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Read the latest on the Great Fen project
The Autumn/Winter 2010 newsletter has just been published. Read it online here.
Come and find out about the future of the Great Fen
Members of the public are being invited to find out more about plans for the future of the Great Fen when the final Great Fen masterplan is published in early September.
Last year, more than 500 local people, businesses, farmers and others took part in a public consultation on the draft masterplan including routes for new footpaths, cycleways and bridleways.
The Great Fen partnership is organising a public display of the final masterplan at the Countryside Classroom, Chapel Road, Ramsey Heights where staff will be on hand to answer any questions. The display will be open to the public at the following times:
- Monday 6 September to Friday 10 September, 9am until 4pm (until 8pm on Thursday 9 September);
- Sunday 12 September, 11am-4pm during Fen Heritage Day (many other activities will also be taking place on this day, including themed guided walks, traditional craft demonstrations, a textile workshop and children’s games and activities)
The Great Fen masterplan will also be available from the 3rd September on the Great Fen website
Discover the Great Fen
A new programme of walks has been launched leading visitors around the Great Fen project area.
Starting on Wednesday 16 June with Fen Damsels and Dragons, the midweek and weekend walks will be led by local experts covering everything from the wildlife to the history of the site.
Find out more about the walks and how to book your place by visiting our events page, call the Great Fen project team on 01487 710420 or download our leaflet.
New International Links with the Great Fen project
A group of distinguished academics from prestigious universities in Japan, Germany and the UK have visited the Great Fen.
The academics from the University of Tokyo and the University of Hokkaido were visiting the UK under the support of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation which exists to form closer links between the UK and Japan in all fields of activity, including nature conservation and climate change.
They were led by Dr Richard Lindsay Head of the Environmental Research Group of the University of East London, and Dr Stefan Hotes of the Department of Animal Ecology, Justus-Liebig University in Germany, a peat land ecologist and fluent Japanese speaker.
The group spent three days in the project area and enjoyed visits to Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen, where they met Great Fen project staff and project partners, learned about the project, and discussed some of the issues and challenges involved in restoring 3,700ha of wetland.
The delegates were Professor Izumi Washitani, Professor of Conservation Ecology, University of Tokyo; Dr Jun Nishihiro Researcher In Charge at the Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, University of Tokyo; Dr Takashi Inoue from the Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University; Dr Hiroko Fujita of the Botanic Garden, Field Centre for the Northern hemisphere, Hokkaido University; and Mr Misao Okada who has an interest in wetland ecology. All are involved in wetland conservation both in Japan and elsewhere in south East Asia.
Dr Lindsay said “the group were really excited about all they had seen and are now thinking very hard about mutually useful research projects”.
The visit demonstrates the international standing and significance of the Great Fen project which continues to attract academics and practitioners in many fields from across the world.
Local Memories Day Success
The Local Memories Day held at the Great Fen proved to be a great success with over 150 people attending.
The Countryside Classroom at Ramsey Heights was transformed in to a living museum with artefacts, including old farming tools and kitchen equipment,that prompted memories of days gone by.
Local children providing the entertainment by performing traditional Molly Dancing.
Louise Rackham Great Fen Education and Community Manager says “This was a fantastic opportunity to involve the community with many local people enjoying the time chatting and remembering earlier days. So much was learnt from their experiences of life right here in the Great Fen”.
Despite having a dedicated memories day the team are still looking for stories and memories. Recordings of memories will be taking place for future generations.
Click here to get in touch with the Great Fen team.
Archive News Stories:
- Great Fen Vision: what's new?
- Great Fen vision: tell us what you think
- Step back in time with the Great Fen Project
- Great Fen concerts a triumph!
(including podcast with Stephen Fry)
Share your memories of the fens
Tell us your memories of the fens past and present in the Great Fen project Local Memories Day.
The event on Saturday 27 February is an opportunity to take a trip down memory lane and those attending are encouraged to bring photos, objects and their stories.
We will have traditional Molly Dancing with children and we are encouraging people to record their memories with our team and through events on the day. And finally there will be homemade cakes on sale too!
It will take place at Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom from 2- 4.30pm.
Two of Cambridgeshire’s leading landscape restoration projects, the Great Fen project and the National Trust’s Wicken Fen Vision are joining together to celebrate International World Wetlands Day on Tuesday 2 February.
International World Wetlands Day marks the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, known as the Ramsar Convention in 1971. The convention is an intergovernmental treaty that provides a framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetland resources. Wicken Fen and Woodwalton Fen- in the Great Fen Project area - are both included on the list of 1874 wetland sites worldwide designated as of ‘International Importance’.
To celebrate World Wetlands Day the public are being offered free admission to Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, near Ely, Cambridgeshire. Besides free admission, there will be a full programme of guided walks, cycle rides, talks and exhibitions and displays on the two projects.
The wetland habitats Woodwalton and Wicken Fen are a small but unique remnant of the Great Fen Basin which once covered the lowlands of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk, an area of approximately 3,850 sq.km. Since the 17th Century the vast majority of this land area has been drained for intensive agriculture, with the result that less than 1.0% of the original wetland habitat survives today.
In recent years the Great Fen partnership (the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough, the Environment Agency, Huntingdonshire District Council, the Middle Level Commissioners and Natural England) and the National Trust and have launched ambitious and far sighted landscape restoration projects.They will cover a combined area of 8300 hectares to protect and conserve endangered species of wildlife whilst at the same time creating a vast area of countryside for public access and recreation. Rare species such as the bittern, hen harrier, otter, water vole, dragonflies and plants such as the fen violet will have an improved chance of survival thanks to these wetland restoration projects.
Dr Francine Hughes of Anglia Ruskin University is leading a major research project into species spread as a result of the restoration of wetland habitats at both projects. According to Dr Hughes in only a relatively short time period there is clear evidence of the benefits for biodiversity:
“Common cranes and avocetsare among the exciting new speciesusing theexpanded wetlandareas. Specialist species from the National Nature Reserves will take longer tocolonise but meadowrue, a plant of wet grasslandsand nationally scarce water beetle species have already jumped the gap."
The re-creation of inland wetlands will also help mitigate for the loss of coastal freshwater habitat due to rising sea levels as a result of global warming.
The Great Fen Project will create 3,700 hectares of new wetland habitat between Huntingdon and Peterborough. This will be achieved, by land purchase or partnership working with landowners, of land adjacent to the two existing National Nature Reserves: Holme Fen and Woodwalton Fen. Connecting these two vitally important nature reserves will provide a haven for wildlife and create a massive green space for people, opening new opportunities for tourism, recreation, education and business.
The Wicken Fen Vision is a 100 year project by the National Trust to create a landscape scale nature reserve and ‘green lung’ for Cambridge stretching from the existing Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve to the outskirts of Cambridge, covering an area of 5300 hectares. The development of a Spine Route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders linking Wicken to Anglesey Abbey / Bottisham with onward connections to Ely and Cambridge will open up a vast network of paths and trails throughout the Vision lands.
The programme of activities for the World Wetlands Day are
Exhibition (Wren Building) - Wicken Fen Vision, Great Fen Project, Cambridge and Peterborough Biodiversity Partnership and Middle Level Commissioners
1000 - 1200 Bird Ringing Demonstration
1030 - 1130 Cycle tour to Burwell Fen
1100 - 1230 Guided Walk - Adventurer’s & Bakers Fen
1100 - 1145 Talk - Introduction to Wicken Fen Vision
1145 - 1230 Talk - Introduction to Great Fen Project
1330 -1430 Talk - Wicken Fen Vision & Great Fen Project: Landscape Restoration Monitoring Project
1430 - 1600 Guided Walk - Ecology of Sedge Fen
1600 - 1630 Hen Harriers at Dusk
For more information about the Wicken Fen project visit www.wicken.org.uk
The Great Fen vision: what's new?
This autumn local people are giving the Great Fen team their ideas and feedback about the Great Fen vision, to help make sure that the Great Fen has many benefits for local communities.
There are now two new drop-in events happening in the local area, as well as a new five minutes online survey on the Great Fen website www.greatfen.org.uk, making it even simpler for people to have their say
The Great Fen team have the following events where people can drop in (and get chocolates!):
- Huntingdon Farmers' Market - Friday 2 Oct 10am-2pm
- Peterborough Central Library - Sat 3 Oct 10:30am-1pm
- Ramsey Community Information Centre - Monday 5 Oct 1pm-7pm
- (New date) Holme School, Holme village - Monday 12 Oct 3.30pm-6.30pm
- Sawtry Library - Thursday 8 Oct 4pm-7pm
The Great Fen Project plans for the future include:
- proposed new footpaths and cycleways
- visitor centre and facilities
- activity areas
- how the Great Fen will help protect local homes and businesses from flooding
- how it will encourage tourism and business in the local area
The public consultation will run until Friday 16th October.
