Made in Northumberland

Northumberland County Council runs eight day centres helping more than 170 adults with learning disabilities to acquire new skills.

Northumberland County Council runs eight day centres helping more than 170 adults with learning disabilities to acquire new skills.

These include learning to grow plants, make jewellery, ceramics, cakes and reclaim/sell old furniture, with any money made reinvested in this service. 
 
We provide vulnerable adults with a great opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and develop confidence and self-esteem while preparing them for future employment or voluntary work. Wherever possible, activities are delivered in the local community, making it easier for people to attend on a regular basis.
The Aln Valley Railway aims to reopen a heritage railway between the east coast main line near the seaside town of Alnmouth and the historic town of Alnwick.

The Lionheart station at Alnwick is operational and offers short train rides in the summer season; some of them steam hauled. Here, the Aln Valley railway is recreating a railway in the style of a London and North Eastern Railway branch line in the closing years of the steam era, with a collection of historic rolling stock and associated artefacts. 
 
Lionheart station includes a small museum, railway shop, loco shed and The Buffet Stop Café, the café is open from 11am until 3.30pm every day that trains are running. 
 
The railway is operational on Sundays between Easter and September, plus Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends during the school summer holidays. This year, there will be classic car rallies, vintage machinery days, model railway displays and musical events, as well as several themed children’s events and enthusiast days. 
 
Plenty of parking is available along with a sheltered outside seating area with picnic tables and chairs. 
 
 Currently under construction is a new station complex that will feature platforms, waiting rooms, a footbridge, a signal box and steam age paraphernalia. The engine shed and workshop are open to allow visitors to see the restoration work in progress on vintage carriages and locomotives. 
 
We look forward to welcoming visitors. 
The Northstar centre is situated in the north of Berwick in Castlegate and is located near shops and local facilities that are easily accessed on foot. The building is on one level and is easily accessible.

The rooms consist of: 

 

  • kitchen 

  • computer suite 

  • large dining room 

  • sensory room 

  • sessional room 

  • offices 

  • accessible bathroom 

 

There is also a large area outside that we hope to develop as a sensory garden, as well as an area where clients can meet and work outside. 
 
Clients who access Northstar need to be referred by Northumbria Health Care Trust’s care management team. Our clients are adults with learning disabilities, including clients with sensory and physical disabilities. 
 
There is a keyworker system at Northstar, where each person has a named member of staff to who they can approach in confidence, and who will assist the clients on a day-to-day basis, helping to ensure each person is represented properly within the service, assisting with individual choices, such as their timetables and the activities that they would like to be involved in. 
 
All clients have an individual care plan that reflects their own particular needs and have two reviews per year in conjunction with care management, other professionals, carers and parents.



All clients have an individual care plan that reflects their own particular needs and have two reviews per year in conjunction with care management, other professionals, carers and parents.

We have a policy to hire out our rooms to different groups within the local community.

The Northstar Centre

At Northstar, we have developed a very successful jewellery business that is consistently building up a growing client base. Our jewellery is sold via various outlets, including: 

  • The Maltings 
  • Aln Valley Railway shop 

  • Hepscott Park café 

 

The jewellery created is catered towards all ages and tastes, and the group are constantly looking at how to expand their range. 

Another successful venture Northstar has developed, is a printing and photography business. Clients are encouraged to take photographs of local views and places, and then develop the photographs which are mounted or reduced in size and put into keyrings and fridge magnets. 
 
The business can be bespoke, and the group have received a number of orders from local organisations. You can find these items in local outlets that include: 

  • The Maltings 
  • Aln Valley Railway shop 

  • Hepscott Park café 

 

Northstar Print is becoming more popular and building up an extremely good customer base. 

 

Another successful venture Northstar has developed, is a printing and photography business. Clients are encouraged to take photographs of local views and places, and then develop the photographs which are mounted or reduced in size and put into keyrings and fridge magnets. 
 
The business can be bespoke, and the group have received a number of orders from local organisations. You can find these items in local outlets that include: 

  • The Maltings 
  • Aln Valley Railway shop 

  • Hepscott Park café 

 

Northstar Print is becoming more popular and building up an extremely good customer base. 

