Saltersley Moss

A small remnant of raised bog, largely dried out due to adjacent commercial peat cutting. Birch woodland, bracken and a mosaic of bilberry and heather occur here, as does the green hairstreak butterfly.

Location
The reserve, which lies on a raised peat moss, is situated to the west of Wilmslow (O.S. Grid Ref.: SJ822805). The surrounding area of Saltersley Moss and Lindow Common is still extensively cut for peat. The reserve was established to preserve a small sample of the original peat moss surface. It consists of about 2 acres (1ha.)

Access
For details contact Cheshire Wildlife Trust HQ on 01270 610180. The reserve is open to Trust members at all times.

Status
The reserve is owned freehold by Cheshire Wildlife Trust, being donated by Fisons Horticultural Land Ltd in 1965.

Flora
The majority of the reserve consists of uncut peat moss, contrasting the surrounding area which is still commercially exploited. As this cutting continues the reserve tends to dry out encouraging colonisation by birch, oak and alder buckthorn Frangula alnus. Formerly a substantial area was dominated by bracken, which has been considerably reduced through a programme of spraying and cutting. The spread of birch has also been controlled by cutting and pulling. This has also been checked by several heath fires. The drier peatland attracts plants such as ling Calluna vulgaris and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus.

Fauna
The green hairstreak butterfly Callophrys rubi breeds here and is often seen flying during the late spring.

There is a thriving populaltion of water voles. The animals are often seen (and heard) swimming in the ditches, which are scattered over the site.