Go Wild in the Country
Low Barns Nature Reserve
Durham Wildlife Trusts' premier reserve offers a 50 hectare haven for a wide range of wildlife and plants.
The site has a diverse range of habitats including grassland, scrub and woodland and the River Wear runs through the reserve. This habitat is particularly good for bird spotting - kingfishers, redstarts, tufted ducks and mallards can be spotted at various times during the year. At the ponds around the reserve dragonflies, frogs and butterflies can be seen and patient visitors could even spot red foxes, roe deer, water voles and otters. 
Plant life can also be found in abundance and the reserve is home to 50 species of tree and shrubs, including the burnet rose, restharrow and viper's bugloss.
The reserve aims to increase public understanding and appreciation of natural environments and the site includes a nature trail, picnic area, bird hides and a roofed observation tower which provides amazing views of the reserve.
Submitted by: Sarah McLeod, 22 July 2004
