Whilst stopped here Robert points out some of the plant and wildlife of this high moorland area. You certainly have to be careful where you are walking around here, as the ground is very boggy, with many small streams and gullies. Robert tells us this is because the soil around here is called peat, which is an acid soil overlying the bedrock of Millstone Grit.
These moorland areas extend across large sections of the northern and western parts of the Park and reach there highest points (over 600 m) close to where we are right now - at Kinder Scout.
The most common plant species of the moorland are heather (ling) and bilberry, with other heather species, sphagnum moss, cotton grass and bog asphodel appearing in the wettest areas. Bracken is also found on hilly slopes – bright green in summer, but a sandy-brown colour after it has died back in winter. You can use this time to brush up your knowledge of 'acid rain' and explain what you know about 'prevailing winds' in Britain.
Away to the west we can see the haze and some pollution over large towns and cities, and this has caused considerable damage on the moorland habitat. For example, in 1901 there were 18 different types of moss found in the Peak District – now you would be lucky to find 3!
Something to do:
Can you find out which towns and cities - to the WEST of where we are now - may have caused this pollution?
