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Nearest
Town: Horwich, Bolton
Grid Ref: SD 635104
Red
Moss, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, supports
one of the world's rarest and most remarkable habitats.
Pollen analysis has revealed the first peat deposits
of the northwest's mosslands to be from around 8000
years BC making Red Moss an impressive 10,000 years
old.
Mosslands
used to be common in the Northwest, the high rainfall
being ideal for this wetland habitat. However, in
Lancashire since 1840, 99% of mossland habitat has
been destroyed; mainly due to changes in agriculture
and forestry and most recently the increase of commercial
extraction of peat from sites. It is now certain that
lowland mossland in the British Isles with significant
nature conservation value cover less than 10,000 ha
(5% of the area that existed in 1850. The loss of
mosslands worldwide is so extensive that European
guidelines stress that any peatland capable of restoration
is considered to be of European Importance.
Mosslands
are wetland areas that are waterlogged the whole year
round and are fed purely from rainfall. The wet, acid
conditions found within mosslands provides a harsh
environment that only a few specialised species can
tolerate. Mosslands therefore provide a home to a
range of plant species that can be found no-where
else. Birds and Insects also flourish on the mossland
areas. The wet ditches and cuttings, providing ideal
breeding and feeding areas for dragonflies and damselflies,
and birds such the Tree Pipit, Lapwing, Snipe, Teal
and Short-eared Owl.
England's
entire mossland habitat has been altered due to peat
extraction and dewatering and many species have been
lost. Red moss is no exception and has lost a number
of characteristic species such as Bog Asphodel and
Bog Rosemary and Sundews. However, Red Moss still
represents one of the largest areas of cutover mossland
in the region. 11 species of Bog Mosses can also be
found on Red Moss, the best in Greater Manchester.
Bolton
Metropolitan Borough Council owns most of the moss,
but parts of the site are also owned by British Rail
and United utilities. In 1999, the Lancashire Wildlife
Trust was asked to manage the area of land owned by
Bolton MBC with the aim of restoring suitable water
levels and conditions for the growth of mossland species.
Restoration
Work
Since 1999, the Trust has been undertaking large-scale
capital works to block drainage ditches and raise
water levels within the mossland to a level suitable
for the growth of mossland species. Baulkways, strips
of higher land, have been created to isolate the mossland
so that the site is now fed purely from rainfall and
helps protect the site from pollution. Water levels
have risen considerably and mossland vegetation is
now beginning to flourish over a wider area of the
site. It is also hoped that in the future many of
the species that have been lost can be re-established.
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