Loynton Moss - Stung Into Action Multi-cache
Loynton Moss - Stung Into Action
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Size: 
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35 acres of this site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its fen and wet woodland. The reserve is recognised for its conservation value and importance.
The landscape was formed as a result of retreating glaciers at the end of the last ice age.
The area has a range of habitats including reeds, scrub,wet woodland, dry oak and woodland.
Discover Loynton Moss at any time of the year.
Look out over the area of fen, which is literally a thin floating raft of vegetation over water, dominated by tall reed species. Listen out for the wide range of bird and insect species that utilise this important habitat.
Visit this diverse nature reserve in the spring and summer and find it at its most colourful. In the early spring look out for woodland flowers making the most of the sunlight before the tree canopy closes, while in the early summer wildflowers throughout the grassland areas will begin to bloom. Look out for dragonflies darting across the wildlife scrapes.
If you visit this wetland reserve during the winter, remember to bring your wellies. The wetter areas of the reserve support an impressive range of fungi with almost 200 types recorded.
The landscape of Loynton Moss was formed as a result of retreating glaciers at the end of the last ice age.
With 35 acres of Loynton Moss having SSSI status, this varied reserve is recognised nationally for its conservation value and importance.
The area of SSSI consists of a range of success ional habitats including reed bed fen, scrub, alder/willow carr (wet woodland) and dry oak and birch woodland. Plants found throughout the reed bed include marsh cinquefoil, cowbane, branched bur-reed and lesser pond sedge. The surviving areas of wet woodland contain the largest stand of alder buckthorn in the county and other unusual species such as bog myrtle, royal fern and elongated sedge.
The areas of fen and carr are especially important for invertebrates with some very rare species of moth such as the dentated pug, small yellow wave and the round winged muslin. Woodcock can occasionally be seen in the areas of damp woodland, while buzzards are often seen over the Moss.
In the drier wooded areas of the reserve you will see bluebells, wood sorrel and snowdrops in the early spring, while in the summer the grassland areas are buzzing with insects such as butterflies, bees and other insects feeding on wild flowers such as yellow rattle, birds foot trefoil and knapweed.
The primary management aim is to raise water levels throughout the SSSI. The main method is to selectively reduce the number of trees. Hydrological surveys have shown that the main loss of water is through tree evapotranspiration. The trees are drinking all the water!!
In other areas of the reserve there are a number of management objectives including hay meadow restoration and re-wetting the lower lying areas of the grasslands. Re-wetting works have been achieved by breaking land drains and excavating wader and dragonfly scrapes.
The grasslands are maintained by local farmers who use cattle and sheep to graze the fields without the use of chemicals or fertilisers.
Current projects:
The Trust has installed a series of small sluices and dams to help raise water levels within the SSSI and the surrounding pastures. The higher water levels will help the development of the fen vegetation and also provide better habitat for wading birds.
Wading birds will also benefit from the excavation of wildlife scrapes. This will create areas of shallow open water and will also be providing suitable habitat for dragonflies and other aquatic insects.
INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE MOSS? The Trust has produced a book about the history of Loynton Moss. Visit the Trust's shop to purchase a copy.
There is a public bridle way running from Grubb Street to the aqueduct over the canal. There are however a number of permissive paths throughout the reserve including a circular path around the SSSI.
Directions
Go through Woodseaves on the A519 towards Newport. Within a mile you will cross the Shropshire Union Canal, which forms the eastern boundary of the reserve. Approximately 200 metres past the canal on the right is the entrance to the reserve into a small car park. Co ordinates same as cache page.
Parking
There is a good sized parking area at the edge of the reserve, with a shelter with information about the reserve. Co ordinates are the ones stated at the top of the page.
Hazards
The reserve being a haven for INSECTS is naturally a haven for biting and stinging insects so DEET is recommended if you venture into the wooded areas.
There is also deep mud and water so watch where you walk. The cache stages are all in safe places.
The Name
Why the name...? Well, on one of many recce visits to the Moss, as well as getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, a bee managed to fly inside Lynn's coat sleeve and sting her on the upper arm - a painful experience.
The Cache
The final cache co ordinates are hidden at one of the stages below, but which one...?
Extras !
Look out for the bonus cache details in the final ammo box!
The Ammo Box
The final cache contains plenty of Staffordshire wildlife trust leaflets and a map and more details of the moss itself, pleas take one as a souvenir of the cache and to read some more of the fascinating history and wildlife of the moss itself.
For more information on the trust Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.
Repeat of additional waypoints for paperless cachers, the final cache co ordinates are hidden at one of these stages, but which one...?
Loynton Moss Stung Into Action Stage 1 (Stages of a Multicache)
N 52° 48.910 W 002° 18.915
Loynton Moss Stung Into Action Stage 2 (Stages of a Multicache)
N 52° 49.096 W 002° 18.830
Loynton Moss Stung Into Action Stage 3 (Stages of a Multicache)
N 52° 49.120 W 002° 18.811
Loynton Moss Stung Into Action Stage 4 (Stages of a Multicache)
N 52° 49.219 W 002° 18.963
Loynton Moss Stung Into Action Stage 5 (Stages of a Multicache)
N 52° 49.170 W 002° 19.122
Loynton Moss Stung Into Action Stage 6 (Stages of a Multicache)
N 52° 49.134 W 002° 18.996
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Svefg bar - Onfr bs gerr arne gur fgrcf
Svany - Oruvaq naq haqrearngu n guerr gehaxrq gerr ng tebhaq yriry.