List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in County Durham

This is a list of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in County Durham, England. It excludes SSSIs situated in that area south of the River Tyne that is now part of the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear as well as the area north of the River Tees which, prior to 1996, formed part of the county of Cleveland.

As of July 2010, County Durham has 88 sites that have been designated as SSSIs, of which 67 have been designated for their biological interest, 16 for their geological interest, and 5 for both.[1]

Five of these sites are shared with an adjacent county:

Designation of SSSIs

Sites of Special Scientific Interest are areas that have been selected for special protection because of their floral, faunal or geological significance. The concept was first given a statutory basis in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, the relevant provisions of which were repeated in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Under the 1949 Act, responsibility for selecting and notifying SSSIs in England was delegated to the newly-created Nature Conservancy, which was replaced in 1973 by the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC). In 1991, the NCC was split up, its responsibilities in England being passed to English Nature which, in turn, was amalgamated into a new body, Natural England, in 2006.

The process for establishing an SSSI is as follows: [2]

The initial notification of a site is accompanied by a citation sheet, which outlines the reasons for the notification: the data in the following list is summarised from these individual citation sheets.[3]

Reasons for notification as SSSI

Of the 88 SSSIs designated in County Durham, 67 have been designated for their biological interest, 16 for their geological interest, and five for both biological and geological interest.

Biological

While many of the SSSIs designated for biological reasons cover a variety of habitats, most have been designated primarily for one (or more) of a small number of reasons, as detailed in the individual citation sheets:[3]

  • Moorland (upland heath and bogs) - Bollihope, Pikestone, Eggleston and Woodland Fells, Bowes Moor, Cotherstone Moor, Hexhamshire Moors, Lune Forest, Moorhouse and Cross Fell, Muggleswick, Stanhope and Edmundbyers Commons and Blanchland Moor, Upper Teesdale
  • Lowland heath - Green Croft and Langley Moor, Hesledon Moor West, Waldridge Fell
  • Wetlands (carr, fen, etc) - Burnhope Burn, Butterby Oxbow, Causey Bank Mires, Frog Wood Bog, Hell Kettles, Hesledon Moor East, Hesledon Moor West, Hisehope Burn Valley, Hulam Fen, Middleton Quarry, Pike Whin Bog, Pow Hill Bog, Railway Stell West, Redcar Field, The Carrs, Waldridge Fell, Witton-le-Wear
  • Semi-natural woodland - Backstone Bank and Baal Hill Woods, Baldersdale Woodlands, Brignall Banks, Castle Eden Dene, Derwent Gorge and Horsleyhope Ravine, Hawthorn Dene, Hisehope Burn Valley, Hunder Beck Juniper, Shipley and Great Woods, Slit Woods, Westernhope Burn Wood
  • Magnesian limestone grassland - Bishop Middleham Quarry, Cassop Vale, Charity Land, Dabble Bank, Durham Coast, Fishburn Grassland, Hawthorn Dene, Hesledon Moor East, Pig Hill, Pittington Hill, Quarrington Hill Grasslands, Raisby Hill Grassland, Sherburn Hill, The Bottoms, Thrislington Plantation, Town Kelloe Bank, Trimdon Limestone Quarry, Tuthill Quarry, Wingate Quarry
  • Hay meadows - Bowlees and Friar House Meadows, Cornriggs Meadows, Far High House Meadows, Grains o' th' Beck Meadows, Hannah's Meadows, Low Redford Meadows, Mere Beck Meadows, Middle Crossthwaite, Middle Side and Stonygill Meadows, Newton Ketton Meadow, Rigg Farm and Stake Hill Meadows, West Newlandside Meadows, West Park Meadows
  • Open water - Brasside Pond, The Carrs, Witton-le-Wear
  • Breeding birds - Bollihope, Pikestone, Eggleston and Woodland Fells, Bowes Moor, Cotherstone Moor, Durham Coast, Hexhamshire Moors, Lune Forest, Moorhouse and Cross Fell, Muggleswick, Stanhope and Edmundbyers Commons and Blanchland Moor, Teesdale Allotments, Upper Teesdale
  • Invertebrates - Bishop Middleham Quarry, Cassop Vale, Durham Coast, Green Croft and Langley Moor, Hexhamshire Moors, Middleton Quarry, Moorhouse and Cross Fell, Pig Hill, Quarrington Hill Grasslands, Raisby Hill Grassland, Sherburn Hill, Thrislington Plantation, Town Kelloe Bank, Upper Teesdale, Waldridge Fell

