Colour Heugh and Bowden Doors

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 55.5961, -1.8974

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Also within

Northumberland County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (4)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
NU064336 — Favourable 0.92 2021-11-16
NU066335 — Favourable 5.13 2021-11-16
NU068328 — Favourable 5.13 2021-11-16
NU071323 — Favourable 0.57 2021-11-16

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Sandstone

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Area,1,10 00011.3 hectares 27.9 ac Description The crags of Colour Heugh and Bowden Doors show what are arguably the most impressive exposures of the early mid Dinantian Fell Sandstone Group in the whole of northern England. Famous for its sedimentary structures, the Fell Sandstone has been interpreted as a complex of fluviodeltaic alluvial plain sediments, with braided and meandering river bedforms. Many sedimentary features typical of such a depositional environment are outstandingly displayed within the site. This is an excellent locality for the elucidation and demonstration of many aspects of classic sedimentology and a key location for understanding an important phase in the infilling of the Northumberland Trough during Lower Carboniferous times.

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