We did enjoy a touch of an ‘Indian Summer’ but as we head towards
November, darker evenings and colder days are certainly on the way.
Ceddesfeld Hall continues to offer a warm welcome to all hobby groups and
visitors. There really is something for everyone!
The grounds of Ceddesfeld Hall have looked stunning throughout the autumn
sunshine and very special thanks must go to the dedicated, hardworking
Sedgefield in Bloom volunteers, who do so much to improve the area around
the Ceddesfeld Hall.
Ceddesfeld Hall bar is delighted to maintain their prestigious entry into the
‘CAMRA Good Beer’ guide for 2026. Much appreciation must go to the
dedicated, hardworking bar committee and volunteers. The bar and lounge are
open Monday to Thursday from 7:30pm to 10:30pm, and to 11pm every Friday.
Everyone is welcome and we’d love to see you!
Sedgefield Squash Club have recently begun their new term,
with team matches, home and away. The club is very
proactive in encouraging new players and remains a very
important part of SCA.
Recent weekend events have been very successful and enjoyable. The SCA quiz
night in September was great fun and well attended. ‘Sedgefield Sounds’ music
evening showcased younger and upcoming performers as well as more
established well-known local singers. It was a fantastic evening, very much
enjoyed by all, with a super variety of original songs and well know tunes. The
evening raised over £340 for Breast Cancer Now.
Autumn/Winter at Ceddesfeld Hall - Dates for your diary
STC – Fireworks and Halloween Howler, Friday 31 October at 6:30pm
Ceddesfeld Hall Grounds, admission into grounds (with pumpkins for judging)
from 5:45pm to 6:20pm. Adult £3.50, Child Under 16, £2.50 - tickets from STC
offices (9am to 1pm) and Ceddesfeld Hall bar (7:30pm to 10:30pm).
Remembrance Sunday 9 November
Following the service at the Cenotaph, tea and coffee will be served in the main
hall.
Eclectic Art Exhibition, Saturday 22
November from 10am to 4pm.
A showcase (and sale) for local
artists. Proceeds from the café will
be donated to Shepherd’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child and
Feeding Families. For more info
contact
eclecticartsedgefield@gmail.com.
County Durham Young Farmers Christmas Fayre, 23 November 10am - 2:30pm
An opportunity to browse through a lovely range of Christmas crafts, gifts and
produce.
Christmas Craft Fayre (as part of STC Snow Party & Parade) – Saturday
29 November – 1pm to 4pm in the main hall – community bar open until 7pm
Refreshments (teas, coffees, cakes and biscuits) served by Sedgefield District
Uniformed Services Group (SDUSG).
Christmas Wreath Workshop, Sunday 30 November 10am to 12:30pm
Make your own Christmas wreath, with all materials provided (cinnamon, dried
fruit, berries, pinecones, luxury ribbon), all for £45, including refreshments.
Contact 07523398922 to book a place.
Mulled Wine & Mince Pies following the Churches Together ‘Carols on the
Green’, Friday 19 December 7pm – bar & lounge
Sedgefield Smile Time Ukulele Band will be performing a range of popular
songs at 7pm, in the main hall - Friday 19 December - 7pm - main hall – bar -
Free event.
SCA Christmas Eve Quiz, 24 December at 8pm. Free event, with doors open
from 7:30pm. Teams of 6 or fewer. Bar open.
On a recent walk through the woods in Durham, my attention was drawn to a
crunching noise as I made my way along the footpath. The floor was covered
in places with acorns and other places with beech nuts - something I had not
seen or experienced for a while, like walking on a crunchy carpet. The reason
we have so many acorns this year is because it is known as a mast year - a
fascinating natural phenomenon!
A mast year is when certain trees, especially
oaks, beeches, and hazels, produce an unusually large number of seeds, nuts,
and fruits like acorns, conkers, and berries.
These events typically occur every
4 to 10 years and are thought to be triggered by a mix of environmental cues
such as weather patterns, temperature, and rainfall. It's nature’s clever
strategy to overwhelm predators by flooding the ecosystem with seeds. Trees
ensure that even after animals like squirrels, jays and deer feast, plenty of
seeds remain to germinate. More seeds mean more chances for new trees to
grow, especially in woodlands. This year’s mast event was likely triggered by a
sunny spring that supported strong pollination.
This was followed by rain in
late summer and early autumn, which helped trees produce and retain their
fruit. As a result, animals have a feast, which can lead to population spikes.
More seedlings may sprout, shaping future woodland composition.
Another autumnal phenomenon is the
coming and goings of birds as the weather
changes. Lots of summer birds have left,
but winter birds are just starting to arrive.
One of them is the fieldfare: a big, beautiful
colourful thrush with an icy grey head.
Flocks of fieldfare will be flying to the UK
this month. The fieldfare visits the UK in the
winter to feast on berry-laden bushes in
hedgerows, woodlands and parks. They are
sociable birds and can be seen in flocks of
more than 200 roaming through the
countryside.
They often venture into
gardens when there is snow cover or if it is
a severe winter. They have an interesting
call often described as chuckling. If you are
interested in learning how to identify birds
by their calls or song, you might like to try
an app for your phone.
The app is called
Merlin and it's free, easy to use and
although it’s not 100% accurate, it is getting
better.
It really does add an extra dimension
to any walk and helps you to connect to
nature in a new way - give it a try. Find out
more at merlin.allaboutbirds.org.
