Natural England

The Moor House-Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve is looking wonderful with the air full of displaying birds and the spring flowers beginning to show. The world famous Spring Gentian has been spotted flowering already this year, encouraged by the warm weather over Easter.

There will be an opportunity to look out for these beautiful rare flowers in the company of a local naturalist and Green Guide, Bryan Jeffrey during a Natural England guided walk on Thursday May 3 (10am-4pm). The strenuous six mile walk is from Langdon Beck via Widdybank Farm and Cauldron Snout to Cow Green looking at birds and geology en route, as well as the flowers. (A bus will take you from the meeting point at Cow Green to the start of the walk). This walk is free but booking is essential as places are limited; please ring the Reserve base 01833 622374.

For the less energetic a stroll along the nature trail at Cow Green may provide an opportunity to see the Spring Gentian, especially in the enclosure half way between the start of the trail and the reservoir dam. The nature trail is open at all times, and leaflets are available in the Cow Green Car Park to tell you what to look out for. On Sunday 6 May a Green Guide will be out and about on the Reserve, and may be on hand along the nature trail to point out interesting features and flowering plants.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend two events have been organised in conjunction with Witham Hall to highlight the special nature of Upper Teesdale: there is a talk at the Witham Hall on Sunday 6 May at 7pm, no booking is needed but there is small charge of £3.50, and a walk, which must be booked, in the Wynch Bridge area on Monday 7 May (10am-1pm), looking at the new extension to the Moor House-Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve. The walk will be at a gentle pace but with rough paths, some stiles and a short steep bank. Plenty of displaying birds should be seen as well as many early spring flowers.

A walk over the Green Trod in the High Force/Holwick Fell area on Sunday 13 May with Green Guide Peter Ditchburn will give people an opportunity to see spring time on the fells. The walk will be a strenuous 5 miles with rough paths and climbs, but the views should be spectacular.

Heather McCarty who works for Natural England and organises the year’s programme of events said: “We organise events throughout the year but May is a particularly busy month when we have events for all abilities on both the Teesdale and Cumbrian side of the Reserve. For a full programme of walks and events go to the Natural England Website or ring the reserve base on 01833 622374 for a leaflet, enquiries or to make a booking. These events are part of the Green Guides Project which has been supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund."

Going along to one of these informative walks will also be a chance for you to take some snaps which you will be able to enter into the events photography competition. There are five categories to choose from, birds and mammals, invertebrates, plants, landscapes and people. Photos taken at any one of the events are accepted, further details can be obtained by phoning the reserve base

Notes for Editors

• Moor House-Upper Teesdale is one of more than 200 National Nature Reserves (NNR) in England.
• Moor House-Upper Teesdale is the largest one of 15 in the north east.
• Moor House-Upper Teesdale is managed by Natural England in Partnership with Raby and Strathmore estates, Mr & Mrs ME &CM Bell and local farmers.
• Natural England in the North east has the largest NNR estate of any region.
• Natural England was established by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Its purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
• Natural England has been formed by bringing together English Nature, the landscape, access and recreation elements of the Countryside Agency and the environmental land management functions of the Rural Development Service.
• Natural England has a budget of £500 million and employs 2,500 people.
• Natural England’s headquarters are based in Sheffield.