Areas of reflection open in North Tyneside to remember those killed by Covid-19

Four new sites take the total of rememberance spaces in the area up to five
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Five new 'areas of reflection' have been opened across North Tyneside to give locals the chance to remember those lost to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Four new spaces were unveiled on Monday, July 18 and are all connected to the borough's 30-mile waggonway network.

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The central site at Silverlink Biodiversity Park was opened earlier this year and the new arrivals take the total in the area up to five.

The newest sites are at Killingworth Lakeside Park, Wallsend Hall grounds, Redburn Dene Park in North Shields, and Souter Park in Whitley Bay.

All of the reflection areas are based around the theme of a compass, designs chosen by locals, and come with seating and plants provided by local businesses.

Drawn by a local artist, the designs are unique to the areas in which they’re located and include George Stephenson’s locomotive, St Mary’s Lighthouse, fishing and shipbuilding.

Schoolchildren attended the openingSchoolchildren attended the opening
Schoolchildren attended the opening
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Chair of the Council, Cllr Pat Oliver opened the areas and said: “I am honoured to be opening these reflection and contemplation spaces and to be joined by many people from the community. These areas are for each and every one of us and all of our residents.

“There is a special significance behind the compass design – the word compass combines the two Latin words – ‘com’ which means together and ‘passus, meaning pace of step. Together, they can be taken to mean ‘journey together’, and this is something North Tyneside did throughout the pandemic. Community spirit certainly shone through."

The council has also drawn up special maps to help cyclists, walkers and wheelchair users to navigate between the sites via the waggonway.