WHEN the palm trees on Tyneside disappear it’s a sure sign that the summer (of sorts) is over.

The potted trees are part of a NE1 Ltd’s Quayside Seaside feature on Newcastle’s riverfront.

But now the hundreds of tonnes of sand which made up the 800 square metre summer beach feature near the Quayside Law Courts have been cleared away.

The palm trees, which are owned by NE1, have been sent to a nursery in Yorkshire where they will be cared for during the winter before returning for another tour of duty next June.

The Quayside Seaside beach included deckchairs and a volleyball league for local business teams which was won by Parsons Brinckerhoff.

“The Quayside Seaside was used by everybody from parents and children with buckets and spades to office workers on their lunch breaks and visitors to the city,” said NE1 director of operations Adrian Waddell. “This was the second year for Quayside Seaside. Due to its phenomenal popularity in its first year, it was a no-brainer to bring it back again.

“It has been hugely popular again this year.

“When people looked through the palm trees and took in a view which included the Quayside marina in its first year, they must have wondered if this was Newcastle.”

The marina has been used this year by around 500 visiting boats.

Nearby is one of NE1’s pocket parks which fills a gap created by a cleared site. NE1 has also installed outdoor gym equipment near the Pitcher & Piano pub on the Quayside and has organised lunchtime fitness sessions for office workers.

But to reinforce the message that winter is on its way, South Tyneside Council has increased the amount of salt stock for gritting roads and paths from 7,500 tonnes to 7,750 tonnes at its Middlefields depot.

Tracey Dixon, council lead member for community safety, said: “The council uses knowledge from previous years to gauge how much resources we’ll need for the coming winter.”