Falling Leaves

A final look in 2017 at the piece of green space I have called Battlefield because one time it looked like a battle to protect this precious resource was immanent. In those early years for this blog, the likelihood was some kind of 'development', first of a 1300 car parking space (!), then multi-storey offices followed by apartments and now student halls. Character free developments that have bought no 'vibrant' community in their train. Students shuffle along like weary commuters and Deliveroo couriers come and go morning, noon and night ...

Yet, at least Battlefield the Beautiful remains and so far the dottier schemes have not come to anything. An under hand land grab by the Universities p.l.c. has not happened – yet. The public is still welcome to stroll and enjoy the views over the Tyne Gorge.

Elsewhere the situation of the city sways and swerves between the not so bad and the threat of more of the worst. The Listed (sic) Odeon is a space waiting to be turned into another 'much needed' shopping precinct when the only competitor to Eldon Square, the former Newgate Shopping Centre has also been put out of its misery (not before time).

A photographic essay on Battlefield, where another old friend, a lurching White stroke Grey Poplar, succumbed to high winds, here. (Off site link.)