Articles September 2022
The Longhorsley Lost Sheep
In October a lost sheep will be found on our village green in Longhorsley as part of publicity to draw attention to the visit of the Lindisfarne Gospels to Newcastle this autumn. The image of a lost sheep can be found in all four Gospels in the Bible.
The Lindisfarne Gospels were painted 1300 years ago using very primitive paints and brushes to produce stunning results. The sheep coming to our village green is an artist’s response to the Gospels. There will be about 40 sheep scattered across Northumberland and there will be a trail for anyone interested to follow. At the beginning of December all the sheep will come together around Hexham Abbey for the Festival of Flame.
We are planning to welcome our Sheep on Saturday 22nd October when there will be lots of activities / competitions going on in the village. More information in next month’s Tree.
Meanwhile, we need some help, mainly practical, so if you would like to be involved in this exciting day, and the lead up to it, please contact us and we are sure we can find you a job.
Susan Tiffin susanptiffin@gmail.com
Olive Light olivelight72@gmail.com
The Lindisfarne Gospels
17th September - 3rd December
Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
Admission charge applies
Tickets on sale now at
Longhorsley Parish Council
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, 14th September, in St Helen's Church meeting room, starting at 7pm, with a parishioner slot at 8pm. Meeting notices are displayed on village notice boards, with minutes and other info found on the Parish Council website.
Contact details for the current members are detailed below:
Clerk: Gillian Turner, 4 Lowther Close, Seaton Manor, Ashington, NE63 0HY 01670 812704 or parishclerk@longhorsley-pc.gov.uk
Chairman: Norman Douglas 07485 174529 norman.douglas@longhorsley-pc.gov.uk
Councillors: Kirsty Bell, Peter Boyle, Penny Ford, Andy Hedman, Anne Peat and David Pringle.
Archies Pond
The refurbishment work is now complete and the official opening ceremony took place on Sunday 17th July. It was a lovely, sunny Sunday afternoon and the event was well attended. Cllr Norman Douglas, graciously cut the ribbon to allow all in attendance to walk the area.
Old Church Wood Wetland Area
A small wetland area has been created in the South East corner of the Community Wood near the old churchyard wall. This will naturalise and some willows will be planted in the autumn to create another wildlife habitat. Please take care as the sides are steep and the lower levels contain water.
Church View Play Area
Many of the users of this facility will have noticed that some of the pieces of equipment are now beginning to show some levels of deterioration. We realise that this is such a well-used and loved facility and therefore we will try and keep the area in a working condition until such a time as funding becomes available for a complete refurbishment.
Allotment Project
After successfully securing funding from the Wingates Community Fund, work will commence soon on providing a second water tap to accommodate all 13 allotments. Also, work will take place in the Autumn on replacing some of the outer perimeter fencing and chicken wire plus some new gates. There will be a new picnic table to the South East side of the path parallel to the allotments for both allotment holders and residents to use.
Your County Councillor
Hopefully the water shortage will have eased by the time you read this, but as of today in mid August we are already trying to help isolated spring fed properties who are running low or who have already had their supply dry up.
Older people like me will well remember 1976 when we had to graze our cows on the grass verges near the farm - and then, when the rain came, it rained so hard and long we struggled to get any autumn crops down at all.
Meanwhile I know the Post Office problems have caused inconvenience but Brooke has done a great job - I’ve said I’ll help as and when she wants me to.
As usual please get in touch if I can help at all.
Glen Sanderson 07730 979737 glen.sanderson@northumberland.gov.uk
Longhorsley Village Hall Committee
Due to two upcoming retirements we have two vacancies on the Village Hall Committee, these are for a secretary and a bookings co-ordinator.
Both these roles are vital to the running of the Hall and also important members of the committee. These roles will become vacant from October this year.
If anyone is interested in either of these roles could you please contact::
Garry Ritchie, garry7256@aol.com or 07713 583311
September Tweets along Archie’s Pond
Most of the birds frequently seen along the Walk have completed their moult by the end of September, and this year’s young are looking sleek with crisper plumage too. They are much less shy and skulking, and as they forage in low branches over the path can come very close to the observer.
Another transition taking place is the increase in numbers, not just visibility, of Blackbirds. These are not just the local breeders, but birds from further north, possibly Scandinavia. It is possible to count fifteen to thirty and more along the Walk, and if you do it’s likely to be some evidence of migration in action. And the Redwings and Fieldfares which flock together and feed in the adjacent fields certainly are migrants. The thickets along the walk are favourite sites for overnight roosts.
Other residents have not given up singing. Their songs are quieter and less frequent, but Dunnock, Robin and Wren consistently sing throughout the Autumn. Goldfinches continue their musical twitter in flight or in the highest twigs of the trees. Some will gather and sing together in a scattered group in the same tree. Bullfinches are also vocal throughout the winter and seemingly need to keep whistling to let each other know where they are, despite them usually being quite easy to see once the leaves are gone.
Andrew Brunt 788352
For more information about birds in Northumberland, visit the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club website.
The Longhorsley Village Shop
The Village Shop has undergone some face lifts over the last few months, with a new shop front and interior, and an improved product range.
New local products include Northumbrian pedigree milk and cream, Doddingtons cheeses and ice creams, a selection of Green’s butchers products, new cakes and pastries. There is a larger selection of essential goodies, natural wines, and a choice in beers. Same great coffee, same great sarnies.
Open Mon-Sat: 7.30am - 2.30pm,
Sunday: 8.00am - 2.00pm.
Ultrafast Broadband Project Update
Most of the people who had registered with Alncom have been connected.
If people still want to register with the Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to get connected then they can do so on the Alncom website.
Citizens Advice Smart Meter Campaign
Citizens Advice Northumberland are providing free advice on the benefits of smart meters, in particular for the over 65 age group. They can also provide assistance to anyone who is struggling with their energy bills: 01670 339749 or energy@citizensadvicenorthumberland.org.uk
The full text of their press release can be found here.
Longhorsley Takeaway Food
We will send out a Breaking News if we are notified of any changes.
The Shoulder of Mutton
The Shoulder of Mutton is open and offering takeaways every day.
Sunday lunches 12-6pm ~ Monday to Saturday 5pm-8pm
See their menu at shoulderofmuttonpub.com ~ phone 788236 to order
The Flying Fryer
The Flying Fryer will be here every Friday from 4pm to 7pm, depending on demand.
Facebook The Flying Fryer 07984 426 725
Dou_h&co
Dou_h&co are here some Thursdays 4:30pm – 7:30pm.
The next visit date is Thursday 8th September.
Pre-order on 07507 834 628 from Monday 9am.
See their menu on the Dou_h & Co Facebook page, Instagram and Dou-h.co.uk
Post Office in Longhorsley Village Hall
Temporary opening hours until end September / early October
Monday 9:15am to 11:15am
Tuesday 9:15am to 1:15pm
Friday closed
Please note that this Outreach Service cannot accept large parcels.
Mobile Library Visiting Times
The Mobile Library visits Longhorsley once a month, on Fridays between 3pm and 4pm, in the Village Hall car park.
The next visits will be on 23rd September and 21st October.
The Mobile Library Service website can be found here
Longhorsley Tree 2023 Calendar
If you have taken a photo of a view in or around Longhorsley that you would like to see in next year’s calendar, then please email it to us at longhorsley.tree@gmail.com
October Edition
The last date for submissions is 20th September. You can email or phone us, or leave short articles in the Longhorsley Village Shop.
If you leave an article in the shop, please include your phone number.
Please keep articles under 250 words, if at all possible.
Jan and Sheena Haveman 07834 740649 longhorsley.tree@gmail.com