Gowy Meadows Nature Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gowy Meadows Nature Reserve |
|
|---|---|
River Gowy within the reserve
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Type | Nature reserve |
| Location | near Thornton-le-Moors, Cheshire |
| OS grid | SJ435740 |
| Area | 165.80 hectares (409.7 acres) |
| Elevation | 5 metres (16 ft) |
| Established | 2002 |
| Operated by | Cheshire Wildlife Trust |
| Open | at all times |
Gowy Meadows Nature Reserve is a special place in Cheshire, England. It's a large area of wet meadows and ditches, covering about 165 hectares (that's like 400 football fields!). This reserve is located near the River Gowy, close to where it meets the River Mersey. It's a fantastic home for many different kinds of plants and animals. The Cheshire Wildlife Trust helps look after this important natural space. It was created in 2002 to protect its unique wildlife.
Contents
About Gowy Meadows
Gowy Meadows Nature Reserve is a huge natural area covering 165.8 hectares (about 410 acres). It is found in Cheshire, England. This reserve sits right next to the River Gowy, not far from the big River Mersey. It is also close to Ellesmere Port and the village of Thornton-le-Moors.
The reserve is mostly made up of low-lying, wet fields. These fields are divided by many small channels called ditches. A public footpath crosses the site, following Thornton Brook. The M56 motorway also runs along the southern edge of the reserve.
This area is part of a bigger project called the Gowy & Mersey Washlands Living Landscape. This project aims to protect and improve the natural environment in this whole region. Long ago, before the Manchester Ship Canal was built, the River Gowy here would have been affected by the ocean's tides. Much of the reserve might have been saltmarsh. This means it was a muddy, grassy area flooded by salty water. You can still see traces of these old salty creeks in some places.
Amazing Plants and Animals
Gowy Meadows is home to many interesting plants and animals. The wet fields are mostly covered by soft rush (Juncus effusus) and tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa). These are common grasses that like wet ground.
Rare Plants to Spot
You can find some plants here that are not common in other parts of the UK. These include:
- Meadow rue (Thalictrum flavum)
- Brown sedge (Carex disticha)
- Water violet (Hottonia palustris)
- Whorl-grass (Catabrosa aquatica)
- The carnivorous bladderwort (Utricularia australis). This plant actually eats tiny insects!
There are also five special black poplar trees (Populus nigra ssp. betulifolia) growing at the reserve. This type of tree is quite rare in the UK.
Wonderful Wildlife
The ditches and wet areas are perfect for many small water creatures. These include:
- The "vulnerable" mud snail (Omphiscola glabra). "Vulnerable" means it's a species that could become endangered if we don't protect it.
- The lesser silver water beetle (Hydrochara caraboides). This beetle is only found in certain areas.
You might also spot some larger animals:
- Water voles (Arvicola amphibius) live and breed in the ditches.
- Otters (Lutra lutra) are known to use the River Gowy.
Birds of Gowy Meadows
The reserve is a good place for birdwatching. You might see:
