The free events are being run through the SENSE Project. A Feed the Birds Event takes place on February 16, between 1pm and 3pm at Plessey Woods; there will be bird watching at Holywell Pond Reserve on February 17, between 10.30am and 12.30pm; and on February 18, between 1pm and 3pm, at East Cramlington Local Nature Reserve, children will be able to make bird feeders and take part in feathery quizzes and challenges.

Call Laura Lowther on 0191 284 6884.

Bedlington Remembered will take place at Bedlington Library, in Glebe Road, on Thursday, from 2-5.30pm

The event is free. For more information contact 01670 822056.

Local community forums are about to start a six-month programme of public engagement, including public meetings, to help draw up community plans, which will influence future decisions and changes.

Meetings will take place in the Choppington, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Ellington, Linton and Lynemouth areas.

For further information, contact Lynda Fakir, Locality Development Officer for South East Northumberland on 0845 600 6400, email Lynda.Fakir@northumberland.gov.uk or visit northumberland.gov.uk.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust in Plessey Woods will be hosting a Christmas crafts event on Wednesday December 23 between 10.30am and 12.30pm.

The free event will include making reindeer baubles, festive snowmen and robin cards. The event is being funded through the South East Northumberland Sustainable Environments (SENSE) and is supported by Northumberland County Council.

They are part of a £1.25m townscape heritage initiative, funded by Northumberland County Council and Heritage Lottery Fund, with additional funds from Northumberland Local Transport Plan.

The improvements will once again establish the Market Place as the focal point of Bedlington and, to mark this, the official reopening ceremony at 4pm on December 3 will also see the switch-on of the town's Christmas lights.

The Save our Squirrels team will be leading a walk on Wednesday 4th November between 9.00am and 10.30am from the Plessey Woods Information Centre.

There will be opportunity to spot the endangered creatures, often seen in the woodland in the area.

Theatre company Rabbit Damage will present The Curse of Plessey Woods, a musical show about the wicked witch Baba Yaga, at Plessey Woods near Bedlington on Saturday October 31.

The 45-minute show will be performed at 5.30pm, 7pm and 8.30pm. Tickets cost £3.50 for children and £4 for adults and are available from the country park visitor centre on (01670) 824793. Early booking is advised as the event is expected to be popular.

On September 24, Northumberland Wildlife Trust's expert on all things furry - Kevin O'Hara - will be the guide for a "mammal walk".

Walkers will be offered the opportunity to look for otters, red squirrel, fox and deer - and their tracks.

The North East stage starts at Darlington and heads through Durham, Northumberland and Tyneside, finishing at Baltic Square in Gateshead.

Hugh Roberts, chief executive of the Tour of Britain, said: "We are extremely pleased to be bringing the 2009 Tour of Britain back to the North East for a second time.

The event likely to attract the biggest crowd is the Glendale Show (pictured), now in its 117th year, featuring a host of rural attractions and stalls. Spectacular carriage driving and falconry displays and a Ready Steady Cook style cooking competition are some of the highlights of the event on Bank Holiday Monday.

In the bottom corner of the county on the same day, Blanchland & Hunstanworth Show (see link below) will be taking place, and two days before on Saturday Bellingham will also be welcoming visitors to its Show to take part and watch various traditional competitions.

Steve Jemison, who comes from Newcastle, will be visiting Bedlington Library on Friday, September 4, from 2pm to 4pm.

Parents and children can listen to Steve read from his latest book called The First King: Oswald's United Kingdom, which is based on a children's fairy tale about Oswald, the first King of Northumberland.

The 15-strong Bedlington Art Group was formed two years ago following the closure of an adult education course which its members had attended at the town's community high school.

It now meets every Thursday evening at the Bedlington Station Residents' Association building in Ravensworth Terrace so that members can share their enthusiasm for art and scrutinise each other's work.

The early evening event, organised by Northumberland Wildlife Trust, will be held in Plessey Woods and will give walkers the chance to find out more about the species of bats living in the region.

Participants will also have the opportunity to try out a sonic bat detector as they walk around the reserve which will hopefully locate some of the little winged residents.

The church and charity will hold an open day at its Hartford Road hall on Saturday, July 4, from 10am to 2pm when more than 30 different organisations will be attending.

There will be demonstrations by the ambulance, fire and police, dentists and a beauty therapist, advice for children on healthy eating and free fresh fruit provided by Asda.

Sexual health advisers will be on hand to offer information and advice to teenagers as well as mums and dads. There will also be football and keep-fit for children.

A Northumberland's Got Talent competition is being organised to take place on July 4 as part of a family fun day at Druridge Country Park.

Up to 40 auditions will be held for the contest at St Benet Biscop High School, Ridge Terrace, Bedlington, tonight.