Teddy Bear Trail

Teddy Bear Trail

The Teddy Bear Trail is organised by the Friends of Jesmond Library. The 2021 trail will run from 22 May to 6 June, so as to include half term, and all the teddies will have a theme related to a children’s story, film or TV programme.

This year there will be two trail routes, both starting from Jesmond Library. Route One includes the North side of Jesmond Dene Road (Beatty Avenue etc), where there were lots of keen hosts for teddy bears. There are around 25 teddies on this Trail – as it finishes at the bottom of Keyes Gardens many trailers may well wish to wander into the Dene for an ice cream or picnic!

Route Two is a bit longer, covering a number of central Jesmond streets, bringing the total number of bears to around 70, and making the event our biggest yet! To minimise the chances of COVID problems there will be no paper forms, but the instructions, maps etc will be available on Facebook, and displayed in the library windows.

Watch out for further information! In the meantime, if you have any queries, email joanaarvold@icloud.com  or telephone 07747 359607.

Glorious Gardens

Glorious Gardens

This year’s Glorious Gardens competition is open to all Jesmond gardeners with a little bit of Paradise in front of their house. Entries for gardens of all sizes are welcome, and there’s a special category for the best wildlife-friendly plot. To make the competition truly inclusive, this year there will be a prize for the prettiest single container. Email Greeningjesmond@hotmail.com for details of how to enter. The closing date for entries is Tuesday 18 May and the awards will be presented on Friday 28 May.

Decorate a Library Window!

Decorate a Library Window!

To celebrate Jesmond Community Festival 2021 Jesmond Library is inviting local community organisations and businesses to help decorate the library windows. Each organisation will be allocated one window and invited to produce a display on the theme of “Vibrant Jesmond”. If you are interested, contact Sarah Breakey on sbreakey57@gmail.com well before the middle of April.

Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra

Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra

Unfortunately COVID restrictions mean that we won’t be able to enjoy a live concert by the Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra as part of this year’s Jesmond Community Festival. But instead NUJO are recording two special videos for us, “Spain” by Chick Corea and “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire. Watch out for further information towards the end of April!

Art on the Metro

Art on the Metro

Jesmond Library has announced a fascinating Thursday evening talk as part of this year’s Jesmond Community Festival. Huw Lewis, Customer Services Director of Nexus, the public body which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, will be talking about Art on the Metro. There are more than 30 pieces of permanent art on the Metro and other public transport infrastructure in Tyne and Wear, including the abstract murals in Jesmond Metro Station. The collection has been built up over 30 years and includes work designed by local communities and internationally-acclaimed artists. The talk will be held online, on May 27.