Geological

The surface geology of County Durham is largely confined to rocks dating from the Carboniferous and Permian periods. In the west of the county, outcrops of Dinantian limestones are found in the river valleys, while the upland areas are underlain by the younger Namurian Millstone Grit Series. To the east, these rocks dip beneath the Westphalian Coal Measures, which underlay a broad swathe in the centre of the county. Further east, the Coal Measures are overlain by Permian Magnesian Limestone, which forms a low plateau across the eastern part of the county. Igneous intrusions are a prominent feature of the geology and gave rise to extensive mining for lead and other minerals, especially in the upper Weardale area in the west of the county.[4][5]

Although each SSSI designated for geological reasons has its own distinctive features, they fall into a small number of broad categories, as indicated in the individual citation sheets:[3]

  • Sedimentary - Botany Hill, Crag Gill, Crime Rigg, Durham Coast, Hawthorn Quarry, Raisby Hill Quarry, Rogerley Quarry, Sleightholme Beck Gorge - The Troughs, Stony Cut, Cold Hesledon, Trimdon Limestone Quarry, Yoden Village Quarry
  • Igneous - Greenfoot Quarry, Moorhouse and Cross Fell, Upper Teesdale, West Rigg Open Cutting
  • Cave development - Fairy Holes Cave, God's Bridge, Moorhouse and Cross Fell
  • Coastal - Durham Coast
  • Periglacial - Moorhouse and Cross Fell
  • Fluvial - Moorhouse and Cross Fell

Area covered

From its inception, English Nature classified sites using the 1974-1996 county system. As Natural England uses the same system,[6] it is also adopted in the following list. As a result, some sites that lie within the ceremonial county of Durham and might therefore be expected to be listed here will be found instead in either the Cleveland or the Tyne and Wear lists.

For other counties, see List of SSSIs by Area of Search.

Sites

A–C

Site name Reason for designation Area[A] Grid reference[B] Year in which notified Map[C]
Biological interest Geological interest Hectares Acres
Backstone Bank and Baal Hill Woods Y 46.5 114.9 NZ068399 1987 [1]
Baldersdale Woodlands Y 19.6 48.4 NY992200 1991 [2]
Bishop Middleham Quarry Y 8.6 21.3 NZ332326 1968 [3]
Bollihope, Pikestone, Eggleston and Woodland Fells Y 7,949.2 19,643.2 NZ005300 1996 [4]
Botany Hill Y 3.8 9.3 NY955205 1984 [5]
Bowes Moor Y 4,457.7 11,014.9 NY923104 1989 [6]
Bowlees and Friar House Meadows Y 5.6 13.9 NY898283
NY902282
1991 [7]
Brasside Pond Y 25.1 62.0 NZ292452 1966 [8]
Brignall Banks Y 85.0 210.0 NZ063113 1987 [9]
Burnhope Burn Y 5.1 12.6 NZ029507 1987 [10]
Butterby Oxbow Y 7.3 18.0 NZ275390 1957 [11]
Cassop Vale Y 40.9 101.0 NZ335387 1958 [12]
Castle Eden Dene Y 193.0 476.8 NZ434396 1984 [13]
Causey Bank Mires Y 6.8 16.8 NZ206564 1987 [14]
Charity Land Y 5.8 14.4 NZ375345 1999 [15]
Close House Mine Y 3.4 8.3 NY849228 1995 [16]
Cornriggs Meadows Y 15.2 37.5 NY846416 1989 [17]
Cotherstone Moor Y 2,449.5 6,050.1 NY940170 1955 [18]
Crag Gill Y 2.3 5.7 NZ026235 1984 [19]
Crime Rigg and Sherburn Hill Quarries Y 23.2 57.4 NZ344416 1968 [20]

