SAVE DELAMERE FOREST

Monday, 14 February 2011 16:40

Our biodiverse forest

Delamere is a unique and biodiverse forest. Here are some facts you might not know...

History

Blakemere Moss was drained in around 1815, supposedly by prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars. During the 19th century, it was unsuccessfully planted with oak, and later with Scots pine. The Forestry Commission planted the moss with pine and western hemlock during the 1940s, which proved uneconomic.

Restoration

It was decided in 1992 to restore Blakemere Moss as a wetland environment, which was achieved in 1998 by clear-felling the area and then flooding it. The restored lake now provides a habitat for wildlife, particularly birds. Following the success of this project, it was announced in January 2010 that a further 33 hectares (82 acres) of drained fenland at four sites in the Delamere Forest area would be rewetted as part of Natural England's "Wetland Vision" scheme.

Nature returning

The last couple of decades has seen a long term project of restoring the mosses in the forest which was drained in the past. Rewetting saw the return of Black-headed gulls as a breeding species to the forest with 400 pairs - reference is made of them breeding in the forest in 1617.

Also a small number of Mediterranean gulls have nested, a species described in Cheshire Bird Report as 'a scarce visitor and rare inland'. Also, Lapwing have been recorded as breeding here which is a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Species.

Old Pale and Eddisbury Hill: Planting of mixed species woodland on farmland which had been intensive grassland has resulted in an increase in BAP species: Song thrush, Bullfinch, Yellow-Hammer.

A return of the Polecat to the area has also been noted.

The Forestry Commission has also erected numerous bat boxes and owl nesting boxes encouraging the growth of these species.

Rare species

The Delamere mosses remain one of the best sites in Cheshire to find relatively high numbers of Dragonflies and Damselflies - indeed the Delamere logo is of the White Faced Darter Dragonfly - a rare species to this area. Others noted are Variable Damselfly and the Hairy Dragonfly.

Delamere is the main area in Cheshire for Palmate Newts due to its acidic nature.  Also the rare Great Crested Newt has been recorded.

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

The area also includes Old Pale hill, the high point of the northern mass of the Mid Cheshire Ridge, and Blakemere Moss, a lake around 1 km in length. Black Lake, a rare example of quaking bog or schwingmoor, has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and forms part of an international Ramsar site; Linmer Moss has also been designated an SSSI for its fenland habitat. Also marsh fern and white sedge, wetland plants that are rare in Cheshire, are found here.

Forest management

Managament of the forest produces a diverse Age Structure from mature woodland to open areas and young plantations which in themselves provide different habitats for a wide variety of species.  This is carefully managed and sustainable.

Several other organisations work alongside the FC looking at species including moths, invertebrates and birds.

If you have more interesting facts about our forest, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for inclusion.

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