Green spaces and nature in Coquetdale

Thank you for visiting the website for the Green Spaces and Nature in Coquetdale Workshop! You may have joined us at a previous workshop in February 2026 or seen us in Over the Bridges or on Facebook. This is a Newcastle University research project about Rothbury’s public grassed areas.

We are planning a second round of workshops in autumn/winter 2026, where we’d like to hear your opinions on some small gardening changes we are implementing in Rothbury with the support of the Parish Council. We would like to hear about what’s important to you in public grassed areas and your preferences towards the gardening and management.

Please sign up here to register your interest in attending the workshop and/or being updated with the research findings.

Please see here for a full summary of the Newcastle University project:

Newcastle University are interested in the community’s opinions and views regarding public grassed areas in Rothbury. Looked after by the Parish Council in some areas, and the County Council in others, as well as different organisations, these pockets of green amongst the hardstanding are important to people for a variety of reasons, such as aesthetic interest, picnicking, recreation, and wildlife-watching. We are keen to understand how the community uses and values public grassed areas through a series of community workshops in 2026 and 2027.

In February, we successfully ran two workshops in the Jubilee Hall in which around twenty-five members of the community came together to discuss Rothbury’s public grassed areas. Many interesting topics were brought up and these sessions directly contributed to university research into the public’s opinions of green space management.

Over spring and summer 2026, with the support of Rothbury Parish Council, we are temporarily changing the gardening of three small grassy areas near the High Street to investigate what happens to the wildlife there. This forms part of our research project. Thanks to the help of the gardeners, the areas are still being looked after during this trial, after which it is expected that the previous management will resume. Keep an eye out for these areas in the village!

Following the summer, a second set of workshops will be held to hear the community’s opinions on these changes. You are welcome and encouraged to join us at any of these workshops regardless of whether you joined us at the first set. We would like to hear about what’s important to you in public grassed areas and your preferences towards the gardening and management.

Whether you enjoy picnics, dog walking, taking in the sights, nature, or anything else, Newcastle University wants to hear from you! Join Dr Amy Proctor, Professor Darren Evans, and PhD student Tom Atkins at the Jubilee Hall to contribute to this important research. 

What to expect: 

• 90 minute workshop 

• Learn about Newcastle University research on this topic 

• Interactive discussions with other members of the community 

• Hands-on activities 

• Share your views 

• Free tea and cakes