NORTHUMBERLAND WILDLIFE TRUST
Nearest Town: East Cramlington
OS Map: NZ292758 (OS 50 000 Sheet 88)
This 2.8ha SNCI is part of a disused clay pit and now boasts a rich and varied invertebrate population.
Location and access: The site lies between East Cramlington and Seaton Delaval. There is parking in the lay-bys on B1326 Cramlington to Seaton Delaval road and access to the site is via the wooden gate on that road.
The pond is part of a disused clay pit which supplied clay for bricks used in the nearby former colliery. The site was saved from being infilled in the late 1960s, and since then has been re-colonised and is surrounded by scrub including willow and alder. The pond has a very rich invertebrate fauna, including dragonflies such as ruddy darter, water scorpion and numerous species of water beetles. Butterflies such as small skipper and common blue use the grassland at the pond’s edge. The reserve has some ornithological interest including mallard, moorhen, tufted duck and snipe. Pond vegetation includes broad-leaved pondweed and marginals such as yellow flag, common spike rush, water plantain, great hairy willowherb and bur-reed. On the grassland areas cowslip and early purple orchids are present along with cuckoo flower and bird’s foot trefoil.