Sharing Redesdale’s stories

This project aimed to draw visitors to Redesdale away from the ‘pull of the border’ and to give visitors and residents alike a deeper understanding and engagement with the landscape of this historic ‘frontier land’. 

Using a range of interpretation panels along the valley, installations, film and traditional media, the programme’s approach to interpretation was intended to engage the imagination and curiosity of the casual visitor and those who have already decided to explore the area. The aim is to encourage visitors to stop a while, value and engage with the valley, by spending time exploring its hidden heritage. This valley-wide project involved site-based interpretation across the projects including at Whitelee Moor, Ridsdale Ironworks, Bremenium Roman Fort and Otterburn Battlefield site at Percy’s Cross. It included a goat sculpture installation at Whitelee Moor/Carter Bar, architectural installation at Blakehope Nick and 5 Star Cairns to engage people with the area’s dark skies at Byrness, Rochester, Otterburn, Elsdon and West Woodburn.

The first installation delivered was at Blakehope Nick Overlook on the Redesdale Forest Drive. Find out about this fantastic, collaborative project through the video below, with more details on the Blakehope Nick Overlook project page or download a Travelling Tales guide to find out more about the route, The Nick and what to see along the way.

Telling the story of the winter storms in Redesdale is a short film by Marc Rigelsford. Inspired by the storms of winter 2021/22 and using Ted Hughes’ poem ‘Wind’ as a framework, Marc Rigelsford (aka Magic Arm) created an evocative sound piece to explore both the poem’s narrative and personal experiences of the force of wind around Highgreen.

In September 2022 Roddy Matthews from the Coquetdale Music Trust, in collaboration with Ian Stephenson and other local musicians, interviewed and recorded local people’s stories and voices interspersed with folk music of the area to create Redesdale in Music and Stories.

Experts from Forestry England, Northumbrian Water Group, Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership, and Kielder Campsite share their views on the benefits of working through Kielder Water & Development Trust with Newcastle University.