Community Life

Steve's Nature Diary

Quite often, children and adults react to any black and yellow insect with apprehension or even fear, thinking it is a wasp or a bee that is going to sting.

However, it is worth taking a closer look before panicking, because what you are seeing could in fact be a mimic, copying the colours of more dangerous species to deter predators despite being completely harmless. One group of harmless insects that does this is the hoverfly. Hoverflies are true flies and belong to the order Diptera and family Syrphidae. There are more than 6,000 species of fly in Britain, of which over 280 are hoverflies. Depending on the species, they range in size from just a few millimetres to around 2cm.

One way to distinguish hoverflies from bees and wasps is by looking at their wings. Hoverflies have only one pair of wings, whereas bees and wasps have two pairs, giving them four wings in total.

Hoverflies get their name from their remarkable ability to hover in mid-air. As mentioned earlier, many species mimic wasps, honeybees or bumblebees, displaying black and yellow stripes, bands and markings. However, despite their appearance, hoverflies do not bite or sting.

Hoverflies play an important role in maintaining a healthy garden ecosystem. Adult hoverflies feed on nectar and visit flowers that bees often ignore, helping to pollinate more than 72% of UK wildflower species. Their larvae feed on aphids, making them highly effective at reducing pest populations. A single hoverfly larva can consume between 400 and 700 aphids before pupating.

You can encourage hoverflies into your garden by planting a variety of easily accessible flowers and avoiding the use of insecticides. Creating habitats such as hoverfly lagoons can also be beneficial.

More information can be found at: https://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/hoverfly-hero. So, the next time you see a black and yellow insect, take a moment to look carefully before reacting. It might just be a harmless hoverfly!

Ceddesfeld Hall: Home of Sedgefield Community Association
Ceddesfeld Hall: Home of Sedgefield Community Association

Ceddesfeld Hall Beer Festival 2026

Huge thanks must go to the organising committee and to the volunteers who worked on the bars and BBQ, and helped with setting up and taking down. Thanks also to Mamma Said for their entertainment, culminating in the 'Love Train' conga, which is now becoming a bit of a tradition! Thanks also to George Bolam Foods, Robinsons of Wingate, and the fabulous breweries of the North East.

Thank you to all who came along to support both nights. Save the date for next year: Friday 9 and Saturday 10 July 2027.

Summer Events at Ceddesfeld Hall
SCA & STC Family Fun Afternoon for Under-12s
Sunday 23 August | Main Hall & Lawns | 1pm to 4pm | Free Activities This year, the event is supported by Sedgefield Town Council, and SCA is delighted to have arranged additional activities, including a bouncy slide, face painting and indoor soft play, all free to enjoy alongside the usual wide variety of garden games (tennis, football, swingball, skipping, hula hoop, quoits, Jenga, boules and croquet) and toys.

Fishburn Chi Taekwondo will also be holding a demonstration, as well as running an activity workshop throughout the afternoon. Come along and enjoy a fun afternoon for families with younger children (under 12 years). Outdoor tables and chairs will be set up, and feel free to bring a picnic. The bar will be open.

Ceddesfeld Autumn Quiz Night
Saturday 26 September | 7pm for 7.30pm | £5
This very popular quiz begins at 7.30pm (with the bar open from 7pm), all for just £5 a ticket. There will be no pie and peas this time, but quizzers are welcome to bring along their own snacks and nibbles. Tickets are available from Pat, Sarah and Peter Hinde, or from behind the bar, on a first-come, firstserved basis. Teams of up to six people.

Sedgefield Lyrics Youth Choir (SLYC)
Fridays, 6pm to 7.15pm | New Members Welcome!
SLYC begins its autumn term on Friday 4 September following the summer break. It is open to young people aged 7 to 18 years. This fantastic choir sings a range of styles, including musical theatre, rock/pop, folk and world music, and is open to all with no audition required.

For more information, call Rob on 07813 601731 or Kristen on 07572 121443, or email info@sedgefieldsca.org.uk.

For more information on Ceddesfeld Hall events, regular activities, room hire and bar opening times, contact Wendy on 01740 620206, Pat on 01740 620607, John on 01740 620042, Sarah on 01740 622185. Visit us on Facebook or see the SCA website, www.sedgefieldsca.org.uk

U3A Update

At our July AGM, we had the great pleasure of awarding our second Honorary Membership to Maxine Patterson. Since joining the u3a, Maxine has been a committed supporter, leading from the front and motivating us all to make the most of the opportunities available. During the Covid pandemic, her promotion of Zoom enabled many groups to continue meeting, allowing us to support and encourage one another through a particularly lonely period.

