Williamston is a small site with a big impact, containing swathes of devil’s-bit scabious, rare calaminarian grassland, broadleaf woodland, with good examples of deadwood and sap runs, plus the adjacent river South Tyne.

Seasonal highlights

This is a stunning site from mid-late summer, with woodland sheltering riverflies, including the beautiful common yellow sally stonefly, and supporting caterpillars of the dark leaf-rolling sawfly. The bronze sap hoverfly makes use of the combination of woodland edge and flower-rich grassland, alongside common furrow bees, while field-digger wasps nest in sandy, bare areas.

• Car parking: lay-by, A689, near Slaggyford, Northumberland, CA8 7NJ
• Grid reference: NY 68079 51944
• Survey route length: 0.2 miles
• Terrain: the survey route follows a rough, uneven footpath.