Hareshaw Dene
Hareshaw Dene is a woodland and a 20 ha (0.08 sq mi) Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)[1][2] on the southeastern boundary of Northumberland National Park in Northumberland, England. It is located 1 km north of the village of Bellingham. This woodland is protected because of the diversity of plant and lichen species present.
This woodland is on the sides of the valley of a stream called Hareshaw Burn. There is a waterfall in this protected area, called Hareshaw Linn.[3][4]
In the 19th century Hareshaw Burn was used as a water source supplying ironworks where there were coke ovens and blast furnaces.[5]
Biology
Tree species in this woodland include elm, ash, hazel (coppiced) and rowan. Herbaceous plant species include wood sage, dog's mercury, wild raspberry and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage. On upper slopes, tree species include pedunculate oak and shrub species include heather and bilberry. Lichen species include Thelotrema lepadinum. Fern species include Polypodium vulgare.[1]
Daubenton's bat is found in this woodland.[6]
Geology
Hareshaw Dene is a river gorge cut through sandstone rocks from the Carboniferous period.[1]
Land ownership
All land within Hareshaw Dene SSSI is owned by the local authority.[7] The woodland is owned by Northumberland County Council.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "SSSI detail". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ↑ "Protected Planet | Hareshaw Dene". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ↑ "Hareshaw Linn in Bellingham". Fabulous North. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ↑ "Hareshaw Linn • Northumberland National Park". Northumberland National Park. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ↑ "Hareshaw Linn". National Trails. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ↑ Trust, Woodland. "Hareshaw Linn". Woodland Trust. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
- ↑ "Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament". questions-statements.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-16.