Pow Hill comprises a broad range of habitats, including bare sandy banks, flower-rich grassland, heathland, bog and coniferous woodland.

Seasonal highlights

Pow Hill is at its best during spring and summer, with green tiger beetles and violet oil beetles starting the season early. Slender mining bees make use of sandy areas for nesting, while green hairstreak butterflies and bilberry bumblebees can be found in the heathland. Woodland, with several good examples of deadwood, is home to larch ladybirds, banded centipedes and two-spotted longhorn beetles, while large red damselflies hover over water.

• Car parking: Pow Hill, Edmundbyers, County Durham, DH8 9NN
• Grid reference: NZ 00799 51573
• Survey route length: 1 mile
• Terrain: the route is on both surfaced and uneven bare ground with some stairs and medium slopes.