  • sensory sessions 

  • physiotherapy and exercises 

  • newsletter 

  • Way up North 

  • recycling with the Salvation Army 

  • The Shindiggers drumming group 

  • therapeutic music 

  • pamper sessions 

  • computer sessions 

  • Northumberland Echo and the leading group 

The Northstar team consists of: 

  • clerk 
  • care workers 

  • care supervisors 

  • drivers 

  • passenger assistants 

  • assistant manager 

  • service manager 

 

All staff are trained in statutory/mandatory courses, as required by the policies of Northumberland County Council. Each role has specific training in NVQ/QCF or the equivalent. 
 
At the Northstar Centre, we aim to facilitate a variety of social, educational, therapeutic and employment opportunities for each individual. Our aim is to enable clients to broaden their life experiences and individual choices, as well as encouraging them to be a part of the community that they live in, through using local facilities that are available. 
 
The Northstar Centre incorporates the service principles of privacy, dignity, respect, choice, independence and fulfilment. These are the basis in which we develop and implement our aims and objectives. 

Stephanie Stafford - service manager
Email: Stephanie.Stafford@northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone: 01289 305105

Jean Brooke - assistant unit manager
Email: Jean.Brooke@northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone: 01289 305105

Opening times

Monday – Thursday (9am – 4.30pm)
Friday – (9am - 4pm)
Places available – 35
 

Charges

transport - £1 per journey
meals – £2.50 per meal
The Mowbray Day Centre provides level access to all areas, and has changing facilities and other adaptations/equipment to assist staff in supporting individuals in their personal care needs.

The service aims to provide people with learning and physical disabilities a safe supportive environment to socialise, relax and learn new skills. It also aims to promote a positive presence for individuals in the local community, as well as maximising people’s potential, enhance the individual’s quality of life and promoting independence. 
 
The service operates a keyworker system, ensuring there is an identified worker responsible for liaising with each service user and their family/carers. Keyworkers support service users in making the best of their day service and in any difficulties individuals may encounter. 
 
They also assist the individual to plan their person-centred reviews. The support each individual receives is summarised and set out in their individual care plan, which is updated in accordance with the individual's changing needs and reviewed as part of the person-centred review. 
 
A person-centred review focuses on the person’s strengths and talents. It enables people who are important to an individual to get together to work in partnership, to support them in things that are important for them, and to look at what they need from the service. It provides an opportunity to discuss what’s going well and what isn’t, and to plan/agree actions to help make things better. 
  • 20 day care places
  • Large dining room
  • Fiber optic internet access
  • Garden area with seating and summerhouse
  • Craft room
  • Large common room with easy chairs, TV, DVD, consoles and pool table
  • Accessible toilet and wet room with hoists
  • Multi-sensory rooms fitted with specialist equipment
  • Music room with specialist therapy and Soundbeam sessions
  • Life skills kitchen
  • Professional kitchen for artisan bread production
  • Dark room for immersive cinematic and visual experiences
 
The centre offers a welcoming, relaxing environment which provides therapeutic, recreational and work activities. Each individual has their own weekly timetable that takes into account their iA basket full of bread on salenterests and choices. 

Individuals are supported to participate and contribute to their fullest ability, enjoying new experiences and learning new skills. 
 
Below is a list of activity sessions we offer: 

  • Music therapy, communicating through music interaction and song.
  • Arts and craft sessions to explore creative talents.
  • Soundbeam sessions that make use of interactive technology to assist individuals in their artistic expression.
  • Cookery life skills activities, encouraging cookery skill for daily life.
  • Gardening within the grounds of the centre.
  • Relaxation in sensory room.
  • New age curling.
  • Switch fit and armchair exercises.

Our team consists of:

  • Service manager
  • Assistant manager
  • Care supervisors
  • Care workers
  • Admin staff
  • Kitchen staff

All staff members receive support via regular supervisions and an annual performance appraisal. Each staff member is given the training to enable them to provide a professional service. Staff members are required to have a minimum NVQ II in Health and Social Care, or equivalent, and are provided with up-to-date training in the following:

  • First aid
  • Moving and transferring
  • Protection of vulnerable adults
  • Fire awareness
  • Basic food hygiene
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Personal Safety
  • Equality and diversity

Staff receive this training to ensure they understand and are sensitive and attentive to the needs of their clients, respecting the rights and diversity of each individual.

