The free events are being run through the SENSE Project. A Feed the Birds Event takes place on February 16, between 1pm and 3pm at Plessey Woods; there will be bird watching at Holywell Pond Reserve on February 17, between 10.30am and 12.30pm; and on February 18, between 1pm and 3pm, at East Cramlington Local Nature Reserve, children will be able to make bird feeders and take part in feathery quizzes and challenges.

Call Laura Lowther on 0191 284 6884.

Authors Ann Cleeves and David Hewson will be talking about their work at Seaton Valley Community Library in Seaton Delaval at 2.30pm on Wednesday, February 24.

North East-based Ann and Yorkshire-born David have both won awards for their books, and will be discussing their recipe for successful crime writing with interested readers.

Heather O'Neill from Northumberland Wildlife Trust will be giving a talk and presentation on how to create a wildlife garden which will help out animals living in the area.

The free talk is at Seaton Sluice Library at the community centre on Albert Road at 5.30pm until 7pm tomorrow (Wednesday).

The Scamnesty 2010 campaign runs from February 1 to 26 and will involve people dropping mail scams they receive through their letterbox into designated Scamnesty boxes which will be placed across Northumberland.

Online scams can also be reported via the virtual Scamnesty bin at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty.

It only need take 10 minutes at any one of the January drop-in events to get views across and share a cuppa.

Meetings will be on Monday, January 18, from 2.30 to 7.30pm at the Seaton Sluice Community Centre; Tuesday, January 19, from 2.30 to 7.30pm in Seaton Delaval Pavilion, Astley Park; Wednesday, January 20, from 2.30 to 7.30pm at Seghill Community Centre; Thursday, January 21, from 2.30 to 7.30pm at Holywell Community Centre, Holywell Dene Road; and between 3pm and 8pm on the same day at New Hartley Memorial Hall.

Special guests this year are folk musicians Johnny Handle and Christine Hendry, writer Keith Armstrong speaking about the life of Pitman Poet Joseph Skipsey; and local folk group Beeswing and friends.

The event is a memorial to the 199 workers in the village's Hester Pit who died after being trapped underground by a fallen beam.

The concert begins at 7.30 and tickets are priced at £5. Call 0789 4428401 or e-mail keith.blackburn@gmail.com with any enquiries.

Everybody is welcome to come and look around at Seaton Sluice Community Centre on Saturday from 10am until 3pm, with admission free.

Light refreshments will be available and a framed original watercolour painting will be raffled.

The event, from 11am to 2pm, will include a Santa's grotto and stalls piled high with toys, books, cakes, cards, and Christmas decorations.

Entrance is 20p per person.

There are a full programme of speakers lined up for the coming season with talks by Freda Thompson, John Charlton and Neil Taylor, and on November 24th "If the Germans had Invaded" by Bill Thompson. Everyone is welcome at the meeting.

The group was founded in 1974 and is affiliated to the Association of Northumberland local History Societies.

For more information contact Margaret Oakey 01670 530 867 or email at sdlhs01@yahoo.co.uk

The choir are holding a concert, on Saturday November 14 at 7pm, with guest soloist Susan Robertson.

Tickets are £6, in aid of the church's funds.

Seaton Valley Community Forum- Thursday 19 November 2009 at 7:00 pm at New Hartley Memorial Community Centre, St Michael's Avenue, New Hartley.

Heather O'Neill, people and wildlife officer with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, will be dispensing useful tips at Seaton Valley Community Library on Wednesday, October 28, from 2pm to 4pm.

She will give a talk, presentation and practical demonstration on how to make gardens more attractive to birds, insects and small animals, and how to avoid the use of chemicals.

Places should be booked in advance by telephoning the library on (0191) 237 1660.

The dates and venues are as follows:

Seaton Valley Community Forum
Thursday 1 October 2009, 7:00 pm at Seaton Sluice Community Centre

Landermason, made up of Fiona Lander and Paul Mason, have a style that crosses over between jazz, folk and classical, playing both original compositions and arrangements of well-known traditional songs.

The event takes place on the 3rd October at 7pm. Tickets are available from New Hartley Post Office or can be booked by calling 0191 237 2210, priced at £5 for adults and £4 for concessions.

Visit www.landermason.com for more information about the group.

The North East stage starts at Darlington and heads through Durham, Northumberland and Tyneside, finishing at Baltic Square in Gateshead.

Hugh Roberts, chief executive of the Tour of Britain, said: "We are extremely pleased to be bringing the 2009 Tour of Britain back to the North East for a second time.