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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
The three parks are spread out along the banks of the Ouseburn, a tributary of the River Tyne that enters the main river at Byker Bank. The most northerly park is Jesmond Dene. East of Jesmond Dene at the north end is Paddy Freeman's Playing Fields, an open area of short grass with sports pitches and Paddy Freeman's Model Boating Lake. | The three parks are spread out along the banks of the Ouseburn, a tributary of the River Tyne that enters the main river at Byker Bank. The most northerly park is Jesmond Dene. East of Jesmond Dene at the north end is Paddy Freeman's Playing Fields, an open area of short grass with sports pitches and Paddy Freeman's Model Boating Lake. | ||
Revision as of 15:45, 24 January 2008
Overview
The three parks are spread out along the banks of the Ouseburn, a tributary of the River Tyne that enters the main river at Byker Bank. The most northerly park is Jesmond Dene. East of Jesmond Dene at the north end is Paddy Freeman's Playing Fields, an open area of short grass with sports pitches and Paddy Freeman's Model Boating Lake.
Jesmond Dene itself is a wooded valley with many paths running through it and with a couple of areas of open grass, the Picnic Field and Coleman's Field.
To the south, the valley opens out with Armstrong Park on the east bank, across Ouseburn Road from the stream.
South of Armstrong Park and separated from it by Jesmond Vale Lane is Heaton Park which is more formal in part with a bowling green and bandstand but which also has a wood running down from the old Heaton Library.
Birds
Notable Species
Resident species
Kingfisher, Dipper and Grey Wagtail are frequently seen along the Ouseburn. In the surrounding woods can be found Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Treecreeper.
Summer Visitors
Blackcap and Chiffchaff are regular summer visitors, the Chiffchaffs tending to arrive in the last week of March and the Blackcap in the first week in April. Swifts are last to arrive during the second week in May.
Winter Visitors
Redwing are regular visitors, appearing in November or December with numbers peaking in February. Brambling can sometimes be seen in 'Brambling years' foraging under the Beech trees in Heaton Park. Siskins, while resident in Northumberland throughout the year, visit the three parks in the winter, with numbers peaking in February.
In winter there can be 100 or more Black-headed Gulls on Paddy Freeman's Playingfield and Lake, together with a few Common Gulls.
Rarities
"To do"
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Tawny Owl, Swift, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Northern House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Bullfinch
Other Wildlife
There are frequent sightings of grey squirrels in each of the three parks. Red squirrels are unfortunately only seen vary rarely since the arrival of the greys. Foxes, rabbits and rats also live in the area.
Mink have been seen in the Ouseburn and evidence of otters has been found on its banks.
Site Information
History and Use
By the middle of the 19th century the valley of the Ouseburn had been bought by the armaments manufacturer Lord Armstrong who had it landscaped to produce waterfalls and planted many trees, including some exotic species. In the 1880s, having moved up to Cragside, near Rothbury, Lord Armstrong gave Jesmond Dene to the City of Newcastle.
Areas of Interest
"To do"
Access and Facilities
Pedestrial access to the three parks is via all the roads around them: Jesmond Dene Road, Matthew Bank, Castles Farm Road, Freeman Road, Jesmond Park West, Heaton Road, Jesmond Vale Lane, Heaton Park View and Ouseburn Road. There is car parking off Jesmond Vale Lane giving access to Heaton Park and Armstrong Park on Benton Bank and on Red Walk as far as Millfield House. There are also two car parks on Freeman Road on the edge of Paddy Freemans Playing Field. A charge is made for the Jesmond Vale Lane and Freeman Road car parks.
Millfield House contains a cafe (open throughout the year), and a conference centre and the offices and visitors' centre of the Jesmond Dene Rangers. There is a toilet in Millfield House that is open when the Cafe is open.
An open air cafe in the Terrace Pavilion in Heaton Park is open in the summer.
Contact Details
Jesmond Dene Ranger Service Phone 0191 2810973
Jesmond Dene Cafe Phone 0191 2815010
