Cotton Thistle, Silverlink Biodiversity Park, Shiremoor
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Cotton Thistle, Silverlink Biodiversity Park, Shiremoor by Geoff Holland as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
There are currently over 7.5m images from over 14,400 individuals and you can help contribute to the project by visiting https://www.geograph.org.uk

Image: © Geoff Holland Taken: 29 Jun 2020
This plant, which is also known as the Scotch Thistle, can reach up to 2.5 metres in height, and whilst fairly widespread throughout much of Britain it is never common. There were quite a number of these plants running alongside the edge of an old waggonway which once carried coal from the local collieries down to the River Tyne. The waggonway is now a recreational route for walkers, cyclists and runners. The Biodiversity Park was created in 1996, on the site of a former rubbish tip, as part of a new business park development scheme. It was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2005. For a selection of detailed free to download walking routes in the area visit www.northtynesidewalks.co.uk
