The Natural Environment
The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is among the finest landscapes in the country. Stretching across large parts of County Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland, it was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1988. It is one of the most peaceful and unspoilt places in England. AONBs were established with the purpose of conserving and enhancing natural beauty and are give the same protection as National Parks.
In June 2003 the North Pennines was awarded UNESCO European Geopark Status in recognition of its world-class geological heritage and the way that this is used to support sustainable development. In April 2006 it became a founding member of the UNESCO Global geoparks Network.
Site of Special Scientific Interest
The woodland at Brignall Banks which clothes the steep slopes above the River Greta and its tributaries forms one of the largest expanses of semi-natural woodland in North East England.
Sandstone, shale, and more locally limestone is exposed in a series of crags, cliffs and boulder screes. Although parts of the site have been influenced by quarrying and mining of flagstones much of the woodland has received very little human interference in the past and is species-rich, containing a number of scarce species indicative of ancient woodland.
On base-rich soils wych elm Ulmus glabra and ash Fraxinus excelsior are the principal dominants, with frequent sessile oak Quercus petraea over a well-developed shrub layer containing hazel Corylus avellana, bird cherry Prunus padus and occasional blackthorn Prunus spinosa, wild cherry Prunus avium, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and spindle Euonymus europaeus.
The ground flora comprises a rich assemblage of species characteristic of such soils including ramsons Allium ursinum, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, wood crane’s-bill Geranium sylvaticum and woodruff Galium odoratum.
Scarce and local species recorded in this woodland include wood fescue Festuca altissima, herb-Paris Paris quadrifolia, hart’s-tongue Phyllitis scolopendrium, alternate-leaved golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium, stone bramble Rubus saxatilis, goldilocks buttercup Ranunculus auricomus and the root parasite, toothwort Lathraea squamaria.
On more acid soils and block scree, mature sessile oak woodland occurs with a shrub layer of hazel Ilex aquifolium, rowan Sorbus aucuparia and honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum over a ground flora of great wood-rush Luzula sylvatica, wavy hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella and wood sage Teucrium scorodonia.
The site supports a varied bryophyte and lichen flora, including several lichens which are sensitive to air pollution and rare in County Durham. These include the ancient woodland indicator species Thelotrema lepadinum, Graphis scripta and various Pertusaria species.
The woodland bird community includes great spotted woodpecker, pied flycatcher, redstart and woodcock, whilst along the River Greta, common sandpiper, dipper and goosander occur. The oak woodsare home to resident birds such as great tits, blue tits, nuthatch, tree creeper, jay, tawny owl and sparrowhawk, with migrants such as wood warblers, pied flycatchers and redstarts during the spring and summer months. Red Kites have become established in the area which can be a real visitor attraction. The nearby moorland supports red grouse, black grouse, short-eared owl and buzzard year-round, with curlew, lapwing, golden plover, ring ouzel, merlin and wheatear during the summer.
Seen in the garden very recently: Yellow Wagtails, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Sparrow Hawk, Buzzards, Red Kites.
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