Landscape

Alston Moor lies in the North West corner of the North Pennine Orefield, and forms part of what geologists refer to as the ‘Alston Block’. It is made up of a succession of sedimentary rocks laid down during the Carboniferous period, some 330 million years ago, and consists of a repeated sequence of limestone, shale and sandstone.

Millions of years ago near-vertical cracks or fractures through the earth’s crust were filled with hot mineralising solutions which, on cooling, formed veins containing a variety of minerals including lead, zinc, fluorspar and quartz. The veins vary greatly in length and width, being better formed and more productive in the harder beds such as the limestones. The richest veins are found in the Great Limestone, which is usually about 20 metres (65ft) thick.

The landscape today consists of a high upland plateau dissected by dales and is one of the least populated parts of England. Much of the area is uncultivated, enclosed and grazed by hill cattle and sheep. It is an area of nature conservation importance with a unique historic heritage. These special qualities of the North Pennines led to its confirmation as an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty in 1988.

In spring, the moorland is home to breeding populations of wading birds such as curlew, golden plover and dunlin. Breeding birds here and on the ‘in-bye’ grassland include redshank, oystercatcher, lapwing, snipe and the nationally rare red and black grouse. Merlin, hen harrier and buzzard feed on small animals and birds. Grey partridge, yellow wagtail and fieldfare are found in local hay meadows and in summer, the variety of flowering plants make the hay meadows very colourful. Wheatears nest amongst the stone in the grasslands of the moorland margins.

Around the abandoned mine sites specialised plants, known as metallophytes, survive on soil that has poor nutrient levels and a high toxic heavy metal content. These include mountain pansy, spring sandwort, alpine pennycress and moonwort. Road verges provide an important habitat for grey partridge and small mammals, such as weasels, voles, rabbits, mice and shrews. A diverse mix of flowering plants, including melancholy thistle, can also be found here. Endangered species in the North Pennines include the black grouse, red squirrel, otter and water vole.