Futurescapes Is the RSPB Is a Member Futurescape Project Is Kindly Supported By: Nature for You

Coombes Valley

Staffordshire Woods and Moors

An amazing place for people Our work so far and for wildlife Our Coombes Valley nature reserve From oak woodlands clinging to sits in the heart of the Churnet Valley, steep-sided valleys to the open upland capturing the essence of the wider landscapes of the Peak District, the landscape. Stunning wildflower Staffordshire Woods and Moors is a meadows meet oak woodland, with beautiful blend of woodland, grassland and spectacular valley views and the moorland that’s home to special wildlife. sounds of the babbling brook. The trails here allow visitors to explore It has dramatic and iconic landscapes the woodland story. Woodland such as the Roaches, “hidden” valleys like management has increased here in Coombes Valley and industrial heritage that recent years, delivering more variation ranges from lime-kilns to quarries. It is a in woodland habitats to benefit a special place for you to enjoy wildlife, wider range of wildlife. history and landscapes. To inspire change across the Churnet The Churnet Valley is nationally important Valley, we’ve created a Sustainable for woodland wildlife. At the heart of 2,000 Woodland Project, working with hectares (ha) of woodland is the Churnet woodland owners and managers to ArgentDECLINE and of sable Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest improve woodlands for wildlife. This the Capercaillie (SSSI) and the RSPB Coombes Valley project is part of the Churnet Valley There is excitement amongst nature reserve. The area provides a home Living Landscape Partnership, supported Capercaillievolunteers and are visitorswoodland at Coombesgrouse, for insects, such as argent and sable moths by the Heritage Lottery Fund. We will be confinedValley when to anative special pine black forest and and and small pearl-bordered fritillarys, working to understand how woodland somesilvery-white commercial moth conifertakes wing on alongside woodland birds, including pied owners can manage their woodlands plantations.a hot spring Theiror summer needs day.are notArgent flycatchers, redstarts and wood warblers. sustainably to both generate income and straightforwardand sables are nationally-scarce, as they require vast Important grasslands, including the Weaver make a difference to wildlife. expansesday-flying of moths,suitable seen habitat. in May Males and Hills, contribute to a rich mosaic of areJune. black, Named huge after and the unmistakable, terms used woodland and grassland. In the South West Peak, a partnership especiallyin heraldry so for when silver they(argent) gather and to of organisations is also receiving performblack (sable), their theremating are ritual very at few The South West Peak is a landscape of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, traditionalsites where lek they sites. can They be found. spend a lot moorland, flower-rich meadows, rush to develop projects to protect and ofLike time their feeding woodland on blaeberries butterfly on pasture and woodland, with much of the enhance this special landscape. This therelatives, ground, they but have may suffered also be founddue open moorland designated as a Special work will protect iconic wildlife species, into trees,the reduction feeding inon traditional pine needles. Protection Area (SPA) for the populations such as breeding curlews and work Thewoodland UK capercaillie management population techniques. and of upland birds. The meadows and rush with farmers to restore and connect rangeThe reintroduction has declined ofrapidly, coppicing and theto pastures are vital for breeding waders – fragmented habitats. We will also speciesbirch trees is now will helpat risk them of extinction. to recover in the spring the bubbling of curlews, support rural businesses, better Conservation– they are very and fussy restoration and their of the drumming of snipe and “peewitting” of connect people with the area and habitatcaterpillars is essential like to munch if they onare very to lapwings are commonly heard, though preserve the important historic features thriveyoung oncebirch. more. sadly these birds have declined. of this beautiful landscape. Bollington

Macclesfield

Bakewell

Longnor

Congleton Hartington

Cheddleton

KEY main road Stoke-on-Trent Ashbourne Futurescape area Oakamoor Special Protection Cheadle Area Alton

Staffordshire “ On spring mornings the woodlands echo with birdsong, as our summer Woods and Moors migrants arrive back in the Churnet Valley. I am proud to have played a part in protecting these special habitats for these species, and for helping visitors to experience the amazing wildlife they have on their doorstep.” Madeleine Pashley, residential volunteer at Coombes Valley nature reserve

What’s next? Get in touch We want to increase the recognition of, and support for, We want to hear your ideas about how we can work together the area’s wildlife and the contribution it makes to a high to make the Staffordshire Woods and Moors even better for quality of life for local communities. We will continue people and wildlife. to build strong partnerships with other organisations and communities to help give nature a home across the Mike Shurmer Staffordshire Woods and Moors. T 01694 724791

Our work will continue to improve the network of woodlands, meadows and moorlands for wildlife, and support landowners to be able to manage these sites sustainably into the future. We will also work to make these habitats more secure and resistant to outside factors, making them bigger, better and more connected.

The Staffordshire Woods and Moors Natura 2000 – Europe’s Futurescapes is The RSPB is a member Futurescape project is kindly supported by: nature for you. We are generously supported of BirdLife International, working together across the by the EU Life+ a partnership of conservation EU to safeguard Europe’s rich Communications organisations working to give and diverse natural heritage Programme nature a home around the world South West Peak for the benefit of all Landscape Partnership

Futurescapes is the RSPB’s contribution to landscape-scale conservation throughout the UK. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654. Images: Coombes Valley RSPB reserve by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) and argent and sable moth by Stephen Lewis. Maps produced by RSPB CDMU © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787. 020-1-0979-14-15