the Wildlife Warriors

The Discover Brightwater Brigade are preparing for a secret mission to Restore, Reveal and Celebrate life around the River Skerne! Our Wildlife Warriors are ready to defend and protect our landscape and help you explore our wonderful area.

Are you ready to respond to the call to arms to join the Brightwater Brigade to protect our environment?

Then click below…

FOLLOW US FOR WEEKLY
COMPETITIONS & GIVEAWAYS!

BRODNY THE Badger

He’s fearless, ferocious, yet very wise, and an expert in excavating.

ONDINE THE Otter

She’s extremely smart and the mother hen of the group. She’s always hungry and huge seafood fan!

HALI THE Hedgehog

Often found foraging at night. Although he’s not very sociable he’s sweet, sensible and very hardworking.

FEN THE Frog

Always laughing and having fun, the adaptable one who loves to joke around.

BROOK THE Bee

The busy one who loves to explore, has a very sweet tooth!

SKERNEY THE Swan

Very much a home bird, with a feisty side! Oozes elegance and is extremely loyal.

South Park

Saturday activities for all of the family

Discover Brightwater Songs in the Park

- Where – South Park, Darlington. DL1 5TD
- When – 12 pm – 4 pm
- Activity – Walk talk trust – Paul to confirm walks – days and times
- Provided by – Jamie Stewart, Debbie Self, Orchestra Live

Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd October activities

Anglo Saxon living history reenactments, Viking Longboat – carving demonstrations

- Where – Bishop Middleham, Village Hall and fields, Bishop Middleham, DL17 9AJ
- When – 10 am to 4 pm
- Activity – Saxons living history reenactment – Battles for children, archery, campfire cooking, ale making, pewter coins, fur trader, weaving and lots more.
- Provided by – Acle – Saxons and Plane Sailing

Saturday 1st October only activities

Eventbrite Saxon Embriodary Tapestries – Please book via Eventbrite

- Where – Bishop Middleham Village Hall
- When – 9 am – 12.30 pm and 1 pm – 4.30 pm
- Activity – 2 x 3 hr workshops for 10 people through
- Provided by – Acle – Saxons

Sunday 2nd October only activities

Discover Medieval Brightwater

- Where – Bishop Middleham Village Hall
- Activity – Village atlas self/guided walk and Deep time presentation
- Provided by – Dig Ventures

Locomotion & Shildon Library

Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd October activities

Accessible tours for the hearing impaired

- Where – Shildon Library, Shildon, DL4 1DU & Locomotion, Shildon. DL4 2RE
- When – 11 am both days
- Activity – Accessible tours for the hearing impaired with Rare Rockets
- Provided by – Rare Rockets

Saturday 1st October activities

Gem Trail Launch – Celebrating Women across Brightwater

- Where – Shildon Library
- When – 10 am
- Activity – 10am – Opening of the trail (Shildon’s Mayor Hannah opens (TBC) – think how this is facilitated; e.g. speech and ribbon cutting)
- Provided by – Maverick Art

Art workshop for children involved in the initial consultation

- Where – Shildon Library AM
- When – 10.20 am & 11 am
- Activity – 10.20 am – Emma & Jo take the group on a walk around the trail & collect objects – for young people involved in the initial consultation (vol at the library to give maps and direct people who want to do the trail). 11 am Cyanotype workshop is facilitated in the library
- Provided by – Maverick Art

Hardwick Park

Sunday activities for all of the family

Brightwater Storytelling afternoon–

- Where – Hardwick Park, Sedgefield. TS21 2DN
- Activities –
  - 12.15 pm Family Interactive theatre – Once Upon a Wall – Harry Mann and partners theatre company – See details below – performed on the Temple Field
  - 12.45 pm – hand out Sculpture trail leaflets for people to explore
  - 1.30 pm – Zizu loses his stripes and Zebra appearance – Storytelling circle
  - 2 pm The Brightwater Anthology – Short Story snippets – need to book actors
  - 2.30 pm Family interactive theatre – Once Upon a Wall – second showing
- Provided by – Peter Barron, Harry Mann Theatre, Actors to read short story snippets

Hardwick

Everyday Friday, Saturday and Sunday we will be there with activities for all of the family:

Archaeology box – dig in and see what you discover!
Face painting – Take your pick of colourful faces – a wetland creature perhaps
Pebble painting – a wetland creature perhaps or whatever you have in mind. Place your pebble to help create the meandering river Skerne
Watch our short video about how a group of school children created ‘The Song of the Skerne’.
Vegan Tasters – Why not try one of these sweet/savoury vegan tasters – not only are they delicious but they are kinder on the planet too.
Birdbox making – Make a birdbox or bug hotel with the Discover Brightwater Wetland Trainees. They’ll be able to share with you what they have been learning about and the skills they are developing.
Sculpture trail –why not take a family activity leaflet and discover the amazing wood carved animals which inhabit the park for yourself or there are guided walks on Saturday and Sunday – See our walks schedule for times.
Buy your Discover Brightwater – Billy and the Ox book in the shop for £4.50
Guided walk/talk of Hurworth Burn Reservoir 1.7m 10.30pm and 1.30pm. Click on number …. On the map for the walk details.
Guided walk on Saturday and Sunday from Hardwick Park to Bishops Fen 3.9miles 10 am – 12 pm. Click on the number …. On the map for the walk details.
Guided walk on Saturday and Sunday of the Discover Brightwater Sculpture trail with a family activity leaflet and discover the amazing wood carved animals that inhabit the park. 1pm – 2pm and 2.30pm – 3.30pm.

Additional activities

Friday

Heritage crafts – Willow weaving – Make your own miniature willow hurdle
Wetland Expert – Meet our wetland expert and find out how our wetlands are so interesting and important
Perfect your drawing skills with Liz Million – Drop into the Yurt between 10am – 2pm to perfect your drawing skills with Liz Million – author and illustrator of the Discover Brightwater book ‘Billy and the Ox’. After that, there is the Durham Ox drawing activity where you will be able to use these skills for yourself.
The Bubble Whisperer – Join in the fun!

Head Of Steam Museum

Friday, Saturday and Sunday Free Admissions to the museum. Come and have a go on the ride on miniature railway as part of the Big Weekend. Visit their website here

Locomotion

Friday – Printing Workshop
Saturday – Learn all about bees and how to keep them. See the observational hive and discover how bees make honey.
Saturday & Sunday – Guided Walk of Locomotion and Historic Shildon. Accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs 10am – 11am, 12pm – 1pm, 2pm – 3pm. Click on number …. On the map for the walk details.
Sunday – Tour of the museum – 11am and 2pm

Visit their website here

Hurworth Burn

on walks schedule

Discover Brightwater Guided Walk – Hurworth Burn Reservoir 1.7m 10.30am – 11.30am and 1.30pm – 2.30pm