Harton Down Hill

Also within

Tyne & Wear County

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 1.08 hectares 2.67 ac Description Harton Down Hill is of importance for the Magnesian Limestone Grassland communities which are associated with the shallow soils and rock outcrops of this small but prominent hill near South Shields. The grassland supports a community dominated by meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis, crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha and red fescue Festuca rubra, in which blue moor grass Sesleria caeruleae, quaking grass Briza media and upright brome Bromus erectus also occur. The community is herb rich and includes glaucous sedge Carex flacca, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, yarrow Achillea millefolium, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, spiny rest-harrow Ononis spinosa, hoary plantain Plantago media and sea plantain Pinus pinaster, as well as large patches of salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba and the occasional patches of cowslip Primula veris, wild thyme Thymus praecox and devil’s bits cabious Succisa pratensis. Of particular note is the large population of perennial flax Linum perenne, found on the hill top, its southern and western slopes, this being its northernmost locality in Britain.

Species mentioned