Category Archives: Environment

Environment, History, Whats On

Beaurepaire open day 9 May

Tomorrow (9 May) is an open day at the BeauRepaire mediaeval manor, organized by the Dream Heritage Foundation. The manor ruins are in a lovely spot next to the River Browney between Witton Gilbert and Bearpark villages. In the last few years, Dream Heritage organisation and many volunteers have transformed it from a bramble-filled ruin into a beautiful spot for visiting, picnics and concerts.

The open day starts tomorrow Saturday at Bearpark Methodist Church (14 Auton Stile, DH7 7DB) at 10am. The programme includes cake and hot drinks, chatting to volunteers, a short talk on the history of the site, what’s been found so far and hopes and dreams for the future of Beaurepaire. At 11am there will be a guided walk to the site, followed by volunteer gardening on the site from 12-2pm, when the event finishes. Tickets are free (on Eventbrite ), and donations to support the work are very welcome. People under 18 years should bring a legal guardian or parent.

The next volunteer site gardening day will be on Friday 22 May, from 1-5pm.

The next open day will be on Saturday 30 May from 10am-2pm, following the same programme as before (tickets here ). It will be followed by a “Music in the Ruins” fundraiser concert with singer/ songwriter/ troubadour Steve Pledger from 2-4pm (free tickets here).

Another open day is on Saturday 21 June from 10am-2pm, followed by a fundraising concert by close harmony vocal group Durham Harmonics (tickets here ).

Beaurepaire restoration on the BBC

A 2024 story on BBC news , with before and after photos, tells of the work. According to Rebekah Watkins of Dream Heritage, they started just before the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. The rooms were so “full of bramble” that they could not enter and they could hardly see the walls beneath thick ivy. The BBC quotes her saying: “After a month or two you could see that we were working from room to room and reclaiming the site. “As room by room got transformed, I think it brought energy and enthusiasm,”

More than 50 volunteers got involved, aged from 2 to over 80 years old. The BBC quotes volunteer Bill Hindmarch: “Looking at the site now, I’m proud and somewhat amazed at what we have achieved.”

According to the report Durham County Council monitors the progress. It quotes Steve Bhowmick, DCC Environment and Design Manager, that the site had been restored “for the benefit of the community” thanks to Dream Heritage’s work and the local authority was “pleased” to see it removed from the at risk register.

What is Dream Heritage?

Dream Heritage is a Community Interest Company (CIC) set up in 2019 and headquartered in Howden, East Yorkshire. It has four directors, including Rebekah Watkins described on the website as “a professional archaeologist and historic building conservationist with a passion for both community and heritage.” She has a BSc Archaeology degree from Durham University and was awarded the John Ashurst Prize (Historic England) from West Dean College for outstanding work in conservation and repair of historic buildings.

Rebekah is committed to empowering communities to restore and maintain their local heritage. According to the website: “With experience in commercial archaeology, community archaeology, material conservation, project management, community engagement, mural paintings/ communal art/ sculpture, and heritage conservation and repair.”

Another director is John Watkins, who adds to a career as a skilled mechanical engineer by being “a proficient builder, renovating listed buildings in his spare time”.

Read more about the Dream Heritage website: “We are a relatively small team focused on empowering and upskilling others to be ‘restorers of ruins’ in both heritage and communities in their own contexts. Volunteers help to lubricate activities and events, and help with administration, fundraising & promotion. We are not striving to make an empire, but to empower!

“We are: specialists in heritage conservation, maintenance and repair & archaeological services; leaders of community heritage projects & archaeological excavation; skilled in delivering skills training, craft workshops & volunteer opportunities; passionate about the church, ministry and youth outreach; advocates for the environment; and champions for local history and its place in the school curriculum.”

Country home for monks

Beaurepaire Priory (the name means “beautiful retreat”) was originally built in 1258 by Bertram de Middleton, the Prior in charge of the Priory of Durham’s Benedictine monks and Convent of Durham from 1244-1258, when he retired. It is on an isolated peninsula above the River Browney and Prior Hugh of Darlington added a surrounding 1,300-acre hunting park belonging to the monastery almost 30 years later.

