Land of Oak & Iron What's On!
We have had another amazing month at the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre, with our busy café and lots of events, including another successful supper club evening, along with creative workshops and children's art classes.
We also kick started spring with our first Meet the Maker Market of the year. It was wonderful to see visitors browsing the hand-crafted work of local creative makers work.
Get Growing Plant & Garden Fair - Sunday 5th May
If you missed our spring market, don't worry as the 'Get Growing Plant & Garden Fair' is just around the corner! Love plants as much as we do? Then join us again in and around the Courtyard with like-minded people to buy and swap seeds, house plants, garden plants and related crafts.
We will be inviting some guest plant sellers with a range of garden and house plants, along with related items – they will also be able to answer some of your plant related questions and advise on plants for your garden needs.
Our popular seed and plant swap table will be set-up in the Courtyard too – simply bring along a plant or seeds and do a swap!
Stalls holders include: Queen of Green Houseplants, Oaklands Garden Centre, The Crazy Plant Lady, Scotswood Plant Nursery, Nature in Wire and Cheryl Daniel Decoupage Pots.
You can also book onto our Tin Pot Planter Workshop!
As part of our Get Growing Plant & Garden Fair, this workshop is taking place in the Map Room at the Heritage Centre and is suitable for adults and older children (suggested age over 8 years as it’s quite tricky to do).
All materials will be provided - why not buy a plant from one of the stalls to pop in your newly created pot! Two different timed sessions, booking essential, tickets £4.50 per person
Acrylic Painting Courses
Experienced and friendly art tutor Kath will guide you from blank canvas to finished landscape artworks using demonstrations and individual assistance to improve your skills and confidence. The aim is for each student to produce artworks they can feel really proud of.
The courses take place every Wednesday and Friday for 4 weeks at a time, the next set of courses are: Wednesdays starting 15th May, Fridays starting 3rd May.
The course is suitable for beginners and for those who have painted before and would like to learn more techniques or continue with their art projects. Come along and become part of this friendly painting course, learn how to paint and make new creative friends along the way.
Please bring basic painting materials such as brushes and acrylic paints (we can advise you of this when booking). We will also have some basic brushes, paints, water jars etc that you can use too if needed.
Places limited to 9 people to allow quality teaching and learning.
Each four week course costs £80, price includes tuition and a tea or coffee each week.
Calligraphy Workshop - Saturday 18th May
This detailed workshop with artist and calligrapher Chris Bowen, will continue with techniques and learning gained from previous workshops - however, it is also suitable for those who have not had a go at calligraphy before as Chris will tailor the session for different levels.
The workshop will include Italic lettering - incorporating capitals and lower case with some flourishing and variations. Â Demonstrations using brush and pen and ink to develop a flowing italic hand that is easy to read and write. Â Along with an explanation of worksheet: proportions, weight and pen strokes.
Participants will be working with 2 pencils to produce/explore italic letterforms, then have a go with brush or pen.
Tickets £28 including tuition, all materials and a cuppa.
Limited spaces for quality of teaching, booking essential.
Children's Collage Art Workshop - Saturday 25th May
Join artist Emma from Mossy Coat Creations for this new children's collage art workshop.
During this friendly and creative workshop we will be using stamp and stencil printing, alongside paper collaging, to create a mixed-media artwork based on stories and nature.
Mossy Coat Creations is a company that creates items and artwork inspired by nature, folktales, and mythology. The name itself is inspired by a folktale version of Cinderella called Mossy Coat, a tale that shows the power of nature, magic and determination to follow dreams.
Tickets £12.50 including tuition and all materials.
Limited spaces for quality of teaching, book now!
Live Music & Food Evening- Friday 31st May
Our live music and food evenings are back at the Heritage Centre! Join us for an entertaining evening of fantastic live music and food on the last Friday of every month.
To start this year’s music events, we are excited to have Euphoria back here again, joined by their musical friends from local band Scalpay.
Euphoria bring their four-part vocal harmonies and multiple instruments and apply them to traditional and contemporary songs from both sides of the Atlantic.
Scalpay are a 4 piece folk band play a wonderfully varied selection of world music consisting of flute, melodeon, guitar, fiddle and Eb tenor horn.
Café & Bar: Our Chef will be serving up some delicious food for the evening and our Café Bar will have alcoholic drinks (along with non alcoholic drinks) and sweet treats available to purchase and enjoy alongside the live music.
No need to book, just turn up for a great evening between 6pm – 9pm (last food order 8.30pm). Get here early to grab a seat, order your food and settle in for a great evening of live music.
Children's Watercolour Art Class - Saturday 1st June
Is your child creative and artistic? Why not help them develop their skills in this friendly class hosted by children's author & illustrator Monique Scott.
Alongside illustrating and writing several children's books, Monique has also taught lots of children how to draw and paint. Â She will share her illustration and painting techniques during this two hour art class.
Monique will teach the children how to draw and then add colour to their drawings using watercolour paints, as well as blending and brush techniques.  This is a great class for those who would like to learn drawing and painting techniques with a professional artist and illustrator.
All materials will be provided. Suitable for ages 6 years and older - the session will be adapted for different ages and abilities, with new subjects for you to paint if you have already been to one of Monique's classes.
Monique will also have signed copies of her books, along with some of her other illustrated merchandise for you to look at and purchase.
So come along and learn from a professional artist.
Tickets only £12.50!
Limited places available and booking essential. Monique's classes book up really quickly, so please reserve your place as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
Paper Peony Posy Workshop - Sunday 2nd June
Join paper sculptor and artist Fiona McKeown on this intricate workshop to craft an everlasting posy of flowers.
Fiona McKeown is a paper artist and florist based in Newcastle, founder of 'Folly + Bird'.
She uses her skills to create exquisite paper flowers and foliage which she designs into stunning bouquets for the home, weddings and events.
Fiona is passionate about sharing her skills through workshops and masterclasses. This Paper Peony Posy workshop will show you how to make a stunning peony, daisy and fern, which you will then arrange into a pretty posy. You will learn techniques such as cutting, shaping and winding.
All equipment, paper and templates will be provided to create a beautiful everlasting posy for yourself or to give to someone special.
Tickets for the workshop are limited to allow quality teaching and 1:1 time with participants, so book soon to avoid missing out.
Tickets £28 including all materials and a cup of tea or coffee.
A Taste of Spain - Languages & Food!- Saturday 13th June
We're so excited to have CasaLingua with us at the Heritage Centre - Â with an evening of fun, food and Spanish. Hola!
Join languages teacher Kim from CasaLingua for this sociable evening of fun Spanish activities, along with a delicious Spanish inspired meal and a glass of Sangria (or soft drink) on arrival.
Kim will teach you some basic Spanish in a fun and enjoyable way, while you enjoy a glass of Sangria (or soft drink) and a 2 course meal prepared by our Chefs.
Our Cafe Bar will also be open should you fancy another drink.
Come on your own and make new friends, or with your friends and family for the first of our fun language evenings.
Tickets £36 including meal and glass of wine.
Booking essential.
Dog of the month is...
This months dog of the month is Nancy! We think Nancy deserves to be this months dog of the month because they are big fan of David's Dog Deli Beggs sausage rolls.
Do you think your dog could be ext months winner?! Enter today by posting a photo of your four-legged friend in our around our heritage centre. Don't forget to tag us so we can see your post!