The first week in April began with a wide variety of weather: rain, wind, sleet, snow, ice and sunshine. It was a bright frosty morning when I undertook my first walk of the new month. There was still a great deal of snow in places on the Trail and in the Wall Vallum and Ditch. Over the course of the morning, the sun continued to shine against a brilliant blue sky.

Another month of 2012 has passed and we move ever closer to another walking season on the popular Trail. The weather continues to be warm and the frosts of February seem to be a distant memory. We need to remember that it is only early March, as I get out on my section once again for my weekly walk.

January finished without us having any major snowfalls. February began with the forecast of snow and low temperatures at the end of the week. On my first visit to my section the frost had again made walking easier and less muddy.

My first walk of the section in the first week of January, was on a morning following a night of strong winds and heavy rain. It was dry on my arrival at Heavenfield layby but there was still some strong gusts of wind, as I prepared for my walk on the section.

The field at Heavenfield was full of sheep and they all moved closer to the gate, probably thinking I was the owner with some feed! They quickly moved away to the corner of the field as I started to walk east.

During 2011, I created a photographic diary of images taken at the National Trust property of Wallington. As a volunteer gardener there, it gave me the opportunity on my weekly visits to observe the seasonal changes in the Walled Garden and around the woods and grounds. My monthly blogs appeared on the Morpeth Community web pages.

For 2012, I am going to chart the changes on my section of Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail. As a volunteer ranger, I maintain and monitor a three and a quarter mile section - Portgate to Heavenfield. It starts at The Errington Arms car park north of Corbridge and finishes at the lay by at Heavenfield near to Chollerford.

The 2011 walking season on Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail is rapidly coming to an end. The six month season will see approximately 10000 walkers completing the full Trail, coast to coast. As one of the many National Trail Volunteer Rangers, I have been out at least once a month to monitor the Trail and the sensitive archaeology, on my section of Hadrian's Wall.

The new season started for Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail on the 1st May. It will bring an influx of walkers and tourists to our area.

During last season more than 10,000 walkers used the Trail. With this many feet on the Trail, maintenance and monitoring is an ongoing task to keep it in its best condition. The season ends in October but work and monitoring continues throughout the Winter months.

For the first time walker or visitor, they will experience some stunning scenery and come close up to the structures and archaeology on the World Heritage Site.

As a National Trail Volunteer Ranger, I am normally found walking on my section of the Trail. This is a three and a half mile stretch from Port gate (The Errington Arms, Stagshaw roundabout, near Corbridge) to Heavenfield (near Chollerford).

With such a good spell of weather, I decided to travel a little further west and visit some of the iconic sites in the Central Section of the World Heritage site. The first decision of the day was where to start my walk from?

The 1st May is rapidly approaching. On this date, the 2011 National Trail passport season will start. The season runs from the 1st of May to the end of October each year.

The award winning Hadrian's Wall Country Bus AD122 Service will also operate between Good Friday 22nd April and Sunday 30th October.

Saturday 13th March 2010, saw Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail illuminated with 500 points of light from gas burners and flares. In total, 1200 illuminators were stationed at 250 metre intervals along the 84 mile route. The 'line of light' started at Wallsend and travelled across the country until it reached Bowness on Solway.

The progress of the 'line of light' was filmed using a helicopter, the first beacon was lit at 5.45 p.m. and the last at just after 7.00 p.m.

At the planning stage of the event, Hadrian's Wall Heritage Limited made a commitment through their published Environmental and Sustainability Policy to offset the carbon from the gas burners and helicopter fuel, through a process of tree planting within the Hadrian's Wall corridor.