Map a moss and help save habitat

THE public are being urged to help map a special moss at a Saddleworth beauty spot which saved lives during two world wars.

Visitors to Peak District and South Pennines moorlands can take part in a unique project to make a map of where sphagnum moss is found.

And “The Big Moss Map” will help scientists and conservationists in their efforts to save the region’s blanket bog habitat.

Sphagnum’s antiseptic properties dramatically increased the survival rate of injured soldiers as a wound dressing during the First World War.

Carbon
It is now seen as a vital weapon in the war against climate change.

The peatlands, predominantly made up of sphagnum moss, store vast amounts of carbon.

Globally they store more carbon below ground than plants do above ground. Healthy peatlands continue capturing and locking in carbon from the atmosphere while their surfaces are protected by a blanket of plants including sphagnum mosses.

Since the industrial revolution much of the region’s sphagnum — a plant very sensitive to atmospheric pollution — has died out.

Now the Moors for the Future Partnership is working to conserve healthy peatlands and reintroduce sphagnum moss.

“The Big Moss Map” will provide a picture of where sphagnum is at the moment and volunteers adding to the map will show where it is increasing or decreasing.

The scheme is being co-ordinated by the partnership’s community science project, and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Project manager Sarah Proctor said: “Creating ‘The Big Moss Map’ gives us all an opportunity to get out and about and build a picture of how the moors are changing, while spreading the word about sphagnum.”

There is free training for those who would like to know more about the project or practice their sphagnum-spotting skills.

Volunteers can submit their sightings of the moss online or by post. A free smartphone app called ‘MoorMOSS’ is also available to help people identify the mosses.

Flooding

BBC “Springwatch” presenter Brett Westwood said: “This is an exciting project. I’m very impressed with the scale of the work achieved and the vision for the moors. We need more visionary projects of this magnitude.”

Healthy peat bogs are important wildlife habitats, a vital store of carbon, help provide high quality drinking water, slow down surface run-off and help to reduce flooding.

To find out more about the project and how to get involved go to: www.moors forthefuture.org.uk/com munity-science/big mossmap.

Experts study the moss.