Her guidance and leadership have also resulted in both our Photographic and Creative Writing groups featuring in a variety of promotions and events, ranging from local radio pantomimes to advertising campaigns and displays at Hardwick Park. Several booklets showcasing members' writing and photography have also been published.

Our Lunch Group met at the Castle Eden Inn, where a large gathering, including several new members, enjoyed another delicious meal.

Our membership has increased by around 30% this year, and we are delighted that so many new people are participating in and enjoying our group activities.

The House and Gardens Group visited Cragside this month, dodging the showers while enjoying the beautiful grounds and fascinating house. The gardens, with their steep ravines, are a testament to Margaret Armstrong's vision and dedication, and members were able to see the magnificent rhododendrons in full bloom.

Cragside was the first house to have electric lighting powered by hydroelectricity, enabling hot and cold running water, central heating and mechanical aids such as lifts. As we take a break in August, there will be no meetings apart from our Wine Appreciation Group, which remains firmly in the diary.

However, we know that photographs will still be taken, books will be read, creative ideas will be written down, and visits to grand houses and beautiful gardens will continue. Our members certainly enjoy leading active, fulfilling and sociable lives!

Chris Balfour
Letters

Seniors beware!
My husband is 79 and currently battling cancer, but he remains positive and continues to live as normal a life as possible.

On 18 June, he did our usual shop at Sainsbury's in Wynyard, taking 2 hours and 16 minutes, which is not unusual given his age and health. We were shocked to later receive a £100 parking charge for exceeding the store's twohour limit.

My husband was unaware of the restriction. We feel such time limits can unfairly affect older customers who need longer to complete their shopping. We would like to warn other senior residents about this parking policy and hope Sainsbury's will review its arrangements to better accommodate older and less mobile shoppers.
Alison Manning

Update: I wrote to the store manager, who has offered to cancel the parking charge as a goodwill gesture, as this was our first offence and we were unaware of the two-hour limit. However, future breaches would still result in a fine. I also asked him to consider extending the limit to three hours to better accommodate older, less mobile, and disabled shoppers. While he was sympathetic, I am not convinced the policy will change.


1st Sunday of the Month-8:30am to 12 noon.
Sedgefield Farmers’ Market takes place on the first Sunday of every month from 8:30 am to around 12:15–12:30 pm on the village green (in front of St Edmund’s Church) in the heart of Sedgefield.

Run by dedicated local volunteers from the Sedgefield Development Trust, the market features roughly 20 producers each month offering a range of locally sourced goods — from fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, fish, cheese, and baked goods to pies, pastries, spices, bread, beverages, and more.

It also includes a free community stall (perfect for local charities or groups) alongside a music tent and health bus to engage visitors. The market prides itself on being a true producers’ market, encouraging customers to talk with stallholders and learn about the origins of their food.

farmers@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk.

Nestled at Skerne Wood within NETPark, the Woodland & Wildlife Project is a community conservation initiative. Volunteers work together to enhance biodiversity through activities like planting trees and creating “dead hedges” that provide habitats for insects, small mammals, and birds.

The project also hosts a variety of wildlife-focused events: botany and dawn-chorus walks, bat-watching evenings, Christmas tree recycling days, and annual bird censuses—tools that help guide habitat management and monitor species like chiffchaff, blackcap, bullfinch, and sedge warbler.

Over time, these efforts have created a green corridor and educational woodland space that supports local wildlife and connects community volunteers with nature.

This initiative helps local households identify heat loss and improve energy efficiency. Residents can borrow a thermal imaging camera to check for drafts, insulation gaps, and other issues that waste energy and increase heating costs.

By spotting problem areas, you can take simple steps to make your home warmer and reduce bills.

Friendly Fixers is a community project that helps residents repair and reuse everyday items instead of throwing them away. From small household repairs to fixing bikes, toys, and gadgets, volunteers offer practical skills and advice to save money, reduce waste, and promote sustainability. It’s a great way to learn new skills, meet helpful people, and keep useful items out of landfill.

Fishburn Youth and Community Centre. First Saturday of the month, 10:30am-12:30pm

For more information email us at: repaircafe@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk.
Follow us on Facebook for all things fixing Friendly Fixers—Repair Cafe!

This initiative encourages sustainable travel in and around Sedgefield by promoting cycling, walking, and other active transport options. The project supports residents with advice on safe routes, bike maintenance, and practical tips for reducing car use. It aims to improve health, cut emissions, and make local journeys easier and greener.

Want to get involved? Join community rides, learn maintenance skills, or share ideas to help make Sedgefield a more cycle-friendly place.

Please join us on Facebook or email cycling@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk

Would you like to join our group of local beekeepers?
If so, contact Lesley for more details on 07856 625007 or find out further details on our Facebook page – Bees at Hardwick.

Homework Help is on hold.

Get in touch at homework@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk.