Macclesfield's Danes Moss is an area with exceptionally rich biodiversity and high ecological value which benefits the town and it's residents. Raised lowland peat bogs like Danes Moss are an increasingly rare habitat, both nationally and globally, with over 94% having been lost in the UK in recent years, as such we should celebrate having Danes Moss on our doorstep.

Very few councils can boast that they have 300 acres of raised lowland peat bog with over 900 different species present within their local area, including multiple species of national importance such as breeding Willow Tits and Dingy Skipper butterflies. The true value of this site has frequently been overlooked by local councils and developers but it cannot be overestimated.

The monumental task of documenting and identifying the species found on Danes Moss has predominantly been done by a single member of our executive team, yielding records of over 900 species and 101 with legal protection.

This has been enhanced by surveying trips conducted by academic professionals who specialize in various ecological fields. Therefore, providing irrefutable evidence of the immense value of the proposed development site.

Chris Packham MBE wearing the 'SAVE DANES MOSS' T-shirt designed by local artist Becca Smith. (Image - Chris Packham)

The environmental cost of developing Danes Moss would be catastrophic and far reaching, disproportionately impacting younger generations who will inherit the burden of an ever-worsening climate emergency and ecological decline. These immense global issues are a result of decades of inadequate environmental policies and ecological ignorance at a local and national level which have culminated in worldwide climate and biodiversity disasters.

Thus, the significance of the Save Danes Moss campaign cannot be overlooked as the last remaining fragments of irreplaceable habitat and populations of endangered species are worth fighting for.

The Save Danes Moss executive committee has nine dedicated, hardworking volunteers, who have put in hours of work towards this campaign.

The committee is supported by many passionate volunteers who have a keen interest in the local environmental, ecological, and social wellbeing of Macclesfield and have helped the campaign go from strength to strength.

'SAVE DANES MOSS' at a Treacle Market. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Over the last year the Save Danes Moss team has continuously raised awareness of the campaign via social media, leafletting local residential areas, protesting outside planning meetings, and attending numerous local events. Several of our members have reached out to prominent naturalists and authors over 2022 and have attracted the support of many famous names such as Springwatch presenters Chris Packham MBE and Megan McCubbin as well as popular nature writers Mark Cocker and Isabella Tree.

Chris Packham has offered continued support and raised awareness using his social media following, which has greatly expanded the national reach of our campaign. As a result of these combined actions, our petition, to end development plans, has gained over 22,000 signatures in the last year and the Facebook group has more than 1,700 members and grows larger every day.

As the campaign has grown so has our relationship with the town. The campaign is backed by Macclesfield MP David Rutley as well as cross party support. Many businesses have shown tremendous support by allowing us to promote the campaign using space within their units, displaying shopfront posters, selling merchandise to raise funds, and having 'SAVE DANES MOSS' beer mats over Christmas.

In addition to this, RedWillow Brewery has also provided a guest beer over the Christmas period (called 'Senseless') and is donating a % of each pint to our campaign.

This initiative has now been adopted by multiple licensed venues locally and greatly contributes to raising awareness as well as legal funds. We have also had generous contributions from local artists who have designed pieces for our campaign and donated the funds raised via sales. Save Danes Moss t-shirts were designed by a local artist which inspired us to create our own designs through Teemill, both have proved to be an enormous success.

Thanks to the substantial contributions from members of the public, local businesses, and our diligent Save Danes Moss events team we have raised over £23,000 for legal costs.

Recently, the Save Danes Moss campaign has combined forces with Cheshire Wildlife Trust to promote a more eco-conscious vision for Danes Moss which was designed by Diana Moss of our Executive Committee. The Vision is supported by Macclesfield Town Council and has enthusiastic backing from local residents.

It paints an exciting picture for the future of Danes Moss, as a carbon store and nature reserve, in addition to highlighting opportunities to enrich the local area through recreation, eco-tourism, and improved ecological functioning.

Our thanks go to Cheshire Wildlife Trust for their support for this Vision and our campaign along with their efforts to make Danes Moss North a designated 'Local Wildlife Site'. This has been successful, and designation has finally been achieved, thus enhancing protection of the site and its legitimacy as a vital refuge for nature within Macclesfield.

We are delighted with the success of the campaign so far and have a more positive outcome than we could have imagined this time last year.

Everyone in our Danes Moss team including our volunteers and supporters have put in many hours of hard work over 2022, and it is genuinely exciting to see how much the campaign has progressed.

From all our 'SAVE DANES MOSS' team, we want to thank everyone who has contributed in some way to the campaign to help save and protect this beautiful and irreplaceable site. Here's to next year being even more of a success for wildlife, the climate, and the people of Macclesfield!

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