D–H

Site name Reason for designation Area[A] Grid reference[B] Year in which notified Map[C]
Biological interest Geological interest Hectares Acres
Dabble Bank Y 4.1 10.2 NZ364434 2002 [21]
Derwent Gorge and Horsleyhope Ravine [D] Y 49.0
34.0
121.0
84.0
NZ052493
NZ063483
1976 [22]
Durham Coast [E] Y Y 765.4 1,891.4 NZ381685NZ495362 1960 [23]
Fairy Holes Cave Y 208.8 515.9 NY936357 1961 [24]
Far High House Meadows Y 5.5 13.6 NY839383 1990 [25]
Fishburn Grassland Y 1.1 2.8 NZ362328 1992 [26]
Foster's Hush Y 1.3 3.2 NY859204 [27]
Frog Wood Bog Y 3.2 7.9 NZ069303 1989 [28]
God's Bridge Y 9.3 22.9 NY957126 1986 [29]
Grains o' th' Beck Meadows Y 12.3 30.4 NY872209 1989 [30]
Green Croft and Langley Moor Y 6.5
9.0
12.2
16.1
22.2
30.2
NZ169507
NZ166511
NZ186505
1989 [31]
Greenfoot Quarry Y 0.9 2.2 NY982392 1984 [32]
Hannah's Meadows Y 7.1 17.5 NY935185 [33]
Hawthorn Dene Y 64.1 158.4 NZ435458 1968 [34]
Hawthorn Quarry Y 9.8 24.2 NZ435463 1990 [35]
Hell Kettles Y 3.4 8.4 NZ281109 1976 [36]
Hesledon Moor East Y 6.0 14.8 NZ399466 1998 [37]
Hesledon Moor West Y 7.4 18.2 NZ386453 1984 [38]
Hexhamshire Moors [F] Y 9,433.9 23,311.7 NY870530 1998 [39]
Hisehope Burn Valley Y 14.9 36.9 NZ041477
NZ047473
1988 [40]
Hulam Fen Y 0.2 0.5 NZ439374 1986 [41]
Hunder Beck Juniper Y 3.5 8.5 NY931178 1994 [42]

I–Q

Site name Reason for designation Area[A] Grid reference[B] Year in which notified Map[C]
Biological interest Geological interest Hectares Acres
Kilmond Scar Y 4.5 11.1 NZ028134 1963 [43]
Low Redford Meadows Y 9.3 22.9 NZ077309
NZ084309
1991 [44]
Lune Forest Y 6,333.4 15,650.3 NY850200 1998 [45]
Mere Beck Meadows Y 6.6 16.3 NY951186 1989 [46]
Middle Crossthwaite Y 24.1 59.5 NY931256 1991 [47]
Middle Side and Stonygill Meadows Y 17.3 42.7 NY933262
NY927264
1991 [48]
Middleton Quarry Y 6.0 14.8 NY948245 1964 [49]
Middridge Quarry Y 1.9 4.7 NZ248252 1979 [50]
Moorhouse and Cross Fell [G] Y Y 13,707.0 33,870.0 NY715365 1951 / 1963 [51]
Muggleswick, Stanhope and Edmundbyers Commons and Blanchland Moor [H] Y 9,118.1 22,531.4 NY990450
NY950520
1997 [52]
Neasham Fen Y 2.5 6.1 NZ331115 1992 [53]
Newton Ketton Meadow Y 1.8 4.5 NZ322207 1989 [54]
Old Moss Lead Vein Y 0.6 1.5 NY820433 1961 [55]
Park End Wood Y 10.3 25.5 NY924260 1964 [56]
Pig Hill Y 12.6 31.2 NZ365444
NZ366445
1992 [57]
Pike Whin Bog Y 1.3 3.1 NZ415334 1984 [58]
Pittington Hill Y 6.4 15.8 NZ321447 1987 [59]
Pow Hill Bog Y 6.7 16.6 NZ009518 1986 [60]
Quarrington Hill Grasslands Y 4.5 11.1 NZ333373
NZ340374
NZ341375
2000 [61]

