SECTION 3.0 - Durham County Council

County Durham 

Core Evidence Base 

Technical Paper No. 12 

Biodiversity & Geodiversity 

Date of publication

Contents 

Section 1.0 

Page 

1.1 Introduction 3 

1.2 Purpose of Technical Paper 5 

1.3 Overview of Technical Paper 

6 

Section 2.0 – Policy Context 

2.1 European/International Context 

2.2 National Context 13 

2.3 Regional Context 

2.4 County Context 26 

2.5 Local Context 29 

Section 3.0 – Current Situation 

3.1 Baseline 30 

3.2 Evidence Base Summary 

Section 4 – Golden Threads 

4.1 Sustainable Development 64 

4.2 Regeneration 64 

4.3 Climate Change 65 

4.4 Emerging Issues 66 

Section 5 – Conclusion and recommendation 68 

Appendices 

Appendix A – Designations by character area 70 

Appendix B – European Sites (SPA’s & SAC’s) 

Appendix C – Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 

90 

Appendix D – National Nature Reserves (NNR) 95 

Appendix E – Local Nature Reserves (LNR) 97 

Appendix F – Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) 

Appendix G – County Geological Sites (CGS) 117 

Appendix H – Summary of protection afforded to species found 122 

in the County 

Appendix I – Habitats 

and species of principle importance found 124 

in the County 

References 127 

8 

22 

62 

81 

98 

Page 2 4/15/2009

SECTION 1.0 

1. Introduction 

1.1 The new unitary Council was established on 1 st April 2009 to replace the 

existing County Council and all of the seven District Councils in County 

Durham. Councils have new responsibilities, powers and opportunities to 

coordinate expenditure and investment in their local areas to achieve the 

goals enshrined within their Sustainable Community Strategies. The 

Council needs to determine local priorities for the area based on a robust 

understanding of the key drivers of physical, economic, and environmental 

change. This series of technical papers is intended to provide a shared 

evidence base necessary to support the strategies and plans the Council 

will put in place to deliver these priorities and shape how the county of 

Durham will develop in the future. 

1.2 The Council, working in partnership across all the different agencies and 

sectors involved in the area, will support economic recovery and 

effectively create a place in which people want to live, work and invest. 

This common approach to place-shaping requires a common evidence 

base. Robust local data and analysis and a shared understanding of its 

spatial implications are vital for planning and service delivery. This series 

of technical papers take full account of national and regional policies and 

plans and incorporate all relevant local plans, to bring planning and 

strategic departments together to work in an integrated way and to provide 

a platform for local engagement. 

1.3 Each technical paper identifies the scope of emerging issues on each 

topic for which co-ordinated actions will be critical to address and deliver 

sustainable development. The papers consequently provide vital evidence 

for the preparation of a new Local Development Framework for Durham, 

and for the new duties to prepare an economic assessment and strategic 

housing market assessment, as well as strengthening the collaboration 

required to deliver regeneration, transport, social and community 

infrastructure, new housing and other services or investment to tackle 

climate change and to meet corporate priorities. 

1.4 The Local Development Framework will provide the planning framework 

necessary to deliver the County’s vision for economic prosperity and an 

improved quality of life as identified in the Sustainable Community 

Strategy. On 20 th November 2008, the Council approved a timetable for 

preparation of documents that will make up this plan – the Local 

Development Scheme - for which the first priorities are:

• Core Strategy – contains the overarching strategy for the future 

development of the county, including Minerals and Waste provision, 

up to 2026; 

• South and East Durham Growth Point Action Area Plans – separate 

but co-ordinated plans covering growth in Bishop Auckland, 

Spennymoor and Peterlee; 

• Design and Sustainability Supplementary Planning Document – to 

provide guidance on how new development should be designed 

and constructed. 

1.5 This series of technical papers provide a summary of baseline information 

and set out the context for the policy approach to be adopted in the 

Councils strategies and plans. The topics covered are: 

No. 1: Housing 

No. 2: Tourism 

No. 3: Design and Local Distinctiveness 

No. 4: Heritage and Archaeology 

No. 5: Open Space, Recreation, Leisure and Play 

No. 6: Settlements & Green Belt 

No. 7: Community & Cultural Facilities 

No. 8: Diversity 

No 9: Retail & Town Centres 

No. 10: Water 

No. 11: Community Involvement 

No. 12: Bio and Geodiversity 

No. 13: Energy Efficiency 

No 14: Contamination and Pollution 

No. 15: Delivery & Infrastructure 

No. 16: Employment, Education & Skills 

No. 17: Deprivation (inc. Health, Community Safety, Neighbourhood 

Quality, Income, Crime & Disorder) 

No. 18: Rural Dimension (Rural Proofing) 

No. 19: Waste 

No. 20: Minerals 

No. 21: Transport and Accessibility 

No. 22: Landscape 

No. 23: Population and Demographics

1.6 Executive Summary of emerging issues: 

A number of issues and possibilities have come out of this paper which can and 

need to be addressed by the LDF. 

• Development should be designed so as to ensure that there is no net loss 

to biodiversity or geodiversity value, and should incorporate biodiversity 

enhancements into the design; 

• PPS9 states that LDF’s should indicate the location of designated sites of 

importance for biodiversity and geodiversity, making clear distinctions 

between the hierarchy of international, national, regional and locally 

designated sites. It is thought that other sites including Wildlife Trust and 

Woodland Trust land should also be included within this. The LDF should 

also identify any areas or sites for the restoration or creation of new 

priority habitats which contribute to regional targets, and support this 

restoration or creation through appropriate policies; 

• Planning authorities and development agencies must take account of 

WFD objectives when developing LDF plans; 

• Planning gain must be used effectively to achieve the aims of the GI 

strategy, this may involve the inclusion of green roofs and living walls into 

developments where the provision of terrestrial greenspace is not 

possible; 

• Planning guidance must be given to developers on how climate change 

adaptation should be built into new development through planting 

schemes, shading and cooling for buildings and outdoor spaces, green 

roofs, living walls, wild areas and phasing; 

• The East Durham Limestone Plateau and the West Durham Coalfields 

landscape character areas are most sensitive to loss of habitat due to a 

number of land-use pressures. It must be recognised that species and 

habitats of importance for biodiversity are found across the County, and 

are not necessarily located within designated sites. Development must 

always consider whether protected or priority species and habitats could 

be present on site, and hence affected by the proposed development; 

• Databases holding protected and priority species and habitat data is 

patchy across the County. Funding needs be made available to enable 

more conclusive and standardised means of data collection (surveys) and 

storage; 

• Woodland cover in the County is low, with semi-natural ancient woodland 

covering only 1.3% of the County surface area. The small areas of ancient 

woodland are of great nature conservation significance. They are 

extremely biodiverse and support a range of species with special habitat 

requirements and often poor powers of dispersal. These sites should be 

given strong protection from change of use, and polices should include 

buffering and enhancement (extension) of sites to ensure their 

sustainability;

• The Northumbrian River Basin District Management Plan expressed 

concerns with respect to groundwater contamination and abstraction 

pressures with particular reference to the Chilton and Mainsforth 

Magnesian Limestone aquifer. This must be taken into consideration when 

developing LDF plans and policies; 

• PPS9 requires that planning authorities identify networks of semi-natural 

habitats and opportunities for their conservation and enhancement. 

Natural England has produced a habitats network database, however 

further work is required to refine the boundaries of those networks at a 

local level and to identify opportunities for habitat creation and restoration 

to improve the condition and connectivity of those important habitats at a 

landscape scale.

SECTION 2.0 - POLICY CONTEXT 

2.1 International Policy Context 

2.1.1 Global Context 

• Sustainable Development and the Convention on Biological Diversity 

In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development, in its report, 

“Our Common Future”, called for a new era of environmentally and socially sound 

form of economic development. The report stated: “Humanity has the ability to 

make development sustainable – to ensure that it meets the needs of the present 

without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” 

(WCED, 1987). 

The global commitment to sustainable development - Agenda 21, was signed by 

over 150 world leaders at the Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro, in 1992 and included 

the adoption of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). Ratified by the 

United Nations in 1993, the CBD seeks to ensure the conservation and 

sustainable 

use of the diversity of species, habitats and ecosystems on the planet. 

The Convention recognises that plants, animals, micro organisms and their 

ecosystems are not just to be preserved for their own intrinsic value, but also 

to 

maintain sources of food, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter and a clean 

and 

healthy environment that are required to sustain humankind and a decent 

quality of 

life. Concern for biodiversity is therefore integral to sustainable development and 

underpins competitively, growth and employment and improved livelihoods. 

• The RAMSAR Convention on 

Wetlands of International Importance, 

United Nations, (1971). 

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an inter-governmental 

treaty which provides 

the framework for national action and international cooperation 

for the conservation and intelligent use of wetlands and their resources. 

Within the UK a series of Ramsar sites have been designated under the Ramsar 

Convention. Together with sites designated under the EU Wild Birds and Habitats 

Directives, 

Ramsar sites are the most important nature conservation sites in the 

UK. 

All Ramsar sites are also designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 

(SSSIs). Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) Biodiversity & Geological 

Conservation advises that Local planning authorities 

should identify these sites on 

proposals maps and may need to cross-refer to the statutory protection given to 

these sites in the explanatory texts in local development documents. However, 

since they enjoy statutory protection specific polices in respect of these sites 

should not be included in local development documents (see also Part I of 

ODPM/DEFRA Circular ODPM 06/2005, DEFRA 01/2005). 

Page 8 4/15/2009

2.1.2 European Context 

• 

European Biodiversity Strategy 

The above Convention is strongly reinforced by the EU Pan-European Biological 

and 

Landscape Diversity Strategy (1994) and European Community Biodiversity 

Strategy 

(1998). Moreover, the EU Sustainable Development Strategy (2001) set 

a landmark target: “…to protect and restore habitats and natural systems and 

halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010…” This target was subsequently adopted 

by the Commission on Biological Diversity in 2001 and over 170 world leaders at 

the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg in 2002; in 

recognition of the critical role of biodiversity in addressing environmental 

degradation 

and global poverty. The 2010 Biodiversity Target is now also fully 

integrated 

into the UN Millennium Development Goals. 

The 

EU 2006 Biodiversity Communication and associated Action Plan set out a 

detailed agenda to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. The ten priority objectives 

address, inter alia: habitats and species; actions in the wider 

countryside; reducing impacts of invasive alien species; reducing the Comment: 

1 

negative impacts of international trade ; adaptation to climate change; Links 

to 

and strengthening the knowledge base for biodiversity. Better planning sustainable 

procurement 

within the Member States is underlined with the aim to reconcile spatial 

and 

planning and built development with biodiversity. Moreover, the need to sustainable 

take biodiversity into account ‘further upstream’ in the decision-making 

construction 

process 

is emphasized. Key actions include: effective treatment of 

biodiversity in Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental 

Impact Assessment (EIA); ensuring development does not damage biodiversity 

and 

building partnerships between planners, developers and biodiversity interests 

(Commission of the EC, 2006). 

An emphasis on adequate financing for biodiversity projects along with promoting 

public-participation, awareness raising and education is contained within the 

objectives. 

Aims to safeguard the most important habitats and species are furthered through 

the implementation of the Birds 2 and Habitats 3 Directives outlined below. 

• The Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and 

Natural Habitats, United Nations, (1979). 

The Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Habitats was 

agreed by 45 European and African States as well as the European Community. 

It’s objectives are threefold: (a) to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural 

habitats; (b) to promote co-operation between states; and (c) to give particular 

1 Regarding trade, measures to address tropical deforestation are particularly urgent (EC, 2006). Sustainable 

procurement and construction principles should be promoted and encouraged to address the detrimental 

impacts caused by construction to biodiversity in the global sense. 

2 Directive 79/409/EC, OJ L 103, 25.4 1979, p.1 

3 Directive 92/43/EEC, OJ L 206, 206, 22.7.1992 

Page 9 4/15/2009

emphasis to endangered and vulnerable species, including endangered and 

vulnerable migratory species. 

• The Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild 

Animals, United Nations, (1979). 

This convention aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species 

throughout 

their range. As such, it is concerned with the conservation of wildlife 

an d wildlife habitats 

on a global scale. Parties should endeavor to provide 

immediate protection for specified migratory species and conclude Agreements 

covering the conservation and management of specified migratory species. 

• Birds Directive (1979) 

The 

European Birds Directive (1979) offers protection to all wild bird species 

naturally 

occurring in the EU (including migratory species). The emphasis is on the 

protection of habitats 

for endangered and migratory species which are listed in 

Annex I of the directive. The role of a coherent network of Special Protection 

Areas (SPA – see below) in achieving this goal is also emphasised. The 

Directive 

bans all activities that directly threaten birds, e.g. the deliberate killing or capturing 

of birds, the destruction of nests or taking of eggs. Scientific research into 

migratory birds is also promoted under this Directive. 

• 

European Commission Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of 

Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora, European Union, (1992). 

The Habitats 

Directive (1992) sets out a strict system of protection for over 1000 

animals 

and plant species and over 200 habitat types of European importance. It 

recognises the importance of ecological coherence within the Natura 2000 network 

(see below) as well as habitat quality being essential for sustaining biodiversity. 

Ecological connectivity between habitats is of particular relevance when 

considering the impacts of climate change. As such the directive promotes the 

designation of green corridors, flyways, buffer zones, stepping stones and other 

landscape features that connect important habitats for wild flora and fauna. 

The Habitats Directive aims to contribute towards protecting the most important 

natural habitats and species of wild flora and fauna in the European Union and 

complements the EU Wild Birds Directive. The Directive has a number of key 

elements it provides for the creation of a network of Special Areas of Conservation 

(SACs) to protect flora and fauna; identifies a range of European protected 

species; creates the Natura 2000 site network comprising SACs designated under 

the EU Habitats Directive to protect flora and fauna and SPAs designated under 

the EU Wild Birds Directive to protect avian species; requires that all plans, 

projects and programmes need to be ‘screened’ to determine whether they are 

likely to affect the integrity of a Natura 2000 site. If it is decided that this might be 

the case an Appropriate Assessment is required. The Directive is transposed into 

the UK by the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994. Planning 

Page 10 4/15/2009

Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) Biodiversity & Geological Conservation advises that 

Local planning authorities should identify these sites on proposals maps and may 

need to cross-refer to the statutory protection given to these sites in the 

explanatory texts in local development documents. However, since they enjoy 

statutory protection specific polices in respect of these sites should not be included 

in local development documents (see also Part I of ODPM/DEFRA Circular ODPM 

06/2005, 

DEFRA 01/2005). 

• Natura 

2000 

Natura 2000 comprises an EU wide network of nature protection areas established 

under the 1992 Habitats Directive. It consists of Special Areas of Conservation 

(SAC) and also Special Protection 

Areas (SPA) designated under the Birds 

Directive. The emphasis is on promoting the sustainable management 

of these 

sites in order to ensure the survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened 

species and habitats. 

• EIA Directive 

The above nature directives along with the Environmental Impact 

Assessment 

(EIA) Directive n 

n of 

f the 

o late or is of poor quality (EC, 2006). 

4 require the assessment of potential impacts of certai 

developments. This includes consideration of alternatives and the desig 

measures to prevent and reduce negative impacts. The Commission o 

European Communities (2006) highlights the need for careful assessments to be 

carried out early on in the decision-making process. Too often EIA is conducted 

to 

• 

European Commission Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild 

Birds, European Union, (1979). 

The 

EU Wild Birds Directive has created a protection scheme for all of Europe's 

wild 

birds. It identifies 194 species and sub-species (listed in Annex I) among them 

as 

particularly threatened and in need of special conservation measures. In 

addition 

member states are also required to designate Special Protection Areas 

(SPAs) 

for the 194 threatened species and all migratory bird species. SPAs are 

scientifically 

identified areas critical for the survival of the targeted species, such as 

wetlands. 

The designation of an area as a SPA gives it a high level of protection 

from 

potentially damaging developments. All SPAs in the UK are also nationally 

designated 

as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, (SSSIs). The Directive is 

transposed 

into the UK by the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 

1994. 

Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) Biodiversity & Geological Conservation 

advises 

that Local planning authorities should identify these sites on proposals 

maps 

and may need to cross-refer to the statutory protection given to these sites in 

the 

explanatory texts in local development documents. However, since they enjoy 

statutory 

protection specific polices in respect of these sites should not be included 

in local development documents (see also Part I of ODPM/DEFRA Circular ODPM 

06/2005, 

DEFRA 01/2005). 

4 Directive 85/337/EEC as amended by Directive 97/11/EC, OJ L 073, 14.3.1997, p.5 

Page 11 4/15/2009

• SEA / SA / AA 

Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) 

nd 

5 apply to certain plans and 

programmes with the aim of assisting in the reconciliation of conservation a 

development needs by ensuring the consideration of impacts early on in the 

planning process. 

• Control of Invasive Species 

vasive alien species were identified in the 6 

AND NATURAL HABITATS produced the European Strategy on 

Invasive Alien Species (IAS). The Strategy is primarily targeted at Link with 

governments of Contracting Parties to the Bern Convention and of 

Landscape 

Technical 

other European States. It is a comprehensive document addressed to Paper (No.23) 

nature conservation agencies and all other sectoral agencies with and Open 

responsibility for activities relevant to IAS prevention or management. Space, 

The Strategy promotes the development and implementation of 

Recreation, 

coordinated measures and cooperative efforts throughout 

Leisure and 

Play Technical 

Paper (No.5) 

th In 

Environmental Action Programme 

as a priority for action. In 2003 the CONVENTION 

ON THE CONSERVATION OF 

EUROPEAN WILDLIFE 

Europe to 

prevent 

or minimise adverse impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) on 

Europe’s 

biodiversity, as well as their consequences for the economy 

and human health and well-being. It puts forward 

a number of actions to develop 

inventories and seek more effective collaboration with other European countries. 

5 Directive 2001/42/EC, OJ L 197, 21.7.2001, p.30 

Page 12 4/15/2009

2.2 National Policy Context 

The UN Convention on Biological Diversity commits 

each contracting party to 

developing 

national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of 

biodiversity 

and to integrate these ambitions into relevant plans, programmes and 

policies. As such, contracting parties are required to implement the 46 Articles 

of 

the Convention which include the promotion of public engagement, education and 

awareness raising and implementing EIA of projects in order to avoid / minimise 

effects to biodiversity. 

• 

This is the main UK legislation relating to the protection of named floral and fauna 

species and the network of nationally protected wildlife areas: Sites of Special 

Scientific Interest (SSSI). It transposes the Bern Convention on the Conservation 

of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979) and the EU Birds Directive (1979) 

into national law and has been amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 

(2000) . It provides for the notification of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) 

and measures for their protection and management. It sets out the legal offences 

/ 

penalties 

for killing or harming species listed in annexes. 

• 

Countryside & Rights of Way Act, 2000. 

This Act 

increased the duty for provision of public access to the 

countryside and strengthened legislation relating to Sites of Special 

Scientific 

Interest (SSSIs). In particular, it requires Local Authorities to 

furthe r the conservation and enhancement of SSSIs both in carrying 

out their 

operations, and in exercising their decision making functions. 

• Biodiversity 

- The UK Action Plan, DOE, (1994). 

Page 13 4/15/2009 

Link with 

Open Space, 

Recreation, 

Leisure and 


Paper 

(No.5) 

The UK 

BAP was published in response to the requirements of the Convention on 

Biological 

Diversity signed at the Earth Summit in 1992. It has the overall goal of 

conserving and enhancing biological diversity within the UK and contributing to the 

conservation of global diversity through all appropriate mechanisms. It also sets 

out the Government’s plans for protecting and enhancing habitats and species 

of 

national 

conservation concern. 

• 

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 

‘Working with the grain of nature’, A biodiversity Strategy for England, 

DEFRA, (2002). 

This strategy seeks to ensure that biodiversity is embedded in all areas of UK 

Government 

policy and sets out a programme to make the changes necessary to 

conserve, 

enhance and work with the grain of nature rather than against them. It 

sets out 

a series of actions for Government and its partners to make biodiversity a 

fundamental consideration. The 

strategy sets out a number of indicators for

iodiversity which are to be monitored by DEFRA, including the condition of SSSIs, 

populations of wild birds and progress with implementing biodiversity 

action plans 

(BAPs). 

It does not contain any formal targets. 

• 

Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS9) Biodiversity and Geological 

Conservation, ODPM, (2005). 

PPS9 sets out the Government’s planning policies on protection of biodiversity and 

geological conservation through the planning system. In relation to biodiversity and 

geo-diversity it indicates that the Government’s objectives are: 

1. to promote sustainable development; 

2. conserve enhance and restore the diversity of England’s wildlife and 

geology; 

3. contribute to urban renaissance and to contribute to rural renewal. 

PPS9 also sets out the Governments key principles to ensure that potential 

impacts of planning decisions are fully considered. Key paragraphs include: 

• Paragraph 1 - Proposals that aim to conserve or enhance biodiversity and 

geological conservation should be permitted. The aim of planning decisions 

should be to prevent harm to biodiversity and geological interest. Where 

developments 

may result in harm local authorities should ensure that 

mitigation methods are in place before permitting the development and 

compensation methods should be sought. 

• Paragraph 4 - When identifying sites of importance for biodiversity and 

geodiversity on the proposals map clear distinctions should be made 

between the hierarchy of international, national, regional and local sites. 

• Paragraph 5 - Biodiversity objectives that reflect both national and local 

priorities should be reflected in policies in local development documents. 

• Paragraph 6 - International sites should be identified on Proposals Maps, 

but policies should not be included in DPDs because these sites enjoy 

statutory protection. 

• Paragraph 7/8 - Biological and geological SSSIs should 

be given a high 

degree of protection. Development within or outside a SSSI which is likely to 

have an adverse effect on an SSSI should not be granted. An exception 

should only be made where the benefits of development, at the site, clearly 

outweigh both the impacts that it is likely to have on the features of the site 

that make it of special scientific interest and any broader impacts on the 

national network of SSSIs. Exceptions should only be made in certain 

limited circumstances. Where exceptions are made LPA’s should use 

conditions and/or planning obligations to mitigate the harmful aspects of the 

development and where possible to ensure the protection or enhancement 

of the sites biodiversity or geological interest. 

• Paragraph 9 – Regional and local sites - Criteria based policies should be 

established in local development documents against which proposals for 

any development on or affecting such sites will be judged. 

• Paragraph 10 - Areas of ancient woodland which do not have statutory 

protection should be identified. Planning permission should 

not be granted 

for any developments that would result in its loss or deterioration unless the 

need for, and benefits 

of, the development in that location outweigh the loss 

of the woodland habitat. 

Page 14 4/15/2009

• Paragraph 14 Species protection - Local planning authorities should take 

measures to protect species from further decline. 

• Natural Areas in the North East Region, English Nature, (1999). 

This document promotes 

the conservation of wildlife and natural features 

throughout the North East of England. It highlights how England is divided into a 

series of Natural Areas based upon the distribution of wildlife and natural features, 

land use patterns and the human history of each area. Natural Areas are based 

upon j oint work with the former Countryside Agency into the characterisation of the 

countryside into locally distinctive units called character 

areas. The document 

indicates that natural areas offer a more effective framework for the planning and 

achievement of nature conservation objectives 

than administrative boundaries and 

are recognised in planning policy. County Durham contains parts of several Natural 

Areas including the North Pennines, Northumbria 

Coal Measures, Tees Lowlands 

and the Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau Natural Areas. For key themes 

including earth heritage, freshwater, inland rock, bog fen and swamp, woodland, 

lowland grassland and heath, upland grassland and heath, maritime areas 

the 

document describes key features of each area and includes key issues and 

objectives. • North Pennines 

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Geo- 

diversity Audit and Action Plan, 2004-2009, North Pennines AONB 

Partnership, (2004). 

The 

principal aim of this plan is to guide the conservation and interpretation of the 

geological features of this world renowned area for the study of earth science. It 

is 

also 

intended to support the development of sustainable ‘geo-tourism’ in the North 

Pennines, as part of the North Pennines AONB Partnership Staff Unit’s work as 

managers of the European Geo-Park status for the AONB. 

The Action Plan sets out a vision, “By 2014, the variety of geological features 

and 

processes that underpin and influence the landscape, biodiversity and culture 

of 

the North Pennines AONB will be well protected and well managed. This means 

that the most important and typical sites and features are recognised 

and 

conservation measures are in place. Those sites and features that 

have played the 

most important roles in the development of geological science or in the cultural 

heritage of the North Pennines have been consolidated and interpreted. 

Management plans for these features are in place and are working 

well. The way 

the geology of the North Pennines is reflected in its buildings and walls is well 

understood and appreciated. Through caring for the area’s geology and realising 

its potential for tourism, education and lifelong learning, the AONB has 

successfully maintained its status as a European Geo-Park”. The main objectives 

of this Geo-diversity Audit and Action Plan can be summarised as: 

• To raise awareness of the fundamental importance of geo-diversity in the 

sustainable management of the North Pennines AONB. 

• To improve knowledge and understanding of the geo-diversity resources 

within the AONB. 

Page 15 4/15/2009

• To identify the main geological formations and features and to evaluate their 

contribution to local geo-diversity. 

• To place these geological formations and features of the North Pennines 

AONB in their regional, national and, where appropriate, international 

context. 

• To provide non-specialists with an easy to use guide to the geo-diversity of 

the area. 

• To identify linkages between the area’s geo-diversity and its landscape 

character, biodiversity, economic and cultural history. 

• To identify threats to geological features. 

• To identify opportunities and recommended strategies for the conservation 

and enhancement of geological features. 

• To identify a network of individual sites which encapsulate the essential 

features of the area’s geology. 

• To identify features and topics which can contribute to sustainable ‘geotourism’. 

• To engage 

industry, local communities, voluntary groups and local societies 

in conserving and interpreting the area’s geo-diversity. 

• To ’embed’ geo-diversity into future planning, management and 

interpretation policies. 

• To raise awareness of the AONB and European Geo-park designations. 

• To recommend strategies for continued monitoring of the area’s geodiversity 

The document contains 11 details objectives related to the delivery of the action 

plan. 

• 

County Durham Geo-diversity Audit, 

Durham County Council, (2004). 