As well as these events, information and questionnaires are also available in a selection of local libraries, Community and Customer Information Services, and at Hinchingbrooke Country Park and Paxton Pits Nature Reserve
Emma Pollard, Great Fen Community Involvement Officer, said: "This is a great opportunity for people get involved and find out more about the Great Fen Project. But, more importantly, it's an opportunity for people to tell us what they think about the Project, tell us what they'd like to see and do there and help us make it into a place for everyone to enjoy."
This phase of public consultation will build on existing work the Great Fen Project team have conducted with access, tourism, business and activity specialists, wildlife experts, local residents and councillors.
To find out more information visit www.greatfen.org.uk, call 07850 919060 or email info@greatfen.org.uk.
The Great Fen vision: tell us what you think
Starting this week the Great Fen Project team will be asking the public to comment on its vision for the future. The Great Fen Project draft illustrative Masterplan will provide a visual and written guide for the Great Fen Project vision, showing how the project will evolve over the coming years.
The Masterplan will include information on proposed new footpaths, cycleways, bridleways, waterways, bus stops and routes within and to the Project area; visitor facilities and gateways; activities that are and will be on offer; potential viewpoints and points of interest; how the Great Fen will help protect local homes and businesses from flooding; and how it will encourage tourism and business in the local area.
The public consultation will run from Saturday 5 September to Friday 16th October. There will be a series of events across the local area for people to take part:
- Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom, PE26 2RS - Sunday 13 Sep 11am-4pm
- Serpentine Green shopping centre, Hampton - Saturday 26 Sep 10am-noon
- Woodwalton village (opposite the Elephant & Castle pub) - Saturday 26 Sep 2-4pm
- Huntingdon Farmers’ Market - Friday 2 Oct 10am-2pm
- Peterborough Central Library - Sat 3 Oct 10:30am-1pm
- Ramsey Community Information Centre - Monday 5 Oct 1pm-7pm
- Sawtry Library - Thursday 8 Oct 4pm-7pm
Information and questionnaires are also available in:
- . Local libraries
(Ramsey, Sawtry, Yaxley, Huntingdon Central, Warboys, Whittlesey, Peterborough Central, Stanground, Hampton, Woodston, Orton) - . Local Community and Customer Information Services
(Ramsey, Yaxley and Huntingdon); and - . Hinchingbrooke Country Park and Paxton Pits Nature Reserve
They are also available on the Great Fen website - www.greatfen.org.uk.
Emma Pollard, Great Fen Community Involvement Officer, said: “This is a great opportunity for people get involved and find out more about the Great Fen Project. But, more importantly, it’s an opportunity for people to tell us what they think about the Project, tell us what they’d like to see and do there and help us make it into a place for everyone to enjoy. We really hope people will join us to help make the Great Fen Project vision really amazing.”
This phase of public consultation will build on existing work the Great Fen Project team have conducted with access, tourism, business and activity specialists, wildlife experts, local residents and councillors.
To find out more information visit www.greatfen.org.uk, call 07850 919060 or email info@greatfen.org.uk.
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Step back in time with the Great Fen Project
The Great Fen Project is taking a step back in time and inviting everyone to come and celebrate the history of Ramsey and the Fens on Saturday 13th September.
Great Fen Project partners Natural England and the Wildlife Trust are joining with other organisations in the area to provide visitors with a day to remember.
The Wildlife Trust is holding a special local history event between 11am and 4pm at Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom where visitors can learn about life in the Fens 100 years ago, meet characters from the heyday of the brickworks and play Victorian games. People can share their photos and memories of life in the fens and find out and comment on the Great Fen Project’s plans for the future. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and cakes will be on sale.
At Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve you can join Natural England staff and volunteers in searching for invertebrates, plants and other wildlife and visit the famous Bungalow on stilts built for Charles Rothschild almost 100 years ago. Younger visitors can get involved with a variety of craft and other activities at the Fen. This forms part of Natural England’s One Million Children Outdoors programme.
Heritage weekend is also a good opportunity to visit St Andrew’s Church, Woodwalton, the small church with the red roof close to the east coast main line between Huntingdon and Peterborough. The church is open free of charge on Saturday 12th& Sunday 13th September from 2pm ‘til 5pm. On Sunday 13th exhibits will include a display of civilian items of the World War II era, household items of the time together with a selection of tools used to earn a living.
The Ramsey Rural Museum opens on Sunday 13th September between 2pm and 5pm. It holds a wonderful selection of traditional fenland tools, machinery and replica local stores including a cobblers and chemist from 100 years ago. You can explore the museum, learn more with Ramsey Community Archive and representatives of local and family history societies, meet local authors and World War II re-enactors and tour the adjacent Abbey walled garden, which is being restored to what it could have been in the 1830s.
A visit to all four attractions during the day should give a real sense of life in the fens around a century ago. It is set to be a fun and enjoyable weekend.
A further heritage event is planned for Friday 23 October when the Wildlife Trust’s Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom is the venue for Tales from the Fens - an evening of stories and memories of Fenland people re-told by Polly Howat: The Travelling Storyteller. Tickets for this Great Fen event, which starts at 7.30pm, are priced at ?6 adults and ?5 concessions for over 60s and unwaged. For further details and to book tickets, contact Louise Rackham07595 090777 / Louise.Rackham@wildlifebcnp.org.
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The Great Fen & Stephen Fry on Country Tracks
The Great Fen Project will star on BBC1's Country Tracks on 11th October 2009 at 11am.
The programme will also feature an interview with Great Fen President Stephen Fry.
Project President Stephen Fry filming for Country Tracks outside King's College Chapel in Cambridge
Tune in to BBC1 at 11am on 11th October to see it!
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5 August 2009
TV naturalist becomes new Great Fen Patron
The Great Fen team are delighted to announce that TV presenter and wildlife enthusiast Nigel Marven has agreed to become a new Great Fen Patron. Nigel - from Walking with Dinosaurs - joins other project patrons Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project, Beth Rothschild and Sir John Major.
Nigel pond dipping at the Great Fen during his recent visit
"I was so impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm of the staff and volunteers, I jumped at the chance to be a patron of such an important and heart-warming project,” Nigel said. “In my lifetime, I am sure, that with a bit of help from all of us, flocks of majestic cranes will be gliding down to nest in England's Everglades.”
To listen to Nigel Marven talking about the Great Fen Project, please click here.
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23 July 2009
Nick Herbert MP visits Great Fen Project
Nick Herbert MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, visited the Great Fen Project yesterday (22 July) to hear how developments of the project can contribute to a more strategic network of green infrastructure.
Mr Herbert was given a guided tour of Woodwalton Fen to see the developments and progress of the project since its inception in 2001. He discussed with project partners the benefits, not only for wildlife, but also for people and the economy in Cambridgeshire and beyond.
Nick Herbert said: “It has been a very enjoyable and informative morning. This is a really inspirational place. It was interesting to hear the important benefits the project will provide for people and wildlife.”
Nick Herbert MP with Senior Reserves Manager Alan Bowley
Chris Gerrard, Great Fen Project Manager, said, “We were delighted to welcome Nick Herbert to the project and show him how much progress we have made. The Great Fen is helping to conserve important wildlife whilst benefitting people in other ways, such as flood protection and countryside access. It’s important we have places like this in such as rapidly developing part of the country.”
The Great Fen Project is one of the most ambitious and expansive restoration projects of its kind. It will create over 9,000 acres of fenland habitat between Huntingdon and Peterborough providing a haven for rare fenland flora and fauna. The project will provide for nature conservation, tourism, education and business opportunities.
To read an account in The Guardian written by Nick Herbert, please click here.
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10 June 2009
TV's Walking with Dinosaurs man walks in the fen
"This is all exactly how I imagined it would be,” TV presenter Nigel Marven said, peering through the reeds. “It’s a fantastic project.”
Dinosaur tracker and time traveller Nigel enjoyed an action-packed time in the Great Fen with his son Theo. Project Manager Chris Gerrard and Reserves Manager Alan Bowley joined the father and son on a tour of Woodwalton Fen. They saw muntjac, terns, marsh harriers, marsh orchids and damselflies.
“Visiting the Great Fen with my son Theo, I was thrilled to see that work in progress is already bringing rewards” Nigel said. “There are hedgerows jam-packed with wildflowers - from one Theo heard his first nightingale, in another he peered at his first lime hawk-moth.”
