Northumberland communities - Allendale

Volunteers wanted for library transport

2009-11-11T09:51:12Z

Volunteers are needed in part of Northumberland to help people who can not get to libraries.

Northumberland County Council's library service is looking for helpers who live in Hexham, Ponteland or the surrounding areas of West Northumberland. Current volunteers and library staff will talk about what is involved at a free coffee morning in Hexham Library on Friday, November 20 between 10am and 12 noon.

For more information, contact Michelle Watson at Hexham Library on (01434) 652488.

Video: Recycling in Northumberland

2009-11-11T00:00:28Z

A video has been launched by Northumberland County Council to help it meet demanding Government recycling targets.

The tutorial video (watch below) shows Northumberland County Council's new recycling centre in action and helps residents understand what can and can't be put into the recycling bin.

In Northumberland the council is responsible for collecting waste from more than 140,000 households as well as thousands of business premises.

The council needs to meet Government targets of 40% recycling by 2010, 45% by 2015 and 50% by 2020.

If these strict targets are not met the council faces heavy fines as ministers push ahead with national environmental changes.

One of the key problems at the recycling plant is low-grade plastic such as yogurt pots and margarine tubs which become trapped among paper and card creating contamination problems for the paper mills.

The problem is made worse when these packs contain food waste which can also cause contamination of the other recyclable materials.

In an effort to reduce contamination the council no longer wants people to recycle these types of items which represent a tiny proportion of household waste and cause quality control problems at the plant .

The video offers advice on exactly what items should be recycled, such as plastic bottles (empty and lids removed), rinsed food and drinks cans, paper and cardboard and aerosols.

Visit www.northumberland.gov.uk for more information on recycling

Allendale businesses up for Countryside Alliance Awards

2009-11-10T09:51:14Z

Two Allendale businesses are among a number of high-quality community enterprises who are battling it out for four regional titles to go through to a national competition.

The Countryside Alliance Awards recognise quality, characters, skills, traditions and enterprise of the countryside through the people who work so hard to make it tick.

There are four categories. North East businesses have been nominated by customers and supporters and winners will be chosen before Christmas.

These will then go towards the national titles, which will be announced at Parliament in February.

In the Daily Telegraph traditional business group, The Crown at Catton, Allendale, R G Foreman & Son in Norham on Tweed, Northumberland, and Rothbury Family Butchers in Northumberland take each other on. And in the rural enterprise group Allendale Brewery, G & S Organics in Alnwick and the Country Barn, Widdrington, hope for success.

In the local food category, Morpeth's Moorhouse Farm Shop and Dropswell Farm Shop in Trimdon Village, County Durham, go up against Piercebridge Organic Farm in Darlington. In the village shop and Post Office category, Blanchland Village Shop, Kielder Village Store, and Belsay Village Shop are competing.

Countryside Alliance North of England director Steve Clark commented: "These finalists represent the very best of the region. The awards are a unique opportunity to celebrate not just the hard work that goes into businesses in the countryside, but also the heart and character of every individual who contributes to rural enterprise."

Pictured: Tom and Lucy Hick of Allendale Brewery behind the bar at The Crown, Catton

Do you know these Northumbrian dialect words?

2009-11-10T09:24:49Z

Deek at these kenspeckle words and see if you can save 'the venerable grandmother' of the English language.

What some people call the 'purest form' of English, the Northumbrian dialect, has been eroded over time and no-one knows how much Northumbrians and Geordies still have their own way of speaking.

Words like yari, jugal and skumfish used to be heard regularly but the Northumbrian Language Society is desperate to get a snapshot of the state of the region's dialect and see which Northumbrian words are still in use.

The call comes after Collins English Dictionary asked people to look at three Northumbrian words and let them know, via Twitter, if they are used. If not, they will write the obituary for the dead words.

But if they are still in common use, the words will be reinstated into the Collins Corpus database and could even be included in future dictionaries.

