Danes Moss nature reserve is to get a facelift after a funding boost. The 33-acre lowland raised bog is a natural haven for plants, insects, birds and animals.
Managed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, it is a rare and threatened habitat designated a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI).
The trust has been given £27,000 from the environmental organisation WREN which it will use to build new walkways around the reserve between Gawsworth and Lyme Green.
Danes Moss is home to a huge variety of dragonflies and damselflies – including Britain’s smallest, the black darter – and remains the largest lowland raised peat bog in Cheshire.
The boardwalk will be constructed from recycled plastic to allow access in all weathers and protect the delicate habitat.
The trust is now looking for volunteers to help with the preservation of the reserve.
Project assistant Andy Sheridan said: “Danes is one of our most important nature reserves and its recent extension now makes it even more vital that we take good care of it, while also giving people the chance to see what makes it special.
“Our recent project in Stalybridge has shown the massive difference that the community can make, a real ‘all-hands-on-deck’ team effort from local volunteers let us achieve more than we thought possible.
“We hope that by the end of the summer we’ll be able to say the same about those living close to Danes Moss. ”
Peat bogs remain one of the most under-threat wildlife habitats in the UK, and are also one of the planets biggest natural stores of CO2 – key to our battle with climate change and global warming.
Last year a successful £10,000 fundraising appeal enabled the trust to expand the SSI by an area the size of 12 football pitches.
Anyone interested in getting involved with the project should contact Andy Sheridan on asheridan@cheshirewt.org.uk or 07792 339488.
