This question sparks a conversation that can change everything. Blue Trees are powerful symbols of mental health awareness - silent yet unwavering reminders that you're not alone.

Sedgefield has become the seventh location in the UK to host a Blue Tree, joining a global movement that now includes 1,671 registered blue trees worldwide. The Blue Tree Project was founded in Western Australia to encourage conversations about mental health, reduce stigma and promote suicide prevention. Blue trees act as powerful visual reminders to check in with ourselves and others and to seek support when needed.

The latest addition was painted last month by former Winterton Hospital nurse Paul Blakey, who worked at the psychiatric hospital for 15 years before moving to Australia. Paul, who continues to work in mental health and returns to Sedgefield regularly to visit family and friends, first discovered the Blue Tree Project while working in Western Australia in 2019.

Last year, he met the project's founder, Kendall Whyte, and shared his vision of creating a Blue Tree on the site of the former Winterton Hospital. After months of planning, that vision became reality with the help of friend Gary Thompson, who owns the land where the tree stands.

Paul hopes the tree will become a local landmark and conversation starter, helping raise awareness of mental health and encouraging people to talk openly about their wellbeing. As the Blue Tree Project's message highlights, sometimes a simple conversation can make all the difference.

To find out more about the project, see bluetreeproject.com.au. If you require mental health support, please contact the Durham Mental Health Wellbeing Alliance on 0300 304 5527.

Durham University’s 2026 excavations at the East Park Roman settlement in Sedgefield have revealed important new evidence about life in this significant Roman roadside community.

Archaeologists focused their investigations on the centre of the settlement, opening trenches on either side of Cade’s Road, a major Roman route that linked the Humber estuary with the River Tyne. The work examined roadside ditches, pits and enclosure features, helping researchers better understand how the settlement developed and changed over time.

A wide range of finds was recovered, including Roman pottery, animal bone and small artefacts such as a lead spindle whorl and a quern stone. These discoveries provide valuable insight into daily life, diet and local activities.

Evidence of industrial processes was also identified, including deposits of industrial waste and the remains of a probable corn dryer, highlighting the settlement’s agricultural and economic importance.

Post-excavation analysis is now underway and will continue in the coming years, helping to build a more detailed picture of civilian life in Roman Sedgefield.

The excavation team thanks the local community for its continued support and enthusiasm.

The Energy Switch Scheme helped local residents save money on their gas and electricity bills for almost a decade. Since it began in 2014, the scheme generated over £182,284 in savings for Sedgefield households through collective energy switching.

The initiative was paused during the energy market uncertainty of recent years, when fewer suppliers were willing to take part. However, the scheme, now known as Switch Together Energy, may once again offer opportunities for residents to access competitive fixed-term energy deals.

The process is simple: residents register their interest with no obligation, suppliers take part in an auction, and households receive a personalised offer which they are free to accept or decline.

Volunteer Wanted
Before the Sedgefield Development Trust can consider rejoining the scheme, a volunteer is needed to act as the local contact. The role would involve liaising with the scheme provider and helping to promote the initiative locally. Guidance and advice would be available from those involved previously.

If you are interested in helping bring this potentially valuable scheme back to Sedgefield, please contact the Sedgefield Development Trust at chairman@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk. A little of your time could help local residents save money on their energy bills.

Firstly, we'd like to thank everyone who stopped by our stall at the Farmers' Market on Sunday 6 September. Your support always means so much to us. Our raffle and children's game helped raise some much-needed funds; however, our main aim was to raise awareness of what we do and, hopefully, welcome some new volunteer members to our group in the future.

This summer, as we are all aware, has been a challenging time for anyone who tends green spaces. Flowers bloomed early and quickly became exhausted by the high temperatures and lack of water. This meant that flower beds have not been as vibrant, many plants have withered, and we must reassess what we plant, and where, in the future.

Watering has been a real issue for us this summer, especially as our main source of water is kept in our compound. This has meant carrying watering cans to and from the areas we tend, just to try to keep plants alive.

We have since been in talks with Sedgefield Social Club about installing a separately metered tap. This will mean we can easily access water at that end of the village. Autumn will be a busy season for us. We aim to continue work on a new project in the grounds of Ceddesfeld Hall, hopefully completing most of the planting before winter.

We will also be holding a Halloweenthemed coffee morning on Friday 23 October at 10am in the Parish Hall. Please pop in to enjoy our delicious homemade bakes, enter our raffle, and catch up with friends, old and new.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering with us, we meet every Wednesday morning in the grounds of Ceddesfeld Hall.

Alternatively, you can contact us via our Facebook page or through the contact details on our flyers. Melissa Hill

There was a friendly, relaxed atmosphere at the third annual community bring-and-share barbecue at the Rectory on a sunny Sunday afternoon, 13 September. There was plenty of food and good company, with familiar faces and new ones alike. As ever, everyone was welcome.

Live music from Marjorie, and from Ed and Bethany, was much enjoyed. A “dream board” (see right), improvised on the garage door, showcased just some of the activities and events taking place in the area and invited new ideas too, so watch this space!

Thanks to everyone who came along and to all those who helped in any way. Your support is greatly appreciated. Here's looking forward to next year's event.

Did you know that County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) offers a free online Home Fire Safety Check? The quick online assessment provides personalised advice to help you keep yourself, your family, and your home safe from fire.

The safety check can be completed for your own home, or on behalf of a friend, relative, neighbour, as well as someone you support through your work.

If the online check highlights that further advice and support may be beneficial, the fire service may then contact you to arrange a visit to your home.

These visits are free and will see fire service staff discuss any potential fire risks in the home and how you can make changes to keep yourself safe. Fire service staff will also test smoke alarms, install new alarms if needed and talk to you about what to do in the event of a fire.

To complete the Home Fire Safety Check, visit: www.safelincs.co.uk/hfsc For more information on fire safety in the home and a range of other safety topics, visit the CDDFRS website: www.ddfire.gov.uk.

As we started the new school year, we were delighted when our new Ofsted report was published in early September. The school was inspected for two days back in June and we had been looking forward to the publication of the report since this time.

Changes have been made in the last year to the way in which schools are judged by Ofsted and this was SCC’s first inspection with this new system in place. Instead of one overall judgement for the school, six separate judgements were made on the following areas: Inclusion; Achievement; Curriculum & Teaching; Attendance & Behaviour; Personal Development & Wellbeing, and Leadership & Governance.

For each of these six areas, the school was judged to be ‘Strong’. To achieve a ‘Strong’ judgement across every inspection area is very rare and we’re incredibly pleased that the inspection team recognised what makes SCC such an excellent school.

The report can be read in full on our school website (SCC - Ofsted Report) and some highlights from the report are below:
• “The school environment is highly conducive to learning. It is calm and purposeful.”
• “Leaders have created a highly positive culture which makes pupils want to attend school.”
• “Teachers are experts in their subject area.”
• “Leaders and staff know their pupils incredibly well. Pupils are well cared for and know where to go if they need some extra help.”
• “Pupils leave as confident and independent young people…”