Ten Most Popular Sites

County Durham contains many nature reserves and sites of considerable natural beauty. The following ten sites represent the most interesting examples of the wildlife resource in the County that are accessible to the public, and can be selected from the map below.

Waldridge Fell (Durham County Council)

This is one of the few remaining examples of lowland heath in the north-east and is home to a number of plant and insect species that are rare in the County. The site also contains areas of wetland and woodland, the most significant of these being Wanister Bog, one of only two valley mires available to visit in County Durham.

Wingate Quarry Local Nature Reserve (Durham County Council)

This disused quarry has developed a Magnesian Limestone grassland community, one of the rarest habitats in Britain. The quarry is now a refuge for many limestone-loving plants, including greater knapweed, cowslip, quaking grass, glaucous sedge, salad burnet and fragrant orchid.

Hawthorn Dene and Meadow, and Beacon Hill (Durham Wildlife Trust & National Trust)

Hawthorn Dene is an extensive area of semi-natural woodland dominated by ash, with yew, alder and oak trees.

This reserve also incorporates two outstanding areas of Magnesian Limestone grassland with many wild flower species including the bee, fragrant, birds nest, northern marsh and early purple orchids.

Low Barns (Durham Wildlife Trust)

This nature reserve is primarily a wetland site, although areas of woodland and grassland can also be found here. Wetland features include a number of lakes, interconnecting streams, a number of mature ponds and a wet pasture.

The site supports large populations of waterfowl and in the woodland areas up to fifty different types of tree can be found. Grassland areas contain many wild flowers such as yellow rattle and early purple orchid. These flowers support a host of insect species including many colourful butterflies.

Castle Eden Dene (English Nature)

Castle Eden Dene occupies a deep, steep-sided ravine formed in Magnesian Limestone and boulder clay and is the largest area of natural woodland in north-east England. The tangled landscape is a survivor of the wildwood which once covered most of Britain.

Over four hundred and fifty species of plants have been recorded in the wood, including rarities such as bird’s nest orchid, herb paris and lily of the valley. The woods are home to many different birds including the treecreeper and nuthatch. Red squirrels may also be seen on the site.

Hamsterley Forest (Forest Enterprise)

This is County Durham’s largest forest, covering over 2,000 hectares. Organised guided walks provide the opportunity to see roe deer and some of the varied bird life such as nightjars, pied flycatchers and wood warblers.

Pow Hill and Derwent Reservoir (Durham County Council and Northumbrian Water)

This Country Park contains a number of habitats including areas of coniferous woodland alternating with heather moorland, grassland and marshland. Within these varied habitats a large number of animals are found including brown hare, badger, red squirrel and roe deer. Adders and slow-worms also use the site.

Derwent Reservoir is the second largest reservoir in the north-east at 404.9 hectares. It was built in 1966 and the south western corner has been managed as a nature reserve since 1967. It is an important roosting and feeding area for wildfowl such as mallard, teal, coot, moorhen, tufted duck, pochard and goldeneye.

Moorhouse Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve (English Nature and Northumbrian Water)

The reserve’s 3,497 hectares is used mainly for sheep grazing and as grouse moor. It is part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is renowned for its alpine plant community, including spring gentian and mountain everlasting. Ground-nesting birds such as the skylark are also found on the site. The site also incorporates Cow Green Reservoir.

Ferryhill Carrs (Sedgefield Borough Council)

This site contains a number of different habitats including woodland grassland, open water and fen.

Fen is a type of wetland that is not commonly found in County Durham. The wetland areas are dominated by reedmace and wild strawberry can be found in the grassland alongside the fen. In springtime the ash and oak woodland is filled with carpets of bluebells.

Grassholme Reservoir (Northumbrian Water)

This 57.6 hectare reservoir provides an important refuge for both over-wintering and resident breeding birds. It is entirely surrounded by grassland with small pockets of woodland, which is used as breeding grounds by a host of waders, including snipe, oystercatcher and lapwing.

1. Castle Eden Dene
2. Ferryhill Carrs
3. Grassholme Reservoir
4. Hamsterley Forest
5. Hawthorn Dene and Meadow and Beacon Hill
6. Low Barns Nature Reserve and the River Wear
7. Moorhouse Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve
8. Pow Hill and Derwent Reservoir
9. Waldridge Fell
10. Wingate Quarry Local Nature Reserve


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