All this is much tamer than the world explorer and snake wrestler is used to, but the subtle beauty of the Fens has a way of winning over even the most adrenalin charged individuals, and Nigel seemed far from disappointed. “The Great Fen may not have been colonised by escaped giant snakes, but it is ahaven for all sorts of fantastic birds and other wildlife,” he said.
After the tour, Nigel and Theo joined a group of schoolchildren from Thorndown Community Junior School. Everyone rolled up their sleeves for a pond dipping session. “I really enjoyed pond-dipping with the local children. We found damsels and dragons, and the first ten-spined sticklebacks I'd seen in many a long year.”
That evening, Nigel gave a talk in honour of the Great Fen Project, “Swamps I’ve Been In - Prehistoric and Present Day”. More than 200 people attended. During the interval, the queue for Nigel’s signature snaked all the way around the auditorium, and throughout the Q&A session 20 hands were in the air at once. Questions included “What is your favourite animal?” (Snow Leopard) and “If you could bring an extinct animal back to life, what would it be?” (A type of sea dinosaur.)
Nigel inspired everyone in the auditorium to get outside and appreciate all the natural world has to offer.
To listen to what Nigel had to say about the project, please click here.
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1 June 2009
Great Fen on national television
Yet again the Great Fen Project has played the lead role in national television. Heralded as a fine example of conservation, the project was featured on ITV1’s Countrywise.
Paul Heiney filming in the Woodwalton Fen
The programme explored the remarkable foresight and action of Charles Rothschild in saving Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve, and how the Great Fen Project’s success is an extension of Rothschild’s original vision almost 100 years ago to protect this unique habitat.
The programme also looks inside the Rothschild Bungalow and highlights the story of reserve warden Andy Mason, whose family have worked on the fen for the past three generations.
During the filming we caught up with the presenter Paul Heiney - well known writer and broadcaster, and a pioneer organic farmer - to find out why he loves the fens and has set up home in the East of England.
Click here to listen to what he had to say.
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8 May 2009
The Great Fen concerts - held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at Peterborough Cathedral and King's College Cambridge - have been heralded a great success.
The classical music concerts were a celebration of the natural world and featured the world premiere orchestral piece - Whitel’s Ey - by world renowned composer John Woolrich. His new work was inspired by the landscape and wildlife of the Great Fen Project. The concerts were performed by one of the world’s most celebrated orchestras, Britten Sinfonia.
As well as the new Whitel’s Ey, the concerts featured other pieces celebrating the natural world, including Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, Britten’s What the Wild Flowers Tell Me, Delius’ On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring and Sibelius’ Scene with Cranes. The programme was conducted by Garry Walker and featured Russian violinist Alina Ibragimova, the youngest-ever winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society's Emily Anderson Prize.
The concerts were introduced by special guests Stephen Fry - Great Fen Project President - and 'Professor of Pop' Paul Gambaccini.
To see a copy of the concert programme, please click here.
Paul Gambaccini outside Peterborough Cathedral © All Aspects Photography
Stephen Fry with concert organisers en route to King's College chapel © All Aspects Photography
Soloist Alina Ibragimova © All Aspects Photography
Podcasts
Karl Heidel caught up with project President Stephen Fry after the concert in the magnificent setting of King's College, Cambridge.
Click here to listen
to what Stephen had to say.
Click here to listen to 'Professor of Pop' Paul Gambaccini talking about his thoughts on the natural world, music and the Great Fen Project.
Click here to listen to the composer of the world premiere Whitel's Ey inspired directly by the Great Fen Project.
Listen to John Woolrich's Whitel's Ey. Please click here.
Photos by kind permission of the Provost and Scholars of King's College, Cambridge.
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Stephen Fry and Paul Gambaccini to introduce Great Fen concerts
The internationally acclaimed presenters and authors Stephen Fry and Paul Gambaccini will introduce the Great Fen concerts next week in Peterborough Cathedral and King’s College Cambridge.
Stephen Fry enjoying Woodwalton Fen
The classical music concerts are a celebration of the natural world. They will also feature the world premiere orchestral piece - Whitel’s Ey - by world renown composer John Woolrich. His new work is inspired by the landscape and wildlife of the Great Fen Project. The concerts will be performed by one of the world’s most celebrated orchestras, Britten Sinfonia, based in Cambridge.
Radio and television presenter Paul Gambaccini - nicknamed 'The Professor of Pop' - will introduce the world premiere concert in Peterborough Cathedral on 6th May. Great Fen Project President Stephen Fry will introduce the Cambridge concert in his old university city the following evening.
Stephen Fry expressed his excitement at the upcoming concerts: “I am delighted to be introducing the Great Fen concert in Cambridge. The setting of King’s College chapel is quite magnificent and the music promises to be equally superb,” he said. “I can quite understand how this unique and beautiful landscape has inspired such a concert. I cannot remember a more inspiring day than the one I spent being shown round the Great Fen at Woodwalton.”
Paul Gambaccini was asked by his friend and fellow Classic FM and Radio 4 presenter Stephen Fry to introduce the world premiere.
Paul Gambaccini replied saying: “I would be delighted to introduce the Great Fen Project concert at Peterborough Cathedral on the 6th of May.I grew up and went to college in unspoiled areas of New England. Everyone should have access to nature in all her pristine glory. This is why I support the Great Fen Project. I am also looking forward to listening to the live music by Britten Sinfonia, whose records I have played many times on the radio.”
'Professor of Pop' Paul Gambaccini will introduce the world premiere
The world premiere will be held in the grand setting of Peterborough Cathedral on 6th May and the repeat performance will be held at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge the following evening.
As well as the world premiere work by John Woolrich, the programme will include Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, Britten’s What the Wild Flowers Tell Me, Delius’ Summer Night on the River and Sibelius’ Scene with Cranes. The programme will be conducted by Garry Walker and will feature Russian violinist Alina Ibragimova, the youngest-ever winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society's Emily Anderson Prize.
Tickets for the concerts are on sale now. Call 01480 388248 (for the Peterborough Cathedral concert) or 01223 357851 (for the King’s College, Cambridge concert). Funds generated from ticket sales will benefit the Great Fen Project.
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Great Fen concerts - tickets now on sale
The Great Fen Project partners have commissioned nationally-acclaimed composer John Woolrich and the Britten Sinfonia to create and perform a programme of music inspired by the landscape, history and wildlife of the Great Fen Project. These world premiere concerts will be held in the majestic settings of Peterborough Cathedral and Kings College Chapel in Cambridge.
Listen to the rare fenland habitat come alive as the music transports you through the raw beauty and serenity of the magnificent Great Fen.
Tickets are now on sale. To find out more click here or call 01480 388248 for the Peterborough concert or 01223 357851 for the Cambridge concert.
Key sponsor:
Supported by: 
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Children make music on the Great Fen
Local school children spent yesterday on the Great Fen with their microphones capturing the sounds of the wild. The day, run by Britten Sinfonia, Huntingdonshire District Council and the local Wildlife Trust, encouraged children to create their own music inspired by the natural world.
Children from Ramsey Spinning Infants with sound-scape composer Mike Challis and Tom Bingham from BGL Group
The activity, sponsored by Youth Music, is part of a wider community programme building up to the world premiere Great Fen concerts this May, performed by the internationally acclaimed Britten Sinfonia orchestra in Peterborough and Cambridge.
Concert composer Jane Wells and sound-scape composer Mike Challis have been working with local young people and schools in the area inspiring children to make music inspired by the natural world around them. The children enjoyed walks through the Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom and Nature Reserve listening to birds singing and reeds rustling in the spring breeze. The work will continue back in the classroom, where children will recreate the sounds of the fen through their own musical compositions.
Tom Bingham from the BGL Group also attended the event. The BGL Group is the lead sponsor of the Great Fen Project concerts.In addition it is generously funding the running costs of the Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom, where the event was held.
Tom said: “I am delighted to be out here in this glorious sunshine today. It’s been a fun day. The Great Fen Project offers so many benefits, not just to the environment, but also to wildlife and the local community. It is exactly the type of cause the BGL Group is keen to support.”
BGL’s Chief Executive, Peter Winslow, added: “This project gives us the opportunity to support two elements that are very important to the BGL Group - our local environment and the education of children. We are proud to be involved and look forward to seeing how our support helps to develop the Great Fen for the future.”
Nick Hammond, Director of the Wildlife Trust, expressed his delight at BGL’s involvement: “We are really excited by the BGL Group’s generous support. It will make a huge difference to the service we are able to offer. BGL will help us to inspire people about the natural world and the Great Fen.”
Listen to our podcast and hear what the children got up to.
After the day, Tom Bingham chatted to us about why BGL Group has decided to support the Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom and sponsor the Great Fen concerts. Listen to what he had to say here.
