← Back✦ Historic site

Moat

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Dogs welcome

Getting here

52.87037, -2.71213

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

6 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, House Sparrow +69 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, House Sparrow +69 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, 22-spot Ladybird, Pine Ladybird +47 more · last seen 2025; Insects — 7-spot Ladybird, 22-spot Ladybird, Pine Ladybird +47 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Sycamore, Red Clover, Creeping Buttercup +29 more · last seen 2023; Plants — Sycamore, Red Clover, Creeping Buttercup +29 more · last seen 2023

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Foraging

Good match

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic; Plants — Hawthorn, Hogweed, Blackthorn +4 more foraging species

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

7 signed routes nearby · 1 public path nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Mosses Trail PurpleWalking route3.6 km

Named routeLength 3.6 kmLocal walking route

Shropshire Way - Wem to WhitchurchWalking route25 km

Named routeRef ShW12aLength 25 kmRegional walking route

Shropshire Way - stage 11Walking route18.6 km

Named routeRef ShW11Length 18.6 kmLocal walking route

Mosses Trail YellowWalking route2.8 km

Named routeLength 2.8 kmLocal walking route

Mosses Trail GreenWalking route2.4 km

Named routeLength 2.4 kmLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

15 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Mercian WayCycling route

Named routeRef 45National Cycle Network

National Byway (Shropshire)Cycling route

National Byway route in Shropshire

Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route

Route 455Cycling route

Named routeRef 455National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route883 m

Named routeRef 45Length 883 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route13.4 km

Named routeRef 45Length 13.4 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route1.2 km

Named routeRef 45Length 1.2 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

8,506 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

8,506 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds67 species

winterspringautumn

2025

Woodpigeon · Blue Tit · House Sparrow · Blackbird · Great Tit +62

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Great TitParus major
RobinErithacus rubecula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
DunnockPrunella modularis
MagpiePica pica
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
JackdawColoeus monedula
WhitethroatCurruca communis
SwallowHirundo rustica
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
BuzzardButeo buteo
SwiftApus apus
RookCorvus frugilegus
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Coal TitPeriparus ater
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
RedwingTurdus iliacus
LinnetLinaria cannabina
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
House MartinDelichon urbicum
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
Aegithalos caudatus rosaceusAegithalos caudatus rosaceus2024
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2024
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra2023
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2023
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Rock DoveColumba livia
CootFulica atra
JayGarrulus glandarius
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
NuthatchSitta europaea2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas2023
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2020
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Passer montanus montanusPasser montanus montanus
Garden WarblerSylvia borin
BramblingFringilla montifringilla
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2024
RavenCorvus corax2024
Mute SwanCygnus olor2024
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
CuckooCuculus canorus2023
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2023
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2023
Little OwlAthene noctua2022
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2022
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2020

🦌

Mammals2 species

springsummer

2023

Hedgehog · Grey Squirrel

HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2021

🦎

Reptiles1 species

spring

2024

Slow-worm

Slow-wormAnguis fragilis

🐸

Amphibians1 species

spring

2021

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects27 species

winterspring

2025

7-spot Ladybird · 22-spot Ladybird · Pine Ladybird · 16-spot Ladybird · Nephus quadrimaculatus +22

7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
22-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata2024
Pine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatus2024
16-spot LadybirdTytthaspis sedecimpunctata2024
Nephus quadrimaculatusNephus quadrimaculatus2024
Rhyzobius lituraRhyzobius litura2024
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata2024
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2024
Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.2024
24-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata2024
Larch LadybirdAphidecta obliterata2023
Cream-streaked LadybirdHarmonia quadripunctata2024
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2024
Coccidula rufaCoccidula rufa2024
Rhyzobius chrysomeloidesRhyzobius chrysomeloides2024
Rhyzobius lophanthaeRhyzobius lophanthae2024
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata2023
Stethorus pusillusStethorus pusillus2023
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2024
Scymnus haemorrhoidalisScymnus haemorrhoidalis2024
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2023
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2023
Acrossus rufipesAcrossus rufipes2021
Nimbus contaminatusNimbus contaminatus2021
Aphodius pedellusAphodius pedellus2021
Capsus aterCapsus ater2021
Common CockchaferMelolontha melolontha2021

