Two of Newcastle’s parks named Green Flag Award winners in 2024
Exhibition Park and Jesmond Dene both achieved Green Flag Award status this year, with Jesmond Dene celebrating its 11th consecutive year as one of the most well managed parks and green spaces in the country. Exhibition Park has now received the accolade for a fifth consecutive year.
A spokesperson for Urban Green Newcastle said: “Community support and action have been central in achieving the city’s two Green Flag Awards. We’d like to pay tribute to the Friends of groups at both parks, our regular Urban Green Newcastle volunteers, and the many local community groups, businesses, and members of the public who have all helped care for these much-loved green spaces.
“Special thanks go to everyone that has gifted their time to keep the city’s parks clean, safe and welcoming all year round.”
Cllr Abdul Samad, Cabinet Member for a Vibrant City, Newcastle City Council said: “It is great to hear that the work of Urban Green Newcastle, local businesses, community groups and volunteers has been recognised with this award for two of our much-loved parks. Making sure our communities have access to green spaces which are enjoyable places to be is vital to supporting physical and mental health. We would like to thank everyone involved in their continued efforts to improve and maintain our parks and we look forward to seeing this success expanded across the city.”
Ean MacKellar from Newcastle Parks Forum and Exhibition and Brandling Parks Community Trust, said: “Parks need to be embedded in and serve the needs of their local communities and these Green Flag Awards serve as a benchmark for Exhibition Park, Jesmond Dene and other key parks across the city to attain. It also recognises the efforts of Urban Green Newcastle, local and Friends’ groups, and park users in the care of these green spaces for future users.”
Despite a huge collective effort from local community groups in and around Walker Park, and the pipeline of exciting projects and initiatives coming to the green space later in the year, Walker Park was not successful in winning a Green Flag Award in 2024.
In their feedback, the Green Flag Award judges praised the park for being clean with no litter. They also welcomed the park’s wildflower areas and biodiversity habitat. Footpaths were reported to be in good condition, and local community partnerships were seen as a real strength.
Areas of opportunity for Walker Park include the reopening of the café building, establishing wider community partnerships, and addressing arson and antisocial behaviour affecting areas like the play area and amphitheatre. The judges’ summary said: “The foundations are all there, and there are areas of great potential…”.
An Urban Green Newcastle spokesperson continued: “Over the past six months we’ve received a huge amount of support from communities in Walker Park to address some of the ongoing issues around arson and antisocial behaviour. Together we’ve made a lot of progress, and it’s been fantastic to see the pride local people have in the park.
“Despite all we’ve achieved, there is still work to do, and it will take time for the results to have an impact across the park. There is a lot to look forward to in Walker Park, and with the support of local communities we’re confident it will remain a park people can be proud of.
“Working in partnership with communities across the city, we’re currently developing management plans for four parks (Walker Park, Leazes Park, Jesmond Dene and Exhibition Park). We’d welcome the thoughts and opinions of local people to help guide and direct this work so we can deliver a green space that meets the needs of the everyone that uses it.”
Urban Green Newcastle has launched a survey to gather feedback from park users. It can be found on the Urban Green Newcastle website – urbangreennewcastle.org - or pinned to the charity’s social media platforms.
Leazes Park was not entered for Green Flag Award judging this year as Urban Green Newcastle is continuing discussions to build strong local relationships through the development of the park management plans.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world. The accreditation celebrates the hard work and dedication of the teams that care for each individual green space so that everyone can enjoy it.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in Newcastle upon Tyne on achieving a Green Flag Award.
“Both Exhibition Park and Jesmond Dene are vital green spaces for communities in the city to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely, and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.
“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.
“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”