Mr Peter Douglas – manager
Email: peter.douglas@northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone: 07966 325132
 

Opening times

Monday - Thursday (9am - 4pm)
Friday (9am - 3.30pm) 
 

Address

Mowbray Day Centre
Stakeford Lane,
Choppington,
Northumberland,
NE62 5HQ.
​Blyth Riverside Resource Centre offers service users the opportunity to undertake a range of group activities including: the allotment, music, cooking, crafts, games and sensory activities.

Blyth Riverside provides a weekly programme of activities and there is always something new going on each day, the service also has an offsite accessible allotment situated in Blyth.  
 
 The service works in partnership with other professionals to provide opportunities for service users to join in short training courses, such as art and crafts classes, “Jack & Josephine” and living skills courses.  
 
Blyth Riverside Multi-Sensory Room has Sensory Guru Sound Beam “Magic Carpet” with “Eye gaze” and Magic Mirror equipment suitable for service users of all abilities.  
 
Service users at the centre organise events, love to host darts/pools/dominoes and are involved in an annual football competition at the local leisure centre.  
 
The service can provide shared transport for service users who are unable to travel independently and has three wheelchair accessible vehicles. 
 
Blyth Riverside activities include day trips, centre-based discos, “Wacky” Sport Days, Pantomimes, Bowling and Christmas Fairs.  
 
Service users can relax in quieter areas of the building, play cards, socialise in the sessional room, or sit our small lounge, a multi-sensory room provides a space for more structured and guided relaxation sessions.  
 
Blyth Riverside’s facilities include larger changing rooms with changing beds and mobile hoists. 
 
Before service users attend, staff at the Day Centre will undertake a full risk assessment identifying any additional support needs, each service user is allocated a keyworker, who supports them in making the most of their day service. Keyworkers are responsible for liaising with the service user and their family/carers, assisting the individual to plan their person-centred programme, focusing on the persons individual needs, strengths, and talents.

Blyth Riverside Resource centre provides level access to all areas, with changing facilities, other adaptations, and equipment to assist in supporting individuals in their personal care needs.  

The service offers up to 28 day care places.   

The building comprises of: 

  • Large dining room   
  • Garden area   
  • Craft room   
  • Music room   
  • Large common room with easy chairs, TV, DVD and Wii   
  • Accessible toilet and wet room with hoists   
  • Multi-sensory rooms fitted with specialist equipment   
  • Life skills kitchen   
  • Small common room with TV and DVD   
  • Allotment with large potting shed, polytunnels, running water and toilet   
  • Accessible garden area with outdoor furniture and raised flower beds

 

Blyth Riverside Resource Centre offers a welcoming, relaxing environment that meets the needs of the individual by providing therapeutic, recreational, and work activities, each individual has their own weekly timetable, reflecting their interests and individuals are supported to participate and contribute to their fullest ability, enjoying new experiences and learning new skills. 
 
Below is a list of activity sessions we offer:  

  • Individual and group music therapy, enabling the individual to explore their creative talents.   
  • Karaoke  
  • Cookery  
  • Gardening   
  • Arts and crafts   
  • Baking and cooking   
  • Group and team games  
  • Sensory relaxation    
  • Beauty group   
  • Wii fit and armchair exercises   
Our team consists of: 
  • Service manager 
  • Assistant manager 
  • Care supervisors 
  • Care workers 
  • Admin staff 
  • Kitchen staff  

All staff members receive support via regular supervisions and an annual performance appraisal. Each staff member is given the training to enable them to provide a professional service. Staff members are required to have a minimum NVQ II in Health and Social Care, or equivalent, and are provided with up-to-date training in the following: 

  • First aid 
  • Moving and transferring 
  • Protection of vulnerable adults 
  • Fire awareness 
  • Basic food hygiene 
  • Infection prevention and control 
  • Personal Safety 
  • Equality and diversity 

Staff receive this training to ensure they understand and are sensitive and attentive to the needs of their clients, respecting the rights and diversity of each individual. 

