A tree sculpture in the garden, carved with a kind face and hair. A bird feeder hangs from its branch above a bed of plants.

Lovaine Community Garden


a space to grow in the heart of North Shields

An urban garden and community event space in the centre of North Shields, supporting wildlife, wellbeing, creativity, and restoration through shared care.Lovaine Garden is an evolving green space where nature, people, and place are given time to reconnect.Once a neglected and fly-tipped site, the garden has gradually been reclaimed through voluntary stewardship by local people and is now cared for as a space for biodiversity, low carbon living, composting, permaculture principles, growing, creativity, community participation, and low-impact events and gatherings.Alongside supporting urban wildlife and ecological wellbeing, the garden hosts occasional open days and facilitates workshops, private groups, private bookings, and activities that enrich the local community and help sustain the future of the space by contributing towards its ongoing upkeep and running costs.

About us


Learn what we do and how you can take part


From Neglected Bomb Site to Green Sanctuary


Lovaine Garden sits on land with a long and layered history within North Shields.The site originally formed part of a private girls’ school before later being requested for use during the wartime effort. Historical records suggest that Bomb 190 on the Tynemouth bomb map fell within the grounds of what is now the garden.


In more recent decades, the site became neglected and increasingly affected by fly-tipping, overgrowth, and antisocial behaviour.Around 2010, local residents began reclaiming and restoring the space through voluntary effort, gradually transforming it into a green sanctuary for wildlife, growing, creativity, and shared community use.


Today, the garden continues to evolve through ongoing stewardship, ecological care, practical maintenance, and the support of volunteers, visitors, bookings, and local people who value the space.

Lovaine Community Garden
North Shields, England
NE29 0DH
lovainegarden@gmail.com
07701024049

Fancy a visit?


Find us on the map below, or contact us to arrange a visit



Lovaine Community Garden
North Shields, England
NE29 0DH
lovainegarden@gmail.com
07701024049

Contact the garden


Use the form below to email us your enquiry, to book the garden, or to book tickets for one of our music events.

Lovaine Community Garden
North Shields, England
NE29 0DH
lovainegarden@gmail.com
07701024049

Message Sent

Thank you for your message. One of our volunteers will get back in touch within a week of your message.

F.A.Q.


Answers to our most frequently asked questions

How do I get involved in the community garden?Come and visit us at our Coffee Morning, Gardening Club, or Singaround Sundays or get in touch with us via email, telephone or through our social media page to arrange a visit. You can book a slot in the garden to meet with the garden coordinator to discuss the use of the garden for your own events or groups and get more information on which groups and services we currently provide.How do I use the garden, or become a volunteer?Anyone can use the garden, you can book a slot via email, here on our website, by phone or Facebook. Our own regular groups are open to all if you like company and want to meet the team but if you prefer to use the garden at quieter times or with a group or for an event of your own, please get in touch.If you would like to volunteer your time and skills at the garden to help improve and maintain our space and be involved in the planning and facilitating of all of our other groups and activities or run a group of your own - just get in touch to let us know what times you are available and what you are interested in helping with or if you would like to organise your own event.Can I use the garden for my charity, community group, business or workshop activity?For charity-funded groups, or sessions where participants are charged to attend, the cost of hiring the garden per session depends on:• Any additional facilities required
• The size of the group
• The activities taking place
• Any potential impact on our neighbours (noise, smoke, music, exit time)
We will agree a price with you, based on your requirements, prior to your session.What times are you open for the public to drop in?Weather Permitting, we are usually open 10:00 - 15:00 on weekdays (except Thursday). Please check our timetable for our regular social groups and other events. The garden is available to book outside of our regular hours for your own use/event. Bear in mind that even within our usual hours, there may be a private group or event booked and full garden access is not always guaranteed.Will I get my own raised bed/garden patch?Our gardeners and volunteers plan and maintain the garden together, with a view to providing a colourful, vibrant but peaceful and private greenspace for others to enjoy and use as an outdoor event space. We garden organically and with an emphasis on permaculture/wildlife. The garden is quite small and there is not enough room for allocated space/beds per person. Instead, we maintain the garden together, making a yearly plan and with allocated areas for different kinds of produce, ornamental and wildlife areas.What facilities are there at the garden?There are extra tables and chairs available for groups, a large covered patio area, a firepit and a summerhouse. The garden has solar and battery power which can run most devices under 600w, and the patio and summerhouse are lit, and can be heated by use of a patio heater or the firepit.There is water on-site and hot water and crockery for tea/coffee can be provided for events/bookings. You can also bring your own food and drinks.There is a composting toilet (for wees only!). Local amenities and full toilet facilities are available within a 2 min walk from the garden.Are dogs welcome?Dogs are welcome but we have a small poultry flock in the garden who may at times be free range, and resident dogs and cats, so need time to secure these if you are dropping in with a pet - All dogs must be on a lead until tested and proven safe or introduced to our resident cats/dogs/our livestock.In the case of advanced bookings, and for events our resident animals can be removed/secured, but just be mindful of the poultry, and please don’t allow dogs to dig, chew plants or go into the flower borders/off the paths. You must clean up after your dog.Are children welcome?Children are welcome and we do run events specifically for children, with activities to keep them entertained such as our Play Street Meet events or other seasonal events such as Easter Egg hunts and open days or play days.We can provide activities/equipment to keep small children engaged such as chalks, bubbles, paddling pools, craft/art equipment or water/sand/sensory play.While we welcome children to explore the garden and encourage guided discovery/play in nature, we advise parents to be aware that the garden has uneven surfaces, and tender plants and crops, as well as livestock. As such, we ask that children are supervised at all times and to discourage children from running, climbing trees, or chasing livestock, that they are mindful of the plants/flowers/produce and to stay on the paths/main areas and not climb on border edging or into flower beds/borders.Can I harvest produce?We prefer that planting and harvesting crops, flowers and produce is done with guidance or permission from the Garden Co-Ordinators. We usually post on social media when various produce is available, fruit for example, so that people can come and pick their own when it is ready and at its peak production. Any excess produce is available to members, or to visitors to take for a small donation.

Lovaine Community Garden
North Shields, England
NE29 0DH
lovainegarden@gmail.com
07701024049

Events


Please contact us to book tickets for the events below.
Tickets are £8 per person, or £7 per person if paid in advance.
Doors open at 6.40pm.


Saturday 6th June 2026

Miserable Les, Valerie Fairless


Saturday 20th June 2026

Nev Clay, Lesley Roley


Saturday 4th July 2026

Renata Connors & Take Your Pick


Saturday 18th July 2026

Mills & Farrell


Saturday 1st August 2026

The Delta Prophets


Saturday 15th August 2026

Tom O'Donnell, Claire & Den Fisher


Saturday 22nd August 2026

Nicky Bray, Richard O'Brian


Saturday 29th August 2026

Miggins Fiddle & Harry Gallagher

Lovaine Community Garden
North Shields, England
NE29 0DH
lovainegarden@gmail.com
07701024049