The Northumbrian Language Society chose the three words for Collins to take to the public but they have many other words and want to take the opportunity to learn more about the health of Northumberland's dialect.

Kim Bibby-Wilson from the Northumbrian Language Society said: "It matters. If we all spoke hybrid American English, it would be a very boring world.

"As far as the Collins project is concerned, it's good - it's going to get a high profile and remind people of these words. When you speak about dialect people are fascinated.

"But the more life goes on, the less people hear the speech patterns. It's whether they are speaking these words or not. From anecdotal evidence we're losing words because they're not relevant anymore."

Unlike Scottish dialect, Northumbrian words do not get full recognition, meaning there is no European funding for researching and promoting the dialect, as well as projects to record people still speaking in the tongue.

Northumbrian only holds observer status under the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages.

Kim said: "We would love to have the funding. We should be looking at how the Scots dictionary is constructed.

"Northumbrian dialect is the venerable grandmother of English, not a poor cousin. It has always been isolated, by the North Sea, the Pennines, Cheviots and moors, and it is a purer form of English. It has been reserved here for longer because the Vikings and Normans didn't have a great deal of interplay with the locals.

"It's very important, because the language that's spoken in a particular area tells you so much, just like castles do and cathedrals and football teams. You wouldn't knock down Bamburgh Castle because it's no longer used for defence."

Many of the words used in Northumberland are from the Angles, while certain areas also picked up gypsy words because of nearby camps.

For instance, 'gadgy', now used to mean a man, was originally used to refer to non-gypsies, while charver, now a derogatory term, used to mean friend.

Which of the words below do you still use? Do you know of any other current Northumbrian dialect words?

Click on the link on the right to share them

SPREADING THE WORD

THE THREE WORDS COLLINS ARE RESEARCHING ARE

Shawm - to warm yourself

Hippletyclinch - walk with a limp

Bari - beautiful/handsome

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS FROM NORTHUMBERLAND

Deek - to look at

Yari - egg

Jugal - dog

Mort - wife

Netty - toilet

Oxter - armpit

Kenspeckle - distinctive

Skumfish - tired

Spelk - splinter

Gully - sharp knife for meat/general purpose

Puzzly-os - noughts and crosses

Lowp - to jump

Kist - strong box

WELL-KNOWN REGIONAL TERMS

Gadgy - non-gypsy man

Charver - friend

Gan - go

Lang - long

Canny - good

Hoy - throw

Ahad/ahaad - caught fire

Stotty - round bread

NEW ONES

Windy-pick - pneumatic drill

Starry head - Phillips screwdriver

Blood donor sessions

2009-11-10T00:00:55Z

The nearest blood donor sessions in Northumberland are at Hexham and Haltwhistle:

Hexham West End Methodist Church, Leazes Terrace, NE46 3DF
Monday 16 Nov 2009, 14:00 to 15:30 and 16:15 to 19:30
Monday 07 Dec 2009, 14:00 to 15:30 and 16:15 to 19:30
Monday 04 Jan 2010, 14:00 to 15:30 and 16:15 to 19:30
Monday 08 Feb 2010, 14:00 to 15:30 and 16:15 to 19:30
Monday 22 Feb 2010, 14:00 to 15:30 and 16:15 to 19:30
Monday 29 Mar 2010, 14:00 to 15:30 and 16:15 to 19:30
Monday 26 Apr 2010, 14:00 to 15:30 and 16:15 to 19:30

Hexham Torch Centre, Corbridge Road, NE46 1QS
Sunday 13 Dec 2009, 10:45 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 16:30
Sunday 31 Jan 2010, 10:45 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 16:30
Sunday 11 Apr 2010, 10:45 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 16:30

Haltwhistle Methodist Schoolroom, NE49 0AX
Tuesday 17 Nov 2009, 14:30 to 19:00
Tuesday 26 Jan 2010, 14:30 to 19:00
Monday 15 Mar 2010, 14:30 to 19:00

For more information on local sessions, or to book an appointment for one of these sessions, visit www.blood.co.uk.