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7 October 2008
Former PM returns to Parliament to promote Great Fen Project
Shailesh Vara MP hosted a reception at the House of Commons in honour of the Great Fen Project last night.
The event, which took place in the grand setting of the Terrace Pavilion overlooking the Thames, celebrated the success of the large conservation project and thanked those who have supported it.
Among the 180 guests was The Rt Hon Sir John Major, former Prime Minister and Patron of the Great Fen Project. Sir John addressed attendees in a warm, enthusiastic speech. "I’m delighted to have been a Patron of the Great Fen Project for the last three years” he said. “As an East Anglian resident, it’s a project that is close to my home as well as my heart. One can seldom find space in our busy and crowded world, but the Great Fen Project delivers that in triplicate: space, tranquillity and the sheer beauty of the landscape and its native habitat. We should treasure this, alongside encouraging more people - young and old - to enjoy the experience, thus improving the local economy through tourism.”
Host for the evening, Shailesh Vara MP,
with Great Fen Project Patron Sir John Major
© All Aspects Photography
Great Fen Project Manager Chris Gerrard addressed attendees and explained the goal of the project to restore more than 9,000 acres of fenland habitat in Cambridgeshire, to create a haven for wildlife and open new opportunities for business, education and recreation. He described the progress the project has made in land acquisition and community and education work, and explained the next goals would be land restoration, hydrology research and, eventually, visitor facilities. He thanked volunteers and funders including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Tubney Charitable Trust, East of England Development Agency and The Garfield Weston Foundation.
During the evening, Sir John Major met David Butcher, Chief Executive of Britten Sinfonia, and spoke about the world premiere Great Fen concerts. The pair of concerts, which will take place in May next year and which will be performed by Britten Sinfonia, are inspired directly by the Great Fen Project and will feature a newly commissioned work by internationally-acclaimed composer John Woolrich.
Sir John Major was delighted at the prospect of the upcoming concerts: “Project partners have held several Great Fen art exhibitions and next Spring - in conjunction with the Britten Sinfonia - they are holding two classical concerts inspired by the fenland landscape. Given the calibre of the musicians, and the historic and imposing venues of Peterborough Cathedral and King’s College Chapel, these concerts promise to be both moving and memorable."
Sir John Major and David Butcher, CEO of Britten Sinfonia © All Aspects Photography
David Butcher also expressed his enthusiasm: “It is a great honour for Britten Sinfonia to be involved in the Great Fen Project concerts. As an international orchestra with its ‘home’ in the East of England this internationally acclaimed project, based here in the Cambridgeshire fens, is extremely important to us. We are looking forward to the concerts which will include the premiere of a specially commissioned orchestral piece, inspired by the Great Fen, from the eminent British composer John Woolrich, as well as other evocative works which we hope will help promote and celebrate this wonderful project.”
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6 October 2008
Tubney trustees see difference funding is making
Trustees of the Tubney Charitable Trust were treated to a visit to the Great Fen Project last weekend to see its progress and to see where Tubney’s funding has been used.
The Tubney Charitable Trust has made two significant grants to the Great Fen Project. One funded the purchase of Summer Standing (33 hectares adjacent to Holme Fen purchased in early 2005) and a valuable piece of machinery - the Fen Harvester, which is used to mow the rides in the reserves.
The second grant, made in March 2007, went towards the purchase of the first phase of the Holmewood Estate (551 hectares purchased in April 2007). This grant was then used as matched funding for our Heritage Lottery Fund grant, and in this way contributed towards the purchase of the remaining 744 hectares.
The trustees and staff were shown around by Chris Gerrard, Great Fen Project Manager, Brian Eversham, Conservation Director for the local Wildlife Trust and Jane Cabutti, also from the Wildlife Trust who has liaised with Tubney throughout.
Chris Gerrard, Great Fen Project Manager, said: “We are very grateful to the Tubney Charitable Trust for their ongoing support of the Great Fen Project. Today has been a great opportunity to thank the staff and trustees of the Trust and to show them exactly what their funding is allowing us to do. We have had a very pleasant walk around both Holme Fen and Woodwalton Fen, and, despite the weather, everyone seems to be inspired and enthused by the visit.”
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19 September 2008
Fenland cultural heritage celebrated
The Great Fen Project took a step back in time last Sunday to celebrate the social and cultural history of the fens as part of the Civic Trust’s Heritage Weekend.
The special local history events were held at Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom and Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve. Visitors took an interactive tour back in time around Ramsey Heights to learn about life at the brickworks 100 years ago. Visitors met various characters from the period, played Edwardian games including marbles and quoits, looked at old photos and enjoyed anniversary tea and local cakes. The famous Rothschild Bungalow in Woodwalton Fen was also opened to the public.
Alan Bowley, Great Fen Senior Reserves Manager, as The Hon Charles Rothschild
Staff donned on hats, brooches, jackets and long skirts and each played a different character from the 1908 census, including the owner of the brick kiln, a wife of a fen waterman, the local school teacher, a couple of maids and The Hon Charles Rothschild himself!
Two Edwardian maids prepare the Rothschild Bungalow for the guests!
Visitors were also treated to working displays of traditional crafts, including corn dolly making and clay modelling.
Corn-doll making
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4 September 2008
Stephen Fry hosts dinner for Great Fen Project
The actor, comedian, writer and television presenter Stephen Fry hosted a black tie dinner at Queen’s College in Cambridge on Tuesday evening in honour of the Great Fen Project.
Mr Fry, who has been President of the massive conservation project since May 2006, entertained the 50 privileged guests with a champagne reception and a four course fenland-inspired meal.
Stephen Fry talking to guests at the champagne reception. © All Aspects Photography
During his after-dinner speech, Mr Fry praised the 9,000 acre project and talked of the vital importance of preserving the precious remnants of fenland areas. Explaining he was in a Cambridge college and therefore able to ”take an idea for a walk,“ he gave a heart-felt, philosophical talk about how vital it is that we preserve the delicate ecosystem from which we evolve and which we human beings have played a great part in shaping. He encouraged guests to support “this extraordinary project,” of which “I am proud and privileged to be President.”
Stephen Fry giving his after-dinner speech
© All Aspects Photography
The medieval court and Old Hall of Queens’ College, where Mr Fry read English Literature in the early 1980s, provided a glorious setting for the evening, and guests were entertained by a string quartet for the duration.
Barbara Young, Chair of the Campaign Executive Group for the project, sat with Stephen Fry at the top table. “It was a delightful evening and we are so grateful to Stephen and his sister Jo for all their help with this evening. I know this project is a cause very close to Stephen’s heart and to have his support is invaluable. His speech was marvellous and, as I said in my introduction, he really is one of the treasures of the British Empire. We hope this evening will encourage people to continue to support the Great Fen Project.”
The evening was generously sponsored by Nigel Brown of The Stradivari Trust and Richard Astle of Athene Communications. Photographs were provided by Terry Brignall of All Aspects Photography.
For more images of the event, please click here.
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Great Fen concerts - tickets now on sale
The Great Fen Project partners have commissioned nationally-acclaimed composer John Woolrich and the Britten Sinfonia to create and perform a programme of music inspired by the landscape, history and wildlife of the Great Fen Project. These world premiere concerts will be held in the majestic settings of Peterborough Cathedral and Kings College Chapel in Cambridge.
Listen to the rare fenland habitat come alive as the music transports you through the raw beauty and serenity of the magnificent Great Fen.
Tickets are now on sale. To find out more click here or call 01480 388248 for the Peterborough concert or 01223 357851 for the Cambridge concert.
Key sponsor:
Supported by:
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June 2008
EEDA board visits Great Fen Project following grants of almost ?1 million
The East of England Development Agency’s (EEDA) board, representatives from the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) and the local government office, GO-East, visited the Great Fen Project yesterday to see wildlife habitat creation work and other developments of the 9,000 acre initiative.
The visit by the EEDA board follows three grants over 18 months - which will total over ?923,300 by the end of 2008/09. The agency’s grants have helped fund a study to calculate the benefit the project will provide by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; the purchase of 1,362 acres of land to the north of the project area; and, most recently, provided additional match funding for the massive Heritage Lottery Fund grant secured by the project last year. This will acquire a further 1,838 acres (taking the land owned by the project partners to over 70 per cent of area required), and cover other essential project costs such as engineering work, research studies, marketing costs and education, community and visitor work.
Richard Ellis, chair of EEDA said, “The Great Fen Project is a springboard for the economy in an area where agriculture-related jobs have been declining. By creating this haven for wildlife, the region can attract a wealth of local, national and international visitors. And with new site-based employment and volunteering prospects, land-based business opportunities such as organic meat and dairy production, reed harvesting and hay production, this landmark project really does deliver sustainable economic growth. Today has been a fantastic opportunity for EEDA’s board to have a first-hand experience of EEDA’s investment making a real difference.”
