The Land of Oak and Iron is proud to host a wide range of wonderful events and activities, from exciting seasonal children’s trails and school holiday activities, to music events, creative workshops and heritage talks.
Dates: Wednesday, 5th November 2025 - Sunday, 4th January 2026 - 9:00-16:00
Venue: Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre, Spa Well Road, Winlaton Mill, Blaydon-on-Tyne, Northumberland, NE21 6RU
This exhibition showcases and celebrates the achievements of the Land of Oak & Iron Wednesday painting group, based here at the Heritage Centre. This is their third annual exhibition in our Inside Out Gallery.
The Wednesday acrylic painting sessions have been led by local artist, Katherine Rodger since 2021 and are now a regular weekly activity, open to everyone from the complete novice to the experienced painter.
All the paintings you see here in the exhibition have been produced by amateur painters, many of whom had never tried acrylic painting before, while others have become more accomplished through the course and own practice.
Encouraging participants to find their own style and develop techniques which suit their own artistic individuality has been a key aim of the sessions. Friendship and mutual support have made them so much more than a mindful activity for a weekday afternoon.
This year’s artists are Marian Shilston, Christina Kay, Heather Stone, Laura Frederiksen, Lyndsey Blake and Sue Hill.
“We hope you enjoy viewing a selection of the art group’s paintings as much as we’ve all enjoyed producing them.”
The art exhibition is visible from our Courtyard to the rear of the Heritage Centre in our ‘Inside Out Gallery’. All artworks are available to purchase - please speak to a member of our team.
Further details here.
Dates: Saturday, 29th November - Friday, 19th December 2025 - 9:00-16:00
Venue: Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre, Spa Well Road, Winlaton Mill, Blaydon-on-Tyne, Northumberland, NE21 6RU
The Biking Santas are hiding Christmas Magic Keys across Land of Oak & Iron, including here at the Heritage Centre!
There are over 300 keys to be found in the run up to Christmas, most of them will be hidden around the Consett end of the Land of Oak & Iron area - but there will be 5 keys sponsored by Land of Oak & Iron to be found here at the Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill!
We will pop something on our social media pages to let you know when The Biking Santas have been and hidden each key here, so keep a check on our Facebook and Instagram pages! Our first Magic Key will appear on the afternoon of Friday 28th November.
You can see The Biking Santas performing on the steps of Christ Church in Consett, on Saturday 29th November, 11.30am when a number of Magic Keys will be hidden! All proceeds from the Magic Key sponsorship goes to a charity close to their hearts Brain Tumour Research - so if you see the Biking Santas please pop some coins in their donation box.
We would love to hear from you if you find a Magic Key - please tag us on our social media pages with a photo @landofoakandiron
More details here.
Dates: Wednesday, 3rd December & Wednesday, 10th December 2025 - 14:00-16:00
Join us for this 2 session acrylic painting course where you’ll paint your very own Christmas Robin - the beloved symbol of winter warmth and joy.
You will be guided step-by-step by our experienced and friendly art tutor Kath (who also teaches our landscape painting courses). Learn how to blend colours, build texture, and bring this iconic little bird to life in an artwork to feel really proud of. Your robin would then be ideal for home printing onto Christmas cards, or for that special Christmas gift for someone special.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced painter, this workshop is all about relaxing, having fun, and creating something beautiful to treasure (or gift!) this Christmas.
This short course takes place over 2 Wednesday afternoon sessions and is suitable for beginners and for those who have painted before and would like to learn more techniques.
Two week course costs £40, price includes tuition and a tea or coffee at both sessions (3rd & 10th December). Booking Essential, limited places.
Kath will have some primed painting surfaces for you to use, along with acrylic paints and brushes - if you already have your own paints/brushes then please bring those along. Any questions please get in touch, email landofoakandiron@groundwork.org.uk.
Reserve your place here.
Dates: Saturday, 6th and Sunday, 7th December 2025 - 10:00-16:00
Lorna from Blue Tyne Creative will be at the Heritage Centre for the weekend with her wonderful pop-up stall selling a fantastic range of hand made arts and crafts.
Lorna is raising funds to purchase specialist sensory equipment for a special young man called Sam to support his transition into his new home in an assisted living space. Sam is severely autistic, non verbal and partially sighted. When Sam becomes anxious, sensory activities are used to help him feel more calm and distracted.
There will be a lovely selection of hand-crafted items - perfect for Christmas gifts or treat yourself.
Please pop down to the Heritage Centre to say hello to Lorna and buy some of the lovely hand-crafted gifts, all of which will help to support fund raising for Sam’s sensory equipment.
Full details here.
Date: Sunday, 7th December 2025 - 12:30-14:00
Ever thought about learning to play a musical instrument - what about the ukulele? Then come along to our uke’ sessions and learn how.
