Castle Eden Dene

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.7481, -1.3341

Also within

Durham County

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Recovering (6) Favourable (12)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
NZ413387 Unfavourable Recovering 9.68 2018-01-12
NZ414389 Favourable 13.16 2018-01-12
NZ418389 Favourable 10.48 2010-11-29
NZ422387 Favourable 17.73 2018-01-12
NZ422389 Favourable 17.17 2018-01-12
NZ427393 Favourable 2.75 2010-11-29
NZ428399 Unfavourable Recovering 17.14 2018-01-12
NZ430393 Unfavourable Recovering 17.18 2018-01-12
NZ431392 Unfavourable Recovering 16.32 2018-01-12
NZ431394 Favourable 5.26 2010-11-29
NZ432399 Favourable 3.14 2018-01-12
NZ434398 Unfavourable Recovering 12.8 2018-01-12
NZ437397 Favourable 6.06 2018-01-12
NZ439401 Favourable 9.72 2018-01-12
NZ440396 Unfavourable Recovering 13.3 2018-01-12
NZ441399 Favourable 7.99 2018-01-12
NZ445401 Favourable 7.73 2018-01-12
NZ445402 Favourable 6.97 2018-01-12

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Glacial Till, Limestone

Landscape processes: Coastal, Glacial

Description

Area, 192.97 hectares 476.83 ac Description Castle Eden Dene is the largest and biologically the richest of a series of steep sided wooded denes, formed as deep ravines in the Magnesian Limestone and boulder clay of the Durham Coast. Due to its size and difficult terrain large parts of the woodland remain comparatively free from human disturbance, despite the proximity of Peterlee New Town. The majority of the woodland is developed on base rich soils with ash Fraxinus excelsior and wych elm Ulmus glabra as the main canopy species, although sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus is well established and yew Taxus baccata common. hazel Corylus avellana is the most abundant shrub species, but guelder rose Viburnum opulus, spindle Euonymus europaeus, privet Ligustrum vulgare, dogwood Cornus sanguinea and spurge laurel Daphne laureola are also significant components of the shrub flora. The species rich ground flora is dominated by wild garlic Allium ursinum with wood anemone Anemone nemorosa, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and sanicle Sanicula europaea, whilst in the humid valley bottom there are locally extensive stands of hart’s tongue fern Asplenium scolopendrium. Rare and local 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. Juniper Juniperus communis and small leaved lime Tilia cordata also occur in the dene. In the upper parts of the dene on boulder clay soils pedunculate oak Quercus robur and, to a lesser extent, birch Betula pubescens dominate the canopy, with an understorey of hazel, holly Ilex aquifolium and rowan Sorbus aucuparia and a ground flora containing tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa, or bracken Pteridium aquilinum. The boulder clay slopes are inherently unstable and land slips are frequent. These become colonised by a wide range of ruderal and wetland plants in which giant horsetail Equisetum telmateia is often abundant, whilst in time willow Salix spp. scrub becomes established. At the western end of the dene is a small stand of grassland, containing blue moor grass Sesleria caeruleae, rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, quaking grass Briza media and fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea. The insect fauna is exceptionally diverse and includes a large assemblage of nationally and regionally rare species, the best known being the elm feeding moth, Blomer’s rivulet Venusia blomeri.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
hart's-tongue fern Asplenium scolopendrium LC fern aspleniaceae
bracken Pteridium aquilinum LC fern dennstaedtiaceae
quaking grass Briza media VU grass poaceae
tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa LC grass poaceae
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
wood anemone Anemone nemorosa LC herb ranunculaceae
lilly of the valley Convallaria majalis LC herb liliaceae
great horsetail Equisetum telmateia LC herb equisetaceae
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
birdsnest orchid Neottia nidus-avis VU herb orchidaceae
herb paris Paris quadrifolia VU herb melanthiaceae
round leaved wintergreens Pyrola rotundifolia VU herb ericaceae
sanicle Sanicula europaea LC herb apiaceae
Blomer's rivulet Venusia blomeri Not listed in GB list moth geometridae
dogwood Cornus sanguinea LC shrub cornaceae
spurge laurel Daphne laureola LC shrub thymelaeaceae
spindle tree Euonymus europaeus LC shrub celastraceae
juniper Juniperus communis CR shrub cupressaceae
wild privet Ligustrum vulgare LC shrub oleaceae
gelder rose Viburnum opulus LC shrub caprifoliaceae
sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Not listed in GB list tree aceraceae
downy birch Betula pubescens LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
common oak Quercus robur LC tree fagaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC tree rosaceae
yew Taxus baccata LC tree taxaceae
lime small leaved Tilia cordata LC tree malvaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae

Insects to look out for

These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus robur
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
White-letter hairstreak
Satyrium w-album
Endangered Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp.
Northern brown
Aricia artaxerxes
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Pteridium aquilinum, Ulmus spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus spp.
Juniper pug
Eupithecia pusillata
Vulnerable Juniperus communis, Juniperus spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium
Grayling
Hipparchia semele
Vulnerable Deschampsia cespitosa
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Betula pubescens, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Tilia spp., Ulmus glabra
Silver studded blue
Plebejus argus
Vulnerable Helianthemum nummularium
The anomalous
Stilbia anomala
Vulnerable Deschampsia cespitosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus robur
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Pteridium aquilinum, Sorbus aucuparia
Light crimson underwing
Catocala promissa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dark crimson underwing
Catocala sponsa
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Dusky-lemon sallow
Cirrhia gilvago
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
Heart moth
Dicycla oo
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Betula pubescens
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp., Tilia spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Betula spp.
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Silky wave
Idaea dilutaria
Near Threatened Helianthemum nummularium
Clay fan-foot
Paracolax tristalis
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Common fan-foot
Pechipogo strigilata
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Frosted green
Polyploca ridens
Near Threatened Quercus robur
Scarce hook-tip
Sabra harpagula
Near Threatened Tilia cordata
White prominent
Leucodonta bicoloria
Regionally Extinct Betula spp.

Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Plant communities

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 16 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Allium ursinum, Anemone nemorosa, Asplenium scolopendrium, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Euonymus europaeus, Fraxinus excelsior, Ilex aquifolium, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 6 species from the description above: Acer pseudoplatanus, Anemone nemorosa, Fraxinus excelsior, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum, Quercus robur

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 4 species from the description above: Asplenium scolopendrium, Corylus avellana, Mercurialis perennis, Pteridium aquilinum

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Matches 2 species from the description above: Anemone nemorosa, Deschampsia cespitosa

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis