GARDEN WASTE: Durham County Council will halt its garden waste collection service for the winter between November 13 and 23. Since April, more than 20,000 tonnes have been collected. The service will resume next spring. For further details, visit durham.gov.uk

CARE AWARD: Kingsway Nursing Home, in Langley Park, County Durham, has been nominated for four awards in the Great North East Care Awards, organised by the English Community Care Association, the Department of Health and others. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at Gateshead’s Hilton Hotel on Saturday, November 24.

FIREWORKS WARNING: Durham County Council trading standards officials are warning people to be on guard against illegal and unsafe fireworks. For more information, call the council’s fireworks hotline on 03000-260913.

ANNUAL LECTURE: Tony Smith, from the Woodland Trust, will give the Annual Esh Lecture in the parish church, Esh, County Durham, on Monday (October 29) at 7pm. He will discuss the development of local amenity woodlands, with particular reference to Low Burnhall, near Durham. Entry is free and open to all.

POLISH FESTIVAL: The ongoing Made in Poland Festival will move to the Krakow restaurant, on Shakespeare Street, Newcastle, on Sunday (October 28). Monika Lidke will sing self-penned songs and poems by Marlena Zyger. Later, six Polish short films will be screened. The event starts at 4pm. Tickets are £6 each, available from the restaurant.