The public is invited to an open day on the future of the Witherslack Mosses on Friday 21 August at the Gilpin Bridge Inn, Levens. Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Natural England are keen for local residents to come along from 11.00am to 7.30pm so that they can share their thoughts with these residents on the future of the Witherslack Mosses, some of England’s best remaining raised bogs.

The Witherslack Mosses, which includes Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Meathop Moss, Foulshaw Moss and Nichols Moss Nature Reserves, were designated as a European Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in 2005. This increased the Trust’s obligation under the 1992 Habitats Directive to restore the mosses to healthy peatbogs. Over the last six months, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Natural England have been carefully considering how the work can be best achieved to ensure that this rare and very special habitat survives for the benefit of Cumbria’s wildlife, and would now like to share their plans with the local community.

The proposed work to secure the long-term health of the bogs will be funded by Natural England under the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agri-environment scheme. The primary objectives for HLS at the Witherslack Mosses will be wildlife conservation, maintenance and enhancement of landscape quality and character, natural resource protection, protection of the historic environment and the promotion of public access and understanding of the countryside.

This work continues the Trust’s mammoth efforts of the last 10 years to reverse much of the damage caused by conifer planting and drainage. During this period, there have been many significant wildlife gains: the summer profusion of colour from the many dragonflies, the autumn gathering of ospreys and the creation of habitat for overwintering hen harriers are just a few. In addition, healthy bogs have a well-reported role to play in storing carbon and helping to combat climate change. Cumbria Wildlife Trust aims to multiply these benefits in the next stage of the restoration.

Short, informative presentations of the planned work to continue the restoration work at the Witherslack Mosses will be made at 12.30am, 3.30pm and 6.00pm. Representatives of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Natural England, the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency as well as squirrel ecologists and an independent hydrologist will also be on hand to talk to the public.

Light refreshments will also be served throughout the day and a finger buffet will be available between 12.00pm and 2.00pm and, again, between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Click here to download a poster of the event