1 week Ago By [email protected] (Owen Younger)
My last visit to Saltwell Park , in June of 2023, was an enjoyable one, where I was able to take full advantage of the hot weather at that time of year. At the time, I reminisced about the days I had spent in the sunshine enjoying the park throughout my childhood years. But Saltwell Park is not a place which can only be enjoyed in the summer months, which is another thing that I can attest to.
So, with that in mind, I decided to make my return to the park, to see exactly what it has to offer in the autumn months. Saltwell Park was dubbed 'The People's Park' after it originally opened in 1876, with that ideology standing the test of time. The park had fallen into disrepair in the late 20th century, before a 2005 restoration project which saw £9.
6 million of funding pumped back into it. I began my trip at the top of the park, walking down and immediately noticing the leaves on the ground and the autumnal orange colours that give the trees such a striking look at this time of year. There were many dog walkers out enjoying the sunny, albeit wet, weather, ensuring that Saltwell Park maintains its visitors no matter the conditions.
I headed through the middle of the park, walking past the boating lake and spying quite a few ducks that were waiting to get fed. After continuing past the kids' play areas on either side of the main path, I went along to Saltwell Towers, the old Gothic building which now operates as a cafe and event venue. While I was there, I had a chat with Tracy Heron, who has worked in the cafe for 17 years.
Speaking about the park at this time of year, Tracy said: "The dog walkers that we get later on in the year mean that the park remains just as popular all year round. "Saltwell Park has been really well taken care of over the years, and the maintenance team do such a good job, even as they have to work with less staff than they had previously. I feel like Saltwell Park is just as nice of a place to be in the autumn, in fact, I actually prefer it to the summer, as the weather gives it a different feel than it has when its hotter.
"If I was to suggest something to those who haven't visited I would say just walk around the park and take it all in. There is so much to see and it is such a large area, so I really enjoy going for a leisurely walk around when I get the chance." When I left Saltwell Towers, I headed over to some of the other places that I remember well from my childhood, including the bandstand.
I then walked through the stunning Komatsu City Friendship Garden, which was given to the people of Gateshead as a gift from Komatsu city in Japan in 2011, to mark the 20 years of friendship celebration. The garden is ornate, with water features, Japanese style stones and pergolas, and it is one of the most visually appealing parts of the park in my opinion. During the autumn, the garden is even more striking, as it stands out amongst the rest of the park's shrubbery.
After this, I travelled back around the top section of the park, overlooking everywhere that I had been so far. On my way out, I stopped to chat to Daniel Francisco, who is the owner of Prism Coffee, a business that has been open in the park for around 18 months. Daniel said: "Prism Coffee has been open for 18 months now, and it is a lot more established as a business.
The first year was a bit nerve-wracking as we're not based in a typical high-street area, but people use the park as a way to escape which is amazing. "We now have a reputation for our quality, with people coming from Sweden and the Netherlands to try the coffee. I also maintain the importance of the environmental message, and I think it's important to show people that they can have sustainability without compromise.
"As for the autumn, the weather always plays a part, but I find that people are not put off by bad weather in the way that you would expect. I would always say that if you have a favourite independent business, then spare them a thought on the days where they may not do as well, as this can make a huge difference." As I left Saltwell Park, I pondered how surprised I was by the fact that it is just as popular in the autumn as it is in the summer.
The park is the perfect mix of the traditional and the modern, with the historic tearooms in the centre providing the old, while the new Prism Coffee and the ornate Japanese garden give the feeling of the new. Saltwell Park is also holding multiple events in the coming weeks, with a Treat and Trail in the Park event for Halloween , which gives families the chance to bring their children to meet some of their favourite characters. On top of this, the Fireworks Spectacular is set to take place once again this year , with the fireworks display itself, fairground rides, food and drink and live family entertainment .
With all of that in the pipeline, it looks to be a busy autumn and winter for everyone involved with Saltwell Park. I hope that the park which is, in my opinion, one of the best green spaces we have in the region, can continue to be a fun-filled place for generations of North East families. ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities.
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