There are a number of sessions planned until the end of the year, all on Sunday afternoons between 12.30 & 14:00. This one is for Sunday 7th December, please see separate listings to book the other sessions.
Tutor Philip has played ukulele for longer than he can remember. Having ran uke’ workshops at JG Windows Music in Newcastle, as well as being a full time guitar/uke teacher, he’s now bringing his workshops to the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill.
Each session will involve learning some songs from scratch, with parts for beginners to more complex parts for those with previous experience. All the songs guaranteed jams that will be stuck in your head all week!
If you have your own ukulele please bring it along - let us know on the booking form if you would like the tutor to provide one for you.
Booking essential as limited places available. £9.50 per session. Please add in the booking notes if you have played before and if you can bring your own ukulele (or not).
Please note - tickets for our workshops, sessions and courses are non refundable. We may at our discretion transfer your ticket to another similar event.
Book your place for the 7th December here.
Date: Saturday, 13th December 2025 - 10:00-16:00
Come and meet artist Valentina Short at the Heritage Centre for the last of this year’s ‘Meet the Maker’ events.
Since moving to Ryton in 2019 and after a long career in the NHS as a mental health nurse, Valentina now enjoys retirement and has re-found her passion for painting.
Painting in acrylics, Valentina is inspired by modern Scottish landscape artists and the rugged Northumberland Coastline. An acute observer of the natural world, Valentina is fascinated by the essence of stormy weather and loves trying to capture how the skies and seas around the North East of England make her feel.
A selection of Valentina’s paintings are available to purchase for a short 2-week period in our Heritage Centre shop from Friday 28th November, or directly from Valentina on her Meet the Maker Day (Saturday 13th December, 10:00-16:00), where you can ask questions about her travels and inspiration, browse, purchase and say hello to the artist herself.
Full details here.
Dates: Saturday, 13th December and Sunday, 14th December 2025 - 10:00-15:30
It’s our new Merry Makers Weekend - a family friendly weekend of Christmas crafts, charity, trails and festive fun feelings!
On the Sunday we have a fantastic Willow Angels Workshop with artist and basket maker Liz. Very limited places left on this one, booking essential. Find out more and book your place before 5th December deadline, so be quick.
There will be some great craft activities for you Merry Makers to take part in - great for all ages (young or older) including: origami tree decorations and paper crafts (Saturday 10:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:00), Christmas badge making (Saturday 11:00 & 13:00), ‘kumihimo’ bracelet weaving (Sunday 11:00 & 13:00) and pine cone bird feeders. No need to book for these, just drop in, please pay a donation and get making!
You can also buy beautifully hand-crafted creations and artworks from our last merry Meet the Maker of the year with artist Valentina Short on Saturday, and a really wide range of crafts made by the ladies of our Craft, Chat & Cuppa sessions on Sunday (all in aid of blood cancer charities Leukaemia Research and Red Blood).
We will also have a pop-up stall on Saturday with young explorer Robyn raising funds for her World Challenge trip later next year. All items are hand-crafted and would make great little gifts. Please bring cash to buy directly from Robyn’s stall.
We’re really pleased to announce that our merry music makers ‘Kiddars Luck’ will be here playing live music in the café on Saturday from 14:00 too!
Our Two Little Christmas Mice trail will start this weekend too - inspired by the beautiful illustrations and book by local lass Monique Scott, pick up a trail page and solve the clues (suggested donation £1 per page). You can buy Monique’s book in our little shop too.
There’s also our beautiful Christmas wreaths hanging in the windows - crafted by Derwent Threads Sewing Group - they also dressed the cute international Elves you will see dotted about inside the Heritage Centre - can you guess what countries they’ve travelled from?
Our café will be open as usual with wonderful Winter warmers from our new menu, hearty breakfasts, home-baked scones, cakey loveliness and some festive specials.
So, if you’re looking for a chilled out weekend to get you in the Christmas spirit, and a wander along the beautiful River Derwent and valley - then come along and be a ‘Merry Maker’ while supporting other local makers.
Full details here.
Date: Saturday, 13th December 2025 - 14:00-15:30
It’s our new Merry Makers Weekend - a family friendly weekend of Christmas crafts, charity, trails and festive fun feelings!
We’re pleased to announce that Kiddars Luck will also be joining us with some merry music making on the Saturday afternoon in the café area.
Kiddars Luck all hail from the North East of England and specialise in traditional music from the region. They also write their own songs and tunes.
They have been singing and playing for more than 25 years but recently have come together in a newly formed ‘Kiddars Luck‘ specialising in 3 part harmony singing.
