A range of outdoor projects in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II are set to take place across Northumberland in the coming year.
Proposals include the creation of a picnic site and a coastal viewpoint at Warkworth Beach, a Queen's Garden in Tweedmouth, and the creation of two community woodlands in Alnwick; as well as park improvements and woodland walks in several of the county's towns. The proposals come after almost 1,000 residents came forward with ideas on how to celebrate the reign of Queen Elizabeth II following her death in September 2022 and will cost an estimated £370,000.
The chosen schemes are intended to reflect the late Queen's love of the outdoors and countryside, which was the theme suggested by many of the respondents to Northumberland County Council's consultation. As part of the commemoration programme, each site will have an interpretation panel installed that would identify the site as being part of the Council's QEII Commemoration Schemes, signposting visitors to where they could find further information on the initiatives, as well as providing site specific information.
Read more: Tributes pour in from across Northumberland following death of Queen Elizabeth II
Cllr Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council, said he hoped the projects would create a lasting legacy that would make the Queen proud. He said: "The schemes we’re putting forward look to build on the stunning green spaces we already have in our county and will give people the opportunity to reflect and remember while enjoying the health benefits of the great outdoors. We wanted the schemes to cover as much of the county as possible and many are in more urban areas where it will be easier for people to get to and enjoy."
The full list of planned project locations across Northumberland
Eastwoods Park, Prudhoe
Construction of a new tarmac path around the perimeter of the park aiming to improve accessibility for all park users and providing an all-weather route for walkers and runners.
Tyne Green, Hexham
Construction of a surfaced path between along avenue of mature trees on the riverside at Tyne Green Country Park, which would connect with another section of path to create an all weather accessible circular route.
Bolam Lake Country Park, Morpeth
Bring the West Plantation back into public use after it had to be clear felled following Storm Arwen. Construction of a new path network, drainage, seating and tree planting/landscaping to create a new mixed broadleaf woodland, glade areas and central commemorative tree.
Carlisle Park, Morpeth
Refurbishment of the formal gardens, including crazy paving and stone steps; shrub and border planting to be cleared and replanted.
Isabella Heap, Blyth
Improvement of the park to include hard landscaping such as boundaries, paving, paths, metal fencing to children's play area, natural play spaces, artwork, signs, benches, lighting, fencing and gates sculpture; and soft landscaping such as bulb planting, trees, shrubs, wildflowers, turfing, seeding and wildlife features. The council has already secured £85,000 of Government's Levelling Up Park Fund towards the work on Isabella Heap
QEII Country Park, Ashington
Create a variety of interconnected routes around the east of the lake with the aim of improving access to the lake shore, incorporate woodland fringe, and connect to the access point into Woodhorn Colliery Museum to improve accessibility between the two.
East Cramlington Nature Reserve; Cramlington, Bedlington and Seaton Valley
Improve the bridleway in the park with the aim of making a more accessible all-weather route, possibly naming it after the late Queen.
Valley Park, Cramlington
Improve the pathways and facilities within the park with the aim of making the site more accessible to all.
Cleasewell Hill Park, Choppington
"Significant refurbishment" with a proposal to provide new accessible playground equipment, resurface paths, as well as landscaping/planting works.
Creation of two community woodlands in Alnwick
Potential creation of two community woodlands in Alnwick, one to the rear of Sycamore Avenue in north east Alnwick and another on a former recreation ground to the rear of Alwynside and Lower Barrasdale.
Queen's Garden, Tweedmouth
Proposal to renamed the Riverside Walk in honour of the late Queen, who visited the site in 1952, and install for new benches along the route with interpretation signs and a possible memorial tree planting.
Warkworth Beach
Create a picnic site and visitor viewpoint at a raised vantage point where visitors could look out across the River Coquet estuary, Amble Harbour towards Coquet Island.
What do you think of the projects planned in memory of Queen Elizabeth II? Let us know!
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