The seasons are on the turn, nights drawing in as Halloween approaches. Autumn can be an amazing season full of colour, reds and oranges. I was reminded of this on a walk over the Gill Bridge only a few weeks ago. The hedgerows towards Rowley were bursting with wild flowers, trees of Rowan and Alder bowing heavy with their fruit. A haven for wildlife for at this time of year, down these tracks I’ve seen everything from owls to hares.

October can be magical and Halloween an exciting time. Halloween with all the Jack o’lanterns, bobbing for apples and spooky fun, we dress our houses, we light candles.

Now the dark half of the year begins as the darkness crawls ever quicker across the doorstep till the ‘new year’ important decisions have been made about shelter, food and livestock ensuring the survival of the long winter.

For most of us now it’s a fun time of year, lots of local activities reflecting ghostly fun. Last year I took my son to craft sessions at The Lodge, Blackhill and Consett park where they even had a Halloween disco. It’s worth lighting a candle and a time for telling stories and coming together.

By Deborah Maudlin

This article has been submitted by one of our readers and is a great piece describing the transition into the dark winter months. If you have anything you would like to submit to the magazine don’t hesitate to send us an email via our contact page.