They have performed for community groups and at local festivals including the Beamish Museum King Coal Celebration, Harvest Festival and Georgian Celebration, The Woodhorn Mining Museum, Tanfield Railway, The Tommy Armstrong Society and the Land of Oak and Iron.
Our café will be open as usual with wonderful Winter warmers from our new menu, hearty breakfasts, home-baked scones, cakey loveliness and some festive specials.
So, if you’re looking for a chilled out weekend to get you in the Christmas spirit, and a wander along the beautiful River Derwent and valley - then come along and be a ‘Merry Maker’ and enjoy some live music on Saturday afternoon.
Full details here.
Date: Sunday, 14th December 2025 - 10:00-15:00
Get into the festive spirit for Christmas and weave a Willow Angel with artist and willow worker Liz from Northumberland Basketry Group.
BOOKNG CLOSES 3PM ON 5TH DECEMBER.
Spend a lovely day being creative and ‘hands on’ in this workshop using willow, while learning at least 4 different willow weaving methods - twisting and weaving to create your unique Christmas Angel.
Willow weaving expert Liz will take you step-by-step through the process of shaping natural willow into your beautiful Christmas angel. With added twinkling lights it will give that extra sparkle to your Christmas festivities.
After Christmas, your Angel will be a wonderful addition in your home all year round and will last for many years to come.
Limited places - booking essential, see the link below. BOOKNG CLOSES 5TH DECEMBER (Liz needs to prep’ all the willow for the workshop).
Tickets £60, price includes tuition, willow materials and a cuppa from the café. If you would like to add twinkling lights you can purchase these from Liz during the session. Please add in the booking notes if you would like to buy lights from Liz at the workshop (£5).
There will be a break for lunch - you’re very welcome to pop to our café or go for a nice walk in the park and along the river.
Please note - tickets for our workshops, sessions and courses are non refundable. We may at our discretion transfer your ticket to another similar event.
Book your place here.
Date: Sunday, 21st December 2025 - 12:30-14:00
Ever thought about learning to play a musical instrument - what about the ukulele? Then come along to our uke’ sessions and learn how.
There are a number of sessions planned until the end of the year, all on Sunday afternoons between 12.30 and – 14:00. This one is the last one of the year on Sunday, 21st December.
Tutor Philip has played ukulele for longer than he can remember. Having ran uke’ workshops at JG Windows Music in Newcastle, as well as being a full time guitar/uke teacher, he’s now bringing his workshops to the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill.
Each session will involve learning some songs from scratch, with parts for beginners to more complex parts for those with previous experience. All the songs guaranteed jams that will be stuck in your head all week!
If you have your own ukulele please bring it along - let us know on the booking form if you would like the tutor to provide one for you.
Booking essential as limited places available. £9.50 per session. Please add in the booking notes if you have played before and if you can bring your own ukulele (or not).
Please note – tickets for our workshops, sessions and courses are non refundable. We may at our discretion transfer your ticket to another similar event.
Book your place here.
Date: Monday, 22nd December 2025 - 10:00-12:00
Want to be crafty this Christmas? Want to save the planet and save money at the same time? Want to learn how to make your festive season more sustainable? Then this free workshop is for you - just in time for the big day itself!
After a brief chat about how to ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’ over the festive season, we will be making Christmas wreaths out of scrap fabric, plus re-useable crackers.
This workshop is advertised as ‘Get Ready for Christmas’, but all crafts can be adapted to suit any festival.
This one is for adults and all resources will be provided.
This is great fun and it’s free to attend - you just need to book a place as there are limited spaces available.
Our charity Groundwork NE & Cumbria is very focused on making a positive impact on the environment - so we’re really looking forward to the next in this series of fun workshops making use of old unwanted bits ‘n’ bobs! Look out for more in 2026.
If you book a place and find you can no longer attend - please let us know so we can give the place to someone else.
Book your free place here.
Date: Sunday, 28th December 2025 - 9:30-11:00
Shake off those post-Christmas blues, take a break from festive TV and get set for the New Year on this guided bird walk around the Lower Derwent Valley, be-twixt Christmas and New Year!
Local ornithologist Michael will help us identify the rich bird life that is still around even in the depths of winter. So, forget that last piece of turkey, put the Christmas chocs’ away and join our refreshing winter bird walk as we look for red kite, buzzard, kingfisher, jay and others.
Pop into our café and grab a cuppa to take with you, or why not treat yourself to a lovely breakfast or brunch on your return as you chat about the birds and nature spotted on your refreshing Winter walk.
Booking essential, places limited. £9.50 per person.
Please bring binoculars if you have them and dress appropriately with stout footwear, waterproofs may be necessary depending on the weather. The walk will be on regular pathways with some slight gradients.
Sorry, no dogs please.
Book your place here.
