While it is certainly good news that the lottery funding for Jesmond Dene is now a reality, it is unfortunate that there is going to be no immediate change in the city ranger staffing levels, the latest result of which is the decreased hours of opening Millfield House at weekends. As was the case last year there may be problems in opening the Local History Room every Sunday from Easter. The shameful vandalism in Pets’ Corner last September has also resulted in reducing opening hours to when a staff member is on site, to ensure the safety of the animals. A sad sign of the times.
On a more positive note the Northern Red Kites released during the last three summers over the Derwent Valley, Gateshead, are doing well and spreading out over the wider north-east region. It would be useful if Friends could keep a look out for any Red Kites over Newcastle and beyond and report any sightings to the kite office in Wickham (Tel 0191 496 1555 or email info@northernkites.org.uk). Try to note if the bird has wing tags on the top of each wing and if so what colour combination and two-digit number they have. Binoculars (or better still telescope) are a help! It would be great to see them fly over the Dene.
AGM followed by a talk on the Ouseburn Park Heritage Lottery Bid and refreshments.
September saw the Old Mill Project launch and while it might have seemed like the project was completed, there is still lots to do. We’re busy finalising the brochure that goes with the project and have been given permission to use the remaining money for several tasks. We’re now heading towards the March deadline, when the final report has to be made.
September also had an incident which we would hope never to see again. Some youths climbed into Pets’ Corner and opened the gates letting the animals loose. They also took one of the pygmy goats; it was found dead in a litter bin on Coleman’s Field. Since then we have improved the security of the site by replacing the peacock gate (now in storage) with more secure gates. We are also ensuring that Pets’ Corner is only open when a member of staff is on site and therefore have new more restricted opening hours.
In October we heard that we had been successful in our grant application from the Heritage Lottery fund for the Ouseburn Parks. This is very encouraging news, although it will be a while before we see any work being done on the ground.
In November, a big hole appeared in the grassed area near the ladies’ toilets at the pavilion, due to a fissure in the rocks. The hole was excavated to see the extent of the problem and then filled in gradually.
Over the winter we have lost the tops of two poplars, two of three trees that were planted to be viewed from the Banqueting Hall in Armstrong’s time. We plan to plant trees in place of these in the near future.
Finally, due to the limited staffing, we have had to reduce the hours of opening the visitor centre. We are now aiming to open every Sunday* from 1.30 – 4 pm, although there are times when this is not possible.
*The Committee hope, however, that the Local History Room will be open as usual on most Sunday afternoons from Easter until the end of August. Any volunteers from the Friends of Jesmond Dene who could offer their services for at least one Sunday, 1.30 – 4.0 pm, are requested to contact Pat Park (266 6712).
The latest news is that we have received expressions of interest from several consultants wishing to be considered for the next stage of the Ouseburn Parks Lottery bid. We have shortlisted to six and will be interviewing in February with a view to them starting as soon as possible, hopefully in early March. We will also be appointing an Ouseburn Parks Manager to oversee the management of all of the Ouseburn Parks before, during and after the project. This post is paid for by HLF for five years and we hope to have it starting in early April. This officer will then be the liaison person with the various friends groups.
Heartbreak Productions return again in July this year, with various performances on Coleman’s Field.
The dates are as follows:
July 2007
Fri 13 July The Wizard of Oz 7.30pm
Sat 14 July The Wizard of Oz 3pm & 7.30pm
Sun 15 July The Wizard of Oz 6.30pm
Thu 19 July Twelfth Night 7.30pm
Fri 20 July Twelfth Night 7.30pm
Sat 21 July Twelfth Night 3pm & 7.30pm
Sun 22 July Twelfth Night 6.30pm
Thu 26 July Cry Blue Murder! 7.30pm
Fri 27 July Cry Blue Murder! 7.30pm
Sat 28 July The Merchant of Venice 3pm & 7.30pm
Sun 29 July The Merchant of Venice 6.30pm
Look out for more information nearer the time, or see their website: www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk
Over two thousand visitors have used the Farm building for education, meetings and events in the first year of opening. The building is also home to two social enterprise firms and a training organisation delivering land based skills for young people.
The art installation - a window by Sue Woolhouse - has been completed. The piece is called Urban Gardens - Hidden Lives. John Grearson features, with one of his horses. His family owned a haulage yard and stable on Stepney Road. The image shows him with a cart full of Maling Pottery ware in 1910. His two daughters were special guests at the launch event.
A living 'green' roof was added to the building in the autumn to add to its sustainable features. It provides insulation as well as a habitat for birds and insects.
The Farm Management Committee are planning to bring animals back to the site in the near future and plans for the management and use of its land are being developed. A programme of opportunities for volunteers and Friends of the Farm will be available soon.
To become a Friend and receive updates on progress, please contact: Ouseburn Farm, Ouseburn Road, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2PA, Tel 0191 2323698 or email ouseburn.farm@newcastle.gov.uk
The proposed Ouseburn Barrage was given planning approval in February 2007 by a Government planning inspector following the Public Inquiry last September. The development, to start next autumn, will regulate the flow of water in the tidal part of the lower Ouseburn with the aim of creating a freshwater marina. A masterplan of redevelopment for the whole area was said to “hinge on the barrage getting the go-ahead.”* Newcastle Central MP Jim Cousins still feels potential sewage problems have not been fully addressed.
The Ouseburn Catchment Steering Group (which includes amongst its broad spectrum of representatives both the former Dene Ranger – Bob Wilkin – and the current FJD newsletter editor) has recently discussed several initiatives relevant to the whole Ouseburn. The DEFRA national multi million pound project, Making Space for Water, has allotted funds for managing urban drainage to reduce flooding on the Ouseburn in North Gosforth. The project aims to promote adaptation measures instead of being reactive and building “hard” flood defences. It is geographically centred in Red House Farm estate and stretches from Brunton Road roundabout to the Three Mile Inn. DEFRA has granted £110,000 to the project over two years. River data collection work and flow modelling to understand the hydrology of the area is now starting, together with public engagement and education in the near future. It is surprising to learn that when Newcastle Great Park was proposed there was no knowledge of flood risk in this location and it is only after 1998 that it became apparent that NGP was being built in the Ouseburn flood plains. Flooding has always occurred in the past in the Ouseburn but floods were generally not recorded. It is only the consequences of the recent flood events that have changed as damage to the urban development has become more prominent. Funding should also now be secure for completing the Ouseburn Catchment Plan and the following Action Plan to improve the water quality and ecology of the river. Discussions have also been held with Newcastle Airport concerning amenity wetland development and it is hoped the Steering Group can link in some way with the plans for the Ouseburn Parks improvements with the heritage lottery money.
* The Journal , 3 February, 2007
We’ve had a busy few months with the work for the Mill Project Grant as well as the usual practical activities. In addition, a couple of small fundraising sessions have been quite successful, with the money going into a fund for future projects.
We have worked hard at removing rubbish from the river – a frustrating activity as it seems we no sooner clean a stretch of water than someone throws something in, or rubbish gets washed down stream. The result being you can’t tell it’s been cleaned! We’ve also removed some of the overhanging branches that collect waste and look unsightly.
The pond near Fisherman’s Lodge is once again full of leaves; the decomposition of these causes the water to turn white and smell really bad. So far we’ve had a go at removing some of the leaves, but in February we intend to pump all the water out so we can remove the leaves properly.