Ashington Town Council

06/06/2026

⛏️🕊️ The annual Northumberland Miners’ Picnic will begin with a special Miners’ Memorial Service on Saturday 13th June 2026 at 10:30am at Woodhorn Museum.

The service will honour the miners who worked in Northumberland’s coal mines and remember those who sadly lost their lives in the industry. Led by Ministers of Ashington Churches Together, the memorial remains one of the most important and reflective parts of the long-standing Miners’ Picnic tradition.

A particularly moving moment this year will come from the Ashington & District Male Voice Choir, who will perform Woodhorn Disaster - a powerful tribute naming the 13 miners who lost their lives in the 1916 Woodhorn Colliery disaster. Written by Derek Hobbs and Mike Kirkup as part of Fell ’em Doon, the piece ensures the memories of those men live on through song.

Following the service, visitors can enjoy a fantastic day of entertainment as the Northumberland Miners’ Picnic celebrates the region’s rich mining heritage and community spirit. 🎺🎶

The packed programme includes performances from brass bands from across the county, live music on the main stage, heritage displays, exhibitions, talks, community groups, family activities and hands-on workshops throughout the day.

Families can get creative with Bugs & Beasties craft workshops, join the colourful parade through the museum grounds, discover fascinating stories from Northumberland’s mining past, and learn about important moments in local history through engaging talks and presentations.

There will also be plenty of food and drink available from local independent producers, making it a great day out for all ages. 🍔☕🍰

Business Chair Cllr Mark Purvis said:

"This memorial service stands as a poignant reminder of our mining heritage and honours all those who worked in the Northumberland Coal Mines. It’s a time for reflection and remembrance as we pay our respects to the miners who shaped our community."

📍 Woodhorn Museum, QEII Country Park, Ashington, NE63 9YF
🕥 Saturday 13th June 2026 | 10:30am
🚌 Free accessible shuttle buses will operate between Ashington Leisure Centre and Woodhorn Museum throughout the day.

All members of the public are welcome to attend.

For the full programme and event information, visit the Northumberland Miners’ Picnic page: https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/woodhorn/whats-on/northumberland-miners-picnic-2026

📞 For more information, contact Sharon Parmley on 01670 624520 or email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

⛏️

04/06/2026

🎬✨ It's Volunteers Week — and we have just the thing.

This week, the nation is taking a moment to say thank you to the incredible people who give up their time, for nothing, simply because they care. And here in Ashington, we have plenty to celebrate.

A little while ago, we were proud to share our series of short films — Community, Youth, and Sport in Ashington — produced by the brilliant team at LukLuk Productions. If you haven't watched them yet, this week is the perfect time. And if you have — well, they're well worth a second watch. 🙂

👇

Community: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yll2ULWb3rA
Sports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myBMDiaYCCg
Youth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3EUkVuaIB0

At the heart of every single film are volunteers. People who show up week in, week out. Who give their evenings, their weekends, their energy — not for recognition, but because they believe in what they're doing and the difference it makes to people's lives right here in Ashington.

To every group, every organisation, and every individual who took part in these films — thank you. You've shown Ashington at its very best, and we couldn't be more proud.

But we also know this — the films could only feature a handful of the people making this town tick. So, this week, we want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to every single volunteer in Ashington. You might not be on camera, but we see you. Hundreds of you, quietly getting on with it, making life better for your neighbours, your community, your town.

Ashington is special because of you.

Thank you. 💙

04/06/2026

⛏️🕊️ A special Miners’ Memorial Service will take place at 10:30am on Saturday 13th June at Woodhorn Museum as part of the annual Northumberland Miners’ Picnic.

The service will honour the miners who dedicated their lives to Northumberland’s coal industry and remember those who sadly lost their lives while working in the mines. Led by Ministers of Ashington Churches Together, it remains one of the most important and reflective parts of the Miners’ Picnic, offering an opportunity for communities to come together in remembrance.

This year’s service will include a particularly moving tribute from the Ashington & District Male Voice Choir, who will perform Woodhorn Disaster, a powerful piece that names all 13 miners who lost their lives in the 1916 Woodhorn Colliery disaster. Written by Derek Hobbs and Mike Kirkup as part of Fell ’em Doon, the song stands as a lasting testament to those who perished and helps ensure their memories live on for future generations.

The memorial service is open to everyone and provides an opportunity for former mining families, local residents and visitors alike to reflect on the sacrifices made by miners and their communities.

Following the service, visitors can enjoy the Northumberland Miners’ Picnic, a fantastic day celebrating the region’s proud mining heritage with live brass bands, music, family activities, exhibitions, talks, community groups, workshops, food stalls and much more.

