Wildlife reserves · North East England
Joe's Pond
In or near Houghton-le-Spring.
Joe's Pond in England North East, United Kingdom.
brian clark — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–4 h
- Best time of year
- Autumn & winter (migration & wildfowl)
- Nearest railway station
- Chester-le-Street · 6.2 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
- Wheelchair accessible
About
Joe's Pond is a place of interest in England North East, United Kingdom — drawn from open-data sources for visitor reference. See the linked Wikipedia article for the full description.
Photo gallery
Official information
Rainton Meadows is a nature reserve created from the restoration of a former coal mine, now home to diverse wildlife including over 200 bird species. Visitors can explore accessible pathways, bird hides, and enjoy various habitats such as wetlands and grasslands.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Joe's Pond SSSI
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Joe's Pond (formerly known as Nicholson's Pond) is a 4-hectare (9.9-acre) Site of Special Scientific Interest that lies to the east of, and adjacent to, the Rainton Meadows nature reserve in Tyne and Wear, England.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
It was originally notified, as Nicholson's Pond, in 1968. Its main feature is a deep freshwater pond, but the surrounding area contains a variety of habitats that provides shelter for over 140 species of birds and other wildlife. The pond occupies the site of a former open-cast coal mine. It was leased in 1951 by one Joe Wilson, who began to manage it for wildlife and from whom the site derives its name. It was purchased in 1970 by the Durham Wildlife Trust, which manages it in conjunction with the adjoining Rainton Meadows nature reserve. The site actually consists of three ponds: the smallest (the "Balancing Pond") helps to prevent pollution of the main pond by trapping seepage from…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 54.8315, -1.4900
- District
- Sunderland
- Parish
- Hetton
- Postcode
- DH4 5NL
- Parliamentary constituency
- Houghton and Sunderland South
- Phone
- 0191 584 3112
- Established
- 1968
- Nearest railway station
- Chester-le-Street — 6.2 km
- Opening
- Reserve accessible 24/7/365, with vehicle access from 9.30am - 4.30pm each day.
- Official site
- durhamwt.com
Sources
- wikidata: Q6208224 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Joe's Pond (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Rainton Meadows
Forests & woodlands · 0.3 km
Rainton Meadows railway station
Heritage railway stations · 1.0 km
East Rainton
Other places · 1.2 km
Hunter's House Pit
Archaeological sites · 1.3 km
Middle Rainton Village
Archaeological sites · 1.3 km
Middle Rainton Picnic Area
Natural landmarks · 1.4 km
Kepier School
Other places · 1.4 km
Roman Bellic's Bowling Alley
Bowling alleys · 1.4 km
Middle Rainton
Wildlife reserves · 1.4 km
Chilton Moor
Other places · 1.4 km
Fence Houses
Other places · 1.4 km
Hetton Bogs
Wildlife reserves · 1.6 km
Nearby
📷 3Forests & woodlands · North East England
Rainton Meadows
Rainton Meadows is a forest or woodland in the United Kingdom.
📷 3Heritage railway stations · North East England
Rainton Meadows railway station
Rainton Meadows railway station in England North East, United Kingdom.
📷 3📷 3Archaeological sites · North East England
Hunter's House Pit
Hunter's House Pit — a archaeological in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.
📷 3Archaeological sites · North East England
Middle Rainton Village
Middle Rainton Village — a archaeological in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.
📷 3Natural landmarks · North East England
Middle Rainton Picnic Area
Middle Rainton Picnic Area — a other in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Joe's Pond
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Places to eat & drink
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📷 5
📷 5Restaurants · North East England
Bistro Italiano
Bistro Italiano — a restaurant in scotland lowlands.
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Aules Hill Meadows
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Joe's Pond?
- Joe's Pond is in North-East England, United Kingdom (postcode DH4 5NL), in the parish of Hetton.
- What is Joe's Pond?
- Joe's Pond in England North East, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Joe's Pond?
- The nearest railway station is Chester-le-Street, about 6.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode DH4 5NL.
- When was Joe's Pond built?
- Built or established in 1968.
- Is Joe's Pond a protected site?
- Yes — Joe's Pond is part of the Joe's Pond SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- Is Joe's Pond free to visit?
- Yes, Joe's Pond is free to enter.
- How do I get to Joe's Pond?
- The nearest railway station is Chester-le-Street, about 6.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode DH4 5NL.
- Are dogs allowed at Joe's Pond?
- Most wildlife reserves allow dogs on lead only, with restrictions during ground-nesting bird season (March-July). Check signage at the reserve.