About the reserve

The Howls is a woodland nature reserve situated near the village of Dalton Piercy and following the valley of Char Beck. Ash and sycamore dominate the canopy, with hawthorn and elder making up the understory. Each year the woodland provides a colourful display of spring flowers including early purple orchids, violets, bugle and scarlet pimpernel, for example. Visitors might also spot the locally uncommon twayblade, which grows here.

Char Beck gives the reserve an added dimension and plants that like the damper conditions and soils thrive. Because of this you might see marsh marigolds, meadowsweet and a variety of ferns including broad buckler, hard shield and male fern. Fifty-three bird species have been recorded on the site and the summer is a good time to see warblers and the occasional spotted flycatcher.

At one time this deep wooded valley was scheduled to be flooded to serve as a reservoir for local communities, but plans were changed and its ancient woodland and wildlife have survived. It is owned by Hartlepool Water Company and has been managed by the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust since 1991.