This document reviews the component parts of the County’s geo-diversity and their 

relevance to their other interests. The audit also serves as the essential 

background to the forthcoming Geo-diversity Action Plan which will frame 

recommendations, action points and policies relevant to all aspects Link with 

of 

geo-diversity in the County. The document outlines the key Landscape 

elements 

of the County’s geology and geo-diversity. It highlights Technical 

the influence of geology in the County 

and how it has played a Paper (No.23), 

fundamental 

role in shaping the County’s 

topography, landscapes 

and Minerals 

Technical 

and biodiversity and the direct relationship of geology with the Paper (No.21) 

economy through the extraction of mineral resources. The 

document highlights the importance of conserving earth science 

within County Durham and outlines the range of statutory and non-statutory 

designations found within the County (many which geological interest) including 

the North Pennines Geo-Park, national nature reserves, sites of special 

scientific 

interest and county geological and wildlife sites. Part 2 of the document considers 

the complex geological resource in the County which includes Ordovician 

rocks, 

Carboniferous rocks including Dinantian, Namurian and Westphalian rocks, 

Permian rocks including magnesian limestone, yellow sands and marl slate, 

Page 16 4/15/2009

Intrusive Igneous rocks, Methamorphic rocks, mineral veins and more recent 

deposits laid down in the Quaternary 

period. 

• Hedgerows are protected by the Hedgerows Regulations 1997. 

Hedgerows play an important role on farms; helping to prevent soil erosion and 

water run-off, providing shelter, controling livestock and protecting crops from the 

wind. They also provide an important habitat for wildlife and are often seen as 

defining character of the English landscape. Under the regulations, it is against the 

law to remove or destroy certain hedgerows without permission from the local 

planning authority. Permission is required before removing hedges that are at least 

20 metres in length, over 30 years old and contain certain species of plant. The 

local planning authority assesses the importance of the hedgerow using criteria set 

out in the regulations. Hedgerows in areas covered by a Historic Landscape 

Characterisation are often protected on the basis of historic importance and their 

wildlife value. 

In 1998, the Government published a Review of the Hedgerow Regulations. The 

Review made a number of recommendations on how the Regulations might be 

strengthened, particuarly on how the criteria defining 'important' hedgerows could 

be improved and simplified. The Review was followed by a number of surveys, a 

Select Committee report to the Government and a survey of local planning 

authorities. DEFRA launched a public consultation exercise on the protection of 

countryside boundary features and amendment of the Hedgerows Regulations in 

January 2003. 

• Protection of Badgers Act 1992 

The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 consolidates and improved previous 

legislation 

(including the Badgers (Further Protection) Act 1991). 

Under the act it is 

an offence to kill, injure or take a badger, or to damage or interfere with a sett 

unless a license is obtained from a statutory authority. A badger sett is defined in 

law as any structure or place which displays signs of current use by a badger. 

• Urban and Rural White Paper 

County 

Durham contains a mixture of urban and rural green spaces. As such the 

policy 

context which will shape the Core Strategy includes the 

Link with 

recommendations laid down in both the Urban White Paper, ‘Our Open Space, 

Towns 

and Cities: the future’, and the Rural White Paper, ‘A Fair Recreation, 

Deal for Rural England’. The former placed parks, play areas and Leisure and 

open spaces at the heart of the ‘urban renaissance’, with 

Play 

Technical 

Paper (No.5) 

recommendations for local authorities, including an aim to achieve the 

national ‘Green Flag’ status for managing parks and spaces. The 

latter aims to revitalise rural services and to enhance the rural economy, 

environmental 

protection and local democracy whilst tackling social exclusion. 

Measures to make access to the countryside more inclusive along with targets for 

Page 17 4/15/2009

iodiversity were aspects of the Rural White Paper that are particularly relevant to 

green space management. 

• Circular 06/05: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation - Statutory 

Obligations and Their Impact Within the Planning System 

This circular provides administrative guidance on the application of the law relating 

to planning and nature conservation as it applies in England. It complements the 

expression of national planning policy in Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity 

and Geological Conservation (PPS9) and the accompanying Planning for 

Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: 

A Guide to Good Practice. 

• UK Sustainable Development Strategy “Securing the Future” (2006) 

The Strategy identified the following as a priority area for immediate action: 

Natural Resource Protection and Environmental Enhancement – Natural 

resources are vital to our existence and that of communities throughout 

the world. 

We need a better understanding of environmental limits, environmental 

enhancement and recovery where the environment is most degraded to ensure a 

decent environment for everyone, and a more integrated policy 

framework. 

A strategic framework for the UK has been developed, and includes the following: 

- a shared understanding of sustainable development 

- a vision of what we are trying to achieve and the guiding principles we all need to 

follow to achieve it 

- our sustainable development priorities for UK action at home and internationally, 

and 

- indicators to monitor the key issues on a UK basis. 

Sustainable 

development requires economic, social and environmental objectives 

to be met together and at the same time. Our quality of life, health and well-being 

rely on clean land, water and air, productive soils, 

available minerals and water 

resources, natural coastal and fluvial systems and processes. They also depend 

on distinctive 

and inspirational landscapes, a wealth of wildlife, vibrant 

comm unities, a healthy, well managed countryside and open spaces accessible for 

everyone 

to enjoy. 

• Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC) 

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act is designed to help achieve 

a 

rich and diverse natural environment and thriving rural communities through 

modernised and simplified arrangements for delivering Government policy. The Act 

implements key element s of the Government’s Rural Strategy published in July 

200 4, and establish flexible new structures with a strong customer focus. 

Page 18 4/15/2009

Public authorities have a Duty to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity 

in 

exercising their functions. This Duty was introduced by the Natural Environment 

and Rural Communities 

Act 

and came into force on 1 October 2006. The Duty aims to raise the profile and 

visibility 

of biodiversity, clarify existing commitments with regard to biodiversity, and 

to make it a natural and integral part of policy and decision making. The Duty 

applies 

to all public authorities including local authorities, central government 

departments, executive agencies, non departmental public bodies, regional 

government offices, non-ministerial departments, NHS Trusts, regional assemblies, 

utilities and all other bodies carrying out functions of a public character under a 

statutory power. Public authorities can make a significant contribution towards the 

2010 target 

to halt biodiversity loss. 

• Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for Open space, Sport and 

Recreation (PPG17) 

Link with 

This guidance has been a key driver to encourage local authorities to Open Space, 

write green space strategies. It states that local authorities should Recreation, 

‘undertake robust assessments of the existing and future 

needs of their Leisure and 

communities for open space, sports and recreational facilities’. The Play Technical 

Paper (No.5) 

companion guide to PPG17 suggests 

ways in which such 

assessments 

can be made and defines a need to establish the extent 

to which open spaces meet clearly identified local needs and the wider 

benefits they generate for people, wildlife, biodiversity and the wider environment. 

• Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development ( PPS1) 

This document sets out the governments national 

policies on different aspects of 

land use planning in England. It sets out the overarching planning policies on the 

delivery 

of sustainable development through the planning system. 

PPS1 states that: ‘Planning should facilitate and promote sustainable and inclusive 

patterns 

of urban and rural development by: 

- protecting and enhancing the natural and historic environment, 

the quality 

and character of the countryside….A high level of protection should be 

given to most valued townscapes and landscapes, wildlife 

habitats and 

natural resources. Those with national and international designations should 

receive the highest level of protection.’ 

There are a number of similarities with PPS9 as paragraph 19 states that: 

Planning policies and planning decisions should be based on: 

- up-to-date information on the environmental characteristics of the area; 

- the potential impacts, positive and negative, on the environment of the 

development proposals (whether direct, indirect, cumulative, long-term or 

short-term); and 

- recognition of the limits of the environment to accept further development 

without irreversible damage. 

Page 19 4/15/2009

It also states that local authorities should seek to not only protect, but look to 

enhance the local environment as part of development proposals. This ties in with 

the aims of the NERC act 2006, as detailed above. 

• Water Framework Directive 2000 

The European Water Framework Directive came into force in December 2000 and 

became part of UK law in December 2003. It gives us an opportunity to plan and 

deliver a better water environment, focusing on ecology.This directive is essentially 

an operational tool, setting the objectives for water protection for the 

Link with 

future. 

Water 

Technical 

The Directive will help to protect and enhance the quality of: 

Paper (No.10) 

- surface freshwater (including lakes, streams and rivers) 

- groundwater’s 

- groundwater dependant ecosystems 

- estuaries 

- coastal waters out to one mile from low-water 

The aims of the directive are: 

- expanding the scope of water protection to all waters, surface waters and 

groundwater; 

- achieving ‘good status’ for all waters by a set deadline; 

- water management based on river basins; 

- ‘combined approach’ of emission limit values and quality standards; 

- Getting the prices right; 

- Getting the citizen involved more closely; 

- Streamlining legislation. 

In England and Wales the Environment Agency is the responsible body for carrying 

out 

the Directive. 

• 

NI 197 - Improved Local Biodiversity – proportion of Local Sites where 

active conservation management is being achieved 

As 

a result of discussions and workshops with stakeholders including Natural 

England, the Local Government Association (LGA), Association of Local 

Government 

Ecologists (ALGE), Government Office, Local Record Centers, 

B iodiversity Partnerships, 

Wildlife Trusts and LAs (Local Authorities), and feed 

back 

from two public consultations, an indicator on Local Sites (LS) has emerged 

as 

the preferred option as a proxy for a local authority biodiversity indicator. 

Local 

Sites (LS) are sites of substantive nature conservation value and although 

they 

do not have any statutory status many are equal in quality to the 

representative 

sample of sites that make up the series of statutory Sites of Special 

Scientific 

Interest (SSSIs). They were previously known by a number of different 

Page 20 4/15/2009

names including Sites of Nature Conservation 

interest (SNCI) or County Wildlife 

Sites 

(CWS). Here is County Durham the term has been altered in agreement with 

the Biodiversity Partnership and Durham Wildlife Trust to Local Wildlife Site (LWS). 

LWS 

make a vital contribution to delivering UK and Local Biodiversity and 

Geodiversity Action Plan targets (see www.ukbap.org.uk). LWS provide wildlife 

refuges for most of the UK’s fauna and flora, and through their connecting and 

buffering qualities complement nationally (SSSIs) and internationally designated 

sites e.g. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas 

(SPAs). They represent extensive areas of wildlife habitat essential to sustaining 

populations of rare and declining species within the wider 

landscape. 

The indicator measures the performance of LAs for biodiversity by assessing the 

implementation of positive conservation management of LWS. The indicator 

relates to the influence LAs have on LWS systems and the measures and 

procedures involved in ensuring effective conservation management is introduced 

to, and acted upon, by Local Wildlife Site 

owners and managers. To meet the 

biodiversity duty under Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural 

Communities Act (NERC) 2006 forward LAs will need to incorporate biodiversity 

consideration into authority services and functions, and demonstrate 

achievements. Indicators, along with biodiversity reporting and other monitoring 

mechanisms, provide a way of indicating these achievements. The biodiversity 

indicator is an efficient way for LAs to show that they are taking biodiversity into 

consideration, particularly as Defra will be reviewing the impact of the biodiversity 

duty in 2009. 

Page 21 4/15/2009

2.3 Regional Policy Context 

• A Biodiversity Audit for the North East & Biodiversity Indicators and 

Targets for the North East of England, North East Biodiversity Forum, 

(2004). 

While not a policy document the audit is the first comprehensive review of both 

UK 

BAP habitats and species and regionally important wildlife, flora and fauna in the 

North East. The associated document has targets to enhance and protect the 

habitats and species identified in the initial document. 

• ‘Trees, Woodlands, Forests and People’, The Regional Forest Strategy for 

the North East of England, GONE, (2005). 

The 

Regional Forestry Strategy sets out the role our trees, woodland and forests 

will 

have over the next twenty years and beyond in making the region a better 

place for us all to live, work, visit and do business. The Strategy provides a 

framework for trees, woodlands and forests to play an increasingly significant role 

in securing and enhancing the quality of life for everyone in the North East. The 

Strategy has been structured around four interrelated objectives, and maps out 

how the range of activities carried out by the forestry sector relate to and can 

contribute to the delivery of these key regional outcomes. The four objectives 

are: 

Economic Regeneration and Growth; Social and Communities; Environment 

and 

Natural Resources and Implementation and Leadership. 

The social and communities objectives highlights how woodland 

and forests can 

help create sustainable communities by expanding the countryside into 

towns and 

cities, improve the quality of life by increasing peoples use and enjoyment of trees 

and woodlands particularly in areas which have suffered from the environmental 

legacy of mining and other industries and improve health of local communities. 

The 

environmental and natural resources objective highlights how through appropriate 

expansion, re-design and better management woodlands and forests can help 

improve the state of the environment in the North East and help provide an 

effective response to climate change including carbon capture and mitigating the 

adverse effects of climate change such as lowering peak flows in rivers and so 

reducing flooding. 

• Great North Forest Plan, North East Community Forests, (1993). 

The Great North Forest Plan was approved by the Secretary of State for 

the Environment in 1992. It covers 62 sq miles of urban fringe 

countryside in south Tyne & Wear and the north-east of County Durham. 

The objectives of the plan include identifying strategies and proposals to 

create a community forest through the delivery of 4,000 ha of new 

woodland in order to complement the existing 1000 ha already in the 

area, (position at 1993). The planning system is identified as a key 

mechanism to deliver the aspirations of the Great North Forest Plan. The 

plan includes a number of aims relating to agriculture, forestry, nature 

conservation, sport and recreation, archaeology and history, community 

Page 22 4/15/2009 

Link with 

Open Space, 

Recreation, 

Leisure and 


Paper (No.5)

involvement, art and culture, environmental education 

and development. In terms 

of 

development the plan aims to ensure that where approved development takes 

place with the Great North Forest it contributes to its vision of a high quality 

wooded, multipurpose countryside. Development proposals include promoting 

advance woodland planting on areas identified for future development; ensuring 

that restoration proposals on extraction and tipping operations meet forest 

objectives; securing the long term management of woodland and recreation 

facilities established as part of permitted developments. The Great North Plan 

divides the forest area into three discrete areas including the western hills (west 

and north of Chester-le-Street), the central lowlands (north-east and south east 

of 

Chester-le-Street) 

and the Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau. In each area 

there is a strategy for action and in addition thirty local management zones. A 

range 

of landscape management strategies have been identified for each of the 

thirty zones 

based upon conservation, restoration, enhancement and 

reconstruction. 

• North Pennines AONB Management Plan 2004-2009, North 

Pennines 

AONB Partnership, (2004). 

The st atutory Management Plan sets out the agenda for the conservation and 

enhancement 

of the AONB for the five years between 2004 and 2009. It is the first 

statutory 

management plan for the North Pennines AONB, its production 

a requirement of the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000. The plan is Link with 

currently under review – consultation occurred on a revised plan for the Open Space, 

Recreation, 

period 2009 to 2014 during September/October 2008. 

Leisure and 

The primary aim of the approved Management Plan is to provide a 


framework 

for action for the conservation and enhancement of the North Paper (No.5) 

Pennines AONB. Many of the objectives relate to biodiversity and geodiversity 

conservation and enhancement; the conservation and 

enhancement 

of the historic and cultural heritage of the North Pennines; 

recreation, access and tourism enhancement. In relation to minerals planning 

the 

managem ent plan recognises that the landscape of the North Pennines has been 

to a large deg ree shaped by the extraction of its rich mineral resources. It states 

that any new quarrying or mineral extraction activity on a commercial scale would 

be likely to constitute 

major development and be subject to national planning 

regulations on AONBs. That future planning 

for existing mineral extraction within 

the 

AONB should balance the economic benefit which this may bring with the 

potential impact on landscape, biodiversity and local communities. It 

should also 

consider the potential impact of any infrastructure and traffic issues which may 

arise. Every encouragement should be given to after-use which complements the 

surrounding landscape. This should not preclude industrial development 

where this 

is of a nature and scale compatible with its setting in an AONB. The 

Management 

Plan policy guidelines state that, ‘Proposals for mineral development in the AONB 

should be subject to rigorous examination, with a balanced approach taken 

to the 

impact on the landscape, biodiversity, geo-diversity and the local economy.’ 

Page 23 4/15/2009

• North East 

Strategy for the Environment 

This document 

provides a regionally agreed framework for the long-term actions to 

deliver a clean, healthy and diverse environment that is valued by people 

and 

businesses. Its 

main purpose is to shape and influence future policy making in the 

region, such as the Integrated Regional Strategy. It presents information about 

our 

environment and why it is important to our economy and everyday life. The 

strategy considers the regions environmental assets and the role they play in our 

lives through four broad themes. Each theme states key objectives that the 

region 

must achieve in response to the challenges and opportunities that we face. 

The following objectives with respect to the natural environment are noted: 

- Conserve, enhance and manage biodiversity and Geodiversity for their 

own 

sake and to make the North East a better place; 

- Protect and improve ground, river and sea water quality in the region, 

ensuring 

that water quality and quantity are considered in all developments 

and managed 

in a sustainable and integrated manner; 

- Conserve 

and enhance the region’s marine and coastal environment by 

adopting 

an ecosystem-based approach to their sustainable use and 

recovery 

to deliver benefits for people, heritage, industry and wildlife. 

• ‘Achieving a Better Quality of Life: the Integrated Regional 

Framework for 

the North East’ in 2005. 

It set out a regional vision for sustainability along with 17 Sustainability 

Objectives. 

A Core Strategy potentially contributes to a number of these 

objectives, including: 

- Objective 7: To reduce the causes and impacts of climate change; 

- Objective 8: To protect and enhance the region’s biodiversity; 

- Objective 11: To protect and enhance the quality and diversity of 

the 

regions rural and urban land and landscapes; 

- Objective 13: To reduce crime and the fear of crime; 

- Objective 14: To improve health and well being while reducing 

inequalities in health. 

• The North East of England Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) 

Published in July 2008. The Strategy sets out a long-term strategy for the 

spatial development of the North East. Green space figures highly 

in the RSS with several policies relevant to the Green Space 

Strategy. Several policies are of direct relevance to this Strategy 

and the Supplementary Planning Document that will be developed 

from it. In particular: 

- 

Policy 2: Sustainable Development – “Planning 

proposals and Local Development Frameworks should 

support sustainable construction and sustainable development 

Page 24 4/15/2009 

Link with 

Open Space, 

Recreation, 

Leisure and 


Paper (No.5)

through the delivery of the following environmental, 

social and 

economic objectives: k) to promote the concept of green 

infrastructure, a network of linked, multifunctional green space in and 

around the region’s towns and cities” (GONE, 2007) 

- Policy 33: Biodiversity and Geodiversity – “Strategies, plans and 

programmes, and planning proposals should ensure that the 

Region’s ecological and geological resources are protected and 

enhanced to return biodiversity resources to viable levels by: 

- Continuing to promote the protection and enhancement of 

internationally and nationally important sites and species, d) 

providing for the expansion and linking of existing habitats and 

species populations 

including the creation of semi-natural green 

spaces in and around urban areas and for habitat restoration, e) 

contributing to improving the Region’s SSSI’s 

to a favourable 

condition by 2010” (GONE, 2007) 

- Policy 36: Trees, Woodlands and Forests – “Strategies, plans and 

programmes, and planning proposals should: a) in line with the North 

East Regional Forest Strategy, seek to maximise the social, 

economic and environmental opportunities that trees, woodlands and 

forests present, 

particularly in regeneration areas and on derelict, 

damaged and underused sites, e) seek to maximise the tourism 

development opportunities presented by woodlands 

and forests, 

particularly in rural areas; and identify and ensure strong 

protection of 

areas of ancient woodland” (GONE, 2007). 

• Th e North East Regional Economic Strategy 

Lau nched in July 2006 by a consortium of business, community and governmental 

bodie s to set out how North East England can compete in the 

global economy, 

wh ilst delivering improvements in quality of life. According 

to the Strategy, “well 

planned investment in environmental improvement 

in urban and rural communities 

can 

boost commercial attractiveness and generate significant private sector 

investment”. Overarching objectives to “target investment in quality of place, 

creating healthy, safe, sustainable communities to help retain businesses and 

skilled people within the region” and to “promote, enhance and protect our natural 

heritage and cultural assets to maximise their potential to underpin rising levels of 

productivity and participation”. 

Page 25 4/15/2009

2.4 County (Sub-Regional) Policy Context 

• The County Durham Strategic Vision published in 2003, is also known as the 

Community Strategy for County Durham. It has established a vision, which sets 

out ideas for new services and facilities to tackle identified problems. It also 

suggests proposals for building on existing schemes and projects, and it suggests 

imaginative 

and innovative ideas to give a glimpse 

of how the future might look. 

Mo re importantly it ensures that community needs and aspirations are met and 

helps bring much needed investment into the County. A new draft of the Strategy 

(2008-2023) has recently been completed and consulted on, and the new Strategy 

is due to be published. 

• County Durham Environment Strategy (2006) 

Produced by the County Durham Sustainability and Environment Partnership, 

and 

is part of a shared vision for the (then) future County Durham Strategic 

Partnership. It follows a review of the previous Environment 

Strategy 2000-2005. 

Link with 

Open Space, 

9 aims have been identified and are based on: 

Recreation, 

Leisure and 

• Enriching landscape, biodiversity and geodiversity; 


• Improving towns and villages, conserving and enhancing the 

historic environment; 

Paper (No.5) 

• Protecting and improving the quality of air, land and water; 

• Responding to climate change; 

• Developing sustainable transport; 

• Reducing resource consumption and waste; 

• Engaging communities in sustainable development; 

• Promoting environmentally aware business; and 

• Finding the resources e.g. LAA. 

• Durham Biodiversity Action Plan, (Durham Biodiversity Partnership, 

(2007). 

The Durham Biodiversity Plan, (first published in 1999) has now been revised. The 

revised DBAP is a non statutory plan which covers the 

geographical area of 


Durham, Darlington, Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside. It aims 

to prov ide a series of structured action priorities for all those organisations and 

individuals working to conserve biodiversity in the Durham BAP area. The revised 

DBAP currently defines 32 priority habitats, 63 priority species and contains 51 

DBAP action plans. These include Priority Habitats: Woodland (8), Wetlands (6), 

Upland habitats (7), Lowland Habitats (11); priority species: mammals (12), birds 

(24), herpitiles (5), fish (3), invertebrates (15), plants (4); DBAP action plans: 

woodlands (6), wetlands (8), upland habitats (7), lowland habitats(13), mammals 

(8), birds (6) and reptiles (2); and one cross cutting action plan relating to climate 

change. Over time additional priority habitats, species and action plans will be 

developed. Each complement action plan includes information which discusses the 

Page 26 4/15/2009

habitat or species action plan, current or recent activity in relation to research or 

actions undertaken, threats to the species 

or habitat and objectives for action. 

Given 

the extent of information within the DBAP it is not possible to summarise 

each habitat or species action plan in this review. The DBAP also includes a series 

of definitions for the purposes of mapping priority habitats and measuring their 

condition. The current version of the plan has yet to publish any maps relating to 

the distribution of these habitats or species. 

• County Durham Landscape Character Assessment, Durham County 

Council, (2003). 

The 

County Durham Landscape Character Assessment is a detailed assessment 

of the character of the county. It works within the framework of 

Countryside Character Areas and Natural Areas, identifying variations in Link with 

Landscape 

landscape character at a sub-regional and local level. The assessment 

Technical 

is based on a detailed GIS (Geographical Information Systems) 

Paper 

(No.23) 

database of landscape elements which was used to identify landscape 

types and character areas at a number of levels from regional 

landscapes, like the North Pennines or the West Durham Coalfield, to local 

landscapes like parklands and wooded denes. The assessment has informed the 

development of the County Durham Landscape Strategy. 

• County Durham Landscape Strategy, Durham County Council, (2008). 

The Landscape Strategy is a non-statutory plan which addresses issues that affect 

the varied landscapes of County Durham and sets out objectives for their 

conservation and enhancement. It is based on the County Council’s landscape 

character assessment which was published by the County Council in 2003. The 

strategy addresses many of the issues identified in other plans and strategies and 

overlaps geographically with other area based plans including the North Pennines 

AONB Management Plan and the Great North Forest Plan. It is intended that the 

strategy should complement these plans. The strategy has three aims: 

1. 

To maintain and enhance the character and diversity of the Durham 

Landscape; 

2. 

To make development and land management more sustainable by helping 

to ensure that they respect the character of the landscape and contribute 

towards wider environmental objectives; and 

3. 

To support and complement other environmental strategies to help promote 

coordinated action on the environment. 

The Strategy investigates a range of broad issues that affect the landscape 

including overarching issues such as climate change and biodiversity, geo-diversity 

and cultural heritage, and sets out objectives for addressing them. The strategy 

considers land management issues in relation to agriculture, woodlands and 

forestry, moors and heaths, field boundaries and river and wetlands and discusses 

particular issues and includes objectives for addressing each issue. The strategy 

considers developmental pressures including pressures relating to housing, 

industry, transport, minerals, waste, renewable energy and recreation and tourism. 

In 

terms of minerals this part of the document includes objectives in relation to 

Page 27 4/15/2009

guiding new mineral development, 

existing mineral sites, creative restoration and 

dealing 

with legacies from the past. 

The 

strategy analyses the County Character Areas, their assets and attributes and 

the trends and pressures 

affecting the landscape. It sets out a broad 

strategy and 

a series of objectives 

to meet the strategy for each area, and proposes spatial 

strategy’s for 

conserving, restoring or enhancing the landscape. The landscape 

strategy also 

contains spatial strategies that have been developed through 

analyses of local landscape types identified in the landscape character 

assessment. These strategies identify the most appropriate kind of action whether 

conservation, restoration or enhancement for that 

particular landscape to inform 

land managers, developer 

and planners. 

A separate spatial strategy is also included 

for woodlands and forestry and 

identifies 

areas which are highly sensitive, sensitive and less sensitive together 

with 

priority areas for new woodland planting. Each area has its own strategy i.e. in 

Highly sensitive areas the strategy is to broadly maintain the current balance of 

land uses. New woodland planting should only take place in exceptional 

circumstances. In contrast the strategy for less sensitive areas is to increase 

woodland cover, and in particular within priority areas. Priority areas for woodland 

planting are those areas where the greatest public or environmental benefit might 

arise from new woodland creation. They include: local landscapes where the 

landscape strategy is to enhance or restore and enhance and which lie close to 

centres of population, and in particular semi-rural landscapes of the former 

coalfield, derelict and reclaimed land or restored opencast land and land close to 

(

2.5 Local Policy Context 

• Open Space Needs 

Assessment (OSNA) & Greenspace Strategies 

• 

Local 

Authority: Strategy produced: 

Durham City OSNA 

Easington OSNA/Greenspace Strategy 

Sedgefield OSNA/Greenspace Strategy 

Teasdale OSNA commissioned 

Wear Valley OSNA commissioned/halted due to LGR 

Derwentside N/A 

Chester-le-Street Biodiversity-friendly grounds 

maintenance protocol ‘ from parks to 

larks’. 

