Straddling the English border, near Whitchurch in Shropshire and Wrexham in Wales, lies one of the biggest and best raised bogs in Britain. Its varied wildlife makes it a place of international importance Main habitats: lowland raised bog, wet woodland, wet peaty fields, heathland and Teesdalia grassland. Features of interest The reserve has 18 species of bog moss, as well as many other characteristic bog plants, such as the insect-eating round-leaved sundew, and more uncommon plants, too, like bog asphodel, bog rosemary, lesser bladderwort, white-beaked sedge, the rare mosses Dicranum bergeri and D. leioneuron and regionally rare golden bogmoss Sphagnum pulchrum. Cloudberry grows at a much lower altitude than at its principal upland sites, and northern species like crowberry meet southern ones like cranberry, reflecting the location of the Mosses at the southern limit of raised bog growth. Invertebrates are thriving after the restoration of the bog, including raft spider, the window-winged sedge caddisfly, and 29 species of dragonfly and damselfly. True bog specialists, including the white-faced darter dragonfly and very rare picture-winged bog craneflies, are now back from the brink of extinction. There are also 670 different species of moth including the pretty little purple-bordered gold, the northern footman, dingy mocha and Manchester treble-bar. The 32 species of butterfly include the unmistakable brimstone, the green hairstreak and the real bog butterfly - the large heath - which lives on cotton sedge and cross-leaved heath. Adders and common lizard are also thriving. With the restoration of water levels, there have been major changes in the birdlife of the Mosses, the 166 recorded species including wetland birds such as breeding curlew, teal and shoveler. There have been many more sightings of raptors including hen harrier and hobby and over-wintering short-eared owl. The richer outflow ditches of the Mosses are a stronghold for water voles See the site visitor leaflet for more details. Directions To explore Fenn’s and Whixall Mosses follow the brown tourism signs from the Ellesmere to Whitchurch (A495), the Whitchurch to Wem (B5476) or Wem to Welshampton roads, to the Morris Bridge car park (SJ 493355) on the Llangollen canal, Whixall. Parking is also available at Roundthorn Bridge (SJ 501357). To explore Bettisfield Moss, follow the figure of 8 track from the World’s End car park (at the end of the second road on the right, west of Dobson’s Bridge, Whixall). Voluntary car parking charges can be paid in advance or on the day using the RingGo app. The nearest train station is Prees, 4 miles away. Hourly bus services from Shrewsbury to Wem to Whitchurch stop at Tilstock, 3 miles from the reserve, except on Sundays. The reserve is near Route 45 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network. Schools and community groups A limited service may be offered for guided visits for local schools in the immediate area, depending on staffing resources, involving pond dipping and insect collection. Teachers are also welcome to use the NNR base coach parking, toilets, classroom and collecting equipment and field guides for self-guided visits. University and college groups will also be guided around the NNR. Contact site staff for more information. Volunteering The NNR relies heavily on people volunteering to help with management works, events, research and administration. Student or graduate placements are welcomed, as are local people who can come in to help for a day or more a week. The Fenn’s Volunteer Group, a small friendly group of practical volunteers, meets twice a month on the second Sunday and the fourth Thursday. Contact To discuss volunteering opportunities email Steve Dobbin (Reserve Manager) steve.dobbin@naturalengland.org.uk For general enquiries email Peter Bowyer (Senior Reserve Manager) peter.bowyer@naturalengland.org.uk or Steve Dobbin (Reserve Manager) steve.dobbin@naturalengland.org.uk
Natural England
Manor House NNR Base
Moss Lane
Whixall
Whitchurch
Shropshire
SY13 2PD
Telephone: 01948 880362