The visitors were given a coach tour of the project area. They then walked through Woodwalton Fen NNR to see the fenland habitat, looked over newly restored land from the reserve’s flood-bank, and ended the visit with tea in the Rothschild Bungalow - a thatched cottage on stilts built by Charles Rothschild in 1911.
Great Fen Project Manager Chris Gerrard said: “We are very pleased to welcome EEDA, EERA and GO-East representatives to the project today. We are very grateful for their ongoing support and we have enjoyed showing them around the area so they can see what their funding is achieving and how the project contributes to the local economy.”
Cllr Peter Bucknell from Huntingdonshire District Council said: “We are delighted to welcome our visitors to the project. One issue that has been discussed today is how the local economy will benefit from this project. Project partners are working closely to maximise the income-generating activities of the project, including sustainable agriculture and net production, boosting the number of jobs for people working in agriculture and countryside services as well as those providing services to visitors.”
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14 May 2008
Countryside Classroom opens its doors
After a year’s renovation work, Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom has opened its new centre for education and community work. During an opening reception, attendees were given a tour of the Nature Reserve and new building.
The building was officially opened by Mayor Ian Walker, Cllr Phillip Swales, Chairman of Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, Michael Allen.
Throughout 2007, the Countryside Classroom at Ramsey Heights has been modernised to improve access and facilities for all, and to create a comfortable meeting room for use all through the year by adult and school groups alike.
The improved facilities are adjacent to Woodwalton Fen and will be used as a welcome area for group visits to the Great Fen Project and for special events relating to the huge fenland restoration project.
The newly refurbished classroom has already hosted several school visits and will be used for Wildlife Training Workshops and family learning events. The classroom can now be used all year round and will provide a wider variety of topics for visits.
The Countryside Classroom is also the base for the newly-formed Great Fen Wildlife Watch Group, for local children to find out about wildlife in their area and get involved in the Great Fen Project.
Helen Moore, Centre Manager for Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom, said, “We are delighted to have these fantastic facilities. Now we will be able to provide a comprehensive education and community programme at the Countryside Classroom. We are very much looking forward to the launch of our new Great Fen Wildlife Watch Group and running more Family Fun Days, which provide enjoyable activities aimed at making wildlife and learning fun, encouraging adventure and discovery for young people, and installing enthusiasm and understanding for the natural world in our younger generations".
The mid-19th century building, once a Victorian brick and tile works, has undergone a complete facelift - benefiting from all modern amenities and including state-of-the-art ecological features. The rooms are lit by sun tubes and the toilets have air flush urinals to reduce water usage.
The project at Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom is part of the Cambridgeshire Green Vision - an exciting twenty-year plan for extending and enhancing the county’s network of green spaces, protected sites and nature reserves to improve the quality of life for existing and future residents.
The opening reception was attended by several school and community group representatives as well as organisations that helped fund the renovation work - Communities and Local Government, Waste Recycling Group Limited through GrantScape’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund, the Ramsey Area Partnership and the Miss A.C. Martin Legacy Trust Fund administered by Hewitsons.
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Sir John Major visits Great Fen Project and opens new phase in habitat restoration work
The Great Fen Project partners are delighted to announce the visit today of one of the project’s Patrons, Sir John Major, to the Great Fen Project.
Sir John came to see recent developments on the project, and to mark the beginning of a new phase of habitat restoration on recently acquired farmland.
Sir John was given a guided tour of Woodwalton Fen to see the progress that has been made since his last visit in November 2005. Next he was shown Middle Farm where he heard the plans for its restoration, and was taken on a short tractor ride. Chris Gerrard, Great Fen Project Manager, thanked those present and invited Sir John to say a few words to mark the opening of the new restoration work.
Chris Gerrard said, “We were delighted to welcome Sir John to the project again. A lot has changed since his visit two years ago and he seemed really pleased to see how well we are progressing”.Sir John met representatives from the funders who helped purchase Middle Farm – Grantscape, Communities and Local Government, Ramsey Area Partnership and Miss AC Martin Legacy Trust Fund. He discussed with the guests how the project will not only be good for wildlife, but contribute to the socio-economic development of Huntingdonshire.
Sir John seemed delighted, saying it had been an ‘enjoyable day’ and how extraordinary it is to see how project has developed in the short time since his last visit. ‘Unique is a word that is used too frequently, but this really is a unique project and landscape’. Sir John said he looked forward to returning again in a couple of years to see yet more progress.
Project partners acquired Middle Farm in 2006. The land lies in the heart of the project area, and is key in the project’s progress towards its vision of a 3,700-hectare fenland, safeguarding threatened habitats and providing a massive greenspace for people.
Chris Gerrard explained how the restoration work would happen: “The work on Middle Farm will be a gradual process of, raising water levels and creating grassland which will become rich wildlife over time. It will also help to buffer and protect the precious Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve, which is right next door”.
The restoration work will be carried out by the farmer who originally owned the land, Jonathan Papworth. Mr Gerrard expressed his gratitude for Mr Papworth’s management in this restoration work: “We are working very closely with Mr Papworth and are very grateful for all his help, advice and hard work”.
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Charities work together to make Great Fen accessible to all
The Great Fen Project has been in consultation with different charities and local organisations to open up access to all its visitors in the future.
As part of the L8.9m lottery win, the Great Fen Project is undergoing a development and consultation programme to increase access and ascertain what local people want to see and do at the Great Fen.
As well as a questionnaire to ascertain visitors’ requirements, project volunteers have been carrying out access auditing, ascertaining how to make the Great Fen more accessible to those who find it difficult to visit. The project has been working with equality groups, local youth organisations, older people and a variety of disability groups.
Last week one of these groups, the RNIB based in Peterborough, spent the day on Woodwalton Fen with members of the Great Fen Project. The aim of the day was to view the fen from different visitors’ perspectives. Participants made mock audio guides and tactile maps for Woodwalton Fen, and wore glasses to simulate different visual impairments to better understand the issues facing visitors.
Denise Foss from the RNIB said: “The day was really interesting from our point of view. We were able to discuss, exchange ideas and perhaps influencehow to make the fen more accessible and enjoyable forthe blind and partially sighted. Although not expert advisers in accessibility we were able to give initial ideas for maps and audio guides,which could be developed later.”
The day was also about increasing sensory experiences of the fen. Ms Foss said “We hadn't realised you could have so much fun in the fen and really enjoyed listening to the rustling reeds, waiting for the splash of a water vole and jumping up and down on the peat to make it wobble. This will be such an interesting place for all visitors,including those who are blind and partially sighted”.
Emma Pollard, Great Fen Development Officer, has been coordinating these consultations: “This work has been incredibly productive so far and we are grateful to all those who have taken part. We are not only doing this work for specific groups of people, we’re doing it for the benefit of everyone. It’s about raising awareness, gaining different perspectives and helping project partners to better understand and meet the needs of visitors. It’s about ownership and engagement – making the Great Fen the people’s own. This project is for people as much as conservation!
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Great Fen Project needs your support
Please help the Great Fen Project
The Great Fen Project is so grateful to the generous help of many trusts, businesses, organisations and individuals who have supported the project. We still have lots to do - and we need your help to do it. If you can help us, we would be most grateful. Gifts of all size are greatly appreciated, and will be used to purchase land, restore it, make plans for visitor facilities, and initiate education and community programmes. In addition, we always need funds for ongoing running costs of the Great Fen Project.
To make a contribution, please ring Campaign Manager Kelly Dickson on 01954 713554, send a cheque made out to the Wildlife Trust for BCNP, to The Wildlife Trust, The Manor House, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, CB23 6DH, or you can donate online by clicking here.
Thank you for your support!
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Families get close to nature at the Great Fen Project
Fifteen families gathered at Woodwalton Fen on Tuesday to enjoy an afternoon of art and nature as part of a Special Wild Week event. Children looked for tracks and signs of the secretive mammals that inhabit the reserve, and collected fruits, seeds and leaves to make a menu for the mammals and birds fattening up for the winter. They entered the hides very quietly and were rewarded with good views of tufted duck, mallard and teal. Bright red guelder rose berries attracted attention on the way to the Rothschild Bungalow. Inside the bungalow, children made pressed leaf hedgehog calendars and outside they made fat balls to take home as a treat for the birds in their garden.
Sue Tait, a Wildlife Watch leader, said, "It was wonderful to see so many families out at Woodwalton Fen enjoying the sunshine and the activities. We hope that the interest will continue and that the children and their friends will join the Great Fen Wildlife Watch group when it starts next spring."
