Editing North East England (section)

==Geography==
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| caption1          = [[Lindisfarne Castle]], [[Lindisfarne|Holy Island]]
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| caption2          = [[High Force]], [[Teesdale]]
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| caption3          = [[Cheviot Hills]]
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The region is generally hilly and sparsely populated in the North and West, and urban and arable in the East and South. The highest point in the region is [[The Cheviot]], in the [[Cheviot Hills]], at {{convert|815|m|ft|0}}.

The region contains the urban centres of [[Tyneside]], [[Wearside]], and [[Teesside]] and is noted for the rich natural beauty of its coastline, [[Northumberland National Park]], and the section of the [[Pennines]] that includes [[Teesdale]] and [[Weardale]].

=== Climate ===
North East England has a [[Marine climate|Marine west coast climate]] (generally found along the west coast of middle latitude continents) with narrower temperature ranges than the south of England and sufficient precipitation in all months. Summers and winters are mild rather than extremely hot or cold, due to the strong maritime influence of the [[North Atlantic Current]] of the [[Gulf Stream]]. The [[Met Office]] operates several weather stations in the region<ref>{{cite web |title=UK climate normals station map |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517053458/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate |archive-date=17 May 2019 |access-date=8 July 2016 |publisher=Met Office}}</ref> and are able to show the regional variations in temperature and its relation to the distance from the [[North Sea]]. The warmest summers in the region are found in Stockton-on-Tees and the [[Middlesbrough]] area, with a 1981–2010 July average high of {{convert|20.4|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stockton-on-Tees climate normals 1981–2010 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcxn3ykru |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722055547/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcxn3ykru |archive-date=22 July 2016 |access-date=8 July 2016 |publisher=Met Office}}</ref>

Precipitation is often low by English standards, in spite of the low levels of sunshine, with Stockton-on-Tees averaging only {{convert|574.2|mm|in}} annually, and with the seaside town of Tynemouth (despite its slightly sunnier climate) recording {{convert|597.2|mm|in}} annually.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tynemouth Climate Normals 1981–2010 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcybzz9xh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428061242/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcybzz9xh |archive-date=28 April 2016 |access-date=8 July 2016 |publisher=Met Office}}</ref> The summers on the northern coastlines are significantly cooler than in the southern and central inland areas: Tynemouth is only just above {{convert|18|C|F}} in July. Further inland, frosts during winter are more common, due to the higher elevations and distance from the sea.

=== Biodiversity ===
The region has a diverse landscape that includes maritime cliffs and extensive [[moorland]] that contains a number of [[rare species]] of [[flora]] and [[fauna]]. Of particular importance are the saltmarshes of [[Lindisfarne]], the [[River Tees|Tees Estuary]], the [[Heath (habitat)|heaths]], [[bog]]s and traditional upland hay meadows of the North Pennines, and the Arctic-alpine flora of Upper Teesdale.

The beauty of the [[Northumberland Coast National Landscape|Northumbrian coastline]] has led to its designation as an [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty|area of outstanding natural beauty]] (AONB)
stretching 100 miles from [[Berwick-Upon-Tweed]] to the [[River Coquet]] estuary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northumberland Coast ANOB |url=http://www.thisisnorthumberland.com/destinations/coast-aonb/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916024543/http://www.thisisnorthumberland.com/destinations/coast-aonb/ |archive-date=16 September 2013 |access-date=23 August 2013 |publisher=This is Northumberland Newcastle & the Borders}}</ref> Among the 290 bird species identified on the [[Farne Islands]], is the rare [[seabird]] the [[roseate tern]]. One of the foremost bird sanctuaries and observatory for migratory and wading birds in the UK is now operated at "Saltholme" which is part of a wider site of special scientific interest called [[Seal Sands]]. The Saltholme reserve is managed by the [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]] (RSPB). This project was pronounced as one of the best places to view birds by [[Bill Oddie]], the former host of the BBC's ''Spring Watch'' Programme. In December 2012 he also presented the project with a prize as the UK's favorite [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]] funded project.<ref>{{cite news |last=Woodcock |first=Laura |title=Bill Oddie presents Saltholme nature reserve volunteers with trophy |publisher=GazetteLive |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/bill-oddie-presents-saltholme-nature-3667847 |url-status=live |access-date=22 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714123905/http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/bill-oddie-presents-saltholme-nature-3667847 |archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>

The seal colony at Seal Sands on the mouth of the River Tees is thriving and in 2013 had more than 60 [[harbour seals]]. This is the only breeding colony of this species on the northeast coast.<ref>{{cite web |title=Teesmouth NNR |url=http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006937.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713121116/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006937.aspx |archive-date=13 July 2013 |access-date=22 August 2013 |publisher=Natural England}}</ref> "[[Rainton Meadows]]" is also a recently{{when|date=May 2023}} created bird-watching site.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rainton |url=http://www.durhamwildlifetrust.org.uk/visitor-centres/rainton/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714202138/http://www.durhamwildlifetrust.org.uk/visitor-centres/rainton/ |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=23 August 2013 |publisher=Durham Wildlife Trust}}</ref> The region is also the English stronghold of black grouse<ref>{{cite web |title=Northumberland Biodiversity Action Plan:Black Grouse |url=http://www.nwt.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/Black_Grouse.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714185029/http://www.nwt.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/Black_Grouse.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=23 August 2013 |url-status=usurped |publisher=Northeast Wildlife}}</ref> and contains 80–90% of the UK population of yellow marsh [[saxifraga|saxifrage]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Biodiversity in the North East:In the uplands |url=http://www.nebiodiversity.org.uk/biodiversity/default.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807013301/http://nebiodiversity.org.uk/biodiversity/default.asp |archive-date=7 August 2013 |access-date=23 August 2013 |publisher=Northeast Biodiversity Forum}}</ref>

The [[Magnesian Limestone]] grasslands of East Durham are a unique habitat not found anywhere else in the world which is particularly important to many species of butterfly and moths.<ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Miller |first2=Brian |last2=Young |first3=David |last3=Butler |first4=Julie |last4=Stobbs |first5=John |last5=Durkin |first6=Dave |last6=Mitchell |first7=Terry |last7=Coult |first8=Sam |last8=Ellis |first9=Dave |last9=Wainwright |first10=John |last10=Olley |title=Magical Meadows and the Durham Magnesian Limestone |publisher=Durham Wildlife Trust |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-9555467-0-9}}</ref>

The Northeast of England also features woodland such as [[Kielder Forest]], the largest man-made forest in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kielder Forest and Border Mires |url=http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/living-landscape/living-landscape-schemes/scheme-directory/kielder-forest-and-border-mires |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427064826/http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/living-landscape/living-landscape-schemes/scheme-directory/kielder-forest-and-border-mires |archive-date=27 April 2014 |access-date=23 August 2013 |publisher=Wildlife Trusts}}</ref> This is located within Northumberland National Park and contains an important habitat for the [[endangered]] [[red squirrel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Red Squirrels Northern England |url=http://www.rsne.org.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815081919/http://www.rsne.org.uk/ |archive-date=15 August 2013 |access-date=23 August 2013 |publisher=RSNE}}</ref>