Something to look out for in Shropshire
IF YOU are cruising along the Llangollen canal through Shropshire and you are interested in wildlife or just want to see your surroundings from a different viewpoint, you might want to pay a visit to the Mammoth Tower.
Opened in late 2020, the 5m high wooden tower was constructed by a partnership between Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Natural England, the aim of which is to provide visitors with a unique viewpoint from which to see Whixall Moss.
The viewing platform is located within the Fenn’s and Whixall National Nature Reserve and is a short walk from the Llangollen Canal. Access is from the towpath via a boardwalk, and for visitors in cars, it can be accessed from the Morris Bridge car park a short distance away. Whixall Moss is a unique habitat that is not only recognised as a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest but is also a Special Area of Conservation and a Ramsar site of international we t land importance.
However, centuries of peat cutting damaged the peat bog, which is now being regenerated by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales and is supported by a multi-million-pound grant from BogLIFE International together with the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.
The area’s importance cannot be underestimated as it is calculated that the reserve holds some 24 million tonnes of carbon. Being mainly water, the peat is also ideal for preventing flooding while providing valuable habitat for a wide range of plants, animals and birds.
Over the coming months, additional information boards will be added to the tower to provide visitors with more information on what can be found in the area and what you might see from the tower. There are also information boards close to the seating area at ground level for those who want to sit and enjoy the views.
So if you are in the area and want to moor up close to the junction of the Prees Branch, near bridge 46, you’ll find the new tower a short walk away.
More location information can be found on the Canal & River Trust’s website, where the tower is marked on the map of the area.