Wildlife along the Blackton Reservoir

Blackton Reservoir. © Ken Crosby - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Durham Wildlife Trust own the traditional haymeadows at Low Birk Hatt Farm on the northern side of the reservoir - said to be the best haymeadows in the North Pennines. These rare meadows have been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and display a large and beautiful variety of wild grasses and flowers including meadow foxtail, wood cranesbill, bugle, marsh marigold, wood anemone, ragged robin, adder's tongue fern, moonwort and globeflower. There’s also a bird hide near the shoreline here.

The western end of the reservoir is a wild nature reserve and has been designated a Site of Particular Importance. Waders like the common sandpiper, and waterfowl like the mallard, wigeon and tufted duck, all love it here.