Friends of Leazes Park AGM To Take Place Tomorrow At Leazes Park at Springbank Pavillion

Friends of Leazes Park will welcome supporters and local residents to their Annual General Meeting tomorrow, Friday May 16, 2026, as the Newcastle upon Tyne charity continues its long-running work to protect and improve one of the city’s best-known green spaces.

The AGM will take place at 12:30pm inside the Springbank Pavilion, located beside the children’s play area in Leazes Park. Visitors attending the event will be offered a buffet lunch before the meeting begins.

Organisers say the AGM will provide an opportunity for members of the public, volunteers and supporters to hear more about the charity’s recent work and future plans for Leazes Park. Those planning to attend have been asked to confirm in advance to help organisers manage catering numbers.

Registered Charity 1047764, Friends of Leazes Park remain one of the most active community organisations supporting public green spaces in Newcastle upon Tyne.

A Charity Dedicated To Protecting Leazes Park.

Leazes Park has remained one of the most treasured green spaces in Newcastle upon Tyne for more than 130 years, offering visitors a peaceful retreat in the heart of the city. Behind much of the work helping maintain and improve the historic park is Friends of Leazes Park, a dedicated membership organisation committed to protecting the area for future generations.

The charity works closely with local authorities, park management teams and community stakeholders to ensure Leazes Park remains a welcoming destination for residents, workers, students and visitors alike.

Located close to Newcastle city centre, the park is regularly used by hospital staff and patients, university students, shoppers and nearby communities seeking outdoor space within the busy city environment.

How Friends Of Leazes Park Was Created.

Friends of Leazes Park was originally established during the 1990s after a group of local dog walkers became increasingly concerned about the decline of the park.

Their shared passion for preserving the historic site led to the formation of a local charity focused on conserving the natural, historic and built environment of Leazes Park.

One of the organisation’s most notable early achievements came when members successfully campaigned against proposals to expand the nearby football ground into the park.

The charity also played a major role in securing £3.7 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2000, helping restore the Grade II listed park to its former condition. Volunteers contributed more than £40,000 worth of unpaid work towards the successful funding bid.

The restored park officially reopened in 2004 following years of improvement work.

The Friends Garden Continues To Grow.

One of the organisation’s most successful recent projects has been the creation and maintenance of the Friends Garden inside Leazes Park.

The idea was developed after volunteers identified the need for a peaceful community space where visitors, hospital patients and local residents could relax and reflect.

Although originally proposed years earlier, construction eventually began in 2018 before the project was completed in spring 2019.

Since then, volunteers have continued maintaining the area through fundraising, planting projects and ongoing care work. More than £10,000 has been raised in recent years to support the garden and its development.

The Friends Garden now includes trees, shrubs, lawned areas and sensory raised beds designed to create a calm environment for visitors. A rose garden and wildflower area have also become popular attractions during the summer months.

A Long-Term Vision For The Future Of Leazes Park.

Friends of Leazes Park are also developing a long-term vision intended to help shape a future Park Management Plan for Leazes Park in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The charity says the vision was created using feedback gathered from park users and stakeholders through surveys and consultation work carried out over recent years.

One of the organisation’s key ambitions is to ensure there is a visible presence within the park every day of the week to improve safety, maintenance and public engagement.

The charity believes this would help create a stronger sense of ownership and pride among visitors and local communities.

As part of the plans, the park has been assessed using a zone-based approach, identifying strengths and weaknesses across different sections of Leazes Park while considering how each area could be improved.

The organisation says having activity hubs and buildings across different zones would help create a stronger “people presence” throughout the park using staff, volunteers and local stakeholders.

The overall aim is to “activate” the park and encourage greater public use throughout the year.

Proposed Improvements Across Leazes Park.

Friends of Leazes Park have also identified several practical improvements they believe could make an immediate difference if funding and staffing support become available.

These include introducing consistent signage and seating throughout the park, improving entrances and creating a stronger communication strategy for visitors.

Environmental proposals include additional tree planting, wildlife research projects, lake studies and the possible introduction of memorial trees, plaques and even an arboretum.

The organisation is also supporting ideas such as drinking fountains, improved recycling facilities, more regular patrols and the introduction of a plastic-free zone within Leazes Park.

Other plans include restoring water to the water sculpture in Zone 2 and developing stronger links with organisations including the RVI, universities, Newcastle United, Northumbrian Water and local businesses.

Friends of Leazes Park also hope to encourage responsible wildlife care through educational signage and bird food sales while supporting stricter enforcement against fires and barbecues inside the park.

Working Alongside Urban Green Newcastle.

The day-to-day management and maintenance of Leazes Park is overseen by Urban Green Newcastle, an independent charity established in 2019 to manage Newcastle’s parks and allotments on behalf of Newcastle City Council.

The organisation was created following significant reductions in local authority funding which affected park budgets across the city.

Friends of Leazes Park continue to work closely with Urban Green Newcastle through fundraising, volunteering and community engagement projects aimed at protecting one of Newcastle upon Tyne’s most historic public spaces.

Will you be attending the Friends of Leazes Park AGM tomorrow in Newcastle upon Tyne? Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us what improvements you would like to see at Leazes Park in the future.

Have you visited Leazes Park or supported any of the charity’s projects over the years? Join the discussion below and let Newcastle readers know why protecting local green spaces matters to you.