Mitford Castle

NEWS

28 October 2025

Latest traffic news

Works to divert services and install ducts are complete well ahead of schedule however a clash was identified requiring the design to be updated and the ordering of pile cages delayed by one week. Tree clearance and vegetation is complete in advance of the arrival of over wintering birds, necessary to avoid the project being delayed until after the winter.

Note, that we were able to persuade Northern PowerGrid to undertake their works when they did using a cancellation in their programme, otherwise we would have been waiting many months and commencing works in the depth of winter leading to the closure taking much longer.

Installation of the site compound continues this week. Excavation of the highway is commencing this week with silt fencing  being installed on the river bank followed by removal of the surfacing material.

© Mitford Parish Council

21 October 2025

Free trees available from Northumberland County Council

 

Free tree scheme is back for another year

Northumberland County Council’s free tree scheme is back again with individual saplings and packs up for grabs.

The Council is once again inviting businesses, residents, schools, community groups and town and parish councils across the county to take part in this year’s free tree scheme, and this year more businesses are being encouraged to apply. 

Apply for your trees at - https://nland.cc/freetrees25

In a bid to help protect and enhance the natural environment, the Council is making 15,000 tree saplings available, to make Northumberland a greener and cleaner place to live, work and visit.

Applicants can choose from a variety of species. Schools, community groups, town and parish councils, and businesses can apply for packs of Hedge, Copse, and Native Harvest. 

For those with limited space, Box or Wild Privet will be available, for small gardens, Crab Apple or Holly are available, for medium gardens, Rowan or Silver Birch are available and for large gardens, English Oak or Wild Cherry are available.

Once ordered, applicants will receive confirmation and details of their collection point prior to the pick-up date, with collection locations spread across the county.

The trees provided are small cell-grown plants, UK-sourced, and come complete with a shelter guard and cane. Detailed planting and aftercare instructions will be emailed out after collection. 

Cllr John Riddle, Cabinet Member for Environment, Rural and Farming at Northumberland County Council said: "We want to encourage as many people and groups as possible across Northumberland to apply for their very own free tree. 

“We are particularly keen for businesses to apply this year too so that we can help them towards their own net zero targets. 

“Tree planting not only gives back to the environment but is a fantastic way to bring communities together, create educational opportunities and improve mental wellbeing.”

Last year thousands of saplings were distributed across the county contributing to improved air quality and further moving Northumberland towards net zero.

Any free tree saplings obtained through this scheme must only be planted on land you own unless you have an agreement with a private landowner.


 

Case study videos

Riding Mill Outdoor Primary School https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAZJrG0Ej8g

Benefits of cattle and trees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPkIQLnkdHY&t=2s

Cresswell Pele Tower https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDfVv4-Ud_A

The Mullet Family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WRu2qWLILs

Valley park community tree planting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPiDyVcT-tU

© Mitford Parish Council

© Mitford Parish Council

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