A NATURE spot famed for its dragonflies and butterfly species will see a £30,000 project for better access completed by spring.
Conservation charity Cheshire Wildlife Trust has been working to improve the Danes Moss in south Macclesfield for visitors.The 13 hectare area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as the largest lowland raised bog in Cheshire.
It’s known for its numbers and variety of dragonflies during the summer months, along with almost 20 species of butterfly.
The Trust has been working to rejuvenate the delicate bog habitats by removing trees which can dry out the mosses and reduce the optimum conditions for rare plants.It has also been ‘re-wetting’, the process by which water is held in the bog to create the pools favoured by dragonflies.
But this wet environment is difficult for visitors, so a £30,000 cash grant from WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Limited) was a welcome boost to help give the nature reserve a makeover.Andy Sheridan, project assistant, and his team have spent the last year on projects at the site including a new circular path and viewpoints across the reserve, with a picnic area which visitors can access along a towpath from the Lyme Green retail park.
Andy said: “Like any nature reserve where protection of habitats is paramount, the use of heavy machinery is not an option for moving materials about.
“With that in mind, dozens of tonnes of stone, boardwalk materials and other equipment has had to be moved by hand, which is why we’re hugely grateful to all those who have given their time as a volunteer on the project.
“During the wettest periods in recent months, it seemed like a canal barge would have been more use than a 4x4, but somehow we’ve managed to get there with just the finishing touches to complete now before spring.”
The Trust hopes to open the new trails in the coming weeks.
Find out more about Danes Moss at cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
