Did you know
Over 800 species of beetle have been recorded at Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve
Holme Fen Wildlife
Woodland
The woodland and scrub provide rich habitat for many of the 450 species of fungi which have been found on the reserve, and offer shelter and food for insects and birds. In winter, siskins and redpolls feed on the alder seeds, while in summer nightingales, blackcaps and woodpeckers nest among the foliage.
The silver birch woodland is considered to be the finest of its type in lowland Britain. Although some trees were planted in the 19th century, most are self-seeded and form woodland blocks of varying ages. In damper areas, alder grows vigorously and is the second most common tree on the reserve.
The large oak, Scots pine and larch trees were planted, but wild saplings of oak, holly and yew are springing up throughout the wood. Eventually, these trees will grow up through the birch to form a mixed woodland. Sallow, alder buckthorn, purging buckthorn and hawthorn scrub grows around woodland edges and glades. Elder is particularly successful and is found beneath the tree canopy as well as in the open.
The rhododendrons by the path through the Holme Lodge covert were planted earlier this century, and are not part of the native British flora. They are of little value to wildlife, so are cut back regularly to prevent them spreading through the wood.
Bog, heath and fen
The fragments of bog are relics of a 'raised bog' destroyed by drainage and cultivation. It was created by peat which built up to form a dome above the water table and surrounding land. Sphagnum mosses, cross-leaved heath and bog myrtle were once common here and maintain a precarious foothold today due to scrub cutting and careful control of water levels.
In drier areas heather, ling and woodsage heath has developed. The grassy glades and 'poor fen' support the typical fen sedges and rushes as well as more unusual plants like meadow rue, climbing corydalis and the very rare fen woodrush.
Open water
Between 1964 and 1985 peat was cut commercially from the reserve under licence. This created two deep cuttings which were allowed to fill with rainwater forming meres. The resulting meres have islands and shallow banks which encourage birds, dragonflies and marsh plants like golden dock.
