Do you know why Castle Eden Dene NNR is a special place? Carved into the East Durham countryside it is a survivor of a wild wood which once covered most of Britain. This deep valley is the largest and best preserved magnesian limestone gorge in England and the largest area of semi-natural woodland in north east England.
The landscape we see today is a reflection of events which took place millions of years ago, with tropical seas, baking heat, moving continents and thick sheets of ice.
It has a rich history, both natural and human. With iconic species such as the Durham argus butterfly, herb paris and lady’s slipper orchid and over 1000 species of insects all finding a home here at Castle Eden Dene.
From left to right: A fox, lady's slipper orchid, wild garlic, and grey squirrel.
The Dene has fascinated people for thousands of years, with legends of the Devil and giants having been used to try to explain its strange rock formations and mysterious atmosphere. The human story goes back as far as 6000BC with worked flint being found along the coast dating from that period. Archaeological records show that there was an anglo saxon village on site, but more recently a wealthy family ‘The Burdons’ owned the Dene from the mid 1700’s to the 1950’s, they opened up the Dene to the public so everyone could enjoy its wild beauty. They created many of the paths we see today and built the iconic Gunners Pool Bridge that gives spectacular views over one of the most dramatic parts of the gorge.
Connecting people to the Dene is a tradition we continue today, with approximately 100,000 visitors using the 12 miles of path contained within he site, more than 40 volunteers help with warden duties, wildlife recording, public events and the many practical conservation tasks needed in order to look after this wonderful National Nature Reserve.