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Species information

Conservation status

When to see

January to December

About

There are numerous species of sphagnum moss that look very similar, so are usually grouped together as 'Sphagnum' for easy description. These 'bog-mosses' form the amazingly multi-coloured, 'living carpets' found in wet places like peat bogs, marshland, heath and moorland. They grow from spores that are produced in fruiting bodies called capsules. When seen up close, they are very beautiful, but they also play an important role in the creation and continuation of peat bogs. They hold water in their spongy forms long after the surrounding soil has dried out, providing essential nutrients and helping to prevent the decay of dead plant material. It is this organic matter that gets compressed over hundreds of years to form peat.

How to identify

There are at least ten species of sphagnum moss in the UK, which are very difficult to tell apart. These species range in colour from red and pink, to orange and green. Sphagnum Moss plants are very small, but they grow closely together, forming spongy carpets; 'hummocks' are even created when the mosses grow to form large mounds up to a metre high.

Distribution

Widespread.

Did you know?

Sphagnum mosses can soak up more than eight times their own weight in water.

How people can help

The Wildlife Trusts are working to restore and protect our bogs, heaths and moors by promoting good management, clearing encroaching scrub and implementing beneficial grazing regimes.

You can help our precious peatland habitats by buying peat-free products for your garden, make your own compost and buying plants that have not been grown in peat.

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Sphagnum mosses carpet the ground with colour on our marshes, heaths and moors. They play a vital role in the creation of peat bogs: by storing water in their spongy forms, they prevent the decay of dead plant material and eventually form peat.

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ne New Year's Day, ecologist Rob Wolton came up with an unusual resolution - to spend the next 12 months studying a hedge 40 metres from his house in the middle of Devon. He wanted to make a list of every plant, animal and fungus that used it. Why? Because a wildlife-enthusiast friend challenged him to do it during a long car journey.

"I thought it would take a year, but at the end of the first one I was still finding masses of new species so decided to carry on for another," he says.

That was 10 years ago. After two years of observations he had found 2,000 species - far more than he imagined. Not everyone's idea of fun (even in lockdown), it's perhaps not surprising that such a detailed study of a single hedge has not been done before or since. Wolton says he enjoyed it hugely and his findings contribute to the growing body of evidence that humble hedgerows should not be overlooked.

"They are reservoirs of life," he says. "We're so big, that when you walk past a hedge, you see very little. If you were an ant or something, you would see a vast array of life ... It's only when you look closely that you find all this stuff. And it's an extraordinary amount of stuff."

The UK is one of the most hedge-dense countries in the world. These ecological hotspots are the seams of the country's "patchwork quilt". There are 500,000km of hedgerows (compared with 400,000km of roads) and there are signs this quintessential feature could grow. "Recently there's been quite a lot of policy interest in hedgerows here in the UK," Jo Staley, a hedgerow ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, told the Oxford Real Farming Conference in January. "There are some strong policy drivers coming through for potentially expanding hedgerows."

There were two rules to Wolton's challenge - wildlife had to be seen within two metres of the hedge and big enough to see with the naked eye. Each week Wolton spent a few days studying the hedge, with the help of a handmade net, a malaise trap and a light trap. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of species found (83%) were insects. He found 17% of all true flies, butterflies and moths recorded in the British Isles in his 85-metre-long study site.

Thrush, dunnock and bullfinch were found nesting inside, as well as a dormouse bringing up its youngsters in the brambles. Common toads, lizards, grass snakes, long-eared bats, pipistrelles and hedgehogs were also among its inhabitants.

The hedge is 20 metres from a pond, 130 metres from a native broadleaf wood, and surrounded by nature-friendly farmland, which means it is probably particularly good for wildlife - Wolton estimates that the hedge supports nearer 3,000 species in total. "There is increasing recognition that within intensively farmed landscapes, much of the wildlife finds refuge in the hedges. But they're much more than just wildlife corridors - they are really important as habitats in their own right," he says.

