Clare loves building bonfires. We both like marking significant occasions with a party. So, the first opportunity to put these together was a Naming and Land Warming party. Friends helped us to build and decorate a shelter and members of Tynedale Community Choir, to which Clare belongs, put together a repertoire of land and tree related songs. We walked down a specially made path to a site we had chosen to mark the occasion, and planted our first tree - a Bird Cherry that Clare’s daughter Mathilda had given us as a wedding gift in 2009. Back at the shelter, Clare gave a short speech naming the land, and our friend Penny sang a song she had composed especially for us. We were lucky enough to end the evening with a spectacular sunset.

FIRE FESTIVALS

Clare missed her bonfires so much in 2014 that we had four in 2015. We followed the old Celtic Fire Festivals as our way of marking the passage of the year.

We set the year going on February 1st, with Imbolc (‘in milk’ acknowledging the lactation of ewes and cows). Imbolc honours Saint Brigid of Kildare (Brid) one of Ireland's patron saints. It was freezing and hard to get the bonfire going, though determination and large quantities of paraffin trumped the damp. Our neighbour Brid came and offered a blessing in Irish (Gaeilge). Even though we had no ewes or cows, it was a great way to mark the promise of Spring.

Beltane - 'the coming of the light' - followed on 30th April with another fabulous sunset. The bolder amongst us jumped the ashes in traditional manner.

Lughnasadh (Lammas) held on August 1st, is traditionally in hope of a good harvest. At that point we didn’t have anything to harvest but celebrated anyway.

Samhain (‘Summer’s end’, which gave rise to Halloween) marks the start of winter, although living in Northumberland it’s hard to know exactly when winter starts and stops.

Poet Linda France, who attended all four of our festivals, sent us a booklet of poems at Christmas that she had written in response to the evenings. Click here to read them.

A MARRIAGE

Musical director of Tynedale Community Choir, Kathryn, married Nathan in August 2015. Clare wanted to honour this, and knowing Kathryn’s partiality for gin, invited them both to come in November and plant 12 junipers on the crag.

Kathryn and Nathan with added Springer Henry

A DEATH

To remember someone who died we planted 200 of their favourite flower - English bluebells - on January 29th, at the west end of the Top Strip.

A DOCTORATE

In the throes of her PhD studies, Mathilda conceived the idea of making her own ending to the process by burning her notes once she had finished and been awarded her Doctorate. Happy to have another excuse to build a bonfire, we offered Liddells as the venue for this momentous ritual. The ensuing conflagration was deeply satisfying for all concerned.

A 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

We had planned to light the bonfire in the Orchard to mark our 5 year custodianship of Liddells, however with so much dry weather and the risk of rather more fire than that for which we had planned, we opted for a picnic on the Meadow. It was a lovely way to celebrate. Clare didn’t do as well as usual with her photos - nonetheless we hope these give a flavour of the evening!

Neil wishing he’d chosen what Lesley had on her plate

Our guests listening entranced as John tells a story (this bit is true)

A TREE FOR JUNO

18th February 2019. Juno’s second birthday gave Hal and Beth the opportunity to plant a tree for her on Liddells. We chose a site towards the south-west edge of the Pit Wood, where the tree will be sheltered from the wind and have plenty of space around it. Juno was fully involved in the process, helping to dig the hole, tamp down the earth, plant and water snowdrops round the base, count out and hand over the required number of ties for the protective fencing and smile for the camera.

Six Year Anniversary Open Day

It was a great idea - on the Saturday closest to the transfer of the Liddells title to John and Clare, they would have an Open Day at Liddells. Invitations were sent out and RSVP’d, signage was made, activity sheets devised, lists and photographs were printed, paths weeded, steps built, the shepherd’s hut was designated an Information Office and excitement mounted. Then the weather changed. Really changed. Arks and balsa wood came to mind and while John and Clare are hugely appreciative of their friends’ support, expecting them to turn out in these conditions seemed a bit unfair so they cancelled the event. Fortunately they were able to rearrange at shortish notice a fortnight later and this time the weather gods were with them and it was sensationally hot and sunny. Much fun was had by all and stories were told, a shelter and a cairn built, bugs’ accommodation provided, ponds dipped, feathers found, wildflowers, butterflies and dragonflies identified, excellent picnics eaten and much more besides. Read more in the blog for August 2019.

A birthday tree

Clare discovered a variety of pear tree called ‘Beth’ - the perfect birthday present.

Beth and Juno planting ‘Beth’ in the Orchard

A 20th Anniversary

On 25th June 2022, Tynedale Community Choir invited choirs and singers from all over the region to join them in a day of singing in Hexham - workshops, busking, concert. The next day the choir celebrated on their own at Liddells with a picnic, bonfire and tree planting. Eight bird cherries were added to the Orchard, one each for Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass voices, and one each for the four choir leaders in the choir’s history - Jo, David, Kathryn and Bridie.