🌿

Plants136 species

winter

2024

White Clover · Common Ragwort · Hazel · Cow Parsley · Cock's-foot +131

White CloverTrifolium repens
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
HazelCorylus avellana
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
YarrowAchillea millefolium
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Sticky Mouse-earCerastium glomeratum
AshFraxinus excelsior
Wild CarrotDaucus carota
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Curled DockRumex crispus
Field-roseRosa arvensis
BlackthornPrunus spinosa
Field MapleAcer campestre
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens
Green AlkanetPentaglottis sempervirens
HollyIlex aquifolium
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
daffodilsNarcissus
BrambleRubus fruticosus
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
HonestyLunaria annua
Rubus tuberculatusRubus tuberculatus
DaisyBellis perennis
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartiana
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
FeverfewTanacetum parthenium
Common WhitlowgrassErophila verna
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
SnowdropGalanthus nivalis
Red FescueFestuca rubra
YewTaxus baccata
Wood DockRumex sanguineus
Oregon-grapeMahonia aquifolium
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
DandelionTaraxacum
Rubus ulmifoliusRubus ulmifolius
Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum
Creeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptans
NipplewortLapsana communis
Wild PrivetLigustrum vulgare
IvyHedera helix
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria
Cut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectum
Ivy-leaved SpeedwellVeronica hederifolia
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Italian Lords-and-LadiesArum italicum
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta
Lesser TrefoilTrifolium dubium
CleaversGalium aparine
ColumbineAquilegia vulgaris
Smooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceus
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
FennelFoeniculum vulgare
Downy BirchBetula pubescens
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2021
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2021
Lesser BurdockArctium minus2021
Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare2021
Salad BurnetPoterium sanguisorba2021
Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra2021
Prickly LettuceLactuca serriola
Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica
Black HorehoundBallota nigra
Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensis
Bulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosus
White StonecropSedum album
Greater CelandineChelidonium majus
Hedge MustardSisymbrium officinale
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
Greater PlantainPlantago major
Cherry PlumPrunus cerasifera
MugwortArtemisia vulgaris
Argentinian VervainVerbena bonariensis
Greater PeriwinkleVinca major
Rusty WillowSalix cinerea subsp. oleifolia
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Thale CressArabidopsis thaliana
Dog-roseRosa canina
Greater StitchwortStellaria holostea
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
Black MedickMedicago lupulina
Common CouchElymus repens
Petty SpurgeEuphorbia peplus
Giant BlackberryRubus armeniacus
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Fool's Water-CressHelosciadium nodiflorum
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Purple-loosestrifeLythrum salicaria
Turkey OakQuercus cerris
BeechFagus sylvatica
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
White Dead-nettleLamium album
BittersweetSolanum dulcamara
Sun SpurgeEuphorbia helioscopia
Red ValerianCentranthus ruber
ElderSambucus nigra
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus
Purple ToadflaxLinaria purpurea
Wall SpeedwellVeronica arvensis
Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
Tall FescueSchedonorus arundinaceus
Early CrocusCrocus tommasinianus
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas
Hairy TareErvilia hirsuta
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii
Shining Crane's-billGeranium lucidum
Small-flowered Crane's-billGeranium pusillum
AlderAlnus glutinosa
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria
HollyhockAlcea rosea
Green Field-speedwellVeronica agrestis
False-bromeBrachypodium sylvaticum
Barren StrawberryPotentilla sterilis

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

8,506 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds67 species

winterspringautumn

2025

Woodpigeon · Blue Tit · House Sparrow · Blackbird · Great Tit +62

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
House SparrowPasser domesticus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
Great TitParus major
RobinErithacus rubecula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
DunnockPrunella modularis
MagpiePica pica
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
JackdawColoeus monedula
WhitethroatCurruca communis
SwallowHirundo rustica
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
BuzzardButeo buteo
SwiftApus apus
RookCorvus frugilegus
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Coal TitPeriparus ater
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
RedwingTurdus iliacus
LinnetLinaria cannabina
SkylarkAlauda arvensis
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
ShelduckTadorna tadorna
House MartinDelichon urbicum
GreenfinchChloris chloris
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Greylag GooseAnser anser2024
Aegithalos caudatus rosaceusAegithalos caudatus rosaceus2024
SiskinSpinus spinus2024
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2024
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra2023
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2023
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Rock DoveColumba livia
CootFulica atra
JayGarrulus glandarius
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
NuthatchSitta europaea2024
Stock DoveColumba oenas2023
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2020
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Passer montanus montanusPasser montanus montanus
Garden WarblerSylvia borin
BramblingFringilla montifringilla
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2024
RavenCorvus corax2024
Mute SwanCygnus olor2024
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
CuckooCuculus canorus2023
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus2023
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2023
Little OwlAthene noctua2022
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2022
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2020

🦌

Mammals2 species

springsummer

2023

Hedgehog · Grey Squirrel

HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2021

🦎

Reptiles1 species

spring

2024

Slow-worm

Slow-wormAnguis fragilis

🐸

Amphibians1 species

spring

2021

Common Toad

Common ToadBufo bufo

🐝

Insects27 species

winterspring

2025

7-spot Ladybird · 22-spot Ladybird · Pine Ladybird · 16-spot Ladybird · Nephus quadrimaculatus +22