The prior and monks went there four times a year, including for fun (ludi prioris – the prior’s games) but it was built was a manor house (rather than a priory) to offer hospitality to visiting royalty. Kings Edward I, Edward II, and Edward III visited it between 1296 and 1335 during their campaigns against the Scots.

It has also been expanded several times over the following centuries. It became a country retreat for the monks of Durham and a home for retired monks, similar to Finchale, which was a priory. Beaurepaire is three miles from Durham City so the monks could walk back to attend daily mass. Beaurepaire included St Edmund’s Chapel and was extended with a large kitchen, dormitory and garden.

The Scottish army of King David II ransacked and damaged the priory in October 1346 as they camped in the park the day before their defeat at the Battle of Neville’s Cross. After the battle, on 17 October King David was captured nearby, apparently hiding under a bridge over the River Browney near Aldin Grange.

John Fossor (Prior of Durham 1341-1374) ordered that Beaurepaire be rebuilt and extended. Although the monastery was dissolved in the 1530s during the reign of Henry VIII it was used and continued to expand, covering 6 acres of a 38-acre working site.

The Scots Covenanter army fighting on the side of Parliament in the 1640s during the English Civil War (also called War of Three Kingdoms) damaged it again in the 1640s, during the British Civil War.

Information from the site noticeboard, the excellent DurhamCow website and This is Durham website.

Beaurepaire Manor is a community conservation and heritage restoration project next to Witton Gilbert. Photo: Tom Minney

Children, Environment

Witton star Scout reports from Norway

Witton Gilbert’s star scout, Joe Keogan, had a great time as an adult volunteer representing the UK in Norway at the European Scout event, Roverway 2024.

Roverway is a gathering of 5,000 Scouts aged 16 – 22 years old, from across Europe and beyond. It was on the beautiful fjord coastline of Lundsneset, Stavanger, from 22 July – 2 August. The trip event included:

  • An expedition across Southern Norway for five days, then
  • An international camp at Stavanger where Scouts engaged in a programme of Scouting activities and skill development, culminating in
  • A ferry trip to visit Copenhagen in Denmark.
  • A special event for the UK contingent (550 Scouts from UK’s four home nations and British Scouting Overseas) in Copenhagen from 2-5 August.

Joe Keogan, aged 23 and from Witton Gilbert, said: “I attended the last Roverway in Netherlands as a participant and I couldn’t wait to come back as an adult volunteer. Norway is amazing. I have been helping to build the site and working in an international team of Scouts has been inspiring.”

Scouts from almost every European nation shared 15 days of adventure, fun, and learning skills for life under theme “North of the Ordinary”.

Roverway helped participants develop independence and resilience by starting with a youth-led five-day expedition across Norway.

Bear Grylls, Chief Scout, said: “A massive congratulations to Joe Keogan who represented the UK at Roverway 2024. Roverway is an amazing opportunity to discover yourself and make new friends, whilst participating in a programme that demonstrates true Scouting spirit by developing skills for life. Everyone involved had the trip of a lifetime in Stavanger. The diversity of people they met reminds us all about what the world has to offer: new cultures and new friends, becoming ever more tolerant and caring about others.”

Scouting in Durham

There are eight Scout groups in the Durham City area according to the local website https://www.durhamcityscouts.org.uk/. Over 70 volunteers support the activities.

Scouts is the world’s largest youth movement Scout groups are divided according to age, including Squirrels (age 4-6), Beavers (6-8), Cuts (8-10.5 years), Scouts (10.5-14), Explorers (14 to 18) and Network (18-25). “Because of the demand for places especially in the younger sections it is not always possible to offer places in a first choice of group. If you are looking for a place please complete the online joining form and we will endeavour to find a space somewhere within the District.”

Scouts was founded on 1 August 1907 and the earliest record of scouting in Durham is from 1910, when there were already six Scout Groups and 140 Scouts.

