Moston Fairway

Moston Fairway is a small area of base-rich marshland that developed 80-100 years ago forming part of the Moston Exchange sidings. The site is special in that large areas of marsh are rare in urban surroundings and Moston is unique in the city of Manchester. Its ecological value arises from the diversity of plant and animal communities on site. The variability of wetness is the underlying factor for plant diversity with areas of temporary water, permanent pools and drier areas in the clay. As you walk round you can see the dominant Hard Rush and Common Cotton Grass give way to grasses and even Heather in the drier patches. Marsh Willowherb, Marsh Ragwort and Sneezewort occur across the site with the attractive Lady's Smock. The site supports three species of rush and five species of sedge of which three species including White Sedge and Yellow Sedge are uncommon in Greater Manchester. The presence of such uncommon species close to the city centre is what gives the site its special interest. Adder's Tongue Fern has been recorded on the site but has not been seen now for some years. If you visit in spring or early summer you can count the spikes of Southern Marsh Orchids from the path. They should be easy to spot with bright pink flowers in a pyramidal shape. However, don't be surprised to find flowers with paler pink flowers. This is due to hybridisation with Common Spotted Orchids, no longer found on the site. There is a rich variety of mosses and liverworts which can be seen all year round. Goat Willow once covered the site but some of it has been coppiced by volunteers. It still has to be kept in check. One willow, struck by lightning, has earned itself the local name, the 'Witches' Tree'. Although this is outside the reserve itself, it can be seen from the pathway. This area also supports some lowland heath habitat and heather can be found with occasional patches of Crowberry. The close proximity of the railway has also had an effect on the species present within the adjacent land. Limestone used as ballast has resulted in calcareous grassland species such as Common Restharrow, Pale Toadflax and Kidney Vetch. The latter is very rare in Greater Manchester. Reed Bunting, Linnet, Kestrel and Snipe have all been seen on site and Moston Fairway is a successful breeding site for Frogs and Smooth Newts. A visit in spring or summer will provide you with an excellent display of butterflies and moths. Look out for the Brown Hawker Dragonfly and the Common Blue Damselfly among the abundant insect life. Recently, Broad Bodied Chasers, another type of dragonfly which is gradually moving north, has regularly been seen.