Visitor increase at Allen Banks

2009-11-05T11:20:30Z

Allen Banks near Allendale has seen a huge surge in visitor popularity this year as part of an increase in people accessing National Trust properties around the region.

David Ronn, the National Trust's regional director Yorkshire and North East, said: "What has happened is that Britons are exploring their own country again."

He added: "More visitors to National Trust properties means more money going into the local economy. It's a win-win situation for everyone, especially with the country going through such a dire recession"

Read more on this story »

Allenheads finally gets shop in the village

2009-11-04T14:39:47Z

Villagers in Allenheads finally have somewhere to buy basic provisions in their isolated rural community for the first time in two years.

A redundant workshop next door to Allenheads Trust's popular Hemmel Cafe has been converted and now sells everyday items such as milk, bread, toiletries, cleaning products, tinned goods, firewood and cat food, as well as locally-produced items including Sparty Lea Saddlebacks pork, lamb, chocolates, jewellery, artwork, eggs and beer from the Allendale Brewery.

The £30,000 project to open a village shop came to fruition after a long campaign by the Allenheads Trust to improve local services in the Northumberland village.

The shop became a reality after a £14,399 grant from North Pennine Dales LEADER. The funding is being made available through the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union and is managed by One NorthEast in the North East region.

The Trust was then able to secure a £10,000 from the Big Lottery's Awards For All programme and donations from the Sir James Knott Trust, The Joicey Trust, William Leech Charity, Hadrian Trust and local councils.

Christine Hutchinson, who runs both the cafe and shop, said: "It is wonderful to see the shop open at last. Everyone in the village was asked to suggest items they would like to have on sale here so, hopefully, we have been able to make sure that we are catering for a wide range of needs."

The shop will not only cater for villagers but also for the many visitors, tourists and thousands of cyclists who now pass through Allenheads using the C2C cycle route.

Sue Ellwood, co-ordinator of North Pennine Dales LEADER, said: "LEADER is here to help improve the basic quality of life in rural areas and we are delighted that our grant has helped this project, which not only provides a basic service but also supports the local economy and is an excellent use of community-owned assets."

Chair of the Allenheads Trust Keith Walker said: "This is fantastic for the village as there has been no shop here for more than two years. With the nearest shops eight miles away it has been particularly difficult for anyone without a car. A three-hour round trip on public transport is a long way to go for a loaf of bread.

"We are very grateful to the LEADER programme and all the other funders as without their support this project would not have succeeded."

The shop was officially opened by Susie Hall, who has lived in Allenheads for 30 years.

Northumberland hospital plans get green light

2009-10-24T10:31:32Z

Health care chiefs have given the go ahead for a £200m investment in services in Northumberland, including a new emergency care hospital on the outskirts of Cramlington.

Wansbeck and North Tyneside hospitals will see significant investment while community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle will be rebuilt.

The package of measures was approved yesterday at a meeting of the NHS North of Tyne Trust.

Board members had indicated in August they would be minded to approve the new hospital - as long as a number of concerns were addressed.

Among those was the provision of services for children with the possibility of conflict arising with the new Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle.

Members were also concerned whether the proposed location was the most suitable, the availability of maternity care and how easily the hospital could be accessed by public transport.

The new emergency care hospital will be built on a site just off the A19 near Cramlington. However, the location has also caused controversy amid fears that the already-congested Moor Farm roundabout would not be able to cope with the extra traffic from the hospital.

Chris Reed, chief executive of NHS North of Tyne, said: "Throughout the consultation the location of the new hospital was controversial and it was clear that no one site would suit everyone.

"During the consultation there were strong messages about access to the new hospital and about the need to improve public transport arrangements. Work undertaken by Northumbria Healthcare has included seconding a member of staff from Nexus to the Trust to offer expert advice. The Trust is also committed to providing a shuttle service to link into existing public transport services."