South East Durham Growth Point 

South 

and East Durham is located in the heart of the North East region. It is 

essentially located in two areas of the County: a) A19 Seaham-Peterlee Corridor; 

and b) The triangle of settlements between Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe and 

Bisho p Auckland. Durham County Council 

is working with regional regeneration 

agencies in order to harness the potential for housing growth to support local 

economic growth and to inform the new Unitary Authority thinking on economic 

growt h. Growth Point status 

offers the opportunity to deliver an improved choice of 

housing with over 1200 new dwellings 

planned each year up to 2016; a figure 

significantly in excess of previously 

agreed targets. A pre-determined level of 

affordable 

housing will be delivered as well as market housing for sale. Alongside 

housing 

growth there will be plans to protect and enhance the environment through 

the 

development of a stronger network of public transport provision and through 

increased 

investment in ‘green’ initiatives. In particular the production of a Green 

Infrastructure Strategy has been assigned as a ‘priority 1’ project, due for completion 

in June 2010. 

Page 29 4/15/2009

SECTION 3.0 – Current Situation 

3.1 BASELINE 

LANDSCAPE: 

County Durham is best described in terms of its Natural Areas . Natural areas are 

subdivision’s of England, each with a characteristic association of wildlife and 

natural features. Durham’s Natural Areas include: 

• Northumbrian coal measures 

• North Pennines 

• Durham magnesian limestone plateau 

• Tees lowlands 

• Pennine Dales fringe 

Durham 

County Council’s Landscape Strategy, further breaks down the Natural 

areas 

into county character areas. County Durham is divided into the following 

county character areas: 

• Dales fringe 

• East Durham limestone plateau 

• North Pennines 

• Tees lowlands 

• Wear lowlands 

• West Durham coalfield 

Each Natural Area and hence Character Area, has a unique identity resulting from 

the interaction of wildlife, landforms, geology, land use and human impact. Natural 

areas help us to set objectives, define national priorities and local targets, and 

decide where in the county resources should be focussed to best effect. Each 

character area house a number of designations, determined by the archaeology 

and hence ecology of the area. The following summary descriptions of each area 

are discussed in more detail in the Landscape Technical Paper. Please see 

designations by Character Area in the appendices. 

N orth Pennines 

The Pennines form a distinctive upland block bordered by the Eden and Tyne 

valleys, the Durham lowlands and the Yorkshire Dales. The Natural Area (2186 

square kilometres) and the AONB (2000 square kilometres) broadly cover the 

same geographical area. Nearly 80% of the character area comprises some form 

of semi-natural vegetation and plantation woodland, with 20% agriculturally 

improved, and just 0.6% considered ‘built-up’. Approximately 36.5% of the land is 

designated a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), along with further areas 

6 http://www.naturalareas.naturalengland.org.uk/Science/natural/NA_search.asp 

Page 30 4/15/2009 

6 

Link with 

Landscape 

Technical 

Paper (No.23)

comprising non-statutory sites of county importance (Local Wildlife Sites). There 

are also a number of designated SPA’s (Special Protection Areas) and SAC’s 

(Special 

Areas of Conservation) together with 3 National Nature Reserves 

(NNR’s). 

Dales Fringe 

The river Tees forms the most important natural feature in this character area, 

and 

is also the most important contribution to biodiversity. Ancient and semi-natural 

woodlands of ash and oak are found along the steep valley sides, with scattered 

conifer plantations in the upland fringes. The majority of the area is enclosed with 

only small areas of open moorland, which are important agriculturally unimproved 

refuges especially for moorland birds. Farming and forestry are the 

main land use 

types 

in this area, and there is significant scope for large-scale habitat 

improvements. 

There is one designated SSSI, and a number of Local Wildlife 

Sites. 

East Durham Limestone Plateau 

The Durham Magnesian Limestone Natural Area (DMLNA) covers just over 44 

000ha of southeast Tyne and Wear, and east Durham. It is dominated by 

underlying Permian Magnesian Limestone, which exerts a strong influence on soil 

types and vegetation communities. The area is dominated by arable farmland and 

pasture, but a number of semi-natural wildlife habitats do remain. The key habitat 

feature is the unimproved magnesian limestone grassland, a nationally rare habitat 

type. Almost two thirds of all magnesian limestone grassland in Britain is found in 

the DMLNA. Calcareous grassland and basic mires occur along the Durham coast 

and abandoned limestone quarries are colonised by typical limestone flora. Small 

areas of unimproved neutral grassland also occur within this area with scattered 

ancient semi-natural woodlands, which are centred in the denes of the coastal 

plateau and on steeper slopes of the escarpment. Due to the remarkable ecology 

and geological interest of the DMLNA there are a number of designated sites, 

including 4 NNR’s, around 48 SSSI’s and a number of Local Wildlife Sites. The 

area also contains a number of Geological/Geomorphological SSSI’s as well as 

county Geological/Geomorphological Sites. 

T ees Lowlands 

This character area comprises the River Tees estuary, and its associated low-lying 

land. The area is framed by the Cleveland Hills and the North York Moors to the 

South, the east Durham plateau to the north, and the foothills of the Pennines to 

the west. The North Sea, Tees Bay and the river estuary make up its eastern 

boundary. There has been considerable reclamation of the Tees estuarine habitats 

but 

remnants exist an constitute the Teesmouth flats and marshes NCR sites, 

characterised by mud flats, salt marsh, grazing marsh, sand dunes, open water 

and wetlands. There are two designated SSSI’s, both wetlands, and a small 

Page 31 4/15/2009

number of Local Wildlife Sites. There are also a limited number of ancient seminatural 

woodlands in this area, however there are no earth heritage 

designations. 

Wear Lowlands 

The Wear lowlands can be broadly divided into those landscapes which are part of 

the heavily wooded incised valley corridor of the river wear, and those which are 

part of the open rolling farmland terraces to the east and west. This character area 

occupies a broad valley between the limestone escarpment and the spurs of 

Pennine fringe ridges. There are numerous parklands and areas of wooded estate 

farmland surrounding country houses as castles along the corridor of the wear, 

some of medieval origin. The landscape has been heavily influenced by urban and 

industrial development, and this together with its well developed and busy road 

network gives it a semi-rural or urban fringe character in places. 

West Durham Coalfields 

The coalfields are an upland fringe landscape of well-defined ridges and valley’s 

running generally eastwards from the North Pennines, to the lowland valleys of the 

Tyne & Wear. The coal measures, laid down during the carboniferous period of 

geological time, underlie a largely lowland area extending through the centre of 

County Durham, much of Tyne & Wear and the south eastern coastal plain of 

Northumberland. The coal measures have been a valuable economic asset to the 

area. Over the past 300 years, the exploitation of the coal and other minerals has 

played a major role in shaping the landscape and natural assets of the area. 

Because of the intense land use few areas remain in near natural conditions and 

most semi-natural habitats now occur as fragmented relicts, scattered across the 

area. Within the man-managed landscape the river valleys, particularly where 

wooded, provide important refuges for a variety of wild plants and animals, as well 

as being important habitat features. Ancient semi-natural woodlands are found in 

many valleys and steep sided denes and along rivers and streams. A small part of 

the North Pennines AONB lies on the western fringes of the coalfields. There are 

very few SSSI’s, as can be expected, but by contrast there are a relatively large 

number of Local Wildlife Sites, representing a range of habitats including lowland 

heath, semi-natural woodland, wetland and species-rich pasture. The area also 

contains a small number of County Geological/Geomorphological Sites. These 

include geological exposures in river sections and glacial features. 

The areas most sensitive to loss of habitat in the County are the east Durham 

Limestone Plateau, and the west Durham Coalfields. There is continued pressure 

from new industrial development as the economy adjusts to the closure of 

collieries. Large industrial estates and modern industrial buildings can be difficult to 

assimilate into the rural landscape of the Character Areas. The conversion of many 

farms and farm buildings to residential use adds to a ‘suburbanising’ process. 

An increase in the extent and intensity of arable cropping has led to a loss of old 

pastures and meadows, along with hedgerows, hedgerow trees, field ponds, rigg 

Page 32 4/15/2009

and furrow, and other archaeological features. Parts of the landscape have 

become very open with large fields and few mature features. 

Page 33 4/15/2009

Page 34 4/15/2009

DESIGNATED SITES: 

PPS9 states that LDF’s should indicate the location of designated sites of 

importance for biodiversity and geodivers ity, making clear distinctions between the 

hierarchy of international, national, regional 

and locally designated sites. 

There are a number of designations, which relate 

specifically to ecological and geological 

conservation. These designations are categorised 

as those of international, national or 

local importance. Some sites are covered by more than one type of designation, such as 

the North Pennines AONB. Designations app lied to ecological and geological features may 

be of international, national, or regional and local importance. Those relevant to the county 

are 

listed below, with the hierarchical structure of international through to local 

representing the relative 

weight or importance placed on each resource. 

The northeast has a relatively high proportion o f designated sites, 30% of the total area, as 

opposed to 8% nationally. The region also has the highest proportion of SSSI’s with geo- 

features in favourable condition at 91%. The Moorhouse/Upper 

Teasdale is the largest of 

the 3 English Biosphere reserves at 7149ha. 

The North Pennines Geopark shares a boundary 

with the AONB across County Durham, 

Cumbria and Northumberland, and contains so me 33 geo-features. Half of the Geopark is 

also designated a SSSI. 

International designation Description 

RAMSAR Site A site designated as a wetland of 

international 

importance under the Ramsar 

Convention 

7 

Special Protection Area (SPA) A site of European importance for bird 

conservation, 

designated under the EC 

Birds Directive tion 

SPA’s are also SSSI’s. 

8 . Under national legisla 

Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Site of European conservation importance 

containing listed habitats or species, 

designated 

under the terms of the EC 

Habitats 

Directive 

le 

9 . Under national 

gislation SAC’s are also SSSI’s. 

7 

The Ramsar Convention (1971) - The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as 

Waterfowl Habitat was ratified by the UK in 1976. The Convention seeks to promote the conservation and wise use of 

wetlands, particularly those, which support internationally significant 

numbers of water birds. This is achieved through 

the designation of Ramsar Sites. 

8 

The Birds Directive (1979) - The European Community Council 

Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds 

(79/409/EEC) sets out general rules for the conservation of all naturally occurring wild birds, their nests, eggs and 

habitats. It requires member states to designate Special Protection 

Areas (SPAs) for protection of certain species. 

9 

The Habitats Directive (1992) - The European Community Council Directive on the Conservation of Natural 

Habitats of Wild Fauna and Flora (92/43/EEC) aims to protect the European Union's biodiversity. It requires member 

states to designate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) - sit es of European importance for listed habitats and species. 

SACs must be maintained at, or restored to, favourable conservation 

status, and should be protected from damaging 

plans or projects 

Page 35 4/15/2009

Biosphere Reserve Biosphere 

reserves are areas of terrestrial 

and coastal ecosystems promoting 

solutions 

to reconcile the conservation of 

biodiversity 

with its sustainable use. They 

are 

nominated by national Governments 

and 

remain under sovereign jurisdiction of 

the states where they are located. 

Biosphere 

reserves serve in some ways as 

'living 

laboratories' for testing out and 

demonstrating 

integrated management of 

land, 

water and biodiversity. Collectively, 

biosphere 

reserves form a World Network. 

National designation Description 

National Nature Reserve (NNR) 

Site of outstanding wildlife or geological 

importance, managed either by, or on 

behalf of Natural England in the interest 

of wildlife, research and public 

appreciation. They are declared by 

Natural England under the National 

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 

Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 

1949, or the Wildlife and Countryside Act 

1981 (as amended). 

Site of particular wildlife or geological 

importance, where measures are 

taken 

to promote the safeguarding 

and 

enhancement of this interest through 

the 

regulation of management activities and 

development. SSSI’s 

are designated by 

Natural England under the Wildlife and 

Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). 

Local designation Description 

Local Nature Reserve (LNR) Site of local nature conservation 

importance, owned or managed by a 

local authority. 

LNR’s are designated by 

local authorities in agreement with 

Natural England under the National 

Local Wildlife Site (LWS) 

Parks and Access to the Countryside 

Act 1949. 

Non-statutory designations 

for sites of 

county significance for wildlife or 

geology. Positive management of LWS 

or RIGs is encouraged and development 

affecting them is controlled 

by the Local 

Development Framework policies. Local 

authorities are involved in the selection 

and adoption of the LWS/RIG through 

the LWS partnership. In 2008 a new 

Page 36 4/15/2009

national indicator (NI197), was 

introduced in order to monitor the status 

of LWS and encourage favourable 

Regionally important geological Sites (RIGS) 

management. Local authorities have to 

report annually on the percentage of 

sites, in their jurisdiction, 

in favourable 

management. 

Regionally Important Geological and 

Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) are 

currently the most important places for 

geology and geomorphology outside 

statutorily protected land such as Sites 

of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). 

These sites do not have formal statutory 

protection in the same way as SSSIs. 

However, RIGS groups notify local 

planning authorities of the RIGS that 

have been declared in their area and 

encourage the protection of the site 

through the planning process. 

County Durham’s designated sites: 

Designation Site 

SAC North Pennines Hay Meadows 

North Pennines Moors 

Moor house & Upper Teasdale 

Thrislington 

Castle Eden Dene 

Durham Coast 

SPA Teesmouth & Cleveland Coast 

North Pennine Moors 

Ramsar site Stretches of the Durham Coast are 

designated as part of two Ramsar Sites, 

the Northumbria Coast and the 

Teesmouth & Cleveland Coast Ramsar 

sites. 

International Biosphere Reserve Moor House & Upper Teasdale 

SSSI 92 sites (please see appendices for list) 

NNR 6 sites (please see appendices for list) 

AONB North Pennines 

LNR 33 sites (please see appendices for list) 

Local Wildlife Sites 379 sites (please see appendices for list) 

County Geological Sites 69 sites (please see appendices for list) 

RIGs Moking Huth Cave 

Page 37 4/15/2009

Conditions of SSSIs in County Durham 

Condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in 

County Durham 

SSSIs meeting PSA target 79.56 

Favourable. 20.71 

Unfavourable recovering 58.85 

Unfavourable no change 17.82 

Unfavourable declining 2.17 

Destroyed/part destroyed. 0.44 

Source: Natural England October 2007. 

Percentage 

Government's PSA target is for 95% of SSSI land to be in "favourable" or "recovering" 

condition by 2010 

Page 38 4/15/2009

Designated Sites: 

Page 39 4/15/2009

OTHER CONSERVATION AREAS AND HABITATS: 

Several non-governmental conservation organisations have land holdings in the 

study area, most of which overlap with oth er statutory and non-statutory 

designations such as SSSIs, Heritage Coast or National Parks. 

These include the 

Woodland 

Trust and 

Durham Wildlife Trust. 

D urham Wildlife Trust Reserves 

Site 

name: 

Location: 

Redcar field Near Coatham Mundervillle 

Hannahs meadow Baldersdale 

Baal hill Near Wolsingham 

Low barns Witton-le-Wear 

Bishop Middleham quarry Bishop Middleham 

Rosa Shaftoe and Tudhoe Mill wood Whitworth/Spennymoor 

Raisby hill Coxhoe 

Trimdon Grange and quarry Trimdon Grange 

Town Kelloe bank Town Kelloe 

Hesledon dene Hesledon 

Blackhall rocks Blackhall rocks village 

Hawthorn dene Hawthorn 

Brasside pond Pity Me 

Hedley hope fell Near Tow Law 

Ragpath heath Near Lanchester 

Malton Malton, near Lanchester 

Rabbitbank wood Knitsley 

Burnhope pond Burnhope 

Edmondsley wood Edmondsley 

Rainton meadows Edmondsley 

Joes pond Houghton-le-Spring 

High wood 

Rowlands gill 

Sibdo n pond Blaydon 

Woodland Trust Woods 

Site name: Location: 

Black Plantation Lanchester 

Brightlea wood (St. Bedes Community Ouston 

Woodland) 

Broomhill dene Medomsley 

Castle hill wood Castleside 

Dora’s wood Lanchester 

Elemore woods Easington lane 

Fox & Parrot wood Craghead 

Hell hole wood Beamish 

Langley Moor plantation Quaking houses 

Low Burnhall Durham 

Morton wood Fencehouses 

Orchard Brae Barnard Castle 

Page 40 4/15/2009

Pontburn woods Hamsterley Mill 

Ragpath wood Esh Winning 

Railway wood Esh Winning 

Walters wood Ouston 

Westlaw wood Ebchester 

White hill woods Easington lane 

Heritage Coast 

Heritage coasts cover England’s most beautiful and undeveloped stretches of 

coastline and are managed so that their natural beauty is conserved for future 

generations. 

There is one Heritage Coast within County Durham. It stretches 14kms in length 

and 

runs from Sunderland to Hartlepool. This coastline is the newest Heritage 

Coast in the UK. 

The objectives of designation as Heritage Coast are set out by the Countryside 

Commission as follows: 

"The finest stretches of coast justify national recognition as Heritage Coasts. They 

should be given effective protection and management; stronger measures should 

apply there than elsewhere. The main objectives for Heritage Coasts are: 

• to conserve, 

protect and enhance the natural beauty of the coasts, 

including their terrestrial, littoral and marine flora and fauna, and their 

heritage features of architectural, historical and archaeological interest; 

• to facilitate and enhance their enjoyment, understanding and appreciation 

by the public by improving and extending opportunities for recreational, 

educational, sporting and tourist activities that draw on, and are consistent 

with, the conservation of their 

natural beauty and the protection of their 

heritage features; 

• to maintain, and improve (where necessary) the environmental health 

of 

inshore waters affecting Heritage Coasts and their beaches through 

appropriate works and management measures; 

• to take account of the needs of agriculture, forestry and fishing, and of the 

economic and social needs of the small communities on these coasts, by 

promoting sustainable forms of social and economic development, which 

in 

themselves conserve and enhance natural beauty and heritage features. 

There are a number of important habitats and species associated with this stretch 

of coastline. These include Magnesian Limestone Grassland, of which there 

is 

approximately 225ha; Woodland and coastal gills, which incorporate Blue House 

Gill (part of a SSSI, an NNR and a Durham Wildlife Trust Reserve); and coastal 

sand dunes. 

Page 41 4/15/2009

Wildlife corridors/Networks of Natural Habitats 

A wildlife corridor or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife 

populations separated by human activities (such as roads, development or 

farming). 

This allows an exchange of individuals between populations, lowering 

breeding within populations, 

so increasing effective population size, and facilitating 

re-establishment 

of populations that have been decimated or eliminated due to 

random events. This may potentially moderate some of the worst effects of habitat 

fragmentation. 

(Wikipedia.org) 

The majority of the county is predominantly 

rural, dominated by arable farming. 

The rolling aspect gives a patchwork of fields, woodland, and rivers, interspersed 

with large towns and villages. Within this the hedgerows, ditches, embankments, 

and green lanes are attractive features, and play an important part as vital 

corridors for the movement of wildlife. 

As well as these more traditional corridors, a number of other features can play a 

part in the overall wildlife distribution network. Railway lines (both used and 

disused) and motorway verges offer security from human disturbance, with the 

wildlife quickly adapting to the noise and wind generated by passing trains and 

vehicles. Industrial sites can also provide vital links, through peripheral waste 

ground and overgrown run-off ditches, in what otherwise would be a wildlife 

desert. As ‘greenfield’ sites are developed, gardens and school grounds can take 

on increasingly significant stepping-stones for wildlife between areas of 

countryside. 

In 1990 English Nature (now Natural England) identified a network of strategic 

wildlife corridors in the region. This information was used by the County Council to 

identify wildlife corridors in the County structure plan. These corridors were based 

on major river valleys, links with corridors in neighbouring conurbations, and 

clusters of important wildlife sites. 

In recent years there has been a growing realisation of the importance of 

conserving and enhancing biodiversity at a landscape scale, and a more 

sophisticated approach to mapping and modelling the spatial factors affecting it. 

PPS9 requires that planning authorities identify networks of semi-natural 

habitats and opportunities for their conservation and enhancement. 

Natural England has more recently mapped networks of semi-natural habitats 

using national data sets. This shows that the uplands of the North Pennines in the 

west of the County is covered by extensive tracts of semi-natural habitat, 

and particularly heath, grassland, mire, fen and bog. Habitat networks are 

more fragmented in the intensively farmed and settled landscapes of the 

lowlands and upland fringes. Further work is required both to refine the 

boundaries of these networks at a local level and to identify opportunities for 

habitat creation and restoration to improve the condition and connectivity of 

these important habitats at a landscape scale. 

In terms of protection, hedgerows, rivers, streams and ponds, and road verges of 

conservation importance are included as priority habitats under Durham’s 

Page 42 4/15/2009 

Link to 

Landscape 

Technical Paper 

(No.23)

Biodiversity Action Plan (DBAP). A number of hedgerows which qualify as 

important foraging or commuting habitat for bats, are also protected in accordance 

with the The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 

(Habitat Regulations (HR)), The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 

2006 (NERC) planning policy and international treaties. 

Page 43 4/15/2009

Page 44 4/15/2009

EARTH HERITAGE: 

The Tyne to Tees Coast contains several nationally important Earth 

science sites, most of which have been notified 

as SSSIs. Most of the 

interest 

is stratigraphical, particularly from the Permian Period of 250 

million years before present. In addition to the actual geological or 

geomorphological value of the coast, the physical structure of many areas 

is critical to support a wealth of flora and fauna, indeed many of the 

invertebrate diversity of the study areas is found in areas not designated 

specifically 

for nature conservation. Several other sites are important in 

illustrating 

geomorphological processes of various types. 

At Wear River Bank SSSI, the exposure of the 

Upper Carboniferous 

Westphalian 

beds, uncomfortably overlain by the lowermost Permian 

Yellow Sands, is a geological feature of nationally notable significance. 

Further south, Seaham Harbour SSSI holds the type locality and the best 

examples of the Seaham Formation and the Seaham Residue, and is also 

important for the Roker dolomite. These are all geological strata which 

overlie the rest of the Magnesian Limestone sequence. They too provide a 

superb site for the study of evaporate dissolution. 

At Blackhall Rocks on the Durham Coast excellent examples of 

stromatolites occur, showing associated strata and processes. 

At Redcar Rocks, south of the Tees estuary, a sequence of Lower 

Jurassic rocks revealed within the foreshore off Redcar provide one of the 

most complete records of this period in Britain. 

The Tyne to Tees coast also holds three sites important in illustrating processes 

characteristic of the most recent episodes in Britain's past. At Shippersea Bay the 

Easington Raised Beach can be seen, a sequence of sands and gravels 

containing marine shells resting 

on a rock platform 27m above present sea level. 

This provides key evidence 

for interpreting the late quaternary succession and in 

reconstructing past sealevels. A second site, Warren House Gill, is important for 

displaying a sequence 

of icesheet deposits from the last glaciation and, 

importantly, preceding glaciations. 

Comment: 

Eastgate Renewable 

Energy Village: 

A project of the 

Weardale 

Task 

Force, 

located on 

the site 

of the old 

Blue Circle/Lafarge 

works. It 

encompasses the 

second only public 

‘hot springs’ in the 

UK. The site covers 

an area greater than 

800 football pitches, 

and will encompass 

a mix of 

housing, 

‘green’ office and 

workshop 

accommodation, 

visitor attractions 

and a hotel. It will 

demonstrate 

‘best 

practice’ 

in 

sustainability by 

utilizing 

all five forms 

of land-based 

renewable 

energy 

available 

in the UK 

(wind, solar, 

hydro, 

biomass and 

geothermal). 

Link with 

Landscape 

Ridge/Rigg and furrow: 

Technical 

Paper (No.23), 

and Heritage 

Th e term ridge or rigg 

and furrow is often used by archaeologists and 

Technical 

others to describe the pattern of peaks and troughs created in a field Paper (No. 3) 

by the system of ploughing used in Europe during the Middle-Ages. 

Early examples date to the immediate post-Roman period and the 

method 

survived until the 17th century in some areas. The 

remains of ridge and 

furrow can be seen across many areas of County Durham. This archeological 

remain can present biodiversity as well as historical value, as these sites are 

often un-improved grassland, which can have biodiversity interest. 

Page 45 4/15/2009

They predominate in clay soils, where they have historically been created to assist 

in drainage, and as such often have neutral grassland species present for 

example pignut (Conopodium majus) and adderstongue fern (Ophioglossum sp.). 

Notable waxcap grasslands also frequently occur on rigg and furrow pasture, 

providing that it is essentially unimproved. 

Some mapping of these areas have been undertaken by Durham’s Landscape 

Character Assessment, however this is not complete. Durham Wildlife Trust have 

also started to create a database due to the obvious biodiversity connection 

with 

these historic sites. 

PROTECTED SPECIES AND HABITATS: 

10 11 

Certain species of flora and fauna are protected 

by law under various Acts of 

Parliament 

and European Union Directives (as previously detailed). The legislation 

affecting protected species is complex 

and different levels of protection and 

procedures 

may apply to different species, while the text below seeks to provide a 

brief overview, this part of the evidence base should be seen as only as a 

introductory guide and not an authoritative statement. Actions, which impact upon 

protected species and their habitats may, under certain circumstances be illegal 

or 

subject to licensing processes. 

It must be recognised that species and habitats of importance for biodiversity 

are 

found across the county, and not necessarily in designated sites. These must 

also 

be protected from harm. Buildings can frequently support bat roosts or bird nests. 

Unless a site consists of purely close mown grassland, has crops grown on it, 

or is 

covered by concrete or tarmac, it has potential to support protected species. 

Developers must always consider whether protected or priority species and 

habitats 

could be present on site, and be affected by the proposed 

development. 

The county contains a number of protected species, both internationally, and 

nationally, these include: 

• All species of bat 

• Great crested newt 

• Water vole 

• Otter 

• Badger 

• Slow worm 

• Sand lizard 

• Adder 

• Grass snake 

• Smooth snake 

Please see full list of protected species in appendices. 

The principal pieces of legislation that apply to protected species are the Wildlife 

and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and 

10 flowering plants; trees; fungi; ferns; lichens; mosses and liverworts. 

11 Mammals; birds; butterflies; molluscs, crustations; and amphibians and reptiles. 

Page 46 4/15/2009

the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. In addition the Conservation (Natural 

Habitats & c.) (Amendment) Regulations (aka Habitats Regulations) 2007, 

transpose the EU Habitats Directive into UK law. 

