Hareshaw Dene

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 55.1570, -2.2495

Open in the interactive map →

Also within

Northumberland County NORTHUMBERLAND National Park

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
NY841847 — Favourable 19.99 2012-08-08

Habitats

Bracken scrub, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Geological Period: Carboniferous

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Area, 19.58 hectares 48.38 ac Description Hareshaw Dene is a wooded river gorge cut through sandstones of Lower Carboniferous age. Elm Ulmus glabra and ash Fraxinus excelsior dominate the mixed deciduous woodland developed on base rich soils on the lower slopes of the gorge, which also includes abundant hazel Corylus avellana and rowan Sorbus aucuparia that have grown from former coppice. There is a rich herb flora, including wood sage Teucrium scorodonia, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and wild raspberry Rubus idaeus with tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa and opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium in damper areas. Alder Alnus glutinosa is common along the river banks and in damp areas within the woodland. Pedunculate oak Quercus robur is developed on the upper slopes of the gorge, on highly acid and well drained podzol soils, which contrasts with the mixed deciduous woodland on base rich soils lower down. Woodrush Luzula sylvatica and bracken Pteridium aquilinum dominate the species poor ground flora, which also includes ling Calluna vulgaris and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. A plantation of mature spruce Picea abies, larch Larix decidua and some Scot’s pine Pinus sylvestris was created above the waterfall in Linn Plantation during the last century, when the present well marked forest walk was first established. The rich epiphytic flora within the site includes common polypody fern Polypodium vulgare and over fifty species of lichen, which form distinct communities on smooth and rough barked trees. Lichens characteristic of old woodland notably Thelotrema lepadinum and Arthonia spp. are indicative that the Dene is a remnant of the more extensive woodlands which once grew in this area.

Species mentioned

English name
search for this in other sites		 Latin name
search with Google		 IUCN / Red List Type Family
polypody Polypodium vulgare LC fern polypodiaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa LC grass poaceae
opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
rasberry Rubus idaeus LC herb rosaceae
wood sage Teucrium scorodonia LC herb lamiaceae
barnacle lichen Thelotrema lepadinum LC lichen no common name
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae
billberry Vaccinium myrtillus LC shrub ericaceae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
larch Larix decidua Not listed in GB list tree pinaceae
Norway spruce Picea abies Not listed in GB list tree pinaceae
Scot's pine Pinus sylvestris LC tree pinaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC tree rosaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas