Tarn Moss National Nature Reserve

Tarn Moss National Nature Reserve

Tarn Moss National Nature Reserve is a basin mire supporting nutrient-poor fen. It developed in a shallow hollow in acidic glacial drift, and is fed by nutrient-poor ground water. The fen found here is a good example of this northern British vegetation type.

Sedges and bog mosses are well represented at the site. Other characteristic plant species include round-leaved sundew, heather, cross-leaved heath, marsh violet, marsh cinquefoil and lesser bladderwort. Where the ground water is richer in nutrients the site supports marsh marigold, ragged robin, bog bean and marsh lousewort.