Muckle Moss

Muckle Moss

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location within Northumberland
Location	Northumberland
Grid reference	NY799668
Coordinates	54°59′43″N2°18′57″W / 54.995370°N 2.3157048°W / 54.995370; -2.3157048
Area	368.2 acres (1.490 km2; 0.5753 sq mi)
Notification	1984

Muckle Moss is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ^{[1] [2]} and a National Nature Reserve ^[3] located near Bardon Mill in Northumberland, England. Muckle Moss is a mire over deep peat, and its boundaries include Blackdyke Plantation.

Muckle Moss SSSI was previously notified as part of Roman Wall SSSI. ^[1]

Details

The central area of the protected area is dominated by the mosses Sphagnum magellanicum , Sphagnum papillosum , Sphagnum recurvum and Sphagnum cuspidatum . Rare moss species recorded here include Sphagum riparium, Sphagnum balticum and Sphagnum dusenii. Heather and cross-leaved heath are present on ridges. ^[1]

Insect species recorded at this protected area include large heath butterfly and green hairstreek butterfly. ^[1]

This peatland previously supported a plantation and the peatland was historically modified by draining. ^[4]

Land ownership

Muckle Moss SSSI is situated within the Crow Hall Farm estate. ^[5]

References

1. "SSSI detail". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
2. "Protected Planet | Muckle Moss". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
3. "Designated Sites View". designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
4. Pearson, M. C. (1960). "Muckle Moss, Northumberland: I. Historical" . Journal of Ecology. 48 (3): 647–666. doi:10.2307/2257340. ISSN   0022-0477.
5. Robinson, Abi (2023-08-18). "Northumberland livestock farm with significant natural capital comes to market". GSC Grays. Retrieved 2024-11-22.