Moorland: Combs Moss
Moorlands such as Combs Moss dominate the Dark Peak. Below the watershed, upland is heath dominated by heather, sometimes in association with gorse. Other dwarf shrubs, such as bilberry and cowberry, occur locally. On the high plateau, deep peat moorlands, dominated by extensive areas of blanket bog and cottongrass, have developed. Crowberry is also abundant, its presence being unique to the southern Pennines, whilst cloudberry is also locally abundant.
.
 |
The moorland areas of the Peak District are vital for important populations of breeding birds, notably merlin, golden plover and short-eared owl. They also support significant populations of red grouse and curlew, whilst dunlin can be found in the vicinity of bog pools. The Peak District moors are also home to the only English population of mountain hares, which favour the boulder-strewn slopes below scarps and gritstone edges. Characteristic insects of moorland include the northern eggar and emperor moths, and the green tiger beetle.
Blanket bogs and heather moorland are internationally rare habitats, with Britain supporting a significant proportion of the world total of both. Thus they are habitats of global conservation importance and are recognised as key biodiversity action plan habitats. |
