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Located behind Hatchmere village and on the border of Delamere Forest is a small area of wet woodland, one of many to found throughout the forest. Wet woodland occurs on poorly drained or seasonally wet soils, usually with alder, birch and willows as the predominant tree species, but sometimes including ash, oak, pine and beech on the drier riparian areas. It is found on floodplains, fens, mires and bogs, along streams, hill-side flushes, and in peaty hollows. These woodlands occur on a range of soil types including nutrient-rich mineral and acid, nutrient-poor organic ones. The boundaries with dry woodland may be sharp or gradual and may (but not always) change with time through succession, depending on the conditions and management of the wood and its surrounding land. Therefore wet woods frequently occur in mosaic with other woodland key habitat types and with open key habitats such as fens.Wet woodland combines elements of many other ecosystems and as such is important for many different types of wildlife. The high humidity favours bryophyte growth such as mosses and liverworts. The number of invertebrates associated with alder, birch and willows, is very large, although some are now confined to just a few sites. Dead wood within the sites can be frequent, and its association with water provides specialised habitats not found in dry woodland types. While few rare plant species depend on wet woodland as such, there may be some relict species from the former open wetlands on the site such as the marsh fern for example. For further, more detailed information see the UKBAP website at http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=4 . Delamere Forest, an area of approximately 2,400 acres (972 hectares), is one of the last remnants of the Ancient Forests of Mara and Mondrem, a hunting forest that once spread for over 60 square miles in the North-West of Cheshire and was owned by the Norman Earls of Cheshire. The harsh Forest Laws of the time greatly limited the use of the ground for agriculture until the early 13th century when the laws were relaxed and parts of the southern forest of Mondrem began to be cleared. Ownership of the remains of the great forests passed to the Crown in 1812, with Delamere Forest being handed to the Forestry Commission soon after it was set up in 1919 and they still manage it to this day. It is very popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders with several way-marked trails and tracks; there is also a Go-Ape aerial adventure course. Delamere Forest comprises a mix of habitats with Broad-leaved and Conifer woodlands at various stages of growth, with areas of grassland and wetland in between. These provide a home for many woodland birds such as nuthatches, treecreepers, crossbills, siskins, tawny owls and greater spotted and green woodpeckers. Dragonflies such as the nationally scarce White Faced Darter and the Southern Hawker can be found in the wetland areas, along with Marsh Fern and White Sedge- both locally scarce plants. Mammals include Foxes, Badgers and Bats.
©Jonathan Kington
Dist:0.1km<br/>Just behind Hatchmere is a ride junction, left takes a route around Blakemere Moss while straight on heads up towards Hunger Hill. Delamere Forest, an area of approximately 2,400 acres (972 hectares), is one of the last remnants of the Ancient Forests of Mara and Mondrem, a hunting forest that once spread for over 60 square miles in the North-West of Cheshire and was owned by the Norman Earls of Cheshire. The harsh Forest Laws of the time greatly limited the use of the ground for agriculture until the early 13th century when the laws were relaxed and parts of the southern forest of Mondrem began to be cleared. Ownership of the remains of the great forests passed to the Crown in 1812, with Delamere Forest being handed to the Forestry Commission soon after it was set up in 1919 and they still manage it to this day. It is very popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders with several way-marked trails and tracks; there is also a Go-Ape aerial adventure course. Delamere Forest comprises a mix of habitats with Broad-leaved and Conifer woodlands at various stages of growth, with areas of grassland and wetland in between. These provide a home for many woodland birds such as nuthatches, treecreepers, crossbills, siskins, tawny owls and greater spotted and green woodpeckers. Dragonflies such as the nationally scarce White Faced Darter and the Southern Hawker can be found in the wetland areas, along with Marsh Fern and White Sedge- both locally scarce plants. Mammals include Foxes, Badgers and Bats.
©Jonathan Kington
Dist:0.1km<br/>This is Station Road entering Hatchmere, a small village on the edge of Delamere Forest Park.
