Crompton Moor rises above the town of Shaw, and is a unique and popular recreation site in Oldham.
The site is great for wildlife. Birdwatchers can see kestrel, grey partridge, green woodpecker, willow warbler, curlew, skylark and meadow pipit. There are also foxes, weasels, common shrews, stoats and hares.
There are various habitats on the moor which support this rich wildlife. There is grassland, woodland, dry heath, wet bog and heather, and an impressive waterfall which flows into Pingot Quarry.
Crompton Moor has also been designated a Site of Biological Importance (SBI) by the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit.
The car park is at Brushes Clough Quarry off Buckstones Road.
Activities
Walking
There are many paths that cross Crompton Moor.
Some paths are desire lines (a path developed as people walk), and there are several public footpaths.
The Oldham Way and Crompton Circuit local trails also cross the site.
Construction of five leaky dams on Crompton Moor
Orienteering
There are several orienteering courses on Crompton Moor.
Maps can be purchased at countryside centres.
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Greater Manchester Orienteering Activities website - Find out about orienteering at Crompton Moor
Managing Crompton Moor
Woodland management
Tree thinning allows remaining trees to grow in size, strength and health. It encourages different tree species, and enhances the habitat for a variety of flora and fauna. Tree management work is supported by the Forestry Commission.
The tree thinning work on site is ongoing, and has been phased over several years to ensure there is always some 'undisturbed' woodland for wildlife.
Heathland management
The heather on the moor has been flailed (cut) several times in the last decade or so. Flailing usually takes place in Autumn every three years, outside bird nesting season. Areas of the heath have been cut with the aim of encouraging the heather to regenerate over a wider area, producing a patchwork of heather of different ages. This work is ongoing and benefits ground nesting birds that favour a mosaic of heather habitat to nest.