Lindisfarne Gospel Garden Inspired by the eighth-century Northumbrian Lindisfarne Gospels, the silver award- winning Newcastle City Council garden from the 2003 Chelsea Flower Show will be given pride of place on Lindisfarne. William Turner Garden to Chelsea (May) The William Turner garden was created to celebrate the life of the 16th century Morpeth-born herbalist William Turner - the Father of British Botany. The £185,000 garden, part of the £1.7m Carlisle Park refurbishment, uses only plants that could be found in Turner's lifetime 1508-1568. Fashion at Belsay (FAB) (Until September 30) English Heritage has invited 13 of Britain's most innovative and enigmatic fashion designers to respond to the magnificent neo-classical mansion Belsay Hall, its 14th Century castle and Grade I listed gardens, by creating art installations rather than garments. Plantmania! at Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden (Until early September) To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Royal Horticultural Society, this exhibition explores the relationship between people and plants as seen through the eyes of artists over the last 500 years. Including a fascinating and colourful selection of oil paintings, watercolours, costume, ceramics, glass and contemporary craft, Plantmania! explores a range of themes, including In Search of the Exotic, The Indoor Garden and Mystery, Romance and Symbolism. Trailer made (July) A hi-tech designer caravan will be entirely refitted and furnished by designers and craftspeople based in the region. The caravan will showcase commissioned work from a range of different design media including, furniture, metal work and fine art. The awning will be reworked by an artist and will add to the feeling of the exhibition as a sculptural installation in its own right. The caravan will tour extensively throughout 2004 visiting parks and gardens throughout the North East. Sunburst in Saltwell Park, Gateshead (July-September) A summer of celebrations has been lined up to mark the re-opening of historic Saltwell Park in Gateshead - dubbed the People's Park. It has been restored to its original glory thanks to a £9.6m scheme funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Gateshead Council. Celebrations include the official opening of Saltwell Towers, the once derelict Grade II-Listed mansion at the heart of the park now restored as a visitor centre and café. A summer of fun activities for all ages will mark the reopening, including a range of sporting, musical and horticultural events and the Sunburst series of circus and theatre performances. The programme includes a new commission from the North- East's leading visual theatre company, Dodgy Clutch, plus Northern Stage and Swamp Circus. Youngsters have the chance to join workshops in drama, dance, acrobatics, juggling, clown and mime. Alnwick Garden (three new Gardens - Labyrinth, Poison and Serpent and Treehouse opens in Autumn 2004) Alnwick Garden, the largest garden of its kind built in Europe for 100 years has much to offer this year. With the creation of three new gardens and Treetopia, one of the world's largest wooden treehouses, visitors will find the experience fascinating. The reopening of Leazes Park (September) September this year will see the official opening of this historic Newcastle park after its £4.9m refurbishment. Its smart new look, inspired by the past, has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Newcastle City Council. Specialist craftspeople have been drawn from across the country to restore its original features including the bandstand and equipping it for the new millennium with new children's play area. Exhibition Park, Newcastle In late Summer Exhibition Park will provide the backdrop for Extreme - a celebration of youth culture and style Scott Henshall (September/October) Top British designer Scott Henshall has been working in association with Newcastle Gateshead Initiative to bring his next stunning collection to Leazes Park in October. Gateshead Summer Flower Show (July 30-Aug 1) The biggest horticultural show in the North, with dozens of award-winning displays and floral exhibits all under canvas. In addition to the flowers and plants there is a full entertainment programme which ranges from marching pipe bands and jazz through to Paraguyan harpists. Opening of the Laing Art Gallery To mark its centenary in April 2004, the Laing Art Gallery has undergone an exciting refurbishment funded largely by Northern Rock Foundation and the Barbour Trust. The refurbishment includes a brand new watercolour gallery to feature the Laing's internationally important collections and a refurbished gallery to feature highlights from the gallery's stunning collection of 18th and 19th Century paintings. A new art resource area, the marble hall and rotunda has been restored back to its former glory. One of the Gallery's new touring exhibitions, Making Faces, features masterpieces from the National Gallery. | 
