Natural History of Upper Weardale
This new publication compliments the outstanding “Natural History of Upper Teesdale”, the latest edition of which was published in 2018 by Durham Wildlife Trust. This too takes a whole view of a remarkable upland area. In the Foreword to Natural History of Upper Weardale, naturalist Phil Gates notes that: “It is an inspirational Dale for anyone who loves landscape, rural communities, history and natural history.” He adds: “I thought I knew it pretty well, having trod so many miles of its footpaths, until I read this book: it has reminded me that there is so much more here to learn and to marvel at.”
01
Foreword
By Phil Gates
Forty-five years ago, entirely by chance, we came to live on the edge of Weardale. Then, I could hardly believe our good fortune; today, I am still thankful that this is where we put down roots. It is an inspirational Dale for anyone who loves landscape, rural communities, history and natural history.
Reading The Natural History of Upper Weardale will surely add a new level of enjoyment to all those who love the Dale, and those who have yet to discover its delights. It was researched, written and produced by a team who generously dedicated their time, knowledge and talents during the worst months of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. Perhaps that timing was fortuitous, as the conditions of lockdown have made so many of us acutely aware of the importance of open spaces, nature and the countryside in our physical and mental wellbeing.
02
Introduction
by Steve Gater PhD
This first edition of The Natural History of Upper Weardale is written to inform, inspire and engage people who live, learn or work in Weardale and surrounding areas, and visitors from near or far.
Individual chapters will be hosted online, a limited number of copies of the book are available from Durham Wildlife Trust and the plan is to make the edition available as an e-book. Further information, including references, useful resources, websites and a full list of binomial names of species mentioned in each chapter is also available online at the www.livinguplands.com website.
03
People
By Ian Forbes and Rob Young
Ian Forbes MBE, retired Director of Killhope Lead Mining Museum.
Rob Young PhD, former Historic England’s Inspector of Ancient Monuments (N E England), freelance archaeological specialist.
04
Weather & Climate
By Ken Cook and Ian Findley
Ken Cook, retired Headteacher, Met Office Observer, Copley; Ian Findley MBE, retired Warden, local farmer and wildlife enthusiast.
The Pennines are unique in England as the only significant upland area not close to the sea, with climatic implications. Weather patterns in the Upper Dale on the Pennines have changed in the past 20 years
05
Bedrock Geology
By Brian Young
Brian Young, Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham, retired British Geological Survey District Geologist for Northern England.
Buried beneath the Dale, but reached by deep boreholes, are rocks dating from around 450 Ma (million years) ago formed when the area that was to become Northern England lay far south of the equator. These include slates that originated as mud on the floor of a deep ocean, and volcanic rocks and granite formed as the earth’s tectonic plates collided and destroyed this ancient ocean around 420 Ma.
06
Geomorphology & Glaciation Legacy
By David J A Evans
David J A Evans, Professor in the Department of Geography, University of Durham.
Despite being a region that has been cloaked in glacier ice many times during the ice age, the physical landscape of the North Pennines is strongly controlled by the structure of its bedrock.
07
Flora
By Heather Kelly & Bob Baxter
Heather Kelly PhD, Teaching Fellow in plant physiology and ecology at Durham University, blogger.
Bob Baxter PhD, FRSB, SFHEA, Reader in the Department of Biosciences, University of Durham.
Upper Weardale has plenty of botanical interest, shaped by its unique history and variety of habitats and plant communities. Though far less well known than the Arctic-Alpine assemblage found in Upper Teesdale, the flora boasts national rarities and species typical of upland dales.
Preparing for the online Chapters on Flora, Fauna and Freshwater Life we created a PDF reference list for the hundreds of species name-checked in the book. For this Chapter, the FLORA list is by both Vernacular and Scientific names, with hand links to what an internet search might add to wider information on each.
08
Fauna
By Terry Coult, Stuart Priestley, David Raw
Terry Coult, retired Principal Ecologist, Durham County Council,former Conservation Manager, Durham Wildlife Trust. Stuart Priestley, Principal Ecologist, Durham County Council.
David Raw, a founding member of the Durham Upland Bird Study Group which for over 30 years has monitored key species in the area. With contributions from Tim Barker, Dr Malcolm Birtle, Louise Hislop, Carol Inskipp, Mike Powell, Keith Robson.
The presence of a good variety animal species that have had a presence in Weardale, living or extinct, is covered in this chapter, except for aquatic species which are covered in Chapter 7, Freshwater Life.
Preparing for the online Chapters on Flora, Fauna and Freshwater Life we created a PDF reference list for the hundreds of species name-checked in the book. For this Chapter, FAUNA are listed by both Vernacular and Scientific names, with hand links to what an internet search might add to wider information on each. Entries for Freshwater Life, Chapter 7, are included in the FAUNA list.
09
Freshwater Life
By Martyn Kelly, Michael Gardner, Paul Frear, Paul Atkinson:
Martyn G Kelly PhD, Environmental Consultant specialising in the ecology of freshwater algae. Michael Gardner, Freshwater Ecologist with the Environment Agency. Paul Frear, Freshwater Fisheries Biologist for 40 years, specialising in their ecology and behaviour. Paul Atkinson, Project Officer, Wear Rivers Trust.
From being reported in 1903, as a salmon river ‘ruined by pollution’ so that ‘there is nothing to be said about its angling’, the River Wear, and its tributaries has much to offer today to anyone interested in its natural history, as this chapter reveals.
Preparing for the online Chapters on Flora, Fauna and Freshwater Life we created a PDF reference list for the hundreds of species name-checked in the book. For this Chapter, entries for Freshwater Life are included in the FAUNA list, by both Vernacular and Scientific names, with hand links to what an internet search might add to wider information on each.
10
Conservation
By Jim Cokill
im Cokill, Trust Director at Durham Wildlife Trust since 2008.
Earlier chapters in this book consider some aspects of conservation. This chapter focuses on the wider aspects of wildlife conservation, and that of social history and why we should care for the future of Weardale.
There is a lot in Weardale to be conserved — outstanding geology, important wildlife, built and social heritage in a living Dale that is a home and source of income for many. Today we take nature conservation granted – but should we?
