Marsden Moor

Marsden Moor is a large expanse of moorland in the South Pennines, in the north of England. It is named after the adjacent town of Marsden. Marsden Moor covers 2,255 ha of unenclosed common moorland. The landscape is made up of moorland, valleys, peaks and crags and has long been modified by man. Examples of this includes the Standedge crossing, the canal, railway, reservoirs, and wildfire.

We are working hard to reverse the damage caused by more than 200 years of industrial pollution, wildfires and historic overgrazing that stripped plant life from large areas of peatland in the Peak District and South Pennines. Our restoration aims to: stabilise the peat to reduce further erosion, raise the water table and restore wet conditions, reduce the dominance of Molinia caerulea (Purple Moor Grass), and increase the occurrence of native moorland plants, such as Sphagnum mosses, and ultimately, create a landscape that is more resilient to climate change and wildfires.

Restoration achieved to date, working as part of the Moors for the Future Partnership, includes: bare peat restoration, through the application of brash and lime, seed and fertiliser, re-profiling, grip and gully blocking, bunding, footpath restoration, diversification of vegetation, through cutting (e.g. Molinia), plug planting and Sphagnum inoculation, and invasive species control.