In the news this month...

Christmas Tractor Run

The popular Christmas Tractor Run returns on Sunday 21 December as Sedgefield Young Farmers hit the streets in aid of Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice.

Tractors are meeting at Hardwick Hall Hotel between 3pm and 4pm where there will be a bar and food van available. The approximate timings for the procession are:
Leave Hardwick Hall 4:30pm
Station Road, Sedgefield 4:35pm
Sedgefield High Street 4:35pm
Fishburn 4:50pm
Trimdon Village 5:05pm
The Black Bull, Trimdon 5:05pm
Trimdon Colliery 5:15pm
88 Takeaway 5:25pm
West Cornforth 5:50pm
Bishop Middleham 6:10pm
Station Road (on return) 6:30pm
Return to Hardwick Hall 6:40pm

There will be a team out on the night with donation buckets around the whole route and a JustGiving page will be available closer to the time. Follow Sedgefield Young Farmers on Facebook for updates.

Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice supports babies and young children who have complex illnesses or disabilities from birth to age five. They work to ensure that very unwell children can enjoy the best possible quality of life and we support their families throughout their journey. You can learn more about the hospice at www.zoes-place.org.uk.

Image courtesy of Paul Heasman

Remembrance


This year’s service at the Winterton war memorial, led by the Sedgefield District Uniformed Services Group (SDUSG), once again brought our community together in a moving act of remembrance.

Representatives from all of our local schools—Sedgefield Primary, Sedgefield Hardwick, and Sedgefield Community College—joined dignitaries, families, and residents to pay their respects.

Despite the rain, pupils from across the community gave outstanding performances, showing dedication, respect, and resilience. Their contributions included poetry readings, musical pieces, and symbolic tributes, all of which reflected the spirit of remembrance.

A round up from the Schools

Ford Castle


Earlier this term, all of our Y7 students had the opportunity to take part in a residential visit to Ford Castle near Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

This is an outward-bound centre and is the fifth year that we have offered an experience of this kind as part of our transition programme and the first where we have used this new venue. Ford Castle was a wonderful base for the week and all of the students who attended can now say that they have slept in a castle!

During the course of the visit, the children were able to take part in a wide range of activities and these included zip wire, vertical challenge and laser tag. The attitude that the students demonstrated throughout their stay was superb. As they faced each new challenge, they were able to develop many of the key skills that we prioritise in school and most notably the ability to 'Stay Positive', 'Leadership' and 'Teamwork'.

Well done to all of our students and a huge thank you to the staff who supervised the visit and made sure the children had an experience that they will never forget!

The visit was provided free of charge to our students thanks to additional charitable funding that is provided to the school through the Laidlaw Foundation. Over the course of the year, a range of additional experiences relating to areas such as the creative arts and STEM workshops will be made available to our students as a consequence of this generous support.

Linking with St Edmund

Sedgefield Primary have always enjoyed strong links with St Edmund's Church and are so lucky to have it in close proximity to our school.

We recently celebrated Key Stage 2 Harvest Festival, where over 120 pupils performed to parents and our local community. Pupils enjoyed using the new staging and microphones to give a real sense of performance!

Year 1 pupils also visited St Edmund's Church. They were specifically looking at the features on the inside and outside of the church. The children were fascinated by the secret door hidden in the wall! They hunted for the features they had talked about in their Religious Education lessons in school and had the opportunity to draw a detailed picture of a feature in church. We would like to thank Brian for opening up the beautiful church and allowing us to visit.

Active Opportunities
Pupils at Sedgefield Primary have been enjoying lessons with Go Well, an activity provider focused on health and well-being. Outdoor sessions and “brainy characters” have helped children feel more resilient and confident. Lilly in Year 5 called it “a brilliant sequence of lessons that helped me understand myself more.”

The Robinwood residential for Year 6 pupils has been a huge success yet again. They had an unforgettable three-day residential taking on canoeing, zip wires, climbing walls and the giant swing. They returned buzzing with excitement from this three-day away visit and many simply used the word, "Amazing!" to describe the time they had experienced.