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) affords special protection to 

certain species by listing them in Schedules within the Act. Some of the protection 

afforded by this Act has subsequently been enforced and extended by the 

Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The Conservation (Natural Habitats & 

c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 provides a further level of protection 

for European protected 

species which occur in the UK. The Badgers Act Comment: 

1992 affords protection to badgers and their setts. Many species occurring Case 

Study – East 

in County Durham are recognised as of importance in the UK Biodiversity 

Action Plan and the County Durham Biodiversity Action Plan lists all the 

species for which action plans will be prepared in the Durham area. Full 

details of species protection can be had from the Joint Nature 

of England 

Sustainable 

Development 

Toolkit. Its purpose 

is to highlight the 

Conservation Committee at www.jncc.gov.uk. 

economic, 

environmental 

and 

social 

impacts of 

Protected species databases: 

policies, 

development 

Databases showing location of various protected species is currently 

patchy across the County, where a few Borough/District 

Council’s have 

undertaken 

their own data projects, or mapped species data when 

proposals and other 

new initiatives within 

the Region, and 

provide information 

planning applications have had protected species survey requirements. which can 

help to 

improve them. 

It 

The 

NERC Act 2006, Section 40 states: ‘Every public authority must, in 

exercising 

its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the 

proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving 

provides an on-line 

checklist against 

objectives of the 

Regional 

biodiversity.’ It places 

a duty on all public authorities to have regard to the 

conservation 

of biodiversity in the exercise of their functions. A key part of 

carrying out this duty, is the development of a evidence base. 

Sustainable 

Development 

Framework. 

The 

toolkit 

includes a 

The Guidance for Public Authorities in Implementing the Biodiversity Duty, 

section 

on 

Biodiversity and 

produced by DEFRA states that ‘A good evidence base is essential to Landscape 

public authorities when planning development projects. 

Good information on baseline conditions and trends in biodiversity 

provides a good basis for planning 

applications to be appraised in a 

considered 

way, maximising opportunities for enhancement and avoiding 

Enhancement, 

which 

poses a series of 

questions: 

- Will it encourage 

greater biodiversity? 

potential adverse effects on biodiversity. In putting together development -Will 

it create any 

proposals, public authorities should seek the best available information on 

biodiversity which is available from a range of sources.’ 

new habitats/wildlife 

sites? 

-Will it 

protect and 

Sources of biodiversity, including protected species data is held by a 

12 

variety of bodies in the North East, this includes NBN Gateway , a 

National 

Species Record Centre. While other regions have a Regional 

Records 

Centre, this is absent in the North East of England. The EYE 

enhance 

existing 

habitats 

and wildlife 

sites? 

-Will it help to 

protect any species 

at risk? 

-Will it help to 

protect any SSSI’s 

12 

www.searchnbn.net 

and other 

designated sites? 

Page 47 4/15/2009

Project 13 , has tried to fill this position, however there are complications with 

respect 

to the sensitivity of the data, and the willingness of recorders to give-up 

their data. In County Durham the Durham Biodiversity Partnership 

y 

nd habitats for the area. A few of the Local Authorities have formed a two 

ay partnership with the organisation, sharing data and providing funding to carry 

14 holds a 

number of databases for protected species and habitats, as well as DBAP priorit 

species a 

w 

out new surveys where gaps are evident. There is however still a number of gaps 

in species as well as habitat data, and issues with respect to the reliability of the 

data recorded. 

The North East Biodiversity Audit in 2001 provided a baseline, building on such 

earlier work as the Durham Wildlife Audit (1995) and the Northumberland Red 

Data Book (1998). The North East Biodiversity Audit though goes further in two 

important areas; firstly, it was based around the Natural Areas concept and, 

secondly, it links closely to the development of Sustainability Indicators, both 

regionally and nationally. Finally, the State of the Environment Report for the North 

East of England brought together data from a wide range of sources to provide 

a 

baseline on the state of the environment in the North East. It also aims to help 

regional decision makers identify priorities for future environmental improvement 

and investment and will inform the development of an Environmental 

Enhancement and Investment Plan for the North East. 

Due to the sensitivity of this data, the location of known protected species in the 

county cannot be included within this technical paper. 

Habitats and species of principle importance (Section 74 Countryside and 

Rights 

of Way Act 2000): 

This list has been prepared by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and 

Rural Affairs under Section 74(2) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. 

It identifies the habitats and living organisms (species) which the Secretary of 

State, following consultation with her statutory nature conservation 

advisers, 

Natural England, considers are of principal importance for the conservation of 

biological diversity in England, in accordance with the 1992 UN 

Convention on Biological Diversity 

BAPs (Biodiversity 

Action Plans) have been produced that set out clear targets 

and 

actions for the conservation of the priority species and habitats. UK, Regional 

and Local BAPs provide a means of prioritising action for local authorities. 

LBAPs 

have 

been produced to complement the UKBAPs and assist with the delivery of 

specific 

targets. Where there are opportunities to take appropriate and effective 

act ion for National priorities these should be taken. 

13 EYE Project – A 3-year project, run by Newcastle University, and managed by the Tyne & Wear 

Museums. www.eyeproject.org.uk 

14 http://www.durhambiodiversity.org.uk/ 

Page 48 4/15/2009

Biodiversity Action Plan Species and Habitats: 

In order to maintain and enhance biodiversity, it is important that the relevant 

species and habitat targets are adopted from the Local Biodiversity Action Plan 

(LBAP). 

PPS9 states that LDF’s should: ‘identify any areas or sites for the restoration 

or creation of new priority habitats 

which contribute to regional targets, and 

support 

this restoration or creation through appropriate policies.’ 

Published 

in 1999, the first Durham Biodiversity Action Plan (DBAP), "Action for 

Wildlife" 

included a number of action plans to conserve and enhance identified 

priority habitats and species. The Durham BAP was prepared by the Durham 

Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership (DBAPP) 

d individuals. A full list of the priority habitats, 

pecies and associated action plans are in Appendix 5. The DBAP 

15 . The revised Durham BAP was 

launched in July 2007. It sets the agenda for wildlife conservation across the 

County for all organisations an 

s will be 

periodically updated on their website. Protocols 

for data collation, validation and 

management for the Durham BAP are currently being established. The DBAP will 

focus their 

work between September 2007 and March 2008 on creating the basis 

of a biodiversity data service to local authority 

and other partners and consultants. 

Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS) is an information system that 

supports the planning, monitoring and reporting requirements of national, local and 

company BAPs. It enables progress being made with local and 

national BAPs and 

the status 

of BAP species and habitats to be monitored. 

The Regional Spatial Strategy contains 

a number of objectives related to 

conserving, enhancing and capitalising upon the region’s diverse natural and built 

environment, heritage and culture including the establishment of "Biodiversity 

Target Zones" and "Habitat Creation 

and Enhancement Areas". 

Regionally there is also the Biodiversity Audit of the North 

East and Biodiversity 

Indicators and Targets of the North East of England. 

As per above, data coverage for priority species and habitats is patchy across the 

County. There is a need to carry out further survey work in order to ensure that a 

more conclusive picture of the location of priority habitats and species is produced. 

This will ensure that more sustainable 

and informed planning decisions can be 

made. 

List of UKBAP and DBAP species 

and habitats in appendices. 

• Mapping sensitive bird areas and flight paths project 

Aim of the project was to define and map 

areas, and plot likely flight routes, 

of particular importance for feeding and breeding bird species in order to 

minimise the impact of developments that might arise as a result of Borough 

Council’s Local Development Framework. The project was initiated following 

consultation on Sedgefield Borough’s Core Strategy and Appropriate 

15 In addition to County Durham the Durham BAP also covers Darlington, Gateshead, South 

Tyneside and Sunderland. 

Page 49 4/15/2009 

Link with Strategic 

Renewable 

Energy Technical 

Paper (No.14)

Assessment. Comments were received from 

RSPB and Natural England. The 

RSPB’s comments 

highlighted a need to comply with paragraph 5 (ii) of PPS9: 

‘Biodiversity 

and Geological Conservation’ which states that Local Development 

Frameworks should: 

“ Identify any areas or sites for the restoration or creation of new priority habitats 

which contribute to regional targets, and support this restoration or creation 

through appropriate policies”. 

In addition, Natural England made comments in relation to energy policy in the 

LDF: 

“Natural England welcome the summary findings from the Assessment but are 

concerned that the mitigation proposed may not be achievable as ‘valuable bird 

sites’ and flight lines have not been identified. Flight lines for other species may 

also need to be considered”. 

The key tasks were: 

1. To define and map the locations of the Borough’s most important sites for 

bird species that are potentially vulnerable to wind turbine development, 

including those which were identified in the Appropriate Assessment; 

2. To identify the boundaries of the most important sites through appraisal of 

habitat in the vicinity of the most important locations; 

3. To provide bird species lists and brief assessments of condition for the 

most important locations; 

4. To map the likely principle flight corridors across the Borough of importance 

to birds potentially affected by wind turbine development, including species 

identified in the UK and Durham Biodiversity Action Plans and golden 

plover, peregrine, hen harrier and merlin; and, 

5. To present data in a single report. 

While the original project was due to the results of appropriate assessment carried 

out by Sedgefield Borough Council, this was extended to cover the whole county. 

However it should be noted that a detailed assessment was not undertaken for 

Chester-le-Street or Durham City. 

Page 50 4/15/2009

Page 51 4/15/2009

Page 52 4/15/2009

• 

MAGical Meadows 

MAGical Meadows is a Durham Wildlife Trust project undertaken on behalf 

of the 

Durham Biodiversity Partnership. The aim of the project is to conserve, connect 

and create magnesian limestone grassland in South Tyneside, Sunderland, 

Durham, Easington and Sedgefield. Together these areas form part of the Durham 

Magnesian Limestone Natural Area (DMLNA). 

Magnesian 

limestone grassland was once much more widespread but over the 

last 

sixty years the area of magnesian limestone grassland has sharply declined 

due to changes in agricultural policies 

and development pressures. Our remaining 

magnesian 

limestone grassland sites in the Durham Magnesian Limestone Natural 

Area are small and highly fragmented. The extent of habitat-loss of magnesian 

limestone grassland probably exceeds that of other lowland limestone 

grasslands 

in the UK. 

The total national resource of magnesian limestone grassland is limited 

to 279 

hectares in the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) series. Two-thirds 

of the 

national resource is found in east Durham and Tyne and Wear. 

The 

community unique to east Durham and Tyne and Wear, Blue moor-grass - 

Small scabious (Sesleria caerulea - Scabiosa columbaria), is possibly one of 

the 

rarest calcareous 

grasslands in the UK. A survey by English Nature in the 1990s 

suggested less than 65 hectares of this community remains. The MAGical 

Meadows project 

delivered through its partners a number of revenue and capital 

projects. These works were undertaken over a three year period (2004, 2005 & 

2006) with support from ALSF Partnership Grants Scheme through Defra's 

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF), County Durham Environmental Trust 

(CDENT), Lafarge Aggregates Ltd and Sherburn Stone Company Ltd. Two 

example projects that were funded include a roadside verge survey which 

incorporates the 

whole County, and a grassland inventory which included both 

Neutral and Calcareous grassland throughout the Borough of Sedgefield. So far 

177 road verges of conservation importance have been designated. A report and 

shapefile of grasslands surveyed in Sedgefield Borough has been produced. 

• 

Coalfields and Lowlands project 

Our agricultural lowlands were once 

full of wildflower-rich meadows and pastures, 

the 

result of centuries of established farming practice. Grazed heathland with 

boggy pools existed on the margins and supported a rich variety of animal and 

plant life. Various orchids were widespread, and Adder's tongue fern was common 

on unploughed pasture. Today, species-rich lowland meadow and pasture and 

lowland heath are an extremely rare and fragmented habitat. 

By 1984 we had lost 97% of this wildflower 

rich grassland, and losses continued in 

the 1990s, in many counties at rates up to 10% per annum. In Durham there is no 

comprehensive picture, but anecdotal evidence suggests those losses continue 

today. 

The Coalfields and Lowlands project involved partners in Gateshead, Darlington, 

Wear Valley, Derwentside, Sedgefield and the City of Durham, and was managed 

by the Durham Wildlife Trust. 

Page 53 4/15/2009

Initially funded for two years by Natural England's Countdown 2010 fund and 

SITA's Enriching Nature Fund, the project will save a number of currently 

neglected grassland and heathland sites by providing fencing and water to allow 

grazing, and will be starting to restore a number of other sites through reseeding 

and taking a hay crop. The project officer has also undertaken a number of 

surveys of important sites with nature conservation designations, and encouraged 

landowners to manage their sites better. 

• Durham hedgerow survey 

In 2006 the Durham Biodiversity Partnership carried out surveys of hedgerows in 

the 

Durham Area (incorporating Gateshead, South Tyneside, 

Sunderland, Darlington and County Durham). The aim of the survey was Link with 

Landscape 

to gather good quality information on the overall hedgerow resource, 


based on a measurement of its overall length and an estimate of its (No.23) 

condition. It was also designed to provide some comparison with 

previous surveys and a baseline against which progress can be 

measured in the future. The following was noted: 

• Since 1979 an estimated 21% of the hedgerow resource has been lost in 

Durham. 

• Only 17% of hedgerows are estimated to be in favourable condition 

(as defined 

by DEFRA). 

• The majority of hedgerows are in unfavorable condition primarily because they 

are gappy or because the canopy height at the base is too high (i.e. they are 

'leggy'). This can be due to lack of management or sometimes too severe and 

frequent cutting. 

• Neglect is the biggest threat to our hedgerows, 62% of which are estimated to be 

unmanaged. 

• We will need to recruit approximately 580 'isolated' trees into hedgerows every 

year to ensure 

that we retain the current number of isolated trees in hedgerows 

across Durham. This will involve new planting, but also tagging and retention of 

existing saplings in hedgerows. 

Environmentally Sensitive Areas 

A number of areas within the west of the County have previously been designated 

as part of the Pennine Dales 

Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA). The ESA 

scheme, administered by DEFRA/RDS and latterly Natural England offered 

incentives to farmers to adopt agricultural practices which will safeguard and 

enhance the rural environment and create improvements in public access as part 

of the Rural Development Programme. 

The Pennine Dales ESA, designated 

in 1987, extends over 46,563 hectares in 

total and lies in the mid and north Pennines, covering several of the upper Durham 

dales including Weardale, Teesdale, Baldersdale and Lunedale. The Pennine 

Dales ESA has a predominantly upland pastoral character. Although each dale 

has its own landscape character, there is a strong unifying pattern of enclosure 

created by the traditional drystone walls and numerous stone built field barns. The 

Pennine Dales ESA contains the greatest concentration of traditionally managed 

Page 54 4/15/2009

meadows and pastures in England, which contain a wide diversity of flora and 

provide an important habitat for ground-nesting birds. Nine percent of the ESA is 

designated mainly for its botanical interest. A number of species are restricted in 

their national distribution to the limestone pastures of the Pennines. Rare arctic 

alpine communities occur within the ESA, particularly in and around 

Teesdale. 

Additional 

botanical interest is found in some habitats of small extent, such as 

those associated with lead spoil and ancient 

ash woodland. The rough grazing 

land on the dale sides is also an internationally 

important breeding habitat for birds 

such as curlew, redshank, lapwing, oystercatcher, 

snipe and black grouse. The 

Pennine Dales ESA scheme is now closed to new applications. Ongoing 

environmental 

management within the ESA and across County Durham is now 

delivered through Environmental Stewardship (ELS and HLS). 

Woodlands & Forestry 

The Durham Wildlife Audit (1995) indicates that woodland cover in County 

Durham is low, around 6%, compared to the national average of 9%, the average 

for England of 7.5% and the average for the Region of 12%. The bulk of 

woodland in the County is plantation woodland; 43% is composed of 

purely coniferous species while broadleaved and mixed plantation 

covers a further 26%. Broadleaved semi-natural woodland, which 

includes both ancient and secondary semi-natural woodland, accounts 

for 19% of the woodland resource. Ancient semi-natural woodland 

occupies around 1.3% of the County by area. 

The majority of woodlands in the County are plantations, established for timber 

production, landscape, amenity, shelter and game purposes. Around a third of the 

County’s woodlands are in public ownership, with the Forestry Commission 

owning the greater part of this. The County Council owns and manages around 

1,000 hectares of woodland, much on reclaimed former colliery land. These 

woodland sites are home to a diverse collection of flora and fauna, and provide 

food and nest sites for a host of bird species including sparrowhawks and 

flycatchers. 

Page 55 4/15/2009 

Link with 

Landscape 


(No.23) 

The North East Region contains 10% of the woodland area in England and 

accounting for over 20% of its timber production. It also has a significant wood 

processing capability, containing two of the UK’s major wood panel manufacturers, 

one of which is located in County Durham. 

• Ancient Woodland 

County Durham contains many small areas of ancient woodland, i.e. land believed 

to have had a continuous cover of native trees since at least 1600 AD. These 

areas are of the greatest nature conservation significance. They are usually 

extremely biodiverse and support species with special habitat requirements and 

poor powers of dispersal. 

The 1987 Nature Conservancy Council (now Natural England) inventory indicated 

that ancient woodland is scarce in County Durham with only 40.46 km 2 . The 

Durham Wildlife Audit (1995) indicated that there has been a 25% loss of 

Durham’s ancient woodland since the 1920’s, either by direct felling or replanting.

Most areas of ancient woodland in the County are relatively small and are largely 

confined to the steep-sided valleys of the rivers Tees, Wear and Derwent and their 

tributaries and to coastal denes and steep escarpment slopes on the limestones in 

the east. Figure 13.1 identifies areas of ancient woodland in County Durham 

based on Natural England’s inventory of Ancient Woodland. 

Page 56 4/15/2009

Ancient woodland sites 

Page 57 4/15/2009

• Woodland Strategy 

The 

first Regional Forestry Strategy (RFS) for the North East of England, Trees, 

Woodlands and People was published in 2005. Delivery plans for the strategy are 

produced annually. The County Durham Landscape Strategy (2008) contains 

strategic objectives for woodlands and forestry in the county together with a spatial 

strategy for new woodland planting. The strategy identifies priority areas for 

new 

native woodlands, riparian woodlands, community woodlands, and landscape 

improvement through woodland planting. 

• Great North Forest 

he Great North Forest covers an area of approximately 250 km 2 T 

of urban fringe 

countryside across south Tyne & Wear and North East Durham. It was one of 

twelve Community Forests established across England and is a long-term initiative 

working to improve this area by creating a well-wooded, attractive and accessible 

landscape for living, working and recreation. Its principal aim was to raise 

woodland cover from around 8% to 30% over the next 30 to 40 years. With a 

varied 

landscape stretching from the western hills to the coast, the Forest area 

encompasses areas of high urban density, with over 1 million people 

living within 

10 km of the Forest boundary. 

The Great North Forest was established in 1990 and was a partnership of six local 

authorities: South Tyneside Borough Council, Gateshead 

Borough Council, 

Sunderland 

Borough Council, Durham County Council, Derwentside District 

Council and Chester-le-Street District Council, together with 

the Forestry 

Commission 

and the Countryside Agency. The Great North Forest Team 

cooperated with many other agencies and organisations from the public, private 

and community sectors to deliver the objectives of the Great North Forest Plan. 

This 

document is a non-statutory plan which sets out a broad long-term vision for 

the 

landscapes of the Forest. Local Management Zone Strategies provide more 

detailed interpretation of the Plan at a local level. 

In December 2008 it was announced that the North East Community Forest 

(NECF) went into administration. Originally the organisation turned to Groundwork 

West Durham & Darlington for help, but due to the extreme financial complications 

the administrators were called in. A number of the projects were on local authority 

land, which are now being maintained by Council’s, 

while it is hoped that other 

bodies 

like Groundwork, the Woodland Trust and Wildlife Trusts may be able to 

take 

on the other sites. 

Page 58 4/15/2009

NATURAL SYSTEMS: 

Northumbria 

River Basin District Management Plan 

The management plan focuses on achieving the protection, improvement and 

sustainable use of the water environment – including surface 

freshwaters (lakes, streams and rivers), ground water and ecosystem Link with 

Water 

Technical 

Paper 

thriving plants and animals. It is prepared under the Water Framework 

(No.10), 

and Open 

Directive, which requires all counties throughout the European Union to Space, 

manage the water environment to consistently high standards. River Recreation, 

basin management plans also fall within the scope of the Habitats Leisure 

and Play 

Directive. This means that each draft management plan has been Technical 

Paper 

(No.5), 

and 

produced by the Environment Agency, and is at the time of writing, out to 

Contamination 

consultation 

until June 2009. 

and Pollution 


The Northumbria River Basin District covers an area of 9029 square (No.12) 

kilometres, 

from the Scottish Border to just south of Guisborough, and 

from the Pennines, east to the North 

Sea. It includes County Durham, 

Northumberland, 

small areas of North Yorkshire and Cumbria. The environmental 

outcomes to be achieved as a result of the plan include: 

• Lowering the impact of transport and the built environment; 

• Sustainable amounts of water to support social and environmental needs; 

• Improved and protected wildlife habitats by reducing the impact of physical 

modification and invasive non-native species; 

• Improved water environment through better rural land management; and 

• Reduced impact of localised sources of pollution. 

The main rivers within the county covered by this management plan 

include the 

River Wear and its tributaries, and parts and the River Tees. 

River Wear – current situation: 

Fish populations of the River Wear and its tributaries are generally of high quality. 

Salmon and trout are distributed throughout the catchment and dominate in the 

upper reaches, whilst coarse fish are found in the lower and middle reaches. 

Currently 11% of surface water bodies in this catchment are achieving either good 

status or good potential. The Environment Agency proposes that by 2015, 22% 

compliance will be achieved, and this will have improved to 78% by 2027. To date 

10% of water bodies have not been assessed. 

River Tees – current situation: 

High quality and nationally renowned coarse fishery with a wide diversity of fish 

species present including Pike, Bream, Roach and Chub in its lower reaches. 

Its 

middle and upper reaches support stocks 

of Grayling and Wild Brown trout. 

Salmon 

and Sea trout are now returning to the River Tees and although their 

numbers are currently low both species are increasing. Currently 27% of surface 

water bodies in this catchment are achieving either good status or good potential. 

The Environment Agency proposes that by 2015, 31% compliance will be 

Page 59 4/15/2009

achieved, and this will have improved by 68% by 2027. To date 24% of water 

bodies have not been assessed. 

Ground water – current situation: 

The Magnesian Limestone groundwater body to the east of the basin district has 

issues with respect to both quality and quantity. The particular issues are nitrates, 

mine water pollution in the Chilton and Mainsforth area, and potential abstraction 

pressures throughout the area. Magnesian Limestone is a principle aquifer and 

provides potable water which is abstracted by Northumbrian Water Ltd and 

Hartlepool Water. 

This aquifer is the sole supply of potable water for Hartlepool 

and 

it is critical that the resource is managed maintaining the balance between 

abstractors 

and the environment. Currently this groundwater body is at a poor 

status and at risk for quantitative purposes. 

Shoreline 

Management Plans 

North East Coastal Authorities Group: 

A shoreline management plan promotes management 

policies for a coastline into 

nd 

the 22 century that achieves long-term objectives without committing 

to 

unsustainable defence. It provides a large-scale 

assessment of the risks 

associated with coastal evolution and presents a policy 

framework to address 

the 

se risks to people and the developed, historic and natural environment in a 

sustainable manner. It is a non-statutory, policy document for coastal defence 

management planning. It takes account of other existing planning initiatives 

and 

legislative 

requirements, and is intended to inform wide strategic planning. 

The North East Coastal Authorities Group 

consists of the following: 

Scarborough 

Borough Council (Lead Authority); 

Redcar and Cleveland Borough 

Council; South Tyneside Municipal Borough Council; East Riding of Yorkshire 

Council; Easington District Council; Hartlepool Borough Council; City of 

Sunderland; Natural England; Environment Agency; Defra; North York Moors 

National 

Park; National Trust; Local Government Association and Royal 

Haskoning. 

A substantial proportion of the coast is covered by internationally important 

designated areas of natural heritage. There are 4 SAC’s, including much 

of the 

Durham coastline, Beast Cliff south of Whitby, and Flamborough Head. There are 

a further 3 SPA’s, 

with the Northumbria Coast SPA covering intermittently the 

discrete section of rocky shore from the Tyne 

to the Tees, the Teesmouth and 

Cleveland Coast SPA and the Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs SPA. In 

addition certain areas are designated as RAMSAR sites. These sites are part of 

a 

matrix 

of national, regional and local sites (SSSI’s, NNR’s, LWS, and RIGS), 

forming a near continous definition of value over the whole SMP frontage. 

These 

are supported by more general designations of Heritage Coast, the 

National 

Park and wildlife corridors. 

The 

management plan divides up the coastal area into Policy Development 

Zones, 

which are then lumped together into Management Areas. The Policy 

Development 

Zone (PDZ) for the County Durham coast is PDZ4. PDZ’s are a 

convenient 

mechanism for ensuring that policy is developed over appropriate 

Page 60 4/15/2009

lengths of the coast to ensure interactions are taken into account. Policy units are 

then 

sections of the coast for which a specific defence management policy (No 

active intervention, Hold the line, Retreat or Advance) is defined. 

PDZ4 extends some 17.5km from Chourdon Point south to the Hartlepool 

Headland. The northern section of the zone has been heavily modified by the 

substantial quantities of colliery waste deposited during the last century. 

Considerable effort has been made to restore the natural coastline, although 

Key objectives identified for this zone are: 

• To maintain and protect residential assets of the Headland; 

• To minimise contamination; and 

• Maintain 

the nationally important railway line. 

Page 61 4/15/2009 

over 

much of this section there remains significant deposits of waste material. Several 

biodiversity opportunities have been defined for this zone in the management plan. 

These include: 

• Creation of inter-tidal habitat at Horden and Blackhall, although this really 

relates to allowing natural development of the dunes; 

• The potential use of dredged material to enhance the formation of offshore 

sand banks at Hart Warren Dunes, although the issues of possible 

contamination have to be addressed; 

• The creation of additional bird roosting and foraging sites associated with 

the hard defences at the Headland. 

The Shoreline Management Plan 2 (SMP2) for the North East Coast was 

produced in 2006, and has recently been adopted. 

Catchment Flood Management Plans 

These plans aim to understand the factors that contribute to flood risk within a 

catchment both now and in the future; and recommend the best ways of managing 

the risk of flooding within the catchment over the next 50-100 years. 

