Town Kelloe Bank is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in County Durham, England. It is situated to the south of The Bottoms SSSI and just north of the village of Town Kelloe.

Town Kelloe Bank
Map showing the location of Town Kelloe Bank
Map showing the location of Town Kelloe Bank
Site of Special Scientific Interest
LocationMAGiC MaP
Nearest townFerryhill
Peterlee
Coordinates54°43′47″N 1°26′36″W / 54.72972°N 1.44333°W / 54.72972; -1.44333
Area6.0 ha (15 acres)
Established1976
Governing bodyNatural England
WebsiteTown Kelloe Bank SSSI

The site has an important expanse of primary magnesian limestone grassland, in which the dominant blue moor-grass, Sesleria albicans, is associated with species such as quaking grass, Briza media, glaucous sedge, Carex flacca, and meadow oat-grass, Avenula pratensis. [1]

The site holds the largest known population of bird's-eye primrose, Primula farinosa, in County Durham. Other plants that are largely confined to northern limestone areas include butterwort, Pinguicula vulgaris, maidenhair spleenwort, Asplenium trichomanes, and grass of Parnassus, Parnassia palustris.

The site has a breeding population of the Durham argus butterfly, Aricia artaxerxes salmacis.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Town Kelloe Bank : Reasons for SSSI status" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 1 April 2022.