Editing Greater Manchester (section)

===Flora and fauna===
{{See also|List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater Manchester|North West Green Belt}}
[[File:Common cottongrass at Light Hazzles Reservoir.jpg|thumb|right|[[Eriophorum angustifolium|Common cottongrass]] (''Eriophorum angustifolium''), seen here at Light Hazzles Reservoir near [[Littleborough, Greater Manchester|Littleborough]], was voted the [[County flowers of the United Kingdom|county flower]] of Greater Manchester in 2002.]]
Contrary to its reputation for urban sprawl,<ref name=gmbp/>{{sfn|Hardy|1998|p=7}} Greater Manchester has [[Green belt (United Kingdom)|green belt]] constraining [[Urbanization|urban drift]], and a "wide and varied range" of wildlife and natural habitats.<ref name=gmbp/> For instance, the wooded valleys of Bolton, Bury and Stockport, the [[moorland]]s north and east of Rochdale, Oldham and Stalybridge, and the [[reed bed]]s between Wigan and Leigh, harbour flora and fauna of national importance.<ref name=gmbp>{{cite web |url=http://www.gmbp.org.uk/site/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=8&Itemid=26 |title=Greater Manchester Biodiversity |publisher=gmbp.org.uk |access-date=7 September 2012 |archive-date=18 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518043310/http://www.gmbp.org.uk/site/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=8&Itemid=26 |url-status=live}}</ref> Mature woodland, scrubland, grassland, high moorland, mossland, agricultural land, lakes, wetlands, river valleys, embankments, urban parks and suburban gardens are habitats found in Greater Manchester which further contribute to biodiversity.{{sfn|Hardy|1998|p=7}} The Greater Manchester Ecology Unit classifies [[Site of Biological Importance|Sites of Biological Importance]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wildaboutmanchester.info/www/index.php/sites-of-biological-importance |title=Sites of Biological Importance |publisher=wildaboutmanchester.info |author=[[Manchester City Council]] |access-date=7 September 2012 |archive-date=27 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627091704/http://www.wildaboutmanchester.info/www/index.php/sites-of-biological-importance |url-status=live}}</ref>

The 21 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Greater Manchester, and the {{cvt|12.1|sqmi|km2|abbr=out}} of [[common land]] in Greater Manchester<ref name=commons>{{cite web |url=http://archive.defra.gov.uk/rural/documents/protected/common-land/biosurvey-gmanchester.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031124636/http://archive.defra.gov.uk/rural/documents/protected/common-land/biosurvey-gmanchester.pdf |archive-date=31 October 2012 |title=The Commonlands of Greater Manchester: A Biological Survey |publisher=defra.gov.uk |author=Defra |authorlink=Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |editor=Aitchison, J.W. |year=2002 |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> are of particular interest to organisations such as the Greater Manchester Local Record Centre, the Greater Manchester Biodiversity Project and the Manchester Field Club, which are dedicated to [[wildlife conservation]] and the preservation of the region's [[natural history]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/ |title=Welcome to Greater Manchester LRC |publisher=gmwildlife.org.uk |access-date=7 September 2012 |author=Greater Manchester Local Record Centre |archive-date=23 December 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223230029/http://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gmbp.org.uk/site/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 |title=What is biodiversity? |publisher=gmbp.org.uk |access-date=7 September 2012 |author=Greater Manchester Biodiversity Project |archive-date=27 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627122703/http://www.gmbp.org.uk/site/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://webspace.mypostoffice.co.uk/~christine.walsh/ |title=Welcome to the Manchester Field Club |publisher=webspace.mypostoffice.co.uk |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625044452/http://webspace.mypostoffice.co.uk/~christine.walsh/ |archive-date=25 June 2013}}</ref> Among the SSSIs are [[Astley and Bedford Mosses]] which form a network of ancient [[peat bog]] on the fringe of [[Chat Moss]],<ref name=gmbp/> which in turn, at {{cvt|10.6|sqmi|km2|0}} comprises the largest area of prime farmland in Greater Manchester and contains the largest block of semi-natural woodland in the county.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.salford.gov.uk/living/planning/naturalenvironment/landscape/chatmoss.htm |title=Chat Moss |author=Salford City Council |publisher=salford.gov.uk |year=2007 |access-date=13 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928043525/http://www.salford.gov.uk/living/planning/naturalenvironment/landscape/chatmoss.htm |archive-date=28 September 2008}}<br />•{{cite web |url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/land-use/pdf/alcleaflet.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225145621/http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/land-use/pdf/alcleaflet.pdf |archive-date=25 February 2009 |title=Agricultural Land Classification |date=July 2003 |publisher=[[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]] |access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> The [[Wigan Flashes]], such as those at [[Pennington Flash Country Park]], are the by-product of coal mining, where subsidence has led to waterbodies collecting in the resulting hollows which form an important reed bed resource in Greater Manchester.<ref name=gmbp/> Opened in 1979, [[Sale Water Park]] is a {{cvt|152|acre|ha|0|adj=on}} area of countryside and parkland in Sale which includes a {{cvt|52|acre|ha|0|adj=on}} artificial lake by the [[River Mersey]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Appendix J River Mersey Case Study Report |publisher=The Countryside Agency |url=http://www.countryside.gov.uk/Images/Appendix%20J%20final_tcm2-19113.doc |format=[[DOC (computing)|DOC]] |access-date=27 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203329/http://www.countryside.gov.uk/Images/Appendix%20J%20final_tcm2-19113.doc |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref>

