Tunstall Hills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tunstall Hills |
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Rocky Hill
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 Location in Tyne and Wear
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| Location | Tyne and Wear, England, UK |
| OS grid | NZ392545 |
| Coordinates | 54°53′02″N 1°23′24″W / 54.884°N 1.390°W |
Tunstall Hills is a cool outdoor area in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. It's a special place known as a Local Nature Reserve. This means it's protected because of its important wildlife and nature.
The area is also part of something even bigger called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This longer name, Tunstall Hills And Ryhope Cutting, shows it's super important for both its rocks (geology) and its living things (biology). Tunstall Hills includes two main parts: Green Hill and Rocky Hill, plus the land around them.
Exploring Tunstall Hills
Tunstall Hills is a great spot to explore nature right in the city. It offers open spaces where you can enjoy the outdoors. The hills are a home for many different plants and animals. They are protected so that everyone can enjoy them for years to come.
Amazing Plants at Tunstall Hills
The gentle slopes of Tunstall Hills are home to many different kinds of plants. These plants grow on a special type of soil called Magnesian Limestone grassland. You can find grasses like upright brome and blue moor-grass here.
There are also many colorful flowers and herbs. Look out for common rock-rose, which has bright yellow flowers, and salad burnet. You might also spot wild thyme, which smells lovely, and small scabious.
Rare Plants to Discover
Tunstall Hills is extra special because it has some rare plants. One of these is the perennial flax. This plant is quite uncommon in Great Britain, and Tunstall Hills is one of the furthest north places it grows.
Other unique plants you might find include the frog orchid, which looks a bit like a tiny green frog. There's also the autumn gentian and the purple milk-vetch. These plants add to the amazing variety of life found at Tunstall Hills.
