For some time now, I’ve been paying closer attention to Newcastle’s diverse and beautiful urban trees. From species gathered from across the globe to our own native trees and an array of curious cultivars, the city supports a surprisingly rich and varied urban forest. There is certainly plenty to discover.
In this new series of blogs, I’ll be sharing some of my favourite tree walks across urban Newcastle, highlighting a selection of the species that can be seen along the way. With so many trees growing throughout the city, it would be impossible to include them all, so this is very much a personal selection of favourites, curiosities and notable specimens. Corrections are very much welcome – I am still learning when it comes to exotic species!
Armstrong Park
You’ll begin your walk at slang.shows.yarn, beside the entrance to Armstrong Park from Jesmond Vale Lane — conveniently close to the Heaton Park route, should you wish to combine the two walks. Here, you’ll find yourself immediately surrounded by trees. To your left stands a fine Turkey Oak Quercus cerris, while to your right grows a twisted and rather mature Hornbeam Carpinus betulus. Nearby are several attractive hollies, including both native Holly Ilex aquifolium and Highclere Holly Ilex × altaclerensis. From here, keep right and take the upper path through the park — the lower route will come later.
This initial stretch contains several mature Rhododendrons Rhododendron ponticum, flowering in shades of pink and white during May, alongside some venerable Yews Taxus baccata. Continue along the upper path as far as the monolithed Beech Fagus sylvatica beside the track, noting a very young Cedar-of-Lebanon Cedrus libani planted nearby. It may be many years before this tree becomes truly impressive, but one day it should make a magnificent addition to the park.
At this point, the main path continues straight ahead, but a side trail branching right climbs in winding fashion towards Heaton Windmill. This detour is well worth taking for a few additional species, including Silver Birch Betula pendula, Hazel Corylus avellana and Bird Cherry Prunus padus. Much more interesting, however, is a fine Small-leaved Elm Ulmus minor agg. The real star of the show here, though, is Turner’s Oak Quercus x turneri, a naturally occurring hybrid between Holm Oak and Pedunculate Oak, first recognised in cultivation in England but originating from crosses that also occur naturally in southern Europe. It remains a rare tree in Britain and is little known in the North East. Although the height of this specimen makes it difficult to appreciate fully, the lower branches provide a good look at its distinctive leaves.
Near the top of the bank, around the windmill itself, stand mature Aspens Populus tremula and several large Hybrid Black-poplars Populus × canadensis. Beyond these, however, there is little else of note, so retrace your steps downhill to rejoin the main path through Armstrong Park.
Back on the upper trail, continue beneath the shade of several substantial Horse-chestnuts Aesculus hippocastanum. Following the route as far as the waymarker takes you past plenty of Lime Tilia × europaea. Near the railings overlooking the old “cattle run”, look out for White Willow Salix alba. At the same time, around the information board stand Copper Beech Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea and Norway Maple Acer platanoides. Continuing further, you’ll notice the ground becoming increasingly boggy beside the path due to a small spring. Around this point, look to your right for Cappadocian Maple Acer cappadocicum, identifiable by its broad-lobed leaves.
From here onwards, the upper path is dominated largely by Yew and Holly, though look carefully for a convincing holly impostor hiding in plain sight. These shrubs are actually False Holly Osmanthus heterophyllus, which have presumably been growing in the park for many decades. Beyond this, continue as far as the bench beside the path, where you’ll find Portugal Laurel Prunus lusitanica alongside an unidentified cypress.
Beyond this point, the path becomes noticeably less shaded, with the canopy now dominated largely by Beech Fagus sylvatica. On the right-hand side of the trail stands a superb variegated Holly, probably a cultivated form of Ilex aquifolium, most likely ‘Argentea Marginata‘. A few steps further on, you’ll encounter Laburnum Laburnum anagyroides and, to the left, a particularly curious-looking Yew. Unlike the broad forms seen elsewhere in the park, this one grows in a narrow, upright column. It is Irish Yew Taxus baccata f. fastigiata, a distinctive and long-popular cultivar of our native species.
From here, you can either leave the park en route to Jesmond Dene or, to make the walk circular, turn left downhill onto the lower trail. We’ll take the latter route here.
The first section of the lower path offers many of the same species as above, though do look out for Leyland Cypress Cupressus × leylandii as the trail zigzags downhill towards a long flight of steps. From here, follow the path back towards your starting point through a much wilder-feeling part of the park rich in Lime Tilia × europaea and Wych Elm Ulmus glabra.
As you near the gate once more, Heaton’s famous Shoe Tree looms into view – a towering Sycamore festooned with all manner of discarded footwear. The exact origins of the shoes remain uncertain, though local legends suggest the tradition began either with students celebrating exam results or as a tribute to the historic Heaton Harriers running club. Whatever the truth, it certainly makes for one of the park’s more curious landmarks.
Just before reaching the Shoe Tree, look out for an unusual Holly bearing especially fierce spines on its leaves. This is Hedgehog Holly Ilex aquifolium ‘Ferox’. Nearby stands an interesting whitebeam, possibly Broad-leaved Whitebeam Sorbus latifolia, though the whitebeam group is notoriously difficult to identify with certainty.
Beyond the Shoe Tree, you’ll notice an arguably more attractive Sycamore with striking variegated foliage. This elegant specimen may be Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Simon-Louis Frères’. Growing nearby are Large-leaved Lime Tilia platyphyllos and another Norway Maple Acer platanoides, this time a cultivar selected for its noticeably auburn-tinted leaves.
All that remains from this point is to make your way back towards the gate. Before finishing the walk, however, you may wish to take one final detour uphill to the left towards the tennis courts. Here you’ll find more examples of Small-leaved Elm Ulmus minor agg, along with your first White Poplar Populus alba of the route.
Benton Bank Extension
For those wanting a little extra, an additional five minutes of walking opens up the chance to see several more interesting trees beyond the boundaries of Armstrong Park, around Benton Bank and the wooded areas on the opposite side of the Ouse Burn. To follow this optional extension, leave the park at spare.shins.usual shortly after taking the downhill turn towards the lower path.
From here, walk a short distance north past the pair of houses before turning left towards the area beneath the bridge. This section of Benton Bank contains several interesting conifers, most notably a fine Grand Fir Abies grandis close to the first bridge. A little further upslope grows a small Caucasian Fir Abies nordmanniana alongside Holm Oak Quercus ilex and several Leyland Cypress Cupressus × leylandii and Western Red-cedar Thuja plicata.
Looking back towards the Ouse Burn, you should spot a wood-chipped path leading south along the riverbank. Follow this as far as the grassy clearing at think.universally.store. Here, you’ll encounter a good selection of more familiar trees, including Swedish Whitebeam Sorbus intermedia, Grey Poplar Populus × canescens and Pear Pyrus communis. Particularly noteworthy, however, is Grey Alder Alnus incana, recognisable by its pointed leaves and pale glaucous undersides, along with another probable example of Broad-leaved Whitebeam Sorbus latifolia.
From here, continue along the muddy riverside path as far as the bridge at sober.spoil.hotel. Along the way, keep an eye out for several hawthorns with unusually broad, square-lobed leaves. These are Midland Hawthorn Crataegus laevigata, an uncommon species in the local area. There is also a particularly nice Field Maple Acer campestre, perched precariously on the riverbank.
Cross the bridge, noting the fallen but rapidly regenerating Hybrid Black-poplar, and re-enter Armstrong Park via the entrance opposite, where you can continue your walk through the park.