Youngsters being treated at the pediatrics unit will only stay for short term care with those requiring more intensive treatment being transferred to the Great North Children's Hospital.

However Coun Liz Langfield, member for adult care and health on Newcastle City Council, said more information would be needed on where people living on the Newcastle/North Tyneside border would be treated.

She also expressed concern over public transport to the new emergency centre.

Project to restore North Pennines hay meadows stepped up

2009-10-24T09:53:07Z

An estimated 90% of Britain's hay meadows have been lost to progress and modern farming methods.

Today's machinery and increased silage production means that plants once common in traditional meadows are less likely to survive because they are cut before they have time to seed.

Sweeping hay at Bowes in the 1920s- Picture Parkin Raine

Now work is under way to re-seed meadows in parts of the North East and the memories of the "bloody hard work" that went into the hay harvest in days gone by are being recorded for posterity.

The Hay Time project, run by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership, is behind the initiative, which will archive retired farmers' hay harvest memories at Beamish Museum. There are also plans to stage an exhibition in Allendale next year.

On a practical level, the scheme is working with volunteers and sympathetic farmers to re-seed hay meadows with traditional plants, which provide valuable habitats for wildlife.

Neil Diment, Hay Time community officer, said: "Increased mechanisation led to the deterioration of the hay meadow. Three or four years ago, the Hay Time project was set up. There is a sister project in the Yorkshire Dales, restoring and enhancing those hay meadows that have survived.

"It is very much a project working with sympathetic farmers within agri-environment schemes to mechanically harvest with specialist equipment that contractors have developed.

"We take seeds from the 'good' meadows and spread them on the 'receptor' meadows.

"We plant them in the meadows of sympathetic and understanding farmers. We have identified a meadow each in Teesdale, Weardale and Allendale to plant the seeds."

Many of the meadows that are still rich in traditional flora only made it into the post-war years because their owners rankled at being told what to do with their land.

Mr Diment said: "Why some of the hay meadows have survived is because of the independent mindedness of some farmers. It's the old cliche - you want to make hay while the sun shines.

"People don't like being told they can't cut their hay until a certain date. But if you cut early, which you do with silage making, the seeds are not ready. But many meadows survived because farmers didn't listen to that advice."

Most of the meadows that are being restored belong to farmers in Environmental Stewardship Schemes and the project wants to encourage more supportive tenants and landowners to move into Higher Level Stewardship Schemes. "An increasing number of people, smallholders with small fields or a few acres of meadow, are making up a significant proportion of the hay meadows," said Mr Diment.

"A lot of the best floras survived in the roadside banks and verges where our volunteers are collecting the seeds.

"Since the mechanical harvest, we have successfully reintroduced some of the annuals but the perennials are harder."

Formerly a freelance heritage consultant who worked on a history of the North Pennines' hay meadows, Mr Diment is also passionate about the other side of the Hay Time project - collating and sharing farmers' memories.

He has interviewed around 20 retired farmers and the scheme is now looking for volunteers willing to type out those remembrances so a permanent record can be put on file.

"I found that absolutely fascinating, to talk to some of the old farmers," said Mr Diment.

"Up to the Second World War, things were still done very much by hand and horses. It feels like the halcyon days when communities pulled together but it was bloody hard work.

"It was touch and go sometimes whether they would get the hay in. Hay time was often the most important time of year - if they didn't get the hay in, they couldn't feed their stock in the winter."

It is vital, he believes, to pull together this vast store of information while we still can.

"Not that we're trying to turn back the clock but these farmers do have a lot of knowledge that we'd be wise to tap into while it's still around - the experience of how hay meadows used to be managed," said Mr Diment.

"It would take weeks but now it's done in one day by contractors. They didn't consider it was special in any way - it was tough in those days.

"Whereas there would be a harvest supper, they didn't seem to celebrate for such an important thing - part of it was as soon as you'd finished, you went and helped your neighbours."