To email the centre:
peter.douglas@northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone: 01670 353276
Mobile: 07966 325132

Blyth Riverside Resource Centre
Coniston Road
Blyth Riverside Business Park
Blyth
Northumberland
NE24 4RQ

Telephone: 01670 353276
Opening times
  • Monday - Thursday (9am - 4.30pm)
  • Friday (9am - 4pm)
The Tynedale Centre is situated on the outskirts of Hexham, close to the River Tyne. We have a large, user-friendly building with accessible bathrooms and provide lunch and refreshments in our spacious and sunny dining room.

We are a 20-place day care centre that supports adults with learning disabilities, and we offer service users individual timetables, where they have chosen the activities they would like to do. 
 
We also operate a keyworker system where each person has a named member of staff, who they can approach in confidence.

The Centre of Recycling Enterprise (CORE) was established in 2006 and is a social firm specialising in the recycling of furniture and electrical goods. The enterprise provides essential training, work experience and paid employment to service users and volunteers with different abilities. 

  • Telephone: 01434 607509 

 
Other activities on offer include: 

  • sensory room 
  • well stocked art and craft room 

  • horse riding at RDA Pegasus stables, Morpeth 

  • swimming at Wentworth leisure centre 

  • allotment and sensory garden 

  • newsletter 

  • karaoke and music sessions 

  • leisure centre – rebound therapy and gym 

  • ten pin bowling 

  • personal presentation 

  • cookery sessions 

  • walking 

  • Makaton sign language 

 

We also offer bespoke trips out into the community. 

At the Tynedale centre, we aim to facilitate a variety of educational, social, therapeutic and employment opportunities to broaden life experiences and allow service users to exercise their right to self-determination and choice.  
 
Our belief is that of inclusion, valuing each person’s individual skills and talent. We seek to enable clients to have a real presence in their community by using existing community services, whenever possible, participating and sharing local community facilities. 
 
Our aims and objectives incorporate the service principles of privacy, dignity, respect, choice, independence and fulfilment. 
 
We also input/liaise with other professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, wheelchair services and behaviour analysis intervention teams (BAIT). 

All staff are trained in statutory/mandatory courses to Northumberland County Council policy. Each role has specific training in NVQ/QCF or equivalent for each post. Our team is made up of: 

  • care supervisors 
  • care workers 

  • drivers 

  • cooks 

  • administrative staff 

 

We have three supported employment staff who are domestic assistants and work in our kitchen. 

Beverley Sproates - manager
Email: Beverley.Sproates@northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone: 01434 605245

Jemma McGinley - assistant manager
Email: Jemma.McGinley@Northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone: 01434 605245

Opening times

Monday - Thursday (9am - 4.30pm)
Friday (9am - 4pm)
​The Pottergate Centre is situated nearby Alnwick town centre, close to the shops and local facilities, which are easily accessed on foot.

The building is all on one level with numerous accessible, light and airy rooms that also include accessible bathrooms. Rooms consist of: 

  • two working kitchens 
  • a large dining room 

  • music room 

  • sessional rooms 

  • physiotherapy room 

  • a sensory room 

 

Outside there is an established sensory garden, the potting shed, two allotments, a large polytunnel and two greenhouses. We have a policy to hire out our rooms to different groups within the local community. 
 
 
There is a keyworker system at the Pottergate Centre where each person has a named member of staff they can approach in confidence and who will assist the clients on a day-to-day basis, ensuring each person is properly represented within the service and assisting with the individual’s choices, such as their timetables, where they choose the activities that they would like to do. 
 
Equally, all clients have an individual care plan that reflects their particular needs, and they have two reviews of their service at the Pottergate Centre each year in conjunction with care management, other professionals, carers and parents. 
 
Clients who access Pottergate need to be referred by Northumberland County Council’s care management team. Our clients are adults with learning disabilities, including clients with sensory and physical disabilities. 

Over a number of years we have, developed a catering business called Pottergate Pantry. The pantry provides upwards of  40 meals per day for everyone at the centre and offers a wide range to choose from. The catering is divided between the main kitchen, where the savoury products are made, and the green kitchen, where all the cakes, biscuits and tray bakes are made. 
 
