Trust reserves manager Mark Richardson said: "The majority of Herrington Hill is a primary
magnesian limestone grassland, one that has remained undisturbed for centuries, and this site represents more than 10% of the total area of this habitat found in the UK.
It passes through impressive cliff top scenery and the Durham denes, deep wooded ravines carved into the
Magnesian Limestone rock.
To the north of the lighthouse is The Leas, a two-and-a-half mile stretch of
magnesian limestone cliffs, wave-cut foreshore and coastal grassland.
A fascinating two hour stroll around the ancient
magnesian limestone gorge that is Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve awaits, as you learn the story hidden within the stones.
Stretching north from Souter lighthouse, The Leas is two and a half miles of
magnesian limestone cliffs, wave-cut foreshore and coastal grassland.
Last year, victims and their families were finally able to claim from a pounds 36m compensation pot The site is close to a former chemical works, set up in 1842, and the business started with a process for separating silver from lead and continued into the extraction of magnesia from
magnesian limestone.
The sea led to the depositing of marl slate on top of the desert sand, with layers of
magnesian limestone following, which has created the coastal scenery from Marsden to Seaham.
Trow Quarry is a former
magnesian limestone quarry which was used as a landfill site and has now been capped over and landscaped.
The
magnesian limestone belt along the County Durham coast is the stronghold of the northern brown argus, which depends on the com mon rock rose which grows on the limestone soil.
But Residents Against Toxic Site (RATS) wants a public inquiry into the use of the quarry, which is cut into a band of
magnesian limestone, as a landfill site.
Other North East sited which made the shortlists were: In the Human Habitation cat-|egory, Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland where it sits on top of the Whin Sill ridge in Northumberland The
magnesian limestone |cliffs of South Shields and Marsden in the Historical and Scientific Importance category.
Durham County Council is working to restore
magnesian limestone grassland so rare it grows only in the east of County Durham ( and nowhere else.
