Allendale road verges are a mix of North Pennines flower-rich verges, with knapweed, raspberry and hogweed, heathland, broadleaf woodland and hedgerow.

Seasonal highlights

While blotch-winged hoverflies and dance flies can be found in the woodland during spring, the site comes to life from mid to late summer, with vetches, knapweed and heather supporting small heath butterflies, heather Colletes bees and thick-thighed hoverflies. Vibrant green leafhoppers can be found in damp grassland while yellow shell moths hide amongst vegetation and tree wasps build their nests in the hedgerow.

• Car parking: lay-by, Thornley Gate, Allendale, Northumberland, NE47 9AE
• Grid reference: NY 81728 55172
• Survey route length: 1.6 miles
• Terrain: the route follows a tarmacked road and rough track, which is steep in places.