Notes from Rothbury CAN meeting 10.2.26

Notes from the meeting held on February 10th, 2026, 7.00-8.30pm
Present: Katie, Monica, Chris B, Rob, Matthew, Elidh, Michael A, Allison L, Dave L, Karen, Cathy, Wendy, Antony, Anthea, Neil.

Welcome and Introductions

We were delighted to welcome Michael A, who has a background in architecture/sustainability, and is the Director of Rothbury Golf Club. And also to welcome Karen W, who has a great deal of experience with sustainable energy and will be joining that group. Welcome to both, we are very happy you have joined us.

Report Back From Groups


  • Rowans: Not a great deal to report since the last meeting, as this is the quiet time.
  • RRF: Aligning community litter picking to be same days as Repair Cafe
  • Tree Wardens: Been planting on Tod's Place
  • Repair Café: Planning to have stalls at the country fairs, alongside RCAN. Will be getting a gazebo.
  • CRAG: Mostly WI doing the water testing. Got a year's worth of sampling now for data. RCAN Crag mostly testing on the Wreighburn. Asking for volunteers to remove Himalyan Balsam. This will be in April/May to begin with. Keep checking the Events on the website for dates
  • Sustainable Energy and Transport: Cathy and Monica attended, at the invitation of Northumberland CAN, a useful seminar on biomass fuel for energy. This was by Reheat, Alnwick. Email Cathy or Monica for further information
  • Golf Course update: Becoming a 'Community Space'. Grounds are planned to be much more biodiverse. Have planted hedges and have laid hedges. Plans to create an orchard, possibly a labyrinth. Will be installing EV chargers. Looking at more sustainable heating. Plans for bee keeping, bats

Events Coming Up

National Emergency Briefing - film for community groups

Neil B to explore the possibility of Rothbury CAN screening this powerful and important film.

Simonside and Lordenshaw Car Park. Dog Mess Problems

Issues with filled dog waste bags at Simonside and Lordenshaw Car Parks Antony reported back from an online meeting.

"Following reports of significant numbers of discarded dog poop bags at Simonside Car Park CAN approached Forestry England and other stakeholders for a meeting to discuss options. An on-line meeting was held on 9.1.26 and was attended by:

Forestry England officers

Wildlife Trust officer

2 people from Northumberland National Park Authority

A Project Manager, Climate Change Team NCC

3 members of Rothbury CAN

Forestry England opened the discussion explaining a number of technical points, key among these being that:

  • They cannot fund the provision of a new bin or collection and disposal of dog waste i.e. CAN or another body would need to investigate funding sources.
  • They caution CAN over the health and safety risks of collecting waste from any new bin i.e. items other than dog waste can pose a risk.
  • If a new bin is installed at Simonside they propose that a similar bin should be installed at Lordenshaw car park too.

In terms of next steps, some queries arise over: legal aspects, health and safety, and funding.

These could be pursued by CAN, but following discussion at our latest meeting on 10.2.26 we felt that the onus should be on the land managers/owners and official bodies (FE, NWT, NP) to resolve these.

CAN would, in principle, be available to support a summer event.

Given the positive opportunities arising from the FE Centenary and NP Anniversary we felt it reasonable to expect that these bodies are likely to co-ordinate suitable celebrations, of which a dog owner focused event could form a part.

More immediately, we resolved that an additional piece of information/signage at Simonside Car Park directing dog owners to the Haugh car park bins in Rothbury could form a valuable interim step to address the current problem”.

Action: KS to write to organisations to inform them of these decisions.