Newsletter
Interesting news about tree planting in Barlow
It’s this Saturday so you’ll need to get a move on if you want to take part.
Tree Planting
Come and plant trees on Saturday 28th March at Barlow near Blaydon.
Gateshead Council are creating a new 33 hectare woodland on land they have acquired and Living Woods CIC are helping them to get people involved in community tree planting.
The new woodland will serve as a buffer to some ancient woodland, and will also provide further value for biodiversity, amenity and carbon sequestration.
With your help we’ll be planting a mix of native broadleaf trees on two separate days – 14 and 28 March. Come along and plant some trees that will become part of the new woodland, it is always satisfying and rewarding work, full of community spirit.
Location details:
South Farm, Barlow, Blaydon-on Tyne, Gateshead. We will be in touch with the exact directions/location prior to the day. There is only parking spaces for 10 cars close to the site, so we will encourage and co-ordinate car sharing. It would be great if local people volunteering can either work, or get dropped off. All trees, gloves, equipment and guidance will be provided. Please wear sturdy boots or shoes at it may be muddy. Bring your own lunch/snacks/water/flask as you wish. There is first aid cover in place.
This event is being managed by Living Woods (www.living-woods.org.uk) on behalf of Gateshead Council, the acquisition of the land was funded by England’s Community Forest. These events are part of the ongoing work and by part funded by the North East Community Forest (www.northeastcommunityforest.org.uk ). See more detail and book your place here: Community Tree Planting in Barlow, Gateshead Tickets, Saturday, Mar 28 from 10 am to 3 pm | Eventbrite
Just a reminder-
Fix it cafe number 3
At Blaydon Library
Saturday 28th February
1.45-5pm last items 4pm
Bring along your mending needs……….
Posted 24th February 2026
Sunday 22nd February: Swalwell Cabbage Fest!
Do you know the story of the Swalwell Cabbage? In the 1860s, the largest red cabbage on record was grown in Swalwell, weighing a whopping 55kg and measuring over a metre tall. This Sunday, at Swalwell’s very own IKEA, we will be telling the story of the Swalwell cabbage – Gibside Community Farm will sharing their cabbage-growing and cooking expertise, Ronni from ‘The World is Storytelling’ will be bringing the historical story to life and we’ll be doing some crafts along the way. Brought to you by Tyne Derwent Way with funding from Gateshead Food Partnership!
Here’s the event listing: IKEA Gateshead Event – Swalwell Cabbage Fest!
Posted 20th February 2026
Help us to ban new coal in England for good!
The Government is in consultation at the moment, ending on March 10th.
Coal Action Network are asking us as individuals to write in support of the ban.
If you click on this link it will take you 2 minutes to write – Coal Action have kindly done it all for you!
https://www.coalaction.org.uk/2026/01/27/take-action-end-new-english-coal/
Posted 18th February 2026
Great News!
Blaydon Fix It Cafes are back at Blaydon Library.
Saturdays 31st January 14th and 28th February
1.45-4.45pm, last repair accepted at 4pm
We’ll be welcoming our great fixers back to have a look at your broken things, see if they can be mended and work together with you to fix them.
Bring appliances, household goods, jewellery, clothing and laptops (with power supply) that need mending. Watch and learn, increase your skills. Come early and be prepared for a wait. Last repair accepted at 4.15pm. Only 3 hours parking outside library!
Let us know if you’d like to get involved in any way.
Any questions/ideas/thoughts contact info@transitionwestgateshead.org
Posted 24th January 2026
Wassail at Gibside!
Saturday 17th January 2026
12noon for a 12.30 start
Gibside Community Farm NE16 5LA
For more info contact gibsidecommunityfarm@gmail.com
Come and take part in this seasonal tradition of singing to the fruit trees for a plentiful harvest, followed by refreshments. Wassail songsheets provided.
Posted 13th January 2026
Extract from last meeting 27th October 2025
“12. TWiG succession, our vision. Engaging with young people.
We felt that this is such a big topic that we didn’t have time (or enough people present) to do it justice. We felt that we should have a real push to plan the next meeting to involve as many people as possible, calling in old friends, sending personal invites to people, not just blanket emails.”
We’ve planned our next meeting to be at The Bute Arms on Monday 24th November at 7.30. This is the beginning of the push to try to get more people involved. I know it’s a blanket email, but it’s a start. The main topic of this meeting is about engagement and involvement – we need people who are interested and people with ideas to come along and share them. If you can contribute in any way either in person at the meeting or in writing in advance please please do!
Posted 10th November 2025
Minutes TWiG 23rd September 2025 8pm White Swan Greenside
Presents:
Di(Chair), Nick, Steph, Gweno(Minutes)
Apologies:
Lesley, Mick.
Minutes of the meeting 15th July 25
Discussion about the minutes taking, checking and distributing system. We stick with the current system: draft minutes to chair; then chair amend as required, and send them out.
