Protection ahead for key moors
AND here we are striding into a brand new year – it’s going to be interesting with its Bre xits, Trumps and all the other stuff that may or may not impact on our lives.
In the north west we have had some really good news with a decision that may affect thousands of people who love and embrace nature.
The West Pennine Moors have been ‘notified’ by Natural England as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a final designation will be made in March, after representations from interested parties.
A ‘triple SI’ is an area where there is something worth protecting, some wonderful natural habitat. And SSSI status makes it really difficult for developers, although governments have been known to overlook these things, but not too often.
The West Pennine Moors is a fabulous place for all of us. It is about 100 square miles of moorland north of Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and Bolton and it is surrounded by millions of people.
A small percentage of those people understand the absolute necessity of having this vast green space which benefits their health and, of course, is brilliant for wildlife if managed properly.
I spend hours every week on this moorland, walking the dog and appreciating the breathtaking views and nature all around me.
Every day I can watch buzzards soaring on the thermals above. Even higher there is always the sound of the wonderful skylarks, twittering a song that seems to roll from the clouds.
I have seen red deer, brown hare, red fox and weasels during my walks. A hobby once stared angrily at me as I got a little too close to where it was sitting. It didn’t fly away, it had a point to prove.
One bird the Wildlife Trust will try to help if we are involved in the management of the moors is the twite. A beautiful small finch with a touch of pink added to its brown and white colouring, the twite has suffered as moors have been badly treated over the years.
There used to be flocks on the West Pennine Moors, but now you are lucky to see an individual up there.
In fact twite are now more likely to be seen on the coast, more so in winter, with an influx of birds looking for a warm spot in the cold weather.
This wonderful bird is extinct in some areas of the West Pennine Moors and many parts of England. Most seem to have fled to Scotland.
Hopefully after March we can begin wandering a moorland that will become safer for creatures and for humans.
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside is dedicated to the protection and promotion of the wildlife in Lancashire, seven boroughs of Greater Manchester and four of Merseyside. To support the work of the Trust, text WILD09 with the amount you want to donate to 70070.