Link with 

Water 

CFMPs are a means to decrease the flood risk while ensuring with the Technical 

Paper 

help of Strategic Environmental Assessments, that recommended 

(No.10) 

policies do not have a negative impact on the environment and are 

sustainable. 

The strategy aims to reduce flood risks by: 

• Encouraging the provision of adequate and cost effective flood warning 

systems; 

• Encouraging the provision of adequate technically, environmentally and 

economically sound and sustainable flood defence measures; and 

• Discouraging inappropriate development in areas at risk from flooding. 

(EA has completed consultation, and we are now awaiting the final version)

3.2 EVIDENCE BASE SUMMARY – Gaps and Issues 

A key national target within DEFRA’s National Public Service Agreement is for 

95% of all SSSI’s to be brought into favourable condition by 2010. At present 79% 

of County Durham’s SSSI’s were considered to be in favourable condition. The 

majority of reasons for sites classified in unfavourable or recovering condition is 

due to anti-social activity (arson), over-grazing and inappropriate management. 

Through better partnership work both with the local community (community 

involvement in management and enhancement of sites as well as work with local 

schools), and private landowners (advice/support) it is thought that this percentage 

could be raised significantly. 

It is also clear that there are significant issues with the amount as well as reliability 

of protected species and priority habitat and species data. As detailed in the 

paper, some work has gone into exploring various possible regional data centres 

for the North East. The sensitivity of the data, and local ownership of data has 

lead 

to complications as to where/who holds this information, and accessibility. In order 

to ensure the aims and objectives of PPS9, NERC as well as various other 

policies are realised, accurate, up-to-date wildlife data must be available to enable 

local authority decisions to be sustainable and informed. This includes decisions 

relating to grounds maintenance regimes, land allocation, potential project work 

and regeneration. Resources also need to be made available in order to carry out 

further survey work to address gaps in information with respect to species and 

habitats. 

The water framework directive (WFD) is a major opportunity to improve the whole 

water environment 

and promote the sustainable use of water for the benefit of 

people 

and wildlife. A key consideration is the use of mine-water control pumps. 

Any 

further changes to this regime may have direct implications to water quality 

and 

overall biodiversity. The objectives of the WFD must be taken into account 

when 

developing LDF plans. 

The 

county must continue to support the development and designation of new 

wildlife 

sites. Some research has gone in to ascertain the best places for wetland 

creation 

(North East England Wetland Feasibility Study, 2007), however more 

resources 

should be allocated to assess the best sites for wildlife site designation 

and/or 

habitat enhancement projects, and to identify sensitive areas which may 

not 

already be designated, in order to ensure that these sites are also protected 

and 

enhanced where appropriate. While designated wildlife sites are already 

protected 

by legislation and existing council policies, we now need to look beyond 

such 

sites, as protection of them in isolation will not be enough to conserve 

biodiversity 

in the long term. This also applies to sites of geological value. 

Mapping 

of wildlife corridors/green corridors is patchy across the County, with few 

districts 

having the time or resources. Some potential sites may have been thrown 

up 

through Open Space Needs Assessments that have been carried out, but with 

only 

two authorities having produced Greenspace Strategies, uniform and 

conclusive 

data is lacking. Natural England’s (EN’s) Habitat Networks, a study 

undertaken 

by Dr Rodger Catchpole, goes some way towards mapping habitats 

network 

at a strategic level. This study maps existing habitats - mostly from EN's 

Habitat 

Inventory but also LCM2000 and statutory sites data. The surrounding 

land 

use classes (from LCM2000) were then analysed in terms of their 

Page 62 4/15/2009

permeability to species associated with the broad habitat 

types. This gives an 

envelope 

within which movement of the associated species may still be possible 

given present land cover. It is therefore 

an expression of the current habitat 

network 

rather than the 'current extent of the habitat as a land use'. It shows 

existing functional connections between patches of the same habitat rather 

than mapping 'opportunities for defragmentation if landuse changed'. There are 

obvious limitations; however it provides a good baseline for the County. In order to 

ensure that this information is accurate and useable at a local level, it is 

recommended that further work be undertaken to ensure the mapping is accurate 

and 

appropriate at a local level, and that opportunities for creation of suitable 

habitat 

corridors should be included. 

Ancient woodland is unfortunately not a statutory designation - it does not give the 

wood legal protection. Fortunately this habitat type has received extra protection 

through PPS9, which requires planners to consider 

protection of ancient woods 

and 

veteran trees from further loss and damage, but also to seek ways of 

reversing fragmentation of habitats. The Durham Biodiversity Action Plan also lists 

ancient woodlands, veteran trees and native hedgerows 

as priority habitats. In 

order to ensure their identification and protection 

LPA’s, in the preparation of local 

development frameworks, should adopt a spatial 

planning approach to ensure 

opportunities for expanding and extending existing ancient and semi-natural 

habitats 

are not missed. Planning conditions should be used to ensure extension 

and buffering of ancient woods and wood pasture and parkland through habitat 

creation, and restoration of coniferised ancient woods and derelict wood pasture. 

They should also be used to encourage the best practice in tree management, 

along with careful 

supervision of significant trees by tree officers during and after 

construction. 

Page 63 4/15/2009

SECTION 4.0 - GOLDEN THREADS 

4.1 Sustainable Development 

A widely-used and accepted international definition of sustainable development 

is: 

'development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the 

abi lity of future generations to meet their own needs' - Globally we are not even 

meeting the needs of the present let alone considering the needs of future 

generations. 

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/sustainable/government/what/index.htm) 

The UK Government, Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government and the 

Northern Ireland Administration have agreed upon a set of 5 principles that 

provide a basis for sustainable development policy in the UK. For a policy to be 

sustainable, it must respect all five principles: 

• Living within environmental limits; 

• Ensuring a Strong, Healthy and Just society; 

• Achieving a Sustainable Economy; 

• Using Sound Science Responsibly; 

• Promoting Good Governance; 

The first principle deals with respecting the limits of the planet’s environment, 

resources and biodiversity – to improve our environment and ensure that the 

natural resources needed for life are unimpaired and remain so for future 

generations. 

Biodiversity is therefore a key factor for sustainable development. As human 

societies 

become more and more complex and technologically advanced, it is 

easy to gain the impression that we no longer depend on natural systems. A 

steadily increasing proportion of people live in cities, in environments dominated 

by human-built 

structures and machinery. Even in rural areas, conservation of 

natural 

species is often seen as a luxury that has little to do with the well-being of 

local 

people. (Living Beyond our Means: Natural Assets and Human Well-being; 

Statement of the Millennium 

Ecosystem Assessment Board) 

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD Rio de Janeiro, 1992) calls upon 

parties to conserve 

and sustainably use biological diversity while equitably sharing 

the benefits of the use of genetic resources. These goals are key elements of 

sustainable development. Essentially a healthy human environment depends 

entirely on biodiversity. The economic and social needs of human populations will 

continue to rely on ‘wild’ resources, which 

imply that these will have to be used in 

a sustainable way, avoiding any threats of extinction. 

Link with Open 

Space, 

Recreation, 

4.2 Regeneration 

Leisure and Play 


Time 

and again, perceptions of the value of a local area and confidence in (No.5), and 

its future have been enhanced because of the physical improvements to 

Settlements 

and 

Green 

Belt 

greenspaces. It has been an important factor in increasing confidence to Technical 

Paper 

stay in the area rather than to relocate elsewhere. By contrast, under- (No.6) 

investment over previous decades in parks and 

greenspace has deterred 

Page 64 4/15/2009

investment in the area. Essentially investing in greenspaces reverses this spiral of 

decline, enhancing the social, economic and environmental well-being of our 

communities. 

Various case studies detailed in ‘Does Money Grow in Trees?’ 

CABE Space (2005) has found that: 

• Development of an urban park induces new development and/or 

improvement of existing properties; 

• Lease/rental rates for units with 

a view of an urban park commend higher 

rates and in the 6 case studies examined, the rental premium ranged from 

10-40%; and 

• The introduction of a park into an urban setting can stimulate overall leasing 

activity. 

Indeed research by the Commission for Architecture & the Built Environment 

concludes that property values increase near green spaces, with houses close to 

parks averaging 8% higher prices than similar properties further away. 

A report by 

Natural 

Economy Northwest found that businesses located in greener settings 

attract and retain more motivated staff and that green spaces near work places 

lead to reduced sickness and increased 

productivity. (Biodiversity and the Built 

Environment, 

March 2009) 

It is therefore possible to see that greenspaces can add value to the surrounding 

properties, both commercial and residential, consequently increasing tax yield to 

m aintain public services; they can also contribute to attracting tourism to an area; 

encourage employment and inward investment to an area, and help to create a 

favourable image of a place. They also provide opportunities to create habitats 

for wildlife, increasing biodiversity, absorbing pollution in the air and in ground 

water, and slow storm water run-off reducing the need for drainage infrastructure. 

Parks and greenspaces define our communities; they enhance our quality of life 

and give local neighbourhoods the identity that helps engender a sense of 

belonging. 

4.2 Climate Change 

PPS12 

refers to the importance attached by the government to the implications of 

climate change: 

‘Climate change is a significant environmental threat, the effects of which will be 

increasingly 

felt in future years. The government attaches great importance to 

act ing on a precautionary basis to reduce the emissions that cause climate 

change 

and to prepare for its impacts.’ 

It a lso states that Local Planning Authorities should include a policy on: 

‘the w ay that the distribution of nationally or regionally significant species and 

habitats may alter with climate change, and the affects on biodiversity 

and 

nationally 

or internationally designates sites.’ 

Responding 

to Climate Change – all parts of the country will experience the 

affects of climate change. A recent report by the North East Assembly (And the 

weathe r today is…….) showed how the North East region could be affected by 

climate change. These affects could include: 

Page 65 4/15/2009

• Loss of important habitats particularly in the uplands 

and on the coast; 

• Changing agriculture and forestry practices and increased risk of soil erosion and 

forest 

fires; 

• Increased 

risk of flooding, erosion of river banks and construction and 

maintenance 

of sea defences; and 

• Disruption to transport networks through weather events. 

The low-lying nature of much of County Durham means that it could be particularly 

susceptible 

to the affects of climate change. Action taken now could help to 

ameliorate 

some of the affects, and the development of a green infrastructure 

strategy provides a significant opportunity to respond to and mitigate the potential 

impacts 

of climate change. Opportunities could include for example: 

• More trees and woodland, particularly in urban areas, to provide shade among 

developments 

and open spaces; 

• N ew water-bodies and areas to cope with increased storm-water run-off; and 

• Encouragement 

of the principles of sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) to 

ameliorate 

flood risk. 

Climate 

change has the potential to undermine efforts towards the conservation 

and sustainable use of biodiversity. Substantial cuts in CO2 are required 

to 

mitigate the longer-term threat to biodiversity. Protection of biodiversity can help 

to limit atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations because forests, peat lands, 

and other habitats store carbon. Policies will be required to help biodiversity 

adapt to changing temperature and water regimes. Care must also be taken to 

prevent, 

minimize and offset any potential damages to biodiversity arising from 

climat e change adaptation and mitigation measures. 

4.3 Emerging 

Issues 

It is therefore 

apparent that a number of issues and possibilities have come out of 

this 

paper, and which can and need to be addressed by the LDF. 

• Development should be designed so as to ensure that there is no net loss 

to biodiversity or geodiversity value, and should incorporate biodiversity 

enhancements into the design; 

• PPS9 states that LDF’s should indicate the location of designated sites of 

importance for biodiversity and geodiversity, making clear distinctions 

between the hierarchy of international, national, regional and locally 

designated sites. It is thought that other sites including Wildlife Trust and 

Woodland Trust land should also be included within this. The LDF should 

also identify any areas or sites for the restoration or creation of new priority 

habitats which contribute to regional targets, and support this restoration or 

creation through appropriate policies; 

Page 66 4/15/2009

• Planning authorities and development agencies must take account of WFD 

objectives when developing LDF plans; 

• Planning gain must be used effectively to achieve the aims of the GI 

strategy, this may involve the inclusion of green roofs and living walls into 

developments where the provision of terrestrial greenspace is not possible; 

• Planning guidance must be given to developers on how climate change 

adaptation should be built into new development through planting schemes, 

shading and cooling for buildings and outdoor spaces, green roofs, living 

walls, wild areas and phasing; 

• The East Durham Limestone Plateau and the West Durham Coalfields 

landscape character areas are most sensitive to loss of habitat due to a 

number of land-use pressures. It must be recognised that species and 

habitats of importance for biodiversity are found across the County, and are 

not necessarily located within designated sites. Development must always 

consider whether protected or priority species and habitats could be 

present on site, and hence affected by the proposed development; 

• Databases holding protected and priority species and habitat data is patchy 

across the County. Funding needs be made available to enable more 

conclusive 

and standardised means of data collection (surveys) and 

storage; 

• Woodland cover in the County is low, with semi-natural ancient woodland 

covering only 1.3% of the County surface area. The small areas of ancient 

woodland are of great nature conservation significance. They are extremely 

biodiverse and support a range of species with special habitat requirements 

and often poor powers of dispersal. These sites should be given strong 

protection from change of use, and polices should include buffering and 

enhancement (extension) of sites to ensure their sustainability; 

• The Northumbrian River Basin District Management Plan expressed 

concerns with respect to groundwater contamination and abstraction 

pressures with particular reference to the Chilton and Mainsforth 

Magnesian Limestone aquifer. This must be taken into consideration when 

developing LDF plans and policies; 

• PPS9 requires that planning authorities identify networks of semi-natural 

habitats and opportunities for their conservation and enhancement. Natural 

England has produced a habitats network database, however further work 

is required to refine the boundaries of those networks 

at a local level and to 

identify opportunities for habitat creation and restoration to improve the 

condition and connectivity of those important habitats at a landscape scale. 

Page 67 4/15/2009

SECTION 5.0 - CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS 

The main objective within the Core Strategy of the LDF will be to promote 

sustainable development. In order to achieve this, we must ensure that biological 

and geological diversity is conserved and enhanced. 

We need to ensure that 

decisions 

about development and use of land integrate biodiversity and 

geodiversity 

with other considerations. 

The 

diversity of County Durham’s wildlife and geology needs conserving, 

sustaining 

and where possible, improving the quality and extent of natural habitats 

and 

geological sites. To achieve a greater contribution to urban and rural 

regeneration 

by enhancing biodiversity in greenspaces, and by protecting wildlife 

corridors 

and public open space, so that they are used by wildlife and valued by 

residents 

and visitors. This recognises that healthy, functioning ecosystems can 

contribute 

to a better quality of life and a greater sense of well-being. It is 

paramount 

that development takes into account the role and value of biodiversity 

in supporting economic diversification, and contributes to high quality local 

environments, 

assisting in making County Durham an attractive and healthy place 

to live. 

Invasive, 

non-native species are one of the major factors causing biodiversity loss, 

as 

highlighted in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report ‘Ecosystem and 

Human 

Well-being: Biodiversity Synthesis.’ The report notes that invasive non- 

native 

species continue to be major drivers of change in biodiversity, and have 

been 

a major cause of extinctions. This is likely to be exacerbated by Climate 

Change, 

as our climate becomes more hospitable to species from warmer 

continents. 

To 

deal with the effects of climate change we must take measures to enable 

species 

to respond to climate change, by moving to more suitable habitats once 

their 

existing habitats lose their previous character (e.g. Changes in water levels). 


Durham must retain and develop further linked networks of open spaces 

and 

green corridors. The need is for a dynamic rather than a static concept of 

protection 

of designated sites with emphasis on the value of the wider landscape, 

including 

urban areas and opportunities for enhancement and creation of habitats 

through 

the spatial planning or the development process. 

Other 

changes such as population change and infrastructure development will 

also 

put pressure on biodiversity and geodiversity, resulting effects may include 

habitat 

loss and changes in species balance at sites. The network of parks, 

gardens, 

semi-natural greenspace, and brownfield sites also known as ‘green 

infrastructure’, 

is important for biodiversity. Through the South and East Durham 

Growth 

Point the production of a green infrastructure (GI) strategy for the 


has been put forward as a priority 1 project. This strategy will detail what 

greenspaces 

we have, what state they are in, the opportunities, gaps in 

information, 

threats and the way forward. This strategy will ensure that biodiversity 

and 

geodiversity interests are fed into the planning system at the earliest stage, 

helping 

to inform the least sensitive areas for the allocation of development land, 

and 

where there are opportunities for enhancement works to be programmed in. 

Planning 

gain, where received/lobbied, must be used effectively where feasible to 

develop 

green infrastructure such as wildlife corridors, wildlife areas, buffer zones, 

wetland 

restoration and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS). Planning 

Page 68 4/15/2009

guidance must be given to developers on how adaptation should be built into new 

development, 

through planning schemes, shading and cooling for buildings and 

outdoor spaces, green roofs, living walls, wild areas and phasing. We must start to 

think creatively about how greenspace can be incorporated 

into development to 

reach the aims and targets set by government. 

Page 69 4/15/2009

APPENDIX A 

DESIGNATIONS BY CHARACTER AREA 

Landscape Character Area: Designation: Name of site: 

Dales Fringe SSSI Brignall Banks Woods 

East Durham Limestone 

LWS Pecknell Wood 

Bluestone Grange Railway 

Cotherstone Railway 

Waskey Wood 

Lartington High Pond 

Deepdale Wood 

Waterman's Island 

Flatts Wood 

Thorsgill Wood 

Teesbank Woods, Rokeby 

Rokeby Park and Mortham 

Wood 

Low Wood House Marsh 

Plateau H eritage Coast 

SPA Northumbria Coast 

SAC Durham 

Coast 


NNR Castle Eden Dene 


Thrislington 

SSSI Durham Coast 

Stony Cut, Cold Hesledon 

Hawthorn Quarry 

Hesledon Moor East 

Hesledon Moor West 

Hawthorn Dene 

Pig Hill 

Dabble Bank 

Tuthill Quarry 

Pittington Hill 

Sherburn Hill 

Crime Rigg & Sherburn Hill 

Quarries 

Yoden Village Quarry 

Cassop Vale 

Town Kelloe Bank 

Raisby Hill Grassland 

Raisby Hill Quarry 

Charity Land 

Fishburn Grassland 

Thrislington Plantation 

The Carrs 

Middridge Quarry 

Page 70 4/15/2009

Hulam Fen 


LWS Sherburn Hill 

Elemore Woods 

Silent Bank (road verge) 

Shadforth Dene 

Quarrington Hill and Coxhoe 

Bank Plantation 

Oxclose 

Raisby Pond 

Coxhoe Ponds 

Ludworth Pit Heap 

Raisby Way 

Running Waters Quarry 

Hesledon Moor East 

Dalton Dene 

Duncome Moor 

South Hetton Pond 

Dawdon Dene 

Tuthill Quarry 

New Winning Pumping Station 

Pond 

Wellfield Brick Ponds 

Thornley Dene 

Heads Hope Dene 

Hazel Dene 

Hurworth Burn Reservoir 

Cold Hesledon Pond & 

Walkway 

Hawthorn Bridge Pumping 

Station 

Hesledon-Crimdon Dene 

Complex 

Seaham Dene 

Cowtons Pond 

Haswell-Hart Railway 

Loch Kenny Pond 

Edderacres 

Ryhope Dene 

Byrons Dene 

Pesspool Wood 

Warren House Gill 

Field House Gill 

Field House Farm 

South Murton Marsh 

Cold Hesledon Meadow 

Slingley Pond 

Murton Bridge Carr 

Coop House Wood 

Page 71 4/15/2009

North Pennines AONB Haswell Wood, Shotton 

Deaf Hill Marsh 

Castle Eden Pond 

Hulam Reed Swamp 

Carstead Wood West 

Hawthorn Quarry 

Hordon Dene 

Hesledon Moor West 

Murton Grassland 

Deaf Hill Pond 

Pesspool Lane Ponds 

Murton Meadows 

Ferryhill Cut 

Bishop Middleham Pond 

Merry Knowle Quarry 

Cleveland Gorse 

Eldon Grassland 

Garmondsway Moor Quarry 

Middlestone Fen 

Island farm 

North Close Marsh 

Rough Furze Quarry 

Mainsforth Pond (East) 

Garmondsway Triangle 

Eden Grange Pond 

Mainsforth Recreation 

Complex Pond 

Shildon Sidings 

Trimdon Grange Pit Heap 

Simpasture Junction 

Pittington Hill 

Trimdon Grange and Railway 

Ferryhill Stell and Grassland 

Kelloe Plantation 

Bishop Middleham Deer Park 

Lake 

Bishop Middleham Roadside 

Lake 

Greater Part is designated 

SAC Moorhouse & Upper Teesdale 

NNR Moorhouse & Upper Teesdale 

Derwent Gorge & 

Muggleswick Woods 

RIG Moking Hurth Cave 

Muggleswick, Stanhope 

& 

Edmundsbyers Commons 

& 

SSSI 

Blanchland Moors 

Hisehope Burn Valley 

Hexhamshire Moors 

Page 72 4/15/2009

Backstone Bank & Baal Hill 

Woods 

West Rigg Open Cutting 

Slit Woods 

Far High House Meadows 

Cornriggs Meadows 

Derwent Gorge 

& 

Horsleyhope Ravine 

Burnhope Burn 

Greenfoot Quarry 

West Newlandside Meadows 

Fairy Holes Cave 

Bollihope, Pikestone, 

Egglestone & Woodland Fells 

Low Redford Meadows 

Frog Wood Bog 

Teesdale Allotments 

Middle Side & Stonygill 

Meadows 

Middle Crossthwaite 


Upper Teesdale 

Lune Forest 

Rigg Farm & Stake Hill 

Meadows 

West Park Meadows 

Botany Hill 

Mere Beck Meadows 

Hannah's Meadows 

Shipley & Great Woods 

Baldersdale Woodlands 

Cotherstone Moor 

Hunder Beck Juniper 

Bowes Moor 

God's Bridge 

Kilmond Scar 

Brignall Banks 

LGS Derwent River Gorge 

Stanhope Burn 

Boltshope Mine and 

Rookhope Borehole 

Chestergarth Quarry, 

Rookhope 

Noah's Ark Quarry 

Groverake Mine 

Middlehope Burn 

Sedling Burn, Cowshill 

Greenfield Quarry 

Copthill Quarry, Killhope Burn 

& Wear River 

Page 73 4/15/2009

Killhope Wheel Leadmining 

Centre 

Greenlaws Mine 

St John's Chapel Drumlins 

Harthope Head Quarries 

Cement Works Quarry, 

Eastgate 

Bollihope and Snowhope 

Carrs 

Roundhill Quarry Stanhope 

Harehope Quarry 

Fine Burn, Bollihope 

Sharnberry Meltwater Channel 

Cow Green Mine 

Widdybank Fell 

Pencil Mill 

Dirt Pit Mine 

Scoberry Bridge to Dine 

Holme Scar 

Bowlees Beck 

Stable Edge Quarry 

Coldberry Gutter 

Greenhurth Mine 

Closehouse Mine 

Hunter's Vein 

Greengates Quarry 

Teesdale Drumlins 

Folly House Glacial Drainage 

Channels 

Knotts Hole 

Spurlswood Beck and 

Quaterburn 

LWS Burnhope Burn Wood 

Muggleswick Marsh 

Hisehope Burn Wood 

Horsleyhope Mill Meadow 

Nanny Mayers Railway 

Whitehall Moss 

Middles West 

Horselyhope Haugh 

Burnhill Junction & Longburn 

Ford 

Blackdene Mine Railway 

Bridge End Railway, 

St John's 

Chapel 

Meadow, West Green Head 

Sedling Plain Meadow 

Derwent Reservoir 

Killhope Wheel 

Wiserley Hall 

Page 74 4/15/2009

Wolsingham River Gravels 

Willow Green Gill Wood 

Ireshope Beck Wood 

Thornhope Beck Wood 

Swinhope Moor 

Fendrith Hill 

Tunstall Reservoir 

Baal Hill Wood 

Stanhope Dene 

Horsley Burn Wood 

Shittlehope Burn Wood 

Parson Byers Quarry 

Puddingthorn Quarries 

Rushy Lea 

Lands Farm Wall 

Ruffside Pasture 

Scutter Hill Quarry 

Pow Hill Heath 

Greenfoot Quarry 

Wolsingham North Moor 

Newhouse to Middlehope 

Road Verge 

Low Houses, Tees Bank 

Crook Pool, Tees Bank 

South Bank of Tees 

Bowlees Pasture 

Stoneygill Meadow 

Brockers Gill Wood (Reveling 

Gill) 

Great Eggleshope Beck 

Hud Scar/Hope Scar 

Bell Edge Wood 

High Plantation 

Grassholme Reservoir 

Backton Reservoir 

How Gill 

Cote House Wood & Marsh 

Red Carr Bank 

Egglesburn Shingle Bank 

Croft Yoke Scar Wood 

Hole Beck Quarry 

Pallet Crag 

Hamsterley Forest 

Mickleton Pond 

Redforth Meadows 

Garden House Plantation 

Sunderland Cleugh 

Pedams Oak 

Nookton Wood 

Page 75 4/15/2009

Tees Lowlands SSSI Ambling Gate Bank 

Harehope Burn Wood 

Beldon Burn 

Burnhope Burn Juniper Site 

Pow Hill Meadow 

Lead Spoil 

Brockers Gill Meadow 

Knitsley Fell and Quarry 

West Brockers Gill Meadow 

Bolt's Burn, Ramshaw 

Harehope Quarry 

Cliff Sike 

Pike Whin Bog 

Railway Stel West 

LNR Byerley Park LNR 

The Moor LNR 

Castle Eden Walkway 

LWS Hurworth Burn Reservoir 

Wear Lowlands SSSI 

Wycliffe Wood 

Teesbank Woods, Winston 

Bowser's Island 

Whorlton Banks 

Gainford Spa Wood 

Teesbank Woods, Rokeby 

Rokeby Park and Mortham 

Wood 

Road Verge 

Paddock Plantation Pond 

Hardwick Hall 

Tillery Ponds 

Cumby Pond 

Aycliffe Quarry 

Mill House Pond 

New Homer Carr Plantation 

Crookfoot Reservoir 

Carr Wood, New Lake and 

Tank Stell 

Isand Farm Railway 

Mill Wood 

The Snipe 

Aycliffe Nature Park 

Whin Houses Heath 

Cow Plantation 

A1 Flashes 

School Aycliffe Wetland 

Waldridge Fell 

Brasside Pond 

Butterby Oxbow 

LNR 

Daisy Hill LNR 

Page 76 4/15/2009

Cong Burn Wood 

Low Newton Junction 

Cow Plantation LNR 

Pity Me Carrs 

Sacriston Wood 

LGS Sacriston Subglacial 

Channels 

Wear River Gorge at Durham 

LWS 

City 

Team Woodlands 

Walter's Wood, Ouston 

Forgebank Woods 

Pelaw Hill Railway 

Whitehill Hall Woods 


Chester Dene 

Hermitage Woods 

Brough's Gill Woods 

Lumley Woods 

Howlmire Gill 

Morton Wood 

Finchale Priory Woods 

Redhouse Wood and Former 

Munitions Store 

North Brasside Claypit 

Rainton Park Wood 

Moorhouse Wood 

Frankland and Kepier Woods 

The Scroggs 

Hopper's Wood 

Flass Vale 

The Scrambles 

Coldford Beck Marsh 

Sherburn Hospital 

Pelaw Wood 

Houghall, Maiden Castle & 

Little Woods 

Baxter Wood 

Lowe's Barn 

Saltwell Gill Wood 

North Wood 

Shincliffe Wood 

Shincliffe Pit Heap 

Coxhoe Ponds 

Tursdale West Ponds 

Rosa Shaftoe Woodland 

Whitworth Park Grassland 

(now translocated) 

