Regrettably our normally peaceful area has recently been suffering from regular visits by a gang of youths who have been causing trouble and damaging cars and windows as they walk from Ilford Road metro to Jesmond Dene.
HWJRA spoke with all three of our local councillors and they in turn spoke with Northumbria Police and Nexus (who own and operate the Tyne & Wear Metro).
We don’t want to tempt fate, but since the arrival of police horses to intercept the teenagers and, following the arrests of seven youths, we don’t appear to have had any more trouble.
The police and Nexus are also continuing to patrol the metros to prevent this happening again in the future.
We have invited Northumbria Police to attend our AGM on the 8 April 2019 so that we can discuss this and any other issues affecting the area.
HWJRA would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this nasty episode to a conclusion.
Friends of the Valley and Little Dene Annual Report
2018 Committee Annual Report
Little Dene Park, High West Jesmond – our “latest” maintenance acquisition
We continue to evolve! This is the first Annual Report since adding Little Dene Park into the FOVALD portfolio and our constitution!
It is rewarding to know that the City Council and the Freemen seem to be content with the quality of our maintenance work, not only on the Valley surrounds & Little Dene Park, but also on the Moorfield verges and the Little Moor paths.
In addition, it is stimulating that we receive many complements from local residents. A big “Thank You” to our band of volunteers. So what have we been doing?
Management & Maintenance
Our Tuesday group “Lending a Hand”continues to thrive – there are 15 regulars and weekly attendance averages between 6-10.
As usual, the autumn leaf shedding generated an extended workload, with estimates of between 200-300 bags of leaves collected for composting.
Our new strimmer/cutter did a great job in shredding the leaves, so we have 2 substantial heaps of compost warmed up by millions of micro-organisms! Nature in action!
After our 2018 plan for Little Dene Park was approved by the Freemen & the Council, much effort was spent bringing the Park back up to scratch. Two or thee projects within the plan deserve mention.
The Moorfield shrub bed
The original shrubs had their feet in clay and were long past their best!
Thanks to David B for “adopting” this bed, adjusting the shape and donating and digging in lots of compost to give the new occupants a good start.
Thanks also to Kate B for the design & choice of shrub and to David for assisting with the purchasing – two actually came from RHS Wisley!!
The bed also contains 500 crocus bulbs donated via Rosemary M’s contacts at Gosforth Rotary.
Renovating the 3 public seats
The resident who took this project by the “scruff of the neck” was Cornelia M. This was no small task.
However, her perseverance and enthusiasm, coupled with Jeanette’s stamina, got the job done.
The finished product is excellent. The life of the timber seats has been doubled and the appearance vastly improved.
Well done Cornelia, Jeanette & all others who helped.
Thank You Susan Lydia
The project that most captured our imagination was replacing the lost plaque commemorating Susan Lydia Challoner’s bequest in 1953 that paid for the park entrance to & from Moor Road South.
Again this was a team effort, with Christine D finding the eloquent words for the replacement plaque and finding the stonemason to embed it, Cornelia sourcing the plaque and Rosalind Hall & her Mum providing the interesting background detail.
Our MP, Catherine McKinnell, a former local resident & user of the entrance, agreeing to unveil the plaque was the “icing on the cake”.
Catherine McKinnell MP at unveiling of plaque commemorating Susan Lydia Challoner
Although highlighting these 3 projects, a lot of work goes on, year round, in regaining control of the bushes & borders in the park that had been left unchecked for a long time. Rosemary M’s unstinting work needs to be mentioned!
We are conscious that the Little Dene has probably received less attention than it ought. The Lodore Road slopes were twice cleared of debris & litter and the verge cut back.
A major piece of work was carried out by West Jesmond Tree Surgeons early in 2019, when three substantial tree limbs overhanging Lodore Road were removed. Thanks to all the residents who contributed to the costs.
As the Valley is a much larger space surrounded by mature trees, the impact of our work is less noticeable.
Creating grass paths onto the Valley from Lodore Road was well received by users, although the annual wildflower show on the bankside did not produce the expected splash of colour in 2018.
However, the variety of trees & shrubs on display continue to be augmented by residents contributions, with Frank S adding another magnolia and another supporter contributing young lime & hazel trees.
