View from the mound on Norton Bog on Boxing Day. It’s a fascinating place.

Regular readers will know that I’ve not quite been at my glistening best recently, and I’ve spent, as a consequence, a long time studying the domestic plumbing arrangements. Now’s the opportunity for readers to get more familiar with their local bog – but you can all breathe out as it’s Norton Bog I’m talking about.

The Friends of Norton Bog – the area of wetland lying northeast of Chasewater – are taking a special interest in their particular protected habitat, and are arranging working parties for 2012, the first one taking place this Sunday, 8th January at 10:30am.

If you’ve maybe got older kids who need to lose a bit of excess energy, or you fancy working off a bit of Christmas flab, this could be the thing for you. This is a hugely important habitat in our area, and the chance to help manage it for future generations, and maybe learn a bit about it’s incredibly diverse inhabitants from some old hands can’t be a bad way to spend what promises to be a decent Sunday, weather-wise. Meet at the car park on the Burntwood Road. Wear outdoor clothes and be prepared to get a bit grubby.

Chasewater Wildlife Group posted the following on their news page:

The dates for 2012 work parties on Norton Bog are as follows:

January 8th, February 12th, March 11th, April 15th, May 13th and June 17th.

All are on Sundays and run from 10:00 -13:00, meeting at the car park on the Burntwood Road (which is the little one with the horses)

Further dates will follow if there is enough interest!

Rob Davies of Staffs County Ranger Service – contact number 07855 336 907

Norton Bog is a remarkable wetland habitat bordered with urban development. The importance of such sites cannot be overstated. The Burnwood Road car park is highlighted in red.