Northumberland Coast education programmes for young people

Building a connection between young people and the National Landscape

Introducing the next generation to this protected landscape

The Northumberland Coast National Landscape delivers programmes for young people, from educational projects to landscape experiences, encouraging curiosity, exploration and understanding. Discover past and current initiatives introducing the next generation to the natural beauty and rich history of this protected landscape.

Generation Green

We are proud to be part of Generation Green 2. This one-year, £4.5m project is being delivered by 24 organisations and will help more than 25,000 young people living in England’s most socially disadvantaged areas to connect with nature. The Northumberland Coast is joining other National Landscapes taking part in Generation Green 2, including Cornwall, Shropshire Hills, North Pennines, Surrey Hills and Mendip Hills. Generation Green 2 is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of its ongoing support of access to nature.

Thanks to the funding, we have been able to offer daytime beach school sessions and a residential experience for nearly 800 children in total, while covering the cost of bus travel too. Beach school providers Mudlarks Outdoors and Ranger Jane are supporting us with the delivery of the project across 2024-2025. The children have provided us with brilliant feedback so far, including one who commented: “That was the best school day ever.”

Children on the beach making sandcastles

Bamburgh Bones

The Bamburgh Bones project tells the story of over 100 people from the 7th and 8th centuries, unearthed from what is believed to be the burial ground associated with the royal court of Northumbria. After being excavated, analysed and researched over a 20-year period, the human remains were laid to rest in the Crypt at St Aidan’s Church in 2016, creating a new ossuary (a place where human bones are kept). There is also a digital ossuary to explore in the church and online, while a short video installation in the Crypt tells the story of their lives.

Isotope analysis has revealed that less than 10% of the people buried in the cemetery came from the immediate Bamburgh area, with most originating in the wider British Isles, particularly Western Scotland, and as far away as Scandinavia and the Mediterranean. Thanks to this scientific analysis of bones and teeth, we know that the skeletons include: a man aged between 17-20 who died after a severe sword blow; an Irish woman of around 25 whose bones show she was almost certainly a weaver or needle worker; and a nine-year-old child, whose teeth reveal they spent their early life in southern France.

The vicar of St Aidan’s, Revd Canon Louise Taylor-Kenyon noted that these findings show that people have always travelled, and even in the 7th century “the idea of country boundaries was fragile.”

Revd Canon Taylor-Kenyon added: “It is a reminder that this nation’s history has continually been one of people visiting, settling, intermingling, and creating relationships and a more diverse society as a consequence.”

Bamburgh Bones explores these people’s stories, which is fascinating for all ages to explore.

The Northumberland Coast National Landscape offers educational visits to the church and crypt, complete with learning resources to school and youth groups. You can contact us for more information.