Natural England

Sir Martin Doughty, Natural England’s chairman, will officially open a new field added to Wybunbury Moss National Nature Reserve near Crewe on Monday (17th September) – but the warning from local schoolchildren is “Look out! Nellie Longarms will get you!”

Nellie Longarms is the local version of the North West’s famous “water hags”, whose role in folklore is to warn people off areas of dangerous water. Across the region similar figures, such as Jenny Greenteeth, are the source of stories of hags who will reach out of the water to pull in the unwary.

Wybunbury Moss is a habitat unique in Europe – a floating bog consisting of a raft of peat floating on a lake more than 42 feet deep. Many bogs originated in the last Ice Age, but at Wybunbury the subsidence of salt-bearing rocks caused the depression where the moss has developed, and it provides a unique habitat for many rare plants and wildlife.

It is a deep and dangerous stretch of water, with holes in the raft of peat. For centuries the tale of Nellie Longarms has helped warn people away and on Monday local author John Bailey’s book, Nellie Longarms Will Get You, will be launched with the help of Sir Martin and local schoolchildren.

The children will read excerpts from the book as they accompany Sir Martin and members of the local community on a walk to the moss and keeping a wary eye open is advisable, as a specially made model of Jenny Greenteeth is expected to make a sudden appearance from one of the ditches en route…

Access to the reserve is limited to permit-holders and escorted tours because of the dangerous nature of the floating peat raft. However, the new field means that Natural England will now be able to construct a safe path and from next year, for the first time, members of the public will have the chance to see the centre of the moss for themselves.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Wybunbury Moss

This internationally important example of schwingmoor (floating bog) consists of a raft of peat, floating on a lake 13 metres/42 feet deep. Like many bogs it originated during the last great Ice Age, when ice movement and erosions created depressions, which over time filled with water and peat. The peat raft is carpeted in Sphagnum (bog) moss, along with cotton sedge, cranberry, bog rosemary and the insect-eating sundew. The moss is also important for its insect populations, which include two rare spiders and a beetle found nowhere else in England.

Natural England

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

Issued on behalf of Natural England by GNN North West.