Passing this information on to children and enthusing the younger generation with a love of the countryside is also a key aim of Hay Time.

Mr Diment, who takes the project into schools under his alter-ego of Mr Hay Rake, points to the introduction that David Bellamy wrote for an edition of a book on the flora of Durham, which bemoaned the loss of habitats he remembered from his youth.

"He introduced this idea that we should not be trying to create Sites of Special Scientific Interest but Sites of Special Childhood Interest," said Mr
Diment.

"Children today don't get the opportunity to go out and enjoy the countryside. We're trying to do that - establish sites of special childhood interest."

The transcribed interviews, which will eventually be available to read online, will be included in the History of Hay Time exhibition planned for Allendale next summer and in an accompanying souvenir book.

For a gallery of photographs from the archive log on to nebusiness.co.uk

Research unlocking secrets of North Pennines

2009-10-22T08:11:16Z

Groundbreaking radar techniques are being used to unlock the historic secrets of one of the North's wildest upland areas.

Over the next five years a major archaeological research project will concentrate on the North Pennines, an area straddling Northumberland and Cumbria.

In the first two weeks of fieldwork, 300 new archaeological sites have been discovered, from prehistoric features to 19th Century mining remains.

The final haul of new sites could run into the thousands.

English Heritage's Research Department is working with the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership to scour 300 square kilometres of Alston Moor in Northumberland and Cumbria. The aim is to build up a comprehensive picture of how the landscape evolved and identify future conservation priorities.

Today the North Pennines are celebrated for their geology and wild, natural beauty, but it has also been one of the most intensively mined landscapes in Britain.

Lead, silver and coal have been exploited with early miners also doubling as farmers.

As well as careful observation and mapping on the ground, new methods of discovery and analysis are being used, including radar imagery captured by specially equipped aircraft.

The landscape around Alston has been three-dimensionally radar-mapped, and sites of particular potential interest will now be subjected to detailed ground survey.

The project manager is Stewart Ainsworth, pictured, from English Heritage's Research Department, who is also a regular member of TV's Time Team.

He said: "The radar gives a three-dimensional picture of everything on the ground, down to quite small features.

"We want to build up a picture of how the landscape has evolved over the last 2,000 years or so and how man-made changes have interacted with the natural environment.

"Because this area is off the beaten track, it has been very under-researched and this will be an English heritage flagship project.

"The moors and fields of this area are littered with abandoned structures, humps and hollows which provide ghostly reminders of the industrial past."

He said that studying the way water was extensively managed by the miners and how this had changed natural systems would also help in climate change policies to preserve peatland areas.

The findings will also feed into management plans by the North Pennines AONB Partnership and Natural England.

From next April, opportunities will be available for local people to take an active part in the project.

North Pennines AONB historic environment officer Paul Frodsham said: "Traditionally, the public have been consumers of a heritage researched and presented by 'experts'.

But from now on we want local people to play an active role in the archaeology of the North Pennines, helping to research and celebrate what is after all their heritage."

Full training in a range of archaeological techniques will be on offer. Anyone interested in helping with the Alston Moor project or projects elsewhere in the North Pennines, can contact Paul Frodsham on 01388 528801 or email him on pfrodsham@northpeninesaonb.org.uk

CASTLE'S REMAINS SHOW HOW LIFE WAS FOR ROMANS IN BRITAIN

The Roman fort of Whitley Castle has been surveyed in detail as part of the project.

The 500-garrison fort, between Alston and Slaggyford, is on the Maiden Way which linked the Carvoran base on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland with Kirby Thore fort in Cumbria.

Whitley Castle's defensive remains are the best preserved in the Roman Empire and it's believed the base was set up to protect the Romans' lead mining industry. The fort, known as Epiacum, was built in an unusual lozenge pattern and has seven layers of defences in the form of ditches and banks - one of only three sites in the country to have such a complex system.

There are the visible remains of the fort bath house, civilian settlement and headquarters building. Already the project has turned up three new prehistoric settlements near the fort. There is also evidence of an adjacent civilian settlement and systems of fields and trackways.

"It means it was a very settled landscape before the Romans arrived and during the occupation," said Stewart. One mystery is why work on the fort's defences in the Fourth Century was left unfinished.

"It looks like they just packed up and walked away," said Stewart.

TIME EXPERT

Stewart Ainsworth will be a familiar face to followers of TV's Time Team after more than a decade with the Channel 4 programme.

He is also a senior archaeological investigator with English Heritage, based at York.

He started with the Ordnance Survey's archaeology division and began his career working on sites in the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland.

For 10 years he lived in Blyth.

Northumberland Air Ambulance cover reinstated

2009-10-21T08:36:13Z

Air Ambulance cover for the region has been reinstated.

Fears for families in more remote parts of the North East were raised when the Great North Air Ambulance announced its fleet of helicopters would be grounded over the weekend.

Bad luck and coincidence of timing were blamed for technical faults on the Cumbria and Northumberland aircraft occurring just as the lease of the Teesside helicopter expired.

Yesterday the charity, which is entirely reliant on public donations to continue operating, confirmed one of the helicopters had been returned to it.

A minor fault on the Northumberland craft had successfully been repaired, and it had been returned to its base, near Otterburn. A spokesperson said: "We are delighted to confirm the Great North Air Ambulance is back online.

Our Northumberland helicopter has been fixed and returned to us. We were always aware it was a minor fault. It was just unfortunate the it was timed while our other two aircraft were unavailable.

"It is testimony to the high standard of safety checks our aircraft must pass before they can fly, a new part had to be found."

Over the weekend the charity announced its intention to try and buy its own helicopter for the first time. It's fleet is currently leased.

The GNAA have put early cost estimates at more than £1m, but believe the region could benefit greatly from the move.

Fire service to visit Allendale in recruitment drive

2009-10-20T13:09:14Z

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service is taking to the road to attract new recruits.

A series of events are being held across the county to inform people of career opportunities with the service.

Events take place at:

Allendale Market Square, on Friday, October 30

Berwick's Castlegate car park on Wednesday, October 28

Belford, on Saturday, October 31

Seahouses main car park on Thursday, November 5

Bellingham Surestart Centre on Friday, November 6

Wooler Black Bull car park on Wednesday, November 11

Hexham Wentworth car park on Tuesday, November 17

Prudhoe Co-op car park on Friday, November 20

Pegswood Cookswell Garage on Saturday, November 21

Amble Queens Street car park on Friday, November 27

Rothbury opposite Lloyds Bank on Thursday, December 3.

Great North Air Ambulance temporarily grounded

2009-10-16T09:18:53Z

The region faces a weekend without the safety net of the Great North Air Ambulance after all of its helicopters were temporarily grounded.

Bad luck has been blamed for all three of the charity's helicopters being out of action over the coming few days.

Two helicopters, based at Otterburn and Carlisle Airport, are grounded with what have been described as "unforeseeable" mechanical problems.

The lease on the third aircraft, which operates from Durham Tees Valley, ran out at midnight last night and is not being renewed.

All three aircraft cover the region from coast to coast and North Yorkshire to the Borders.

Fears have been raised more remote parts of Northumberland and Durham could be left vulnerable without the service, but the GNAA has said the situation was unavoidable and has promised to have at least one aircraft reinstated by Monday.

Last night a spokesperson explained: "We were aware the lease of our Teesside helicopter was due to expire, but we had not expected our other aircraft to be out of action.

"Our Northumberland helicopter is an older model, which is more difficult to source parts for. We have found the component we need in Japan and are waiting for it to be shipped across and fitted. Our Cumbria aircraft has a cracked gear, which has to be replaced. The high standard of service the helicopters receive means any slight defect must be corrected. We expect to have this aircraft back in service within days.