Helen Moore from the Wildlife Trust added, "This Great Fen event for Wild Week was really successful thanks to the enthusiasm of the volunteers and staff who led the activities and the families who took part. These days are about providing families with enjoyable activities, learning about wildlife and installing enthusiasm and understanding for the natural world in our younger generations".
The Great Fen Wildlife Watch group, open to children aged 7-11 years 3-6, will be launched in the spring when the renovations at the Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom are complete. This Watch group will happen once a month and offer children the chance to learn about wildlife through fun activities. If you would like more details about the group for your child or if you would like to volunteer as a leader, please contact Helen Moore e-mail helen.moore@wildlifebcnp.org.
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Great Fen Project welcomes new partner and enhances flood protection
The Middle Level Commissioners, who operate the area’s flood protection and water management system and manage the navigable waterways of the Middle Level area, have become a partner of the Great Fen Project.
The Great Fen Project - a habitat restoration project to create over 9,000 acres (3,700 hectares) of fenland - covers a large area of the Middle Level.
The Middle Level is the central and largest section of the Great Level of the Fens, reclaimed by drainage during the mid-17th Century. Its river system consists of over 120 miles (190 kilometres) of watercourses and has a catchment of just over 170,000 acres (70,000 hectares).
Chris Gerrard, Great Fen Project Manager, and Iain Smith, Chief Executive of Middle Level Commissioners
The Great Fen Project already plays an important and inherent part in the Middle Level’s flood prevention planning. Currently, Woodwalton Fen is used to store floodwater at times of high flow in the Middle Level System.
As the Great Fen Project progresses and more land is restored to fenland habitat, it will seek to enhance flood protection by increasing flood storage areas within the Great Fen. This will compliment the Middle Level Commissioners’ work to further protect land and property in the area.
As a partner, the Middle Level Commissioners will offer their advice and expertise on the most efficient and effective use of water management throughout the project area and on the potential for access to the Great Fen by water. They have already advised on some of the project’s work to restore habitat.
The addition of the Middle Level Commissioners highlights just one of the many benefits the project provides for the surrounding area.
Chris Gerrard, Great Fen Project Manager, said:
“The Great Fen Project partners are delighted to welcome the Middle Level Commissioners on board. They have already played an invaluable part as a member of the Great Fen Project steering group, advising us on management of the project area and working together towards an efficient water management infrastructure. We look forward to working further with them in the future to continue to create a project that enhances flood protection and benefits fenland wildlife and people.”
Iain Smith, Chief Executive of the Middle Level Commissioners was also delighted:
“The Commissioners’ roles, encompassing flood defence, navigation, water level management and conservation duties correlate well with the aims and aspirations of the Great Fen Project. Having been involved with the project from the beginning, we are therefore pleased to now be able to increase our involvement to that of a full partner and look forward to working in that capacity with the existing partners”.
The efficient operation of the Middle Level System is vital to the safety and prosperity of over 100,000 people who live and work in the area. If water levels are not efficiently managed, much of the fen land would be under water for much of the year, access from higher ground would be cut off and many of the present land uses would be impossible.
Thus, the Great Fen Project partners are delighted to welcome the Middle Level Commissioners on board and help in their effort to enhance flood protection throughout the area.
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August 2007
Calling all local botanists...
A three year research project, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and sponsored by Anglia Ruskin University, is currently underway studying the vegetation and eco-hydrology at two substantial wetland restoration sites; the Great Fen in Huntingdonshire and the Wicken Vision in Cambridgeshire. Both restoration projects have already acquired large areas of land, and in time the restoration sites aim to convert a combined 7,000 hectares (about 3,500 ha each) over to wetland habitats. The vast scale of such projects leads to particular challenges when it comes to examining the vegetation present and attempting to predict vegetation change under a variety of management regimes and natural processes.
A monitoring protocol is currently being developed through the research project with the aim of achieving a readily repeatable vegetation survey of the restoration land. However, due to the potentially vast area of land to be monitored and the amount of time and resources available during the surveying season, it is inevitable that some areas of the restoration land will not fall within the representative areas selected for long term study.
With this in mind, it would be very useful to hear of any plant records the intrepid local botanist may come across whilst meandering along the public footpaths and access routes which criss-cross the restoration land. The plant does not have to be unusual or rare; all records will help to construct a picture of the ongoing restoration process and will be gratefully received.
If you are an enthusiastic amateur botanist and would like to be involved in either long-term vegetation recording or ad-hoc recording of species across the restoration land, I would be very pleased to hear from you. For the ad-hoc recording, all that is required is a species name, date found, location (6 figure grid reference would be ideal), an estimate of population size and a description of the habitat in which the species occurs. A recording sheet will be available on request which will detail the information required, together with a list of a few of the species which you may expect to see on your travels. I am also happy to receive digital images of plants if identification is in doubt.
If you are interested in becoming involved in botanical recording at either of these two major restoration projects, please contact Pete Stroh at p.stroh@anglia.ac.uk or write to Pete Stroh, Project Officer (Fenland Restoration), Department of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge CB1 1PT.
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1 August 2007
Great Fen Project wins the lottery!
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has today awarded its largest ever grant for a natural heritage project in England. An £8.9million investment will enable the Wildlife Trust to buy and restore an extensive tract of land in Cambridgeshire to its former glory.
This crucial support means that the land will become part of the Great Fen Project, one of the largest restoration efforts in Europe, which aims to restore the lost fenland habitats between two small, threatened and isolated National Nature Reserves. Over the last 400 years, more than 99% of the UK’s fens have been lost and this project will play a vital role in returning a massive area of Cambridgeshire - 14.5 square kilometres of land and 70 kilometres of ditches - back to a wetland landscape. This is incredibly timely, as this land will not only support crucial habitats and species in the future, but may also play an important role as an emergency floodwater storage area for the surrounding land.
Chris Gerrard, Great Fen Project Manager, Nick Hammond, Wildlife Trust, and Bob Bewley, Heritage Lottery Fund, in Woodwalton Fen. Copyright: CamRose Photography
"I am so thrilled at this news", said Stephen Fry, actor, comedian, author and President of the Great Fen Campaign. “The Heritage Lottery Fund has recognised the enormous value of the Great Fen Project and its unique, pioneering approach to this precious, delicate and beautiful landscape.”
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, added:
"It’s great to see such a generous grant being invested in a project that everyone can enjoy and benefit from.
"This grant will help care for our natural wildlife in the area and enrich its biodiversity for future generations. Our natural environment is fragile, has to be looked after and it is up to us all to improve and protect it. And that is exactly what this grant will do."
By buffering and greatly extending the small existing reserves, the Great Fen Project will help guarantee the future of some very special habitats and species, such as fen meadows, reed beds and riverine woodland. Species that will be protected include the fen violet - currently only found in three places in the UK - the fen wood-rush, the fen ragwort and many rare invertebrates. The scarce chaser dragonfly, the nightingale and marsh harrier could be joined in the future by the bittern, common crane and spoonbill.
One of the special features of this project is its emphasis on people as much as on nature conservation. Every opportunity will be given to visitors to enjoy a new wilderness, which will provide a green lung for the nearby city of Peterborough and help the economic regeneration of some Fenland towns.
Carole Souter, Director of HLF, said:
“The Heritage Lottery Fund is a major funder of the UK’s natural environment, having invested L238million into important habitats and species. We are particularly committed to supporting projects like Great Fen which will not only restore and conserve an important stretch of land but also enable local people to be actively involved in its future maintenance. Fenlands have a particularly important role to play in protecting wildlife and helping us to cope with climate change. It is essential that they are safeguarded.”
Michael Allen, Chair of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, added:
"The promise of such generous funding enables us to take a significant step forward in our campaign to bring this important area of Fenland back to life. As nature gently begins to reassert itself in the area, new opportunities will be created for visitors to engage with the returning wildlife and to reconnect with the fenland landscape. We look forward to delivering these opportunities with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund."
To watch television footage of this exciting news click here
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(14 July 2007)
Beth Rothschild becomes patron of Great Fen Project
Beth Rothschild has followed in her famous family’s footsteps of protecting fenland habitat by becoming a patron of the Great Fen Project. A keen horticulturist with interests in conservation and environmental issues, Beth is delighted to join the project, which aims to achieve her family’s original vision to protect wildlife and precious habitats.
For almost a century Beth’s family has been intricately linked with the conservation movement and, most particularly, the Great Fen Project area. In 1910 The Hon Charles Rothschild, Beth’s great-grandfather, purchased Woodwalton Fen - one of the keystones of the Great Fen Project area - as his own private nature reserve, to protect it from collectors and safeguard the species and the habitats that thrived therein.
