Protest outside Macclesfield Town Hall. Simon Brown. 2024.
Protecting one of the rarest habitats on the planet.
The Campaign
Save Danes Moss started as a community group in Macclesfield in December 2021 when founding members were concerned by developments that were destroying local peatlands. They discovered planning applications for a large development on Danes Moss, one of the biggest peatlands in Cheshire. They were outraged that Cheshire East Council was one of the lead developers, alongside a company registered in Jersey. Their aim was to stop the project to develop on Danes Moss and secure the future of this peatland.
From the beginning, the Save Danes Moss team decided that telling the truth and challenging misinformation was necessary. The main elements of their early campaign included posting on social media, leafletting almost every address in Macclesfield, organising protests, starting an online petition, launching a fundraiser (including a legal challenge fund), and holding a monthly stall at Macclesfield’s Treacle Market.
Chris Packham with Save Danes Moss at their stall at Hen Harrier Fest.’ Simon Brown. 2024.
We are honoured to be shortlisted for this award. Our mission since 2021 has been to protect one of nature’s most precious gifts to our species: a peatland called Danes Moss. Nature has a voice but too many of our leaders and decision-makers have either never heard it, or have closed their minds to it. As long as Danes Moss and other peatlands are threatened with harm then we will be nature’s fiercest advocates. Peatlands are the biggest store of carbon on our planet’s land. The wildlife that lives on them is astonishing and diverse. No peatland should be built on or harmed. They are part of our common home and each and every peatland needs to be protected. We have chosen to begin with our nearest and to Save Danes Moss.”
Thomas Eccles
Chair, Save Danes Moss
The Change
The Save Danes Moss campaign was mentioned in a Council decision in 2025 to cancel the original plans for a major development on Danes Moss.
“It needs to be said that Danes Moss has not been ‘saved,’” said Thomas. “Development on a smaller scale on Danes Moss has not been ruled out by the Council, who continue to explore this as an option.”
The team produced an alternative vision for the future of Danes Moss: a plan for habitat conservation and wetland restoration without urban development but improving public access to the site.
Since November 2022, they have delivered environmental education on Danes Moss. In total, over 600 local school children have been shown Danes Moss and over 1,000 have had lessons delivered by us in school. Adults have also enjoyed their regular events on Danes Moss including dawn chorus walks, moth surveying, and general tours.
The Future
The campaign continues. Save Danes Moss maintains their legal fund for use in the event that development on Danes Moss is ever approved. At the moment, they are engaging with the Council’s options appraisal on the future of the Danes Moss North site. They are advocating for a “nature recovery option”, that would maintain and enhance public access whilst restoring and protecting the habitats and hydrology of the site.
Who else was involved?
Save Danes Moss volunteers; Save Danes Moss board members Thomas Eccles, Clair Dempsey, Megan Clark, Gordon Richardson, Samantha Hatton, Isobel Hatton, Diana Moss, Anthony Hothersall, Andrew Emmerson, Simon Browne, and Abercrombie; Cheshire Wildlife Trust; Friends of Lindow Moss; Protect Lindow; Friends of Carrington Moss; Chris Packham; Mark Cocker; Roger Morgan-Grenville; Lucy Lapwing; and Amy-Jane Beer.
