The Harehope Quarry Project offers environmental education, field studies, rural skills training, community development, and community arts based from a limestone quarry in the North Pennines.
North Pennines Rock Detectives @ Harehope Quarry
There are three Rock Detectives Clubs dotted around the North Pennines AONB and European Geopark and one of them is based from Harehope Quarry.
The emphasis of the clubs is on adventure, fun and discovery!
Rock Detectives are clubs for children aged 6 to 12 (under 8's must be accompanied by an adult), where you can get involved in activities from fossil hunts, games and crafts, to video animation and visits to 'hands-on' attractions - all with a rocky theme!
Membership costs £1 then all the events are free! Members receive a Rock Detectives T-shirt and bag to start their Rock Detectives kit.
Rock Detectives is part of the AONB Partnership's Rockworks project, and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Natural England and LEADER +.
Rock Detectives is also part of the AONB Partnership's contribution to a transnational project with nine partner European Geoparks, with LEADER + and other funding. The AONB Partnership is taking the lead on developing clubs of this kind and sharing with colleagues across Europe the experiences of the AONB Staff Unit, the group leaders and the participants to enable this work to spread to other Geoparks.
Taking a lead from the North Pennines, one of our partner Geoparks, Beigua, in northern Italy, has set up its own Rock Detectives clubs using our model and logos etc.
2009 Programme
All of the club events can be found on our Community Events page, but here is a brief summary of what we have planned:
- Sat 28th Feb: Time and Time Again @ Harehope Quarry
- Sat 25th Apr: Something Sweet @ Moorhouse, Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve
- Sat 27th Jun: Going Underground @ Killhope Lead Mining Museum
- Sat 25th Jul: Rocky Outdoor Activities (full details tbc)
- Sat 17th Oct: Following in the footsteps of our ancestors @ Harehope Quarry
- Sat 5th Dec: Serious Rocks @ Durham University
Latest News
- Harehope becomes a LAND Demonstration site
- 15th Nov 2011
The Harehope Quarry Project has successfully become a LAND learning centre. The learning centres are permaculture projects, who show, explain and describe to volunteers, visitors and an interested public, how the principles and ethics of permaculture are applied to their project. As a LAND learning centre Harehope Quarry will form part of an England-wide co-operative network. - Trees for Harehope
- 15th Nov 2011
The Harehope Quarry Project has received a grant from Durham County Council for 80 trees. The trees will be planted during National Tree week - 26 November - 4 December 2011. - Frosterlety goes plastic-free!
- 22nd Nov 2010
Traders in Frosterley, with the help of the ‘Working for a Future in Frosterley’ project, are introducing a scheme to reduce the use of plastic bags in the village. The scheme will be launched on 27 November 2010. Cotton bags will be available in the Frosterley branch of the Penrith Co-operative Society and at Gardiner’s Country Store on a ‘borrow and return’ basis and Turtle Bags at The Village Chip Bar. Frosterley Community School are designing their own bags that will be for sale at £2, with all proceeds going to the school. These will be available in early December.
Next Events
- Volunteer Day
- 25th Feb 2012
10.00am – 4.00pm. Join in our regular volunteering event. Tasks will include the continued work on the eco-classroom and nature reserve management. Refreshments and a light lunch are provided so if you intend to come please let us know so we have an idea of numbers. - Art exhibition and workshops with Johnnie Foker
- 10th Mar 2012
Family workshop – ‘Flying Things'. 1.30pm – 4.00pm. Join this family art workshop, with artist Johnnie Foker from Bearpark Artists Co-operative in Durham. Booking essential. Families £12.00. Refreshments available. - Art exhibition and workshops with Johnnie Foker
- 10th Mar 2012
Art exhibition. 11.00am – 3.00pm. Johnnie will be exhibiting his work at Harehope Quarry throughout the weekend. He is well known for original work inspired by his love of birdlife. There will also be an opportunity to see and buy some of Johnnie's work. Refreshments available.