A NEW national park project set to bring significant benefits to the area has celebrated its first stage of completion in a ceremony with the Duchess of Northumberland.

The core structure of The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre, at Once Brewed, near Bardon Mill, has now been completed, and the duchess marked this milestone in a special topping off ceremony last Friday.

Supported by a £7.8m investment from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), The Sill is a flagship project which is set to become a leading education facility for landscape, conservation, countryside management, leisure, and tourism skills.

It is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors a year and deliver substantial economic benefits within the park and beyond by contributing an estimated £2.5m per annum to the North-East economy.

Helping with the unveiling, the duchess was joined by 93-year-old Jack Hope from Wooler, the national park’s original warden who clocked up a staggering 66 years of service, and pupils from nearby Henshaw Primary School.

She also took a tour of the site to see progress on what is set to become a new iconic building for the North-East.

She said: “The Sill is an exciting new development for the county and located in one of the most beautiful and unspoilt areas of the country.

“I’d like to congratulate Northumberland National Park Authority on its vision and determination to create a building which captures the unique qualities of the national park and will re-engage people with the landscape, nature and the great outdoors.”

Glen Sanderson, chairman of Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “A major purpose of The Sill is to enable the landscapes of Northumberland National Park and surrounding Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to be opened up to even more people, including children, families, older people, disabled people and those who are less confident at exploring natural places.

“We are incredibly proud and excited to be entering the final stages of construction and thrilled to welcome the duchess to share this significant moment with us.”

The building has fully-serviced office facilities for more than 20 local start-up businesses related to rural and outdoor pursuits and a cafe which will offer food from producers across the county. There is also a new, world-class YHA youth hostel on site with around 90 beds.

The rest of the construction is on schedule for completion next April and The Sill will open to the public next June.