History of the Dene
The first reference to Holywell Dene was in 800AD although it was then known as Merkel Dene. It was part of the Manor of Hartley.
In 1219 the Manor of Hartley was conferred to Gilbert de Laval and became part of the Delaval Estate, as it is today.
About Us
In 2000 Holywell Dene was in a bad state and deteriorating rapidly. The tenant farmer’s right to over-winter cattle in the Dene had heavily affected the ground flora and natural regeneration, as well as severely damaging the numerous paths.
Welcome to Holywell Dene!
Holywell Dene is in the South East corner of Northumberland, with a small part straddling the border into North Tyneside.
The Dene stretches for approximately 6km between the villages of Seghill in the west, passing close to Holywell and Old Hartley, and thence to Seaton Sluice on the coast in the east.
Holywell Dene is a steep sided ancient semi-natural woodland and is traversed by a small river known as the Seaton Burn. Between Old Hartley and Seaton Sluice, where the river enters the sea, the valley widens into a tidal flood plain.
Much of the Dene is part of the Delaval Estate. In 2000 the Estate granted the two Councils a 99-year lease; they in turn designated their areas Local Nature Reserves.
In the same year, 2000, a voluntary community group called Friends of Holywell Dene was established.
Flora and Fauna
The woodlands of Holywell Dene, together with its adjacent agricultural fields, support a wide variety of Flora and Fauna.
Wild flowers found, which are indicators of native woodland, include:
Bluebells in the Dene
Latest News
3-Apr-12
The plan for today was that 8 volunteers would assemble at Crow Hall Farm and, suitably attired in waders, carry out a sweep of the river going downstream from the Old Railway Line.
27-Mar-12
Ten volunteers assembled at 08.30 at Old Hartley car park for the usual Tuesday working party in Holywell Dene. A new volunteer joined the group for the first time and was introduced to and welcomed by all the regulars. She regrets she cannot attend each week but will do so when her work shift pattern allows.
24-Apr-12
A smaller team this week of 7 volunteers assembled at the metal gate on the Hartley West Farm road at 08.30 to continue the annual sweep of river and bank-sides. This was the fourth sweep session, following the work carried out over the previous three weeks, and covered the area from the downstream wooden bridge to below the stone bridge where the old quarry ford crosses the river.
10-Apr-12
Over the last week or so two unfortunate happenings have taken place in different parts of the Dene. The high winds brought down a bush across the path on the west side of the estuary at Seaton Sluice and the small bridge across a deep gully high on the south side of the Dene was vandalised by persons unknown.
17-Apr-12
A full house of 10 volunteers assembled at Crow Hall Farm at 08.30, gathered the necessary kit, and set off for a morning’s river and bank-side sweep and quickly encountered difficult terrain.
15-May-12
The holiday period caused a dramatic drop in the number of volunteers forming the FoHD Working Party on the 1st and 8th May, with 5 on the former and only 4 on the latter date.
It had been intended to continue with the river and bank-side clean up but the river level was too high to allow safe wading, so the activities were confined to the
river banks.