Reserves Round up

By Mark Dinning Head of Conservation

Bishop’s Fen

Although parts of the reserve aren’t accessible to the public, it is criss-crossed by a public footpath and a bridleway. Following the trail from Hardwick Park you enter the reserve near the old disused Island Farm rail line. This small field has a sizeable pond with waterfowl year-round. Entering onto the former railway line and heading east, the edges of the line contain a number of limestone-loving flowers, before you reach the larger areas of limestone grassland around the old Island Farm Railway pond. Wildflowers include greater knapweed, kidney vetch, eyebright, fairy flax, and mouse-ear hawkweed. The pond contains areas of open water, fen and willow. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for willow and sedge warbler. We will be hosting a guided walk at this nature reserve later in the year; more details on page 13.

Shibdon Pond & Meadow

Thanks to the Trust’s Green Connections project and funding from Newcastle Building Society and the A & N Daniell Charitable Trust, Shibdon Pond and Meadow has received a lot of attention from Durham Wildlife Trust volunteers and staff over the winter. Shibdon Pond and Meadow offers something to see year-round; from wading birds in the winter to breeding common tern in the spring. The habitats are diverse, with open water, reedbeds, woodlands and meadow. The reserve comes alive with bird song in the spring as many species make it their home to breed. In early spring, the rare dingy skipper butterfly can be spotted on some of the grasslands, while meadows burst into colour in June and July with common spotted and marsh orchid and carpets of great burnet. You can get a chance to spend some time there with the experts this June at our Wildathon BioBlitz at Shibdon Pond and Meadow, more details on page 13.

Edmondsley Wood

The Trust manages a number of amazing woodlands, rich in ancient woodland plants and this year marks 30 years since Durham Wildlife Trust acquired this stunning woodland. In the early 2000s, the Trust volunteers undertook a large amount of woodland management work to remove non-native trees and re-introduce coppice management of the ancient hazel copse in Edmondsley Wood. The result was a revival of the flora typically found in an ancient woodland. Associated with the hazel copse are sizeable carpets of bluebells, while throughout the wood a number of other ancient woodland indicator species including sanicle, dog’s mercury, woodruff and wild garlic are present. May is a great time to visit this reserve to see the woodland plants, and the rich composition and structure of trees, scrub and wild flowers make this a fantastic site for woodland birds and invertebrates. To celebrate 30 years of Edmondsley Wood Nature Reserve, we will be holding a family bluebell birthday walk in May. Find more details on page 13.

Hannah’s Meadow

The early part of 2023 has seen the installation of the Hannah’s Meadow interpretation trail. Starting at Balderhead Reservoir, you get the chance to follow in Hannah’s footsteps with our new circular walk. The route is on good tracks and tarmac, with a steady climb back up through her old meadows to the Romaldkirk road. Late June is a great time to enjoy this walk and see the hay meadow plants as they start to come into flower, but throughout the spring this new trail offers plenty to see and explore in the surrounding landscape. Whether that’s toads in March, lapwings in May, or fantastic views and geology year round, along with new interpretation in Hannah’s old field barn. To celebrate the opening of the trail and the 10th Anniversary of Hannah’s Meadow being crowned a Coronation Meadow, we will be running a guided walk in June; see page 13 for more details.

Blackhall Rocks

Blackhall Rocks was one of the Trust’s earliest sites – a lease was first taken out in 1963. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, designated for the internationally rare plant communities found on the sea cliffs. There is something to see year-round at Blackhall Rocks. Winter brings over-wintering wading and sea birds, and from early spring the reserve and foreshore become first landfall for a number of birds arriving on migration. In June and July the site comes into bloom with a number of para-maritime plants, with swathes of bloody crane’s-bill a particular feature. In wet flushes, rarities such as round-leaved wintergreen, bird’s-eye primrose, and butterwort can be found. Behind the lime-rich cliffs, calcareous grassland species have colonised former industrial and agricultural land, resulting in impressive displays of pyramidal orchid, and common rock-rose supports coastal populations of the rare northern brown argus butterfly. To top it off, in recent years the cliff tops have become a great vantage point from which to snatch glimpses of dolphin and porpoise. Investigate for yourself or come and join us for a guided walk. See page 13 for details.

Get involved

Over recent years, and thanks to the generous support of members, partners and funders, the Trust has acquired a number of additional nature reserves across its patch. It is thanks to the fantastic support from volunteers that we are able to manage these new wild spaces, which stretch geographically from the Tees to the Tyne. As the Trust grows, we would also like to grow our volunteer numbers. If you are interested in becoming a Durham Wildlife Trust volunteer, please visit our website for more information: www.durhamwt.com/volunteer

By John Hayton Education Projects Officer