Danes Moss: Macclesfield, Cheshire
A rare lowland peat bog on the edge of town.
Danes Moss once stretched for a thousand acres to the south of Macclesfield. Centuries of drainage and cutting reduced it to a fraction of that – but what remains is still something rare and remarkable: a living lowland raised peat bog, rich in dragonflies, butterflies and specialist plants, holding an estimated 220,000 tonnes of carbon in its ancient soil.
Danes Moss once stretched for a thousand acres to the south of Macclesfield. Centuries of drainage and cutting reduced it to a fraction of that – but what remains is still something rare and remarkable: a living lowland raised peat bog, rich in dragonflies, butterflies and specialist plants, holding an estimated 220,000 tonnes of carbon in its ancient soil. Footpaths thread from the open space of the Moss through wet woodland and on to the Macclesfield Canal, making the area a valued green space for the communities on the town’s southern edge.
For years, the future of Danes Moss has been on a knife-edge. Over 200 acres were allocated for development, and the threat remains. Cheshire Wildlife Trust called the original proposals among the most environmentally damaging ever put forward in the region.
But local people refused to accept the development plans. The Danes Moss Trust, now a registered charity, has campaigned, fundraised and built a detailed restoration vision in partnership with Cheshire Wildlife Trust – making the case not just for protection, but for a nature-led future the whole community would benefit from. Earlier this year, that effort was rewarded when the Trust secured Asset of Community Value status for the site: a significant step towards long-term protection. CPRE Cheshire have supported the campaign and will continue do so.
Cheshire East Council is still weighing the options. The decisions made in the coming months will determine whether this irreplaceable landscape is restored or lost forever.
Visit www.savedanesmoss.com to find out more.
On the Edge
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