Ouseburn Valley News
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Ouseburn Valley News The newsletter of the Ouseburn Trust | Summer 2019 Inside this issue: Back to the Future Walk on the wild side 2 Summer Walks Programme 3 Every Saturday morning at 10.30am our new guided walk will take you to Farm Aid 3 4 discover the history of the Ouseburn Valley, its more recent regeneration story What’s on in Ouseburn 5 and what the future holds for it, all in 90 minutes! Let the side show begin... 6 Ouseburn Trust AGM 6 Our volunteer guides lead visitors What our Volunteer Guides say: Photographic Archive 7 through its industrial revolution Graffiti Solution 8 beginnings and the lives of its workers, Ouseburn resident David Carr enjoys New job with Ouseburn’s the decline and neglect of the mid- sharing his enthusiasm for the Valley environment 8 twentieth century, then the gradual when he leads the walk: “Where else Shieldfield Art Works 9 regeneration creating the vibrant urban could you find such an eclectic mix of Dreamworld Cakes Bake Off 9 village we know and love today. the past, present and future in one place? Shieldfield Artisan Bakery 9 Eco-friendly homes, listed buildings, Victoria Tunnel Events 10 What our visitors say: traditional pubs, bars, cafes, breweries, Saint Ann’s Heritage Events 12 “We took the Back to the Future tour artists’ studios, galleries, offices, the in May, and found it very interesting National Centre for Children’ Books, and informative. The tour guides were music venues, stables, a tunnel, a very professional with vast knowledge. UNESCO world heritage site and even a If you would like to receive this free newsletter by email go to: Their relaxed approach made the walk farm, all sitting side by side in harmony.” www.ouseburntrust.org.uk/ovn easy and enjoyable. How this area has Or to sponsor this newsletter changed over the years! For anybody Book your Back to the Future tour for and see it in print please contact: who knows this area but has not yourself or bring your weekend visitors [email protected] been there recently you must go and at www.ouseburntrust.org.uk/back-to- see the change for yourselves. Highly the-future or call 0191 261 6596. Tickets YOU CAN FIND recommended.” Alan Wells, Durham £5. US ON: “I went on the Back to the Future tour We can also arrange private tours for To find out more about the with my 9-year-old son. We both really groups at other times. Ouseburn Trust and get the latest news, go to: enjoyed it, a fabulous walking tour with wonderful guides. Thank you very much! To join our team of enthusiastic guides www.ouseburntrust.org.uk We will be looking out for more like this (full training provided) contact heather. and highly recommend it!” K Baines [email protected] Facebook www.facebook.com/ iloveouseburn Twitter @iloveouseburn Newsletter edited by Lesley Turner, designed by Northern Design & arranged by Toby Lloyd. Many thanks to all contributors. If you would like to include an item in our next newsletter, please email: [email protected] by 20th August 2019. Volunteer Guide David Carr Photo: L Turner On the first tour. Photo: John Hipkin www.ouseburntrust.org.uk page 1 The newsletter of the Ouseburn Trust | Summer 2019 Walk on the Wild Side Lesley Turner took part in the City Nature Challenge in April, joining the Natural History Society of Northumbria and expedition leaders from Wild Intrigue on a guided walk to enjoy and identify the plants, insects, birds and animals on a three-hour safari through the Ouseburn Valley. Led by Heather, Cain and James from Wild Intrigue we looked along the riverside, checked out overgrown corners, searched the woodland and the sky above and identified 86 different species. • Some of the plants have great names - hairy bittercress, maidenhair spleenwort, rough stalked feather moss and ivy-leaved toadflax. • Orange tipped butterflies were showing off along the whole route and we saw five other butterfly species as well as 3 varieties of ladybird and 4 types of bee. Look out for Wild Intrigue’s forthcoming Bat Walk • The 24 different bird species we spotted included in Ouseburn at 8.30pm on Monday 24 August and the mute swans with 2 eggs, a moorhen feeding its other expeditions. More details and to book a place at chick on board the Seven Stories boat, and a kestrel wildintrigue/mini-expeds/bat-safari watching from its favourite perch on the Viaduct. There was a great variety in the humans on the walk as well, from students to retirees, new nature watchers to expert enthusiasts, first-time visitors to Ouseburn regulars. The friendly conversations and shared concerns and interests along the way made for a morning to refresh my natural wonder