Jesmond Community Festival

Teddy Bear Trail

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

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

Route Two was 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 were be no paper forms, but the instructions, maps etc were available on Facebook, and displayed in the library windows.

If you have any queries, email joanaarvold@icloud.com  or telephone 07747 359607.

Photographic Competition

Sponsored by Jesmond Community Forum and the Friends of Jesmond Library.

The theme of this year’s competition is “Vibrant Jesmond”! Interpret the theme in any way you can: perhaps something colourful, lively or fun.

The best photographs will be used in our 2022 Jesmond Calendar. For a copy of the full rules of the competition, and an entry form, email info@jesmondfestival.org.uk . As well as a prize for the best photograph submitted by an adult, there will be a special prize for an entrant aged 16 or under. The closing date for the submission of entries will be Saturday 25 September 2021.

Glorious Gardens Competition 2021

Organised by the Greening Jesmond Group

Once again the 2021 Glorious Gardens competition brought to attention some wonderful Jesmond gardens. These were the award winners:

Small garden: 16 Northumberland Gardens. This small space is densely filled with a range of very unusual plants, with dramatic use of strong, dark colours. The bright touches of red and yellow provide a colourful lift. In addition there are some lovely features around the front door, including solar lights woven into shrubs, and a small tree.

Large Garden: 16 Tankerville Terrace. This garden was a pleasing mixture of flowering pots and borders, containing perennials and bedding plants surrounding a little lawn. There was a row of pots lining the path leading to the front door. All the plants were in bloom and it was delightfully colourful. Two Buddha statues added a touch of serenity.

Wildlife friendly: 25 Holly Avenue. This is a long front garden, with a huge mature lime tree on its front boundary.  The tree has had its crown lifted to allow light in, and the area beneath is cultivated as a woodland garden with many wildflowers and a woodpile.  A small lawn includes an area of long grass and a table feeder, and there are also bird feeders and a bird bath.  The whole area is densely planted, including use of the fence between neighbours. The garden adjoins many similar front gardens and provides as much as possible for wildlife, while creating a colourful space.

Single Container: 61 Grosvenor Gardens. A very attractive pot with lovely contrast between white and purple flowers against darker foliage. Simple but effective and works well in the context of sparkling pebbles.

Children’s Book Reviews

The  2021 Children’s Book Review Competition for Years 4 and 5 will once again be organised by Oxfam Books and Music and the Friends of Jesmond Library. Children will be asked to write a review of a favourite book and submit it either through school or direct to Jesmond Library. Winning entries will be displayed and receive prizes.

Watch out for further information, including the closing date for entries. If you have any queries email info@jesmondfestival.org.uk .

Jesmond Library Windows

During the 2021 festival different Jesmond organisations decorated the Library windows with special festival-themed displays, to celebrate Jesmond Community Festival. Let us know your favourites by posting on the library’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/JesmondLibrary.

Friends of St George’s “Where in Jesmond?” Picture Quiz

During the festival the Friends of St George’s put on their website (https://friendsofstgeorgesjesmond.org.uk) 20 images of places in Jesmond. There was no prize – it was just your personal challenge and your personal result!