This initially began as a frozen food venture, but we now supply a number of outlets in the community including frozen meals, cakes and tray bakes, seasonal hampers and Christmas cakes which can all be purchased daily from the Pottergate centre. 
 
 
 
Tray bakes, cakes and biscuits are provided weekly to: 

  • Aln Valley Railway 
  • Cramlington and Wansbeck Hospital Shops 

  • Blagdon farm Shop 

  • Coffee cart at County Hall 

 

 During the Alnwick flower show, the pantry provided tea, coffee and biscuits from our pop-up cafe. 
 
Our kitchens are awarded five stars on the “scores on the doors”. 
 
Pottergate Pantry and the Potting Shed are part of the Made in Northumberland brand, which brings together all the businesses that are established in our Northumberland County Council learning disabilities day services. 




 
The Potting Shed is a growing gardening business with approximately six clients who plant ‘plugs’, grow plants and vegetables including onions, beetroot, beans and soft fruit bushes for jam that are prepared by Pottergate Pantry to be either eaten in house or sold. 
 
They are also responsible for the floral displays around the centre to enhance and brighten the external areas of the centre.  
 
In 2021 and 2022 the Gardeners won outstanding awards from Northumberland in Bloom for its your neighbourhood category. 

The Rhythm Stix are a group of drummers within the centre who have proven to be extremely popular. The group work extremely hard to produce a unique sound that has proven a hit with the public. They have taken part in workshops at other Day Centres and community venues within Northumberland, to both entertain and give others a chance to drum. 

 

Activities on offer 

  • sensory sessions 

  • sport sessions at the local leisure centreThe Potting Shed 

  • Pottergate Pantry 

  • leisure activities i magic mat and magic mirror, curling, inclusive aerobics activities 

  • The Rhythm Stix – drumming 

  • art  

  • pamper sessions 

  •  drama   

  • Pottergate Fast forward forum group

This service was created to meet the needs of two clients with complex care needs and who require a nursing service. Two nurses lead a team of care staff who work with clients to provide a safe and stimulating day service.

The team consists of: 

  • care supervisors 
  • care workers 

  • administrative staff 

  • service manager 

  • assistant manager 

 

All staff are trained in statutory/mandatory courses, as required by the policies of Northumberland County Council. Each role has specific training in NVQ/QCF or equivalent. At the Pottergate centre, we aim to facilitate a variety of social, educational, therapeutic and employment opportunities for each individual. Our aim is to enable clients to broaden their life experiences and individual choices. We aim to enable clients to be part of the community that they live in by using local facilities that are available, thus promoting inclusion. 
 
The Pottergate centre incorporates the service principles of privacy, dignity, respect, choice, independence and fulfilment. These principles are the basis on which we develop and implement our aims and objectives. 

Stephanie Stafford – service manager 
Email: Stephanie.Stafford@northumberland.gov.uk 
 
 
Lesley Rourke - assistant manager
 
Email: Lesley.Rourke@northumberland.gov.uk 
Telephone: 01665 602181 
 
  

Opening times 

  • Monday – Thursday (9am – 4.30pm) 

  • Friday (9am – 4pm) 

Charges 

  • transport - £1 per journey 

  • meals – £2.50 per meal 

 


 
The horticultural skills unit has been offering a service to people since it opened in January 1985. Since that time, many plants have been grown and sold to the public and many people with learning disabilities have benefited from the service.

In 2011, a major investment within the unit saw our older glass houses being replaced with new ones, as well as the refurbishment of our main building. Since then, we have enjoyed a very pleasant, light, spacious and easily accessible building that can comfortably accommodate 20 to 25 people with level access to all areas. 
 
In 2015, the horticultural skills unit celebrated its 30th anniversary with a series of events. In 2020 the HSU would have celebrated its 35th anniversary, but the Covid 19 pandemic caused the service to close in March 2020. Our service began to welcome people back in July 2020 and has been open since then. In November 2022 there are still some covid restrictions in place, but there are a lot more people using the service and the HSU is open for plant sales to the public. 
 
We offer people who have disabilities a safe and relaxing environment where they can make friends, enjoy themselves and be themselves without discrimination. We aim to maximise each individual’s potential, promote their independence and enhance their quality of life. 
 
