Scotswood Garden, a thriving land project in the heart of one of the most deprived wards in England

Scotswood Garden is much more than a community garden. We are an award winning environmental and community organisation based in the heart of one of the most deprived wards in England. The garden was established in 1995 on the site of an old school playing field in the grounds of the John Marley Centre. The mandala-based design created by Ed Tyler was taken from Bill Mollison’s Permaculture: A Designers Manual.

 

The aim was to create a productive, bio-diverse garden that would be a tool for urban regeneration because it brought nature into the city. The garden covers just over 2 and a half acres. It includes ponds, woodland, perennial meadows, scrubland, a 'no dig' veggie plot and forest gardens. Our forest gardens are some of the oldest in the country and provide a range of fruits, nuts and other food.

 

Mission:

To inspire and promote learning about nature, the environment and sustainable living, whilst having a positive impact on people’s health & wellbeing

 

Objectives:

To improve the health, wellbeing and fitness of the wider community.

To support and enable diverse people to gain new skills and knowledge and to develop their creativity

To develop a cohesive and sustainable community in Scotswood

To maintain the garden for the benefit of the wider community and provide a haven for native flora and fauna

To educate people about how to better live sustainably

To maintain long term sustainability of the Garden

We support between 3500 and 4000 people a year, who live in areas of multiple deprivation and face discrimination. We use nature-based interventions proven to improve health, build connections and develop skills. Evaluations find our work is highly effective.

 

From the Garden we deliver the following programmes:

1. Youth-5 weekly youth groups, holiday activities, detached youth work, Duke of Edinburgh Award.

2. Adult-conservation volunteering, work experience and accredited training for diverse adults with disabilities and/or mental health challenges.

3. Older People- outdoor volunteering, nature-based workshops, therapeutic horticulture for people with dementia.

4. Education-environmental education workshops and forest schools for school children, Forest School Leadership for teachers.

5. Community-4 events a year, a community plant nursery and 'Sticky Business' which trains local people to make and sell preserves.

 

We have a long track record of improving outcomes for local people affected by poverty and the natural world. We provide a vital and trusted community resource which has grown and developed in response to local need through genuine opportunities for people to shape our services. The garden is open to the public Monday to Friday 10-4pm, it is advised that you call before coming in case we are closed for an event. If you would like a guided tour please contact us to book.

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If you would like visits, how should people arrange their visit?
Visitors can call in during our open hours- Monday-Friday 10am-4pm. It is advised that you call before coming to. check we are open or to book your guided tour.
Sustainable transport options
Scotswood Garden is based in the grounds of the John Marley Centre in Scotswood. The garden can be accessed easily on foot, by bike, and by public transport. There is car parking available at the Centre.

Our offices are temporarily in the John Marley Centre, a large building adjacent to the garden. This is accessed from Muscott Grove, NE15 6TT which is just off Whickham View. The garden can also be accessed through this route.

Buses 30, 31 and 38 stop on Whickham View just outside of the John Marley Centre (the name of the stop is Muscott Grove).

All three bus services can be joined immediately outside Newcastle Central Station. Journey times vary between 20 and 30 minutes and the services run regularly throughout the day.

The Stagecoach number 1 bus to Slatyford also stops close to the garden on Denton Road just past Excelsior Academy. From the bus stop, walk up the hill to the roundabout and turn right along Whickham View (past a small Sainsburys). Then turn right onto Muscott Grove and enter via the John Marley Centre. Details of all local bus services can be found at the Nexus website.

The garden is a short walk or cycle from Hadrian's Wall Path (a long distance footpath and national cycle route that follows the route of the Roman Wall). Cycle racks are available at the garden.
Type of project
Charity / Social Enterprise
Physical Elements/Features
Bees
Community garden
Compost toilets
Forest garden
Wildlife meadows
Woodland
Services/Activities
Forest School
Venue to hire
Visits (by arrangement)
Volunteering
Workshops
Contact name
Karen Dobson
Postal address of project

Yewcroft Avenue
Scotswood
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE156TU
United Kingdom

Contact telephone
0191 2750000
Contact email