Hope to spring eternal in parks
PROJECT BLOSSOM CREATES GREEN HAVENS
A TYNESIDE park has been chosen as one of the locations in a drive to bring blossom into the heart of communities nationwide.
A year on from the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Trust and partners are looking to spring blossom to signal hope.
The plan is to plant blossoming tree circles, with Exhibition Park in Newcastle earmarked as one of the sites.
The ambition is to connect more people to nature and to create spaces for hope and reflection as the UK looks forward.
The National Trust is working with Newcastle City Council and Urban Green Newcastle to create an area in Exhibition Park that reflects the character of the city and its communities.
Robyn Brown, regional director of operations for the National Trust in the North East, said: “We’re delighted that Newcastle will be one of the cities to benefit from this unique project. By working with our partners at Newcastle City Council and Urban Green Newcastle we hope to create a space that really makes a difference to the daily lives of our community and helps nature to thrive in Newcastle.
“The last 12 months have been difficult for many of us as our lives have adapted to the changes.
“The pandemic has highlighted how incredibly important nature-rich green space is to everyone, and while many of our outdoor National Trust places in the North East have remained open for local visitors to enjoy, we recognise that these do tend to be based in rural locations.
“Through this partnership project we’ll be able to bring nature and blossom to the heart of the city so that even more people can benefit.”
Last summer, a report by Vivid Economics highlighted inequalities in access to green space across Britain with 295 deprived urban neighbourhoods described as “grey deserts”, with no trees or accessible green space.
The trust hopes to embed an annual marking of spring blossom season, emulating Japan’s hanami, which brings all generations outdoors, boosting tourism and helping people to connect with nature.
Coun Clare Penny-Evans, Newcastle City Council cabinet member for Climate Change and Communities, said: “The past year with long wearisome spells in lockdown periods has allowed our communities to rediscover the importance of our local surroundings, with green open spaces providing a welcome relief while we’ve spent much of each day confined to our homes.
“They bring benefits to our physical and mental wellbeing, provide a home for wildlife, and additional planting is absolutely in line with our ambitious environmental objectives.
“We’re proud of the parks, green spaces and wildflower meadows we already have in Newcastle and are always looking to improve the offer to residents, and we look forward to working with Urban Green Newcastle and The National Trust.”
The conservation charity will work with partners and local communities on the design, tree planting and plans for how the spaces will be used.
Barbara Hooper, director of parks and allotments at Urban Green Newcastle, said: “We know how much our parks have been valued by the people of the city throughout the pandemic, so Urban Green Newcastle is delighted to be working with the National Trust to make our parks even more beautiful and welcoming going forwards.
“This project will not only create a wonderful spring blossom display each year but will also help bring people together for commemoration and healing.”
The aim is to ensure the annually blossoming tree circles, with support in part from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, are accessible and meet the needs of local communities.
Hilary McGrady, director general at the National Trust, says: “Our vision is for nature, beauty and history for everyone.
“Our simple ambition with this project is to bring all of these elements together in the creation of green havens in the heart of urban areas which are also beautiful and inspiring spaces that people can use.”
The trust will also be fundraising to plant more tree circles. For more information or to make a donation, visitwww.nationaltrust.org.uk/blossom-watch
Consultation on the Newcastle space will start later this year, covering aspects such as seating, landscaping and atmosphere, then drawing up designs. The trees will be planted in autumn and early winter. The site will be landscaped ready for a formal launch event in spring next year.