In 2014, the unit took over the Hepscott park garden café that opened in 2012. The café, along with our new glasshouses, home-grown plants and occasional activities for adults and children, has made the horticultural skills unit a popular place for members of the public to visit.

Hepscott Park HSU offers training and work experience in horticulture and related skills for adults with learning disabilities. Each day begins with a morning meeting  involving all service users and staff. This gives a chance for people to find out what has been happening within the unit and to get involved in planning the work to be done that day. 
 
People choose their own work and there is likely to be a wide range of horticultural related work available. The main focus of the unit is growing plants for sale to the public. Most sales take place onsite, although we also sell in other locations. 
 
The unit also makes its own compost from leaf mould, which avoids the use of peat. 
 
Vegetables are grown on an allotment scale and there are several landscaped areas that are planted and maintained, including a small amount of grass cutting. 
 
The available work will change depending on the time of year, the weather, the rate of plant sales and the needs/interests of those working that day. 

 

  • 16 day care places per day. 

  • Newly refurbished main building with excellent facilities. 

  • Three large, heated cedar glass houses. 

  • Three polytunnels and cold frames. 

  • Allotment area. 

  • Landscaped areas, including: 

    • The quiet garden 
    • The summerhouse garden 
    • The scented garden 

    • Wildlife pond 

  • Signposted garden walk for public access. 

  • Woodland area with wormery, composting and willow fencing. 

  • Sheds for storage and workshops. 

  • Horticultural tools and machinery. 

  • People carrier and crew cab van for garden visits / contract grass cutting. 

  • Large low loader trailer for carrying grass cutting machinery. 

  • Large collection of plants for sale to the public – all grown from seed and cuttings. 

  • Peaceful environment. 

  • Adjacent to the Hepscott Park garden café. 

Potting shed: 

  • seed sowing 

  • taking cuttings 

  • pricking out seedlings 

  • washing pots 

  • writing labels 

Greenhouses and polytunnels: 

  • moving plants 

  • watering plants 

  • checking and maintaining plants 

Shop and sales: 

  • serving customers 

  • money handling / using cash register 

  • re-stocking sales area 

  • presentation 

Making compost: 

  • piling dead leaves into compounds in the woods 

  • building and maintaining compost heaps 

  • sieving and riddling leaf mould 

  • sterilising leaf mould 

  • mixing leaf mould with sand and nutrients 

  • barrowing potting compost to potting shed 

Growing vegetables: 

  • soil preparation: digging, raking, preparing a seed bed 

  • seed sowing outdoors, planting 

  • hoeing, weeding 

  • harvesting vegetables 

Looking after gardens: 

  • grass cutting using a mower and strimmer 

  • planting flowers 

  • weeding flower beds 

Out and about: 

  • visits to local gardens 

  • visits to garden centres 

  • annual holiday to visit gardens in other areas 

  • sales at markets and other venues 

  • annual cricket match 

The horticultural skills unit is unlike the average garden centre: it is a small, but busy nursery that grows a wide range of plants, specialising in unusual, hardy perennials that we sell to members of the public. 

 
At the unit, customers have a chance to talk to the people who have grown the plants and to find unusual plants that they wouldn’t find elsewhere. Customers can also walk around our garden trail, or even call into the garden café for a cup of tea or bite to eat. 

We occasionally offer horticultural workshops and these, as well as other horticultural skills unit activities are posted below. 
 
Horticultural Skills Unit Events 

Programme of events coming soon 
 
The horticultural skills unit celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2015 with a series of events, including a visit from the Duchess of Northumberland.

Manager: Clive Moon
Assistant manager: Brian Wilkinson
Address: Hepscott Park, Morpeth, NE61 6NF (Location Map)
Service opening times 
Monday – Thursday (9am to 4.30pm) 
Friday (9am – 4pm) 
 
Normal plant sales opening times 
Monday – Saturday (10am – 4pm) 
 
Current plant sales opening times (Covid restrictions) 

Monday and Wednesday, 1pm to 3pm 



 
Tynedale Horticultural Service offers a service to people with learning disabilities within the grounds of Minsteracres Retreat Centre, where it has become an established part of the Minsteracres community, growing plants and maintaining gardens and woodland.



