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If you go down to the bog today...

The Wildlife Trusts’ bogs are full of surprises

22nd July, 2010

There are mind ‘bog’gling creatures lurking in the UK’s peat bogs – and The Wildlife Trusts are urging people to get out and discover them this International Bog Day, Sunday 25 July.

Acidic and low in nutrients, some of our most specialised plants and other wildlife have evolved to survive the unusual conditions to be found in peat bogs. They are home to some of the UK’s most intriguing carnivores, including the raft spider whose leg span can reach 7cm, and carnivorous plants such as sundew and butterwort.

The UK’s peat bogs are disappearing, dug for compost, drying out, and threatened by development. The Wildlife Trusts hope that by discovering the treasure trove of wildlife peat bogs contain, gardeners will be inspired to use peat-free compost.

Paul Wilkinson, head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said: “It’s simply astounding what can be found in our peat bogs – plants like the sundew and the beautiful bog asphodel, frogs, many different types of dragonfly, moth and butterfly including the rare large heath butterfly.

“Yet many of us don’t realise how magical these Living Landscapes are. International Bog Day gives us the chance to draw attention to our precious peat bogs, and also how important it is to help protect them. The Wildlife Trusts are already working hard to do this, for example Lancashire Wildlife Trust is campaigning to protect Chat Moss from further peat extraction, and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is a key player in the Yorkshire Peat Partnership, established to restore Yorkshire’s upland bogs. But we need your support too - from joining your local Wildlife Trust which looks after these habitats, to simply using peat-free compost in your garden.

“Bogs are not just fascinating habitats packed with rare plants and other wildlife. They are also one of our most precious carbon stores – a study by the North West Wildlife Trusts has shown, in this region alone, restored bogs could absorb the carbon emissions of 55,400 people every year. They can also play an important part in absorbing water in times of heavy rainfall, helping to prevent flooding.

“The destruction of our bogs spells a loss for wildlife and for our battle against climate change – even more reason it’s important to protect these rare habitats.”

Squelchy, springy and teeming with life, your nearest bog is one of the most unique habitats our landscape has to offer. Inspired to pay one a visit? Here is a selection of The Wildlife Trusts’ best peat bogs, with a full list of over 2,250 Wildlife Trust nature reserves available at www.wildlifetrusts.org:

• Sheffield Wildlife Trust’s Cowsick Bog is situated at Blacka Moor Nature Reserve. It is home to bog specialists such as bog asphodel. http://www.wildsheffield.com/Sheffield/FolderMenu/content22.aspx?id=54  
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s Emer Bog is a great place to discover bog dwellers such as marsh cinquefoil, bog bean and marsh violet, as well as slow worms and smooth newts. 132 species of spider have been recorded here. http://www.hwt.org.uk/pages/baddesley-common-and-emer-bog.html  
• Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Bell Crag Flow can be accessed from two short boardwalks. The longer of the two passes a large bog pool where four-spotted chaser and black darter are often seen in summer. Many of the bog species such as bog rosemary and bog asphodel can be seen from the boardwalk. Occasionally large heath butterflies can also be spotted. www.nwt.org.uk  
• Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Redgrave and Lopham Fen is one of the most important wetlands in Europe and has international protection. Following restoration by the Trust, butterwort, marsh fragrant orchid and cross-leaved heath have made a comeback as have breeding snipe. http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves-and-visitor-centres/redgrave-lopham-fen/  
• Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Wem Moss is an ancient piece of wilderness, home to sundews, raft spiders and adders along with a variety of plants. An evening guided walk around Wem Moss with the reserves manager on hand to talk more about its fascinating wildlife will take place on Thursday 29 July. http://www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/WildShropshire/Nature+reserves/wp_04_wemmoss  

Story by RSWT

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Image credit: Sundew by Andrew Excell

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