Mossland Destruction in Salford

[Davy Crockett]

A friend of mine wrote this on the news papers forum

I am unfamiliar with the patch of mossland in question (Barton Moss), but had the misfortune to witness the destruction of the mossland between Rindle Road at Astley and Botany Bay wood. Once the breeding haunt of Nightjar, Turtle Dove, Tree Pipit, Curlew and Whinchat, the site had no equal in terms of the ornithological importance of lowland mosses in the North West, and its outstanding flora made it almost unique locally. Unfortunately, the wildlife interest played second fiddle to commercial exploitation and its obliteration was complete a few years ago. If the interested reader wishes to view the aftermath of full-scale peat extraction he/she needs only to visit the moonscape at Astley, and every single member of a council which condones environmental damage on our remaining mosses needs to hang his/her head in shame. As guardians of our natural heritage they are failures who deserve the utmost contempt.

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SALFORD PEAT PROTEST - Salford Star - with attitude & love xxx

[ChrisJB]

Makes for a depressing story doesn't it. I remember my local RSPB group doing evening trips to nearby Chat Moss in the early 1980s for nightjars. One weeps when visiting in these times.

Regards, Chris

[Davy Crockett]

Astley moss is now a moon scape, and for what! it also held breeding Nightjar in the past.