Updated Nov 2024 – Here’s a summary of projects I’m working on.
6As of Blanchland / Treasures of Blanchland
Developing Treasures of Blanchland – 5 year £2.2M project:
Blanchland rises from C12 Abbey foundations, nestled within glorious countryside, its tenacious community telling centuries of stories. The Grade1 Abbey church is core for residents and visitors: they seek authenticity, solace, beauty, and connection here.
Safeguarding the many Treasures of the village, through repairs, research and warm accessibility; we will orientate the Abbey to share memorable experiences of this deep history. We will also host heritage craft workshops, historical reenactments, community archaeology investigations, and foraging and history walks. Our legacy will be the whetted curiosity of thoughtful visitors and a heartened community, both sustaining this venerable place.
Beltingham Ancient Yews
Researching and reclaiming the Beltingham Ancient Yews – the three largest, and possibly oldest, yews in Northumberland. At risk from iron bands constricting the trunk, and a simple lack of knowledge about complexities of their 2000+ year old ecosystems.
Northumberland Innovators
Helping the united benefice of The Three Kirks and Cambo to develop a joint heritage project interpreting Pauline Dower and family from Cambo (Access to the Countryside and National Parks), Capability Brown who was born at Kirkharle, and engineers Sir Charles and Lady Katherine Parsons of Kirkwhelpington.
Rekindle 1 & 2
I secured £250,000 for Living Woods CIC, from Woods Into Management Forestry Innovation Funding from the Forestry Commission for Rekindle: a 3year project sustaining management of small woodlands with income from commercially unviable material, generated by community groups and private owners previously supported with public funds.
Now working on phase 2.
A Village Hall for an isolated community
Supporting Whittonstall Community Group to take on a license to use their local church as a village hall. Sourcing funds for installing a toilet and kitchen and improving heating and access through the churchyard.
Upwilding Half Acres
Regenerative management of our three acres: originally a pheasant farm, now blooming with a hay meadow, productive hedges, ponds, mini miyawaki forests, orchard, and a developing permaculture garden.
Yvonne Conchie 