Danes Moss: Prestbury business decorates window to protect South Macclesfield site from housing
By Alex Greensmith
11th Oct 2022 | Local News
A garden centre in Prestbury has decorated a window mural at their site to raise awareness for the 'SAVE DANES MOSS' campaign.
Prestbury Plant & Garden's new window art highlights species which would be threatened if Cheshire East Council's plans to develop 950 homes and a link road on the fringes of the moss were to go ahead.
Animals featured on the artwork include newts, Orange-tipped butterflies and Willow Tits, the latter of which is the fastest-declining bird in terms of population.
Christopher Wellavize, Owner of Prestbury Plant and Garden, explained why he decided to get the mural painted.
"My son is very keen on preserving natural habitats", he said.
"He has been very active in the 'SAVE DANES MOSS' campaign and encouraged myself and other members of staff to come along to the meeting at the site on October 1.
"It was really interesting learning how lowland peat bogs work and how the nature can be restored. Looking at the natural environment there, it was very rich with different species.
"We feel the world is being overexploited. The balance between man and its exploitation of nature needs to be restored.
"So if we can do something to help [like this window] the aim to increase biodiversity in the area, that is really important for us."
The South Macclesfield site Chris' business is campaigning to save, is believed to contain legally protected species and 200,000 tonnes of CO2 stored in a natural carbon sink of peat.
If urbanisation of the South Macclesfield Development Area were to go ahead, this CO2 would be released into the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect.
Prestbury Plant and Garden is the third business in the Macclesfield area to paint a window to stop development on the land. Cheshire East Council have been contacted for comment.
"Through the whole business, we try to be a community business. We try to be in tune with the issues of the day," added Chris.
"We feel the current environmental issues are so important, that all businesses need to be aware of that. And this is one of the ways we feel we can contribute.
"Macclesfield has got this amazing lowland peat area on its doorstep, which is an Scientific Site of Specific Interest, where it has been restored, and there's potential for even more of it to be restored and the benefits it will bring.
"The more people will know about it, the more the campaign to save it could work."
The business has made donations to the campaign, which is mounting a legal challenge against Cheshire East Council and fellow landowner Barratt Developments Plc.
This is in addition to the money they have raised in recent years for the charities Practical Action and East Cheshire Hospice.
Other ethical initiatives Prestbury Plant and Garden have taken in recent years is introducing an organic food shop, and reducing the price on peat-free compost soil, so more people could buy the more environmentally-friendly alternative.
"My favourite part about working here is the people. Because we are on a main road we have people from the four local communities all come here. Poynton to the north, Macclesfield to the south, Prestbury to the west of us and Bollington behind to the east. This brings us a great range of customers from different backgrounds, which is always interesting.
"We do have a lot in common with our customers, they like plants and green things but are also environmentally aware.
"Our shop does feel like a positive and comfortable place to be, in a world that is not as easy as it used to be."
Prestbury Plant & Garden is located on London Rd, Prestbury, Macclesfield SK10 4DY.
If you want to make a stock enquiry, please call them on 01625 828748.
Support the small business for free by giving them a follow on Facebook.
Prestbury Plant & Garden is the third Macclesfield area business to decorate their shop window for the 'SAVE DANES MOSS' campaign.
In the summer, two businesses on Market Place in Macclesfield created stunning murals of their own.
Please click here and here to see these other pieces of artwork.
If you are unsure what Danes Moss or the redevelopment plans are, you can read more about it here, here and here.
See Also: Meet new Prestbury Co-op Store Manager Ryan Brett
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