Rainton Meadows
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| Rainton Meadows | |
|---|---|
 View from a bird hide of one of the ponds at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, County Durham. The church spire in the distance is St Mary's, West Rainton. | |
  Location of Rainton Meadows NR, Tyne and Wear | |
| Location | Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, North East, England |
| Coordinates | 54°49′44″N 1°27′36″W / 54.82889°N 1.46000°W |
| Area | 60 ha (150 acres) |
| Established | 1997 |
| Governing body | Durham Wildlife Trust |
| Website | Reserve details |
Rainton Meadows is a nature reserve just to the west of East Rainton, County Durham, north-east England. The reserve, which covers 60 ha, and the adjacent Joe's Pond Site of Special Scientific Interest, are managed by Durham Wildlife Trust.[1]
The reserve occupies the site of the restored Rye Hill surface coal mine and now provides a wide variety of habitats including grassland, scrub, mature woodland and several ponds. Wildlife to be seen here includes mute swan, skylark, lapwing, short-eared owl and brown hare; roe deer, water voles, dragonflies, common frogs, common toads and smooth newts are also present. At the southern end of the reserve are damp meadows with hemlock and willowherb, and a dry meadow, which contains cowslips in the spring.[citation needed]
Rainton Meadows is the headquarters of the Durham Wildlife Trust, which also operates an educational centre, including a purpose-built classroom and a community wildlife garden.[citation needed]