Usage
The Valley is a meeting place all year round – especially for dog-walkers.
The sheltered location and the almost rural surroundings help to create an environment which also attracts individuals and groups of students looking for relaxation, especially on sunny days.
Our hoped for survey of usage on the Valley did not transpire in 2018. It should be a priority for this year.
The Valley comes alive when it snows in winter.
It snowed twice in winter 2018.
On both occasions the Lodore Road slopes were packed with families sledging, making snowmen and just enjoying the snow & the surroundings.
Snowtime on the Valley, High West Jesmond
We did manage to survey the usage of the route through Little Dene Park in early January.
A total of 272 passed through the park between 8.00am & 5.00pm on Friday 11 January. Bearing in mind the time of year, this probably means that total usage may well be more than 120,000. It is a well used route.
Wildlife
Most of the bird boxes in the Little Dene were occupied last year and already this year the great spotted woodpecker has been heard and bullfinches have been seen. We are due another bird survey in 2020.
Several types of butterfly were seen on the Valley in 2018, notably red admiral, comma and small tortoiseshell.
In 2019, perhaps we should encourage users to keep a record of butterflies that are seen. There has only been one reported sighting of a fox in the vicinity of the Valley in the last 12 months and one hedgehog.
Winter in Little Dene, High West Jesmond
Committee of Friends of the Valley and Little Dene
February 2019
Plaque commissioned by FOVALD’s Lending a Hand group to show appreciation to former resident who donated the ‘gap in the wall’
The Friends of the Valley, Little Dene and Little Dene Park’s (FOVALD) Lending a Hand Group has recently commissioned a new plaque to tell the story of the ‘hole in the wall’ at Little Dene Park.
On Friday 8 February Catherine McKinnell MP was invited to unveil the plaque commemorating the gift by Susan Lydia Challoner of the ‘gap in the wall’ that gives us all a short cut on to Moor Road South.
The plaque has been commissioned by FOVALD’s Lending a Hand Group that now looks after the Little Dene Park in addition to the Valley and Little Dene.
Members of FOVALD, the Lending a Hand Group and local High West Jesmond residents attended the ceremony to learn more about the generosity of Susan Lydia Challoner and the history of this part of High West Jesmond.
Who was Susan Lydia Challoner?
The plaque commemorates a lady called Susan Lydia Challoner who lived in Moor Road South between 1936 and 1953.
The park, which we now know as Little Dene Park, was constructed by the Newcastle City Council in 1952-53.
Mrs Challoner, who died in that year, bequeathed the money to pay for the entrance from Moor Road South.
The ‘hole in the wall’ has become a very well used route for residents in Gosforth and High West Jesmond.
The original plaque commemorating Mrs Challoners gift disappeared around 1990.
As part of FOVALD’s environmental improvement plan for the Little Dene Park they decided to reinstate the plaque.
FOVALD’s Lending a Hand Group tapped into resident’s memories to find the wording that best reflected the original and they commissioned the new plaque from Thorpes of Gosforth.
FOVALD caring for our green spaces
FOVALD (Friends of the Valley, the Little Dene and Little Dene Park) a small voluntary organisation based in High West Jesmond.
They have adopted the Valley from the City Council and the Little Dene Park from the City’s Freemen (it is part of the Town Moor).
FOVALD also look after the original Little Dene as a nature resource.
On Tuesday mornings, FOVALD organise’s a group called Lending a Hand that does the maintenance & improvement work on the green spaces in this part of High West Jesmond, as well as keeping all the other verges and paths in the area tidy.
Many thanks to FOVALD and to the Lending a Hand group for their ongoing work to enhance our community green spaces.
Chris Morgan also writes to share some history
When the High West Jesmond estate was first laid out Moorfield stopped at the now triangular junction with Lodore Road.
The main way into HWJ from the Great North Road was by the path that cut across the Little Moor.
However there must also have been a path leading from that corner to the bottom of Moor Road where the Little Bridge still crossed the Craghall Burn. My mother remembered playing in the stream at that point.
