Sphagnum Moss Planting | 18th October

Sphagnum moss is a key building block of peat and healthy blanket bog keeps the underlying peat banks safe. Sphagnum traps carbon dioxide and due to its water retention properties it also helps reduce flooding and improves water quality. Therefore protection and restoration of blanket bog is an important part of the fight against climate change.

When

Join us in this moss planting project on: 18th October 2024

Meeting point and start time

The meeting point is YW Winscar- Broad Lane car park https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZffZJWiDh4hLfSr77 , and then pool into as few cars as possible to reduce the number of cars we take to the final site. Please arrive by 09:15hrs for a briefing. We then drive a couple of minutes down a private track along the reservoir and park up at the land manager’s house (where there is a phone signal).

What will the work involve?

We will walk a short distance to the work area. Spending around 4 to 5 hours, and working in small teams, we will be planting about 5000 sphagnum moss plugs (circa 400 plants each per volunteer).

What to bring

Participants will be expected to wear or carry weather resistant clothing (including gloves and headwear) suitable for the conditions prevailing on the day which may be cold, wet and windy (meaning warm clothing and waterproofs). Footwear should be warm solid boots with grippy soles. The distance to walk is short, and the moor may be wet, so good comfortable Wellington boots with warm socks is also a valid option. Carry sufficient food and fluid (a thermos with hot drink is good at this time of year) for a full-day hill walk. There will not be any opportunities to buy refreshments during the day so bring everything you want with you.

The event is planned to finish well within the hours of available daylight, but daylight hours at this time of year are short so participants must bring a small torch/head torch in case an emergency results in a very severe delay to the event.

For the moss planting please bring gardening gloves (if cold weather old winter gloves ideal), and a “dibber” for making a small hole to put the moss plugs in. This can be a large screw driver, straight stick or piece of wooden doweling (from DIY shop). Anything with which you can comfortably make a small hole in the ground about 1cm diameter! Remember that a very short dibber will mean you’ll have to bend over more….. The NT Rangers will have some spares if you can’t find a dibber at home!

Uneven ground in this area, mainly from the molinia grass tussocks, is a major hazard and their growth can hide small holes, gullies, etc. The tussocks are a significant trip hazard, can cause sprained ankles (though suitable footwear mitigates this).

Who can come

This walk is open to BMC members and accompanying friends, over 18. All participants must book a place in advance. No dogs.

How do I join in?

You must register, stating full name, email address, and mobile phone to organiser Steve Charles stevecharles25@gmail.com. Numbers are limited.