Witherslack Mosses facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Witherslack Mosses
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
Witherslack Mosses Location in England
Location	Cumbria, England
Area	486 ha (1,200 acres)

Witherslack Mosses are special wet areas found in Cumbria, England. They are located near the River Kent estuary and are part of the beautiful Lake District National Park. These mosses are actually three different "raised bogs," which are like big, squishy sponges made of peat. They are very important for nature and are protected as a "Special Area of Conservation."

What are Raised Bogs?

A "raised bog" is a type of wetland that gets most of its water from rain, not from rivers or groundwater. Over thousands of years, dead plants build up to form a thick layer called peat. This peat can grow so much that the bog surface becomes higher than the land around it, like a dome.

Witherslack Mosses are made up of three main raised bogs:

• Foulshaw Moss, which is the largest at 350 hectares.
• Meathop Moss, covering 82 hectares.
• Nichols Moss, which is 7 hectares.

Protecting These Special Places

These bogs are very important for wildlife and the environment. Because of this, Witherslack Mosses were officially named a "Special Area of Conservation" in 2005.

Before that, each bog was already protected as a nature reserve. They are looked after by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust. They are also known as "Sites of Special Scientific Interest" under UK laws. This means they are recognized for their unique plants, animals, or geology.

Bringing the Mosses Back to Life

Over time, people have changed these bogs. They dug ditches to drain water away and cut peat from the edges. This made the bogs less healthy.

Now, a lot of work is being done to fix them. This "restoration" work helps to bring the bogs back to their natural state. For example, trees that were planted in the past are being removed, and the drainage ditches are being blocked. This helps to raise the water levels again.

Visiting the Mosses

You can visit Foulshaw Moss, which has parking just off the A590 road if you are traveling west.

Around 2012, the restoration work caused the water levels to rise. This made it harder for people to walk around Meathop Moss and Foulshaw Moss. To fix this, new wooden walkways, called boardwalks, had to be built. These boardwalks help visitors explore the bogs without getting wet or disturbing the delicate environment.

Work to improve access to Foulshaw Moss

Amazing Animals

The Witherslack Mosses are famous for the many small creatures that live there, especially insects. Thanks to the restoration work, many species are returning to these wetlands.

Some of the exciting animals you might find include:

• White-faced Darters: These are a type of dragonfly. They were brought back to the mosses starting in 2010.
• Ospreys: These large birds of prey are known for catching fish. A pair of ospreys successfully nested at Foulshaw Moss in 2014.