Exploring Fenn's, Whixhall & Bettisfield Mosses Near Whitchurch, Shropshire

Follow along as we explore a site of special scientific interest at Fenn’s, Whixall & Bettisfield Mosses near Whitchurch in Shropshire.

About the Mosses & Meres

You will find Meres & Mosses dotted across South Cheshire, North Shropshire, Staffordshire and North Wales. They were formed at the end of the last ice age, the glaciers compressed the ground and as they retreated 10,000 years ago left sandy depressions that filled with pools of melt water. In places the water was deep forming Meres and in other it was shallow and formed Mosses (peat bogs).

Fenn’s, Whixall & Bettisfield Mosses

The mosses here are preserved as a nature reserve, it’s Britains 3rd largest raised bog and an important habitat for rare plants and animals as we have lost 95% of our raised bogs which have been drained and cut for peat. As well as an important wildlife habitat, the mosses soak up water protecting the surrounding areas from flooding and the peat has been slowly sucking up CO2 for 10,000 years.

The last Ice Age

16,000 years ago the landscape here would have been very different covered with glacial ice with mammoths roaming the area.

A word of warning

If you bring your dog keep it on a lead and also keep an eye on the path in front of you as there is a healthy population of snakes here. The adders are quite shy apparently but I did see one at Bettisfield Moss, thankfully I spotted it in time and did an extra long stride to avoid stepping on it as it lay basking in the sun on the path.