Geltsdale & Glendue Fells
Also within
Cumbria CountyNorthumberland County North Pennines Scenic Area Pennine Way National Trail
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY543561 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 2.21 | 2021-11-30 |
| NY547562 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 11.72 | 2021-11-30 |
| NY549562 | — | Favourable | 1.97 | 2021-11-30 |
| NY554559 | — | Favourable | 8.91 | 2021-11-30 |
| NY555560 | — | Favourable | 12.52 | 2021-11-30 |
| NY568536 | — | Favourable | 278.19 | 2011-12-14 |
| NY568553 | — | Favourable | 46.39 | 2021-11-22 |
| NY569522 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 70.37 | 2020-11-19 |
| NY571512 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 260.16 | 2020-11-19 |
| NY574546 | — | Favourable | 35.0 | 2021-11-22 |
| NY576501 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 90.09 | 2020-11-19 |
| NY576567 | — | Favourable | 109.8 | 2010-09-01 |
| NY582554 | — | Favourable | 320.48 | 2010-09-01 |
| NY585502 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 109.7 | 2020-11-18 |
| NY591503 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 142.03 | 2019-12-11 |
| NY595522 | — | Favourable | 787.85 | 2019-12-11 |
| NY596584 | — | Favourable | 218.92 | 2010-02-25 |
| NY597542 | — | Favourable | 601.89 | 2010-09-01 |
| NY597568 | — | Favourable | 541.7 | 2019-12-11 |
| NY598532 | — | Favourable | 50.7 | 2010-09-01 |
| NY603592 | — | Favourable | 95.02 | 2010-02-25 |
| NY605503 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 327.06 | 2019-12-11 |
| NY618580 | — | Favourable | 443.98 | 2013-10-17 |
| NY619560 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 411.06 | 2019-12-11 |
| NY621519 | — | Favourable | 401.8 | 2019-12-11 |
| NY630547 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 416.27 | 2013-07-17 |
| NY635534 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 393.5 | 2009-07-10 |
| NY640521 | — | Favourable | 368.83 | 2009-07-10 |
| NY640559 | — | Favourable | 173.28 | 2011-12-08 |
| NY640576 | — | Favourable | 509.32 | 2019-12-11 |
| NY654531 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 53.01 | 2009-01-29 |
| NY656548 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 257.77 | 2013-07-17 |
| NY659539 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 49.31 | 2009-08-13 |
| NY659573 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 86.23 | 2011-12-08 |
| NY661558 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 223.98 | 2011-12-08 |
| NY665574 | — | Unfavourable Recovering | 148.04 | 2019-11-25 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Peat habitats store centuries of carbon and depend on a stable, waterlogged water table. Warmer, drier summers dry out peat, making it far more vulnerable to wildfire and to carbon release — a pressure that can undo years of restoration work regardless of how well the site is otherwise managed.
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Rock Outcrop · Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Limestone
Landscape processes: Peatland / Mire, Volcanic / Igneous
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| curlew | Breeding |
| curlew | Wintering |
| golden plover | Breeding |
| golden plover | Wintering |
| goldeneye | Breeding |
| goldeneye | Wintering |
| mallard | Breeding |
| mallard | Wintering |
| merlin | Breeding |
| merlin | Wintering |
| pochard | Breeding |
| pochard | Wintering |
| redshank | Breeding |
| redshank | Wintering |
| tufted duck | Breeding |
| tufted duck | Wintering |
| whooper swan | Breeding |
| whooper swan | Wintering |
Description
Area 5,516 hectares 13,630 ac Northumberland 2,451 hectares 6,056 ac Total 7,967 hectares 19,686 ac Description The site comprises the northernmost extremity of the Pennines and is located about 20 kilometres due east of Carlisle. Just over two thirds lies in Cumbria, the remainder being in Northumberland. The Fells are noted for their ornithological interest and in particular the large and diverse breeding bird community. The entire site is based on rocks of Carboniferous age, these being mostly acidic sandstones and shales although some thin bands of limestone are also present. The coal measures are exposed at lower levels and this has led to mining and quarrying in the area in the past. In places there are also outcrops of the whin Sill. Habitats represented within the site range from fell bottom meadows and woodlands to elevated moorlands reaching an altitude of 627 metres OD Most of the higher moorland is covered by a typical Pennine blanket bog community, managed for both sheep and grouse and codominated by a heather Calluna vulgaris and hare's tail cotton grass Eriophorum vaginatum community in which the more unusual species, cowberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea, cranberry V. oxycoccus and cloudberry Rubus chamaemorus are locally abundant. On better drained ground there are areas of dry heather moor and acidic grassland and, where the thin bands of limestone outcrop, there are some small patches of base rich grassland and calcareous flushes. On the lower ground, habitats include several blocks of woodland varying from ash Fraxinus excelsior, wych elm Ulmus glabra, sessile oak Quercus petraea, hazel Corylus avellana dominated types on dry basic soils to birch Betula pendula and Betula pubescens, hazel associations on more acidic sites with alder Alnus glutinosa more frequent where drainage is impeded. Also at lower altitudes there are some interesting old hay meadows and a small lake, the former supporting a rich flora including lesser butterfly orchid Platanthera bifolia. The diversity of habitats supports a large number of bird species many of which breed. The meadows and marshy pastures around the northern fringe of the area, together with the lower moorlands, support numerous wading birds with curlew and redshank being particularly dominant. Ring ouzels are frequent in the rock outcrops along the water courses. Nesting golden plover are patchily distributed on the blanket bogs. Predatory species such as short eared owl and merlin are recorded. The woodlands of Upper Geltsdale are of local importance for their breeding birds and Tindale Tarn is of comparable significance, being the winter haunt of wildfowl including mallard, tufted duck, pochard, goldeneye and whooper swan.