Page Bank Pond 

Cobey's Carr 

Page 77 4/15/2009

West Durham Coalfield AONB 

Willington South Dene 

Small section 

on western 

fringe 

SSSI Greencroft and Langley 

Moor 

Causey Bank Mires 

Witton-le-Wear 

LNR Tanfield Lea Marsh 

Greencroft Heath 


LGS Sacriston Subglacial 

Channels 

Causey Burn 

Craghead Crags, Lintzford 

Derwent River Gorge 

Binchester Crags 

Gaunless River, East Bank 

Knotty Hills & Hoppyland 

Kames 

LWS Pontburn Wood 

Causey Burn Wood 

West Wood 

Sodfine & Howden Woods 

Knitsley & High House Woods 

Butsfield and Quick Burn 

Black Plantation 

Pan Burn Woods 

Upper Deerness Valley 

Burnhope Pond 

Whiteside Burn Wood 

Pontop Fell 

Burnhopefield Meadow 

Greenwell Ford Meadow 

Hedleyhope Fell 

Leapmill Burn Meadow 

Stuartfield Moor 

Ragpath Heath 

South Stanley Wood 

Westlaw Wood and Spa Well 

Paddock 

Hellhole Wood 

Loves Wood & Malton Nature 

Reserve 

Hedley Colliery Wood 

Beckley Wood 

Broomhill Dene 

Tanfield Lea Marsh 

Briardene Meadow 

Morrow Edge Heath & 

Page 78 4/15/2009

Quaking Houses Fell 

Kyo Bogs 

Stony Heap/Batling Lime Kilns 

Ewehurst Wood 

Harperley & Pea Woods 

Harelaw Heath 

Barn Hill Heath 

Delight Bank 

Grove Ponds and Meadow, 

Consett 

Harelaw Cemetery Heath 

Brooms Pond 

Greencroft 

Hurbuck Triangle 

Ousterley Wood 

Priestfield Wood 


East Farm Pond 


Forgebank Woods 

Twizell Wood 

Pockerley Hill Wood 

Stanley Moss 

Houselop Beck Wood 

River Wear, Harperley 

Fyland's River Gaunless 

Mc Neil Bottoms 

Witton Bottoms Woodland 

Witton Park Wetland 

Stanley Beck Meadows 

Escomb Pastures 

Bellburn Wood 

Coal Road 

Bellburn Swamp 

Willington North Dene 

Brack's Wood 

Escomb Lake 

Escomb Wood 

Red Burn Tributaries 

Bearpark Bog 

Deerness Valley 

Stockley Beck Meadow 

Lower Browney Valley 

Langley Park Heath 

Gordon House Meadow 

Brusselton Wood 

Hindon Beck & Cowclose 

Wood 

North Carr Wood 

Page 79 4/15/2009

Bedburn Beck and Adder 

Wood 

Crakehill Bank 

Lower Linburn Valley 

Cragg Wood, Evenwood 

Gordon Beck 

Eldon Lane Heath 

Brusselton Reservoir Pond 

Page 80 4/15/2009

APPENDIX B 

European Sites - SPAs 

and SACs 

This appendix provides information on the Special Areas of Conservation and 

Special Protection Areas 

that occur in County Durham. Collectively, these sites 

form part of the Natura 2000 network of sites. 

Special Areas for Conservation: 

Name Area (Ha) Habitat and/or species type(s) that are the primary reason for 

selection of this site 

Castle 

Eden 

Dene 


Coast 

Moor 

House - 

Upper 

Teesdal 

e 

194.4 

Taxus baccatawoods of the British Isles** 

Castle Eden Dene in north-east England represents the most 

extensive northerly native occurrence of yew Taxus baccata 

woods in the UK. Extensive yew groves are found in association 

with ash-elm Fraxinus-Ulmus woodland and it is the only site 

selected for yew woodland on magnesian limestone in north-east 

England. 

393.63 Vegetated sea cliffs of the Altantic and Baltic coasts 

The Durham Coast is the only example of vegetated sea cliffs on 

Magnesian Limestone exposures in the UK. These cliffs extend 

along the North Sea coast for over 20 km from South Shields 

southwards to Blackhall Rocks. Their vegetation is unique in the 

British Isles and consists of a complex mosaic of paramaritime, 

mesotrophic and calcicolous grasslands, tall-herb fen, seepage 

flushes 

and wind-pruned scrub. Within these habitats rare species 

of contrasting phytogeographic distributions often grow together 

forming unusual and species-rich communities of high scientific 

interest. The communities present on the sea cliffs are largely 

maintained by natural processes including exposure to sea spray, 

erosion and slippage of the soft Magnesian Limestone bedrock 

and overlying glacial drifts, as well as localised flushing by 

calcareous water. 

38,795.99 

(covers both 


Durham and 

Cumbria) 

Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of 

Chara spp. 

This site includes a single small hard oligo-mesotrophic 

waterbody, 

Tarn Dub, an upland pool which is impermanent in 

nature and situated on the slopes of Cronkley 

Fell. A species-poor 

flora includes stoneworts Chara spp. in the deeper parts, as well 

as shoreweed Littorella uniflora, the aquatic moss Fontinalis 

antipyretica and tubular water-dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa. 

Alpine and Boreal heaths 

Moor 

House – Upper Teesdale has the most extensive area of 

Alpine and Boreal heaths south of Scotland and is the best 

southern outlier. The main sub-type is H19 Vaccinium 

myrtillus – 

Cladonia arbuscula heath, which occurs on an extensive plateau. 

Characteristically (as in the Scottish Highlands) there is an 

abundance of lichens, especially Cladonia species, but on this site 

there is also an unusual abundance of large clumps of the 

montane lichen Cetraria islandica. At the edge of the plateau 

Vaccinium – Cladonia heath gives way below to a wind-clipped 

Page 81 4/15/2009

form of H12 Calluna vulgaris – Vaccinium myrtillus heath. which 

grades into taller heaths of the same community lower down the 

slopes. These represent alpine to boreal transitions which, in the 

more severe climate of the Highlands, would be represented 

by 

lichen- or bryophyte-rich prostrate Calluna heaths. Similarly, on 

one level summit at an altitude of 

600 m, wind-clipped heather of 

a short but upright growth form occurs among a profusion of 

lichens, especially Cladonia species. This constitutes an unusual 

alpine/subalpine form of Calluna 

– Vaccinium heath that is very 

local in England. 

Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous 

grasslands 

This site represents Juniperus communis formations on a more 

acidic substrate in north-east England. It has the second most 

extensive area of juniper scrub in UK and the largest south of 

Scotland. 

The main area of juniper scrub grows on the igneous 

whin-sill, at moderately high altitude. In Upper Teesdale the 

juniper has developed mainly on 

heath and is of the 

W19 Juniperus communis – Oxalis acetosella type. There are 

transitions to dwarf-shrub heath, acidic grasslands and whin-sill 

cliffs. Small patches of juniper scrub also occur on calcareous 

soils, including the sugar limestone grassland for which this site is 

famous. Palaeo-environmental evidence indicates that juniper 

scrub has been present continuously since the last glacial period. 

Calaminarian grasslands of the Violetalia calaminariae 

This site contains an example of Calaminarian grassland on 

lead-mine spoil associated with the Carboniferous limestone at 

high altitude in the Pennines of northern England. Much of the 

spoil is unvegetated and has a variety of particle sizes ranging 

from coarse rubble to fine sediment, and several steep, unstable 

slopes. The metallophytes 

spring sandwort Minuartia verna, alpine 

penny-cress 

Thlaspi caerulescens and Pyrenean scurvygrass 

Cochlearia pyrenaica occur 

along with lichens such as Cladonia 

rangiformis, C. chlorophaea and Coelocaulon aculeatum. 

Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands 

The summit of Cross Fell has the best-developed and most 

extensive area of Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands in 

England. The U10 Carex bigelowii – Racomitrium lanuginosum 

moss-heath that covers the summit cap has a high cover of woolly 

fringe-moss Racomitrium lanuginosum. 

Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland 

facies: on 

calcareous 

substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) 

Extensive stands of CG9 Sesleria albicans – Galium sterneri 

grassland occur at this site in northern England. It is an important 

variant of this community since it contains a rich assemblage of 

relict arctic-alpine species, such as spring gentian Gentiana verna 

and alpine forget-me-not Myosotis alpestris, making Moor House 

– Upper Teesdale one of the most important arctic-alpine refugia 

Page 82 4/15/2009

in the UK. The grasslands are for the most part heavily grazed but 

show transitions to a wide range of other vegetation types, 

including 7130 Blanket bogs, acid grassland, 7230 Alkaline 

fens, 6520 Mountain hay meadows, 8240 Limestone 

pavements, cliffs and 8120 calcareous and calcshist screes 

of 

the montane to alpine levels. 

Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden 

soils 

(Molinion caeruleae) 

This is one of three sites representing M26 Molinia caerulea – 

Crepis paludosa mire in northern England. Although less 

extensive and more fragmentary than at Craven Limestone 

Complex, stands occur in a wider range of ecological contexts, 

including examples within 6520 Mountain hay meadows (which 

are not found in other sites), as well as examples in lightly grazed 

pasture, on wet margins of woodland and on stream banks. 

Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of 

the montane to alpine levels 

Moor House – Upper Teesdale comprises an area of mixed 

geology made up of carboniferous sandstones, mudstone and 

limestones. The combination 

of acidic and base-rich soil has given 

rise 

to an important range of vegetation types that has also been 

influenced by climatic 

conditions on this, the highest part of the 

Pennines. Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities occur on 

wet ledges in base-rich rocks, which are inaccessible to grazing 

livestock. One of the most extensive stands is on a tributary of 

Little Gill, and examples also occur at Lady Gill, Greencastle, High 

Cup Nick and Mickle Fell. Typical species that occur in these 

localities include great wood-rush Luzula sylvatica, wood crane’sbill 

Geranium sylvaticum, water avens Geum rivale, lady’s-mantle 

Alchemilla glabra, wild angelica Angelica sylvestris and roseroot 

Sedum rosea. 

Mountain hay meadows 

Upper Teesdale contains actively-managed Mountain hay 

meadows 

at their highest altitude in the UK. Though representing 

a smaller proportion of the national resource than the North 

Pennine Dales Meadows, the meadows of this site have been 

managed at an extremely low level of agricultural intensification 

and show good conservation of habitat structure and function. 

There are important populations of an extensive suite of hay 

meadows species, including several rare species of lady’s-mantle 

(Alchemilla acutiloba, A. monticola and A. subcrenata) and 

abundant globeflower Trollius europaeus 

Blanket bogs** 

This site in the northern Pennines represents Blanket bogs in the 

north of England. The site includes the least damaged and most 

extensive tracts of typical M19 Calluna vulgaris – Eriophorum 

vaginatum blanket mire in England and shows this community 

type 

up to its highest altitude in England. This large expanse of 

Page 83 4/15/2009

peat displays the full range of features typical of the Pennines, 

with extensive erosion, mainly on higher areas, interspersed 

with 

large swathes of bog dominated by heather Calluna vulgaris or 

cottongrasses Eriophorum spp. A few areas display small-scale 

surface patterning, with distinct Sphagnum hollows and 

intervening ridges. Some parts of the site show characteristics of 

the western-type Scottish Blanket bogs, whereas the lichen-rich 

areas are a feature of bogs in Fennoscandia. 

Petrifying springs with tufa 

formation (Cratoneurion)** 

This 

is one of three sites in northern England that have extensive 

series of petrifying springs with tufa formation. At this site 

Carboniferous limestones are thinly-bedded 

amidst shales, 

sandstones and slates. Tufa springs often occur at the junction 

between limestone and these other, less permeable, rocks at a 

range of altitudes. Tufa springs are associated with calcareous 

glacial drift and can be found in calcareous grasslands, in fen 

systems of grazed pastures, associated with limestone scar cliffs 

and screes and amidst acid heathland and grassland. The flora 

is 

exceptionally rich and includes rare northern species such as 

bird’s-eye primrose Primula farinosa and Scottish asphodel 

Tofieldia pusilla. 

Alkaline 

fens 

This is one of two upland sites in northern England selected for 

Alkaline fens. Spring-fed flush fens of NVC type M10 Carex 

dioica – Pinguicula vulgaris mire are widespread on the moors 

amidst calcareous grassland, limestone scars, heath and bog, in 

enclosed pastures amidst a range of acid and calcareous 

grasslands and in meadows, often as part of complex vegetation 

mosaics. The site has an exceptionally important rare plant flora 

associated with flush vegetation, including species such as bird’s- 

eye primrose Primula farinosa and Scottish asphodel Tofieldia 

pusilla. On the highest and coldest parts of the site fen grades into 

Annex I type 7240 Alpine pioneer formations of the Caricion 

bicoloris-atrofuscae, and intermediate examples occur. 

Alpine pioneer formations of the Caricion bicolorisatrofuscae** 

This site in northern 

England is the largest and most diverse 

example 

of Alpine pioneer formations of the Caricion bicoloris- 

atrofuscae south of the Highlands. It is a southern outlier with 

an 

extensive area of the habitat type, and is a southern outpost for 

many of the rarer arctic-alpine plants characteristic of this habitat 

type, with a unique relict mountain flora. Teesdale sandwort 

Minuartia stricta is restricted to Upper Teesdale, and other rare 

species found in this habitat type include false sedge Kobresia 

simpliciuscula, hair sedge Carex capillaris and Scottish asphodel 

Tofieldia pusilla. The NVC types represented are M10 Carex 

dioica – Pinguicula vulgaris mire and M11 Carex demissa – 

Saxifraga aizoides mire. 

Page 84 4/15/2009

Siliceous scree of the montane to snow levels 

(Androsacetalia alpinae and Galeopsietalia ladani) 

Moor House – Upper Teesdale is representative of communities 

on both low and high altitude siliceous scree in northern 

England. Screes are extensive, with diverse plant 

communities. 

Cross Fell is a southern outlier of high-altitude gritstone scree, 

with a flora including rare lichens and some widespread montane 

vascular plants. Ferns including parsley fern Cryptogramma crispa 

and holly fern Polystichum lonchitis occur on extensive whin-sill 

screes at lower altitudes. 

Calcareous and calcshist screes of the montane to alpine 

levels (Thlaspietea rotundifolii) 

This site is representative of the communities 

of calcareous and 

calcshist 

screes in the north of England up to an altitude of 

760 m. This site has the most extensive 

areas of calcareous and 

calcshist scree in the UK, consisting of Carboniferous limestone. 

Communities are diverse and there is a mix of northern and 

southern floristic elements, including holly-fern Polystichum 

lonchitis, rigid buckler-fern Dryopteris submontana, limestone fern 

Gymnocarpium robertianum, musk thistle Carduus nutans and 

mossy saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides. Hairy stonecrop Sedum 

villosum occurs where scree is flushed by springs 

Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation 

This is one of three sites representing Calcareous rocky slopes 

with chasmophytic vegetation in the north of England. Crevice 

communities occur on extensive limestone scars, especially along 

the Pennine escarpment and around the summits of hills. Cliff 

crevice vegetation occurs extensively and to an altitude of 760 m. 

The most extensive community present is characterised by green 

spleenwort Asplenium viride 

and brittle bladder-fern Cystopteris 

fragilis. Less common species found in this community include 

hoary whitlowgrass Draba incana, alpine cinquefoil Potentilla 

crantzii and holly-fern Polystichum lonchitis. The site is also of 

interest for its combination of southern and northern flora. Rarer 

southern species include bird’s-foot sedge Carex ornithopoda and 

horseshoe vetch Hippocrepis comosa. The whitebeam Sorbus 

rupicola, which is widely distributed but found at only a few sites, 

is also present. 

Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation 

Moor House – Upper Teesdale, which includes the highest point 

of 

the Pennines, has a mixed geology of Carboniferous sandstones, 

mudstone and limestones, that have influenced the important 

plant communities that are found there. This cSAC is one of only 

a 

very few sites in England supporting Siliceous rocky slopes with 

chasmophytic vegetation. The most extensive occurrences of 

this community type are where the Whin Sill outcrops at Falcon 

Clints, Ravenscar, Holwick Scars and High Force. Some 

examples 

also occur at Middle Tongue and alongside 

Cash Burn. 

Characteristic 

species present include parsley fern Cryptogramma 

Page 85 4/15/2009

North 

Pennine 

Moors 

103,109.42 

(covers 

Cumbria; 

Durham; 

Northumberl 

and; North 

Yorkshire) 

crispa, mountain male-fern Dryopteris oreades and northern 

buckler-fern D. expansa. Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and 

starry saxifrage Saxifraga stellaris also occur in this community. 

Round-mouthed whorl snail Vertigo genesii 

In Upper Teesdale round-mouthed whorl snail Vertigo genesii 

lives amongst moss, low-growing sedges and a rich assemblage 

of rare and local arctic-alpine plants such as bird’s-eye primrose 

Primula farinosa and Scottish asphodel Tofieldia pusilla. V. genesii 

is found at a number of base-rich flushes around the slopes 

of 

Widdybank Fell and at isolated flushes further east 

on Cronkley 

Fell 

and Holwick Fell, at altitudes between 400 m and 525 m. The 

snail is locally abundant at some flushes and dominates the 

molluscan fauna at many of them. 

Marsh saxifrage Saxifraga hirculus 

This very large site in northern England is the most important site 

for marsh saxifrage 

Saxifraga hirculus in the UK. The site 

consists 

of an extensive upland complex on limestone and 

gritstone, with acid grassland, blanket mire, limestone outcrops 

and flushes. Drainage water in many of the flushes is influenced 

by the underlying geology – Upper Carboniferous mudstones and 

shales within more extensive limestone. Approximately ten of 

the 

flush areas support populations of marsh saxifrage, including 

areas in the Appleby Fells, Cross Fell and Upper Teesdale, 

containing a total of over 270,000 

plants – >90% of the UK 

population. 

In this area distributions are very patchy within flushes 

so that population estimates are hard to support, but individual 

populations 

in these localities can be large, with several localities 

supporting thriving populations of many thousands of plants. In 

1999 the largest population was estimated at 153,100 individuals. 

European dry heaths 

The North Pennine Moors (along with the North York Moors) hold 

much of the upland heathland of northern England. At higher 

altitudes and to the wetter west and north of the site complex, 

the 

heaths grade into extensive areas of 7130 blanket bogs. The 

most abundant heath communities are H9 Calluna vulgaris – 

Deschampsia flexuosa heath and H12 Calluna vulgaris 

– 

Vaccinium myrtillus heath. There are also examples of H18 

Vaccinium myrtillus – Deschampsia flexuosa, H10 Calluna 

vulgaris – Erica cinerea and H21 Calluna vulgaris – Vaccinium 

myrtillus – Sphagnum capillifolium heaths. 

Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous 

grasslands 

The North Pennine Moors includes one major stand of juniper 

scrub in Swaledale as well as a number of small and isolated 

localities. The Swaledale site grades into heathland and bracken 

Pteridium aquilinum but the core area of juniper is of W19 

Juniperus communis – Oxalis acetosella woodland with scattered 

rowan Sorbus aucuparia and birch Betula spp. 

Page 86 4/15/2009

Blanket bogs** 

The North Pennine Moors hold the major area of blanket bog in 

England. A significant proportion remains active with accumulating 

peat, although these areas are often bounded by sizeable zones 

of currently non-active bog, albeit 

on deep peat. The main NVC 

type 

is M19 Calluna vulgaris 

– Eriophorum vaginatum blanket 

mire, 

but there is also 

representation 

of M18 Erica tetralix – 

Spha gnum papillosum blanket mire and some western localities 

support 

M17 Scirpus cespitosus 

– Eriophorum vaginatum blanket 

mire. 

Forms of M20 Eriophorum 

vaginatum blanket mire 

predominate 

on many areas 

of non-active bog. 

Petrifying springs with tufa 

formation (Cratoneurion)** 

The petrifying springs habitat 

is very localised in occurrence 

within the North Pennine Moors, 

but where it does occur it is 

species-rich with abundant bryophytes, sedges and herbs 

including bird’s-eye primrose 

Primula farinosa and marsh valerian 

Valeriana dioica. 

Siliceous rocky slopes with 

chasmophytic vegetation 

Acidic rock outcrops and screes 

are well-scattered across the 

North Pennine Moors and support vegetation typical of Siliceous 

rocky slopes with chasmophytic 

vegetation in England, 

including a range of lichens and bryophytes, 

such as Racomitrium 

lanuginosum, and species like 

stiff sedge Carex bigelowii and fir 

clubmoss Huperzia selago. 

Old sessile oak woods with 

Ilex and Blechnum in the British 

Isles 

Birk Gill Wood is an example 

of old sessile oak woods well to 

the east of the habitat’s main distribution in the UK. However, 

this 

sheltered river valley shows the characteristic rich bryophyte and 

lichen communities of the type 

under a canopy of oak, birch 

Betula sp. and rowan Sorbus 

aucuparia. The slopes are boulder- 

strewn, with mixtures of heather 

Calluna vulgaris, bilberry 

Vaccinium myrtillus and moss 

carpets in the ground flora. 

Thrisling 

22.58 Semi-natural 

dry grasslands 

and scrubland facies: on 

ton 

calc 

areous substrates 

(Festuco-Brometalia) 

Thrislington 

is a small site 

b ut nonetheless contains the largest of 

the few surviving stands 

of CG8 Sesleria albicans – Scabiosa 

columbaria 

grassland. This form of calcareous grassland is 

confined 

to the Magnesian 

Limestone of County Durham and Tyne 

and Wear, north-east England. 

It now covers less 

than 200 ha and 

is found 

mainly as small scattered 

stands. 

Page 87 4/15/2009

Special Protection Area: 

Name Area (Ha) Component SSSI Qualifying 

species under the Directive 

(79/409/EEC) by supporting 

populations of European importance 

Northumbri 1,107.98 - Durham Coast * This site qualifies under Article 4.1 

a Coast (covers - Lindisfarne of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by 

Durham; - Newton Links supporting populations of 

Northumberla - Northumberland 

European importance of the 

nd; Tyne & Shore 

following 

species listed on Annex I 

Wear) 

of the Directive: 

North 

Pennine 

Moors 

147,246.41 

(covers 

Cumbria; 

Durham; 

Northumberla 

nd; North 

Yorkshire) 

- Allendale Moors 

- Appleby Fells 

- Arkengarthdale, 

Gunnerside and 

Reeth Moors 

- Bollihope, 

Pikestone, Eggleston 

and Woodland Fells * 

- Bowes Moor 

- Cotherstone Moor* 

- East Nidderdale 

Moors (Flamstone 

Pin - High Ruckles) 

- Geltsdale and 

Glendue Fells 

During the breeding season; 

Little Tern Sterna albifrons, 40 pairs 

representing at least 1.7 % of the 

breeding 

population in Great Britain 

(5 

year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/ 6) 

This site also qualifies under Article 

4.2 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by 

supporting populations of 

European 

importance 

of the 

following migratory species: 

Over winter; 

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima, 

763 individuals representing at least 

1.5 % of the wintering Eastern Atlantic 

- wintering population (5 year peak 

mean 1991/2 - 1995/6) 

Turnstone Arenaria interpres, 1,456 

individuals representing at least 2.1 % 

of the wintering Western Palearctic - 

wintering population (5 year peak 

mean 1991/2 - 1995/6) 

This site qualifies under Article 4.1 

of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by 

supporting populations of 

European importance of the 

following species listed on Annex I 

of the Directive: 

During the breeding season; 

Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria, 

1,400 pairs representing at least 6.2 % 

of the breeding population in Great 

Britain 

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, 11 pairs 

representing at least 2.2 % of the 

Page 88 4/15/2009

- Hexhamshire breeding population in Great Britain 

Moors * 

- Lovely Seat - 

(Estimated population) 

Stainton Moor Merlin Falco columbarius, 136 pairs 

- Lune Forest * representing at least 10.5 % of the 

- Mallerstang and 

Swaledale Head 

breeding population in Great Britain 

- Moor House and Peregrine Falco pereg rinus, 

15 pairs 

Cross Fell * representing at least 1.3 % of the 

- Muggleswick, 

Stanhope 

and 

breeding population in Great Britain 

Edmundbyers 

This site also 

qualifies under Article 

Commons and 4.2 of the Directive (79/409/EEC) by 

Blanchland Moor * supporting populations of 

- Upper Teesdale * European importance 

of the 

- West 

Nidderdale, 

Barden and 

following 

migratory species: 

Blubberhouses During the breeding season; 

Moors 

Curlew Numenius 

arqu ata, 

3,930 pairs 

- Whitfield 

Moor, 

representing 

at least 

3.3 % of 

the 

Plenmeller 

and 

breeding 

Europe 

- breeding 

population 

Ashholme Comm ons (199 

2/3/4 

survey) 

Dunlin Calidris alpina schinzii, 

330 

pairs representing at least 3.0 % of the 

breeding Baltic/UK/Ireland population 

(Estimate based on 92-94 counts) 

Page 89 4/15/2009

APPENDIX C: 

SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST 

(SSSI) 

SSSI NAME UNIT AREA CONDITION REASON 

FOR UNFAVOURABLE CONDITION 

Bollihope, Pikestone, Eggleston & 

UNFAVOURABLE 

Woodland Fells 292.864627126079000 

RECOVERING Drainage, moor burning, over grazing. 

