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Birds
The South Pennine Moors, of which Marsden Moor is a part, supports nationally important numbers of Golden Plover, Curlew, Dunlin, Merlin and Twite. Other summer visitors are the Skylark, Lapwing, Snipe and Redshank. There are also large numbers of Meadow Pipits which are a major food source of the Merlin.
The Red Grouse, which is only found in Britain, is one of the few birds which remains on the moor throughout the year. Because of these birds Marsden Moor is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and is part of an International Special Protection Area.
Mammals
Although rarely seen, the following animals live on the moor:
- Fox
- Hare
- Shrew
- Stoat
- Vole
- Weasel
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Plants
Many plant species can be found on the moor, some of which are rare. The following is a list of the common species.
PLANTS: Heather (Calluna), Cross-leaved Heath, Crowberry, Bilberry, Heath Bedstraw, Sheep’s Sorrel and Tormentil.
GRASSES: Mollinia, Wavy Hair Grass , Matt-grass, Fescues and Bent.
SEDGES: Common Cotton, Hare’s-tail Cotton and Common Sedge.
RUSHES: Soft-rush and Heath Rush.
FERNS: Bracken, Broad Buckler-fern and Hard Fern.
MOSSES: Sphagnum and Polytrichum.
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