Meeting of the ways

Image: © Jonathan Kington Taken: 22 Feb 2011

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.

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