The Trust took out a loan to buy Gun Moor Meadow for £81,000 last summer. Thanks to the generosity of the local community, who made over 400 donations, the Trust has raised the cash needed to repay the loan and ensure this land is protected for wildlife for years to come.

This land is set in the Peak District Moors, an area of international importance for rare birds and plants.  It also borders the north western edge of Gun Moor Nature Reserve, which the Trust purchased in 2019. Once connected to the main site, the meadow will extend the wildlife habitat to more than 200 acres. The charity will return the field to a wet heath area, helping the whole landscape become a haven for Staffordshire’s threatened wildlife.

Bryony Davison, Conservation Project Officer, says:

“We’re so thankful to each and every person that donated to this cause. Over 400 people generously gave money during our appeal, which is amazing! Because of them this land can be connected to Gun Moor, extending the nature reserve so there is more space for wildlife.

“When Gun Moor Meadow came up for sale last year, we had to act fast to buy it, which meant taking out a philanthropic loan. We needed to pay the loan back as soon as possible and needed help to do this.

“This land has the potential to support so many rare species and thanks to our supporters we can enable their return to the landscape. We’re going to remove the fence that separates the field from Gun Moor and fill in the drainage ditches to allow the site to rewet.

“A few cows will lightly graze the area, allowing native plants such as bog asphodel, cranberry, cotton grass and sundew to re-establish. These changes should help skylark and meadow pipits return. In years to come hen harriers, black grouse, and pine marten could also return to the wider landscape.”

You can learn more about Gun Moor and the meadow via the links below.