©Jonathan Kington
Dist:0.1km<br/>Looking down towards the junction of the rides at the bottom of the hill ([[2285727]]). The post on the left is a waymarker, giving directions for one of the many marked paths and trails. Delamere Forest, an area of approximately 2,400 acres (972 hectares), is one of the last remnants of the Ancient Forests of Mara and Mondrem, a hunting forest that once spread for over 60 square miles in the North-West of Cheshire and was owned by the Norman Earls of Cheshire. The harsh Forest Laws of the time greatly limited the use of the ground for agriculture until the early 13th century when the laws were relaxed and parts of the southern forest of Mondrem began to be cleared. Ownership of the remains of the great forests passed to the Crown in 1812, with Delamere Forest being handed to the Forestry Commission soon after it was set up in 1919 and they still manage it to this day. It is very popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders with several way-marked trails and tracks; there is also a Go-Ape aerial adventure course. Delamere Forest comprises a mix of habitats with Broad-leaved and Conifer woodlands at various stages of growth, with areas of grassland and wetland in between. These provide a home for many woodland birds such as nuthatches, treecreepers, crossbills, siskins, tawny owls and greater spotted and green woodpeckers. Dragonflies such as the nationally scarce White Faced Darter and the Southern Hawker can be found in the wetland areas, along with Marsh Fern and White Sedge- both locally scarce plants. Mammals include Foxes, Badgers and Bats.
©Jonathan Kington
Dist:0.2km<br/>The twisted growth of this Oak tree stands out against the straight Pines growing behind it. Delamere Forest, an area of approximately 2,400 acres (972 hectares), is one of the last remnants of the Ancient Forests of Mara and Mondrem, a hunting forest that once spread for over 60 square miles in the North-West of Cheshire and was owned by the Norman Earls of Cheshire. The harsh Forest Laws of the time greatly limited the use of the ground for agriculture until the early 13th century when the laws were relaxed and parts of the southern forest of Mondrem began to be cleared. Ownership of the remains of the great forests passed to the Crown in 1812, with Delamere Forest being handed to the Forestry Commission soon after it was set up in 1919 and they still manage it to this day. It is very popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders with several way-marked trails and tracks; there is also a Go-Ape aerial adventure course. Delamere Forest comprises a mix of habitats with Broad-leaved and Conifer woodlands at various stages of growth, with areas of grassland and wetland in between. These provide a home for many woodland birds such as nuthatches, treecreepers, crossbills, siskins, tawny owls and greater spotted and green woodpeckers. Dragonflies such as the nationally scarce White Faced Darter and the Southern Hawker can be found in the wetland areas, along with Marsh Fern and White Sedge- both locally scarce plants. Mammals include Foxes, Badgers and Bats.
©Jonathan Kington
Dist:0.2km<br/>This is the stream that runs from the weir ([[1751573]]) at the only outfall from Blakemere Moss lake. The lake was created sometime after 2000 by the Forestry Commission to attempt to recreate a habitat that supposedly existed "thousands of years ago". Prior to the flooding it was an area of marshland as depicted by the 2000 edition of the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 map of Delamere Forest, although later editions do now show the lake.
©Jonathan Kington
Dist:0.2km<br/>To the left leads on towards the top of Hunger Hill, to the right drops down to the [[2285727]] whilst behind the camera the ride goes down the hill to Blakemere Moss. There are many waymarked rides and trails throughout the forest as indicated by the post on left. A close-up of the vandalised seat can be seen in [[2285774]]. Delamere Forest, an area of approximately 2,400 acres (972 hectares), is one of the last remnants of the Ancient Forests of Mara and Mondrem, a hunting forest that once spread for over 60 square miles in the North-West of Cheshire and was owned by the Norman Earls of Cheshire. The harsh Forest Laws of the time greatly limited the use of the ground for agriculture until the early 13th century when the laws were relaxed and parts of the southern forest of Mondrem began to be cleared. Ownership of the remains of the great forests passed to the Crown in 1812, with Delamere Forest being handed to the Forestry Commission soon after it was set up in 1919 and they still manage it to this day. It is very popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders with several way-marked trails and tracks; there is also a Go-Ape aerial adventure course. Delamere Forest comprises a mix of habitats with Broad-leaved and Conifer woodlands at various stages of growth, with areas of grassland and wetland in between. These provide a home for many woodland birds such as nuthatches, treecreepers, crossbills, siskins, tawny owls and greater spotted and green woodpeckers. Dragonflies such as the nationally scarce White Faced Darter and the Southern Hawker can be found in the wetland areas, along with Marsh Fern and White Sedge- both locally scarce plants. Mammals include Foxes, Badgers and Bats.