[[Clover]], [[sorrel]], [[Urtica dioica|nettle]] and [[thistle]] are common, and grow wild in Greater Manchester.{{sfn|Hardy|1998|p=7}} [[Calluna|Common heather]] (''Calluna vulgaris'') dominates the uplands, such as [[Saddleworth Moor]], which lies within the [[South Pennines]] and [[Dark Peak]] area of the [[Peak District|Peak District National Park]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/sac.asp?EUcode=UK0030280 |title=South Pennine Moors |publisher=Defra |access-date=21 July 2012 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912165224/http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0030280 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Rochdale Canal]] harbours [[floating water-plantain]] (''Luronium natams''), a nationally endangered aquatic plant.<ref name=gmbp/> In 2002, [[Plantlife|Plantlife International]] launched its [[county flowers of the United Kingdom|County Flowers campaign]], asking members of the public to nominate and vote for a wild flower emblem for their county. [[Eriophorum angustifolium|Common cottongrass]] (''Eriophorum angustifolium''), a plant with fluffy white plumes native to wet hollows on high moors, was announced as the county flower of Greater Manchester.<ref>{{cite web |title=So what bloom best suits you? |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/so-what-bloom-best-suits-you-1140849 |last=Lashley |first=Brian |access-date=7 September 2012 |date=20 March 2003 |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012950/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/so-what-bloom-best-suits-you-1140849 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/species/Cottongrass%272C+common/ |title=Species – Cottongrass, common |publisher=devonwildlifetrust.org |author=Devon Wildlife Trust |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626194134/http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/species/Cottongrass%272C%2Bcommon/ |archive-date=26 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.plantlife.org.uk/things_to_do/regions/north_west |publisher=plantlife.org.uk |title=North-west England |author=Plantlife International |authorlink=Plantlife |access-date=7 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501110914/http://www.plantlife.org.uk/things_to_do/regions/north_west/ |archive-date=1 May 2013}}</ref>

The [[house sparrow]], [[common starling|starling]], and [[common blackbird|blackbird]] are among the most populous bird species in Greater Manchester; [[Eurasian magpie|magpie]] and [[feral pigeon]] are common and breed in habitats across the county.{{sfn|Holland|Spence|Sutton|1984|pp=28–29}} Flocks of [[Feral parakeets in Great Britain|feral parakeets]] can be seen in many of south Manchester's parks,<ref name = EDLH>{{Cite web|last1=Davies|first1=Ella|last2=Hendry|first2=Lisa| date=2021-11-30|title=Wild parakeets in the UK: exotic delights or a potential problem?|url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/ring-necked-parakeets-in-london-and-uk.html|access-date=2023-08-01|website=[[Natural History Museum, London|nhm.ac.uk]]|language=en}}</ref> including Birchfields Park, [[Whitworth Park]] and [[Platt Fields Park]].<ref name = AW>{{Cite web|last=Watson|first=Alex|date=2020-04-14|title=The mysterious tale of the parrots of South Manchester|url=https://propermanchester.com/feature/the-mysterious-tale-of-the-parrots-of-south-manchester/|access-date=2023-08-01|website=propermanchester.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name = Walk>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/visit/thenewgallery/walkinthepark/|title=Walk in the Park|access-date=2023-08-01|website=[[The Whitworth]]}}</ref><ref name = MCooper>{{Cite web|last=Cooper|first=Matthew|date=2019-02-16|title=Why are there so many parakeets in south Manchester? These are the wild theories that might just be true|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/many-parakeets-south-manchester-wild-15642144|access-date=2023-08-01|website=[[Manchester Evening News]]|language=en}}</ref> The birds' relocation to the UK has made them the country's "only naturalised parrot and the most northerly breeding parrot in the world".<ref name = MCooper/> The South Pennines also support internationally important numbers of [[European golden plover|golden plover]], [[Eurasian curlew|curlew]], [[Merlin (bird)|merlin]] and [[twite]].<ref name=commons/> A number of [[Red Eared Terrapin]]s, a species of small turtle, are known to inhabit the lake in [[Alexandra Park, Manchester|Alexandra Park]].<ref name = BB>{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Ben|date=2021-03-02|title=Myths of Manchester: The Terrapins & Turtles of Alexandra Park|url=https://www.manchestersfinest.com/articles/myths-of-manchester-the-terrapins-turtles-of-alexandra-park/|access-date=2023-08-01|website=manchestersfinest.com|language=en}}</ref>