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.
8-April-2025
A working party of eight volunteers met up at our parking space down the lane from Holywell this morning to repair a vandalised fence, plus other activities. This was a nice sunny, warmish day with dry ground under foot….
1-April-2025
There was a strong turnout of ten volunteers this morning to enhance the culvert that carries the Holywell side burn under the footpath….
15-April-2025
Eight volunteers turned up on Tuesday on a cool and potentially damp morning, however the rain held off. The task today was to complete the work started two weeks ago when we installed a second large pipe….
29-April-2025
A fine turnout of twelve volunteers were greeted by warm and sunny weather (the hottest day so far this year) for a morning of ivy and sycamore control ….
22-April-2025
The weather was a bit warmer and brighter this morning for the working party of nine volunteers, and the work was a mixture of river clearance, ivy control and sycamore removal….
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….
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