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Castle Eden Dene

Nearest town: Durham

Site type: upland

Access: Private

Church name: No Data

Diocese: No Data

County: Northumberland

Country: England

Grid ref: withheld

Lost yew site: No

Date visited: No data

Recorded by: Paul Greenwood

Protection & responsibility: No data

Yews recorded at this site: Ancient 4m-5m

Notes: According to the 1848 Topographical Dictionary of England, Castle Eden 'appears to have derived its name, originally Yewden, from its baronial castle and its situation near a valley abounding with yew-trees'. It is a private site, a special site of rare flora and fauna protected by English Nature. In The Wild Woods (P.Marren, David & Charles 1992) the woodland is described thus: 'especially steep hangers lining the ravine, is ancient and natural and has probably never been wholly cleared. Some of it seems to be natural scrub of ash, hazel and yew. Above all the dene is a place of wild yews'. The yew groves of Castle Eden Dene are described as 'amongst the most extensive in the country'. This information is taken from Paul Greenwood's article Ancient Yew in Upland Cliff Habitats in the UK. It can be seen in full at http://www.ancient-yew.org/mi.php/ancient-yew-in-upland-and-cliff-habitats-in-the-uk-new-research/69