The purchase of Gun Moor Meadow has enabled us to extend our Gun Moor Nature Reserve.
Thanks to your generosity, we've been able to add this parcel of land to the 193 acres of Gun Moor which you helped us buy in 2019. Situated north of Leek Gun Moor offers fantastic views of The Roaches and is already home to endangered upland bird species like snipe and redpoll, species that Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has been working hard to conserve for future generations to enjoy.
Thanks to over 400 donations we've secured this land so we can extend the wildlife habitat and protect the site from development. Every donation, no matter how large or small, has played its part in securing a site which we will now manage to allow the natural flora and fauna to flourish. As we exceeded the £81,000 we needed to repay the loan, any additional money will go towards covering the costs of running this appeal.
Gun Moor Nature Reserve has become a crucial piece of the ‘nature recovery’ jigsaw, connecting more habitat together across this living landscape. Now experiencing recovery after years of poor management, the reserve is already attracting many different bird species. The purchase of Gun Moor Meadow helps towards the Trust’s aim of developing the whole landscape to become even more of a haven for wildlife, and will enable the re-establishment of rare plants such as cotton grass, sundew and bog asphodel.
CN Harding
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The work that we do in conserving our local wildlife and the places in which they live has never been more crucial; nature is faced with increasing threats. Recent reports have shown that nearly 15% of all UK species are now at risk of disappearing completely and within the past 50 years, 56% of all species have declined across the UK.
Why does this matter so much?
The Staffordshire Moorlands and neighbouring Peak District are renowned for their natural beauty, but biodiversity is in decline, as it is throughout the UK. In fact, 56% of our native wildlife has declined since 1970, with nearly 15% of species now at risk of extinction. Wilder landscapes can play a central role in fighting the climate and nature crisis, so we need a change of approach that helps nature to thrive, conserving landscapes rich in biodiversity.
Creating a Nature Recovery Network
At Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, our vision is a future where wildlife thrives throughout the county and is not solely confined to small nature reserves. In order to achieve this vision, we have been working strategically within the Staffordshire Moorlands to expand the land we own and manage. We try to involve and influence farmers and landowners, encouraging them to adopt practices that nurture wildlife and attract new species. It’s essential we all work together to create a rich mosaic of places for wildlife, a ‘network’ that allows nature to connect and thrive. Gun Moor is already an important place for wildlife, but with your help we can expand it and make even more space for nature!
There are 1,383 Local Wildlife Sites throughout our beautiful county, many of them are hidden sanctuaries for wildlife. They have been selected for their local nature conservation value, and many contain important, distinctive and threatened habitats and species. Conserving them is a vital part of our vision in creating a joined-up network across the country. Read more about Local Wildlife Sites.
Why did we need help to buy Gun Moor Meadow?
When Gun Moor Meadow came up for sale, we had to act quickly to buy it. Luckily, we were able to secure a 0% interest loan so we could immediately proceed with the purchase of the field. This avoided the risk of the land being sold to another buyer while we took the time to raise the necessary funding.
However, we needed to pay the loan back quickly. This is why we asked for donations, so we don’t have to dip into the funding set aside to manage our nature reserves.
Missed our appeal? There are lots of other ways you can help. You could give a general donation here or why not go one step further to show your support for wildlife by becoming a member? By joining us you'll be helping us move towards our vision for a wilder Staffordshire!
