Fallowlees Flush


Fallowlees Flush is the name given to a Site of Special Scientific Interest in mid-Northumberland, England. The steeply sloping site has calcium-rich springs supporting vegetation rare in the county.

Location and natural features

Fallowlees Flush is situated in the north-east of England in the county of Northumberland, to the west of Fontburn Reservoir and the east of Harwood Forest, west-north-west of Netherwitton and east-south-east of Forestburn Gate. The site is situated on a north-east facing slope descending from to, above sea level above a stream feeding the reservoir.

Flora

Flora on the site grades from species rich areas fed by lime-rich springs, through to a wooded fringe by the stream. The SSSI citation sets out four distinct groups of vegetation.
Moss-donimated turf dominates areas where springs arise, and are characterised by stonewort, flea-sedge, tawny sedge, long-stalked yellow-sedge and broad-leaved cottongrass.
A wider area is influenced by the springs, and in addition to the sedges and cottongrass, supports dioecious sedge, marsh lousewort, creeping willow, devil's-bit scabious, purple moor-grass, marsh cinquefoil, meadowsweet, jointed rush as well as common butterwort, grass-of-Parnassus, marsh valerian, and early marsh-orchid.
More acidic areas of the site support water plants such as oval sedge and star sedge, as well as greater amounts of jointed rush.
Woodland areas by the stream are composed of alder, downy birch and hazel. Ground flora in the woodland area includes tufted hair-grass, water avens, wood crane’s-bill and a substantial stand of lesser pond-sedge.
The condition of Fallowlees Flush was judged to be favourable in 2011, with some concerns about bracken encroachment noted.