Elba Park

Elba Park is Sunderland’s newest park. It is on the site of the former Lambton Coke Works and covers 52 hectares. The site was designed to create a public green space which could be used by members of the public, community groups and schools. The restoration lasted for 7 years and in that time 77,000 native trees were planted, five pieces of public artwork installed 3,000 metres of footpaths created and the whole site landscaped.

The name Elba comes from the village which once stood on the site, next to a bend or 'elbow' of the Durham Junction Railway after which the village itself was named. The village disappeared in the nineteenth century as industrial activity, including the Cokeworks which was located on what is the now the park, expanded and swallowed it up.

There are wildflower meadows, woodland areas, wetlands and ponds and amenity grassland. Elba Park is used by the public for walking, cycling, jogging, wildlife watching and horse riding. Groundwork North East manage the site on behalf of the Land Trust and are responsible for the day to day management of the park and encouraging the community to use this valuable asset.