Rivers and Burns

River BreamishNorthumberland National Park contains some of the cleanest rivers in the UK. This is probably related to the type of farming that has conserved the moorland character of the National Park.

Cleanliness is good news for fish like salmon and sea trout as they migrate from the sea right up to the river sources to lay their eggs. Other important species found here are otters, water crow-foot (a white, floating member of the buttercup family) and water rock bristle (a very rare moss found only in Northumberland).

The otter has long had a stronghold in Northumberland on the upper River Tyne when it had all but vanished from the rest of England. It is now found in most of the rivers and burns around the Park.

More details about the habitat as well as threats and positive actions to improve it, can be found by downloading the Habitat Action Plan: Rivers and Burns (22kb).

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