Rivers and Reservoirs
This element of the Living North Pennines initiative is improving access to key waterside sites so that more people can enjoy the sights and sounds of the riverbank or reservoir shoreline. Work is also going on with landowners and managers to improve habitats so that wetland creatures - particularly the engaging little water vole - can thrive once more in the area.
Working for water voles
The North Pennines Water Vole Project got underway in July 2008 with confirmation from the SITA Trust of funding for a three-year programme of survey and habitat improvement work for water voles. The North Pennines has recently been identified as a key area for water voles, because of the drastic decline in numbers throughout the UK and the relative stability in our upper dales. To find out more, see the following pages:
- Water vole distribution in the North Pennines
- Reporting signs and sightings
- Volunteering for water vole survey work
Derwent Reservoir
With our partners Northumbrian Water Ltd. we have created a new multi-user path has been created between Pow Hill Country Park and the Derwent reservoir dam. We plan to continue this path from the dam to Millshields on the north shore of the reservoir in future years. You can out more about the history and wildlife of the area by clicking on Welcome to Derwent Reservoir and Pow Hill Country Park! . This will take you to a series of downloadable short video and sound files, a self-guided trail leaflet and information about the on-site audio trail, all created as part of the AONB Partnership's Living North Pennines project.
We have started to restore two valuable habitats on the south shore of the reservoir near Pow Hill. Heath and Fen has been disappearing under bracken for many years. We have now fenced a large area to allow grazing by Soay sheep. This will allow the heather, bilberry and wetland plants to recover.
Upper Teesdale
We have improved a kilometre section of the Pennine Way near Wynch Bridge by replacing difficult stiles with self closing gates and surfacing the eroded path. This work will help protect the botanically important grasslands along the route from excessive trampling and erosion. New signage and interpretation around Bowlees, Wynch Bridge and High Force Hotel is planned for 2010.
Contact Andy Lees, tel 01388 528801 or email andy@northpenninesaonb.org.uk .
