Gateshead Birders

Lamesley Water Meadows

Lamesley Meadows is new and has only been managed for since 2004 but is proving to be very good. It is a series of fields that are flooded to produce wet pasture and at the moment are looking very promising. Looking for the site on the map they are the wet fields just north of Moor Hill farm and Lamesley between Kibblesworth and the Team valley. They are sandwiched between the road from Birtley to Lamesley church roundabout and the other minor road just to the west. Best viewing is - head west at the church roundabout onto Pennyfine road (towards Sunniside), take the next left, to the Ravensworth Arms pub. Park in the Ravensworth Arms car park where we have permission and not on the road to avoid upsetting the residents. A new hide opened in May 2006. The key to the hide is the same key as Shibdon, Thornley & Clara Vale. If you do not already have one they are available from the Thornley woodland centre and Gateshead Civic Centre. Please lock it when you leave. You can of course look over/through the hedge and watch the fields. The grass is taller than it looks and birds can easily hide in it. While you are in that area - instead of turning left stay on the Pennyfine road for about 200 metres until you can see a line of old oak trees in the fields on the right. There is a muddy pull-in on the right hand side of the road. A Little Owl is often present in these trees, especially early morning. You need to look carefully, its favoured tree is second from the left.

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