These are some of the organisations that run activities in the countryside. If you know which one you want, put the hand over it and click.
If you do not know what you want, press the ‘down’ arrow on the keyboard to find out more.
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
Volunteer Ranger Service
Newcastle Country Parks
Scotswood Community Gardens
Nothumberland Wildlife Trust
Horseriding
Get an allotment garden
Windsurfing
Walkies-Talkies
Ousburne Photo Trail
Ferry Trips
Castle Keep
Open-top Bus
British Trust for
Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) 
What will I be doing?
Helping to build walls, make paths, plant trees
or dig ponds all over the North-East.
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What days and times is it on?
You can be a volunteer on different days.Ring to find out when.
Does it cost anything?
No, it is free.
Who do I need to talk to?
Ring Sarah Tierney on (0191) 469 8431
You can meet up with someone before you go along.
How do I get there?
Volunteers are picked from Bill Quay Farm.
What sort of people go?
All sorts. But it is hard work, so if you have any health problems, you should tell the office.
What about lunch breaks?
Take a packed lunch. Drinks are provided.
Do I need any special clothes?
Wear clothes that you do not mind getting dirty, and a strong pair of boots or shoes. |
Volunteer Ranger Service
What will I be doing?
Helping to build walls, make paths, plant trees and dig ponds. Or you can just keep an eye out for problems like rubbish that has been dumped. |
What days and times is it on?
Check with the office on (0191) 277 3533
Does it cost anything?
No, it is free. But if you are in benefit you need to check how many hours you can take part.
Who do I need to talk to?
These are the numbers for the different parks that you can volunteer at.
Walker Riverside Park / Big Waters/Havannah- 295 0260
Benwell Nature Park and Western Denes - 273 2983
Jesmond Dene/Armstrong Park- 281 0973
Tyne Riverside - 264 8501
How do I get there?
You will have to make your own way there. Ring the park for details.
What sort of people go?
All sorts (over 16) if you have health problems, mention them when you ring.
What about lunch breaks?
They provide a free lunch.
Do I need any special clothes?
It depends, ask the office.
Newcastle Country Parks
What will I be doing?
Walking in the parks. Talking part in country activities e.g. spotting country butterflies, learning about trees, various types of art and festivals. |
What days and times is it on?
Different things happen on different days. Ask for a free leaflet (the leaflet also says which events are OK for people using wheelchairs) You can now also get this in big print and on tape. |
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Does it cost anything?
No it is free.
Who do I need to talk to?
The main office is on (0191) 211 6215
How do I get there?
There are quite a few country parks in different
parts of Newcastle. Contact the office for travel details or
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What sort of people go?
All sorts but some of the events are only for children
Are any of the parks particularly suitable for wheelchair users? |
Big Waters (near Brunswick village)
has an easy access trail and a bird hide that people using wheelchairs
can use. They also have tapes that you can listen to, and you can
borrow a personal stereo.
Ring: (0191) 295 0260
Tyne Riverside (Newburn) also has an easy
access trail. The Pub there is accessible too! Ring: (0191)
264 8501
Scotswood Community Garden
What will I be doing?
You can just go along and sit in the garden or picnic. You can help in the garden as well. Sometimes there are events as well.
What days and times it is on?
You can visit during the week from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
The office is at the back of John Marley Centre. It has bright yellow shutters. It is best to ring first.
Does it cost anything?
It is usually free.
Who do I need to talk to?
Kate or Mac on (0191) 200 4706
How do I get there?
The gardens are behind the John Marley Centre on
Whickham View, Scotswood.
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What about lunch?
Take a packed lunch.
What sort of people go?
The garden is for anyone to use. People who use wheelchairs can get around and there are some raised beds to garden on. The paths are quite rocky though and some people would find it uncomfortable.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust.
What will I be doing?
Helping at the nature reserves. Making fences, building footpaths and other work.
What days and times is it on?
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and every other Sunday. All day.
Does it cost anything?
Everything is free.
Who do I need to talk to?
You must get in touch before the Thursday before you want to go. Ring Derek Hornsby on(0191) 284 6884
How do I get there?
They provide transport from their base in Gosforth. It is in the grounds of St. Nicholas' Hospital off Jubilee Road. You can get the bus numbers 14, 15, 16, 30 or 31 from Newcastle Centre.
What about lunch?
Ask Derek what you need to do.
What sort of people go?
All sorts. But speak to the office first. If you have health problems, mention them when you ring.
Do I need any special clothes?
It depends. Ask the office
Horseriding
What will I be doing?
Meet the horses and look round. Learn to ride. Help with the stable work.
