Hareshaw Dene

Also within

Northumberland County NORTHUMBERLAND National Park

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Bracken scrub, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Geological Period: Carboniferous

Landscape processes: Fluvial

Description

Area, 19.58 hectares 48.38 ac Description Hareshaw Dene is a wooded river gorge cut through sandstones of Lower Carboniferous age. Elm Ulmus glabra and ash Fraxinus excelsior dominate the mixed deciduous woodland developed on base rich soils on the lower slopes of the gorge, which also includes abundant hazel Corylus avellana and rowan Sorbus aucuparia that have grown from former coppice. There is a rich herb flora, including wood sage Teucrium scorodonia, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and wild raspberry Rubus idaeus with tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa and opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium in damper areas. Alder Alnus glutinosa is common along the river banks and in damp areas within the woodland. Pedunculate oak Quercus robur is developed on the upper slopes of the gorge, on highly acid and well drained podzol soils, which contrasts with the mixed deciduous woodland on base rich soils lower down. Woodrush Luzula sylvatica and bracken Pteridium aquilinum dominate the species poor ground flora, which also includes ling Calluna vulgaris and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. A plantation of mature spruce Picea abies, larch Larix decidua and some Scot’s pine Pinus sylvestris was created above the waterfall in Linn Plantation during the last century, when the present well marked forest walk was first established. The rich epiphytic flora within the site includes common polypody fern Polypodium vulgare and over fifty species of lichen, which form distinct communities on smooth and rough barked trees. Lichens characteristic of old woodland notably Thelotrema lepadinum and Arthonia spp. are indicative that the Dene is a remnant of the more extensive woodlands which once grew in this area.

Species mentioned

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.

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