Leisure

Tucked beside the A19 within Cobalt Business Park, Silverlink Park Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is an 18-hectare haven that showcases just how dramatically a landscape can be transformed. Once a former rubbish tip, the site was reshaped into a country park in 1996 and later awarded LNR status in 2005, recognising its remarkable biodiversity and growing ecological importance.

Since moving to North Shields, I’ve become obsessed with the sheer spectacle of big boats on the Tyne—those vast floating giants that glide silently past as life ticks on around them. From spontaneous waves to app-assisted ship spotting, this piece is a love letter to the boats that remind us how big, strange, and wonderful the world can be.

Little explorers now have a brand-new space to roam at Linskill Nursery in North Shields, where the newly completed Wild Garden is ready to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love for nature. Thoughtfully designed to support outdoor learning, this magical garden offers planting areas, sensory zones, and plenty of room for imaginative play. It’s more than just a playground — it’s a hands-on learning environment where children grow alongside the natural world.

What was once a forgotten bomb site is now a thriving hub of greenery, creativity, and community. Since 2010, Lovaine Community Garden has blossomed into a welcoming space where nature, well-being, and togetherness grow side by side. Just minutes from the North Shields Metro, this resident-led garden offers more than just plants — it’s a sanctuary for those without access to green space, a stage for local musicians, a setting for mindfulness and art, and a place where everyone is invited to connect, unwind, and get involved.

Beneath the River Tyne lies a unique piece of history—the Tyne Cyclist and Pedestrian Tunnel. Opened in 1951 as Britain’s first purpose-built cycling tunnel, it links Howdon and Jarrow with twin passages for walkers and cyclists. With original 1950s wooden escalators and Grade II listed status, this 270-meter tunnel remains a remarkable blend of engineering heritage and modern-day utility.