Inspired by ongoing efforts to record the urban flora of Newcastle and North Tyneside, I wanted to make some of what has been discovered so far accessible to those interested in exploring the city for themselves.
These blogs will explore some of the best botanical walks the conurbation has to offer – perfect for planning your next outing in the urban jungle. Here, we’ll explore the up and coming Lower Ouse Burn Valley with its industrial relics and eclectic urban flora.
The Lower Ouseburn Valley lies on the edge of Newcastle City Centre. Once one of the city’s first industrial suburbs, this area was shaped by the coal, glass, and pottery industries that once dominated the banks of the Ouse Burn. Its role as an industrial hub persisted until the mid-19th century, when many buildings began to fall into dereliction. Today, it features an intriguing mix of planted amenity woodland, urban shrubberies, brownfield sites, residential areas, ruderal land, and grassland.
Your walk begins at the Cycle Hub at global.takes.blocks. From here, head west along Cycle Route 72, pausing to enjoy the uncommon pavement plants along the route. Eastern Rocket (Sisymbrium orientale) is frequent in this area, along with Water Bent (Polypogon viridis), Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa subsp. sylvestris), and halophytes such as Danish Scurvygrass (Cochlearia danica). After crossing the bridge at ducks.eaten.boxing, you’ll find a large area of derelict land on the northern bank of the Tyne, home to many species characteristic of Newcastle’s urban spaces. Look out for Weld (Reseda luteola), Hen-bit Dead-nettle (Lamium amplexicaule), Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis), and Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campestre). Corn Marigold (Glebionis segetum) has also been recorded here, likely introduced by well-meaning locals, and the thin soils here often support stunning displays of Sun Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia).
Once you’ve explored this area, retrace your steps back across Cycle Route 72 and take the path along the western bank of the Ouse Burn. Although this area is dominated by office blocks, it’s surprisingly rich in plant life. Check the stonework fringing the burn for Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) growing in the cracks, and look down at the gabions for natives like Wild Celery (Apium graveolens), Common Scurvygrass (Cochlearia officinalis), Hemlock Water-Dropwort (Oenanthe crocata), and Spear-leaved Orache (Atriplex prostrata), all tolerant of the brackish conditions typical of the lower river. If you spot orange flowers along the stonework, this may be Kamchatka Stonecrop (Phedimus kamtschaticus), first recorded at this site in 2024.
Before continuing your walk, take a close look at the crumbling wall at flats.vivid.paint, home to a large colony of Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata). Also, check the ornamental planters in the office forecourts, which, depending on local gardeners’ activity, may contain interesting arable plants. In the past, these have included Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. raphanistrum), Small Nettle (Urtica urens), Fool’s-parsley (Aethusa cynapium), Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum), and even Common Fiddleneck (Amsinckia micrantha). Now, head back to the cycle route, cross the bridge, and follow the path along the eastern bank of the Ouse Burn at Maling Street, where your walk truly begins.
The industrialised riverbanks between the Tyne Bar and Panhaggarty Bridge are eclectic and fascinating, with the stonework hosting a unique mix of native plants and successful urban neophytes. As you walk, look for species like Polypody (Polypodium vulgare), Small-flowered Crane’s-bill (Geranium pusillum), Squirreltail Fescue (Vulpia bromoides), Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola), Tall Melilot (Melilotus altissimus), Sticky Groundsel (Senecio viscosus), and Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens). Less common are Meadow Fescue (Schedonorus pratensis) and Green Field-speedwell (Veronica agrestis), the latter being an unusual addition to the flora here. Keep an eye out too for bird seed aliens such as Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Six-row Barley (Hordeum vulgare), which may have sprouted thanks to locals feeding waterfowl.
Exploring the naturalised shrubs in this area is also rewarding, with expanding colonies of Hjelmqvist’s Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster hjelmqvistii) and Swedish Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster x suecicus), as well as Wall Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) and Willow-leaved Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster salicifolius).
When you reach Panhaggarty Bridge, cross the Ouse Burn again and follow the burn-side path that fringes Ouse Burn Farm to the east. The frequent transfer of goods and produce here has led to the colonisation of several interesting species, such as Balm (Melissa officinalis), Cockspur (Echinochloa crus-galli), and Chives (Allium schoenoprasum). The Ouse Burn itself is particularly noteworthy for its floating conservation islands, which host riparian plants like Purple-loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Hemlock (Conium maculatum), Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), Water Figwort (Scrophularia auriculata), and Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus). Interestingly, Gypsywort may have colonised naturally, supported by records from N.J. Winch in the 1800s. These islands also harbour two invasive species: Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). Under Byker Bridge, observe the well-established colony of Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis), which grows alongside Trailing Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana).
Continue along the burn to the small meadow at heap.grin.hails. If you see a cow, don’t be alarmed—Willow is friendly! This managed grassland is a hidden gem, home to Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Square-stalked St. John’s-wort (Hypericum tetrapterum), and more common plants such as Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), Common Figwort (Scrophularia nodosa), and Ragged-robin (Silene flos-cuculi). The pond at adopt.lively.turkey is still maturing but already holds Common Stonewort (Chara vulgaris) and several Carex species.
To finish your walk, cross the small stone bridge leading back to the eastern bank of the Ouse Burn and follow the path towards the wooded area south of Newcastle’s City Stadium. Along the way, you may spot Black Horehound (Ballota nigra) and Chicory (Cichorium intybus) growing beside the path. In the wood, and along the edges of the metro line running east towards Heaton, you’ll encounter self-sown cotoneasters, including Tree Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster frigidus), Stern’s Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sternianus), and Spreading Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster divaricatus), the latter colonising the stonework of an old railway bridge further east. The wood itself hosts several interesting alien species, such as Fatsia (Fatsia japonica), Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea), and carpets of Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica), which, though not strictly alien, was surely introduced here. In winter, the wood delights with displays of Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), while later in the year, you might spot Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine).
A few other interesting plants to spot along the way…
Other interesting plants to look for along the way include Viper’s-bugloss (Echium vulgare), Mexican Fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus), Black Spleenwort (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum), Beaked Hawk’s-beard (Crepis vesicaria), Bullate Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster rehderi), Common Stork’s-bill (Erodium cicutarium), Shining Crane’s-bill (Geranium lucidum), Hedgerow Crane’s-bill (Geranium pyrenaicum), Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia), and Oregon-grape (Mahonia aquifolium).
