Nature at Fellgate

Page last updated 23rd July 2024

As we all know the fields, burns, hedgerows, the ponds and the farmland are a haven for Nature. Over the years this land has developed and continues to develop a rich location for Nature. It is essential that we and South Tyneside Council ensure that the area be improved for nature by protecting both the wildlife and biodiversity.

Currently, NaturePlan are working together with local councils to restore nature, combat climate change and benefit our communities. Whilst our local area supports a rich and varied natural heritage, including some of our most iconic and much-loved species, it is well documented that wildlife is in decline.
Nature and wild life has to be protected, in order to help us do that we need to know what wild life and biodiversity is thriving on the Fellgate Green Belt,

We are continuing the process of identifying all wildlife and biodiversity from historic and current studies and our supporters are actively looking and recording everything they find. Our Picture Gallery shows how diverse and rich the Fellgate Green Belt is.

The list below is incomplete and will be updated when more information is submitted. (please use the contact us form to let us know what you have found).

Local Wildlife Sites cover Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCIs) set out in the South Tyneside Unitary Development Plan (UDP). Local Wildlife Sites have been selected in partnership with the Durham Wildlife Trust and comply with Government advice from DEFRA in ‘Local Sites, Guidance on their Identification, Selection and Management.
Management of Local Wildlife Sites in South Tyneside’ uses the presence of priority habitats, as defined in the Durham Biodiversity Action Plan (DBAP), to determine whether designation as a Local Wildlife Site is appropriate and the methodology explains that the network of Local Wildlife Sites will be subject to periodic review.

Calf Close Burn

Calf Close Burn flows north across the Fellgate Green Belt and agricultural land towards the Fellgate Estate. The stream sides have abundant great hairy willow herb, common reed which extends into the channel of the burn. This is the largest long-standing reedbed in the borough. Other typical lowland fen plants present include meadowsweet, tufted hair-grass, bittersweet, branched bur-reed, water mint, brooklime, lesser pond sedge and hairy sedge. In places there are shrubby, carr type habitats with grey willow and osier, also the occasional mature ash tree and hawthorn.
Calf Close Burn qualifies as a Local Wildlife Site because it has more than 0.25 hectares of lowland fen habitats. These meet the definition in the Plan i.e. ‘Wetlands overlying both peat and mineral soils and fed by groundwater as well as rainwater.
Calf Close Burn was designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance in the Unitary Development Plan. The name has been changed to Local Wildlife Site, in keeping with Government guidance.

Monkton Burn and the Pond

The pond near Spuggies Bridge is a ‘balancing’ pond, created to filter
surface run-off water from Monkton Business Park before it enters Monkton Burn.
Wildlife habitat, at the burn and many such ponds are currently being lost to new developments.
Their are some weird and wonderful creatures in this area such as Great Diving Beetles, Water Boatmen and the beautiful Blue Damselfly and Wetland Plants. Many plants prefer to grow in damp areas and are ideally suited to the conditions here. Children from Fellgate Autistic Unit helped to plant wetland species such as Cuckoo Flower, Ragged Robin and Meadowsweet to create the wildflower meadow that
surrounds the pond.

Hedworth Dene

During a previous survey the following plants from the indicator list were recorded:
former include meadow cranes-bill, great burnet, meadow vetchling, common knapweed, harebell and birds foot trefoil. There is also a heavily grazed, but species-rich horse pasture. On the south facing slopes there is an area of broadleaf woodland and scrub, with mature ash, hawthorn and sycamore, and dense brambles below in places. The River Don has mostly unmodified riverbank, except for a short stretch to the rear of Hawthorn Drive. It has features such as meanders, eroding earth cliffs, riffles and pools, and dead wood. Substrates vary from coarse silts to gravel, cobbles and the occasional boulder. The aquatic and marginal vegetation within the river channel typically includes branched bur-reed, reed canary-grass, fool’s watercress and Himalayan balsam. Recent surveys have recorded suitable
breeding habitat for water vole and an otter spaint (faeces left as a means of communicating with other otters) was recorded in 2003. To the north the riverside margins are mostly covered with a combination of scrub and coarse herbaceous vegetation such as false oat-grass, Yorkshire fog, creeping bent, hogweed, bramble, creeping thistle and great hairy willowherb. The fields to the east are permanent horse-grazed pasture. Hedworth Dene qualifies as a Local Wildlife Site because it:
a) Forms part of a section of the River Don which has particular habitat features (as described above) which are beneficial to wildlife. It also provides suitable breeding habitat for water vole and is used by otter.
b) Has more than 0.5 hectares of lowland meadow and pasture as defined in the Durham Biodiversity Action Plan. To
meet the definition a minimum of two species must be recorded as frequent and a further two as occasional from a given list of indicator species. The most recent survey did not measure abundance but did record the following plants from the
indicator list:

