WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Description

Castle Eden Dene or 'The Dene' is the biggest of a series of 7 coastal woodland valleys leading towards sea (the end result of Dune succession). It spans across Shotton, Peterlee and Horden located in the North East of England between Sunderland and Hartlepool in the County of Durham. Site of Special Scientific Interest being home to some very special wildlife including its very own unique Butterfly the Castle Eden Argus, a subspecies of the Northern Brown Argus. Red squirrels (one of the last sites in England where the native population still exists). Home to over 450 plant species including numerous species of Orchids including the Fly Orchid (only site in the County of Durham where it exists). The site covers 221 Ha / 546.103 acres accounting for woodland, grassland, valleys and coastland. It spans 5.6km (3.5 miles) from West to East and its width ranges from 200m at its narrowest point to 800m at its widest.