Foulshaw Moss facts for kids
Foulshaw Moss is a special place in Cumbria, England. It's a type of wetland called a raised bog. In 1998, the Cumbria Wildlife Trust bought Foulshaw Moss. They have worked hard to fix damage caused by draining the land and planting too many trees.
It's a special protected area called a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It's also part of the Witherslack Mosses Special Area of Conservation, along with two smaller bogs, Meathop Moss and Nichols Moss.
Raised bogs are quite rare in lowland Britain. Many have been drained or used for planting trees. Trees can soak up a lot of water from the soil, which isn't good for a bog. Even though people used to cut peat here, Foulshaw Moss still has its special 'dome' of peat. This dome is higher than the land around it. You can find acid pools in the peat and soft, bouncy mounds of Sphagnum moss.
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Plants and Animals at Foulshaw Moss
Foulshaw Moss is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. It's a great place to see nature up close!
Amazing Plants
Many interesting plants grow here. You can find bog grasses, cottongrass, and heather. There are also cranberry plants, bog rosemary, and bog myrtle. One of the most amazing plants is the round-leaved sundew. This plant is carnivorous, meaning it eats insects!
Incredible Insects
The bog is a perfect home for many insects. You might spot colourful damselflies and dragonflies. Look out for the rare emperor dragonfly and the white-faced darter. Many different moths and butterflies also live here, including the large heath butterfly.
Wonderful Birds
Foulshaw Moss is a popular spot for birds. Birds like osprey, snipe, moorhen, and water rail build their nests here. Other birds, such as the buzzard, peregrine falcon, merlin, and sparrowhawk, fly overhead looking for food.
Bringing Back Wildlife
People are working hard to help rare animals return to Foulshaw Moss. These projects help make the bog even healthier.
Dragonfly Reintroduction
Since 2010, the Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the British Dragonfly Society have been bringing back a rare dragonfly. This is the White-faced darter. They have moved these dragonflies to Foulshaw Moss. This was the first time this type of dragonfly had been reintroduced in the UK!
Ospreys Return
In 2014, ospreys nested at Foulshaw Moss for the first time. Ospreys are large birds of prey that hunt fish. They have continued to breed at the site every year since then. It's exciting to see them raise their young here.
Creating New Habitats
At the end of 2014, the Cumbria Wildlife Trust started a new project. They wanted to create a reed bed at Foulshaw Moss. A reed bed is a wetland area with tall grasses called reeds. They hoped this new habitat would attract birds like the bittern. This project helps to copy a natural area called a "lagg fen", which forms around the edges of peat bogs.
Visiting Foulshaw Moss
Foulshaw Moss is open to visitors. There are special boardwalks and bird hides. These allow you to walk safely through the bog and watch the ospreys and other wildlife from a distance without disturbing them. It's a great place to learn about bogs and see amazing animals.
