Thrislington National Nature Reserve

About the Site

Thrislington contains one of the most important areas of primary Magnesian Limestone grassland in Britain. Grassland of this type is scarce and much fragmented due to agricultural land improvements and quarrying activities. It is one of the UK’s rarest habitats - a significant proportion of which occurs in County Durham. Thrislington is the largest site of this type and a range of uncommon plant species can be found there.

The grassland at Thrislington survived attempted afforestation in Victorian times, and was then grazed by stock (including pit ponies) up until the 1950s. Hawthorn scrub spread over much of the site once grazing ceased, and a proposed quarry extension threatened to destroy part of it.

Fortunately, 5.6 hectares of grassland were saved by physically removing enormous turfs and relaying them in a specially-prepared part of the site. This massive undertaking was accomplished between 1982 and 1990.

The eastern portion of the 23 hectare site supports grassland generally dominated by blue moor-grass and sheep’s fescue.

Other common species include quaking-grass, meadow oat-grass, glaucous sedge, rockrose, fairy flax, burnet saxifrage, salad burnet, lesser scabious, black and greater knapweeds and harebell. Less common but still characteristic are slender St John’s-wort, marsh valerian, flea sedge, pepper saxifrage and zig-zag clover. Slender St. John’s-wort has yellow flowers and black spots on the edges of its leaves. The plant is named after John the Baptist, as it was once believed that the leaf spots would ooze blood on August 29th, the day of his execution. The plantation is also home to a small population of the locally rare mountain everlasting, and good populations of the nationally-scarce species - dark-red helleborine and perennial flax.

The western portion of the site holds the translocated turf. Wood false-brome, red and tall fescues, coltsfoot and field sowthistle grow here. Scattered scrub, composed chiefly of hawthorn and bramble, with a variety of rose species including burnet rose, occurs throughout the site. Woodland has developed in the eastern area and is dominated by ash and sycamore.

The invertebrate community of the site is diverse, and a number of uncommon species occur. These include the rare least minor moth, the Northern Brown Argus butterfly and the glow-worm. The glow-worm is actually a type of beetle. The female glow-worm emits a greenish glow from her abdomen in order to attract a mate. This species is far more widespread in the south of England, and its occurrence at Thrislington Plantation is important.

Thrislington is worth a visit at any time of year, but the wild flowers and butterflies are best experienced between May and August.

Thrislington National Nature Reserve

Location

The reserve lies east of an unclassified road, 1 mile (2 km) south-east of the village of West Cornforth. This village is 3 miles (5 km) south of the A1(M)/A177 junction and 7 miles (11 km) south-east of Durham City.

Park at the lay-by adjacent to the Reserve sign at Grid reference NZ 309327 and take the public footpath which follows the southern boundary of the plantation.

Grid reference: NZ 316327

Facilities

A network of paths crosses the site.

Enquiries

Lafarge Aggregates Limited
Thrislington Works
West Cornfirth
Ferryhill
County Durham
DL17 9EY
01740 654461

Natural England
Castle Eden Dene
Stanhope Chase
Peterlee
County Durham
SR8 1NJ
Telephone: 0191 5860004