R–U

Site name Reason for designation Area[A] Grid reference[B] Year in which notified Map[C]
Biological interest Geological interest Hectares Acres
Railway Stell West Y 4.6 11.4 NZ319270NZ313247 1986 [62]
Raisby Hill Grassland Y 15.1 37.4 NZ335354 1984 [63]
Raisby Hill Quarry Y 52.4 129.5 NZ342353 1957 [64]
Redcar Field Y 0.7 1.6 NZ292198 1985 [65]
Rigg Farm and Stake Hill Meadows Y 14.7 36.3 NY933224 1989 [66]
Rogerley Quarry Y 5.6 13.8 NZ015379NZ021374 1984 [67]
Sherburn Hill Y 16.7 41.2 NZ329417 1985 [68]
Shipley and Great Woods Y 63.4 156.5 NY966119 1975 [69]
Sleightholme Beck Gorge - The Troughs Y Y 7.5 18.5 NY966119 1976 [70]
Slit Woods Y 14.1 34.8 NY906390 1976 [71]
Stony Cut, Cold Hesledon Y 0.8 2.1 NZ418473 1996 [72]
Teesdale Allotments Y 1,308.3 3,231.6 NY930290 1994 [73]
The Bottoms Y 2.2 5.2 NZ361381 1999 [74]
The Carrs Y 12.9 31.9 NZ301327 1988 [75]
Thrislington Plantation Y 22.7 56.1 NZ316327 1962 [76]
Town Kelloe Bank Y 6.0 15.0 NZ359373 1976 [77]
Trimdon Limestone Quarry Y Y 0.8 2.0 NZ362353 1992 [78]
Tuthill Quarry Y 10.7 26.5 NZ388429 1994 [79]
Upper Teesdale Y Y 14,035.6 34,681.9 NY830320 1951 [80]

W–Z

Site name Reason for designation Area[A] Grid reference[B] Year in which notified Map[C]
Biological interest Geological interest Hectares Acres
Waldridge Fell Y 113.5 280.4 NZ250498 1965 [81]
West Newlandside Meadows Y 12.5 30.8 NY972374 1990 [82]
West Park Meadows Y 6.7 16.6 NY940229 1989 [83]
West Rigg Open Cutting Y 4.8 11.9 NY911391 1989 [84]
Westernhope Burn Wood Y 11.8 29.1 NY935371 1976 [85]
Wingate Quarry Y 23.4 57.7 NZ373375 1984 [86]
Witton-le-Wear Y 36.2 89.4 NZ163313 1966 [87]
Yoden Village Quarry Y 0.4 1.0 NZ436417 1988 [88]

Notes

A Data rounded to one decimal place.
B Grid reference is based on the British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the Ordnance Survey.[7] Where an SSSI consists of multiple, non-contiguous sections, each section is assigned its own OS grid reference.
C Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by Natural England.
D Natural England also lists Derwent Gorge and Horsleyhope Ravine under Northumberland.
E Natural England also lists Durham Coast under both Cleveland and Tyne and Wear.
F The grid reference for Hexhamshire Moors places it in Northumberland, not Durham; Natural England lists it under both counties.
G Natural England also lists Moorhouse and Cross Fell under Cumbria.
H Natural England also lists Muggleswick, Stanhope and Edmundbyers Commons and Blanchland Moor under Northumberland.

References

  1. ^ "Search results for Durham". Natural England. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/searchresults.cfm?sssi_name=&frmcounty=1013. Retrieved 22 July 2010. 
  2. ^ "SSSIs - The designation process". Natural England. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/special/sssi/notification.cfm. Retrieved 22 July 2010. 
  3. ^ a b c Natural England citation sheets for each SSSI. Retrieved on 2008-02-26. (PDF files).
  4. ^ "The Durham Landscape". Durham County Council. http://content.durham.gov.uk/PDFRepository/Durhamlandscapeassesssmentbackground.pdf. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
  5. ^ "County Durham Local Development Framework Tech. Paper no. 20 - Minerals". Durham County Council. April 2009. pp. 16–20. http://www.durham.gov.uk/PDFApproved/TechPaper20Minerals.pdf. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
  6. ^ "Search for SSSI details". Natural England. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/search.cfm. Retrieved 22 July 2010. 
  7. ^ "Guide to National Grid". Ordnance Survey. http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/help.html#gridref. Retrieved 2008-02-21.