The European commission's Joint Research Centre recently argued that planting new hedgerows was one of the best - if not only - ways to combat ecosystem fragmentation in intensively farmed landscapes.

They're great for carbon, they're great for wildlife and they're great for a whole lot of other public benefits too

Rob Wolton, ecologist

As the climate crisis escalates, hedgerows are expected to become even more important as highways for wildlife as they move in response to environmental change. Their deep roots also help sequester carbon, and the UK's Committee on Climate Change 2019 report suggested the hedgerow network be extended by 40% as part of the UK's 2050 net zero target.

Hedges also reduce the likelihood of flooding downstream, suck nutrients and pollutants out of water, and prevent soil erosion. Birds, butterflies and bees have all been shown to navigate landscapes using hedgerows. Earlier this month, the National Botanic Garden of Wales pointed out that the UK needs more old-fashioned, flower-filled hedgerows and grasslands to help boost declining populations of honeybees and other pollinators. More hedges would make them less reliant on crops such as oilseed rape (which are can be treated with honeybee-harming neonicotinoid insecticides) and the invasive Himalayan balsam flower.

On account of their high biodiversity value, Natural England, the country's environment watchdog, has recommended England's hedgerow network should increase by 60%. The National Farmers' Union has also told members that hedgerows should be allowed to grow bigger and taller to support more wildlife.

A dunnock's nest containing eggs in Rob Wolton's hedge. Thrush and bullfinch also made their homes in the hedgerow. Photograph: Robert Wolton

Alongside quaint villages and rolling hills, hedges are also an important feature of UK heritage. "There is a cultural, and potentially aesthetic, benefit to hedges too - I think lots of us who live in England think of the hedge landscape as being quite archetypal," says Staley.

Referring to maps is the best way to date hedges, but species diversity is also a good indicator of age. Wolton's hedge appears on an 1845 parish map but it could be older. A quarter of hedgerows in Devon - known for being healthy, wide and mixed-species - are believed to be more than 800 years old, meaning they pre-date many historic buildings such as parish churches. Some Cornish hedgerows are believed to date back 4,000 years, making them among the country's oldest man-made features.

Their original purpose in marking boundaries and keeping in livestock became less important with the arrival of modern fencing materials and after the second world war many hedges were removed as part of a drive to create more productive land.

However, their role in protecting wildlife was a key justification for their continuation, and England and Wales brought in the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, so were among the first countries to provide hedges with protection. It became illegal to remove hedges in England and Wales without permission from the council.

Despite these strong protections, only about one in three hedgerows in England are in good condition, according to the most recent research, which was done in 2007, and sorting this out is as important as extending the existing network. "In terms of improving the quality of hedges, this is a problem everywhere. Even in Devon, a lot of our hedges are not nearly as good as they could be because they're not managed well," says Wolton.

A malaise trap set by Rob Wolton to capture insects during his hedgerow study. Photograph: Robert Wolton

The main issues are hedges being cut too severely and too frequently, which leads to loss of wildlife and gaps. Gaps mean habitats are cut off from one another - a dormouse, for example, will turn around if there is a gap of five metres. New hedges are being planted with single species, instead of many, which diminishes the wildlife they can support.

It's hard to say if policy interest in hedgerows will translate into action on a national scale, and much depends on what landscape features the government subsidises as part of its post-EU Environmental Land Management scheme (Elms).

Wolton is quietly confident. "Elms is there to support the delivery of public goods by farmers, including biodiversity. We would all be hugely surprised if hedges weren't a major element of that.

"They're great for carbon, they're great for wildlife and they're great for a whole lot of other public benefits as well."
Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield on Twitter for all the latest news and features

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'Reservoirs of life': how hedgerows can help the UK reach net zero in 2050

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ne New Year's Day, ecologist Rob Wolton came up with an unusual resolution - to spend the next 12 months studying a hedge 40 metres from his house in the middle of Devon. He wanted to make a list of every plant, animal and fungus that used it. Why?

