Founded in the 1960s, Pets’ Corner is a hugely popular visitor attraction in Jesmond Dene. Free to enter and enjoy, it is home to an assortment of animals, including goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds.
Although the site benefitted from investment around 15 years ago, the decline in budgets across Newcastle’s wider parks and allotments had an impact on Pets’ Corner. Urban Green Newcastle explored a number of different options to refurbish the site, including partnering with other organisations to deliver the much-needed long-term improvements.
Between 2019 – 2025, pens were refurbished, more stimulating activities incorporated, and new animals were also introduced, including alpacas, who proved enormously popular with visitors.
To increase enjoyment for visitors, staff promoted activities such as Rabbit Week and Guinea Pig week, and carried out multiple activities as part of Beelines North East – improving the site for pollinators and providing educational activities.
Despite setbacks such as the site’s closure during the COVID 19 pandemic and Bird Flu, visitors were kept updated on the animals through social media and digital ‘postcards’ from the animals along the fence line on Red Walk.
Local support for the site is huge, and the Friends of Jesmond Dene generously donated funding to improve the aviary. The site also remains one of the most popular areas in Newcastle’s parks for volunteers and training, with established links to local colleges. A dedicated JustGiving page was also in operation for Pets’ Corner, meaning members of the public could donate directly to care of the animals and the upkeep of the site.
