Vertechs Stove and Heating Centre’s newly refurbished showroom at Coopies Field on Morpeth’s Coopies Lane Industrial Estate is now the home of Esse Range Cookers, and features a display of these state-of-the-art electric and wood-burning cookers made by this leading manufacturer that has been hand-building stoves and cast iron cookers for more than 160 years. The Esse 990 fuel-efficient cooker is probably the cleanest-burning appliance of its kind thanks to its twin catalytic converter technology and its electric model benefits from patented heat surround technology. Run by James Sweet, Vertechs is also the main dealer for 15 of the leading wood burning and multi-fuel stove manufacturers. www.vertechs.co.uk
Tree care specialists Stan Timmins & Sons Ltd are the people to call to tackle storm damage and insurance work offering a 24-hour emergency call out service. They also provide a full range of domestic and commercial tree surgery services – including dismantling of diseased and dead trees, tree pruning, crown reductions, hedge maintenance and planting. This family business run by Stan, a Fellow of the Arboricultural Association with over 50 years experience in the industry, and his son Liam. Readers of The Northumbrian magazine are being offered a 15% discount by quoting promo code ‘North2018’. www.stantimmins.co.uk
The family-run Bywell Country Clothing store at Bywell Shooting Ground near Felton stocks a wide range of collections catering for a country lifestyle. It offers leading brands such as Dubarry, Schoffel and Jack Murphy, men’s and ladies tweed jackets; and Le Chameau footware. The Shooting Ground offers clay pigeon lessons for anyone from the complete novice to the experienced shot. www.bywellcountryclothing.co.uk
Beacon Hill Hideaways on 360-acres estate north of Morpeth, offer self-catering, glamping-style holidays for two people in three luxury shepherds huts. Each are 30-feet long with a fully-equipped kitchen, shower room, bedroom and westerly-facing terrace. Log burning stoves and central heating ensure they are suitable for all-year-round use and they are close to a spa with swimming pool, gym and beauty salon. Weekend and mid-week breaks available. www.beaconhillhideaways.co.uk
Rothbury-based Shepherds Walks offer a range of quality walking holidays – both guided and self-guided – to help visitors enjoy the beautiful scenery and heritage of the region. Their local service which involves booking accommodation and bag transfer offers a choice of classic walks including the Hadrian’s Wall Trail, the Northumberland Coastal Path, St. Oswald’s Way and St. Cuthbert’s Way. www.shepherdswalks.co.uk
Robson and Cowan’s country superstore at Scots Gap – famously dubbed the ‘Harrod’s of the North’ by writer Henry Brewis – is the place to go to buy Honda ATVs and accessories, garden machinery and sundries, chainsaws, TV and home appliances, country clothing, equestrian accessories and wild bird seed. www.robsonandcowan.co.uk
Halls of Heddon, the family-run plant nursery established in 1921, is the country’s leading Dahlia and Chrysanthemum specialists bought by customers from all parts of the UK. Their main retail base at West Heddon also has trees, shrubs and garden sundries alongside a wide range of herbaceous perennials. Their 2018 catalogue is now available. www.hallsofheddon.com
This is the month to visit Howick Hall’s woodland garden Silverwood to enjoy the spectacle of large drifts of snowdrops and winter aconites found along woodland walks. Following the Snowdrop Festival, the next attraction will be the flowering of spring bulbs including daffodils and tulips. The garden will be open from Wednesdays to Sundays, 10.30am to 4pm.
A fundraising concert in support of this year’s 51st Northumberland Morpeth Gathering, which takes place from April 6 to 8, featuring an evening of traditional music, song and stories with artists including Alistair Anderson, Bob Bolam, Border Directors and Robin Dunn and Fiddler’s Elbow, is being held at Morpeth Town Hall on Thursday, February 15, commencing at 7.30pm. Tickets available from Morpeth Chantry TIC, or from Kim Bibby-Wilson 01670- 513308.
The Phillips Creative Gallery at Kirkharle Courtyard near Kirkwhelpington has unveiled a collection of humorous, colourful prints featuring Northumberland’s most iconic seabird. Their Puffin Parade comprises 47 – 10 inch by 8 inch – prints dedicated to puffin humour. The mounted prints are available at £9.95 (+ UK p&p £2.95) alongside the gallery’s wide range of books, cards and other art prints. www.puffinparade.com l