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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.
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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.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.
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
(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.