Frog Wood Bog 3.176156143419900 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Hesledon Moor East 6.031201626460700 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Cassop Vale 1.637991827810500 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Brignall Banks 36.275942409076000 RECOVERING 

UNFAVOURABLE 

Woodland management 

Pike Whin Bog 1.271604617214000 RECOVERING Encroachment of undesirable species. 

Durham Coast 41.081079438254000 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Burnhope Burn 4.448482949060500 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Thrislington Plantation 10.443705693856000 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Castle Eden Dene 5.990562927119700 RECOVERING Woodland 

management 

Crag Gill 2.177176472365800 FAVOURABLE N/A 

UNFAVOURABLE Rank/undesirable species and too much bare 

Kilmond Scar 2.010484976267500 RECOVERING 

UNFAVOURABLE 

ground. 

Charity Land 5.824945170673400 RECOVERING Overgrazing 

Raisby Hill Grassland 2.564036365429800 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Low Redford Meadows 9.642588119468300 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Brasside Pond 5.600901187275500 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Dabble Bank 4.110175066267700 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Pittington Hill 6.364387939552400 RECOVERING Lack of appropriate scrub management. 

Pow Hill Bog 6.761225066583900 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Page 90 4/15/2009

Backstone Bank & Baal Hill 

UNFAVOURABLE 

Woods 

Derwent Gorge & Horsleyhope 

1.143501955346000 DECLINING Overgrazing and Inappropriate weed control. 

Ravine 16.489061032298000 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Hesledon Moor West 0.443769240360020 RECOVERING Fire, inappropriate scrub control and under grazing. 

Shipley & Great Woods 1 2.652635744228000 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Wingate Quarry 20.287971378281000 RECOVERING UNFAVOURABLE 

Scrub encroachment. 

Quarrington Hill Grasslands 2.288661835339400 RECOVERING 

UNFAVOURABLE 

Lack of scrub control/grassland management. 

Hawthorn Dene 38.827828677835000 RECOVERING Woodland management 

Waldridge Fell 6.961174392527000 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Greencroft & Langley Moor 

7.176221174456000 NO CHANGE Inappropiate 

scrub control and under grazing. 

Sherburn Hill 19.167394296777000 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Causey Bank Mires 5.908661634230000 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Raisby Hill Quarry 5 2.493800048026000 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Town Kelloe Bank 4.302935952706100 RECOVERING Over grazing and scrub encroachment. 

The Carrs 1.955293395631700 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Railway Stell West 6.093057954791900 NO CHANGE Drainage. 

Stony Cut, Cold Hesledon 

0.737413854668150 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Hawthorn Quarry 1 1.048068858796000 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Pig Hill 12.619048606088000 NO CHANGE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

Inappropriate scrub control. 

Tuthill Quarry 9.995482353046500 NO CHANGE Under 

grazing and illicit vehicles. 

Page 91 4/15/2009

UNFAVOURABLE 

inappropriate 

wetland management and woodland 

Witton-le-Wear 

12.376282104821000 RECOVERING 

UNFAVOURABLE 

management. 

Yoden Village Quarry 0.342404740431190 RECOVERING Scrub encroachment. 

UNFAVOURABLE Scrub colonisation and rank grassland species 

Fishburn Grassland 0.131663987058080 RECOVERING 

UNFAVOURABLE 

emerging. 

Rogerley Quarry 5.375884354889500 DECLINING Inappropriate scrub control. 

Trimdon Limestone Quarry 

Crime Rigg & Sherburn Hill 

0.829216239569330 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Quarries 22.853521655994000 FAVOURABLE N/A 

UNFAVOURABLE Inappropriate scrub control and inappropriate 

weed 

The Bottoms 2.176949278780400 NO CHANGE control. 

Butterby Oxbow 7.954520280035600 FAVOURABLE N/A 


2.066519249506800 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Hisehope Burn Valley 

10.669936445396900 RECOVERING Woodland 

management 

Bishop Middleham Quarry 8.686235831410190 FAVOURABLE N/A 

UNFAVOURABLE Lack of management (rank 

vegetation) and fertiliser 

Hulam Fen 0.285837576530290 RECOVERING drift. 

Moor House & Cross Fell 3 70.456274751720000 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Slit Woods 3.550828839412200 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Upper Teesdale 115.945872851770000 

RECOVERING Overgrazing 

and fertiliser use. 

Cornriggs Meadows 4.157586014620300 FAVOURABLE N/A 

UNFAVOURABLE 

In appropriate ditch management, moor burning, 

Cotherstone Moor 20.762230466843000 

NO CHANGE over grazing. 

Westernhope Burn Wood 

3.433967133073400 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Teesdale Allotments 54.974630502842900 RECOVERING Overgrazing and agriculture (other). 

Page 92 4/15/2009

Hannah's Meadows 5.376208243609800 FAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Lune Forest 

Muggleswick, Stanhope & 

56.583358201033000 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Edmundbyers Commons & 

UNFAVOURABLE 

Blanchland Moors 306.098520761620000 

NO CHANGE Moor burning and overgrazing. 

Middle Side & Stonygill Meadows 1.526543890825000 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Rigg Farm & Stake Hill Meadows 15.144915797956900 NO CHANGE Fertiliser use. 

UNFAVOURABLE Inappropriate ditch management, moor burning and 

Hexhamshire Moors 46.717641334786900 NO CHANGE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

overgrazing. 

Greenfoot Quarry 0.900550994780380 DECLINING Earth science fature obstructed. 

West Newlandside Meadows 12.881459460126900 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Botany Hill 3.830107314952400 FAVOURABLE N/A 

God's Bridge 9.325324723598800 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Bowes Moor 857.369592603850000 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Foster's Hush 1.360905024819800 RECOVERING Waste dumped on site. 

Old Moss Lead Vein 0.702378754098980 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Bowlees & Friar House Meadows 3.268449096832700 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Park End Wood 

Sleightholme Beck Gorge - The 

10.027805262699900 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Troughs 6.874321725239400 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Mere Beck Meadows 4.647078769814900 FAVOURABLE 

UNFAVOURABLE 

N/A 

Baldersdale Woodlands 5.813819579996900 NO CHANGE Forestry & woodland management. 

Far High House Meadows 5.659023802554600 FAVOURABLE N/A 

West Rigg Open Cutting 4.781078651972600 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Close House Mine 3.291562386472100 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Grains O'th' Beck Meadows 12.698327874976000 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Page 93 4/15/2009

Fairy Holes Cave 213.390195630439000 

PART 

DESTROYE D 

UNFAVOURABLE 

Hunder Beck Juniper 3.696340239659500 

RECOVERING 

Over grazing/woodland management. 

West Park Meadows 6.877001538823900 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Middle Crossthwaite 24.251438694461000 FAVOURABLE N/A 

Page 94 4/15/2009

APPENDIX D: 

NATIONAL NATURE RESERVES (NNR’S) 

Site name. Description of habitat 

Cassop Vale 

Cassop 

Cassop Vale NNR is the most diverse wildlife site on County Durham's 

Magnesian Limestone. 

The limestone originally formed in a shallow tropical sea some 250 million 

years ago and now outcrops in only a few places in northern England. It 

has weathered to form thin lime-rich soils on which 

unique grasslands 

have developed. 

The grassland supports plants such as blue moor grass, rock-rose, 

globe-flower and bird's-eye primrose, along with several specialised 

insects such as northern brown argus butterfly. Hawthorn, gorse and rose 

scrub thrive on the grassland margins and, in places, grades into true 

woodland characterised by ash and hazel. The scrub and woodland 

support many breeding birds including yellowhammer, whitethroat and 

green woodpecker. 

In the valley bottom, fen and swamp vegetation surround a small pond 

where there are breeding snipe, moorhen and coot. 

Castle Eden 

Castle Eden Dene is the largest area of semi-natural woodland in north- 

Dene east England, renowned for yew trees. The tangled landscape is a 

Peterlee survivor of the wildwood that once covered most of Britain. Natural 

England helps it stay as near natural as possible. 

Derwent 

Gorge & 

Muggleswick 

Woods 

East of 

Consett 


Easington 

Moor House- 

Upper 

Teesdale 

Middleton-in- 

Teesdale 

This is one of the best examples, and the largest, of the few remaining 

oakwoods in north-east England. The site is a ravine woodland on dry 

acidic slopes above the River Derwent and its tributaries. 

Unlike the majority of the NNRs, the Durham Coast is not fully managed 

by Natural England, with parts of the reserve administered by the Durham 

County Council, the District of Easington Council and the Durham Wildlife 

Trust. 

The reserve comprises five parcels of land on the Durham Coast. The 

majority of the reserve centres on Blackhall Rocks and lies between the 

mouth of the Dene river and the mouth of Crimdon Beck. 

The area is noted for its striking geological features, the local magnesian 

limestone and boulder clay supporting grassland that is home to 

numerous wild flowers and butterflies. The area is also home to many 

birds and supports an important breeding population of little terns. 

Spring and summer are the best times to visit for flowers and 

invertebrates, while winter is best for bird life. 

Moor House - Upper Teesdale is one of England’s largest National Nature 

Reserves. It is particularly well known for the plants that originally 

colonised the high Pennines after the last ice age, and have survived 

here ever since. You can also see rare rock formations such as 

outcropping sugar limestone and the Great Whin Sill. 

The reserve encompasses an almost complete range of upland habitats 

typical of the North Pennines, from lower lying hay meadows, rough 

Page 95 4/15/2009

grazing and juniper wood to limestone grassland, blanket bogs and 

summit heaths of the high fells. Nowhere else in Britain is there such a 

diversity of rare habitats in one location. 

Thrislington Thrislington Plantation NNR 

is the most valuable wildlife site on County 

Plantation Durham's Magnesian Limestone. This rock 

originally formed in a shallow 

Ferryhill tropical sea some 250 mil 

lion years ago, 

and now outcrops in only a few 

places in northern England. 

It has weathered to form thin lime-rich soils 

on which unique grasslands 

have developed. Over the years the effects 

of agricultural change, mining and quarrying have reduced the limestone 

grassland to a tiny remnant of its original area. 

The limestone grassland at the site supports 

scarce plant species, 

including blue moor grass, small scabious, rock-rose, and dark red 

helleborine. Insects abound with many unusual 

species present. Two 

notable examples are northern brown argus butterfly and glow-worm. 

The reserve 

is adjacent to a working 

quarry which makes some access 

restrictions necessary. 

Page 96 4/15/2009

APPENDIX 

E: 

LOCAL NATURE RESERVES ( LNR’S) 

SITE NAME: 

LOCATION: 

Allensford Woods 

Allensford 

Bishop Middleham Community Wildlife Bishop Middleham 

Garden 

Blackhall Grasslands 

Blackhall 

Bracken Hill Wood 

Shotton 

Byerley Park 

Newton Aycliffe 

Chapmens Well 

Annfield Plain 


Chester-le-Street 

Cow Plantation 

Spennymoor 

Coxhoe Quarry road 

Coxhoe 

Crow Trees 

Old Quarrington 

Daisy Hill 

Sacriston 

Deep Dene 

Dipton 

Ferryhill Carrs 

Ferryhill 

Greatham Beck 

Greatham 

Greencroft Heath 

Greencroft 

Harperley and Pea Woods 

Harperley 

Hart Warren Dunes 

Hartlepool 

Horden Grasslands 

Horden 

Kyo Bogs 

West Kyo 

Limekiln Gill Horden 

Little Wood Quarrington 

Low Barnes Witton le Wear 

Low Newton Junction 

Noses Point 

Newton Hall 

Pity Me Carrs Pity Me 

Rasiby 

Quarry 

Way 

and Trimdon Grange Trimdon Grange 

Sacriston Wood Sacriston 

South Stanley Woods Stanley Steeley Hill, Cornsay Colliery Cornsay Colliery 

The Moor Newton Aycliffe 

The Whinnies Middleton St George 

Willington North Dene Willington 

Wingate Quarry Old Wingate 

Page 97 4/15/2009

APPENDIX F: 

LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES (LWS) 

District Site Name 

Site 

Number Date of Survey Description 

Derwentside Pontburn Wood 1.1 February 1991 Woodland 

Derwentside Causey Burn Wood 1.2 February 1991 Woodland 

Derwentside Burnhope Burn Wood 1.3 July 1990 

September 

Woodland 

Derwentside Muggleswick Marsh 1.4 1990 Marsh, open water, woodland 

Derwentside Hisehope Burn Wood 1.5 October 1990 

June-August 

Woodland 

Derwentside Horsleyhope Mill Meadow 1.7 1991 Meadow 

Derwentside Nanny Mayers Railway 1.8 July 1990 Neutral grassland 

Derwentside Whitehall Moss 1.9 August 1990 Moorland 

Derwentside West Wood 

1.10 February 1991 

September 

Woodland 

Derwentside Sodfine & Howden Woods 1.11 1996 Woodland 

Knitsley & High House 

September 

Derwentside Woods 1.12 1990 

Woodland 

Derwentside Butsfield and Quick Burn 1.13 February 1994 Woodland, pond and marsh 

Derwentside Black Plantation 1.14 August 1990 Woodland 

Page 98 4/15/2009

Derwentside Pan Burn Woods 1.15 August 1990 Woodland, meadow 

Derwentside Upper Deerness Valley 1.16 July 1990 Woodland, pasture 

Derwentside Burnhope Pond 1.17 - Pond, Marsh 

Derwentside Whiteside Burn Wood 1.18 July 1990 Woodland 

Derwentside Pontop Fell 1.19 February 1994 Mid-altitude heathland 

Neutral grassland and waste 

Derwentside Burnhopefield Meadow 1.20 July 1997 ground 

Derwentside Greenwell Ford Meadow 1.21 June 1991 Meadow 

Derwentside Hedleyhope Fell 1.22 

August 1990 Heathland 

Derwentside Leapmill Burn Meadow 1.23 June 1991 Neutral grassland 

Derwentside Stuartfield Moor 1.24 February 1994 Heathland, woodland 

Derwentside Ragpath Heath 1.25 July 1991 Heathland & woodland 

Derwentside South Stanley Wood 

Westlaw Wood and Spa 

1.26 June 1991 Woodland 

Derwentside Well Paddock 1.27 June 1995 Woodland 

Derwentside Hellhole Wood 

1.28 July 1991 Woodland 

Loves Wood & Malton 

Woodland, ponds, neutral 

Derwentside Nature Reserve 1.29 March 1991 grassland, scrub 

Derwentside Hedleyhill Colliery Wood 1.30 October 2002 Woodland 

Derwentside Beckley Wood 1.31 June 1991 Woodland 

Page 99 4/15/2009

Derwentside Broomhill Dene 1.32 

September 

1991 Woodland 

Derwentside Tanfield Lea Marsh 1.33 - Marsh and ponds 

Willow carr, semi-improved 

Derwentside Briardene Meadow 

Morrow Edge Heath & 

1.34 1992 

grassland 

Derwentside Quaking Houses Fell 1.35 1999 Mid-altitude heathland 

Derwentside Kyo Bogs 1.36 February 1994 Scrub, acid grassland 

Stony heap/Batling Line 

Acid grassland, neutral grassland, 

Derwentside Kilns 1.37 February 1994 scrub 

Derwentside Ewehurst Wood 1.38 February 1994 Woodland and pasture 

Derwentside Harperley & Pea Woods 1.39 February 1994 Woodland, 

scrub 

Derwentside Harelaw Heath 1.40 April 1995 Acid grassland/heath 

Derwentside Middles West 1.41 June 1995 Acid grassland 

Derwentside Horsleyhope Haugh 1.42 July 1997 Grassland 

Derwentside Barn Hill Heath 1.43 August 1998 Heathland, woodland 

& scrub 

Derwentside Delight Bank 

Grove ponds and 

Meadow, 

1.44 August 1998 Heath and grassland 

Derwentside Consett 1.45 August 1998 Ponds & meadow 

Dwarf heath, 

acid grassland & 

Derwentside Harelaw Cemetery Heath 1.46 August 1998 meadow 

Derwentside Brooms Pond 1.47 May 1999 Open water 

& rushy pasture 

Derwentside Greencroft 1.48 August 1999 Mid-altitude heath, open scrub 

Page 100 4/15/2009

Derwentside Hurbuck Triangle 1.49 2002 Disused railway & grassland 

Derwentside Ousterley Wood 1.50 May 2002 Semi-natural woodland 

Burnhill Junction & Acid grassland, meadow, young 

Derwentside Longburn Ford 1.51 June 2004 planting 

Derwentside 

Chester-le- 

Priestfield Wood 1.52 2004 Acid woodland 

street 

Chester-le- 

Walter's Wood Ouston 2.1 July 1991 Grassland, woodland 

streetChester-le- 

Whitehill Hall Wood 2.2 January 1991 Woodland, heathland, fen 


Cong Burn Wood 2.3 January 1991 Woodland 


East Farm Pond 2.4 July 1991 Pond 


Sacriston Wood 2.5 October 1990 Woodland 


Lumley Woods 2.6 April 1991 Woodland 

street Forgebank Woods 2.7 July 1991 Woodland 

Chester-le- Pelaw Hill, Sunderlandstreet 

Consett Walkway 2.8 July 1991 Grassland & pond 

Chester-le- 

September 

street Chester Dene 2.9 1991 Woodland, scrub, grassland 

Chester-le- September 

street 

Chester-le- 

Brough's Gill Wood 2.10 1991 Woodland 

street 

Chester-le- 

Twizell Wood 2.11 June 1991 Woodland 

street River Team Woodlands 2.12 October 1990 Woodland 

Page 101 4/15/2009

Chester-lestreetChester-le- 

Waldridge Pit Heap Pond 2.13 February 1994 Pond rapidly becoming marsh 


Pockerley Hill Wood 2.14 March 1995 Largely coniferous woodland 

street 

Chester-le- 

Morton Wood 2.15 - Deciduous woodland 


Howlmire Gill 2.16 July 1996 Streamside woodland 

and flushes 

street Hermitage Woods 2.17 May 1997 Mixed woodland 

Wear Valley Garden House Plantation 3.0.1 June 1991 Felling activity nearby 

Wear Valley Blackdene mine Railway 

Bridge End Railway, 

St. 

3.0.2 July 1991 - 

Wear Valley Johns Chapel 

Meadow, West 

Green 


Wear Valley Head 


Wear Valley Sunderland Cleugh 3.0.5 July 1991 Grassland 

Wear Valley Sedling Plain Meadow 3.1 June 1991 

September 

Unimproved grassland 

Wear Valley Pedams Oak 3.2 1990 Woodland + grazing 

Wear Valley Derwent Reservoir 3.3 - Reservoir 

Wear Valley Nookton Wood 3.4 February 1990 Upland valley woodland 

Limestone quarry with beck + 

Wear Valley Harehope Quarry 3.5 June 1991 ponds 

Wear Valley Killhope Wheel 3.6 1991 Lead spoil heap + streams 

Page 102 4/15/2009

Wear Valley Stanley Moss 3.7 October 1991 Blanket bog 

Wear Valley Wiserley Hall 3.8 June 1991 Grassland floodplain 

Wear Valley Wolsingham River Gravels 3.10 November 1990 River shingle 

Wear Valley Willow Green Gill W ood 3.11 October 1990 Woodland 

Wear Valley Ireshopeburn 3.12 April 1991 

Limestone valley 

Wear Valley Houselop Beck Wood 3.13 January 1991 

September 

Steepsided woodland and quarry 

Wear Valley Thornhope Beck wood 3.14 1990 Woodland and streams 

Wear Valley Swinhope Moor 3.15 October 1990 Acid grassland 

Wear Valley Fendrith Hill 3.16 October 1990 Peat with limestone 

outcrops 

Wear Valley Ambling Gate Bank 3.17 August 1991 Pastures 

Wear Valley Tunstall Reservoir 3.18 1991 Upland reservoir 

Wear Valley Baal Hill Wood 3.19 March 1991 Upland woodland 

Wear Valley Stanhope Dene 3.20 August 1991 Stream-sided 

valley woodland 

River gravels 

+ grassland + 

Wear Valley River Wear, Harperley 3.21 January 1990 

woodland 

Wear Valley Horsley Burn Wood 3.22 October 1990 Woodland + small waterfalls 

Wear Valley Shittlehope Burn Wood 3.23 January 1991 Steepsided 

woodland 

Wear Valley Page Bank Pond 3.25 November 1990 Woodland + patches 

of open water 

Page 103 4/15/2009

Wear Valley Flylands' River Gaunless 3.27 February 1991 Flat plain 

Wear Valley Harehope Burn Wood 3.28 November 1990 Steep sided woodland 

Wear Valley Beldon Burn 3.29 October 1990 Steep-sided moorland valley 

Wear Valley Mc Neil Bottoms 3.30 August 1992 Freshwater lake 

Wear Valley Parson Byers Quarry 

3.31 1992 Disused quarry 

Wear Valley Witton Bottoms Woodland 3.32 1992 Woodland 

Wear Valley Witton Park Wetland 3.33 July 1992 Ponds and woodland 

Wear Valley Cobey's Carr 3.34 July 1992 Ponds+ 

woodland + scubland 

Wear Valley Puddingthorn Quarries 

Wear Valley Stanley Beck Meadows 3.36 

3.35 1992 Disused quarry 

Wear Valley Escomb Pastures 3.37 February 1994 Semi-improved pastures 

Wear Valley Bellburn Wood 3.38 April 1995 Ancient woodland 

Wear Valley Burnhope Burn Juniper site 3.39 June 1995 Scrubland 

Wear Valley Coal Road 3.40 July 1995 Woodland and grassland 

Wear Valley 

Rushy Lea 3.41 June 1995 Scrubland 

Wear Valley Bellburn Swamp 3.42 June 1995 Swamp 

Wear Valley Lands Farm Wall 

3.43 April 1996 Dry stone walls 

Page 104 4/15/2009

Wear Valley 

Pow Hill Meadow 3.44 June/July 1996 Grassland 

Wear Valley Ruffside Pasture 3.45 June 1996 Upland pasture 

Wear Valley Willington North Dene 3.46 June 1996 Ancient semi-natural woodland 

Wear Valley Brack's Wood 3.47 July 1997 Steep riverside 

woodland 

Wear Valley Bolt's Burn, Ramshaw 3.48 August 1997 Marsh, spoil, grassland, woodland 

Wear Valley Scutter Hill Quarry 3.49 1998 Disused quarry 

Wear Valley Willington South Dene 3.50 July 1998 Ancient broadleaved woodland 

Wear Valley Escomb Lake 3.51 1999 Lake 

Wear Valley Pow Hill Heath 3.52 1999 Dwarf shrub heath 

Wear Valley Escomb Wood 3.53 May 2002 Ancient woodland 

Wear Valley Greenfoot Quarry 3.54 2002 Quarry and ponds 

Wear Valley Wolsingham North Moor 

Newhouse to Middlehope 

3.55 1999-2002 Moorland 

Wear Valley Road Verge 3.56 2001 + 2002 Road verge 

Durham Red Burn Tributaries 4.1 1991 Acidified streams 

Durham Bearpark Bog 4.2 February 1991 Lowland mire 

Durham The Scroggs 

Redhouse Wood & Former 

4.3 February 1991 Woodland 

Durham Munitions Store 4.4 February 1991 Woodland, rough grassland 

Page 105 4/15/2009

Durham Finchale Priory Woods 4.5 January 1991 Mixed deciduous woodland 

Durham North Brasside Clay pit 4.6 August 1991 Ponds 

Durham Rainton Park Wood 4.7 January 1991 Deciduous woodland 

Durham Moorhouse Wood 

Frankland and Kepier 

4.8 January 1991 Woodland 

Durham Woods 4.9 January 1991 

Semi-natural woodland 

Durham Pelaw Wood 4.10 April 1990 Mixed deciduous woodland 

Durham Hoppers Wood 4.11 May 1991 Woodland, acid soils 

Semi-natural lowland deciduous 

Durham Saltwell Gill Wood 4.13 January 1991 

woodland 

Durham Pittington Hill 

4.14 January 1991 Calcareous grassland 

Durham Coalford Beck Marsh 4.15 January 1991 Fen/marsh 

Durham Sherburn Hill 4.16 February 1992 Grassland/scrub 

Durham Elemore Woods 4.17 August 1991 Mixed woodland 

Durham Silent Bank (road verge) 4.18 January 1991 Magnesium limestone grassland 

Small, shallow dene, pasture, 

Durham Shadforth Dene 4.19 February 1991 scrub, grassland 

Quarrington Hill and 

Calcareous grassland, scrub. 

Durham Coxhoe Bank Plantation 4.20 1999 

Ponds 

Durham Kelloe Plantation 4.21 June 1990 Semi-natural woodland on slope 

Marsh, acid & neutral grassland, 

Durham Newton Hall Junction 4.22 May 1991 scrub 

Page 106 4/15/2009


Houghall, Maiden Castle, 

Little High Woods 4.23 July 1991 Mixed deciduous woodland 

Durham Frankland Pond 4.24 July 1991 Pond, within scrub and grassland 

Durham North Wood 

Framwellgate Moor Carrs, 

4.25 February 1991 Woodland 

Durham Pity Me 4.26 May 1990 Marsh, acid grassland/heath 

Durham Baxter Wood 4.27 April 1991 Semi-natural woodland 

Durham Deerness Valley 4.28 August 1991 Wood, meadow marsh 

Durham Flass Vale 4.29 May 1991 Woodland, grassland, stream 

Durham Sherburn Hospital 4.30 July 1991 

September 

Woodland, grassland, stream 

Durham Oxclose 4.31 1991 Marsh, grassland, rough 

pasture 

Durham Raisby Pond 4.33 July 1991 Pond, magnesium limestone 

Durham Stockley Beck Meadow 4.34 1992 Grassland, woodland 

Durham Lowe's Barn 4.35 1992 Neutral/acid grassland 

Durham Coxhoe Ponds 4.37 June 1996 Ponds, semi-improved grasslands 

Revegetated pit heap, 

grassland, 

Durham Shincliffe Pit Heap 4.38 August 1993 marsh, scrub 

Durham Blaids Wood 4.39 March 1995 Ancient woodland, grassland 

Recolonised and planted pit heap. 

