Bishop Middleham Parish Council

11/04/2026

Special Public Meeting Monday 20 April at 5:30pm in Sedgefield Parish Hall

16/03/2026

🌿 A Heartfelt Thank You for Our Newly Laid Hedge

If you’ve walked past through the recreation ground recently, you may have noticed a beautiful stretch of freshly laid hedge taking shape. This lovely bit of countryside craftsmanship is thanks to the hard work and generosity of Dawn and Stuart Procter, who have given up their time to help care for one of our village’s natural boundaries.

A Traditional Skill Bringing New Life - Hedgelaying is a real labour of love. It’s a traditional skill that keeps hedges healthy, encourages new growth from the base, and creates a thick, living barrier that supports birds, insects, and small mammals. The photos show just how much care goes into the process—cutting, bending, weaving, and staking each stem so the hedge can grow back stronger than before.

Just the Beginning - This winter’s work is only a small part of a much bigger plan. Next year, the hedgelaying will continue along the back of the football field, gradually restoring the whole stretch in a way that’s sensitive to wildlife and manageable for volunteers.

Pressing Pause for Nature - With nesting season now beginning, all work has stopped to give our hedgerow birds the peace and protection they need. Once the season has passed, the next phase will pick up again—slowly, carefully, and with the same dedication Dawn and Stuart have already shown.

16/03/2026

Litter Pick – 14 March: Thank You to Everyone Who Joined Us

A small but determined group of volunteers came together on 14 March for our latest village litter pick, and what we lacked in numbers we more than made up for in effort. By the end of the session, we had collected a surprising amount of rubbish from around the parish — a reminder of how important these community clean‑ups are.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time. Your contribution makes a real difference to keeping our Parish looking welcoming and well cared for.

We’ll be organising another litter pick soon, so please keep an eye out for the next date. New volunteers are always welcome.

14/03/2026

🌟 Litter Picking Event – Saturday 14th March!
Grab your smiles and your sturdy shoes — we’re giving the village a spring clean! 😄🧹

📍 Meet at 10am at the Village Hall
👟 Wear comfy, weather‑proof clothing
🧤 We’ll bring all the equipment — you just bring the good vibes!

Let’s make our village sparkle together ✨
Everyone welcome — the more helping hands, the brighter the shine! 💚🌿

06/03/2026

A quick reminder to everyone in Bishop Middleham: dog fouling in our village is becoming a real problem, especially around the park. Neighbourhood Wardens have now increased their patrols because the issue just isn’t improving.

The park is used every week by our local football teams, their families, and supporters. They shouldn’t have to step over dog mess on their way to a match. It’s unfair, it’s unpleasant, and it spoils a space that’s meant for everyone.

If you’re walking your dog, please pick up after them. It takes seconds and makes a huge difference to the whole community.

Let’s keep our village clean, safe, and respectful for everyone who uses it.

DOG FOULING IN BISHOP MIDDLEHAM – SW114 has increased patrols on The Park, Bishop Middleham after complaints from local people.
If you have any information which may help us to identify those responsible or reduce this problem please get in touch on 03000 260000 or at www.durham.gov.uk/doitonline

04/03/2026

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service has published its draft Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2026-2030. The document is open to a 12-week period of consultation, which closes at midnight on Wednesday 13 May 2026.

The plan covers everything from how the service prevents fires to how it responds to emergency calls. The document looks at the risks that communities face and how they can be tackled.

The draft CRMP highlights how the service aims to focus in four priority areas:
- Emergency response
- Strengthening collaboration
- Community safety and arson reduction
- Supporting our people.

This is an opportunity for residents to have a say on the future of the service. This year, there is also the opportunity for participants to win a prize of either a firefighter for a day experience, or a £100 Amazon voucher.

To read the full CRMP visit www.ddfire.gov.uk/community-risk-management-plan-consultation-2026-2030.

The consultation can be completed online by clicking the following link or using the QR code in the image with this post: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CRMP26-30.

02/03/2026

Newsletter from Cornforth Partnership

10/02/2026

Need support with your wellbeing, pop along to Hutton House today and see what support is available.

🌟 Elevate Pop Up Hub is coming to Chilton next week! 🌟
Looking for support with work, skills, confidence or your wellbeing? Come and meet the Elevate team and our partners — no pressure, just possibilities!💬✨
📍 Chilton Town Council (Hutton House)
🕘10am – 2pm each day
👣 Tuesday 10th February – Health & Wellbeing Day
Join Move for a refreshing wellbeing walk 🚶‍♂️🌿 and chat with Wellbeing for Life about the support available to help you feel your best.
We’re also here to help with next steps into work, learning and building confidence. 💛
📚 Wednesday 11th February – Apprenticeships, Skills & VR Interview Coaching
Come along and meet South West Durham Training between 10am–12pm to explore courses, training routes and apprenticeships 🔧🎓
PLUS… try our Virtual Speech Programme using VR headsets! 🎮🕶️
Perfect for practising interviews, building confidence and improving communication skills in a realistic virtual setting.
🤝 Thursday 12th February – Volunteering & Community Support
We’ll be joined by:
🍞The Bread and Butter Thing
🏛️Chilton Town Council
🧠Durham Learn
Find out about volunteering opportunities, community support and learning pathways to help you move forward.
👉 Drop in anytime — no appointment needed!
Scan the QR code on the poster or get in touch:
📩 [email protected]
📞 03000 262 009
Let’s elevate your skills and confidence together! 🚀💼
See you there!

02/02/2026

Check out the ways you can report fraud.

19/01/2026

Don't be caught out - check out the latest update regarding Economic and Cyber Crime

14/01/2026

Please note, tonight's Parish Council meeting has been moved to next Wednesday, 21st January (7pm) - venue to be confirmed.