Crow Trees Local Nature Reserve

About the Site

This 40-hectare site is located within the Magnesian Limestone escarpment of East Durham. Fine views of the Durham uplands can be seen and the reserve is home to a diverse range of habitats and wildlife.

Habitats are greatly influenced by geology, agriculture, and to a certain extent , past heavy industry such as coal mining, sand and limestone quarrying.

Much evidence of past industry still exists today such as the intact large concrete structure, thought to be the housing for Crow Trees Colliery wheel. It is one of the last remaining examples of colliery buildings in the area and dates back to the 1830’s. Mining ceased at the colliery in the 1890s. This, along with the abundant wildlife, adds an air of discovery to the reserve.

As the site is located within the escarpment of the Magnesian Limestone of East Durham, examples of the associated grassland are still evident. Pockets of species-rich primary grassland contain characteristic limestone flora such as blue moor grass, common rockrose, and fragrant orchid.

An area of wetland can be found on the valley floor and is home to a range of amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts. Unfortunately, the wetland has been largely disturbed in the past due to drainage works, however plans are afoot to restore it to its former glory with the intention of creating areas of shallow water with the result being a habitat for a diverse range of wetland wildlife.

Hawthorn and gorse scrub is dominant and mature stands of scrub cover a large area of the reserve. The scrub is in various stages of development and ranges from early scrub invasion of open grassland to the more mature stands dominated by senile hawthorn with maturing ash and sycamore.

The reserve supports a diverse range of breeding bird species with linnet, yellowhammer, song thrush, grey partridge, little owl and green woodpecker being a few of the many species regularly seen.

The secretive grasshopper warbler breeds on the reserve and its distinct, reeling song can be heard on warm summer nights. Also of note is the enchanting call of the Cuckoo, which can be heard regularly in early summer as it searches for an unguarded nest to lay its eggs.

As part of the management of the reserve, plans are being implemented to graze the grasslands with Hebridean sheep. It is hoped that, along with scrub clearance and the introduction of grazing, the grasslands will be returned to their former extent whilst still retaining a patchwork of scrub as cover for birds, mammals and insects.

Location

Crow Trees Local Nature Reserve is situated on the B6291 on the north west fringe of Quarrington Hill which is 5 miles south east of Durham City and 2 miles east of the A1M. The A19 motorway is located 4 miles east of the reserve and the A181 lies 2 miles east and links onto the B6291 near the village of Cassop.

A bus service runs from Durham City to Quarrington Hill and the villages of Coxhoe and Wheatley Hill. The reserve can be visited by bicycle and has been incorporated into a local cycle track network that takes in the villages of Coxhoe, Kelloe, Quarrington Hill and Bowburn.

Facilities

As the reserve has only recently been declared it is still in its infancy and as yet awaits works on signage, seating etc.

Enquiries

Ian Armstrong
Community Wildlife Officer (East Durham)
Environment
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UQ
Tel: 0191 3834087