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Special Areas of Conservation

West Midlands Mosses

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country England
Unitary Authority Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire
Centroid* SK026282
Latitude 52.85111111
Longitude -1.961111111
SAC EU Code UK0013595
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 184.62
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of West Midlands Mosses SAC

General site character

  • Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (2.3%)
  • Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (35.5%)
  • Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (5.5%)
  • Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (3.3%)
  • Improved grassland (20.5%)
  • Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (22.5%)
  • Coniferous woodland (4.9%)
  • Mixed woodland (3.3%)
  • Other land (including Towns, Villages, Roads, Waste places, Mines, Industrial sites) (2.2%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 3160 Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds

    West Midlands Mosses contains three pools, one at Clarepool Moss and two at Abbots Moss, that are examples of dystrophic lakes and ponds in the lowlands of England and Wales, where this habitat type is rare. The lake at Clarepool Moss is unusual as a dystrophic type on account of its relatively base-rich character, which is reflected in the presence of a diverse fauna and flora. The two at Abbots Moss are more typical, base-poor examples. The dystrophic lakes and ponds at this site are associated with Schwingmoor development, a characteristic of this habitat type in the West Midlands. Schwingmoor is an advancing floating raft of bog-moss Sphagnum, often containing NVC type M3 Eriophorum angustifolium bog pool community, which grows from the edge of the pool and can completely cover over the pool; the site has also been selected for this Annex I feature (7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs).

  • 7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs

    West Midlands Mosses represents Schwingmoor vegetation. Floating rafts of Sphagnum-dominated vegetation have developed over semi-liquid substrates within basins. In the UK this type of Sphagnum-dominated vegetation with a scatter of sedges Carex species and cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos is confined to this part of England and mid-Wales.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

  • Not Applicable

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.