Local beauty spot is no longer a secret
A BEAUTY spot has appeared on television as part of a documentary highlighting the best Britain has to offer.
Millions of TV viewers tuned into BBC's Secret Britain to watch a section of the programme dedicated to Castle Eden Dene, on the outskirts of Hartlepool and close to Peterlee.
The documentary – presented by Julia Bradbury and Matt Baker – promoted the "incredible green world of Castle Eden Dene" which is "on the very edge of the urban sprawl of busy Peterlee".
Mr Baker, who grew up in Easington, said he spent much of his childhood exploring the "spectacular ancient woodland running down towards the sea".
The 32-year-old, who spent his formative years on a family sheep farm and has one sister and two stepsisters, told viewers that: "This rather unexpected wilderness was once owned by the Burden family who opened up a series of trails through the tangled yews for intrepid Victorians to enjoy.
"But the dene's greatest secret lies further down this gorge, where the woodland opens out into wildflower meadows leading towards the shore.
"This is where two tiny colonies of the extremely rare Northern Brown Argus butterfly are clinging on to survival.
"They rely on the combination of rock rose and bird's foot trefoil growing on these hillsides, flowers which provide food for both the caterpillar and the butterfly."
Castle Eden Dene is the largest area of semi-natural woodland in the North-East and is renowned for yew trees.
The reserve covers 221 hectares of woodland and lowland grassland, where post-glacial melt waters have carved out some spectacular limestone cliffs and gorges.
Often, there is no water at the bottom of the gorge, as Castle Eden Burn, which reaches the sea at Denemouth, is now seasonal and disappears into the limestone rock during the summer months.
The area is also a survivor of the wildwood that once covered most of Britain, and is helped by Natural England to stay as near natural as possible.
Every year there is an events programme at Castle Eden Dene, which includes guided walks and activities for people to see the special features without disturbing wildlife or damaging fragile plants.
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Weather for Peterlee
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