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What is it?

Kelp is the name given to several species of large brown seaweed. It has a similar structure to a plant, with a branching holdfast that roots it to the seabed, a thin hard stalk (called a stipe) and fronds that spread out like leaves.

Where conditions are right, kelp can form dense underwater forests, which are among the most productive and diverse ecosystems on the planet!

"Kelp forests are one of the most productive habitats on the Earth. As well as supporting a wide variety of life, these habits also provide us with a range of services. Kelp forests alter the movement of water and can provide a buffer against storm surges by reducing wave energy. This helps reduce the removal of sediments from beaches and coastal erosion rates. As climate change creates more severe weather, kelp forests are becoming more and more important."

Why is it like this?

Like plants, kelp depends on sunlight for survival. This means that they will only grow in shallow water where sunlight can reach the seabed - from the low tide mark down to 45m if the water is clear.

Kelp forests grow on hard, rocky surfaces where they can tangle their root-like holdfasts around the stone.

The leaf-like fronds contain air-filled bladders that help the kelp stalks float upright in the water, giving kelp beds the drifting appearance of an underwater forest.

Distribution in the UK

Kelp can be found all around the coasts of the UK, with forests developing in areas with a suitably rocky seabed.

The species of kelp varies depending on how exposed the coast is to wave action. Very exposed coasts have lots of winged kelp, less exposed areas hold tangle weed and cuvie, whilst sheltered coasts are dominated by sugar kelp.

The UK has the most diverse community of kelp species compared to any other country in Europe, with 7 out of the 14 species found across Europe.

What to look for

The holdfast at the kelp's base forms a network of nooks and crannies, providing a home for hundreds of individual animals. Worms and crustaceans burrow into the gaps, anemones and sea squirts cling to its surface, and small fish use it for shelter. Larger fish, like lumpsuckers, often lay their eggs amongst the holdfasts.

Smaller seaweeds cling to the rough surface of the stipe, sheltering other wildlife, whilst the fronds support colonial animals like sponges, sea mats and red seaweeds.

The thick, floating forest of kelp provides food and shelter for juvenile fish, which in turn attract larger fish and other predators like grey seals.

Conservation

Kelp only grows in the cool temperate and polar regions of the planet; global warming could change the distribution of kelp forests, or make the water too warm for them to survive. Losing our kelp forests would cause a ripple effect, impacting the many species that depend on them.

The Wildlife Trusts are calling for nature's recovery at sea. Find out more about how you can help and all the latest on the world beneath the waves by joining our marine mailing list.

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Forests of kelp sway in shallow sunlit waters, offering shelter to a host of sea life from tiny worms to juvenile fish.

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Reasons to keep vegetation, especially sphagnum moss, on the moors

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Education Team Assembly Video - Nature and Climate Unsung Heroes

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Short video by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust about why we shouldn't use peat in our gardening

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Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

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Exmoor & Dartmoor

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Find a space outside and take a couple of minutes to sit and listen.

What did you hear?

How do you feel now?

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New Forest stream after a recent downpour

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Look high and low and notice what climate and nature heroes you see on your journey.

Think about how they are helping our planet.

i.e. a tree taking the carbon dioxide we breathe out or a piece of moss in a crack absorbing some water.

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Choose one of these items or something similar:
- a circle of string, a hula hoop or frisbee
- a paper or plastic plate
- a recycled piece of card cut into a circle (e.g. a cereal box)

Gently throw your item and see where it lands.

Take a closer look at what heroes are beneath your feet.

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Find a tiny plant or patch of moss growing near you, then create your hero using chalk, charcoal or even a sketching app. Can you imagine what they might say if they could talk? tip: try out talkr app or visit Earth Speakr share your art @newforestlearn on twitter

Please ask permission from an adult before getting started.

