River Tyne at Ovingham

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.9684, -1.8632

Open in the interactive map →

Also within

Northumberland County

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
NZ088637 — Favourable 3.1 2012-12-14

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Area, 3.0 ha. 7.4 ac. First Notified, 1990 Description The River Tyne at Ovingham is important for fluvial geomorphology. It illustrates the downstream fine member of the sequence of river sedimentation in north east England. It is the only present exposure where bank erosion demonstrates the nature of flood plain fine deposits. Up to three to four metres of laminated flood sediments are exposed showing the build up of the flood plain by overbank sedimentation. It has been a relatively stable channel section so that a good record has been preserved. The site is also significant in that flood plain sedimentation can be linked with the historic flood record for at least the last 200 years, including the great flood of 1771. Metals contained in the sediments provide a further means of dating the sediments. Other Information This site is listed as of national importance in the Geological Conservation Review.

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