Upper Teesdale

Upper Teesdale is a special place. Vast upland fells, bleak in places, give way to rough pastures and the meadows on the banks of the River Tees. In Spring, if you are lucky, you will discover the unmistakable Spring Gentian. The small, vivid blue flowers are a famous symbol of this magnificent landscape and its special array of plant species. Geology, glaciation and climate have created a unique habitat that makes Upper Teesdale world-renowned as a botanical hotspot.

Photo Martin Rogers

Plants under threat

Found nowhere else in mainland Britain, the Spring Gentian, along with other rare flowers and sedges, faces an uncertain future. Recent surveys show the shocking result that on average, the special plants have gone from over half of the areas they grew in forty years ago. This includes Spring Gentian, Yellow Saxifrage and Alpine Cinquefoil.

Dr Margaret Bradshaw MBE

Teesdale’s special flora has a redoubtable champion in the eminent botanist Dr Margaret Bradshaw MBE. Margaret has recorded plants here since the 1960s and she is still pursuing her passion. Now 95 years old, she continues her work, making it onto the upper fells with the help of a Dales pony.

This devotion has created an extraordinary legacy of records going back six decades, which can be used as a comparison to show exactly what has changed to the plant community over time.

The Survey

Detailed surveying is a crucial part of the Trust’s work, because it provides data that can be used to see what is happening to the plants. This information can then be used to guide decisions on the way the land is managed, for example decisions on grazing and cutting practices. The results will also help us to understand the effects of climate change on this unique habitat.

Upper Teesdale Botany Group

Margaret set up the Upper Teesdale Botany Group in 2001 to encourage people to find out what plants grow in Upper Teesdale, including flowers, sedges, grasses and trees. The group runs indoor learning sessions and presentations in the winter and fieldwork meetings in the summer. Record species at Widdybank Fell and Pasture

Find out more

Dr m e Bradshaw’s teesdale special flora research and conservation trust

Welcome to our website. The Trust exists to conserve and protect the rare flora of Upper Teesdale. It’s an urgent mission: our latest report shows that many of the species are declining fast! The Trust’s two main activities are conducting surveys and encouraging interest and knowledge about the area’s many botanical treasures.

Click on the images below to explore more about the flora, the Trust’s work and to find out how you can be involved. With your interest and support we will try and ensure that future generations will also be able to enjoy this special habitat and it’s beautiful plants.