Hay meadows
Over 40% of the UK's upland hay meadows are found in the North Pennines AONB! his is now a rare habitat throughout Europe and recognised as of European Importance.
The best upland hay meadows are very species-rich and differ from lowland hay meadows in having several characteristic northern species such as wood cranes-bill, globeflower, marsh hawks-beard and melancholy thistle. A special group of upland hay meadow plants called Lady's mantles are also found here, six of which are rare and three of which are found nowhere else in the UK.
Upland hay meadows are very important to breeding birds like yellow wagtail, redshank and lapwing and a feeding area for black grouse. The best upland hay meadows are now scattered across the dales in the AONB. The best examples are found in the upper parts of Teesdale, Weardale, and the South Tyne Valley, as well as parts of Lunedale, Baldersdale and East Allendale.
Allendale: Hay Time Walk 1
![Great burnet © NPAP/Rebecca Barrett Great burnet © NPAP/Rebecca Barrett](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp044.jpg?itok=2eecV8J9)
Baldersdale: Hay Time Walk 3
![Species rich meadow © NPAP/Rebecca Barrett Species rich meadow © NPAP/Rebecca Barrett](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp046.jpg?itok=iSNPhwWi)
Blackton Reservoir: North Pennine Birdwalks - Walk 14
![Oystercatcher © NPAP Oystercatcher © NPAP](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp015_0.jpg?itok=BI5KQ66e)
Bowlees Visitor Centre
![Bowlees Visitor Centre © NPAP Bowlees Visitor Centre © NPAP](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/_19.jpg?itok=Z9HzuFBE)
Cowshill (Weardale): North Pennine Birdwalks - Walk 8
![Short-eared owl © NPAP Short-eared owl © NPAP](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp009_0.jpg?itok=95tPUu0B)
East Allen Valley Wildflower Walk
![Allenheads © © NPAP & Elizabeth Pickett Allenheads © © NPAP & Elizabeth Pickett](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/_0.jpg?itok=hTwX5Wt8)
Eden Outdoor Adventures
![Gyhll scrambling © Eden Outdoor Adventures Gyhll scrambling © Eden Outdoor Adventures](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp136_0.jpg?itok=W-LRsp8o)
Hannah's Meadow Nature Reserve
![Hannah's Meadow © NPAP/Shane Harris Hannah's Meadow © NPAP/Shane Harris](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp119.jpg?itok=Vi30x48c)
Harwood Beck and Widdybank: North Pennine Birdwalks - Site 3
![Redshank © NPAP Redshank © NPAP](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp018_0.jpg?itok=Z4bHEXJa)
High Force and Bowlees Geotrail
![High Force © High Force ©](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/test001.jpg?itok=xpFI-9VP)
Ireshopeburn (Weardale): Hay Time Walk 2
![Path to the hay meadows in Ireshopeburn © NPAP/Gearoid Murphy Path to the hay meadows in Ireshopeburn © NPAP/Gearoid Murphy](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp045.jpg?itok=AmkldBH5)
Low Barns Nature Reserve
![Red Kite © www.brianraffertywildlifephotographer/blogspot.com Red Kite © www.brianraffertywildlifephotographer/blogspot.com](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp120.jpg?itok=dWH3XUfC)
Low Force Geotrail
![Low Force in Teesdale © NPAP/Simon Wilson Low Force in Teesdale © NPAP/Simon Wilson](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp001.jpg?itok=pCdl_FXs)
Mickleton to Middleton
![River Tees © NPAP River Tees © NPAP](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/_54.jpg?itok=BSIA-reP)
Spring Gentian
![Spring gentian © NPAP/Elizabeth Pickett Spring gentian © NPAP/Elizabeth Pickett](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp047.jpg?itok=9CXGhJxq)
Tees Bank Flowers: Flowers and Ferns Holwick Head Bridge to High Force
Tees Bank Flowers: Flowers and Ferns Wynch Bridge to Scorberry Bridge
Tees Bank Flowers: Flowers between Wynch Bridge and Holwick Head Bridge
Teesdale Reservoir Walk
![Hury Reservoir © NPAP/Beck Baker Hury Reservoir © NPAP/Beck Baker](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp103.jpg?itok=ZdIh0Eic)
Upper Teesdale (Hanging Shaw): North Pennine Birdwalks Walk 12
![Black grouse © NPAP Black grouse © NPAP](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp013_0.jpg?itok=CpHK4uO-)
Upper Teesdale Wildflower Walk
![Upper Teesdale walk © The North Pennines AONB Partnership Upper Teesdale walk © The North Pennines AONB Partnership](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/_3.jpg?itok=55rOrfIh)
Walks from Allendale Caravan Park
![River East Allen © NPAP/Shane Harris River East Allen © NPAP/Shane Harris](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/enp058.jpg?itok=vYYf0rAs)
Wild North Discovery
![Wild North Discovery © Wild North Discovery Wild North Discovery © Wild North Discovery](https://explorenorthpennines.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/activity/images/_10.jpg?itok=gro1K41Y)