New Decoy Farm Map

New Decoy Farm buildings

These are the remaining buildings of New Decoy Farm. It is just south of the site of the 'Holme Decoy', a star-shaped pond surrounded by trees, that was used to lure and kill ducks and wildfowl. The decoy pond is shown on a 1824 map, but is very vague on the 1890 map.
It is here that the Great Fen Visitor Centre will be built in the years to come. Most recent details about the design of the building are here.

The well of Halfway Farm

There is an old well near the picnic area. This was the water supply for Halfway Farm, the bungalow of which once stood here.

Old walnut tree

Situated in the picnic area is an old walnut tree. It has fleshy green leaves that have a fragrant smell. Look out for the unusual flowers in spring, swelling green fruits in summer and, in autumn if you are lucky, you might be able to collect a few walnuts!

Robinson's Ponds

Near the picnic area there is a view point looking over ponds where dragonflies will be common in summer. The ponds are named after the family who lived here and farmed the land for generations.

Information Point

There are information panels next to the bog oak car park. Here you can find details of the Dragonfly Trail and this site, as well as maps and information about the Great Fen project.

Ballard Hide

If you follow the marked trail around this site, in the woodland you will reach an unusual bird hide constructed from straw bales -- a good place to sit and see wildlife as the restoration of this site continues.
Have a look at a video showing how this bird hide was constructed.

Parking

There is a car park surrounded by a display of large pieces of bog oak that were found during construction work.

Disabled Parking

Disabled parking spaces are available in the bog-oak car park.

Picnic area

Near the car park is an attractive picnic area, with ponds situated in front of it, so you can watch the wildlife as you enjoy the view. The area has two accessible picnic tables.

There are also picnic benches in the wooded areas.

Dragonfly Trail

Starting from the bog-oak car park follow this waymarked walk past the picnic area and the ponds. Continue around the site, into a plantation of young trees and to Ballard Hide. The trail passes through an area of mature woodland with large Alder trees and continues round the eastern boundary and back to the car park. The trail is about 3 km long and might take 90 minutes to 2 hours. There are benches in the woodland where you can stop and rest and interpretation at various points along the way.

Disused railway

At the three places shown, the Dragonfly Trail crosses a disused railway line that was built in 1863. For over 100 years this branch line carried passengers and agricultural products from Ramsey to the main north-south line at Holme. It was built by an engineer named Ballard, after whom the new bird hide has been named.