Overview
The three parks are situated in the suburbs of Newcastle upon Tyne, a city in northeast England. They 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 its north end is Paddy Freeman's Playing Fields, an open area of short grass with sports pitches and also 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.
Jays have been regular but infrequent visitors to the Dene since 2002 and, if present, are normally found in the area of the quarry.
Sparrowhawks can occasionally be seen soaring over the more open areas of the three parks such as Coleman’s Field in Jesmond Dene and the Bowling Green in Heaton Park.
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.
House Martins are normally seen between June and September, circling above the tree tops as they feed on insects.
A few Lesser Black-backed Gulls can often be seen on Paddy freeman’s Lake in the summer.
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.
Passage Birds
A few years ago, Willow Warblers and Spotted Flycatchers were regular summer visitors, but now, if seen at all, they just seem to appear for a few days during spring migration. Other birds that can appear briefly during spring migration are Wood Warblers, Common Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats.
Rarities
The following species are rare for the area being described but common elsewhere in the region. They occur, on average, maybe once or twice a year.
Goosanders and Cormorants both average about one sighting a year Goosanders are always sighted between January and April. They have been seen both on Paddy Freeman’s Lake and on the Ouseburn. Females occur more often than males. Cormorants can occur from March onwards but the most sightings have been in September and are often of young birds. They have been seen both on Paddy Freeman’s Lake and on the Ouseburn.
Grey Herons average about two sightings a year and can be seen in any month, although most sightings have been in April, August and September. The autumn birds might be juveniles exploring the area.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Tawny Owl, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Northern House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, White-throated Dipper, Winter Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Eurasian Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian 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.
Flora
The woods are worth a visit in spring when snowdrops and lesser celendine are followed by bluebells, ramsons, crocuses, daffodils, wood anemones and wood sorrel.
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
Jesmond Dene
This is a list of landmarks when walking through Jesmond Dene northwards starting at the old Benton Bank Bridge (under the current Benton Bank).
- Armstrong Bridge spans the whole valley, site of an artists’ market on Sundays.
- Coleman’s Field on the left behind the wall.
- Pets’ Corner on the left opposite Millfield House on the right.
- The Banqueting Hall, partly ruined across the Ouseburn on the left.
- Immediately after the Banqueting Hall, Echo Bridge, a footbridge spanning both the road and the Ouseburn.
- The Fisherman’s Lodge Restaurant on the right. Continue between the Restaurant and the Ouseburn.
- Two Bridges.
- The Picnic Field on the left with its pavilion and toilets.
- The Old Mill with the Waterfall immediately upstream.
- The Stepping Stones on the left opposite North Lodge on the right.
* The Eye Bridge opposite the tunnel leading through to the Quarry (also known as Blackberry Crags). Carry on with the Ouseburn to the left.
- Castles Farm Road Bridge, a road bridge crossing the Dene. On a higher path on the right hand bank, a narrow tunnel goes under the road and leads to:
- The Extension Wood.
A path leaving the bottom path between the Old Mill and the Stepping Stones and climbing the right hand side of the Dene leads to Paddy Freeman’s Playing Fields and Paddy Freemans Lake.
Armstrong Park
This is a list of landmarks when walking through Armstrong Park southwards starting at the old Benton Bank Bridge. Enter the Park a few metres down Ouseburn Road.
- A path descending on the right leads to Ouseburn Road. Across the road from this path is White Bridge, giving access to Jesmond Vale, an area of open grass and young woods.
- The path through the park crosses a bridge over the Cattle Run, a stone lined sunken track running down the side of the valley.
- On the left, just before Jesmond Vale Lane is Windmill Hill, giving access to a flat grassy area, beyond which are tennis courts, a basketball court and a bowling green.
Heaton Park
This is a list of landmarks when entering Heaton Park from Jesmond Vale Lane and going round the park in a clockwise direction.
- On the right hand side, a little way up Jesmond Vale Lane is King John’s Palace.
- On entering the park, the Terrace Pavilion is on the right overlooking the Bowling Green. Keep following the main path as it sweeps round to the right and climbs the hill.
- The Old Heaton Library lies on the left, just before the top.
- On the right lies The Wood. Take the path down through the wood and turn left at the bottom, down some steps.
- Outside the park lies a road bridge across the Ouseburn with the Bluebell pub visible on the right and Ouseburn Park on the left following the Ouseburn to where it runs into a culvert under the hill.
- Stay in the park and follow the bottom path past the old Paddling Pool down on the left (now dry).
- Continue up past the Terrace Pavilion to complete the circuit.
Access and Facilities
Pedestrian access to the three parks is from 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.
Jesmond Dene is signposted (brown sign) from the A1058 Newcastle to Tynemouth road. Follow the sign and then take the second right and either park on the hill or turn left at the bottom and park on the Red Walk.
Grid reference NZ264661
NB There is no parking on Red Walk beyond Pets’ Corner.
There is also car parking off Jesmond Vale Lane Map giving access to Heaton Park and Armstrong Park and in two car parks on Freeman Road Map on the edge of Paddy Freeman’s Playing Field. The most northerly of the Freeman Road car parks (opposite Freeman Hospital) is 'Pay and Display'.
An open air cafe in the Terrace Pavilion in Heaton Park is open in the summer.
Millfield House contains a cafe (open throughout the year), a conference centre and the offices and visitors' centre of the Jesmond Dene Rangers. There are toilets in Millfield House that are open when the Cafe is open.
Opposite Millfield House is the newly refurbished Pets' Corner containing pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks, chickens and various native and exotic birds.
The pavilion at the Picnic Field in Jesmond Dene also has toilets. There is an expensive unisex toilet on Freeman Road near Paddy Freeman's Lake.
Contact Details
Jesmond Dene Ranger Service Phone 0191 2812082
Jesmond Dene Cafe Phone 0191 2815010
