Let’s go floral as we head towards a Bank Holiday weekend and with a hint of warmer weather on the way.
Here are 11 Sunderland flower centre and garden scenes from the past to enjoy stretching from 1940 to 2023. They take in Pennywell, Whitburn, Seaburn, Holley Park and Clay’s Garden Centre.
Some of the Sunderland Echo photo memories come from the Winter Gardens, Wearmouth Colliery Club, and Springwell Village.
Have a look and see how many scenes you remember from this great collection of archive images.
Or maybe there is another aspect of Wearside’s past you would like us to spotlight, such as a pub, club, restaurant or shop that you loved.
Get in touch and tell us about the nostalgia you would like to see featured, by emailing [email protected]
And if you want more of a wander down Memory Lane, take a look at the Wearside Echoes Facebook page which is filled with photos, articles and trips back to the past.

1. A crowning moment in Pennywell
Pennywell Community Centre garden commemorated the coronation of King Charles in 2023. It opened to the public with Hope 4 Kidz Viv Watts and children David Uche-Mark 8 and Lucy Hackett, 9, there on the opening day. | Local Library

2. Back to 2011 in Seaburn
Checking the winners in the flower classes at Seaburn Horticultural Show in 2011. | Local Library

3. Gardening at Springwell Primary
Alex Heywood and Joe Christian, right, were showing the plans for a new garden at Springwell Village Primary School in 2011. They were joined by fellow Class 4 pupils. | Local Library

4. Learning in the school garden
Sunderland Junior High pupils were doing their bit in the school garden in this scene from June 2010. | se