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.
5-November-2024
The working party (of six volunteers) was active on the western side of the estuary this morning: clearing a fallen branch and cleaning gullies. The assembly point was the open space outside Dene Cottage. Having loaded up a couple of wheelbarrows with tools we set off along the estuary path on the west side of the estuary….
12-November-2024
It was back to the estuary this morning for the working party, which numbered nine volunteers. We assembled at the familiar venue of Dene Cottage and, after a bit of a confab about the future of the group (see below), proceeded up the west side of the estuary….
19-November-2024
On a cold and frosty morning, a working party of nine assembled at the stone bridge on Hartley West Farm road to upgrade the boardwalk by the side waterfall and fill in a couple of dog slides….
26-November-2024
The eight volunteers of the working party were greeted by a bright but chilly morning as they assembled at Holywell for a path maintenance session. The tools van was parked in the Milbourne Arms carpark….
10-December-2024
A light working party of six volunteers did some tree clearance and gully maintenance work in the lower Dene this morning, on a rather dull and damp day. It wasn’t to be expected that we would get away with Storm Darragh without some falling timber problems….
3-December-2024
This morning’s task was to clear out the “tool shed”. We keep all our tools and a lot of materials in a shipping container which is parked on a farm near the Dene….
7-January-2025
It was perishing cold and windy when the six volunteers of the working party assembled at the metal gate on the Hartley Farm approach road for a morning’s hard labour on the steps down from the layby to the lower wooden footbridge….
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