Witherslack Mosses

Witherslack Mosses are a fragmented wetland west of the Kent estuary in Cumbria, England, within the Lake District National Park. They consist of three raised bogs, the remnants of a formerly extensive, estuarine bog, which have been protected under the Habitats Directive as a Special Area of Conservation.[1]

Witherslack Mosses
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Map showing the location of Witherslack Mosses
Map showing the location of Witherslack Mosses
Map of England
LocationCumbria, England
Coordinates54°14′10″N 2°50′22″W[1]
Area486 ha (1,200 acres)

The site was designated an SAC in 2005. The bogs were already individually protected as nature reserves in the care of Cumbria Wildlife Trust and, under UK legislation, as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Restoration

All three bogs have retained some of the original dome structure, characteristic of raised bogs. However, each has been degraded by drainage and by peat-cutting around the edges. Restoration work has been carried out since the late 20th century. This has reversed afforestation and associated drainage work.[6]

In 2022 land adjacent to Nicholls Moss was bought in order to extend the reserve.[5]

Public access

Parking for Foulshaw Moss is just off the A590 (westbound).

Work to improve access to Foulshaw Moss

Raised water levels, as a result of bog restoration work, adversely affected public access to Meathop Moss and Foulshaw Moss around 2012, and the boardwalks had to be relaid.

Fauna

The mosses are known for their invertebrates.[7] The restoration of the wetland has seen species returning, notably:

References
  1. "Witherslack Mosses (Site UK0030302)". European Environment Agency. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  2. Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Retrieved November 2013
  3. "Meathop Moss". Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  4. Nichols Moss, Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Retrieved November 2013
  5. Hodges, M. "Help and support to local farmers who are looking to undertake environmental work comes as Cumbria Wildlife Trust given funds to widen peat restoration in the county". The Mail.
  6. Amodeo, Christian. "Cumbria's largest peatbog restored.(Foulshaw Moss)(Brief Article)." Geographical (UK). Circle Publishing Ltd. 2004. Accessed via HighBeam Research. 27 Dec. 2012 (subscription required).
  7. "Meathop Moss" (PDF). English Nature. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  8. "Rare dragonflies hatch at reserve following reintroduction". The Guardian. 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  9. Murphy (May 2014). "Ospreys seen at new site". Westmorland Gazette. Retrieved 6 July 2014.


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