It must have been very soon after WW1 that Moorfield was extended through to the Great North Road and the stream went into a culvert to emerge in the grounds of the old house, Little Dene.
Boundary of Newcastle
At this time the stream formed the boundary between the City and County of Newcastle upon Tyne and the County of Northumberland. On the surface the stone wall was the boundary.
The Little Moor is part of the Town Moor owned by the Freemen, but this part of the Little Moor was now isolated.
Little Park
In 1952 the Freemen released the area north of Moorfield to form a Coronation Park (there must have been thousands of others across the nation, it was a time of great euphoria and celebration), although it wasn’t known as such. We all called it the Little Park.
The flower beds created were almost totally of clay and little grew for decades! I believe they may still be a challenge.
When the park was laid out there was a path extending around the perimeter with a dead end spur ending beside the stone wall. If memory serves correctly my friend Tony Devine’s bike/trike/scooter ran away down the gradient and he crashed into the wall, badly breaking his arm.
Hole in the wall
A clamour grew to have the wall opened up to allow free passage onto Moor Road South. It may not have happened for 2 or 3 years after 1953.
A simple plaque was positioned and the name Challoner was on it. There may have been another name as well.
Twice a day nuns from the convent just up Moor Road walked through the gap to and from La Sagesse school at the top of Matthew Bank.
The Lending a Hand group of volunteers have been busy tidying up the path along Lodore Road, High West Jesmond.
Here is a photograph taken by Chris Morgan who was visiting High West Jesmond at the time and spotted the work party busy with their work.
Chris commented on our Facebook page:
“What a team spirited group. Think they may have persuaded me to do another history walk first Sunday in June 2019. Will have to check diary to confirm in the New Year.”
That’s certainly something to look forward to – last year’s Walking the Bounds of High West Jesmond was a well attended and interesting event.
UPDATE: The Walking the Bounds 2019 will take place on Sunday 2 June 2019. Details will be posted to this website nearer the time.
FOVALD caring for our green spaces
FOVALD (Friends of the Valley, Little Dene and Little Dene Park) is a small voluntary organisation based in High West Jesmond.
They have adopted the Valley from the City Council and Little Dene Park from the City’s Freemen (it is part of the Town Moor).
FOVALD also look after the original Little Dene as a nature resource.
On Tuesday mornings, FOVALD organise’s a group called Lending a Hand that does the maintenance & improvement work on the green spaces in this part of High West Jesmond, as well as keeping all the other verges and paths in the area tidy.
Many thanks to FOVALD and to the Lending a Hand group for their ongoing work to enhance our community green spaces.
Join us for a fascinating tour of High West Jesmond and learn more about the history of our community
We are delighted to invite you to a walking tour of ‘the bounds’ of High West Jesmond led by Chris Morgan who has already kindly shared some of his photographs of High West Jesmond’s past that we have featured on this webesite.
The tour will take approximately 2 hours and will explain the last 200 years of this special area on the border of Jesmond and Gosforth.
It will be illustrated with many old photographs and tales from Chris Morgan’s personal memory and those of his mother who played here before many of the houses were built.
Friends of the Valley and Little Dene Park invite you to help with work for the wildflower meadow.
Like to help create a wildflower meadow?
Well come along and join us in sowing wild flower seeds along the banks of the Valley on Sunday 6 May 2018.
All welcome – families, children, students – anyone interested in nature.
Equipment provided but strong shoes will be required.
Meet at 10am on the Valley, Lodore Road.
The Friends of the Valley and Little Dene (FOVALD) was established to manage, maintain and protect the open spaces in High West Jesmond known as The Valley and Little Dene.
The Friends of the Valley, Little Dene and Little Dene Park’s (FOVALD) Lending a Hand Group has recently commissioned a new plaque to tell the story of the ‘hole in the wall’ at Little Dene Park.
Members of FOVALD, the Lending a Hand Group and local High West Jesmond residents attended the ceremony to learn more about the generosity of Susan Lydia Challoner and the history of this part of High West Jesmond.
The ‘hole in the wall’ has become a very well used route for residents in Gosforth and High West Jesmond.
Here is a photograph taken by Chris Morgan who was visiting High West Jesmond at the time and spotted the work party busy with their work.