Everybody happy with the minutes.
Matters arising from the minutes not of the agenda
Gweno talks through his meeting with Warren from Karma Bytes(one million people project); 2 things: a repair cafe with him doing laptop diagnosis; And also having a dedicated software open source event.
1 Update on Gateshead Economic Development Plan (Mick)
N/A
2 Issues arising since last meeting
• Government commits to local supply for community energy
We don’t know when this will happen. Di suggests this should go in the newsletter.
• MP LNER Community Funding
We didn’t put a bid in. Process required fairly long term plan which we were not ready for.
We discuss about having a project designed ready for that kind of funding submission. Di suggests we should have a specific ‘vision’.
• Environment Agency proposal to attend TWiG events, especially re flood defences
Di to look into it, and check the email trail. Mick has been in touch with him to go to Blackhall Mill.
• Waste and Recycling Coordinator Lydia Cave (Nick and Di)
Funding by 3 councils Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside, Nick reckons there are 4 different things we can do with them:
a re-use shop. Nick is happy to follow up on this with Hanna Fleming from Suez.
an electrical recycling fund open-ended. We talk about what material should be recycled in priority: anything with a microchip; lithium battery.
Add Lydia Cave to newsletter email. Nick or Di to send email to Gweno
Make contact with Sustran to see if we can do something together; like an event. Di mentioned doing things around cycle path or footpath.
Meeting with Ellen Tullo re setting up a Transition initiative in Forest Hall. (Nick and Di)
Nick and Di met her. Very positive meeting. She offered TWiG to go at their first event to support/help them, Sat 1st Nov NE12 NAJ. See email forwarded by Di. The group is about 10 people. It’s a good example of TWiG being helpful with other groups by giving information how to set up a group and other things we shared.
Discussion somehow on having links with education bodies. Steph says that is a good example of what vision/project we should have for the future. Thinking of our succession.
This will go in the agenda for next meeting.
3 Planning events for Autumn/Winter 25/26
We are now following on this idea of engage with young people.
Like with Forest school at Steph’s woods, or scouts, and organisations like that.
Di also suggests that loads of associations/charities look for opportunities for young people to experience community work, and that they could do that with us.Steph reminded us of the responibities of working with young people as volunteers in this way.
Gweno is willing to organise another couple of fix-it cafe
4 Finance (Nick)
N/A.
5 Newsletter (Steph)
It has been refreshed but one 1 week after. Steph to meet with Warren. Steph happy to continues if she gets the refreshing problem sorted.
6 Boards (Steph)
Steph has been really busy over the summer but should be able to progress with the boards for next event (likely fix-it cafe).
7 Tidy HQ
N/A.
8 NEPTUG (Di)
Di went to a meeting on Wed last; A lot of progress around the electronic side of the bus timetable, e.g. display on phone been sync with the one publish in stations/bus stop.
Di says that if we have anything to complain/comment about buses and bus stops, to tell her and she will report to the NEPTUG group.
9 AOB
N/A
10 Date time and venue of next meeting
Gweno next chair; Steph to take the minutes;
Mon 27th 8pm White Swan
11 Important Dates
Transition Initiative Forest Hall first event Sat 1st Nov NE12 NAJ.
TWiG meeting Mon 27th 8pm White Swan
Posted 25th October 2025
Project Leader for Chopwell Food Project
Chopwell Regeneration Group is looking to appoint a Project Leader to implement the plans outlined in our successful application to the Gateshead Food Partnership.
Key information:
No of hours per week: 4 hours per week. These hours may be worked flexibly to suit the appointee and according to the demands of the role.
Pay: £500 per month
Place of work: Chopwell
Reporting to: the Senior Programmes Manager, Chopwell Regeneration CIO
Contract term: This is a fixed term contract, for 6 months, from 13th October 2025 to 10th April 2026 (or 6 months from the start date if later than 13th October 2025.
Posted 1st Oct 2025
Hop Garden events
We have a series of four linked events happening at The Hop Garden in Gateshead over the next month themed around food, preserving, health and avoiding waste. If you’re interested, here’s more details: https://mailchi.mp/379bdf00033f/autumn-events-at-the-hop-garden
All suggested small donations thanks to supporting funding from the Gateshead Food Partnership.
best wishes, Sarah
Posted 28th Sept 2025
Great news about work of Gateshead Food Partnership
“From Gardens to Gatherings”, a vibrant celebration of our borough’s growing community food movement, happening on Sunday 21st September, 11am–4pm at Saltwell Park. The event will platform the power of food to connect people across cultures and backgrounds, reduce inequality and improve wellbeing, enhance our environment, and support sustainable local economies.
Posted 10th Sept 25
Great news about reusing phones, IT and tech equipment
Posted 23rd August 25