Go out for a walk on a horse.
Does it cost anything?
A single lesson costs £20.00 for an hour.Half
an hour costs £12.00.
You can join then lessons are cheaper. But it is full at the moment. Ask when you ring up. Disabled people get priority membership .
Who do I need to talk to?
Call the stables on (0191) 233 2046
What sort of people go?
All types of people. There is a weight limit of 12 stone.
How do I get there?
It is near Byker City Farm (under the Metro and road bridges of Shields Road).
Catch bus number 39 or 40
What about lunch?
There is a cafe in the indoor school at the School. The Ship pub has tables outside (also at the bottom of the bank).
Do I need any special clothes?
Check with the stables about what you should wear.
Get an allotment garden
What will I be doing?
Growing your own vegetables and fruit.
Does it cost anything?
An allotment costs about £30 a year to rent.
You can sometimes rent half an allotment.
You need tools as well..
Who do I need to talk to?
The allotment officer(0191) 211 6217
How do I get there?
There are allotments all over Newcastle. Ask when you ring.
What about lunch?
Ask Duncan what you need to do.
Do I need any special clothes?
It is best to wear old clothes for gardening.
Walkie-Talkies
What will I be doing?
Join a small friendly group on short walks of an hour or so.
Does it cost anything?
It is free. Sometimes you have to pay 50p for the minibus.
Who do I need to talk to?
Debbie Smith on 219 5518 or Susan Bennett on 278 3089.
You can pick up leaflets about the walks at the East End Pool in Byker
and at West Denton swimming baths. There is information on a website- www.walknorth.org.uk
What sort of people go?
Some of the walks are just for people over 50. There are different walks organized in the "Outer West" (Lemington, Chapel House, Westerhope and other parts of that area), the "Inner West" (Benwell, Elswick and other parts of that area - they sometimes get a minibus) and "The East" (Byker, Walker Heaton and other parts of that area). But you can go to any of them.
Ouseburn Photo Trails
What will I be doing?
Walking round the Ouseburn and East Quayside areas,near Byker Bridge.
Looking at maps and leaflets. The leaflets help you to recognize places, like the Ship Inn and the walls. It tells you about the history of the area.Where the old houses used to be.
What days and times is it on?
You can go anytime.
Does it cost anything?
The leaflet is free.
Who do I need to talk to?
To get the leaflets, ring Mike Greatbatch on 275 5601or Joanne Burke on 281 5541.
How do I get there?
You can get at St. Dominic's church on New Bridge
Street.
Walk down the road called Stepney Bank, past the stables.
To get to the Quayside get the yellow bus (Q2) from the Central
Station. Get off at the end stop.
What sort of people go?
Anyone can go and look around, but some of the old
roads are very bumpy and there are hills. It would be difficult for
anyone who finds it difficult to walk.
The leaflets have been made for people with learning disabilities to help
them get the most out of the area.
Ferry Trips
What will I be doing?
Having a boat trip along the Tyne.
Listen to someone tell you about Tyneside.
What days and times is it on?
Newcastle trips down the river Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday 11.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Up the river 12.15 p.m – 2.30 p.m
North and South Shields trips –Thursdays and Sundays
11.15 a.m. and 2.15 p.m.
Does it cost anything?
Newcastle trip (down river)- £11. (Up river £8)
North/South Shields trip - £2.50 on top of ordinary fare (you
can use your bus pass).
Who do I need to talk to?
Newcastle Trips -Tyne Leisure Line 296 6740.
North / South Shields trips - Nexus 0870 608 2608 or just turn up.
How do I get there?
The Newcastle boat leaves from the Quayside near the Pitcher and Piano pub.
The North / South Shields leaves from the ferry station in South Shields.
What sort of people go?
Anyone can go.
The Newcastle boat does not have good access for wheelchairs. The ramp is very steep if the tide is out and there are no no disabled toilets.
The North / South Shields boat is better but there are no accessible toilets.
Castle Keep
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What will I be doing? Visiting the Castle Keep. – a very old part of Newcastle. Go on a tour of the keep by looking at pictures on a computer. What days and times is it on? You can look at it at home on your computer any time, or ring them about visiting the keep.
Does it cost anything? It is free and you get a free CD to take home. Who do I need to talk to? Ring 232 7938 or look at the website – www.castlekeep-newcastle.org.uk How do I get there? It is near the Newcastle end of the High Level Bridge. What sort of people go? The keep is difficult to visit because it has a lot of steps, but there are ramps up to the first level, where you can watch the CD. This is a good way to find out what is inside. |
Open-top Bus
What will I be doing?Go on a bus round Newcastle.
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