Eastern Moors Wet Woodlands

Wet woodlands are some of our least common wooded habitats. On the Eastern Moors (opens new window), right next to the A621, is a patch of old, wet and untidy woodland that is teeming with wildlife. It’s one of the few remaining areas where willow tit (opens new window) can be found on the eastern fringe of the Peak District, with natural nest holes in the dead and decaying wood. The wet conditions mean it is full of mosses and other bryophytes. Particularly striking is how sphagnum is thriving, not just on the ground but also growing along tree trunks and branches.

This type of woodland isn’t just great for biodiversity, but also a case study for resilience. Wet woodlands are humid and, as the name suggests, hold water, providing water storage and slowing the flow during heavy rainfall events. In times of high fire risk, they can also act as fire breaks.

Restoration of the moorlands of the Peak District provides the opportunity to create and incorporate more of this special habitat, and is something that the team at the Eastern Moors Partnership will be trying to develop more of.