Witton-le-Wear (SSSI)
Encyclopedia
Witton-le-Wear is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
located in the valley of the River Wear
, immediately east of the village of Witton-le-Wear
in County Durham
, England
.
It is important as the only extensive body of biologically-significant open water in West Durham.
, which developed a nature reserve, Low Barns, on the site.
The site was designated as Witton-le-Wear SSSI in 1966. Minor revisions were made to the boundaries in 1987.
The nature reserve encompasses a visitor centre and a disused sewage works, neither of which is included in the SSSI.
, the area is underlain by riverine sands and gravels, which were formerly extracted; the abandoned workings were subsequently inundated, creating three lakes which are an important feature of the SSSI.
The total area of permanent standing water is 5.5 ha, though the area is subject to periodic flooding, when standing water can temporarily cover the entire site and fresh sediment is deposited. Part of Marston Lake, the largest of the three permanent lakes, is fringed with tall fen vegetation, characterised by Bulrush, Typha latifolia
, Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria, and Common Marsh-bedstraw, Galium palustre
.
On the northern edge of the SSSI, a belt of mature woodland was left when the river abandoned its former channel. The dominant tree species is Alder, Alnus glutinosa, with a groundcover
dominated by weed species, principally Common Nettle, Urtica dioica, and Greater Chickweed, Stellaria neglecta
. In wetter areas, scrub woodland, consisting of a mix of Alder and Willows, Salix spp, is developing. In total, woodland covers an area of 12.4 ha.
Most of the site is covered by free-draining, sandy soils, on which neutral grassland has developed. The dominant grass species are False Oat-grass, Arrhenatherum elatius
, and Common Bent, Agrostis capillaris
, but a variety of herbs are present, including extensive patches dominated by three orchids, Northern Marsh, Dactylorhiza purpurella
, Common Spotted, D. fuchsii, and Early Purple, Orchis mascula. The total area under grassland is 19.0 ha.
, Little Grebe
and Great Crested Grebe
. The open water bodies also support large numbers of wintering wildfowl.
Notable invertebrates include nine species of Odonata
, including the Southern Hawker, Aeshna cyanea, as well as a grass-mining fly, Opomyza punctella, and a leaf beetle, Longitarsus reichei, which are locally rare.
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
located in the valley of the River Wear
River Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
, immediately east of the village of Witton-le-Wear
Witton-le-Wear
Witton-le-Wear is a small village in County Durham, England. It is situated on the north bank of the River Wear, to the north-west of Bishop Auckland.-Geography and administration:...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
It is important as the only extensive body of biologically-significant open water in West Durham.
SSSI status
Until 1964, the area now designated as an SSSI was used for sand and gravel extraction. When extraction ceased, the area was taken over by Durham Wildlife TrustDurham Wildlife Trust
Durham Wildlife Trust, founded in 1971, is a registered charity which aims to protect wildlife and promote nature conservation in parts of County Durham and Tyne and Wear, England...
, which developed a nature reserve, Low Barns, on the site.
The site was designated as Witton-le-Wear SSSI in 1966. Minor revisions were made to the boundaries in 1987.
The nature reserve encompasses a visitor centre and a disused sewage works, neither of which is included in the SSSI.
Geography, geology and ecology
The site occupies an area adjacent to the River Wear, being bounded on the south by the river and on the north by a former river channel which was abandoned when the Wear shifted its course during a flood in 1771. Being part of the river's floodplainFloodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
, the area is underlain by riverine sands and gravels, which were formerly extracted; the abandoned workings were subsequently inundated, creating three lakes which are an important feature of the SSSI.
The total area of permanent standing water is 5.5 ha, though the area is subject to periodic flooding, when standing water can temporarily cover the entire site and fresh sediment is deposited. Part of Marston Lake, the largest of the three permanent lakes, is fringed with tall fen vegetation, characterised by Bulrush, Typha latifolia
Typha latifolia
Typha latifolia is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Typha. It is found as a native plant species in North and South America, Europe, Eurasia, and Africa...
, Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria, and Common Marsh-bedstraw, Galium palustre
Galium palustre
Galium palustre is a herbaceous annual plant of the family Rubiaceae. This plant is native to Europe and North America and has several common names, including Common Marsh-bedstraw....
.
On the northern edge of the SSSI, a belt of mature woodland was left when the river abandoned its former channel. The dominant tree species is Alder, Alnus glutinosa, with a groundcover
Groundcover
Groundcover refers to any plant that grows over an area of ground, used to provide protection from erosion and drought, and to improve its aesthetic appearance .- Ecosystem :...
dominated by weed species, principally Common Nettle, Urtica dioica, and Greater Chickweed, Stellaria neglecta
Stellaria neglecta
Stellaria neglecta, greater chickweed, is an annual or short-lived perennial herbaceous plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Europe and has been introduced to North America.-Taxonomy:...
. In wetter areas, scrub woodland, consisting of a mix of Alder and Willows, Salix spp, is developing. In total, woodland covers an area of 12.4 ha.
Most of the site is covered by free-draining, sandy soils, on which neutral grassland has developed. The dominant grass species are False Oat-grass, Arrhenatherum elatius
Arrhenatherum elatius
-Introduction:Arrhenatherum elatius, with the common names false oat-grass, tall oat-grass, tall meadow oat, onion couch and tuber oat-grass, is a perennial species of grass, common in the temperate regions of Europe....
, and Common Bent, Agrostis capillaris
Agrostis capillaris
Agrostis capillaris is a rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial in the grass family . It is native to Eurasia and has been widely introduced in many parts of the world...
, but a variety of herbs are present, including extensive patches dominated by three orchids, Northern Marsh, Dactylorhiza purpurella
Dactylorhiza purpurella
The Northern Marsh Orchid is an orchid....
, Common Spotted, D. fuchsii, and Early Purple, Orchis mascula. The total area under grassland is 19.0 ha.
Fauna and flora
A significant number of water birds breed on the lakes within the SSSI, including Water RailWater Rail
The Water Rail is a bird of the rail family which breeds in well-vegetated wetlands across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Northern and eastern populations are migratory, but this species is a permanent resident in the warmer parts of its breeding range...
, Little Grebe
Little Grebe
The Little Grebe , also known as Dabchick, member of the grebe family of water birds. At 23 to 29 cm in length it is the smallest European member of its family. It is commonly found in open bodies of water across most of its range.-Description:The Little Grebe is a small water bird with a pointed...
and Great Crested Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
The Great Crested Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.- Description :The Great Crested Grebe is long with a wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations...
. The open water bodies also support large numbers of wintering wildfowl.
Notable invertebrates include nine species of Odonata
Odonata
Odonata is an order of insects, encompassing dragonflies and damselflies . The word dragonfly is also sometimes used to refer to all Odonata, but the back-formation odonate is a more correct English name for the group as a whole...
, including the Southern Hawker, Aeshna cyanea, as well as a grass-mining fly, Opomyza punctella, and a leaf beetle, Longitarsus reichei, which are locally rare.