Well bleak as it’s been my first thoughts of January was the first sight of snowdrops in the Church grounds; fair enough they were not the wild kind but a very good hybrid strain. It was still a great sight, like a beacon of better things to come. Daffodils have grown to about four inches in a sheltered spot behind the garages down at Callington Close, these two sightings, were well before the middle of the month. Oystercatchers, (I think) were spotted flying off the Lumley burn during the month using their distinctive call, circling around the fields before settling back onto the burn. Frosts seemed to be the main theme this January useful for accessing some of our footpaths in the area. From the Floaters Mill pub down stream the path virtually needs to be frozen to enjoy a clean walk, last time I viewed the Kingfisher was down this path in the direction of the Hairpin bend and Smiths Arms, this was before Christmas, also the footpath circling round to Wapping bridge from New Lambton, along the field edge, near the old northeast railway lines is more accessible during the winter frosts. Severe gales have taken their toll of a few trees near the Bridle path from Wapping Bridge down past Biddick Hall, its amazing the forces that nature can produce from horizontal rain, to tree wrenching gales. Willows have been harvested at the tree nursery, in readiness for various projects, including strengthening of the bank sides of the Lumley Burn, to stop further erosion from the stream. There is a new Footpaths officer at Durham County Council. Her name is Elaine Field (appropriate don't you think), she can be contacted using the link elaine.field@durham.gov.uk