CHAT MOSS
This site guide is taken from the previous county birding website and was written by Judith Smith, but requires a more detailed up-to-date version, so I would invite any local birder with good knowledge of the site to write or assist in the writing of such a guide.
To save the field numbers maps, open the map, click file (top left on your screen), then click 'save as' and save the document to where ever you choose on your computer, then just open the map from your computer and enlarge it to view the field numbers.
The name Chat Moss is a collective name for a number of constituent mosslands
stretching from Astley Green village, Boothstown and the East Lancs Road (A580)
in the north, to Irlam and Glazebrook in the south, and bounded by Botany Bay
Wood and Barton Aerodrome in the east, and the A574 in the west. It is also the
name of a moss itself, and the other mosses are: Astley Moss, Bedford Moss,
Little Woolden Moss, Great Woolden Moss, Cadishead Moss, Irlam Moss, Barton Moss
- see the sketch map for boundaries. It is a huge green lung for Manchester,
once wild and impassable peat bog, nowadays mostly arable crops or peat
workings. Although it is possible to cross it from north to south by car, it is
not recommended as the road is very rough. However on foot, one faces the threat
of farm dogs which, despite several complaints to Footpaths Officers in Wigan
and Salford, and the police, still continue to harass walkers on public
footpaths such as Astley Road - particular sites to pass with care are Moss Side
Farm, immediately south of the level crossing at Rindle, and Mosslands Farm on
Astley Road. Please do not hesitate to report incidents to the relevant
Footpaths Officers and/or police - land south of Olive Mount Farm is in Salford,
and land to the north is in Wigan. Please see the sketch map below for reporting
records, and use the field numbers given, so that uniformity is achieved on the
county database! Excellent for all farmland species such as Corn Bunting, Tree
Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Partridge, Buzzard, Tree Pipit (Astley Moss SSSI),
Yellowhammer, Lapwing, Willow Tit, etc. All 5 owls breed here (but are not
necessarily easy to see!) The moss is bisected by the M62 (no access) and the
Liverpool-Manchester railway line. The whole area is under threat as the owners
of the estate are continually trying to develop the farmland into more lucrative
income.