Ince Moss (Wigan Flashes)

Introduction

Ince Moss, a five hectare site in the Wigan Flashes, is one of the largest areas of peatland outside the Astley/Chat Moss complex and therefore forms an important stepping stone for wildlife. Purple moor grass, bracken and Sphagnum spp. mosses dominate. The moss would have once spread across much of Wigan, but land drainage and changes in landform, following industrialisation and subsidence, has slowly eroded the peatland away.

Restoration Delivered

Ince Moss has been drained in the past, and Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Wigan Flashes Working Group are trying to repair the damage caused.

A series of bunds have been used to prevent water movement in the ditches and dams have been put in place. In addition the steep-sided main drain has been reprofiled to produce shallow margins, allowing bog vegetation to re-establish.

Willow and birch, which had colonised the drier areas have been removed to enable characteristic bog vegetation to return.

This work has seen an increase in the water table of 15 centimetres, which should help prevent trees from re-colonising.

{"zoom":11,"lat":"53.523100","lon":"-2.598800","markers":{"0":{"lat":53.5231,"lon":-2.5988}}}

Project Name: Ince Moss (Wigan Flashes)

Organisation / Lead partner: Lancashire Wildlife Trust

Location: Wigan, Lancashire

Approximate area covered: 260 ha

Conservation Status: Local Nature Reserve

Predominately: Lowland

Peat Habitats: Lowland raised bog

Project Type: Restoration, Management

    Exterior view of Virtual Peatland Pavilion showing four large domes in a desert landscape
    Seeking content for the COP29 Virtual Peatland PavilionThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and Global Peatlands Initiative are seeking new content for an…
    Peatland at Inshriach, Allt a’ Mharcaidh
    Largest ever gathering of UK peatland experts to celebrate ‘Peatlands, People and Nature’ in the Cairngorms National ParkAviemore in the Cairngorms National Park is to play host to the UK’s largest gathering of peatland…
    Landscape of mountains and forest
    View the full programme for #PeatConf24 and book your tickets now!The full programme for the IUCN UK Peatland Programme 2024 conference ‘Peatlands, People and Nature…
    CivTech in white writing with blue background and outlines of scales, lightbulb and book
    CivTech challenge invites ideas for Peatland Code and Woodland Carbon CodeProposals are being invited for the Scottish Government's CivTech Challenge 10.6 to use technology…
    Talla Gameshope image
    Changes to UK Land Carbon Registry feesFrom 1 November 2024, the fees charged to issue and convert units on the UK Land Carbon Registry…
    Peatland with mountains on the background
    Scottish peatland recognised as globally important by UNESCO World Heritage Site designation The Flow Country in the north of Scotland, Europe's largest expanse of blanket bog, has been…
    Brown butterfly with black spots on pink bell shaped flower
    New species showcase - large heathOur latest species showcase introduces the large heath butterfly, its association with two iconic…
    Haresfoot cottongrass with blue sky in the background. Credit Laurie Campbell SNH
    New briefing addresses the peatlands and methane debateThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme has launched a new briefing “Peatlands and Methane” that summarises…
    Peatland with mountains in the background
    New £3 million fund for peatland restoration in Northern IrelandApplications for the new £3million Peatland Challenge Fund to help protect Northern Ireland's…
    Sphagnum moss on healthy peatland
    Scotland’s Peatland ACTION programme hits record restoration milestoneFor the first time since the Peatland ACTION programme began, more than 10,000 hectares of damaged…
    A cottongrass seedhead
    New species showcase - cottongrassOur May species showcase looks at the role that cottongrass plays in peatlands, its cultural and…