Monkton Community Woodland

Once home to the Monkton Coke Works, this 10-hectare community woodland in South Tyneside has been transformed into a vibrant green space. Originally agricultural land, the site was repurposed after the coke works closed in 1990, with extensive remediation efforts leading to its regeneration.  

As part of the Great North Forest Project, over 30,000 trees and shrubs were planted, creating a vital habitat for wildlife and a valuable outdoor space for local communities. Two award-winning sculptures, The Swarm and The Hive, by artist William Pym, celebrate the site’s industrial past and ecological renewal. Transferred to the Land Trust in 2005, the woodland now provides peaceful walking trails, diverse habitats, and a lasting connection between people and nature.