and also my confidence in human nature. For the full list of species see: wildintrigue.co.uk/species-lists/urban-wilds-of-ouseburn All photos: John Hipkin www.ouseburntrust.org.uk page 2 The newsletter of the Ouseburn Trust | Summer 2019 Summer Walks 2019 – the second instalment! In the April edition of the Newsletter we introduced the first five walks of the 2019 Summer programme and the first walk, Brewing in Ouseburn, has already sold out! There are still a few places available on: for Maling Pottery Reborn, a walk from the • Lizzie’s Life and Death in the Lead Works on Brinkburn St Brewery Bar and Kitchen to the Malings Tuesday 11 June Ford B Pottery, the largest pottery in the world in the • Walking the Ouseburn on Tuesday 18 June 1870s, now Hoult’s Yard. • The Drink Trade in Ouseburn on Tuesday 25 June • The Route of the Roman Wall on Tuesday 2 July And we have also released the next five walks: On Fiascos, Factories and Farmland on Tuesday 9th July will be a lively and topical tour of South West Byker/East Ouseburn led by resident Andy McDermott to explore landscapes, trees, businesses, architecture, design, political legacies and economic regeneration. Dale Bolland leading one of the 2018 walks. Photo: John Hipkin Tuesday 16th July will see Tina Gough and Colin Haylock explore What makes successful Finally, for all those who like to be in the know: Ouseburn Buildings? This tour will highlight the best of Ouseburn’s, historic, adapted and new buildings, What’s next for the Ouseburn? on Tuesday 6th with reflections on what will help shape successful August will be an opportunity to look around future future buildings in the Valley. development sites and buildings with the Ouseburn Trust’s Planning & Development Group. Mike Greatbatch will be exploring A Chartist Life - William Parker of Lime Street on Tuesday 23rd Walks are priced at £4 per person except for the Eric July to learn about the industries and politics of the Larkham Memorial Walk (The Drink Trade, 25 June) Ouseburn in the years 1838-42. which is free. The majority of walks start at 7pm and last around 1½ hours, but please check the details On Tuesday 30th July Charlie Hoult will be our guide when booking as this might vary. Mike Greatbatch leading one of the 2018 walks. Photo: John Hipkin www.ouseburntrust.org.uk page 3 The newsletter of the Ouseburn Trust | Summer 2019 Ouseburn Farm Aid 3 All proceeds from ticket sales for the festival go towards supporting the work of Ouseburn Farm. More than just a visitor attraction, the Farm provides a unique setting for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents to gain skills, build their confidence and form new friendships. It also works with hundreds of school children each year who learn about the origins of food and why we need to protect the planet’s natural resources through hands-on, practical encounters with the Farm’s flora and fauna. But it can only keep its doors open and continue this important work with ongoing support from the public and business supporters such as The Cluny. Tickets are on sale now from www.thecluny.com/gigs and are also be available from Ticketweb, Reflex, RPM and Beatdown. Saturday 13-Sunday14 July Two Ouseburn Valley institutions join forces again this summer for a weekend of live music, great beer and piglet cuddling. Yes, it can only be Ouseburn Farm Aid, a collaboration between The Cluny and Ouseburn Farm, back for its third year on 13th and 14th July. This year’s festival builds on previous years with the announcement of another fantastic line-up including Callum Pitt and Rob Heron and the Teapad Orchestra, and a new programme of family activities on Sunday in the Farm’s orchard. Children (and adults) can join in the fun this year with a Farmers Club and festival workshops as well as The Cluny’s infamous Duck Race which sees competitors decorate rubber ducks then launch them on the Ouseburn in a bid to win the coveted Golden Duck trophy (all ducks are retrieved from the river and returned to their creators). It’s time to get your duck for The Cluny Duck Race! More ways to support Ouseburn Farm If you’d like to learn more about the Farm, then come delicious sausage rolls!) and the opportunities for local along to its Garden Party on 26th June from 5-7pm. companies to get involved. Register your attendance with Stef at [email protected] The Farm will welcome North East businesses and current supporters to share its plans for the If you’ve an idea for how your business could support year ahead, offer tasters of events and activities the work of Ouseburn Farm then get in touch with that businesses can access (as well as tasters of its Stef who is keen to develop new partnerships.