📍 Woodhorn Museum, QEII Country Park, Ashington, NE63 9YF
🕥 Saturday 13th June 2026 | 10:30am

For the full programme and more information, visit:
https://www.northeastmuseums.org.uk/woodhorn/whats-on/northumberland-miners-picnic-2026

⛏️🕊️

04/06/2026

⛏️🕊️ The annual Northumberland Miners’ Picnic will begin with a special Miners’ Memorial Service on Saturday 13th June 2026 at 10:30am at Woodhorn Museum.

The service will honour the miners who worked in Northumberland’s coal mines and remember those who sadly lost their lives in the industry. Led by Ministers of Ashington Churches Together, the memorial remains one of the most important and reflective parts of the long-standing Miners’ Picnic tradition.

A particularly moving moment this year will come from the Ashington & District Male Voice Choir, who will perform ‘Woodhorn Disaster’ — a powerful tribute naming the 13 miners who lost their lives in the 1916 Woodhorn Colliery disaster. Written by Derek Hobbs and Mike Kirkup as part of ‘Fell ’em Doon’, the piece ensures the memories of those men live on through song.

Business Chair Cllr Mark Purvis said:
“This memorial service stands as a poignant reminder of our mining heritage and honours all those who worked in the Northumberland Coal Mines. It’s a time for reflection and remembrance as we pay our respects to the miners who shaped our community.”

📍 Woodhorn Museum, QEII Country Park, Ashington, NE63 9YF
🕥 Saturday 13th June 2026 | 10:30am
All members of the public are welcome to attend.
📞 For more information, contact Sharon Parmley on 01670 624520 or email [[email protected]]

⛏️

03/06/2026

🌿 Celebrate community climate action in Ashington!

Join us at Ashington local market as part of the national Great Big Green Week — a celebration of community action to tackle climate change! 🌍

📅 Tuesday, 9th June 2025 | 10:00am – 2:00pm | Ashington Market

What's on:
🌱 ATC Climate Change Committee showcase & free eco-friendly raffle
🪴 Full Circle Food Project — plant sale & family-friendly gardening activities
🤝 Climate Action Wansbeck — swap pledges for plants
⚡ Citizens Advice Northumberland Energy Team — find out how to save money on your bills
🏠 Northumberland County Council Warmer Homes team — free grants & home energy efficiency advice
♻️ Groundwork NE & Cumbria — recycling advice & volunteering opportunities

It's free, it's friendly, and there's something for everyone — from families to gardening enthusiasts to anyone who cares about Ashington's future. 💚
📧 [email protected]

Together, we can make Ashington greener!

03/06/2026

⚽🏆 ONE WEEK TO GO! 🏆⚽

The countdown is on! In just one week, the World Cup gets underway and Ashington is already showing its support for England's campaign. 🔴⚪

This summer, red and white floral displays are appearing across the town's towers and planters, featuring vibrant geraniums and million bells chosen to reflect the colours of the England flag. It's a proud tribute from the town that gave the world two footballing legends, Jack and Bobby Charlton, whose names are forever etched into World Cup history. 🌹🌼⚽

The celebrations don't stop there. Football-themed projections will light up some of Ashington's best-known landmarks throughout the tournament, including:

✨ Ashington Town Hall Clock Tower
✨ Station Bridge
✨ Ashington Leisure Centre
✨ The Co-op Building opposite Wetherspoons

The projections begin on Thursday 11th June and will continue for as long as England remain in the competition. Fingers crossed they're still lighting up the town right through to the final on 19th July! 🤞🏆

Now over to you...

👀 Will you be watching from the very first kick-off?
🏠 Watching from home or heading out to watch with friends?
🏴 Is England your only team, or will you be following another nation too?
⚽ And how far do you think the Three Lions can go?

Let us know in the comments! ⬇️

🦁🦁🦁 Come on England! 🦁🦁🦁

03/06/2026

Northumberland County Council is preparing a new Local Plan that will help shape development across the county for the next 15 to 20 years. Alongside this, new Housing Design Standards are being developed to help improve the quality and appearance of future homes across the county.

This early consultation stage is one of the most important opportunities for residents, community groups, businesses, schools and sports clubs to influence the decisions that will affect future generations.

⏰ Deadline: Wednesday 1 July 2026

🔗 Find out more about the new Local Plan:
https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning/planning-policy-and-local-plan/new-northumberland-local-plan

🔗 Take part in the consultation:
https://northumberland-consult.objective.co.uk/kse/folder/14897

🔗 View the interactive StoryMap:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/a6229ff9076246dda80594b47d0ed598

📞 Questions? Contact Northumberland County Council's Planning Policy Team on 0345 600 6400 or email [email protected]

Make sure your voice is heard and help shape the future of Ashington and Northumberland. 🌟

We are starting to prepare a new Local Plan for Northumberland. A Local Plan explains how an area should grow and change in the future. It sets out how we will meet housing needs. It also identifies how we deal with important economic, social, and environmental issues. Before we begin writ...