Gibside

Also within

Tyne & Wear County

Condition (Natural England)

Habitats

Ancient woodland

Description

Area,89.0 hectares 219.9 ac Description Gibside, a landscaped estate established in the late eighteenth century, is now of considerable conservation interest because of the important assemblages of amphibia, reptiles and invertebrates which it supports. It is one of the best herpetological sites between the Tees and the Scottish border being important for five species of amphibian and four species of reptile, including a viable population of grass snakes. An interesting and diverse invertebrate fauna has also been well recorded at Gibside and abandoned buildings provide roosts for bats. The now partly overgrown ponds are a key feature of this site being used as spawning grounds by the three native British species of newt smooth, palmate and great crested newts as well as by common frogs and common toads. They also support a diverse, aquatic invertebrate fauna including uncommon species such as Ilybius subaeneus, a water beetle found in lowland pools and Agabus unguicularis, a flightless water beetle. Grass snakes, which occur here close to the northern limit of their distribution in Britain, are known to feed particularly in the vicinity of the ponds, but also frequent many of the open trackways throughout the woodland. Bare, unshaded sandy areas along the tracks are also used, in association with other habitats, by other reptiles, namely common lizard, adder and slow worm. Open ground is also particularly important for some invertebrate species, for example two uncommon species of insect, a solitary bee Halictus confusus and a small black weevil Anthonomus brunnipennis, favour these situations whilst a locally rare fly Thrypticus bellus is found only on muddy trackside pools. In places a heath type vegetation with heather Calluna vulgaris, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella and common spotted orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii has developed along the woodland rides whilst the open grassland in front of the hall is species rich, supporting wood crane’s bill Geranium sylvaticum, great burnet Sanguisorba officinalis and betony Betonica officinalis. Although much of the woodland is now coniferous plantation parts of the former deciduous woodlands, comprising sessile oak Quercus petraea, ash Fraxinus excelsior and wych elm Ulmus glabra remain. This supports a diverse insect fauna including several notable species of fly Diptera such as Amoebaleria caesia and Centaurea jacea. Two nationally rare woodland invertebrates include a beetle, Pterostichus cristatus, which is generally restricted to the Tyne Valley area and Malacolimax tenellus , a small slug which is considered to be an indicator species of ancient woodland. Red squirrel are also found in these woodlands. The derelict Gibside Hall and outbuildings provide shelter for Natterer’s and noctule bats which are of local interest.

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.