About the reserve

Billingside Meadows is a mosaic of habitats which combine a restored former opencast coal mine and a Local Wildlife Site. With views of the Derwent Valley, keen Durham Wildlife Trust enthusiasts may be able to spot Chopwell Meadows and Milkwellburn Wood on a clear day to the north. This 23 hectare nature reserve comprises of a mixture of habitats present with open neutral grassland to the south supporting meadow pipits Anthus pratensis, skylark Alauda arvensis and lapwing Vanellis Vanellus throughout the summer. Along the eastern edge there is a mosaic of scrub interspersed throughout acidic and neutral grasslands containing species such as devil’s bit scabious Succisa pratensis, tormentil Potentilla erecta and lady's mantle Alchemilla mollis. Gorse, hawthorn and holly provide shelter and food for a range of songbirds that use the site. To the north of the site four ponds provide habitat for invertebrates and mammals alike.

The site will primarily be managed using a range of conservation grazing by the Trust’s very own Exmoor ponies. There will also be targeted scrub cuts, which promote a mixed gradient of growth stages, supporting a wider range of species, plus hay cuts to allow wildflowers to compete with coarser grasses, that may dominate if left unmanaged.