Shibdon Pond and Meadow
Location
Know before you go
Grazing animals
YesWalking trails
Access
Terrain: Moderate
Mixed terrain. Good path networks but raised walkways are not suitable for mobility scooters and the meadow has no pathways. Children should be supervised at all times.
Access and Parking
Situated near the A1 and the Metrocentre, the reserve can be reached via the B6317 Swalwell to Blaydon Road. Parking is available at the car park near the Blaydon Youth and community Centre. Head north east for 200m to the reserve entrance. A path alongside the railway line - accessed at the far end of the ponds - offers a connecting route between Shibdon Meadow and Shibdon Pond under the A1 dual carriageway.
Public Transport
Buses are available from Neville Street, Newcastle towards Winlaton. Alight at Blaydon and take a short bus journey to Blaydon Baths – Shibdon Pond is a short walk from there.
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
April to June, July to SeptemberAbout the reserve
Shibdon Pond is one of the few large open water bodies left in the southern part of Tyne and Wear and is one of the best wetlands in the region for wintering wildfowl.
The pond, probably formed as a result of mining subsidence, is spring fed and fringed with rich aquatic flora, willow and hawthorn scrub and damp grassland.
Large numbers of wetland birds are recorded here including lapwing, golden plover, redshank, snipe, teal as well as water rail, sand piper and kingfisher.
The summer attracts martins, swifts and swallows and in winter, cormorants roost alongside occasional rare visitors such as Iceland gull.
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Environmental designation
