Wetley Moor Common
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| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 | |
  Location within Staffordshire | |
| Location | Staffordshire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°01′55″N 2°06′50″W / 53.032°N 2.114°W |
| Interest | Heathland and Moorland |
Wetley Moor Common is a Staffordshire Wildlife Trust reserve consisting of ancient common land.[1] It has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its unimproved lowland heath habitat,[2] which represents approximately 10% of the heathland in Staffordshire.[3] Wetley Moor Common is 118 hectares or 292 acres in size.[2]
Wetley Moor Common is located within Staffordshire, England. It shares a boundary with the Northwest edge of the village of Werrington[4] and is positioned between Werrington and Bagnall.[5] The main access point to the Wetley Moor Common is a carpark entrance on Armshead Road, Werrington (ST9 0EL).[2]
Management
Wetley Moor Common is jointly owned by the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council,[2] however it is managed by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.[2] Due to Wetley Moor Commons SSSI status the habitat is monitored and managed. Management of the site includes mechanical scrub control and turf stripping.[6] Gorse plants are also coppiced and heather seeds are scattered to bolster the heather population.[6] Specially trained cattle are also utilized to help graze the habitat.[6]
The site is monitored for its effectiveness as a carbon sink. Although in 2023 the habitat was found to be in a degraded state, it was recorded to store nearly 9000 tonnes of carbon which is believed will only improve with effective habitat restoration.[7]