Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Location | Northumberland |
---|---|
Grid reference | NY783641 |
Coordinates | 54°58′18″N 2°20′20″W / 54.97179°N 2.33885°W |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 4.7 hectares (12 acres) |
Notification | 1986 |
Location map | DEFRA MAGIC map |
Natural England website |
Beltingham River Shingle is the name given to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Northumberland in the north-east of England, notable for an unusual community of flora tolerant to the high levels of naturally occurring heavy metals in the sediment of a section of the River South Tyne. [1] [2]
Beltingham River Shingle refers to a section of the River South Tyne comprising a coarse-grained shingle island and southern riverbank covering an area of 4.4 hectares (11 acres) situated in the south-west of Northumberland some 0.25 miles (0.40 km) north-west of the village of Beltingham and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south-east of Bardon Mill. The site lies at 80 metres (260 ft) above sea level on a river which drains a watershed including parts of the Northern Pennine Orefield. High levels of heavy metal have built up in the river sediment forming the site's island and riverbank, and on this thrive a community of metal-tolerant plants able to cope with the sediment's poor water retention characteristic. [1] [2]
The vegetation of the Beltingham River Shingle is a sparse mix of spring sandwort ( Minuartia verna), alpine pennycress ( Noccaea caerulescens), mountain pansy ( Viola lutea), thrift ( Armeria maritima), common scurvy grass ( Cochlearia officinalis) and sea campion ( Silene maritima), with meadow oat-grass ( Avenula pratensis), wild thyme ( Thymus praecox), biting stonecrop ( Sedum acre) and harebell ( Campanula rotundifolia). Lichens found at the site include dog lichen ( Peltigera canina) and reindeer lichen ( Cladonia rangiformis). [2]
A woodland has developed on finer alluvial deposits containing alder ( Alnus glutinosa) and willow (Salix spp.) with some birch (Betula sp.), elm ( Ulmus glabra) and sycamore ( Acer pseudoplatanus) and Scot’s pine ( Pinus sylvestris). Wooded areas exhibit ground-cover of dog’s mercury ( Mercurialis perennis), wild angelica ( Angelica sylvestris), red campion ( Silene dioica), hedge woundwort ( Stachys sylvatica), moschatel ( Adoxa moschatellina) and wood sage ( Teucrium scordonia). The river margin is marked by himalayan balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera), lesser burdock ( Arctium minus) and monkey flower ( Mimulus guttatus). [2]
The narrow-lipped helleborine ( Epipactis leptochila), more common on the chalk downs of southern England, is found in this and other the metalliferous shingle sites in the county. [2]
The condition of Beltingham River Shingle was judged to be unfavourable-recovering in 2012. [3]
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Location | Northumberland |
---|---|
Grid reference | NY783641 |
Coordinates | 54°58′18″N 2°20′20″W / 54.97179°N 2.33885°W |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 4.7 hectares (12 acres) |
Notification | 1986 |
Location map | DEFRA MAGIC map |
Natural England website |
Beltingham River Shingle is the name given to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Northumberland in the north-east of England, notable for an unusual community of flora tolerant to the high levels of naturally occurring heavy metals in the sediment of a section of the River South Tyne. [1] [2]
Beltingham River Shingle refers to a section of the River South Tyne comprising a coarse-grained shingle island and southern riverbank covering an area of 4.4 hectares (11 acres) situated in the south-west of Northumberland some 0.25 miles (0.40 km) north-west of the village of Beltingham and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south-east of Bardon Mill. The site lies at 80 metres (260 ft) above sea level on a river which drains a watershed including parts of the Northern Pennine Orefield. High levels of heavy metal have built up in the river sediment forming the site's island and riverbank, and on this thrive a community of metal-tolerant plants able to cope with the sediment's poor water retention characteristic. [1] [2]
The vegetation of the Beltingham River Shingle is a sparse mix of spring sandwort ( Minuartia verna), alpine pennycress ( Noccaea caerulescens), mountain pansy ( Viola lutea), thrift ( Armeria maritima), common scurvy grass ( Cochlearia officinalis) and sea campion ( Silene maritima), with meadow oat-grass ( Avenula pratensis), wild thyme ( Thymus praecox), biting stonecrop ( Sedum acre) and harebell ( Campanula rotundifolia). Lichens found at the site include dog lichen ( Peltigera canina) and reindeer lichen ( Cladonia rangiformis). [2]
A woodland has developed on finer alluvial deposits containing alder ( Alnus glutinosa) and willow (Salix spp.) with some birch (Betula sp.), elm ( Ulmus glabra) and sycamore ( Acer pseudoplatanus) and Scot’s pine ( Pinus sylvestris). Wooded areas exhibit ground-cover of dog’s mercury ( Mercurialis perennis), wild angelica ( Angelica sylvestris), red campion ( Silene dioica), hedge woundwort ( Stachys sylvatica), moschatel ( Adoxa moschatellina) and wood sage ( Teucrium scordonia). The river margin is marked by himalayan balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera), lesser burdock ( Arctium minus) and monkey flower ( Mimulus guttatus). [2]
The narrow-lipped helleborine ( Epipactis leptochila), more common on the chalk downs of southern England, is found in this and other the metalliferous shingle sites in the county. [2]
The condition of Beltingham River Shingle was judged to be unfavourable-recovering in 2012. [3]