Species mentioned
Show the 21 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | NT (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| pochard | Aythya ferina | EN (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| tufted duck | Aythya fuligula | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | VU (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| merlin | Falco columbarius | EN (Breeding) | bird-hawk | falconidae |
| whooper swan | Cygnus cygnus | LC (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) | bird-swan | anatidae |
| curlew | Numenius arquata | EN (Breeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| golden plover | Pluvialis apricaria | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-wader | charadriidae |
| redshank | Tringa totanus | EN (NonBreeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| lesser butterfly orchid | Platanthera bifolia | VU | herb | orchidaceae |
| cloud berry | Rubus chamaemorus | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| cowberry | Vaccinium vitis-idaea | LC | herb | ericaceae |
| hare's-tail cottongrass | Eriophorum vaginatum | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| bell heather or ling | Calluna vulgaris | NT | shrub dwarf | ericaceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| birch | Betula pendula | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| downy birch | Betula pubescens | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| wych elm | Ulmus glabra | LC | tree | ulmaceae |
Plant communities
M1 — Blanket bog, Raised bog
Sphagnum auriculatum bog pool community
Show 30 indicator speciesErica tetralix, Myrica gale, Carex limosa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora fusca, Trichophorum cespitosum, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus bulbosus, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Scheuchzeria palustris, Molinia caerulea
M2 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire
Sphagnum cuspidatum/recurvum bog pool community
Show 37 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Carex canescens, Carex magellanica, Carex rostrata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Aulacomnium palustre, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum tenellum, Cephalozia connivens, Cephalozia lunulifolia, Gymnocolea inflata, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Agrostis canina, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea
M3 — Blanket bog, Raised bog
Eriophorum angustifolium bog pool community
Show 15 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Erica tetralix, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Campylopus brevipilus, Drepanocladus fluitans, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum papillosum, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera rotundifolia, Agrostis canina, Molinia caerulea
M15 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Upland wet heath
Scirpus cespitosus-Erica tetralix wet heath
Show 95 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex dioica, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Scorpidium revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophozia ventricosa, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Aneura pinguis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Succisa pratensis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Hypericum pulchrum, Triglochin palustre, Pinguicula vulgaris, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza maculata, Euphrasia officinalis, Pedicularis palustris, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Trientalis europaea, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum
M17 — Blanket bog
Scirpus cespitosus-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire
Show 78 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex demissa, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus setifolius, Campylopus shawii, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum imbricatum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum strictum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Agrostis canina, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta
M18 — Blanket bog, Raised bog
Erica tetralix-Sphagnum papillosum raised and blanket mire
Show 54 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephalozia connivens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Narthecium ossifragum, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea
M19 — Blanket bog, Raised bog
Calluna vulgaris-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire
Show 84 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Betula nana, Arctostaphylos alpinus, Vaccinium microcarpum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex nigra, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Ptilidium ciliare, Hypogymnia physodes, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia tenuis, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Cornus suecica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Neottia cordata, Potentilla erecta, Rubus chamaemorus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant
M20 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire
Eriophorum vaginatum blanket and raised mire
Show 43 indicator speciesEmpetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Drepanocladus fluitans, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephaloziella hampeana, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia taylorii, Ptilidium ciliare, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina
M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland
Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire
Show 85 indicator speciesSalix cinerea, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Lobelia urens, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda regalis