Pow Hill and Derwent Reservoir

About the Site

Pow Hill Country Park and Derwent Reservoir are situated on the northern border of County Durham.

Pow Hill is set in moorland overlooking the reservoir. It is one of only a handful of sites in County Durham that contains bog, and is a particularly good example of valley mire, which is a rare habitat containing a number of uncommon plants.

There are two valley mires, draining in opposite directions from a raised central area. In the valley mire, small streams arise which have a different flora from the main part of the mire.

Within the mire there is a mixture of wet and dry habitats. The driest parts contain ling, heather, hare’s-tail cotton grass, cross-leaved heath, deer grass and common sedge whilst the wetter areas consist of carpets of bog mosses with common cottongrass, star sedge, marsh cinqufoil, cranberry and bog asphodel.

The yellow star-like flowers of bog asphodel arranged in short spikes on leafless stems, are the brightest flecks of colour in this area. In the centre of the mire are small open pools that contain bog bean and bog pondweed. They are also home to insects which are not found in other habitats, such as waterskaters, waterbeetles and larvae and nymphs of dragonflies and damselflies. Studies of the bog have shown that it started to develop approximately 10,000 years ago.

On the edges of the valley mire, there is sharp-flowered rush, purple moor-grass, Yorkshire fog, bog violet and various mosses. Rarer species that may be found include the narrow leaved buckler-fern, lesser skull-cap and grass of Parnassus.

The dry soils of the valley sides support heath vegetation dominated by heather, with bracken on deeper soils. The spikes of honey scented flowers of heather can surprisingly be used to make an orange dye and beer. Heather comes into flower in the early autumn and produces a great sweeping carpet of lilac.

Areas of coniferous woodland can be found alternating with heather moorland, grassland, marshland and the open water and shores of the reservoir itself.

The site also contains species rich grassland, supporting a number of traditional hay meadow species such as adder's tongue fern, great burnet, wood cranesbill and wood horsetail. Adder’s tongue fern does not resemble a fern at all. They grow a single, short oval ‘leaf’ each year, which encases a tongue-like spike. Alchemists used to use adder’s tongue fern as a cure for snake-bites.

The areas of woodland are made up of a mixture of downy birch, rowan, and willow, with blocks of planted larch, pine and Norway spruce. Larch is a deciduous conifer, which means that it produces cones like other evergreen trees but sheds its needles. The needles of larch turn a vibrant yellow-orange colour making the woodland a colourful place to visit in the autumn.

The variety of habitats on this reserve supports a wide range of animals are also found here. Mammals include the brown hare, badger, red squirrel and roe deer to name but a few. Pipistrelle and noctule bats can often be seen feeding over the grasslands of the picnic area at Carrick Haugh at dusk during the summer.

The green hairstreak butterfly can be seen on the wing here in April and May. It is a small, very active butterfly and is very territorial, returning again and again to the same twig or vantage point. It lays its eggs on bilberry.

In the summer, adders visit the low-lying moist area of the bog and hibernate in higher, drier places in the winter. They can travel surprisingly long distances and their summer and winter homes may be several kilometres apart. Adders feed on common lizards and small mammals. They are very timid creatures and are only likely to bite if they are threatened or trodden on.

Derwent Reservoir

Derwent Reservoir is the second largest reservoir in the north-east at 404.9 hectares. A diverse number of birds are found roosting and feeding here, including mallard, teal, coot, moorhen, tufted duck, pochard, goldeneye, goosander and greylag goose. Occasionally pink-footed, white-fronted, barnacle geese, pintail and scaup may be seen. Red-throated diver, gadwall, whooper swan and smew are uncommon visitors to the site. There have been rare sightings of notable species, such as black-necked grebe, Bewick's swan, bean goose and common scoter. The reservoir is also an important site for wigeon.

The surrounding farmland is used as breeding grounds by a host of waders. Lapwing, redshank, curlew, oystercatcher and snipe may be regularly seen. The large areas of mud that are exposed by late summer also attract migrating waders. Spring and autumn are the best times to see these birds which form large flocks that appear as huge clouds. Look out for the bright red beak of the oystercatcher and the green metallic sheen of lapwings as their plumage catches the light. Another name commonly used for lapwing is pee-wit and the reason for this will become obvious when their call is heard 'peeee-witt'!

Redshanks are small black and white birds with bright red legs that can be clearly be seen when caught by the light. They are sometimes referred to as the 'wardens of the marsh' because of their rather nervous nature and habit of being flushed up into the air and sounding off a loud, piercing panic call at the slightest of disturbances.

Grassland surrounding the Reservoir is generally dominated by crested dog's tail and common bent with a range of herbs such as knapweed, lady's mantle and bird's-foot trefoil. The lobed leaves of lady’s mantle fold up overnight like cloaks or umbrellas and catch the dew on their soft hairs. This dew was highly valued by early herbalists as a treatment for wounds, infertility and impotence. Bird's foot-trefoil is a rather sprawling plant of short grassland that flowers for much of the summer. It is often referred to as ‘eggs and bacon’ because of its orange and yellow flowers that are similar to the coloration of egg yolks. Another name is ‘Grannie’s toe nails’ which comes from the claw-like seed pods that are left behind after this plant has flowered.

Pow Hill Country Park and Derwent Reservoir

Location

2km (just over a mile) north of Edmundbyers on the B6306 Blanchland road, approximately 33km (20.5 miles) by road from Durham City Centre. North-East of the B6278 Consett to Stanhope road.

Grid reference: NZ 010517

Facilities

Car park. Picnic tables and benches situated in secluded glades or where there are views of the reservoir and numerous paths with one easy access route suitable for visitors using wheelchairs.

A put-and-take fish stocking system is in operation at Derwent. The reservoir is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. There is also a sailing club on the northern side of the reservoir.

Enquiries

Pow Hill Country Park
Durham County Council
Environment
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UQ

Tel: 0191 383 3594

Derwent Reservoir
Northumbrian Water
Abbey Road
Pity Me
Durham
DH1 5FJ

Fishing on the reservoir is organised by Northumbrian Water plc: Tel: 0870 240 3549

Sailing is run by the Derwent Sailing Club: Tel: 01434 675 258.