After the success of the Declaration of the Flashes of Wigan and Leigh National Nature Reserve in 2022, plans were afoot for the creation of another National Nature Reserve (NNR) to cover our region's amazing lowland peatlands, known loaclly as mosslands. Whilst we knew that lots of statutory bodies and non-governmental organisations would be key to this, it was also clear that the local community not only needed, but wanted, to be part of the campaign too.
And so #IfIHadANNR was born.
Four short films were organised by Natural England alongside Great Manchester Wetlands partners Warrington Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust. each film focussed on different community members and groups looking at how everyone could work together to make restoring and accessing the mosslands truly inclusive. This was all set against the backdrop of a rapid expansion of peatland restoration activity by partners in the last decade in the Great Manchester Wetlands area, centering on Chat Moss and surrounding areas.
Next to Nature
Next to Nature is a short film by Matt Towers and Joe Roper about primary aged children from Gorse Covert Primary School in Warrington, discussing their connection to nature while bouncing on the Risley Moss nature reserve mini moss, exploring the boardwalk, squeezing sphagnum moss and having a great time drumming.