# Witherslack Mosses

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Witherslack_Mosses
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Witherslack_Mosses.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witherslack_Mosses
> Source revision: 1340337994
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Wetland in Cumbria, England

Witherslack Mosses IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) Map of England Location Cumbria, England Coordinates 54°14′10″N 2°50′22″W / 54.2362°N 2.8395°W / 54.2362; -2.8395[1] Area 486 ha (1,200 acres)

**Witherslack Mosses** are a fragmented wetland west of the [Kent estuary](/source/River_Kent) in [Cumbria](/source/Cumbria), [England](/source/England), within the [Lake District National Park](/source/Lake_District_National_Park). They consist of three [raised bogs](/source/Raised_bog), the remnants of a formerly extensive, estuarine bog, which have been protected under the [Habitats Directive](/source/Habitats_Directive) as a [Special Area of Conservation](/source/Special_Area_of_Conservation).[1]

- [Foulshaw Moss](/source/Foulshaw_Moss), with an area of 350 ha, the largest of the three.[2]

- [Meathop Moss](/source/Meathop_Moss), 82 ha,[3]

- [Nichols Moss](/source/Nichols_Moss), 12.5 ha[4]

The site was designated an SAC in 2005. The bogs were already individually protected as [nature reserves](/source/Nature_reserve) in the care of [Cumbria Wildlife Trust](/source/Cumbria_Wildlife_Trust) and, under UK legislation, as [Sites of Special Scientific Interest](/source/Sites_of_Special_Scientific_Interest).

## Restoration

All three bogs have retained some of the original dome structure, characteristic of raised bogs. However, each has been degraded by drainage and by peat-cutting around the edges. Restoration work has been carried out since the late 20th century. This has reversed [afforestation](/source/Afforestation) and associated drainage work.[5]

In 2022 land adjacent to Nicholls Moss was bought in order to extend the reserve.[4]

## Public access

Parking for Foulshaw Moss is just off the [A590](/source/A590) (westbound).

Work to improve access to Foulshaw Moss

Raised water levels, as a result of bog restoration work, adversely affected public access to Meathop Moss and Foulshaw Moss around 2012, and the [boardwalks](/source/Boardwalk) had to be relaid.

## Fauna

The mosses are known for their invertebrates.[6] The restoration of the wetland has seen species returning, notably:

- [White-faced Darters](/source/White-faced_Darter) (reintroduced from 2010).[7]

- [Ospreys](/source/Osprey) (nested successfully at Foulshaw Moss in 2014).[8]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EEA_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EEA_1-1) ["Witherslack Mosses (Site UK0030302)"](http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/sites/UK0030302). [European Environment Agency](/source/European_Environment_Agency). Retrieved 25 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CWT.Foulshaw_2-0)** [Foulshaw Moss](http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/foulshaw-moss), Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Retrieved November 2013

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CWT.Meathop_3-0)** ["Meathop Moss"](http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/reserves/meathop-moss). Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 3 November 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nwemail_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nwemail_4-1) Hodges, M. ["Help and support to local farmers who are looking to undertake environmental work comes as Cumbria Wildlife Trust given funds to widen peat restoration in the county"](https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/19838958.help-support-local-farmers-looking-undertake-environmental-work-comes-cumbria-wildlife-trust-given-funds-widen-peat-restoration-county/). *The Mail*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Amodeo, Christian. ["Cumbria's largest peatbog restored](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115413/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-124076552.html).(Foulshaw Moss)(Brief Article)." [Geographical](/source/Geographical_(magazine)) (UK). Circle Publishing Ltd. 2004. Accessed via [HighBeam Research](/source/HighBeam_Research). 27 Dec. 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Meathop Moss"](http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1001143.pdf) (PDF). [English Nature](/source/English_Nature). Retrieved 3 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Guardian_7-0)** ["Rare dragonflies hatch at reserve following reintroduction"](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/jun/13/rare-dragonflies-hatch-reserve). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WG_8-0)** Murphy (May 2014). ["Ospreys seen at new site"](http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/11197563.Ospreys_seen_at_new_site_in_South_Lakes/). *[Westmorland Gazette](/source/Westmorland_Gazette)*. Retrieved 6 July 2014.

This Cumbria location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cumbria-geo-stub)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3ACumbria-geo-stub)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Cumbria-geo-stub)

This article related to a protected area in Europe is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Europe-protected-area-stub)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3AEurope-protected-area-stub)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Europe-protected-area-stub)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Witherslack Mosses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witherslack_Mosses) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witherslack_Mosses?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.