Gowy Meadows

The Gowy Meadows is an extensive area of lowland grazing marsh, covering a total area of 165.8ha (409.7 acres). Approximately 80ha of the site is designated as a Grade A Site of Biological Interest (SBI) due to the rich flora within the ditches.

Location
The reserve lies alongside the River Gowy north of Chester, with the A5117 to the north and the M56 to the south (O.S. Grid Ref.: SJ435740).

Access
From the A56 travelling south, turn right at Bridge Trafford. Take the B5132 north. Go over the M56. At the end of the road turn left onto the A5117. Take the third road on your left, which is the main road into Thornton-le-Moors. Park next to the church. The footpath is opposite. The reserve is open to all, please kep to the public footpath.

Discription
The reserve includes the eastern floodplain of the river Gowy to Thornton Green Lane in the West. Numerous ditches occur throughout the site intersecting the fields.

Many rare and declining aquatic invertebrates can be found on this site including the lesser silver water beetle now restricted to two areas in Britain, the Cheshire Plain and the Somerset Levels. It is listed in the British Red Data Book (RDB) as endangered and is a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). Other rare aquatic invertebrates include the mud snail listed as vulnerable in the RDB also a Cheshire BAP species.

Fifteen species of dragonfly/damselfly occupy this site including the hairy dragonfly, a nationally notable species and at least 17 species of butterfly occupy this site including the wall, large and small skippers.

The site supports county rare aquatic plants, such as the fine-leaved pondweed, bladderwort and ivy-leaved crowfoot (a Cheshire BAP species). Another BAP species the black polar, can be found on this site at the northwestern limit of its range.

Approximately 100 bird species have been recorded on this site including a number of county rarities. Barn owls, common buzzard and lapwings have been known to breed on this site. Other species of interest are the curlew, snipe, merlin, peregrine falcon, hobby, yellow wagtail, wheatear, reed bunting, reed warbler, wigeon, pintail, shoveler and teal.

The site supports a small population of water vole (Cheshire BAP species); other mammals include the fox, weasel, bank vole, short-tailed field vole, common shrew and wood mouse.

Gowy meadows is owned by Shell UK Limited and was leased to the Trust in 2002. The site was entered into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme with DEFRA in 2001.

Gowy Meadows Objectives

The meadows include the eastern floodplain of the Gowy River and play an important role in flood defence.

The historical management of the area is not fully understood, however, it is thought that the meadows were extensively drained and dyked in the later part of the middle ages. This resulted in dry grassland, which, no longer functioned as a flood plain.

The plan is to re-wet the site, blocking ditches during the winter to create seasonal areas of standing water, which will provide ideal habitats for many species, in particular over wintering birds. Water levels will gradually be reduced between June-September and the site will be lightly grazed with traditional breeds of cattle. This will promote the growth of many botanical species, which should have a positive knock on effect for the sites bird, invertebrate and mammal species.