Rainton Meadows is a
nature reserve just to the west of East Rainton, County Durham,
north-east England. The reserve, which covers 60 ha, and the adjacent
Joe's Pond Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of ...
, are managed by
Durham Wildlife Trust.
Geography
The reserve occupies the site of the restored Rye Hill surface coal mine and now provides a wide variety of habitats including grassland, scrub, mature woodland and several ponds. Wildlife to be seen here includes
mute swan
The mute swan (''Cygnus olor'') is a species of swan and a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It is native to much of Eurosiberia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is an introduced species in North America, home ...
,
skylark,
lapwing,
short-eared owl and
brown hare;
roe deer,
water voles,
dragonflies,
common frogs,
common toads and
smooth newts are also present. At the southern end of the reserve are damp
meadows with
hemlock and
willowherb Willowherbs are annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the flowering plant family Onagraceae. Willowherb may refer to:
* A species of willowherb in the genus ''Epilobium''
* A species of willowherb in the genus ''Chamaenerion
''Chamaenerion'' ...
, and a dry meadow, which contains
cowslips in the spring.
Rainton Meadows is the headquarters of the Durham Wildlife Trust, which also operates an educational centre, including a purpose-built classroom and a community wildlife garden.
Directions
Rainton Meadows can be found by following the brown signs from the A690 between Durham and Sunderland. By bus, the Meadows is served by the 20A every 20 minutes and the 35 every 20 minutes and stops at Rainton Bridge, alternatively the 20 serves nearby with a 5/10 minute walk from the bottom of Gillas Lane West, the 4 and 71 also serve nearby
Fencehouses and Chilton with a 15/20 minute walk.
Facilities
Accessibility
* All areas are accessible to disabled visitors
* Toilets for disabled visitors
* Guide dogs are permitted
* Ramp / level access
* An on-site café offers tea, coffee, sweets, light refreshments and ice cream.
References
{{Nature reserves of the Durham Wildlife Trust
Nature reserves of the Durham Wildlife Trust
Nature reserves in Tyne and Wear
Meadows in County Durham