Rainton Meadows

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The reserve occupies the site of the restored Rye Hill surface coal mine and now provides a wide variety habitats including grassland, scrub, mature woodland and ponds. Wildlife to be seen here includes, mute swan, skylark, lapwing, short-eared owl and brown hare. A community wildlife garden and purpose built classroom provide lots of interest for children. Locally renowned Joe's Pond, a deep freshwater pond is an excellent bird watching site with over 140 species to be seen, including wintering teal, pochard and tufted duck, an in summer great crested grebes. The surrounding scrub areas host large winter flocks of thrushes and all five species of owl are regularly seen. Other inhabitants of the area include roe deer, water voles, dragonflies, frogs, toads and smooth newts. At the southern end are damp meadows with hemlock and willowherb and a dry meadow, which contains cowslips in the spring.

Directions

Rainton Meadows and Joe's Pond can be found by following the brown signs from the A690 between Durham and Sunderland. By bus, the services 222 and 220 regularly leave Park Lane in Sunderland, or the bus station in Durham and set down at the nearby Mill Inn. There's a short walk under the A690 continuing until you reach the last roundabout of the industrial estate. The entrance to the Reserve is called Mallard Way.

Facilities

Accessibility

* All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
* Toilets for Disabled Visitors
* Guide Dogs Permitted
* Ramp / Level Access

Catering

* On-Site café - Tea, coffee, sweets, light refreshments and ice cream all available.

Trivia

Rainton Meadows is well known among local birdwatchers and on the BirdForum there is a section dedicated to it.