Marsden Moor will celebrate its 70th anniversary with the National Trust in 2025, and to mark the occasion, the charity is bringing the moor into the village with a new, accessible education space.
In a corner of Marsden’s former railway goods yard, beside the station in West Yorkshire, the National Trust’s Estate Offices have long been a hub for conservation information and a popular second-hand bookshop. From autumn 2025, they will also house Moor in Marsden: an outdoor classroom and expanded moorland plant nursery designed to help more people learn about, experience and care for this special landscape.
The centre will feature raised beds recreating different moorland habitats and a covered classroom for school groups and community drop-ins. For visitors with limited mobility, it will offer the chance to discover the plants, wildlife and conservation techniques used on the moor without needing to hike onto steep and sometimes challenging terrain.
Ian Dowson, area ranger for Marsden Moor, said:
“With the Moor in Marsden project, we want to make learning about the moor more accessible to everyone. We want anyone to be able to find out about our vital conservation work and to play their part.”
The project has been made possible with £25,000 in funding from Starling Bank and a donation from Charles Tyrwhitt, supporting both the new education centre and the restoration of 12 hectares of moorland at Holly Bank Moss, which was severely damaged by fire in 2023. This important area of peatland is being restored to active blanket bog, which captures carbon and supports unique wildlife.
Volunteers and rangers are using locally grown sphagnum moss to restore the bog. Thanks to the generosity of the local National Trust Support Group, a new polytunnel has been installed, helping the team grow 90% of the moss needed on site. The aim is to expand production to 15,000 plug plants each year, making moorland restoration more self-sufficient and cost-effective.
Dowson added:
“The sphagnum nursery project provides excellent cost effectiveness and increases our resilience and ability to intervene rapidly to restore the moor, especially after wildfire. By growing these plants onsite, we can work more quickly too.”
Construction work for the new centre will begin this summer. As a result, the popular Friday horticultural plant sales, which have raised vital funds for moorland conservation for 25 years, will come to an end.
Emily Ghassempour, Senior Volunteering and Community Officer for West Yorkshire, said:
“The volunteers who have run our plant and woodwork sales have shown dedication to moorland restoration and have helped us accomplish so much. We’re so grateful for everything they have done and we’re looking forward to continuing to work alongside our volunteers to make this new project a success.”
Find out more about Marsden Moor and plan your visit at www.nationaltrust.org.uk
