Discover wildlife at Marsden Moor

From rare plant species to a variety of mammals and habitats there's lot to explore on your visit.

The moorland

At Marsden Moor the National Trust cares for over 5,500 acres of unenclosed moorland.

The moorland may look rather barren, bleak and inhospitable but it harbours a vast diversity of birds, mammals and insects.

Deep peat covers most of the estate and provides a habitat for plants and animals that can cope with acidic soils, heavy rainfall and little shelter.

A variety of habitats are essential to support the bird species which breed on the moor, some of which are of international importance.

The plants on the moor are managed as a mosaic; both older and younger plant species are needed to provide food and shelter to birds and animals.

Bare peat needs to be managed. Plants do not regenerate so easily so management work is necessary.

The South Pennine moors, of which Marsden Moor is a part, supports nationally important numbers of birds, including the twite and the golden plover.

Many different plant species can be found on the moors, some of which are rare.

Although rarely seen, some mammals live on the moors, including: