Expert reveals the north/south peatland divide Only one site has special protection
AN ECOLOGY expert has revealed why the north site of Danes Moss does not have the same special protections as the south.
Campaigners have raised concerns about plans to build 950 new homes, a link road and other buildings on the northern peatland
Some residents are perplexed as to why the north side of Danes Moss is not considered to be a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) but the south side is.
The reason is that in 1985 the south of the site was given biological SSSI status using the Nature Conservancy Council guidelines as it supported side in of the Macclesfield. lowland raised bog habitat.
Key to this was experimental restoration work done on it, therefore there was significant scientific interest.
The land to the north of the site had been farmland and did not support lowland raised bog habitat at the time, so therefore did not meet the criteria.
Ross Harding, senior planning and ecology officer at Cheshire Wildlife Trust, said: “Although the north side of Danes Moss may not hit the criteria, it can hit the criteria as a local wildlife site based on what’s there now.
“There is a large area of wet woodland and it’s a priority habitat and this is what supports the (endangered) willow tit.
“A local wildlife site is still important for national and local planning policy, and we think it should be protected and preserved as a local wildlife site.
“It is a green asset to the local people.” The south side retains significant areas of peat-forming vegetation, it still has lowland raised bog habitat, Sphagnum moss, cotton grass and more. The north does not have this habitat.
One concern is that if water were drained from the north of the site, what would be the impact for the south.
Cheshire Wildlife Trust says it is unclear what degree of connectivity there is between the north and south sides but believes there is a good chance there is at least some.
John Knight, a Green Party member from Macclesfield, said: “Danes Moss is like Cheshire’s rain forest and Cheshire East Council have a policy of preserving peat bogs yet here they are apparently wanting to facilitate its dysfunction.
“We need to see a recognition that the whole of Danes Moss is a vital habitat and valuable resource.
“The northern part of Danes Moss has become degraded over time but the answer is not to build on it but to improve it.”