1,050 Free Books Hidden Across Stanley and Consett in Summer Reading Hunt

Children and families across Stanley, Consett and surrounding communities have spent the summer hunting for more than 1,000 free books hidden in parks, woods and neighbourhoods.

A community book hunt has seen 1,050 free books hidden across Stanley, Consett and surrounding areas, encouraging children to read while exploring their local communities.

The summer-long Look-for-a-Book initiative was organised by local independent Usborne Partner Lisa Peacock, with 20 local businesses sponsoring books to help make the project possible.

Books were hidden in parks, woods, playing fields and neighbourhoods for children and families to discover.

Once a child found one, they could choose to keep it or read it and hide it somewhere new for another family to find.

Throughout the summer, families shared their discoveries in the Look-for-a-Book Facebook group, with books found across Stanley, Consett, Craghead, South Moor, East Stanley, Lanchester, Allensford, Burnopfield, Bridgehill and Chester-le-Street.

Some books have travelled considerably further.

One book found in Shotley is now heading to Sidcup in Kent, where the family who found it plans to pass it on again after its young reader has finished with it.

Others have continued their journeys around the local community. One was passed on to Stanley Day Centre for service users to enjoy, while another found near Tanglewood Mews in Shield Row was later left outside the Louisa Centre in Stanley.

Families also shared stories of the excitement the unexpected discoveries created.

One parent described her son's reaction when he realised the book he had discovered was actually his to take home rather than simply being part of a treasure hunt.

At Catchgate Park, two children spotted books being placed in the park from their window and immediately headed out to investigate.

Another family found a book at Allensford and planned to read it before leaving it at a park in the Blaydon area for someone else to discover.

The book hunt also became a multi-generational activity for some families, with grandparents joining grandchildren in searching for books.

One family discovered a book at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street while out with their two-year-old great-grandson, describing it as a “lovely thing to do”.

Lisa said the response from local families had been one of the highlights of the project.

“When I started Look-for-a-Book, I wanted to create something that would get children excited about books while encouraging families to get outside and explore the places around them.

“I never wanted children to feel that they had to pass their book on. If they found a book they loved and wanted to keep it, that was absolutely fine. The choice was theirs.

“But seeing so many families choosing to re-hide books has been wonderful. It means that a single book can potentially become part of several children's stories.

“The messages and photographs shared throughout the summer have shown just how much joy these little discoveries have created. That's what I'll remember most.”

The initiative also introduced children to books they might not otherwise have encountered.

A parent whose daughter found three books sponsored by Grandpa's Fish Bar in South Moor said she had particularly enjoyed the stories and puzzles inside them.

Another family shared that their children had discovered books including Captain Mac and The Dressing-Up Box and were looking forward to hiding them again for other youngsters to find.

For Lisa, the biggest success has been seeing children's enthusiasm for reading.

“There is something really special about a child finding a book unexpectedly. It's the combination of the adventure, the surprise and then having a new story to enjoy.

“Whether that book stays on their bookshelf or continues its journey around the community, I'm just delighted that it has ended up in the hands of a child who is excited to read it.”

The organised 2026 summer book hunt has now finished, but many of the 1,050 books are still travelling, as families continue to read and re-hide them across County Durham and beyond.