7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
22-spot LadybirdPsyllobora vigintiduopunctata2024
Pine LadybirdExochomus quadripustulatus2024
16-spot LadybirdTytthaspis sedecimpunctata2024
Nephus quadrimaculatusNephus quadrimaculatus2024
Rhyzobius lituraRhyzobius litura2024
10-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata2024
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2024
Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.2024
24-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata2024
Larch LadybirdAphidecta obliterata2023
Cream-streaked LadybirdHarmonia quadripunctata2024
Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis2024
Coccidula rufaCoccidula rufa2024
Rhyzobius chrysomeloidesRhyzobius chrysomeloides2024
Rhyzobius lophanthaeRhyzobius lophanthae2024
2-spot LadybirdAdalia bipunctata2023
Stethorus pusillusStethorus pusillus2023
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2024
Scymnus haemorrhoidalisScymnus haemorrhoidalis2024
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2023
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima2023
Acrossus rufipesAcrossus rufipes2021
Nimbus contaminatusNimbus contaminatus2021
Aphodius pedellusAphodius pedellus2021
Capsus aterCapsus ater2021
Common CockchaferMelolontha melolontha2021

🌿

Plants136 species

winter

2024

White Clover · Common Ragwort · Hazel · Cow Parsley · Cock's-foot +131

White CloverTrifolium repens
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
HazelCorylus avellana
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
YarrowAchillea millefolium
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
Sticky Mouse-earCerastium glomeratum
AshFraxinus excelsior
Wild CarrotDaucus carota
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Curled DockRumex crispus
Field-roseRosa arvensis
BlackthornPrunus spinosa
Field MapleAcer campestre
False Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatius
Hart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendrium
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens
Green AlkanetPentaglottis sempervirens
HollyIlex aquifolium
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
daffodilsNarcissus
BrambleRubus fruticosus
SelfhealPrunella vulgaris
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
HonestyLunaria annua
Rubus tuberculatusRubus tuberculatus
DaisyBellis perennis
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartiana
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
FeverfewTanacetum parthenium
Common WhitlowgrassErophila verna
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
SnowdropGalanthus nivalis
Red FescueFestuca rubra
YewTaxus baccata
Wood DockRumex sanguineus
Oregon-grapeMahonia aquifolium
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
DandelionTaraxacum
Rubus ulmifoliusRubus ulmifolius
Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum
Creeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptans
NipplewortLapsana communis
Wild PrivetLigustrum vulgare
IvyHedera helix
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria
Cut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectum
Ivy-leaved SpeedwellVeronica hederifolia
GroundselSenecio vulgaris
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Italian Lords-and-LadiesArum italicum
Hairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsuta
Lesser TrefoilTrifolium dubium
CleaversGalium aparine
ColumbineAquilegia vulgaris
Smooth Sow-thistleSonchus oleraceus
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
FennelFoeniculum vulgare
Downy BirchBetula pubescens
Meadow ButtercupRanunculus acris
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus2021
Red CloverTrifolium pratense2021
Lesser BurdockArctium minus2021
Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare2021
Salad BurnetPoterium sanguisorba2021
Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra2021
Prickly LettuceLactuca serriola
Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica
Black HorehoundBallota nigra
Meadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensis
Bulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosus
White StonecropSedum album
Greater CelandineChelidonium majus
Hedge MustardSisymbrium officinale
Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea
Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
Greater PlantainPlantago major
Cherry PlumPrunus cerasifera
MugwortArtemisia vulgaris
Argentinian VervainVerbena bonariensis
Greater PeriwinkleVinca major
Rusty WillowSalix cinerea subsp. oleifolia
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
Thale CressArabidopsis thaliana
Dog-roseRosa canina
Greater StitchwortStellaria holostea
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
Black MedickMedicago lupulina
Common CouchElymus repens
Petty SpurgeEuphorbia peplus
Giant BlackberryRubus armeniacus
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Fool's Water-CressHelosciadium nodiflorum
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Purple-loosestrifeLythrum salicaria
Turkey OakQuercus cerris
BeechFagus sylvatica
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
White Dead-nettleLamium album
BittersweetSolanum dulcamara
Sun SpurgeEuphorbia helioscopia
Red ValerianCentranthus ruber
ElderSambucus nigra
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus
Purple ToadflaxLinaria purpurea
Wall SpeedwellVeronica arvensis
Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
Tall FescueSchedonorus arundinaceus
Early CrocusCrocus tommasinianus
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
Wall-rueAsplenium ruta-muraria
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas
Hairy TareErvilia hirsuta
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii
Shining Crane's-billGeranium lucidum
Small-flowered Crane's-billGeranium pusillum
AlderAlnus glutinosa
MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmaria
HollyhockAlcea rosea
Green Field-speedwellVeronica agrestis
False-bromeBrachypodium sylvaticum
Barren StrawberryPotentilla sterilis

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Wikipedia · Moat · CC BY-SA 3.0

Moat

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Wem Millennium GreenUrban park1.7 km→🌱Wem Recreation GroundUrban park1.5 km→✦Wem Castle MotteHistoric site2 km→✦Wem Castle: a motte castle immediately south west of St Peter and St Paul's ChurchHistoric site2 km→🌱Wheatfields Play AreaUrban park1 km→⛪St Peter and St Paul's ChurchReligious grounds2 km→

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