River Don, County Durham
The River Don is a minor river in the northeast of County Durham. The stream picks its way through the post-industrial landscapes from the green gap between Washington and the Gateshead suburbs, and eastwards through Boldon and northwards by Hebburn to enter the tidal River Tyne at Jarrow.
The famous monastery of Anglo-Saxon Jarrow sat beside the banks of the Don, but the monks would hardly recognise the gentle stream amongst the concrete docklands of the rivermouth today. Nevertheless, saltmarshes persist here as in ancient times.
In March 2012, a backwater was dug and connected to the River Don in West Boldon, with the aim of storing water during times of high flow to reduce flooding downstream.[1] The backwater, though artificial, has also attracted wildlife.