Drumming up some fun

Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy was alive with energy earlier this month as pupils embraced two exciting learning experiences.

Nursery and Reception classes were drumming up some fun during a special World Music session. A talented musician introduced the children to the magic of rhythm, percussion techniques and the art of matching musical tempo with movement. The hall reverberated with upbeat sounds as pupils explored how music connects cultures and inspires creativity.

Meanwhile, Year 6 took on the challenge of Climate Change Day, hosted by Oases. The day began with a Supergrid introduction and blade testing, followed by an ambitious tower-building competition. Pupils learned about renewable energy, engineering principles, and the importance of sustainability. After lunch, the focus shifted to Green Careers, where pupils discovered inspiring profiles of professionals working to protect our planet.

Both activities provided hands-on and fun-filled learning experiences that aim to spark the pupils’ curiosity and prepare them for a brighter, greener future.

CLOSE Counselling & Supervision. Expert Support, Personal Approach

Life can be challenging, sometimes we all need a safe, supportive space to talk through what’s on our minds. After many fulfilling years working in Durham University, Pauline Forster-Fowler, Counsellor (MBACP Accredited) and Clinical supervisor, is delighted to open a new private practice right here in our community.

Throughout a career dedicated to helping others, Pauline has witnessed first hand the value of empathy, careful listening, and genuine connection—qualities that now form the heart of this new service.

Pauline offers confidential counselling sessions for individuals seeking help with past trauma & attachments, Women’s well-being & menopause, Men’s Mental health, low mood, loss or simply a space to explore personal growth and wellbeing. With a warm and professional approach, each session is tailored to meet your unique needs—helping you find clarity, resilience, and a renewed sense of balance.

For fellow practitioners, Pauline provides clinical supervision, offering guidance, reflection, and professional development in a supportive environment. Whether you’re training, newly qualified or experienced, effective supervision is a vital part of ethical and sustainable practice.

Based in Sedgefield: Sessions are available in person and online for those who find remote support more comfortable. To arrange an initial consultation or find out more, please contact Pauline Forster-Fowler at paulineforsterfowler@outlook.com or call 07955 769700.

You are warmly invited to reach out, whether seeking support for yourself or looking to enhance your professional journey. Sometimes, taking the first step makes all the difference.

Leo McCormack

We were saddened by the death of Leo McCormack. Leo was a gifted musician and a dedicated teacher of music and religious education, whose talents and encouragement inspired many.

He served as Town Councillor and as Mayor of Sedgefield for several years, giving his time generously. He was also active in the Bike and Active Travel Group, always keen to support healthier ways of living. Leo will be remembered for his music, his service, and his commitment to community life. Our thoughts are with his wife, Sandra, and his family.

Award for Fishburn Youth & Community Centre

Great news that Fishburn Youth & Community Centre have won The Village Halls Podcast Inspiration Awards 2025. This award was open to all venues in the UK so this is a real achievement recognising the work of the team – the community, staff and volunteers. Congratulations!

Craft and Create

Craft and Create North East CIC are a team of three local ladies from Sedgefield who provide craft and art workshops across the North East.

They have recently obtained government funding and are therefore able to offer some heavily subsidised workshops running in Sedgefield Parish Hall, the Café at Net Park and in the wider local area.

First up is a full day of children’s workshops on 30 October; with several subsidised adult’s and children's workshops following in November and December. To find out more check out their Facebook page “Craft and Create North East CIC”.

Get in touch

Email your news articles and stories to the news team: news@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk

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History of original Hardwick East Park Entrance Gate

Before the 20th Century development of a large housing estate to the west of the Durham Road in Sedgefield, and the construction of a new road to divert the A177 as a western bypass to the settlement, the eastern boundary of Hardwick East Park was marked by a high brick wall into which was inserted a decorative iron and steel gateway, catering for both carriages and pedestrians, as seen in this early photograph taken over 100 years ago.

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