'10,000 years on the mosses' slideshow

The Countryside Council for Wales and English Nature are to host a pair of free illustrated talks in towns around Fenn's, Whixall & Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve, which lies near Whitchurch and Wrexham.

This year, the new slideshow, '10,000 years on the Mosses', focuses on the whole history of the Mosses, from the formation of the valley they sit in during the last Ice Age over 12,000 years ago, right the way through to the discovery of rare new invertebrates this year which have appeared because the Mosses are being restored to save their raised bog plants and animals.

The kind of creatures that inhabited the Moss at different times in the past will be shown as well as slides of bog bodies. Whixall Moss has turned up more bog bodies than any other bog in Britain. 8000 year old oaks and 3400 year old pines will feature along with sling shot stones lost on the peat bog by pre—historic hunters thousands of years ago.

The splurging of the bog over the surrounding countryside, swallowing up the wildwood, until man, so recently in the history of the bog started to wreak havoc with his drainage of the Mosses for transport, agriculture, forestry and peat cutting will be charted.

In the mid 1990s, English Nature and Clwyd County Council Archaeologists visited and interviewed many of the local families who had been involved with peat cutting at the Moss. Lots of the old photographs which people donated will be shown, as well as photographs from the commercial firms. Some of the old peat cutting tools will also be brought along, and the local tradition of holly wreathing will be shown as well.

And finally the rescue of the Mosses for nature conservation by the Countryside Council for Wales and English Nature will be outlined, and some of their wonderful wildlife that you might see if you come to the Mosses today will be shown.

The talks will follow on from a number of walks and events on the National Nature Reserve, which are designed to introduce people to the wildlife and special landscape character of the bog.

The slideshows will be held at towns around the Reserve on the following dates:

Edward German Room
Whitchurch Civic Centre
Wednesday 9 November, 7.30 pm

Senior Club
Chapel Street
Wem
Wednesday 23 November, 7.30 pm

The talks will last for about one and half hours and are free. Free refreshments will be provided afterwards. All are welcome. It is not necessary to book.

Dr Joan Daniels, Site manager
Countryside Council for Wales:

'It will be a good opportunity for local people to find out more about the intriguing history of the Mosses and the NNR's wonderful wildlife and what the Countryside Council for Wales and English Nature are doing to save it. There is an annual programme of NNR events, and car parking at the Nature Reserve at Morris's Bridge and Roundthorn Bridge in Whixall, from where people can follow the Mosses Trails, if they want to visit after they have been to one of the talks.

We know a lot now about the history, traditions and wildlife of the Mosses and this gives us a wonderful opportunity to tell people about them. I hope these talks will help to make local people justifiably proud of their internationally important Mosses.'

Posted: 3 November 2005

For more information or photo opportunities:

Dr Joan Daniels, Countryside Council for Wales
Tel: 01948 880 362
Mobile: 07974 784 799
joan.daniels@english—nature.org.uk

For .jpg files of the wildlife of the Mosses:

Pete Boardman
Mobile: 07968 331 346
peperouda@btinternet.com

Notes to editors:

CCW is working for a better Wales where everyone values and cares for our natural environment. More information about our work is available on www.ccw.gov.uk

English Nature is the statutory advisor to Government on nature conservation in England and promotes the conservation of England's wildlife and natural features. www.english—nature.org.uk