Small Upland Wetlands

These wetlands are areas which receive water and nutrients from the soil, rock and groundwater as well as from rainfall and are also known as fens. They are generally small in extent and are usually associated with areas of surface water movement such as springs, rills and flushes. In the moorland and moorland fringe areas they are fed by nutrient poor, peaty water and are often found on the edge of blanket bog habitats. Acidic fens in the Yorkshire Dales usually consist of a carpet of bog mosses overlain by sedges and rushes. The most common type is the soft rush dominated flush. The richest examples of this may have herbs of more neutral conditions such as marsh bedstraw and greater bird’s foot trefoil present. A more open type of rush acidic flush has a much richer flora which includes the rare endemic pale forget-me-not and occasional species such as round-leaved sundew and cranberry. A more nutrient poor version of this flush has a higher proportion of round-leaved sundew, cranberry and bog asphodel. Small upland wetlands are of very high biodiversity value.

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Small Upland Wetlands Habitat Action Plan (opens in new window)