Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve

Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve Enter a world where magical yew, oak, ash and dying elm create a home for other plants and creatures. 10,000 years of wild growth in a deep gorge

Castle Eden Dene is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve in the Easington district of County Durham, England. It is located immediately south of Peterlee, between the A19 and A1086 roads. The dene is the largest, and biologically the richest, of a series of deep ravines that have been incised through the Magnesian Limestone and overlying boulder clay of coastal Durham

by streams flowing into the North Sea. It is the largest area of semi-natural woodland in north-east England and, because the steep valley sides are mostly inaccessible, it has suffered relatively little from human interference. The majority of the woodland is dominated by ash, Fraxinus excelsior, and wych elm, Ulmus glabra, though sycamore, Acer pseudoplatanus is well-established and yew, Taxus baccata, is common.[2] This last is said to have given the dene its name, "Eden" being derived from the earlier "Yoden", or Yew dene,[1] though an alternative explanation is that "Eden" and "Yoden" derive from Old English Idun, itself a derivative of Indo-European pid, meaning "a spring, water". Over 450 species of plants have been recorded in the wood, many of which are typical of ancient woodlands that date back to pre-medieval times. The ground-flora is dominated by ramsons, or wild garlic, Allium ursinum, with its characteristic garlic-like aroma; dog's mercury, Mercurialis perennis and sanicle, Sanicula europaea, are also common, while locally-rare species include lily-of-the-valley, Convallaria majalis, herb paris, Paris quadrifolia, bird's-nest orchid, Neottia nidus-avis, and round-leaved wintergreen, Pyrola rotundifolia. In early spring, the woodland floor is scattered with the yellow flowers of primrose, Primula vulgaris, and lesser celandine, Ranunculus ficaria, and the white flowers of wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa, which give way in late spring to thick carpets of bluebells, Hyacinthoides non-scripta. This fan page is in no way connected with or endorsed by Natural England

23/06/2018

The time lapse duration was 1 hour. 22/06/2018

https://youtu.be/EFVVYVcO_3I
23/03/2016

https://youtu.be/EFVVYVcO_3I

Gunners Pool Bridge was fabricated in Hartlepool in the late 19th century and is the most impressive of the sixteen bridges that cross the Castle Eden Burn a...

23/03/2016

A spring walk through Castle Eden Dene, finishing off at Horden beach. - Music is provided by FreeSongsToUse - Miza - Free Songs To Use / 100K Subscribers Mi...

Don't forget we also have a Youtube channel :) Please subscribe
20/03/2016

Don't forget we also have a Youtube channel :) Please subscribe

This is my Youtube channel filled with wonderful videos and pictures taken in Castle Eden Dene. Enjoy

03/11/2015
09/02/2015

A walk down Horden beach and a walk to the cliff tops

Winter arrives at Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve
12/12/2014

Winter arrives at Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve

Autumn arrives at Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve
26/10/2014

Autumn arrives at Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve

Post and share your wonderful pictures of the magical Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve
26/10/2014

Post and share your wonderful pictures of the magical Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve

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Peterlee
SR81NJ

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