Charles Rothschild is regarded as a pioneer of nature conservation in Britain and was concerned at the loss of wildlife habitats in the country. His foresight in buying Woodwalton Fen marked a considerable phase in our conservation history. As well as carrying out substantial scientific research, he established the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves (SPNR) in 1912 - the first society in Britain concerned with protecting wildlife habitats. The SPNR is now known as the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, the local contingent of which is a partner of the Great Fen Project.
The Rothschild connection with the Great Fen Project area continued with Charles’ daughter, Miriam (Beth’s great-aunt). Like her father, Dame Miriam Rothschild became a formidable scientist with an interest in wild flora and fauna and the relationship between humans and the natural world.
Dame Miriam carried out some of her research on Woodwalton Fen and also sat on the Management Committee of the reserve for many years, continuing the family’s involvement in this special place.
And now, almost a century on from Charles’ original purchase, Beth Rothschild has become patron of the Great Fen Project.
“I want to follow through with Charles’ and Miriam’s vision to protect a very good part of Britain,” she said this week. Beth noted that she is excited to help project partners link Woodwalton and Holme Fen National Nature Reserves and protect much of the land around them.
As a child, Beth remembers visiting Woodwalton Fen to see her great-aunt Miriam. She recalls playing at the Rothschild Bungalow, which her great-grandfather originally built in the reserve in 1911 (and still stands today). It was from here that Charles conducted his field trips out on the fen and where he held picnics with friends. Later on, his daughter conducted formidable scientific research on the site and now his great-granddaughter has become patron of a project that will achieve his original vision.
“Without Charles Rothschild’s foresight, fenland habitat would be even more endangered than it is now”, said Chris Gerrard, Great Fen Project Manager. “Woodwalton Fen would be farmland, and the wildlife that thrives within its boundaries would be non-existent in this area. Charles Rothschild was one of the first conservationists and his pioneering work saved not only Woodwalton Fen but many other sites across the UK.
“To have Beth as a patron of the Great Fen Project is really exciting. Her family’s ties with Woodwalton Fen and her interest in horticulture and environmental issues make her an excellent ambassador for the project.
“The vision of the Great Fen Project is to finish what Charles Rothschild started: to safeguard precious wildlife for future generations. We’re delighted the Rothschild family will remain involved”.
(1 June 2007)
Prince of Wales becomes Royal Patron of the Great Fen Project
The Great Fen Project partners are delighted to announce today that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has become the Royal Patron of the Great Fen Project.
Copyright: CamRose Photography
His Royal Highness visited the Great Fen Project back in late March, escorted by Lord and Lady De Ramsey.
He enjoyed a one-hour tour with Great Fen Project Manager Chris Gerrard and Site Manager Alan Bowley, and heard about its vision to create a 3,700-hectare wetland, safeguarding threatened habitats and providing a massive greenspace for people, with a wealth of possibilities for recreation, education and the local economy.
In April, Stephen Fry, President of the Great Fen Campaign, wrote a letter to The Prince inviting him to become Royal Patron of the project. In the reply, his Private Secretary said: “The Prince of Wales is simply thrilled to become Patron of this splendid project and is so touched that you should have thought to invite him”.
Stephen Fry, President of the Great Fen Campaign, said: “It is a tremendous fillip for all who believe in this grand project that His Royal Highness is able to help us achieve our vision - the creation of a flagship heritage site of national and international significance, benefiting thousands of people for generations to come”.
HRH will join the other Patrons of the Great Fen Project, Sir John Major and Tim Smit (co-founder and Chief Executive of the Eden Project) and Chair of the Great Fen Campaign, Baroness Barbara Young.
HRH will serve a five-year term beginning in June 2007. The Great Fen Project partners are most grateful for this honour.
(23 May 2007)
The Great Fen Project acquires 3,200 acres of land
The Great Fen Project are delighted to announce the acquisition of 3,200 acres (1,295 acres) of land from The Crown Estate.
This acquisition forms the northern half of the Great Fen Project area and increases the land owned by the project by over 70 per cent.
Once completed, the Great Fen Project will provide protection to internationally important communities of wetland plants and animals once common in the Fens and a habitat for new species. In addition, careful management of resources will see nature conservation and management working hand-in-hand with tourism and other income-generating activities - such as sustainable agriculture and meat production - to guarantee the long term future for the site.
Fenland will be restored in stages working in a productive and consultative relationship with tenant farmers. The Great Fen Project will also develop visitor amenities and educational services as well as boat moorings, walks, bridleways and cycle paths around the site providing access for community and leisure purposes.
Chris Gerrard, Great Fen Project Manager, said:
“This land acquisition is an exciting step forward for the Great Fen Project. It will enable us to realise further the project’s objectives of connecting and enlarging two vitally important National Nature Reserves and achieving the balanced goals of nature conservation, local access tourism and education. We look forward to building a land partnership with our tenants and other local people.”
Nick Harper, Head of Rural Asset Management and Development at The Crown Estate, said:
“The Great Fen project is not only exciting and ambitious but vital if we are to maintain and protect the biodiversity we have long enjoyed in the UK. We are pleased to be able to work with the project team to help realise their vision.”
This acquisition was helped substantially by members of the public who donated towards the Holmewood Estate Appeal mailed out by the Wildlife Trust.
Kelly Dickson, Great Fen Campaign Manager, said:
“We would not have been able to purchase this land without the help of more than 1,200 donors. We are very grateful for their support in this crucial part of our project.”
(3 May 2007)
Chief Executive of Eden Project becomes Patron of Great Fen Project
Tim Smit CBE, the Co-founder and Chief Executive of the world famous Eden Project, has become a Patron of the Great Fen Project.
Tim Smit will bring great vision and experience to the Great Fen Project. His philosophies are embodied by the project - that of environmental and social regeneration. The Great Fen Project’s environmental vision will create over 3,700 hectares of fenland providing for wildlife conservation, through habitat restoration and sustainable ecological development. However, the other side of the Great Fen coin is that of social and economic regeneration through employment, tourism, local business opportunities, education and a return of rural crafts and industry.
Having founded one of the most successful environmental and social regeneration projects in the world, it is hoped Mr Smit will bring his inspirational vision to help the Great Fen Project achieve wider social innovation as well as profound environmental change.
Tim said: “It is a real privilege to be invited to become patron of such an exciting and important project. The Great Fen Project has the potential to be the most important environmental project in the East of England and the chance to not only conserve the fenland but open up awareness of its great beauty and natural importance to the widest possible audience is a challenge hugely worth undertaking”.
Baroness Young of Old Scone, Chair of the Great Fen Project Campaign, was delighted by the news. She said: “Tim’s great success with the Eden Project means that he will be very valuable to the Great Fen Project. We are delighted that he has accepted the role of Patron and very much look forward to working with him”.
(27 March 2007)
HRH The Prince of Wales visits the Great Fen Project
On Tuesday 27th March 2007, HRH The Prince of Wales visited Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve.
HRH heard about the Great Fen Project and its vision to create a 3,700-hectare wetland, safeguarding threatened habitats and providing a massive greenspace for people, with a wealth of possibilities for recreation, education and the local economy.
Discussions were held with Project partners regarding future plans for wildlife conservation and the potential for sustainable development and community benefits. HRH heard about the Project’s possibilities for regional economic growth through increased leisure and tourism; community involvement; the increase in organic meat production from animals used to graze the site; and the scope for education and training. Project partners also highlighted how the Project can mitigate the effects of climate change.
Great Fen Project Manager, Chris Gerrard, said “We are delighted to welcome His Royal Highness to the Great Fen today. He has a keen interest in the future of the countryside, and the Great Fen Project is a fantastic example of how we can combine environmental, social and economic issues positively for the benefit of local communities”.
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(22nd March 2007)
The Great Fen Project acquires more land
The Great Fen Project partners are delighted to announce the purchase of Middle Farm, a 452 acre (183 hectare) site in the heart of the project area. This constitutes the third land acquisition of farmland by the project partners, and takes the total amount of farmland purchased to 750 acres (300 hectares).
Middle Farm is a fantastic new acquisition for the project and furthers the potential for habitat restoration. The land will evolve from agricultural land to a haven for a wide variety of wildlife once common in the Fens, including birds, plants and insects.
The land was sold by local farmer, Jonathan Papworth, who will continue to manage the land and help restore it to wetland over three years starting at the end of 2007. Mr Papworth said he is “looking forward to a constructive future working with the Great Fen Project”.
