Hetton Lyons Country Park 73 ha
Plan your visit
🧺 Picnic🦅 Birds🦉 Wildlife
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 73 ha
Getting here
54.82239, -1.44072
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ 🐦 60+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Kestrel and Jackdaw 🧺 Good picnic destination in summer — open space and facilities for a relaxed day out 🛝 Playground 166m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site 🌤️ Visiting this summer
🐦 60+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Kestrel and Jackdaw 🧺 Good picnic destination in summer — open space and facilities for a relaxed day out 🛝 Playground 166m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🅿️ Parking🧺 Picnic spot🛝 Playground
🧺 Picnic day out
Very strong match
picnic area, car park; Urban park — open green space
Free
🦅 Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Kestrel, Jackdaw, Wren +57 more · last seen 2026; Lowland heathland — Dartford warblers, nightjars and stonechats
Free
Birds — Kestrel, Jackdaw, Wren +57 more · last seen 2026; Lowland heathland priority habitat
Free
🦋 Insect spotting
Strong match
Lowland heathland — silver-studded blue and heath fritillary butterflies; Insects — Emperor Dragonfly, 14-spot Ladybird, Broad-bodied Chaser +18 more · last seen 2025
Free
🛝 Family friendly
Strong match
playground, picnic area; Urban park — family destination
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 8 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby
Signed route nearby Public paths
Weardale Way Walking route 124 km ▾
Named route Length 124 km Regional walking route
Show on map Red Clover Leaf Walk Walking route ▾
Named route Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Dragonfly route Walking route ▾
Named route Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Shrew route Walking route ▾
Named route Round trip Local walking route
Show on map Heron route Walking route ▾
Named route Local walking route
Show on map 71 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Walney to Wear Cycle Route Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 70 National Cycle Network
Show on map Route 14 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 14 National Cycle Network
Show on map EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 5 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref EV12 International cycle route
Show on map NCN 1 Seaham alternative Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 1 National Cycle Network
Show on map NCN 1 Tees to Tyne Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 1 National Cycle Network
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 2.1 km ▾
Named route Ref 70 Length 2.1 km National Cycle Network On-road Surface asphalt
Show on map Photos Picnic area at Hetton Lyons Country Park
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Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
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Wildlife to spot
12,674 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 12,674 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 41 species
winter spring
2026 ▾
Kestrel · Great Crested Grebe · Barn Owl · Coot · Grey Heron +36
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Barn Owl Tyto alba Coot Fulica atra Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Eider Somateria mollissima Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Linnet Linaria cannabina2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Redwing Turdus iliacus2025 Tree Sparrow Passer montanus2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Swallow Hirundo rustica2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus2025 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Kingfisher Alcedo atthis2025 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2024 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2024 Bank Vole · Wood Mouse · Pygmy Shrew · Common Shrew · Brown Hare
Bank Vole Myodes glareolus2024 Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus2024 Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus2024 Common Shrew Sorex araneus2024 Brown Hare Lepus europaeus 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
spring autumn
2025 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Frog Rana temporaria Emperor Dragonfly · Sphaerophoria · Black-Kneed Apple Capsid · Aphrophora alni · Common Green Capsid +12
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator Sphaerophoria Sphaerophoria Black-Kneed Apple Capsid Blepharidopterus angulatus Aphrophora alni Aphrophora alni Common Green Capsid Lygocoris (Lygocoris) pabulinus Pantilius (Pantilius) tunicatus Pantilius (Pantilius) tunicatus Common Ragwort · Common Knapweed · Creeping Buttercup · White Clover · Sycamore +48
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens White Clover Trifolium repens Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus Ash Fraxinus excelsior Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 12,674 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 41 species
winter spring
2026 ▾
Kestrel · Great Crested Grebe · Barn Owl · Coot · Grey Heron +36
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus2025 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Barn Owl Tyto alba Coot Fulica atra Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos2025 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus2025 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major Eider Somateria mollissima Treecreeper Certhia familiaris Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Linnet Linaria cannabina2025 Jay Garrulus glandarius2025 Redwing Turdus iliacus2025 Tree Sparrow Passer montanus2025 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis2025 Swallow Hirundo rustica2025 Swift Apus apus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus2025 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Kingfisher Alcedo atthis2025 Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2024 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2024 Bank Vole · Wood Mouse · Pygmy Shrew · Common Shrew · Brown Hare
Bank Vole Myodes glareolus2024 Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus2024 Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus2024 Common Shrew Sorex araneus2024 Brown Hare Lepus europaeus 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
spring autumn
2025 ▾
Smooth Newt · Common Frog
Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris Common Frog Rana temporaria Emperor Dragonfly · Sphaerophoria · Black-Kneed Apple Capsid · Aphrophora alni · Common Green Capsid +12
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator Sphaerophoria Sphaerophoria Black-Kneed Apple Capsid Blepharidopterus angulatus Aphrophora alni Aphrophora alni Common Green Capsid Lygocoris (Lygocoris) pabulinus Pantilius (Pantilius) tunicatus Pantilius (Pantilius) tunicatus Common Ragwort · Common Knapweed · Creeping Buttercup · White Clover · Sycamore +48
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens White Clover Trifolium repens Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus Ash Fraxinus excelsior Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Birch Catkin Bug
Birch Catkin Bug
Kleidocerys resedae
Kleidocerys resedae
14-spot Ladybird Propylea quattuordecimpunctata
14-spot Ladybird Propylea quattuordecimpunctata
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
Eupeodes corollae Eupeodes corollae
Eupeodes corollae Eupeodes corollae
Platycheirus scutatus Platycheirus scutatus
Platycheirus scutatus Platycheirus scutatus
Melangyna umbellatarum Melangyna umbellatarum
Melangyna umbellatarum Melangyna umbellatarum
Melanostoma Melanostoma
Melanostoma Melanostoma
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum
Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum
Cleavers Galium aparine
Cleavers Galium aparine
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata
Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata
Common Nettle Urtica dioica
Common Nettle Urtica dioica
Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis
Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis
Narrow-leaved Ragwort Senecio inaequidens
Narrow-leaved Ragwort Senecio inaequidens
Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara
Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara
Wild Carrot Daucus carota
Wild Carrot Daucus carota
Bush Vetch Vicia sepium
Bush Vetch Vicia sepium
Nipplewort Lapsana communis
Nipplewort Lapsana communis
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense
Soft-brome Bromus hordeaceus
Soft-brome Bromus hordeaceus
Crosswort Cruciata laevipes
Crosswort Cruciata laevipes
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium
Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium
Goat Willow Salix caprea
Goat Willow Salix caprea
Hop Trefoil Trifolium campestre
Hop Trefoil Trifolium campestre
Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper
Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper
Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans
Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans
Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor
Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor
Rosebay Willowherb Chamaenerion angustifolium
Rosebay Willowherb Chamaenerion angustifolium
Red Fescue Festuca rubra
Red Fescue Festuca rubra
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Cowslip Primula veris
Cowslip Primula veris
Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus
Guelder-rose Viburnum opulus
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Curled Dock Rumex crispus
Curled Dock Rumex crispus
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris
Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur
Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur
Greater Plantain Plantago major
Greater Plantain Plantago major
Meadow Crane's-bill Geranium pratense
Meadow Crane's-bill Geranium pratense
Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys
Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys
Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica
Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica
Elder Sambucus nigra
Elder Sambucus nigra
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara
Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea
Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
White Dead-nettle Lamium album
White Dead-nettle Lamium album
Weld Reseda luteola
Weld Reseda luteola
Black Medick Medicago lupulina
Black Medick Medicago lupulina
Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata
Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata
Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
Horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica
Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica 