History of the Dene
The first reference to Holywell Dene was in 800AD although it was then known as Merkel Dene. It was part of the Manor of Hartley.
In 1219 the Manor of Hartley was conferred to Gilbert de Laval and became part of the Delaval Estate, as it is today.
About Us
In 2000 Holywell Dene was in a bad state and deteriorating rapidly. The tenant farmer’s right to over-winter cattle in the Dene had heavily affected the ground flora and natural regeneration, as well as severely damaging the numerous paths.
Welcome to Holywell Dene!
Holywell Dene is in the South East corner of Northumberland, with a small part straddling the border into North Tyneside.
The Dene stretches for approximately 6km between the villages of Seghill in the west, passing close to Holywell and Old Hartley, and thence to Seaton Sluice on the coast in the east.
Holywell Dene is a steep sided ancient semi-natural woodland and is traversed by a small river known as the Seaton Burn. Between Old Hartley and Seaton Sluice, where the river enters the sea, the valley widens into a tidal flood plain.
Much of the Dene is part of the Delaval Estate. In 2000 the Estate granted the two Councils a 99-year lease; they in turn designated their areas Local Nature Reserves.
In the same year, 2000, a voluntary community group called Friends of Holywell Dene was established.
Flora and Fauna
The woodlands of Holywell Dene, together with its adjacent agricultural fields, support a wide variety of Flora and Fauna.
Wild flowers found, which are indicators of native woodland, include:
Bluebells in the Dene
Latest News
Upcoming Events
Dates for your diaries - a list of events occurring throughout the year can be found here.
A party of nine volunteers met this morning at the car park at the Milbourne Arms to finish sycamore control and ivy removal from the trees on the stretch of river back on the south side behind the Fat Ox….
The volunteer working party returned to last week’s haunt for another session of sycamore and ivy removal this sunny morning. The turnout was eight and the rendezvous was the carpark of the Milbourne Arms, Holywell….
20-May-2025
On Tuesday morning a working party of 12 volunteers set forth from the assembly point outside Dene Cottage to strim the path verges and reduce the population of sycamores and ivy on the western side of the estuary….
10-Jun-2025
It was strimming again for the 11-member working party this morning, after a cancelled session last week because of rain….
27-May-2025
An eleven-strong working party met up at the Hartley Lane carpark this morning for the first full day of strimming of the summer season. Here’s the kit….
Himalayan Balsam
Himalayan balsam, an attractive but invasive alien plant, is trying to invade the banks of the river. Please keep an eye open for it, and report it if you see it. To find out what it looks like, view our Himalayan Balsam Guide.
17-Jun-2025
We got a good turnout of ten volunteers this morning, which allowed us to get five strimmers going and get a lot of strimming done at the upstream end of the Dene….
24-Jun-2025
It was strimming and balsam-bashing this morning for the working party of twelve volunteers that turned out this morning at our meeting point on the Hartley West Farm access road….
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