Barelees Pond facts for kids

Barelees Pond is a very special natural area in northern Northumberland, England. It's officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because it has rare wildlife, plants, or geology. Barelees Pond is a type of pond called a "kettle hole." These deep ponds form when huge chunks of ice, left behind by glaciers, melt away. The pond is a great example of how a watery place can slowly change over time as plants grow and fill it in with a material called peat.

Where is Barelees Pond?

Barelees Pond is located in the north-east of England. It's very close to the border between England and Scotland. You can find it in the county of Northumberland. The pond is about 1.5 kilometers (0.95 miles) south-east of a town called Cornhill-on-Tweed.

The Pond's Shape and Surroundings

The land around the pond is gently rolling, about 45 meters (148 feet) above sea level. Barelees Pond is shaped like an oval. It stretches about 180 meters (0.11 miles) from north to south. It is also about 110 meters (0.07 miles) wide from east to west.

An island has grown to cover much of the pond's southern and middle parts. There's still a moat of water around the south side of the island. Most of the open water is now found at the northern end of the pond.

Other Kettle Holes Nearby

The area around Barelees Pond has other similar "kettle hole" ponds. For example, another one called Campfield Kettle Hole is about 1 kilometer (0.65 miles) to the west.

Plants and Trees at Barelees Pond

The island in Barelees Pond is home to a special type of woodland called a carr. Part of this carr is a "quaking bog." This means it's a floating mat of plants that sits on top of the pond's water.

Plants on the Quaking Bog

You'll find birch trees (Betula sp.) growing on the quaking bog. The ground beneath them is covered in soft bog mosses. These include Sphagnum palustre and Sphagnum recurvum. Other plants here are cotton-grasses, like Eriophorum angustifolium and E. vaginatum. You might also spot marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris) and bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata).

Plants in the Island's Center

The more stable, central parts of the island have Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris). On the ground, you'll see plants like ling (Calluna vulgaris) and cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix). In 2009, scientists also found a type of lichen called Caloplaca luteoalba growing on the birch trees.

Plants Around the Island's Edge

The very edge of the island has willow trees (Salix spp.). Other plants growing here include marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) and bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara).

Plants Around the Pond's Edge

The outer edge of the pond itself supports plants like soft rush (Juncus effusus) and greater pond sedge (Carex riparia). You can also find water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica).

Plants on the Pond's Bank

The bank surrounding the pond has elder (Sambucus nigra) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) bushes. Wild rose (Rosa sp.), rosebay willow herb (Epilobium angustifolium), and common nettle (Urtica dioica) also grow here.

In 2009, experts checked the natural features of Barelees Pond. They found everything was in good condition, which is great news for this special place!