Written by Kevin O'Hara, conservation officer at Northumberland Wildlife Trust

Where do they all go in winter? - Part 1

Recently I felt the first twangs of winter; the 'first frost' gripped my garden, the chickens came skidding out of their ark, and I had to break the ice on their drinking water. I really like those first days, when we still have some daylight left to enjoy the wonderful colours and smells. I take the camera and binoculars with me when I walk the dogs, keeping an eye out for winter thrushes or other visitors. The clocks have altered and we start the long haul of winter - not until February will some real light return to the sky, and warmth to the sun.

It is during these months that we wonder where, exactly, many of our resident wildlife species go to survive the coldest and wettest days of winter, especially those that are more delicate and less mobile.

Hi. My name's Sarah and I've recently become involved with a brand new not-for-profit organisation called Allen Valley Angling & Conservation.


The idea for the organisation came from a chap called Paul Frear. Paul moved to Allendale 3 years ago and walks the banks of our local river - the East Allen - practically every day. He's a keen fisherman and has been involved with fishing and conservation all his life - in fact, he's made a career of it!

Anyway, Paul knows the river pretty well by now and had an idea that with enough people behind it, and with the right consents in place, it will be a great fishery - right on our door-step!

Having negotiated a licence with the land-owner's management company, he put a poster in the Post Office window inviting anyone with an interest in seeing the river reach its potential as a fishery to attend a meeting at the Golden Lion Hotel. Thirty people turned up for the meeting - myself included - to hear what he had to say. Seven people stepped forward to form a committee and within just four weeks, we were ready to launch Allen Valley Angling & Conservation.

The angling community online has given this initiative a really warm welcome and we've already started receiving applications for membership via our website, www.allenvalleyanglers.co.uk. Despite coming towards the end of the season, we have welcomed 40 members!

It's a fantastic start and I'm really looking forward to developing this little-known river - which is teeming with wild brown trout as well as sea trout and even a few salmon - in to one of the jewel's in the Allen Valley's crown.

If you're at all interested, you can find out more on our website www.allenvalleyanglers.co.uk or send us an email to info@allenvalleyanglers.co.uk

Spectacular photos shared by members of our Northumberland group on the Flickr photo-sharing website. Click on a photo to see the caption and to view it in a larger size.

You can join the Flickr group to share your own local photos, or send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk.

Alison Donaldson shared this poignant photo of a memorial to the Foot and Mouth disaster of ten years ago.

The daffodils were planted by Heather Robson in a field at Sinderhope in memory of healthy sheep that were culled. Alison wonders if this is the only memorial to the millions of animals which were killed.

Upload your photos to JournalLive or send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk to see them on this site.

Alison photographed these 14th-century gatehouse remains near Allen Banks.

Join our Northumberland Flickr group to share your photos or send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk

Big Lottery Fund and ITV, with the approval of Buckingham Palace, are helping to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Jubilee People's Millions projects will inspire, involve or improve their local communities. If you've got an idea that could breathe life into your local area and improve the lives of the people who live there, why not apply for a grant of up to £60 000!

Paul Coulson took this picture at High Staward, Langley at the weekend, looking towards the snowy fells of Whitfield.

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Caroline Boobis took this photo on a walk from Allen Banks on a lovely summer's day, looking out across the valley.

Upload your photos to JournalLive or send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk to see them on this site,

Paul Lewis shared this picture on JournalLive of rocks in the River West Allen, south of Whitfield.

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Angela Brown sent in this view from Carrshields down the West Allen Valley with the Cheviot Hills in the background.

Upload your photos to JournalLive or send them to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk to share them on these pages.