Some great news coming from our restoration project at New Moss Wood in Salford. Thanks to the restoration and planting work that was carried out last year, we are now seeing key mossland species taking hold and we are starting to see the peatland habitat coming back to life. Peatlands are so important in the fight against climate change, with their ability to capture and hold carbon, restoring these precious habitats in vital.
Tony our Restoration and Volunteer Officer says ‘To re-instate the New Moss peatland habitat after it's been so heavily drained and covered with rich soils for over 100 years is true a success story! It's a great example of partnership working, notably The Woodland Trust, Natural England, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Salford City Council. Now the peat has been revealed and the site has been rewet, we will continue to monitor the plants that we have reintroduced to the site, which have been missing for over 150 years!’
Additionally, we received some encouraging pictures by Josh Styles from the North West Rare Plant Initiative, from when he visited New Moss Woods a couple of weeks ago. He’s been supporting the project with his knowledge on peatland species and he says ‘What’s happening on New Moss Woods is completely amazing and heart-warming’ he continued ‘To see a site change so much in under a year is fantastic. Species like Crossed Leaved Heath and Round-leaved Sundew are really taking hold and now there are even small bog pools with sphagnum moss carpets. Peatlands habitats are often overlooked but it is vital that we restore them so pioneering work like this is really helping.’
There is still a lot of amazing work happening on New Moss Wood and we are looking forward to bringing these too you!
