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Sunderland’s Roker and Seaburn beaches honoured with Blue Flags and Seaside Awards for 2023

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2 weeks ago

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Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has announced the winners of the prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for 202, which are presented to clean and well-maintained beaches with high water quality.

Both Roker and Seaburn beaches feature on the list, having met what Sunderland City Council chiefs say are the high standards required.

They are among 77 beaches to win the prestigious Blue Flag Award, and this is the twelfth consecutive year that the beaches have also won a coveted Seaside Award.

John Price, cabinet member for ‘Vibrant City’, said: “I’m delighted to see our city’s beautiful beaches once again recognised with the prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards. Flying these flags at Roker and Seaburn shows everyone who visits that our seafront is clean, safe and meets the high standards necessary to be awarded a blue flag.

“We’re lucky in Sunderland to have such fantastic beaches, but this national recognition is testament to the hard work of everyone who works to keep our beaches clean, tidy and well-maintained.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag or Seaside Award can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards.

“The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognised award for beaches and marinas and, to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.

“We’d therefore like to recognise and applaud all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular beaches. The collective efforts of beach managers, volunteers, residents and businesses all contribute to the success of these sites in achieving the incredibly high standards demanded.”

The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s coastline and promoting the country’s best beaches.

Blue Flag is an international award managed by Keep Britain Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education. It is only presented to well-managed beaches with water quality defined as ‘excellent’ under the EU Bathing Water Directive and environmental education programmes, while Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.

Among the criteria beaches are assessed against are:

  • Safety and services, such as first aid, lifeguards where necessary
  • Environmental information including displaying details about local eco systems
  • Water quality – Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award winners must meet the ‘sufficient’ standard.
  • Environmental management, including litter and waste.
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Best of North East

The fantastic ‘pad’ for seriously ill children and their families, opening in memory of Bradley Lowery

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4 hours ago

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May 30, 2023

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This is the incredible ‘pad’ where sick children can go for a well-deserved break with their families – and it is all in the name of Bradley Lowery.

‘Super Brad’s Pad’ is taking shape and could soon become a haven for people to ‘make memories’.

It will have five bedrooms, play rooms, a hot tub, enclosed garden and lots of other top-notch facilities.

It is all being made possible by the Bradley Lowery Foundation and the fantastic members of the public who are supporting it with donations.
But more help is needed to make sure fundraising targets are hit and here’s your chance to give support.
Bradley’s mum Gemma Lowery, who started the Foundation, said: “Families can spend days, weeks, months in hospital with a seriously ill child and being able to have a short getaway makes the world of difference to all of the families. 

“We want children to have the opportunities Bradley had when he wasn’t in hospital, we want parents to relax and enjoy each others company, away from the day to day life of being in hospital.”

Super Brad’s Pad will cater for up to 10 people per visit, so that ‘grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins can also enjoy being a part of the experience’ said the Foundation.

The aim is for the home to host around 100 families per year.

Fundraising was paused, and the holiday build was put on hold, during the pandemic.

But it is back in full swing and Gemma said the build was ‘coming along nicely’.

She added: “Every donation no matter how big or small means everything to us.”

Bradley touched the hearts of people all over the world. In 2017, he won a Child of Courage trophy at the Best of Wearside Awards.

Bradley lost his fight to neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer, in July of 2017.

Gemma founded the Bradley Lowery Foundation and started the charity which became a beacon of hope.

Since it was founded, it has raised more than £3million for dozens of poorly children.

It has also established a dedicated support line for the families of children with cancer, donated huge sums of money to researching childhood cancers and campaigned for new drugs to be introduced in the UK.

Gemma said: “Fundraising is hard for all charities at the moment. We appreciate every penny that is donated, especially because we still have £200,000 to finish the holiday home we are building in Scarborough.”

To found out more about the Foundation, visit https://bradleyloweryfoundation.com

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Best of North East

Lilidorei playground at Alnwick Gardens officially opens in time for May half-term holidays

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5 days ago

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May 25, 2023

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Christmas came early as the Duchess of Northumberland cut the ribbon on the world’s largest play structure at the Alnwick Garden.

Hundreds of children were present for the opening of Lilidorei, a magical village where it’s Christmas year-round. It is home to nine clans; including elves, hobgoblins and fairies; who worship the festive season, The clans are based around the six-slided Elfwin Drin, the central structure which at 26 metres, is taller than the Angel of the North.

The magical play park has been 12 years in the making and the designs have come from the imagination of the Duchess of Northumberland, Jane Percy. It was also supported by a £15 million-plus investment as part of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

It is hoped that the attraction will bring 200,000 visitors to Northumberland, many expected outside of the busy summer high season. The Duchess of Northumberland spoke of her delight at seeing the project come to life saying: “I’m very happy because I’m not seeing any children on their mobile phones!

“That was the point of Lilidorei, put your phones away and use your imagination and play and wonder what’s going on. Lilidorei is a village there are a lot of questions and no answers and that’s great, you do not see children on their mobile phones, incredible.”

You can book tickets here

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Best of North East

Northumberland Line expected to open in summer 2024

Published

3 months ago

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March 6, 2023

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A £160m passenger rail line which shut in the 1960s is set to reopen next year with six new stations.
The 18-mile Northumberland Line – between Newcastle and Ashington – will open in summer 2024, ministers said.
The county council welcomed the news and said building work on the line had created more than 100 jobs.
Half-hourly services are set for the line, also stopping at Blyth, Bebside, Bedlington, Newsham, Seaton Delaval and Northumberland Park Metro station.
The line will also reduce journey time between Newcastle and Ashington from 70 minutes to 35, the Department of Transport said.
The project is part of the government’s Restoring Your Railways scheme, which has been reinstating local services and restoring closed stations and railway lines that were axed in the Beeching cuts in 1963.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Communities in Northumberland can get ready for regular train services that will better connect people to jobs, education and opportunities while growing our economy.
“Restoring lost railway connections will drive tourism, boost local business opportunities and encourage investment across our regions.”
Matt Rice, Network Rail’s north and east route director said: “This is hugely welcome news as we get closer to delivering a transformed railway which will support the reintroduction of regular passenger trains and connect communities in Northumberland and Newcastle.”
Will this new line make your commute easier?
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