Recovering Moorland – a brief note.
Words and pictures: Nick Small.
Two years ago I wrote a piece for CBTR about a large and damaging fire on Ovenden Moor in the South Pennines. It was catastrophic, charring vital moorland habitat, wiping out a year’s brood for the ground nesting birds.
Last year saw the green shoots of recovery, but the landscape still bore the scars. However, this is the sight that greeted me when I ran up onto the tops last week. Nature loves an opportunist.
It seems that the bog dwelling cotton grasses have taken full advantage of some favourable growing conditions…with spectacular effect. Thankfully, my new phone has a half decent camera on board.