Events programme

All events are open to Members of the Friends of Saltwell Park and Non-Members.

Most events take place in, or from, the Training Centre in Saltwell Park (near the Model Boat Club building on the south side of the lake) and start at 10.30am (unless otherwise specified). Events generally last an hour and a half, and there is no need to book unless otherwise specified.

Please note, events listed below are all organised by Friends of Saltwell Park. For information about other events in the Park - such as Fireworks, Food Market and Enchanted Parks - please visit Gateshead Council's website

Events 2020 

Saturday 11th January 2020 10.30am

The Poems and Songs of

Tommy Armstrong the Pitman Poet

Noel Adamson

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Saturday February 8th 2020 10.30am

History of the Jewish Community

in Gateshead

Peter Bladon

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Saturday March 7th 2020 10.30am

The Great and the Good of Gateshead

- the sequel.  Ian Daley

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Saturday April 11th 2020 10.30am

Physical activity for all:

an informal and interactive session in the Park

Paul Rea (Saltwell Harriers Coach)

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Wednesday April 22nd 2020 7.30pm

Annual General Meeting

All welcome

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Sunday May 10th 2020 9.30am

A Bird Walk in the Park

Michael Turner

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Past Events

Saturday 9 November 2019 10.30am

Prisoners of the British 

Bernard Hope returned and gave a fascinating

account of the confinement in Britain of German

Servicemen between 1939 and 1948.

Saturday 12 October 2019 10.30am

Heritage Talk

Ian Daley told us about the Great and the Good

of Gateshead.  The sequel will be next March!

Saturday 7 September 10.30am

City Slickers and Country Yokels

Urban and suburban areas are increasingly popular

with beekeepers. In our countryside, intensive

agriculture is not always welcoming to honeybees,

whereas in towns and cities there is a surprising

amount of diverse food to be found. But where

exactly do our urban honeybees go?

Thank you Dr Rinke Vinkenoog for a fascinating

talk - which plants we see bees on and what types

of pollen turn up in their honey is very different.

Some links to help those who want to help pollinators:

British Bee Keeping Association

Rosy Bee Rosy has done 5 years of research !

RHS

There are quite a few books, but this has

bee experts contributions too:

Plants for Bees: A Guide to the Plants That Benefit the

Bees of the British Isles by Kirk, W. D. J., Howes, F. N. (2012) H

Tuesday 20 August 8-9.30pm

Bat Walk

Northumberland Bat Group guided us on this

popular event- bat detectors and infra red light

to see bats in the dark. Great!

Saturday 10 August 2019 10.30am

Heritage Walk

Despite rain before and after we joined Ian Daley

to discover the heritage of the Park.

Thank you Ian for an informative and enjoyable

walk.

Love Parks Week 2019 – 12th - 21st July 2019

Saturday 6 July 2019

History of the Tyneside Cinema

Thank you Margaret Dodds for telling

us about the history of the

Tyneside Cinema which opened in 1937

and is the last surviving news theatre

still operating as a cinema.

Saturday 8th June 2019

BOWES RAILWAY

Amanda Cuskin joined us with volunteer John

to tell us about Bowes Railway and the

Heritage Trail Challenge. Watch out for further

information about how you can obtain your

Heritage Trail Passport and collect stamps

when you complete a trail. Thank you Amanda,

history on our doorstep. Hope Friends visit.

Sunday 12th May 2019 - Bird Walk

Michael Turner lead us around the Park looking

and listening for birds that live in the Park all year

round or are just passing through.

Lots of birds seen and heard ... including 5 cygnets

which made their first appearance today!

Weather perfect too. Thank you Michael for

a lovely walk and for sharing your knowledge.

Wednesday 24th April 2019- AGM

All welcome. Join us from 6.45pm for refreshments

before the meeting starts at 7pm.

Saturday 13th April 2019 - Lit & Phil

The Literary & Philosophical Society was formed

in 1793 and its historic library is Newcastle's

must-see visitor attraction.

Lit & Phil guide Pat Lowery gave us a fascinating

insight into its history and hidden treasures.

Saturday 9th March 2019 - Honest Graft

We entered a world of tree grafting adventures with

Tyneside Beekeeper's Association - diverse,

weird and wonderful! We discovered the benefits of tree

grafting both to us and pollination insects. 

After the talk the Tyneside Beekeeper's Association

ran a grafting workshop at the Training Centre

in Saltwell Park, with tools provided.

Thank you Alistair Robinson from

Honest Graft.

Saturday 9th February 2019 - Land of Oak & Iron

Karen Daglish joined us to speak about the

Land of Oak & Iron, an area that was once home to a

world-leading iron and steel industry and is now an

area of natural beauty.

Thank you Karen, very significant history right on

our doorstep.

Saturday 12th January 2019 - History of the Clippy Mat

An excellent talk and demonstration by Jo Wilson on rag

mats, known locally as Clippy Mats, that were a common

sight in most working class homes in the North East until

the 20th century. Today the craft is being preserved by

local groups. After the talk and demonstration we were

able to have a go ourselves. 

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