Friends of Saltwell Park - Latest News
NGS BUZZING GARDEN 2020
NGS BUZZING GARDEN 2020
National Garden Scheme (NGS) are asking volunteers to come to Saltwell Park to help with the first NGS garden to be open to the public for free. The NGS Buzzing Garden is situated between Saltwell Towers and the Aviaries in Saltwell Park
Would you like to come to help keep the NGS Buzzing Garden tidy. If you are coming for the first time it is always best to check arrangements as activity is weather dependent. Tools can be supplied but if you want to bring your own please do. You should always bring your own gardening gloves. Activities always follow social distancing guidance. If you know nothing about gardening why not come along and learn!
Seven Swans a Swimming!
This beautiful photo of Saltwell Park’s resident swans with their five offspring from 2019, all of whom who survived to adulthood, was taken by Wendy, our unofficial photographer, in January. More of Wendy’s photos can be found in Friends of Saltwell Park newsletters, on Facebook (Wendy Pearson Photography) or on Instagram (wennie.wombat)
Saltwell Park Joins Big Garden Birdwatch
In January I was one of the estimated half a million people who took part in the annual birdwatch that helps provide the RSPB with a snapshot of the UK's garden birds. Now in its 41st year, the Big Garden Birdwatch gives people across the county the chance to count the number of birds visiting their garden or local green space. It enables the RSPB to build up a picture of how our feathered friends are faring during the colder months.
Armed with a pair of binoculars and the RSPB Birdwatch guide I spent an hour in the Buzzing Garden in Saltwell Park and recorded the following: blackbird 7; robin 5; coal tit 3; blue tit 5; sparrow 8; wood pigeon 3; magpie 5
I enjoyed playing my small part in the largest garden wildlife survey in the world that helps the RSPB highlight species in trouble and identify those increasing in number or range. It was certainly an hour well spent and like everyone else who took part I am looking forward to seeing this year’s results.
Christine Martin
Wanted - Help with FoSP Websites
Wanted - Help with FoSP Websites
Friends of Saltwell Park are looking for a volunteer to help with keeping their websites attractive and up to date.
There are 2 websites:
~www.friendsofsaltwellpark.co.uk which is hosted by Vistaprint. We have designed this site and we update as and when necessary.
~www.ourgateshead.org.uk is a website run by Gateshead Council which we update with our events and activities.
Keeping these websites up to date is not a huge task but it is a constant small task throughout the year.
If you think you have the skills and time to help us with this task please contact us at:
We look forward to hearing from you.
January 3rd 2020 - Happy New Year!
January 3rd 2020 - Happy New Year!
Edward Kemp book "Garden History" being presented to Jen Bell, Gateshead Archive Manager by Chair of Friends of Saltwell Park, Michael Turner, at Gateshead Central Library.
The book was donated on behalf the Friends together with a covering letter offering congratulations on the new archive facility and a brief explanation on the origin
of its publication. The book will be available in the archives as a reference copy only.
Full title: " Garden History, Journal of The Gardens Trust. Edward Kemp (1817-91): Landscape Gardener. The proceedings of a Symposium held at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, Wirral, 18 October 2017"
Saltwell Park Footage 1944
HEALTH WALK TO CELEBRATE LOVE PARKS WEEK 2019
23 walkers a toddler in a push chair and 3 dogs turned
out in the sunshine for a Health Walk around Saltwell Park
Saltwell Park Awarded Another Green Flag!
Great to receive The Green Flag Award and
Green Heritage Site Award on behalf of all who work
so incredibly hard to look after Saltwell Park.
The award ceremony was held in Liverpool on 16th
July 2019..
Michael Turner
Chair Friends of Saltwell Park
Mayor visits a SPUG Tidy Up
Gateshead Mayor, Cllr Jill Green, visited one of the monthly
Saltwell Park User Group's Tidy Up this morning.
Twenty-Two Walkers, Three Dogs and One Baby……
…… came to the 200th Friends of Saltwell Park Health Walk
on Tuesday 29th January.
Tyneside Bee Keepers are the "Bees Needs"
Work in Saltwell Park by the Tyneside Bee Keepers Association
has earned them an award. This award is given to
Green Flag Awarded sites making positive changes for pollinators.
The People Have Spoken - and we have done it again!
Saltwell Park is, once again, in the People's Choice
Top 10 Parks.
Swedish Garden in Gateshead? - Watch this space!
Saltwell Harriers Sponsors the Friends
We are delighted to announce that Saltwell Harriers, widely
regarded as one of the North East’s best running clubs, has
agreed to become a sponsor of the Friends of Saltwell Park.
