Tyne Derwent Way Published on: 15 April 2024 Â鶹´«Ã½ is a partner in a project which is revitalising the nine-mile outdoor trail between Gateshead town centre and the Derwent Valley. Nature, culture and heritage The route begins at before running along the Tyne, past Gateshead Riverside Park, Dunston Staiths, through the Derwent Valley, and and finishing at the . The route is being revitalised following the Government awarding Gateshead Riverside Partnership, which includes Â鶹´«Ã½, £1.5m of UK SPF funding to improve the route including pathways, signage and artworks along the Tyne Derwent Way (TDW). This vital investment means the trail’s nature, culture and heritage can be enjoyed by all. Staff and students from across the University have been involved in the TDW. Activities have included researchers investigating the area’s salt flats as a significant site of biodiversity, other experts supporting Gateshead Council on the challenges of land reclamation, and a partnership between Â鶹´«Ã½ and Northumbria Universities exploring how Gateshead’s creative and cultural industries can be developed through engagement with the TDW regeneration. Postgraduate architecture students designed buildings that could be placed in the park and Earth Sciences undergraduates have been looking at the area’s nature and biodiversity. Photograph of Dunston Staiths courtesy of Gateshead Riverside Partnership Collaboration Professor Vee Pollock, Dean of Culture and Creative Arts at Â鶹´«Ã½ said: “The TDW has its roots in an initiative called Â鶹´«Ã½ City Futures which sought to bring together various agencies to use their expertise to revitalise this vital section of urban green space. This ethos of collaboration has remained at the heart of the mission to improve this area and make its nature, culture and heritage accessible for all. It is great to now be celebrating this stage in the TDW regeneration.” The Government’s support is also enabling the creation of a huge range of activities and volunteering opportunities along the route. The launch of the Tyne Derwent Way also includes the reopening of the historic Dunston Staiths which will be open to the general public from 10am-2pm on the first Saturday of the month from May to September, as well as for special events such as the Late Shows and Gateshead International Festival of Theatre. St Mary’s Heritage Centre will also be reopening under the new stewardship of the Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust. It will be a space for community groups to book and run events from. Other flagship landmarks and visitor attractions to be enjoyed along the trail include the Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre, Thornley Woodland Centre, Nine Arches Viaduct and National Trust estate, Gibside, the end point of The Tyne Derwent Way. Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health for Gateshead and Â鶹´«Ã½, said: “The launch of the Tyne Derwent Way is fantastic news for Gateshead. As well as providing an opportunity to celebrate our heritage, nature and culture, it offers improved access to green spaces for all local residents, which is key to boosting mental and physical wellbeing.” Press release adapted with thanks to Gateshead Riverside Partnership Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at Â鶹´«Ã½ warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Â鶹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures
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