ON THE TRAIL OF ST OSWALD

JEFF STANNERS returns to his native county to embark on a week's walking holiday.

FROM NOUGHT TO FORTY IN NEXT TO NO TIME

SUSIE WHITE meets members of the young but vigorous Slaley Garden Club, and visits a couple of their gardens.

A SEASONAL TALE OF RESOURCEFUL MR TOD

This is a time of year when we often become more aware of the fox's presence, as TONY JOISCE explains.

FASCINATION IN EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY

JOHN GRUNDY's two most recent TV series have seen him spread his architectural net wider than before, as he explains.

UP AND RUNNING: THE MORPETH OILFIELD

If you think oilseed rape imposes a gaudy blot on the landscape and is a yellow peril for hay fever sufferers, a talk with ALAN BREWIS and SELBY POTTS could change your mind. On a farm near Morpeth they have poineered a process that turns the seeds of this often maligned crop into a healthy, high-quality culinary oil which they confidently hope is going to give imported olive oil a run for its money.

HOW ST OSWALD'S WAY WAS CREATED

Everyone agrees that St Oswald's Way is a unique long-distance walking route, and not just because it travels through some of the county's finest landscapes. Most long distance footpaths follow on from a carefully orchestrated, painstakingly discussed master plan but Stewart Bonney found that, with Northumberland's newest trail, this was not the case.

A HAWKER HUNTER WHICH RULES INSECT AIRSPACE

DUNCAN HUTT keeps a look-out for the versatile common hawker dragonfly.

FROM PIPES TO BANGERS, VIA PASTURE AND TREES

JOHN SURGEY completes a circular walk taking in Longframlington and countryside near Swarland.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE SIBERIAN VISITOR

IAN KERR profiles a small feathered autumn guest which should be thousands of miles away across Asia.

ROB ROY'S WILD UPLAND HAUNT

KARENZA STOREY goes on the trail of Sir Walter Scott in Northumberland.

INSPIRED IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS

If you are looking for special Christmas gift ideas, need a country drive to recover after a shopping trip or fancy a relaxing weekend break this could be just what you are looking for.

THERE'S NO BETTER TIME TO GO WILD

MIKE PRATT, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, encourages us to enjoy the county's wild landscapes this autumn.

ANGELA'S NEEDLEWORK BRINGS HISTORY ALIVE

Pirates costumes in the Bahamas, traditional shawls in Ireland, Elizabethan gloves in the Tower of London - these are just some of the historical garments which have been lovingly recreated by the skill of a Tynemouth seamstress.