Historical Ecology of Chat Moss Peatland, 36 Square Kilometers in Northwest England

Chat Moss is a peatland on the edge of Greater Manchester in northwest England. This investigation uses written accounts, historical maps, and biological recordings to examine the original extent, landscape, and species of the Chat Moss ecosystem and define the mechanisms and timeframe of anthropogenic impacts. The dataset was created by Andrew Osborne and last updated on 2026-05-28.

Use Cases

• Establishing historical baselines for peatland restoration based on evidence of original extent and species.
• Analyzing the timeline and drivers of habitat degradation based on documented land use change and pollution.
• Informing species reintroduction programs based on historical biological recordings of flora and fauna.
• Studying the impact of industrial sulfur pollution on lowland peatland ecosystems based on described acid rain effects.

Strengths

• Defines a specific maximum historical extent of 36 square kilometers for the Chat Moss ecosystem.
• Focuses on a well-defined geographic area (Chat Moss, Greater Manchester, northwest England) and a clear anthropogenic timeframe (past 200-300 years, most rapid change 1779-1898).
• Integrates multiple historical data sources including written accounts, maps, and biological recordings.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The dataset is small (2.6 MB), suggesting limited raw data volume.

Provenance

Source

Andrew Osborne via figshare.

Collection Method

Investigation conducted using written accounts, historical maps, biological recordings, and modern studies.

Time Range

Covers historical changes over the past 200-300 years, with specific rapid change period noted between 1779 and 1898.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-28 18:11:33; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Chat Moss peatland, Greater Manchester conurbation, northwest England, United Kingdom.