Durham Ludworth Pit Heap 4.40 - 

Woodland, pasture 

Durham Shincliffe Wood 4.41 March 1995 Broadleaved woodland 

Page 107 4/15/2009

Durham The Scrambles 4.42 1995 Meadow, grassland, 

Swamp woodland, grassland, 

Durham Lower Browney Valley 4.43 August 1998 heath, marsh 

Magnesium limestone grassland, 

Durham Raisby Way 4.44 2000 scrub, ash woodland, 

wetlands 

Ponds, marshy grasslands, young 

Durham Tursdale West Ponds 4.45 2000 

trees 

Disused quarry with freshwater 

Durham Running Waters Quarry 4.46 July 2002 ponds 

Durham Langley Park Heath 4.47 August 2003 Heathland, acid grassland, 

Semi-improved 

grassland and 

Easington Hesledon Moor East 5.1 July 1993 scrub 

Woodland, scrubland. Magnesium 

Easington Dalton Dene 5.2 July 1991 limestone 

grassland 

Easington Duncome Moor 5.3 July 1991 Fen meadow, 

Easington South Hetton Pond 5.4 July 1992 Pond, marshy grassland 

Easington Dawdon Dene 5.5 1999 

September 

Woodland, calcareous grassland 

Easington Tuthill Quarry 

New Winning Pumping 

5.7 1995 Calcareous grassland 

Easington Station Pond 5.8 August 1991 Pond, steep sided 

Easington Wellfield Brick Ponds 5.9 1991 Ponds, former clay pit 

Neutral to calcareous 

grassland, 

Easington Thornley Dene 5.10 2004 

some mature woodland 

Easington Heads Hope Dene 5.11 August 1991 Woodland, 

Page 108 4/15/2009

Easington Hazel Dene 5.12 July 1991 Woodland, calcareous grassland 

Easington Hurworth Burn Reservoir 

Cold Hesledon Pond & 

5.13 1992 Reservoir open water 

Easington Walkway 

Hawthorn Bridge Pumping 

5.14 July 1991 Pond, marsh 

Easington Station 5.15 July 1991 Marsh, meadow area 

Hesledon-Crimdon Dene 

Woodland, large coastal dene 

Easington Complex 5.16 August 1991 complex 

Easington Seaham Dene 5.17 July 1991 Woodland 

Easington Cowtons Pond 5.18 July 1991 Pond, marsh 

Calcareous 

grassland, ponds, 

Easington Haswell-Hart Railway 5.19 June 1997 scrub 

Easington Loch Kenny Pond 5.20 August 1991 Pond 

Easington Edderacres 5.21 October 1991 Grassland, scrub 

Easington Ryhope Dene 5.22 July 1991 Deciduous woodland 

Easington Byrons Dene 5.23 July 1992 Grassland 

Semi-natural broadleaved 

Easington Pesspool Wood 5.24 1997 

woodland 

Easington Warren House Gill 5.25 1992 Neutral and calcareous grassland 

Easington Field House Farm 5.26 - Grassland 

Easington South Murton Marsh 5.27 March 1994 Marsh 

Damp meadow, 

magnesium 

Easington Cold Hesledon Meadow 5.28 July 1994 limestone knollls 

Page 109 4/15/2009

Easington Slingley Pond 5.29 June 1995 Pond, marshland 

Easington Murton Bridge Carr 5.30 June 1995 Carr and calcareous 

grassland 

Easington 

Coop House Wood 5.31 June 1995 Woodland 

Easington Elemore Horseshoe Pond 5.32 June 1995 Pond, marshy 

grassland, fen 

Easington Haswell Wood, Shotton 5.33 June 1995 Valley-side 

woodland 

Easington Deaf Hill Marsh 5.34 July 1995 Marshland 

Easington Castle Eden Pond 5.35 July 1995 Swamp, 

small area of meadow 

Easington Hulam Reed Swamp 5.36 July 1995 Fen 

Easington Carstead Wood West 

5.37 July 1995 Pond, scrub, grassland 

Easington Hawthorn Quarry 5.38 July 1996 Quarry, magnesium limestone 

Deciduous woodland, scrub. 

Easington Hordon Dene 5.39 April 1996 Coastal dene 

Easington Hesledon Moor West 5.40 July 1997 Acid grassland, carr, marsh 

Easington Murton Grassland 5.41 July 1997 Un-managed herb-rich grassland 

Easington Deaf Hill Pond 5.43 June 1998 Pond 

Easington Pesspool Lane Ponds 5.44 May 1999 Ponds, scrub, rough grassland 

Easington Murton Meadows 5.45 August 2000 Herb-rich meadows 

Teesdale Lead Spoil 6.0.1 June 1991 Road verge 

Page 110 4/15/2009

Teesdale Low Houses, Tees Bank 6.0.2 August 1991 Riverside shingle 

Teesdale Crook Pool, Tees Bank 6.0.3 August 1991 Riverside shingle 

Teesdale South Bank of Tees 

6.0.4 August 1991 River bank 

Teesdale Bowlees Pasture 6.1.1 July 1991 Meadow 

Teesdale Brockers Gill Meadow 

West Brockers Gill 

6.1.2 June 1991 Meadow 

Teesdale Meadow 6.1.3 June 1991 Meadow 

Teesdale Stoneygill Meadow 6.1.4 June 1991 - 

Teesdale Gordon House Meadow 

Brockers Gill Wood 

6.1.5 7th July 1991 Meadow/pasture 

Teesdale (Reveling Gill) 6.2 March 1992 Wooded gill 

Teesdale Pecknell Wood 6.3 November 1991 Mixed woodland plantations 

Moorland valley, marsh, streams, 

Teesdale Great Eggleshope Beck 6.4 August 1991 scrub 

Teesdale Brusselton Wood 6.5 June 1991 Ancient woodland 

Teesdale Hud Scar/Hope Scar 6.6 1991 Limestone crags, forest, grassland 

Teesdale Wycliffe Wood 

6.7 July 1991 Woodland river bank 

Teesdale Bell Edge Wood 6.8 February 1992 Wood pasture 

Teesdale Teesbank Woods, Winston 6.9 February 1992 Woodland 

Woodland, steep embankment, 

Teesdale Bowser's Island 6.10 March 1992 river 

Page 111 4/15/2009

Teesdale 

Railway, Bluestone Grange 6.11 July 1991 

Disused railway line, raised 

embankment 

Teesdale Whorlton Banks 6.12 April 1992 Woodland 

Teesdale High Plantation 6.13 August 1991 Upland plantation woodland 

Reservoir (freshwater, acid 

Teesdale Grassholme Reservoir 6.14 1991 

grassland) 

Reservoir (freshwater, acid 

Teesdale Blackton Reservoir 6.15 1991 

grassland) 

Seams of coal, acid grassland, 

Teesdale How Gill 6.16 February 1992 streams 

Teesdale Cote House Wood & Marsh 6.17 June 1991 Ancient woodland, 

marsh 

Teesdale Red Carr Bank 6.18 1991 Woodland 

Teesdale Egglesburn Shingle Bank 6.19 1991/1992 Grassland along spring line 

Teesdale Croft Yoke Scar Wood 6.20 November 1991 Ancient woodland, semi-natural 

Teesdale Hole Beck Quarry 6.21 November 1991 

Abandoned quarry, scrub, 

grassland, pond 

Teesdale Gainford Spa Wood 6.22 June 1991 Semi-natural woodland 

Teesdale Pallet Crag 

Hindon Beck & Cowclose 

6.23 1992,1993,1994 

Heavily grazed woodland 

Teesdale wood 6.24 March 1992 Ancient woodland, semi-natural 

Woodland, gorge, open-ground 

Teesdale Hamsterley Forest 6.25 February 1992 with heather, becks 

Teesdale North Carr Wood 6.26 July 1991 Woodland 

Page 112 4/15/2009

Teesdale 

Bedburn Beck and Adder 

Wood 6.27 August 1991 

September 

Teesdale Crakehill Bank 6.28 1991 

Woodland 

Woodland, steep sloping bank 

Teesdale Lower Linburn Valley 6.29 January 1992 Semi-natural woodland 

Teesdale Knitsley Fell and Quarry 6.30 June 1991 Quarry and ponds 

Teesdale Cotherstone Railway 6.31 August 1991 

Teesdale Waskey Wood 6.32 July 1991 Woodland 

Abandoned railway, footpaths, 

scrub, grassland 

Teesdale Lartington High Pond 6.33 August 1991 Pond, woodland 

Woodland, 

disturbed by 

Teesdale Deepdale Wood 6.34 August 1991 felling/replanting of conifers 

Island of gravel in Tees, Scrub, 

Teesdale Waterman's Island 6.35 November 1991 grassland 

Teesdale Flatts Wood 6.36 June 1991 

September 

Ancient woodland 

Teesdale Thorsgill Wood 6.37 1991 

Woodland (mainly ash) 

September Mainly woodland, with river, bare 

Teesdale Teesbank Woods, Rokeby 6.38 1991 rock, shingle banks 

Rokeby Park and 

Mortham September 

Teesdale Wood 6.39 1991 Parkland, 

woodland, pasture 

Acidic pond + surrounding neutral 

Teesdale Mickleton Pond 6.40 November 1991 grassland 

Teesdale Redford Meadows 6.41 February 1994 Neutral + acidic 

meadows 

Teesdale Cliff Sike 6.42 June 1995 Juniper site 

Page 113 4/15/2009

Teesdale Cragg Wood, Evenwood 6.43 April 1995 

September 

Deciduous woodland, semiimproved 

pasture 

Teesdale Low Wood House Marsh 6.44 1993 Pond, swamp, alder woodland 

Woodland, scrub, marsh, 

Teesdale Gordon Beck 6.45 July 2003 grassland. Subject to mining 

Sedgefield Road Verge 7.0.1 July 1991 Grass verge 

Woodland, past mining 

community, 

Sedgefield Rosa Shafto Woodland 7.1 1991 

pond 

Sedgefield Paddock Plantation Pond 7.2 1999 Various habitats, inc ponds, 

marsh 

Woodland, ponds, grasslands, 

Sedgefield Ferryhill Cut 7.3 1999 

scrub 

Sedgefield Bishop Middleham Pond 7.4 July 1991 Pond within heavily grazed pasture 

Disused magnesium limestone 

Sedgefield Merry Knowle Quarry 7.5 July 1991 quarry, scub, grassland 

Sedgefield Cleveland Gorse 7.6 August 1991 Woodland 

Sedgefield Tursdale Ponds 7.7 July 1991 Ponds, used by angling clubs 

Sedgefield Hardwick Hall 7.8 August 1991 Fen carr, lake 

Sedgefield Tillery Ponds, Bradbury 7.9 July 1991 Ponds 

Sedgefield Eldon Grassland 7.10 July 1991 

Magnesium limestone grassland 

Pond, surrounded by scrub, 

Sedgefield Cumby Pond 7.11 July 1991 grassland 

Sedgefield Aycliffe Quarry 7.12 July 1991 Disused quarry, grassland, 

scrub 

Page 114 4/15/2009

Sedgefield 

Garmondsway Moor 

Quarry 7.13 July 1991 Disused quarry, grassland 

Sedgefield Mill House Pond 7.14 July 1991 Ponds, 

scrub 

Sedgefield Middlestone Fen 

Trimdon Grange and 

7.15 July 1991 Marshland, acid grassland 

Sedgefield Railway 7.17 July 1991 Grassland, scrub 

Sedgefield New Homer Carr Plantation 7.18 April 1991 Mixed deciduous woodland 

Sedgefield Crookfoot Reservoir 7.19 March 1992 Freshwater, woodland 

Sedgefield Island Farm 

Carr Wood, New Lake and 

7.20 July 1991 Grassland, reclaimed mine 

Sedgefield Tank Stell 

7.21 April 1991 Woodland, lake, ditch, 

marsh 

Sedgefield Island Farm Railway 

Ferryhill Stell and 

7.22 July 1991 Scrub, grassland, walkway 

Sedgefield Grassland 7.23 July 1991 Various grasslands 

Sedgefield Mill Wood 7.24 July 1992 Conifer and broadleaved woodland 

Sedgefield Eldon Lane Heath 7.25 1992 

Grassland, heath 

Sedgefield North Close Marsh 7.26 - Marsh, grassland, stream 

Calcareous grassland, conifer 

Sedgefield Rough Furze Quarry 7.27 1992 

plantation 

Sedgefield Mainsforth Pond (East) 7.28 February 1994 Pond on magnesium limestone 

Sedgefield Cow Plantation 7.29 - Woodland, grassland 

Sedgefield Garmondsway Triangle 7.30 August 1994 Limestone grassland 

Page 115 4/15/2009

Sedgefield Eden Grange Pond 

Mainsforth Recreation 

7.31 July 1996 Ponds, 

Sedgefield Complex Pond 

7.32 June 1996 Pond 

Sedgefield Brusselton Reservoir Pond 7.33 June 1998 Steep sided pond 

Sedgefield Shildon Sidings 7.34 1998 Herb-rich grassland 

Sedgefield The Snipe 7.35 1999 Grassland, marsh, ditches, scrub 

Former pit heap, now largely 

Sedgefield Trimdon Grange Pit Heap 7.36 July 1999 planted 

Recolonised as h tip, scrub, 

herb- 

S edgefield Simpasture Junction 

Bishop Middleham Deer 

7.37 2000 

rich grassland 

Sedgefield Park Lake 7.38 June 2002 Fresh-water lake, 

Sedgefield Whin Houses Heath 7.39 2001 Heathland, scrub 

Sedgefield Aycliffe Nature Park 

Bishop Middleham 

7.40 2003 

Scrub, grassland, wetland 

Sedgefield Roadside Lake 

7.41 2003 

Recently flooded land, wetlands 

Sedgefield A1 Flashes 7.42 2003 Recently flooded land, wetlands 

Streams, ponds, 

fen, scrub, 

Sedgefield School Aycliffe Wetland 7.43 

2004 grassland. 

Habitat 

creation 

scheme 

Sedgefield Whitworth Park Grassland 7.44 July 2004 Meadow 

Page 116 4/15/2009

APPENDIX G: 

COUNTY GEOLOGICAL SITES 

Site Name 

Site Main Interest Features Date 

of 

Original 

Survey 

(Proposal 

Date) 

District 

1 Causey Burn Derwentside 

2 Craghead Crags, Lintzford Derwentside 

3 Derwent River Gorge Derwentside 

4 Sacriston Subglacial Meltwatrer 

Channels 

Chester-le- 

Street 

5 Binchester Crags Stratigraphy, Lithology & 

Sedimentology 

20.07.1992 Wear Valley 

6 Black Cleugh, Burnhope Stratigraphy, Lithology & 

Sedimentology 


7 Bollihope and Snowhope Carrs (block 

fields) 

Stratigraphy & Geomorphology Wear Valley 

8 Boltsburn Mine and Rookhope Borehole Stratigraphy, Lithology, 

Sedimentology, Palaeontology, 

Mineralogy, Economic & Industrial 

Archaeology 


9 Cement Works Quarry, Eastgate Wear Valley 

10 Chestergarth Quarry, Rookhope Wear Valley 

11 Killhope Burn, Copthill Quarry and Wear 

River at Burtreeford Bridge 

Wear Valley 

12 Fine Burn, Bollihope Wear Valley 

Page 117 4/15/2009

13 Gaunless River, East Bank Wear Valley 

14 Greenfield Quarry, Cowshill Wear Valley 

15 Greenlaws East Mine Wear Valley 

16 Groverake Mine and Opencast Wear Valley 

17 Harehope Quarry, Frosterley Wear Valley 

18 Harthope Head Quarries Wear Valley 

19 Harthop e Quarry Wear 

Valley 

20 Horsley Burn Waterfall Wear Valley 

21 Killhope Wheel Lead Mining Centre Wear Valley 

22 Middlehope Burn Wear Valley 

23 Noah's Ark Quarry Wear Valley 

24 Roundhill Quarry, Stanhope Wear Valley 

25 St John's Chapel Drumlins, Weardale Wear Valley 

26 Sedling Burn, Cowshill, Weardale Wear Valley 

27 Stanhope Burn Wear Valley 

28 Old Quarrington Quarry Durham City 

29 Raisby Railway Cutting Durham City 

30 Thornley-Kelloe Glacial Meltwater 

Channels 

Durham City 

31 Wear River Gorge at Durham City Durham City 

32 Beacon Hill Stratigraphy, Palaeontology & 

Geomorphology 

01.09.1992 Easington 

33 Castle Eden Dene Stratigraphy, Lithology, 

Geomorphology, 

Quat. History 

01.09.1992 Easington 

34 Dene Holme Easington 

35 Dropswell Farm, NHE Hillside Easington 

36 Easington Raised Beach Easington 

37 Hesleden Dene and Downstream 

Continuation 

Easington 

Page 118 4/15/2009

38 Sheraton Kame Moraine Complex Easington 

39 Shotton Valley, East Side Easington 

40 Townfield Quarry and Townfield 2 

Quarry, Easington Colliery 

Easington 

41 Underground Tunnels at Easington 

Colliery 

Easington 

42 Bow Lees Beck Stratigraphy, 

Lithology, 

Sedimentology, 

Palaeontology & 

Geomorphology 

20.07.1992 Teesdale 

43 Closehouse Mine Teesdale 

44 Coldberry Gutter Teesdale 

45 Cow Green Mile Teesdale 

46 Dirt Pit Mine Teesdale 

47 Folly House Glacial Meltwater Channels, 

Eggleston 

Teesdale 

48 Green Gates Quarry Teesdale 

49 Greenhurth Mine Teesdale 

50 Holwick (Teesdale) Drumlins, 

Romaldkirk 

Teesdale 

51 Hunters Vein Teesdale 

52 Knotts Hole (Plantation) Meltwater 

Channel 

Teesdale 

53 Hoppyland Kames and Knotty Hills Teesdale 

54 Pencil Mill Teesdale 

55 Scoberry Bridge to Dine Holm Scar 

(Tees River) 

Teesdale 

56 Sharnberry Meltwater Channel Teesdale 

57 Spurlswood Beck and Quarter Burn, 

Eggleston 

Teesdale 

58 Stable Edge Quarry Teesdale 

Page 119 4/15/2009

59 Teesdale Cave (Moking Hurth Cave) Teesdale 

60 Widdybank Fell Teesdale 

61 Wynch Bridge Teesdale 

62 Bishop Middleham Quarry Stratigraphy, Lithology, 

Sedimentology 

01.09.1992 Sedgefield 

63 Chilton Quarry Sedgefield 

64 Ferryhill Gap Sedgefield 

65 Middridge Railway Cutting Sedgefield 

66 Old Towns Quarry (Middridge) Sedgefield 

67 Rough Furze Quarry Sedgefield 

68 Thrislington Quarry Sedgefield 

Page 120 4/15/2009

Page 121 4/15/2009

APPENDIX H: Summary of protection afforded to species found in 

the County 

Offence Deliberate 

capture, 

killing or 

injuring 

Relates to 

individual 

animals? 

Relates only to 

significant groups 

of animals? 

Defences include 

incidental result 

of a lawful 

operation 

Species 

Deliberate 

disturbance 

significantly 

affecting 

survival, 

breeding or 

rearing or 

nurturing 

young 

Habitat Regulations (2007) 

Deliberate 

disturbance 

significantly 

affecting local 

distribution or 

abundance 

Deliberate 

taking or 

destruction 

of eggs 

Damage or 

destruction of 

breeding or 

resting 

places 

Page 122 4/15/2009 

Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) (as amended) 

Intentional or 

reckless 

damage or 

destruction of 

structure or 

place used for 

shelter / 

protection 


reckless 

disturbance 

whilst 

occupying a 

structure or 

place used 

for shelter / 

protection 


reckless 

obstruction 

of access to 

a place used 

for shelter / 

protection 

Intentional 

killing, 

injuring, 

taking, 

possession 

or sale 

� � � � � � � � � 

� � � � � � � � � 

� � � � � � � � � 

Great Crested 

Newt 

All species of bat 

� 

� 

� 

� 

� 

� 

� 

N/a 

� 

� 

� 

� 

� 

� 

� 

� 

� 

� 

Otter � � � N/a � � � � � 

Water vole � � � N/a � � � � � 

Most species of 

bird found in the 

Borough 

� � � � � 

The Wildlife and Countryside Act prohibits the intentional 

killing, injuring or taking of any wild bird and the taking, 

damaging or destroying of the nest (whilst being built or in 

use) or eggs. It prohibits possession of wild birds (dead or 

alive) or their eggs (Naturenet, 2007)

Fieldfare, barn 

owl, peregrine, 

redwing. 

Badger 

� � � � � 

These species are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and 

Countryside Act. For species listed under Schedule 1 it is an 

offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb the birds close to 

their nest during the breeding season in addition to the 

protections afforded to all birds ( Naturen et, 2007). 

Badgers are protected under separate legislation called the 

Protection 

of Badgers Act 

(1994). 

It is 

an 

offence 

to wilfully kill, 

injure take, 

possess or cruelly ill-treat a badger, or to attempt to do so, 

or 

to intentionally 

or recklessly 

interfere 

with 

a sett. Sett 

interference 

includes 

disturbing badgers whilst they are occupying a sett, as well as damaging or destro 

ying a sett, 

or obstructing 

access 

to it. 

Page 123 4/15/2009

APPENDIX 

I: 

HABITATS AND 

COUNTY 

SPECIES OF PRINCIPLE IMPORTANCE FOUND IN THE 

Habitats - UKBAP 

Habitats - DBAP 

Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows Ancient semi-natural woodland (including 

PAWS) 

Aquifer fed naturally fluctuating water Other broadleaf woodland 

bodies 

Blanket bog Native hedgerows 

Cereal field margins Parkland 

Coastal saltmarsh Scrub 

Coastal sand dunes Veteran Trees 

Eutrophic standing waters Wet woodland 

Fens Wood pasture 

Lowland calcareous grassland Exposed riverine sediments 

Lowland heathland Floodplain grazing marsh 

Lowland meadows Lowland fen habitats 

Maritime cliff and slopes Phragmites australis reedbed 

Reedbeds Ponds 

Sublittoral sands and gravels Rivers and streams 

Upland calcareous grassland Blanket bog and upland wet heath 

Upland hay meadows Calaminarian grassland 

Upland heathland Species-rich upland acid grassland 

Upland mixed ashwoods Upland calcareous grassland 

Upland oakwood Upland dry heath 

Wet woodland Upland haymeadows 

Upland screes and rock habitats 

CG8 grassland 

Coastal soft cliffs and slopes 

Early-successional brownfield land 

Lowland acid grassland 

Lowland heath 

Lowland meadows and pasture 

Magnesian limestone grassland 

Maritime grassland 

Road verges of conservation importance 

Waxcap grasslands 

Strandline 

Page 124 4/15/2009

Species DBAP: 

Badger 

Bat (All species) 

Brown hare 

Dormouse 

Harvest mouse 

Hedgehog 

Otter 

Pine marten 

Polecat 

Red squirrel 

Water shrew 

Water vole 

Barn owl 

Black grouse 

Corn bunting 

Curlew 

Dunlin 

Hen harrier 

House sparrow 

Lapwing 

Linnet 

Little tern 

Merlin 

Nightjar 

Raven 

Redshank 

Reed bunting 

Ring ouzel 

Roseate tern 

Peregrine 

Purple sandpiper 

Sanderling 

Skylark 

Snipe 

Song thrush 

Spotted flycatcher 

Starling 

Tree sparrow 

Yellow wagtail 

Adder 

Common lizard 

Grass snake 

Great crested newt 

Slow worm 

Eel 

Salmon 

Brown trout 

Chalk carpet moth 

Cistus forester 

Page 125 4/15/2009

Dark green fritillary 

Dingy skipper 

Glow worm 

Grayling 

Green hairstreak 

Least minor moth 

Mud snail 

Northern brown argus 

Northern dart moth 

Rounded mouthed whorl snail 

Small pearl-borderd fritillary 

White-clawed crayfish 

White-letter hairstreak 

Black poplar 

Juniper 

Pale-bristle-moss 

Yellow marsh saxifrage 

Page 126 4/15/2009

REFERENCES 

Durham Landscape Strategy 

http://www.durham.gov.uk/landscape/usp.nsf/pws/Landscape+- 

+Landscape+Strategy 

County Durham Environment Strategy, County Durham Environment Partnership. 

2006 

Natural England’s Natural Areas 

http://www.naturalareas.naturalengland.org.uk/Science/natural/foreword.htm 

State of the Natural Environment 2008 – North East 

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/regions/north_east/sone/sone.aspx 

Wikipedia.org 

‘Shared Earth Trust’ – Denmark Farm Conservation Centre 

http://www.shared-earth-trust.org.uk/ 

Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (PPS9) 

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/planningbiodiversit 

y 

Planning for Biodiversity and Geological Conservation: A Guide to Good Practice 

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/planningbiodiversit 

y 

Circular 06/05: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – Statutory Obligations 

and Their Impact Within the Planning System 

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/circularbiodiversity 

Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) ACT 2006 – Guidance 

(DEFRA) http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/ruraldelivery/bill/ 

Durham Geodiversity Audit, British Geological survey, DJD Lawrence, CL Vye and 

B Young. 2004 

The North Pennines Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan 

http://www.northpennines.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5137 

Page 127 4/15/2009

Biodiversity and the Built Environment, The UK Green Building Council Task Force. 

March 2009. 

Natura 2000 Network http://www.natura.org/ 

Article 10 of the Habitats Directive http://www.proacticampaigns.net/infoandlinks/id10.html 

Water Framework Directive Article 8 and Article 14 

http://www.ewaonline.de/journal/2002 05.pdf 

Securing the Future: Delivering UK Sustainable Development, HM Government 

2005 

http://www.sustainabledevelopment.gov.uk/publications/pdf/strategy/secfut_complete.pdf 

Environmental Quality in Spatial Planning, Countryside Agency, English Heritage, 

English Nature & Environment Agency. 2005. 

Working With the Grain of Nature: A Biodiversity Strategy for England. 2002 

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/biodiversity/action-uk/e-biostrat.htm 

The Invasive Non-Native Species Framework Strategy for Great Britain, DEFRA. 

2007 

UK Biodiversity Action Plan http://www.ukbap.org.uk/ 

Durham Biodiversity Action Plan (DBAP) 

http://www.durhambiodiversity.org.uk/planstructure3.htm 

Does Money Grow on Trees? CABE Space. Undated 

Local Development Plan Monitoring: A good Practice Guide. HM Stationary Office. 

2005 

Framework for Biodiversity: Integrating Biodiversity into Local Development 

Frameworks. The Association of Local Government Ecologists (ALGE). 2005 

Page 128 4/15/2009

SECTION 3.0 - Durham County Council

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?