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Write up a profile of a climate hero

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Write a news article based on the following video

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Restoring New Forest Wetlands (with subtitles)

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Watch this short video and make a quiz for your family to see what they know

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Make a poster or a character profile of your climate and nature hero
- Does your hero have a name?
- Where does it live?
- What are its special qualities?
- How can we protect it?

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You will need:
- small container (i.e. a yogurt pot)
- water
- leftover vegetable or fruit (i.e. carrot top, base of a celery, base of a little gem salad, spring onion)
- soil

1. Place your leftover piece in your container and fill with water, so the top stays dry and place on a sunny windowsill.

2. change water daily until you see the top sprouting (carrot) OR roots starting to form

3. fill 3/4 of your container with soil, add your leftover item and partially cover

4. Leave in sun and water daily

5. Transfer to a larger pot or outside when needed

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Use this link to find out more

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Instead of sending your green waste to landfill, create your own compost.

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Water brings a magical quality to your garden, and is the key to life for so many creatures that live in it.

Create a very small pond out of something like an old washing up bowl.

It's exciting to watch pond skaters, water lice (like long-legged underwater woodlice), freshwater shrimps, and if you're lucky, a few damselflies darting around the water. You might even see a bird having a bath.

Spring is a lovely time to create a mini-pond, because you'll see it quickly develop over the next few months. But you can make it at any time of year.

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How to Make a Small Pond | Ideas for Wildlife - The RSPB

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Water brings a magical quality to your garden, and is the key to life for so many creatures that live in it. Create a very small pond out of something like an old washing up bowl. It's exciting to watch pond skaters, water lice (like long-legged underwater woodlice), freshwater shrimps, and if you're lucky, a few damselflies darting around the water.

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Why not litter pick on your daily walk

Be sure to ask a parent for permission and to keep you safe

Please refer to health & safety guidance link

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Expert Leif Bersweden @leifbersweden is helping everyone learn to recognise 10 most common mosses this spring. Look up #couchto10mosses on  twitter to take part.

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For week 3 of #couchto10mosses we have springy turf moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus). This bryological jack-in-the-box has upright red stems with leaves that flop downwards (hold them up to the light, they’re stunning 😍). Look for this one in your lawn or in grassy areas 🔍

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For week 3 of #couchto10mosses we have springy turf moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus). This bryological jack-in-the-box has upright red stems with leaves that flop downwards (hold them up to the light, they’re stunning 😍). Look for this one in your lawn or in grassy areas 🔍 https://t.co/h03KhPBVCo

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For week 3 of #couchto10mosses we have springy turf moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus). This bryological jack-in-the-box has upright red stems with leaves that flop downwards (hold them up to the light, they’re stunning 😍). Look for this one in your lawn or in grassy areas 🔍 pic.twitter.com/h03KhPBVCo
— Leif Bersweden (@LeifBersweden) February 22, 2021

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For week 3 of #couchto10mosses we have springy turf moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus). This bryological jack-in-the-box has upright red stems with leaves that flop downwards (hold them up to the light, they’re stunning 😍). Look for this one in your lawn or in grassy areas 🔍 https://t.co/h03KhPBVCo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
For week 3 of #couchto10mosses we have springy turf moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus). This bryological jack-in-the-box has upright red stems with leaves that flop downwards (hold them up to the light, they’re stunning 😍). Look for this one in your lawn or in grassy areas 🔍 https://t.co/h03KhPBVCo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
For week 3 of #couchto10mosses we have springy turf moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus). This bryological jack-in-the-box has upright red stems with leaves that flop downwards (hold them up to the light, they’re stunning 😍). Look for this one in your lawn or in grassy areas 🔍

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Discover the wildlife found in the New Forest National Park

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Discover the wildlife found in the New Forest National Park

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Discover - New Forest National Park Authority

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Around 1,000 ancient trees have been recorded in the New Forest National Park. This...