1st Framwellgate Moor Scouts (https://www.framscouts.org.uk/) and has satellite groups in Sacriston. The local group has been going for some 70 years and is currently thriving with over 200 young people enjoying fun and adventures.

According to the website “We aim to give young people ranging from 4 to 18 years of age the opportunity to build skills for life through our section programmes. We offer new and challenging experiences designed to push the young people out of their comfort zones so they can truly learn and develop whilst also making long lasting friendships.

“Our programmes are designed around young people’s interests and needs in order to ensure they are fun and engaging, so they can get the best out of Scouting, potentially leading to top awards.

“We are an extremely popular group and our numbers are constantly increasing so if you have a young child interested in joining, we encourage you to add them to our waiting list early to ensure they get a place.”

About Scouts

In the UK, The Scout Association supports the 7,000 Scout Groups (www.scouts.org.uk) across the country to provide opportunities to over 444,000 young people aged 4-25 years. More than 587,500 individuals are actively involved in Scouts.

“Put your phone down and what are you left with? Just teamwork, courage and the skills to succeed.”
Bear Grylls, Chief Scout

All genders, races and backgrounds are welcome at Scouts. Every week, it gives almost half a million people the skills they need for school, college, university, the job interview, the important speech, the tricky challenge, and the big dreams: the skills they need for life.  

Over 200 activities are offered by Scouts, from canoeing and caving to coding and community projects, made possible by the efforts of over 163,000 adult volunteers. UK Scouts has over 250 Scout Activity Challenge badges. These require participants to achieve a level of understanding and skill realistic and appropriate to their age range.

Worldwide, Scouts has over 57 million members, both male and female, and operates in nearly every country in the world.

(Photos kindly supplied by Scouts PR, thank-you!)

Breathing Space, Charity, Children, Environment

Woodland Wonders for children in August

The much loved Woodland Wonders children’s activities are back on 6, 7, 8 and 9 August 2024. The activity starts by meeting at St Michael & All Angels Church. This year the theme is ancient Egypt!

The sessions are organised through local charity Breathing Space and all the sessions are led by a Witton Gilbert resident who is a Level 3 Forest school qualified facilitator.

The sessions are free, and optional donations are very welcome. Spaces are very limited – booking in advance is essential see below.

All children under 8 years of age need to be accompanied by an adult. Activities are outdoor and you should dress ready for the weather. No dogs please.

Woodland Wonders can include:

  • Explore the woodland and churchyard
  • Play active outdoor games
  • Discover local wildlife
  • Learn simple green woodwork skills
  • Make crafts from natural materials
  • Listen to stories around the campfire

When and where

  • Tuesday 6 August 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm “Little Wonders” for children aged 2-5 years.
  • Wednesday 7 or Thursday 8 August, 10am-3pm ages 6-12 years.
  • Friday 9 August 10am-3pm. Age 2-12 years. Woodland Wonders with Children’s Hopes and Dreams CHAD local children’s group.

How to book

Book directly at https://www.trybooking.com/uk/eventlist/breathingspace or email info@breathingspace.org.uk.

Places are very limited and booking is essential. All children must be registered using a consent form, which must be completed in advance: “This form will give us the information we need to run the session safely and support all the children, and includes vital information such as emergency contacts, allergies, and photo consent.  Please help us to run safe sessions by completing this form if you intend to bring a child to Woodland Wonders and have not done so this year.”



Community Hall, Environment, Whats On

Join a village clean up on 1 August

Here is a chance to get involved in village activities, make a difference in Witton Gilbert community and show your love for the environment. The clean-up will start from the Witton Gilbert Community Centre (Cooper Hall) on 1 August 2024 and last two hours, from 10am-12 noon.

Clean-up equipment is provided, or bring your own. Refreshments and biscuits are also provided. #litterheroes #nature #WittonGilbert.

For more information, contact Councillor Bev Coult on 07771-840947.

Poster for Witton Gilbert community activity clean-up on 1 August 2025.
Poster for Witton Gilbert community activity clean-up on 1 August 2025.