We are based in the Old Laundry at Minsteracres, a recently refurbished building with excellent facilities 
The service is delivered within the beautiful and tranquil setting of Mnisteracres grounds, offering people who have disabilities a safe and relaxing environment to come and make friends, enjoy themselves and be themselves without discrimination. We aim to maximise each individual’s potential, promote their independence and enhance their quality of life. 

  

Each day starts with a morning meeting, involving all service users and staff. This allows people to find out what has been happening and to get involved in planning the work to be done that day. People choose the work they are going to be doing and there is likely to be a wide range of horticultural related work available.  
 
The main focus of the unit is growing plants for sale to the public. Some sales take place on site, although we also take plants in our van for sale at other locations. Planting and maintaining flower beds around Minsteracres Retreat Centre, grass cutting and strimming, as well as woodland management are other important areas of work. The work available will change according to the time of year, the weather and the rate of plant sales. 
  • 10 day care places per day. 

  • Well-appointed Old Laundry used as a base, with meeting room, kitchen and toilets and offices upstairs. 

  • two heated glasshouses 

  • Polytunnels 

  • allotment area 

  • Minsteracres gardens and planters – around the main house – which we help to maintain. 

  • Minsteracres wider estate and woodland, with woodland trail 

  • Large tool shed / workshop with large yard for log splitting. 

  • horticultural tools and machinery 

  • crew cab van for garden visits 

  • large low loader trailer for carrying grass cutting machinery 

  • collection of plants for sale to the public – all grown from seed and cuttings 

  • peaceful environment 

  • beautiful scenery 

  • Tynedale horticultural service is in an elevated location, with views of the Simonside Hills to the north. 

Plant production 

  • seed sowing in trays 

  • taking cuttings 

  • pricking out seedlings 

  • potting plants 

  • washing pots 

  • writing labels 

Greenhouses and polytunnels 

  • moving plants 

  • watering plants 

  • checking/maintaining plants 

  • growing tomatoes, sweetcorn etc. 

Plant sales 

  • sales – serving customers 

  • sales – using cash register/handling money 

  • sales at other community venues (Haltwhistle plant fair, Allendale fair) 

  • re-stocking sales area/good presentation 

Growing vegetables 

  • soil preparation: digging, raking, preparing a seed bed 

  • seed sowing outdoors, planting 

  • hoeing, weeding 

  • harvesting vegetables 

Looking after gardens 

  • grass cutting – using mower/strimmer 

  • planting flowers 

  • weeding flower beds 

Woodland work 

  • cutting fallen timber 

  • tree planting 

  • trail building 

  • log splitting 

  • making kindling 

  • chipping waste timber 

Making leaf mould 

  • piling dead leaves into compounds 

  • building and maintaining compost heaps 

  • sieving and riddling leaf mould 

Out and about 

  • visits to local gardens 

  • visits to garden centres 

  • annual holiday to visit gardens in other areas 

  • sales at markets and other venues 

  • annual cricket match 

Tynedale Horticultural Service is not like an average garden centre. We have a small glasshouse area beside Minsteracres Retreat Centre where we grow a range of plants from seed and cuttings, specialising in unusual hardy perennials. We sell these to members of the public who are visiting the Retreat Centre.  We would normally be open for plant sales on weekdays between 10am and 3.30pm. 

 
Manager: Clive Moon
Email: Clive.Moon@northumberland.gov.uk
Mobile: 07990793453

Assistant Manager: Karen Hemming
Email: Karen.Hemming@northumberland.gov.uk
Mobile: 07775227666
Landline: 01434 344933
Email: tynedalehorticulturalservice@northumberland.gov.uk
Service opening times:
Monday – Thursday (9am - 4.30pm)
Friday (9am - 4pm)

Plant sales opening times: 
Currently closed due to Covid 19
In 1996, the unit was run by Earth Balance. However, since September 1999, it has been run by Northumberland County Council.

Since then, many vegetables and plants have been grown and sold to the public and many people with learning disabilities and mental health needs have benefited from the service provided.  
 
The quantity of vegetables grown and sold has increased over the last few years and as a result now has a brown tourist sign on the main road, directing customers to Sleekburn HTU kitchen gardens. 
 