The land, next to Natural England’s Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve, was purchased by the Wildlife Trust with financial support from Communities and Local Government, Waste Recycling Group Limited through GrantScape’s Biodiversity Challenge Fund, the Ramsey Area Partnership and the Miss A.C. Martin Legacy Trust Fund administered by Hewitsons. The funding from Communities and Local Government has been made available to create new areas of publicly accessible greenspace in a rapidly developing part of the country.
The Great Fen Project is also part of the Cambridgeshire Green Vision - an exciting twenty-year plan for extending and enhancing the county’s network of green spaces, protected sites and nature reserves to improve the quality of life for existing and future residents. Many organisations involved in environmental and countryside issues have come together to fulfil this vision, including the Great Fen Project partnership, consisting of the Environment Agency, Huntingdonshire District Council, Natural England and the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough.
Great Fen Project Manager, Chris Gerrard, said “this land acquisition is an exciting step forward for the Great Fen Project. It will enable us to realise further the project’s objectives of connecting and enlarging two vitally important National Nature Reserves and achieving the balanced goals of nature conservation, local access tourism and education. Working with Mr Papworth will show how other local farmers can have a long-term involvement in the project”.
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(20 March 2007)
Great Art for the Great Fen
Hobby Jonathan Yule
An art exhibition of the Great Fen's habitat and wildlife by internationally acclaimed artists will be displaying in art galleries at Peterborough, Cambridge and Helpston over the next couple of months. The exhibition has just opened at the Peterborough Museum and will move to the Byard Art Gallery in Cambridge on 24th May 2007 and then Annakin Art Gallery in Helpston on 13th July.
The exhibition celebrates the visit of Artists for Nature Foundation (ANF) - an international group that aims to raise awareness of endangered landscapes and promote important conservation projects through art - to the Great Fen Project area during 2004 and 2005.
In the first venture of its kind in the UK, artists came from all over the world to visit the Great Fen and produced a rich collection of paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures depicting the local wildlife and communities.
Greenfinch Barry Van Dusen
Inspired by the potential of lowland England’s most ambitious habitat restoration effort, the Great Fen Project, the artists produced work that highlights the riches that exist in the remnants of fenland. The artwork includes field sketches of birds and other animals, detailed botanical and entomological studies, landscapes that are instantly recognizable and landscapes that are almost abstract, sculptures using scrap metal found in the area, and transient paintings of dragonflies on bog oaks dug from peat. Featured artists include Andrea Rich (USA), Carry Akroyd (UK) and Vadim Gorbatov (Russia), along with many others.
‘Artists for Nature Foundation has recognised that artists can make a significant contribution to the conservation of nature by conveying the feeling and atmosphere of a scene in a way that is quite unique... An eloquent testimony to the concern of artists for the future of the natural world.’
- HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Waiting for long-eared owls Jane Leycester Paige
The artwork is on display at the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery until 13th May 2007 from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and from noon to 4pm on Sundays. The exhibition will then move to Byard Art Gallery in Cambridge from 24th May to 24th June from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday. Finally, the exhibition will be on display at Annakinn in Helpston from 13th July onwards - open Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm to 5pm. Throughout this time the paintings will be on general sale, with a percentage of the sale price going directly to the Great Fen Project.
The artwork is also featured in a new book, published in August 2006 - The Great Fen: Artists for Nature in England. The book was reviewed in The Guardian in November 2006 as a strong contender for “the best natural history book of the year”. The book is priced at £35, with a percentage going directly to the Great Fen Project.
To purchase this book, please call The Wildlife Trust on 01954 713500.
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(22nd March 2007)
Listen again to the Great Fen Project
In the Autumn 2006 and again in April 2007 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a 1/2 hour programme about the Great Fen Project, featuring writer and naturalist Richard Mabey, local historian Rex Sly and Project Manager Chris Gerrard, amongst others.
The programme is now permanently available from the Radio 4 web site here.
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(11th January 2007)
Geographical Association sponsors the Great Fen Project
The Geographical Association is a registered charity that promotes the learning and teaching of geography throughout the world. It currently has
a membership base of around 7,000 teachers, lectures and enthusiasts, most of whom live and work in the UK. They provide a range of
support material for teachers in the forms of publications, conferences, professional development courses and termly journals, and we are a
registered national charity.
Each year the G.A. has an Annual Conference and Exhibition. This year we are delighted to announce that the conference will be sponsoring the Great Fen Project. The G.A. will be donating £1 per paying delegate to help the project purchase and restore farmland to wetland habitats for the benefit of people and wildlife.
The Great Fen Project partners are particularly happy about this sponsorship because education is one of the key aims of the project. Students of all ages can learn about the project through the National Curriculum, Wildlife Training Workshops and informal walks and talks.
The project partners thank the Geographical Association for their support.
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(18th August 2006)
Great Fen book launched at Rutland Bird Fair
'The Great Fen - Artists for Nature in England' was launched at the Rutland Bird Fair. The book is the culmination of two years' work by 26 artists from around the world, who came to the Great Fen Project area to paint its landscapes, people and wildlife.
The Rutland Bird Fair is the largest fair of its kind in the world and was the ideal place to exhibit nearly half of the artwork produced.
The book was launched by Michael Allen, Chair of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts who spoke to a packed audience.
As well as containing superb artwork, the book explains the fascinating history of the area and how the project will change the landscape over the coming decades.
Copies of the book are available from the Wildlife Trust and cost £35 + £4 P&P. Proceeds of the book will help towards achieving the aims of the project.
If you would like a copy, you can send a cheque, made payable to the Wildlife Trust to
The Wildlife Trust
The Manor House
Broad Street
Great Cambourne
Cambridge CB3 6DH,
Or you can pay by card by calling (01954) 713500.
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(23rd August 2006)
Jonathan Djanogly MP visits the Great Fen Project
MP for Huntingdon, Jonathan Djanogly visited the Great Fen Project on 23rd August. During his visit, Mr Djanogly was shown around the Great Fen, and learnt of the future benefits of the project to his constituents.
Project Manager Chris Gerrard said, “It is vital that we engage public figures from the local area in our work at the Great Fen, in order to help us raise awareness of the project among local communities. We are delighted that Mr Djanogly has been able to visit the project, which will provide a range of benefits for his constituents in the future”.
The project will provide a range of benefits for neighbouring communities, as a great recreational resource. Not merely a nature reserve, the Great Fen will be home to activities such as boating and horse riding, and will provide an invaluable educational resource.
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(8 May 2006)
Stephen Fry becomes President of the Great Fen Project
The well-known actor, author and broadcaster, Stephen Fry, has visited the Great Fen Project for the first time in his new role as President.
Stephen grew up in this region, and decided to get involved with the Great Fen Project for many reasons, saying: “The Fens stand as one of the most misunderstood, neglected and extraordinary features of the British landscape. Not to mention beautiful.... They are a remarkable part of our (agri)cultural, historical and engineering history. I am very proud to be involved with a new drive to protect, understand and evangelise this unique part of our country.”
Great Fen Campaign Manager, Jane Cabutti said, "We are delighted that Stephen has accepted this role, and are certain that he will be an asset to the Project. We are very excited to be working with him.” Stephen’s role will help the Great Fen in its efforts to raise awareness and funding.
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Heritage Lottery Fund tops £364,000 for local project
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded £94,000 to the restoration of Darlow's Farm in Huntingdonshire, following a grant of £270,000 to purchase the site in 2002. Darlow's Farm is adjacent to the Woodwalton Fen and enlarges the existing nature reserve by 40%; the restoration work is a very important step towards the Great Fen Project vision.
The Great Fen Project is an internationally important habitat restoration scheme, aiming to recreate 37 square kilometres of wetland between Peterborough and Huntingdon by reconnecting Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen National Nature Reserves.
Darlow's Farm was the first piece of land purchased by the project partners, and has been undergoing restoration since HLF funding was awarded to the project earlier in the year. This grant enabled the partners to employ a member of staff to undertake the restoration work. This involves raising water levels on the land to encourage wetland plants to spread, and seeding some areas with a mixture of grass seed, while leaving the land to regenerate naturally in others.
Dr Derek Langslow CBE (HLF Trustee and Member of the East of England Committee) will be visiting Woodwalton Fen on Friday, 23rd September, to see how the restoration is progressing.
Chris Gerrard, Great Fen Project Manager, said, “The project partners are delighted with the restoration of Darlow's Farm and very pleased to have the opportunity to show Dr Langslow how much HLF's support has impacted upon these important early stages of the Great Fen Project, with direct benefits for wildlife and people”.
English Nature bought Darlow's Farm in 2002 with support from HLF, which gave £270,000 for the purchase. Public access will be provided to this area once the restoration work is complete. Both Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen are open to the public all year round.