"It is just unfortunate these technical problems have occurred while we are between leases on one of our vehicles. Our pilots, medical staff and crew all want to be on standby in case they are needed, but the situation is beyond our control.

"It is important to remember we are not a statutory organisation. We do not get government funding. We rely entirely on fundraising and the generosity of families in the North East to pay for everything, including our fuel and medicine.

"Without the support of the public we would not be able to provide this lifesaving service."

The GNAA has running costs of more than £300,000 a month. Each call-out is estimated to cost £2,500.

But yesterday Air Ambulance bosses rubbished any suggestion that the charity was in financial difficulty as "nonsense".

Council meeting in Allendale village hall

2009-10-12T10:02:10Z

Proposed safety measures on the B6305 Allendale Road in Hexham and local community chest funding are among the items on the agenda for the next meeting of Northumberland County Council's west area committee.

The meeting, which includes a session allowing members of the public to ask questions, will be held on Thursday at 6pm in Allendale village hall. The committee covers business in the Hexham, Haltwhistle, Ponteland and Prudhoe areas.

Cash boost for North Pennines peat bog repair

2009-10-09T09:30:57Z

Work to repair 30 years of damage, caused by draining the North's upland wetlands, was given a major cash injection yesterday.

The Peatscapes project by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership began three years ago and has so far blocked 1,000km of moorland drainage channels, or grips.

The aim is to restore extensive areas of blanket bog which have been drying out.

The peat bogs are important as wildlife habitats, as vast carbon storage reservoirs and as holding areas for water in times of heavy rain, which helps prevent flooding.

Pictured: A worker among the peat bogs at Allendale in 1910

The drying bogland has also seen peat washed into rivers, causing discolouration of drinking water, which is costly to treat.

Yesterday, a £500,000 grant from Biffaward was made to the County Durham Environmental Trust, which will enable the North Pennines AONB Partnership to carry on with Peatscapes for at least another three years.

It is hoped that another 1,000km of drains can be sealed up in that time, leaving around 5,000km still to be tackled over the next decade over an area of 1,000 hill farms and 50 large estates.

More funding will be sought to reach this target. The Biffaward money means that total investment in the peatland restoration project is now £1.5m, with backing coming from Natural England, the Environment Agency's local flood levy, Northumbrian Water, CDENT and the Esme Fairbairn Foundation.

Peatscapes field officer Nick Mason said: "We are trying to address drainage which began in the 1950s as part of misguided Government policy to increase food production through draining bogs to provide more grass for sheep.

"But science and our understanding moves on and we now realise the importance of this peatland, and the policy needed to change.

"It took 30 years to cut the drains and we are not going to reverse that overnight, but the Biffaward grant is a major step along the way."

CDENT chairman John Wearmouth said: "This award is wonderful news. It will enable the AONB Partnership to follow up on the successful pilot project we've funded to benefit a huge swathe of the North Pennines."

Chris Woodley-Stewart, director of the AONB Partnership, said: "We are committed to restoring and conserving peatlands in the North Pennines AONB. The Biffaward grant will allow us to restore these internationally important habitats at a landscape scale.

"It also presents a unique opportunity for us to raise awareness about the role of peatlands in reducing national and international carbon dioxide levels."

The peat bog erosion is clearly visible

WHY THE WORK IS IMPORTANT

The Peatscapes project covers 90,000 hectares in the North Pennines.

The Biffaward money will fund work on an area the size of a small city - 4,000 hectares of blanket bog in parts of Northumberland, County Durham and Cumbria.

The North Pennines contains 27% of England's blanket bog, and peatlands are growing in importance in the battle against climate change.

Drying peat releases huge amounts of carbon - as much as 11% of the world's annual output.

By restoring the North Pennines peatlands, this project is stopping the release of the carbon.

Just two months before the Copenhagen Climate Change negotiations, pressure is mounting on governments to ensure that peatland carbon emissions are part of each nation's land-based carbon calculations.

Peatscapes is also creating and safeguarding rural jobs.