Derwent Gorge & Horsleyhope Ravine

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.8388, -1.9188

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (5) Favourable (2) Unfavourable No Change (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (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

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas LC fern dryopteridaceae
adders-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum LC fern ophioglossaceae
polypody Polypodium vulgare LC fern polypodiaceae
tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa LC grass poaceae
betony Betonica officinalis VU herb lamiaceae
wavy bitter-cress Cardamine flexuosa LC herb brassicaceae
opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
enchanter's nightshade Circaea lutetiana LC herb onagraceae
pignut Conopodium majus LC herb apiaceae
great horsetail Equisetum telmateia LC herb equisetaceae
woodruff Galium odoratum LC herb rubiaceae
wood cranesbill Geranium sylvaticum LC herb geraniaceae
honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum LC herb caprifoliaceae
birdsfoot trefoil Lotus corniculatus LC herb fabaceae
common cowwheat Melampyrum pratense VU herb orobanchaceae
dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis LC herb euphorbiaceae
wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella LC herb oxalidaceae
great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis LC herb rosaceae
devils-bit scabious Succisa pratensis VU herb caprifoliaceae
wood sage Teucrium scorodonia LC herb lamiaceae
common valerian Valeriana officinalis LC herb caprifoliaceae
cupped soot lichen Cyphelium inquinans Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
no common name Pachyphiale cornea Not listed in GB list lichen no common name
barnacle lichen Thelotrema lepadinum LC lichen no common name
great wood rush Luzula sylvatica LC rush juncaceae
billberry Vaccinium myrtillus LC shrub ericaceae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae
hazel Corylus avellana LC tree corylaceae
ash Fraxinus excelsior LC tree oleaceae
holly Ilex aquifolium LC tree aquifoliaceae
bird cherry Prunus padus LC tree rosaceae
sessile or durmast oak Quercus petraea LC tree fagaceae
rowan Sorbus aucuparia LC tree rosaceae
yew Taxus baccata LC tree taxaceae
wych elm Ulmus glabra LC tree ulmaceae
ivy Hedera helix LC woody climber araliaceae

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
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

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

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

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 6 species from the description above: Deschampsia cespitosa, Luzula sylvatica, Oxalis acetosella, Succisa pratensis, Vaccinium myrtillus, Valeriana officinalis

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

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

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