The unit is a rural oasis hidden away from the main road and a lot of our first time visitors are surprised to find a slice of the countryside amidst a mainly rural area.  
 
The HTU has a pleasant, peaceful working environment and the sense of secluded space is part of the unit’s identity. However, the sense of community within the unit is just as important in making the unit a great place to work or visit. It offers people who have disabilities a safe, relaxing environment to work, make friends, enjoy themselves and be themselves without discrimination. We aim to maximise each individual’s potential, promote their independence and enhance their quality of life. 

  

Sleekburn HTU offers training and work experience in horticulture for adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs. Each day begins with a morning meeting involving all service users and staff. This gives a chance for people to find out what has been happening within the unit and to get involved in planning the work to be done that day. 
 
The main focus of the unit is growing vegetables and plants for sale to the public. Sales take place on site, and we are working on trying to increase the number of customers who visit us, but we also take our produce in our van to other locations, as well as selling to retailers. 
 
The available work will change depending on the time of year, the weather, the rate of sale, yields and the needs/interests of those working that day. 
  • 18 day care places per day 

  • purpose built, turf-roofed training building with excellent facilities 

  • two polycarbonate greenhouses 

  • three polytunnels 

  • large potting shed 

  • several acres of growing space for vegetables and soft fruit 

  • stable building and paddocks with two horses 

  • small ‘secret garden’ areas 

  • horticultural tools and machinery 

  • people carrier & crew cab van for garden visits/contract grass cutting 

  • large low loader trailer for carrying grass cutting machinery 

  • vegetables and plants for sale to the public – all grown without chemicals 

  • peaceful environment 

  • the unit is at the southern end of the Earth Balance site 

Potting shed 

  • seed sowing 

  • taking cuttings 

  • pricking out seedlings 

  • potting plants 

  • washing pots 

  • writing labels 

Greenhouses and polytunnels 

  • moving plants 

  • watering plants 

  • checking and maintaining plants 

Field work 

  • rotavating (using tractor) 

  • soil preparation 

  • seed sowing outdoors 

  • harvesting vegetables 

  • mowing and strimming 

Vegetable sales 

  • weighing and bagging 

  • serving customers 

  • deliveries to retailers 

  • money handling / using cash register 

  • stalls and other venues 

Construction work 

  • Building sheds on site: we have built a large wood store and two storage sheds. 

  • Re-covering polytunnels 

  • Re-surfacing paths 

Woodland work, cutting logs 

  • Cutting dead timber in shelter belt and willow plantations 

  • Cutting logs for use in wood burning stove 

Equine care 

  • mucking out stables 

  • exercising and moving between paddocks 

  • maintaining paddocks 

  • feeding and watering 

Willow and crafts 

  • cutting willow 

  • weaving willow 

  • making Christmas wreaths 

Looking after gardens 

  • Grass cutting using a mower and strimmer 

  • planting flowers 

  • weeding flower beds 

Out and about 

  • visits to local gardens 

  • visits to garden centres 

  • annual holiday to visit garden centres in other areas 

  • sales at markets and other venues 

  • annual cricket match 

  • contract grass cutting 

 

Sleekburn horticultural unit is a small, but busy market garden. We specialise in fresh, local, healthy vegetables, herbs and soft fruits grown without chemicals in fields and polytunnels. We sell directly to the public on site and off site at fairs and other events. We also sell to retailers, and you can find our vegetables at Moorhouse Farm, Stannington and Morpeth. The vegetables we have available varies from week to week and customers can see where they have been grown and may have a chance to harvest your own vegetables from the field.
Manager: Clive Moon
Email: Clive.Moon@northumberland.gov.uk
Telephone: 07990793453

Assistant manager: Ann Middlemiss
Email: ann.middlemiss@northumberland.gov.uk 
Telephone: 07966325225

Address: Sleekburn Horticultural Training Unit, West Sleekburn Farm, Bomarsund, Bedlington NE22 7AD
01670 530111
Email: sleekburnhtu@northumberland.gov.uk

Service opening times:
Monday – Thursday (9am - 4.30pm)
Friday (9am - 4pm)

Vegetable & plant sales opening times:
Monday – Friday (10am - 4pm)