Derwent Gorge & Horsleyhope Ravine
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ050494 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 16.49 | 2023-08-15 |
| NZ050496 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 21.54 | 2023-08-15 |
| NZ055487 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 8.08 | 2023-08-15 |
| NZ055488 | — | Favourable | 3.09 | 2022-06-09 |
| NZ055490 | — | Favourable | 3.09 | 2022-06-09 |
| NZ061490 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 3.17 | 2023-08-15 |
| NZ062480 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 29.12 | 2023-08-15 |
| NZ064475 | — | Unfavourable No Change | 1.81 | 2010-05-21 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine
Landscape processes: Fluvial
Description
Description Derwent Gorge and Horsleyhope Ravine comprise an extensive area of woodland on sheltered slopes four miles west south west of Consett. Sessile oak Quercus petraea is dominant on the dry, acidic soils of the upper slopes and forms woodland which, on the most inaccessible slopes, appears to have remained free from human interference. Birch Betula pendula and rowan Sorbus aucuparia are present amongst the oak and some have been coppiced in the past. Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, woodrush Luzula sylvatica and tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa dominate the herb layer, while male fern Dryopteris filix-mas, dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and common cow wheat Melampyrum pratense are frequent. Sweet woodruff Galium odoratum and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella are abundant in association with hazel Corylus avellana coppice and the rich ground flora also includes enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana, valerian Valeriana officinalis, honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum and woodsage Teucrium scorodonia. Ivy Hedera helix and common polypody fern Polypodium vulgare also occur, the latter growing epiphytically. Damper base rich soils along the bottom of the Derwent Gorge and in poorly drained sites support mixed deciduous woodland in which ash Fraxinus excelsior and wych elm Ulmus glabra are abundant, with occasional bird cherry Prunus padus. Alder Alnus glutinosa is common along the river banks and sanicle sanicle europaea grows with wild garlic Allium usinum in the ground flora. Wood bitter cress Cardamine flexuosa and opposite leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium are frequent in the dampest areas. Ashwood, with birch, hazel and holly Ilex aquifolium, grows extensively on heavy, neutral soils in the south of Horsleyhope Ravine, and gives way to stands of alder, developed from old coppice, on waterlogged soils. Here the ground flora is dominated by hybrid sweet grass Glyceria x pedicellata with great horsetail Equisetum telmateia. Yew Taxus baccata occurs sporadically on wooded crags throughout much of the site. A rich assemblage of over sixty epiphytic lichens is present and includes indicators of long established woodland, Pachyphiale cornea and Thelotrema lepadinum, together with Cyphelium inquinans, which is rare in the north. The lichen flora also includes abundant Calicium abietina and Pertusaria spp. which are found growing in well developed communities of crustose lichens. Several areas of herb rich grassland and scrub occur around the edges of the woodland. These represent the typical transition of neutral grassland types found in the North Pennines where meadow grassland on flatter ground supporting species such as wood cranesbill Geranium sylvaticum, pignut Conopodium majus and great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis is replaced on steeper slopes or where soils are thinner, by species more commonly associated with acid conditions. At Derwent Gorge this change is marked by increased prominence of species such as birds foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, betony Betonica officinalis, devil's bit scabious Succisa pratensis and adder's tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum. The scrubby margins and gradation from grassland into woodland found here is an unusual feature in upland woods.
Species mentioned
Show the 37 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusInsects 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.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Speckled footman Coscinia cribraria |
Critically Endangered | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| New forest Zygaena viciae |
Critically Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Straw belle Aspitates gilvaria |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus petraea |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Prunus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Prunus spp. |
| Wood white Leptidea sinapis |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Heath fritillary Melitaea athalia |
Endangered | Melampyrum pratense, Teucrium scorodonia |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| Slender scotch Zygaena loti |
Endangered | Lotus corniculatus |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Lonicera periclymenum, Prunus padus, Quercus spp., Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Dingy skipper Erynnis tages |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum, Succisa pratensis |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Deschampsia cespitosa |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| White admiral Limenitis camilla |
Vulnerable | Lonicera periclymenum |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Ulmus glabra |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Lotus corniculatus |
| The anomalous Stilbia anomala |
Vulnerable | Deschampsia cespitosa |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus petraea |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Sorbus aucuparia |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| Rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Galium spp. |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Betonica officinalis |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus petraea |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| Scotch burnet Zygaena exulans |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| 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 12 species from the description above: Betula pendula, Circaea lutetiana, Corylus avellana, Dryopteris filix-mas, Fraxinus excelsior, Hedera helix, Ilex aquifolium, Lonicera periclymenum, Mercurialis perennis, Taxus baccata, Teucrium scorodonia, Ulmus glabra
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera 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
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Matches 8 species from the description above: Cardamine flexuosa, Corylus avellana, Dryopteris filix-mas, Hedera helix, Lonicera periclymenum, Mercurialis perennis, Oxalis acetosella, Teucrium scorodonia
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera 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 6 species from the description above: Deschampsia cespitosa, Luzula sylvatica, Oxalis acetosella, Succisa pratensis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Valeriana officinalis
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix 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
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis 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
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula 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
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis 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
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus 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