Last updated: October 2021
The Town Moor in Newcastle upon Tyne is an open space area of around 400 hectares, with a history dating back to the 12th century; it has remained an area of common land (with grazing rights belonging to The Freemen of Newcastle, a conservation body). This green space includes parks, allotments and sports facilities. (1, 2) For this, a social intervention aims to maintain the Town Moor as a green space; with the Freemen of Newcastle as 'guardians' for this social intervention scheme.
Source: http://freemenofnewcastle.org/about/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Other
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Project objectives
- Maintenance and protection of the parks, Town Moors and green spaces for the benefit of the City’s residents (2)
- Ensure that the area remains a grazed open space available for residents for recreation purposes (2)
- Protection of the open space from urban development (2)
A social intervention is needed to maintain the Town Moor of Newcastle as a green space (which includes formal parks, allotments and sports facilities; in an area of around 400 hectares). The aim of this is to set up the Freemen of Newcastle as (potential) ‘guardians’ of this scheme. (Ref. 1, 2 and C. Martin)
Implementation activities
The Freemen of Newcastle (already) have the right to graze cattle on Town moor (a right that is primarily inherited, but can be acquired through an 'apprenticeship' with a small number of companies). This historic organisation now positions itself "as a conservation body, primarily aimed at protecting the many of the parks, Town Moors and green spaces for the benefit of the City's residents." (Ref. 1, 2)
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
- Other
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-management/Joint management
- Other
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Until 1998, the Freemen and the City Council have operated a Joint Committee to look after the management and improvement of the Moor and this system operated well and to the satisfaction of both parties. After 1998, a Town Moor Joint Consultative Committee was formed to debate matters relating to management and use of the Town Moor. (3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Town Moor land tenure and use is regulated by an Act of Parliament. (1) )
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The 'Newcastle upon Tyne Town Moor Act 1988' is the latest legal instrument codifying the rights of the Freemen, and includes e.g. guidelines on finances and maintenance. (3, 4) )
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of funding
- Asset-backed funding (e.g., leasing)
- Donations
- Other
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increase in protected green space areas
- Increased protection of threatened species
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of natural heritage
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Other
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
References
1. Newcastle City Council. (2014). Town Moor. Our parks and countryside. Website unavailable
2. The Freemen of Newcastle Upon Tyne. (n.d.). About the Freemen. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
3. The Freemen of Newcastle Upon Tyne. (n.d.). The Moor. History. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
4. Newcastle City Council. (1988). Newcastle upon Tyne Town Moor Act 1988. Website not available
5. Newcastle City Council. (2010). The Newcastle Allotment Strategy 2010-2015. Our Land. Allotments Working group. Website not available
6. Greening Wingrove. (n.d.). Nuns Moor Park. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
7. Rotherham, I.D. (2010). The End of Tradition?: Part 1. A History of Commons and Commons Management: Cultural Severance and Commons Past; Part 2. Commons: Current Management and Problems: Cultural Severance and Commons Present. V. 8 of Landscape archaeology and ecology. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
8. Freeman Magazine. (2007). The Newcastle upon Tyne Freeman Magazine. Issue 1. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
9. Space for Gosforth. (2016). Why is the Town Moor special?. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
10. Source link. (2015). Managing common land: Guidance. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
2. The Freemen of Newcastle Upon Tyne. (n.d.). About the Freemen. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
3. The Freemen of Newcastle Upon Tyne. (n.d.). The Moor. History. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
4. Newcastle City Council. (1988). Newcastle upon Tyne Town Moor Act 1988. Website not available
5. Newcastle City Council. (2010). The Newcastle Allotment Strategy 2010-2015. Our Land. Allotments Working group. Website not available
6. Greening Wingrove. (n.d.). Nuns Moor Park. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
7. Rotherham, I.D. (2010). The End of Tradition?: Part 1. A History of Commons and Commons Management: Cultural Severance and Commons Past; Part 2. Commons: Current Management and Problems: Cultural Severance and Commons Present. V. 8 of Landscape archaeology and ecology. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
8. Freeman Magazine. (2007). The Newcastle upon Tyne Freeman Magazine. Issue 1. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
9. Space for Gosforth. (2016). Why is the Town Moor special?. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
10. Source link. (2015). Managing common land: Guidance. Accessed on October 19, 2020, Source link
Source: http://freemenofnewcastle.org/about/
Source: http://spaceforgosforth.com/blue-house-environmental-impact-assessment/
Source: http://spaceforgosforth.com/blue-house-environmental-impact-assessment/