A Damp Morning in Glasson Moss
Exploring the features and vegetation of a Cumbrian bog
There is nothing I like better than exploring a new nature reserve. No matter how many I visit they all have their own character, and you just never know what you are going to find.
Last weekend Matt and I had a gentle stroll around Glasson Moss, a small reserve near Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria, England.
A moss is any wet habitat where mosses thrive - typically bogs (as in this case), forest floors, mountains, etc. There are several mosses in this part of Cumbria: Glasson Moss, Drumburgh Moss, Salta Moss, Orton Moss, and probably others I haven’t yet discovered.
Glasson Moss is the closest to where I am currently based, and a break in the stormy weather allowed us to fit in a short visit.
From a tiny parking area, a boardwalk sets off across the reserve.
I was immediately grateful for the boardwalk - the surrounding land was completely waterlogged, with some areas looking very deep. I think how difficult constructing the boardwalk must have been - my calf-length wellies would not have been much use here!
On first impression, the moss looks flat and featureless.
Flat it is, but closer observation reveals a diverse plant life. The heather flowers are past their best, but patches of purple are still visible throughout the reserve. Interspersed among the heather are, among others, sphagnum mosses, cotton grass, white beak-sedge, cranberry, bog myrtle, bog asphodel, tormentil and sundew.
Everywhere are spiderwebs, covered in droplets and shining in the briefly appearing sunlight. Constructed by orb-weaver spiders, these marvels hang suspended, often with their owners waiting patiently in the centre. Some are attached directly to plant stems and leaves, but others hang suspended in mid air from silk threads - I wonder how on earth they do this.
There are a few scattered, stunted trees on the moss, mainly downy birch (Betula pubescens). Also known as moor birch, this is better able to survive in the waterlogged ground than most.
However at one point I was surprised to notice acorns on the boardwalk, coming from this young oak tree. It looks healthy, and I wonder if it will have a future in this waterlogged and acidic habitat.
An older stretch of the boardwalk is adorned with patches of lichen.
We come to a viewing tower with a convenient bench - perfect for the obligatory coffee and slice of cake. From here there is a great view over the reserve, with cloud-covered mountains of the Lake District just visible in the distance.
On the walk back to the parking area the sun makes a reappearance, creating interesting reflections and shadows in the pools.
We enjoyed our short visit, and will undoubtedly return to explore more of this fascinating little reserve.
For more information about the reserve see Glasson Moss.
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Beautiful photos. Thank you. There were so many lovely, subtle colors. It must have been very restful for the eyes.
It’s great to see you back at what you do best, most enjoyable. Thanks for sharing. By the way, we have waterlogged, very acidic soil and an abundance of oaks so that youngster should be okay.