Wildlife and biodiversity around both calf close and Monkton burns, the Ponds by the Lakeside and farmland, hedgerow is diverse, influenced by the availability of water, vegetation, and human agricultural practices. The following list has been complied from observations, studies by local authorities and during the planning and development of the IAMP site.

Aquatic and Riparian Species

  • Fish: It well known that fishing at and around the ponds is a common occurrence. Therefore it is assumed that there are fish in the area. Exact species needs to be identified, however I have been told that there are minnows, and sticklebacks.
  • Amphibians: Common frogs, toads, and newts are know to be in abundance, also identified in several surveys. They thrive in and around burns, ponds utilising the water for breeding. (also found in the garden ponds in Norwich Way.
  • Invertebrates: Our burns support a variety of aquatic invertebrates like mayflies, dragonflies, damselflies, and various species of beetles and crustaceans, Great Diving Beetles, Water Boatmen and Blue Damselfly

Birds

  • Waterfowl: Swans, Ducks (e.g., mallards), herons (ate my fish) and kingfishers are common around burns due to the availability of aquatic prey.
  • Farmland Birds: Skylarks, yellowhammers, lapwings, and various species of finches & Tits along with buntings.
  • Predatory Birds: We have Barn owls, kestrels, and sparrow hawks, and a possibly a buzzard or two hunting over the farmland.

Mammals

  • Small Mammals: Voles, Otter spaint (faeces left as a means of communicating with other otters), mice, and shrews are common in both riparian and farmland habitats. Sorry to say, but the Brown Rat is a common sighting.
  • Carnivores: Foxes, badgers, and stoats are present, hunting the smaller mammals or scavenging. Foxes are a common occurrence around our streets.
  • Bats: Several bat have been seen in the late summer flying around the street lights as well as the burns and farmland, taking advantage of the insect populations.

Reptiles

  • Common Lizards and Slow Worms: Many reptiles have been seen in and around the ponds and the burns, species unknown.
  • Grass Snakes: Over the years I have encountered several snakes, often found near water bodies, including our burns, where they hunt amphibians and fish.

Insects

  • Pollinators: Bees, wasps, butterflies, and hoverflies which are vital for pollinating the crops and wildflowers in farmland and in our gardens.
  • Pests and Beneficial Insects: Aphids, beetles, and other insects that might affect crops and my veg patch, as well as beneficial species like ladybirds (counted over 100 during May), along with lacewings that control pest populations, I wish…

Plants

  • Aquatic and Semi-aquatic Plants: Reeds, water crowfoot, lesser pond sedge, water mint, iris, branched bur-reed, brooklime, common reed which extends into the channel of the burn. This is the largest long-standing reedbed in the borough. and other marsh plants around ponds and burns. Children from Fellgate Autistic Unit helped to plant wetland species such as:
  • Cuckoo Flower,
  • Ragged Robin
  • Meadowsweet
  • Farmland Plants: Depending on the farming, I have seen wheat, barley, oats, rape seed along with wildflowers and grasses in field margins and hedgerows.
  • Hedgerow & Tree Species: Ash, Hawthorn, blackthorn, elder, Sycamore, and various brambles providing habitat and food for wildlife.
  • Great hairy willow herb,
  • tufted hair-grass,
  • bittersweet,
  • hairy sedge.
  • shrubby,
  • carr type habitats with grey willow and osier

Ecological Interactions

  • Predation: Birds of prey hunting small mammals, insects preying on each other, and amphibians feeding on invertebrates are common interactions on the green belt land.
  • Pollination: Bees, wasps and other insects pollinating crops and wildflowers, essential for crop production and biodiversity.
  • Seed Dispersal: Birds and mammals dispersing seeds through their droppings, contributing to plant biodiversity.

Conservation Concerns

The land being handed over to developers which will destroy this fantastic habitat

Serious efforts must be made to enhance the biodiversity around our burns and farmland include maintaining hedgerows, using sustainable farming practices, and conserving natural vegetation alongside agricultural areas.