A group of volunteers research our heritage and deliver fun projects for schools both in the classroom and on site visits.
We devise projects about Land of Oak & Iron legends.
Tommy Armstrong from Shotley Bridge- the Pitman Poet
Send your bairns te skeul, lairn thim aul ye can,
Scholarship is e faithful friend, en yil nivor see the Skeul Bord Man!
Harry Clasper from Swalwell – champion rower
Faithful awd’, Harry-plucky as iver’,
The still bloomin poesy of wor’ coaly river
Interesting activities engage the children. Here they are making a video.
We have frames so that the children can make proggy mats.
Playing tunes on hand bells is always popular.
Heritage Orienteering introduces the children to the former Consett Steel Industry and develops team work.
We have taken the children to Beamish Museum to learn about our heritage and the conditions in which miners worked.
We have had good feedback from teachers.
The project we took part in was fantastic. . . and I know since this visit, that some of our children have researched this further and have taken their parents to the centre in Winlaton.
The children gained so much from this activity, they all thoroughly enjoyed this.
I would recommend this activity to all schools as the children were able to practise skills they don’t necessarily get to use in the classroom.
The team were excellent, very well prepared and knowledgeable. The children thoroughly enjoyed the process and formed very good relationships with the team. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the Land of Oak and Iron and very much hope that we will be able to work with them in the future.
Resources for Schools
Ahead of the COP26 Conference in November 2021 , the Land of Oak & Iron Trust published Releasing the Genie of Coal a book written by Peter Stark and Bill Lancaster.
For schools, we have produced a free, downloadable PowerPoint aimed at KS4/5 and staff CPD
Read more about the the book and find a link to the PowerPoint here
A Legend Evermore
Local musician Roley Veitch has recorded a CD of songs about the history of the lower Derwent Valley, centred on Blaydon and Winlaton.
Winlaton Local History Society prepared a pack for schools in the area, including an A4 book, a copy of the CD and a poster.
The fully-illustrated book contains the lyrics and specially-written local history background for each track. Schools can photocopy pages and there is a loan box of 35 copies available for use in class
Further information here.
Our volunteers enjoy developing these projects and delivering them. We need more volunteers. If you want to be part of the team please contact us using the form below.
The projects are delivered free of charge to schools. We are grateful for grants received from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Durham County Council’s Derwent Valley Area Action Plan, the Newcastle Building Society and AkzoNobel . If you would like to make a donation to support this work please contact us.