerous Mediterranean delights: hoopoes, a roller and several azure-winged magpies and a host of small birds.
Do you regularly browse the net, send e-mails and shop online? Do you call your friends using Skype and keep in touch on Facebook? Would you like to inspire others to do the same? Why not become a Digital Champion?
One question I am often asked and indeed surprised by is 'What exactly is a proggie mat then?'.
I am surprised because I assume that everyone already knows what a proggie mat is. Then I realise that it is just one of those items or expressions that you grew up with totally unaware that there is another world beyond the borders of County Durham and Northumberland where people don't speak Geordie.
If you are a Geordie then you already know and no doubt your mother made them or had them made for her by a female relative, and it probably was the thing you wiped your feet on when you came in from the back yard or garden when your byeuts [boots] were aal covered in clarts.
Sent in by Paul Murdy
The Isabella public house in Blyth is holding its Friends of the Isabella fun day on Saturday the 30th July in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. This is our 3rd Fun Day which we run each year. This year we hope to raise a lot of money to show our own support to the people who need our support the most.
Before the fun day on the Friday night we will be having a presentation of the remembrance bench in our beer garden for one of our regulars, Charlie Bryson, who sadly passed away this year. He assisted greatly with getting our fun days off the ground. There will be live music from the Boys of Mickey Finn playing music from the 50s, 60s and now. All are welcome to attend and celebrate the start of our fun day a day early.
Blyth Links
Wildlife - With Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara
Ronnie Campbell - MP for Blyth Valley
Blyth Valley Scouts - Stu Bennett
Alan Hoyle - Basketball and local news
Blyth All-Weather Lifeboat - Barry Elliott
Jo Edwards - Local issues and news
John Dawson - History tales
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