©Jonathan Kington
Dist:0.2km<br/>A lovely seat in a nice location but somebody has tried to set fire to it, burning a huge hole in the middle. It is a memorial seat, too, so it can't be very nice for the family of the deceased. Fortunately vandalism like this seems to be fairly rare here in Delamere Forest. Delamere Forest, an area of approximately 2,400 acres (972 hectares), is one of the last remnants of the Ancient Forests of Mara and Mondrem, a hunting forest that once spread for over 60 square miles in the North-West of Cheshire and was owned by the Norman Earls of Cheshire. The harsh Forest Laws of the time greatly limited the use of the ground for agriculture until the early 13th century when the laws were relaxed and parts of the southern forest of Mondrem began to be cleared. Ownership of the remains of the great forests passed to the Crown in 1812, with Delamere Forest being handed to the Forestry Commission soon after it was set up in 1919 and they still manage it to this day. It is very popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders with several way-marked trails and tracks; there is also a Go-Ape aerial adventure course. Delamere Forest comprises a mix of habitats with Broad-leaved and Conifer woodlands at various stages of growth, with areas of grassland and wetland in between. These provide a home for many woodland birds such as nuthatches, treecreepers, crossbills, siskins, tawny owls and greater spotted and green woodpeckers. Dragonflies such as the nationally scarce White Faced Darter and the Southern Hawker can be found in the wetland areas, along with Marsh Fern and White Sedge- both locally scarce plants. Mammals include Foxes, Badgers and Bats.
©Jonathan Kington
Dist:0.2km<br/>The 2000 copy of the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 map shows Blakemere Moss as an area of marshland, although later editions show the lake. After talking to a local gentleman I found out that the Forestry Commission had decided to flood the marsh and they built this concrete dam to retain the water. To quote the gentleman- "they did it to try and make it like it was thousands of years ago"! Unfortunately looking at the soil here I rather think it was under the sea then!
©Jonathan Kington
Dist:0.2km<br/>
©Anthony Parkes
Dist:0.2km<br/>This path runs between Station Road on the right and Blakemere Moss lake on the left, it makes a nice traffic-free, and safe walk or a ride for cyclists and horse riders.
©Jonathan Kington
Dist:0.3km<br/>The closed Delamere Forest Inn now up for sale.
©Jeff Buck
Dist:0.3km<br/>Between Blakemere Lane and the reflooded Blakemere Moss. A good path for people and cycles - part of an extensive network of trails in this popular area.
©M J Richardson
Dist:0.3km<br/>Blakemere Moss was originally formed from two kettle holes (water filled hollows formed by a detached mass of glacial ice melted in situ towards the end of the last ice age). The area was drained from the 1800's, supposedly by prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars and planted with trees, (mainly oak and Scot's Pine) between 1793-1815 to provide timber for shipbuilding. The Forestry Commission planted the moss with pine and western hemlock during the 1940s, which proved uneconomic. In the late 1990's the Commission allowed the area to re-flood again naturally. Blakemere Moss now provides a habitat for wildlife, particularly birds including Greylags, Canada Geese, Black-headed Gulls, Coots, Mallards and Lapwings. It has been rapidly recolonised by rare mosses such as the orange-brown Sphagnum pulchrum as well as wildlife like diving beetles and great crested newts. Following the success of this project, a new project has been launched by the Forestry Commission to restore the lost meres and mosses at Delamere Forest.
©Jeff Buck
Dist:0.3km<br/>Norley - view of Delamere Forest from Norley bridleway 21 near Wickentree Farm, Hatchmere.
©Mike Harris

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