Holcroft Moss

This reserve is the only known area of lowland bog in Cheshire which has not been cut for peat. The vegetation of this SSSI is dominated by purple moor-grass, cross-leaved heath and cranberry. Six species of sphagnum moss have been recorded.

Location
The reserve is about 6 miles (9.5km) north east of Warrington and 0.75 mile (1.2km) north west of Glazebrook, immediately south of the M62 (O.S. Grid Ref.: SJ685934).

Access
From Warrington take the A57 eastwards for about 6 miles (9.5km) and then turn north on the B5212 towards Culcheth. After Glazebrook leave the B5212 on the left immediately before it crosses the M62; there is a vehicular access to a small parking area. Anyone wishing to visit this reserve should first contact Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

Status
The reserve was bought freehold by Cheshire WIldlife Trust in 1990. It covers 44.4 acres (18ha).

Topography
The reserve is a raised peat bog. It is the only uncut peatland in the area which originally contained a chain of similar mosses including Rixton and Chat. Following commercial removal of peat, the surrounding area is now farm land and deep ditches cut along the east and west boundaries of the reserve have lowered the water table.
There is a woodland fringe along the boundary with the M62. There are small scrapes and ponds which were dug by previous shooting tenants to encourage duck.

Flora
The flora is limited by the dominance of purple moor grass Molinia caerulea and shading by birch which have colonised the drained peat, but ling Calluna vulgaris, cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix and cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus occur. Wet hollows support small amounts of sphagnum moss and liverworts. The Sphagnum species present are recurvum, papillosum, cuspidatum, fimbriatum and tenellum. The latter was thought to be extinct in vice county 59 (south Lancashire) until the reserve was surveyed. The woodland is mainly birch, and west of this, on a small area where motorway spoil was dumped in the 1970s, grassland species including orchids have colonised.

Fauna
Several species of invertebrate have been recorded.