Quaking Houses Fell

About the Site

Quaking Houses Fell is one of the few remaining fragments of lowland heath in County Durham. The site is dominated by heather and bilberry, with a variety of grasses such as wavy hair-grass, common bent, red fescue and mat-grass.

Birch, gorse and bramble are scattered throughout the fell, particularly in the east of the site. Wet flushes support sharp-flowered, soft and bulbous rushes. Other species found here are common sedge, glaucous sedge, marsh violet and sneezewort. The latter is used in traditional medicine as a treatment for rheumatism and toothache. Petty whin, a small, yellow flowered broom-like shrub is also found on the site.

The north-east of the site is species-poor grassland, dominated by cock’s-foot and tufted hair-grass. These grasses form prominent tussocks and provide a wide range of habitats for invertebrates.

Skylark

It is also a favoured habitat of ground-nesting birds such as the skylark. This species is listed on the Biodiversity Action Plan. National populations have declined by 80% since the 1970s due to large scale habitat destruction. The skylark is a small brown bird that can be easily recognised by its warbling song and white flash on its bottom, which is clearly visible when it breaks cover and flies into the air.

Other bird species found on the site include the meadow pipit, tree pipit, snipe and short-eared owl. All these species are listed on the Durham Biodiversity Action Plan.

Some of the wetter areas of the site support bog type vegetation with sphagnum mosses and hare’s-tail cotton-grass.

Quaking Houses Fell

Location

Quaking Houses Fell is located to the south of Stanley adjacent to Quaking Houses Village. Take the B6313 south out of Stanley and then continue down the hill past Quaking Houses Village. Access to the Fell is further up the hill on your right. There is additional access from the Village.

Facilities

None.

Enquiries

Countryside Group
Durham County Council
Environment
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UQ
Tel: 0191 383 3594