Beltingham River Shingle

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Beltingham River Shingle
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Northumberland UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Northumberland
Location Northumberland
Grid reference NY783641
Coordinates 54°58′18″N2°20′20″W / 54.97179°N 2.33885°W / 54.97179; -2.33885 Coordinates: 54°58′18″N2°20′20″W / 54.97179°N 2.33885°W / 54.97179; -2.33885
InterestBiological
Area4.7 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]

Contents

Location and natural features

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]

Vegetation

The vegetation of the Beltingham River Shingle is a sparse mix of spring sandwort ( Minuartia verna ), alpine pennycress ( Thlaspi alpestre ), 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]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "MAGIC Map Application - Beltingham River Shingle". DEFRA MAGIC Map. DEFRA.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Beltingham River Shingle SSSI Citation" (PDF). Natural England.
  3. "Condition of SSSI Units for Site Beltingham River Shingle". Natural England. 26 June 2012.