For more information on the club please go to
WATER SKIING ON SALTWELL PARK'S LAKE!
If you have any other surprising photos from the Park
please send them to us by clicking here.
ANOTHER UNUSUAL VISITOR
Wendy Pearson photographed this female Goosander on
Saltwell Park lake a couple of days ago - before the snow
started and the lake froze over. If you spot anything
unusual please send it to us.
VISITOR TO SALTWELL PARK
Fabulous photo taken in the Park by Paul Junner (member
of Saltwell Park Model Boat Club) on 10th December 2017.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
IN SALTWELL PARK?
- For dog-fouling, littering, graffiti, motorbikes etc. in the Park Phone: 0191 4775000 (24 hr number)
- For low level criminal offences ... broken glass, vandalism (anything that’s not happening right now) Phone: 101
- If you feel threatened or harassed or see a fire or an accident Phone: 999
HEALTH WALKER REACHES 80TH MILESTONE
SALTWELL PARK - FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE
POLICE COMMUNITY DROP IN EVENT
(Cuppa with a Copper)
Hear about what the Friends
of Saltwell Park are doing to help make the Park more
safe and secure.
Keep Britain Tidy Reveal the Public's Favourite Parks
It's official - Saltwell Park is in the Top 10 of the nation's
favourite parks!
Government Response to the Select Committee Report:
The Future of Public Parks
For the full report please click here.
VOTE FOR SALTWELL PARK - THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE
GREEN FLAG SUCCESS
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 2017
TALKING STATUE AT SALTWELL PARK
JAPANESE STUDENTS VISIT JAPANESE GARDEN
AWARD FOR FRIENDS OF SALTWELL PARK
HeritageACT! Conference
FRIENDS OF SALTWELL PARK LAUNCH THEIR
5 YEAR PLAN TODAY
The culmination of nearly 2 years was launched
today in the Training Centre at Saltwell Park.
Everyone is keen to get started now that the Plan
is complete. If you would like to know more or offer
to help then please contact us.
HEALTH WALK 100
FOLLOW UP TO OUR CONSULTATION
On 26th November 25 Friends of Saltwell Park
met in the Training Centre to plan our next steps.
If you would like to help us in any way please
DOCUMENT- STATE OF THE UK PARKS
Did you know:
~ Over half the UK population visit their local park
at least once a month or more often, yet park
maintenance budgets continue to fall...
To read the full document click here.
OUR VISION 2017 TO 2022
Saltwell Park, thriving at the heart of the community,
safe and secure as “the People’s Park” for future
generations.
For a copy of our "Summary Document"
please contact us.
INQUIRY INTO PUBLIC PARKS
The first oral evidence session about the inquiry
into public parks is being televised on
Monday 24 October.
For more information including seeing our written
evidence, please click here www.parliament.tv
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS AT SALTWELL PARK
GREEN FLAG FOR THE PARK AGAIN
YOUR PARK NEEDS YOU!
Thank you to all who attended our consultation.
We are collating all the many ideas generated and
will let you know our vision for the next 5 years ASAP.
Funding for this event was provided by:
~ Gateshead Council Capacity Building Fund
~ Gateshead Council Volunteers Month funds
~ Bensham and Saltwell Alive
Please contact us if you require any further
information.
SALTWELL PARK MUSEUM AT THE SHIPLEY
A permanent new display has been created which
brings objects from the old Saltwell Park Museum,
which was originally housed in Saltwell Towers
and closed in 1969. The display will change over
time as more objects are brought out of storage and
put on display. Free Entry. For more information
visit:
www.shipleyartgallery.org.uk
Also you can follow Michael McHugh's Blog:
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARKS AND
GREEN SPACES - event in Newcastle
The Friends of Saltwell Park thank the National
Federation of Parks and Green Spaces for
organising a fabulous event to update us on the
state of UK Parks.
SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATION
Thank you to Gateshead Council Capacity Building
Fund and Bensham and Saltwell Alive for funding
a consultation for all our members.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEALTH WALKS
SALTWELL PARK USER GROUP (SPUG)
TIDY UP THE PARK
FRIENDS OF SALTWELL PARK WELCOME
OUR 200TH MEMBER
HEALTH WALK EVERY TUESDAY IN SALTWELL PARK
HERITAGE WALKS BY APPOINTMENT
Want to learn more about the history of the Park?
We arrange 1 hour walks for groups of up to 20 people.
For further information contact us
SALTWELL PARK HERITAGE LEAFLET
Our Saltwell Park Heritage Leaflet is available
for sale in Saltwell Towers (50p).
SALTWELL PARK AWARDED GREEN FLAG
FOURTH TIME IN A ROW