A new Hexhamshire website is currently being developed, and this posting is to introduce myself (Michael Elphick) as the designer and administrator. I have previously set up websites for Slaley Parish Council (www.slaley.org.uk) and the West Northumberland Community Buildings Consortium (www.westnorthumberlandcbc.org.uk).

This new site will eventually replace the previous site here at www.hexhamshire.info, but will not take over completely for some time. The new site will be based at www.hexhamshire.org.uk, but is not publicly available yet.

The content from the existing site will be transferred over, and the organisation will be based on similar groupings: Area, Church, Council, Groups, Hall, School, and Wetlands.

Any ideas and suggestions for new content or services (e.g. ‘For sale or Wanted’?) will be welcome. Please contact me at any of the following:

• admin@hexhamshire.org.uk (email)
• michael@elphicks.plus.com (email)
• 01434 673443 (home phone)

Michael Elphick.

Hexhamshire Garden Trail, 12th June.

King James 1st is reputed to have said on arriving in Hexhamshire “verily this is the Heart of All England”. You too can discover the variety of over 20 of Hexhamshire’s wonderful gardens! In aid of St Helen’s Church, Whitley Chapel a garden trail has been organised around The Shire on 12 June from 11am ‘til 5.30pm. The day includes pony rides and a competition for children with a fabulous prize of a “birthday party” event at the Kingswood Activity Centre, Dukeshouse Wood, Hexham. Slaley Village Shop, Holly Bush Garden Centre, Gibson & Co, Audek and Hexham Race Course have provided other prizes and support. Plants, cake stall, tombola, games, a quiz for adults and soup and a roll are all features of the day. A full trail map will be available from St Helen’s Church.

Tickets in advance £4.50 (children free) from 01434 673709 : 682690 : 673452 or on the day from St Helen’s £5.00.

Hexhamshire.info has undergone a major overhaul to (hopefully) make it easier to browse.

Instead of the old layout where old sections had their own dedicated news section, all this information will now be collated in this section in both text form and a calendar view (coming soon); which should make it easier for you to see exactly what is going on when.