THREE Stocksfield Guides are celebrating after being awarded £500 from The Key to attend the Girl Guiding festival “Wellies and Wristbands” in Lancashire in August.

The Key is a fund open to young people who can demonstrate that they can “think, plan, demonstrate and do”.

In order to be awarded the funding, Sarah Warhurst and Alex and Charlotte Hughes came up with the idea of attending the Guide festival, researched costs, negotiated travel with a local Guide Unit (Prudhoe Guides) and made a presentation to a community panel demonstrating that they had developed a number of skills through their planning.

The girls want to bring back ideas for future divisional camps and have been asked by the panel to write up their experiences for the Guiding Magazine. Happy camping girls!

A REMINDER that afternoon teas will be served at Aston Greys, 25, Cade Hill Road, on Sunday, June 21 from 3pm until 6pm, with the last serving at 5.15pm.

The teas are really fabulous, so do come along and bring your family and friends.

Tickets are available in advance or at the gate. All proceeds will go to Mind.

THE Bywell Arts Festival in St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Churches, is just one week away.

The response from artists has been amazing this year, with almost 200 paintings expected.

A selection of prints and crafts will also be on sale and there will be refreshments and stalls selling books and plants, as well as a raffle and tombola.

The opening times are Friday, June 26, from 7pm until 9pm, Saturday, June 27, from 10am until 4.30pm and Sunday, June 28, from 11am until 4.30pm.

Entry to the festival is free and everyone is welcome.

As part of the arts festival, on Saturday, June 27, at 7.30pm, there will be a concert by Prudhoe Community Choir in St Peter’s Church.

The programme includes favourites such as Flying Free by Don Besig and Speed Your Journey from Verdi’s Nabucco, a medley from Les Miserables and much more.

Tickets are available from Michael Allan on Tel. (01661) 843183 and the Stocksfield Central convenience store.

PREPARATIONS are well under way for the Stocksfield Festival on Saturday, September 12.

The organisers are still keen to hear from anyone willing to volunteer for a few hours over the setting up period and on the day, and if you are interested in booking a stall, charity or otherwise, there is space available.

Please contact Karen Kirkland on (01661) 844119.

IF you have contributions for Stocksfield’s village notes, please email claredaltry@hotmail.co.uk or contact 07443 222887.