Thursday 3rd of July was a hectic day at Ramsey Heights as there was an important VIP visit to the Great Fen! Staff members, CEOs, patrons and partners came flocking over to Woodwalton Fen to welcome the new Royal patron of the Great Fen, The Duke of Gloucester! As our internship is part of Peatland Progress, we were gratefully invited to join this amazing day.
A VIP day for our Interns
The Duke of Gloucester meeting the interns and YPF.
The new Royal patron of the Great Fen, The Duke of Gloucester, came to visit Woodwalton Fen where he met the Peatland Progress interns.
The interns and their manager standing in front of Rothschild Bungalow, happy with their cleaning work.
A few days ahead of the visit, myself and the other interns readied ourselves with mops, dusters and brooms and marched on over to Rothschild Bungalow at Woodwalton Fen to attack the dusty shelves and tables. It was our first proper look inside this historic building, so, as we were cleaning up, we got a chance to inspect the place. There was so many historic wildlife books, an old entomologist station, wildlife skulls and bones, and even some (creepy) taxidermy.
Struggling to put up a dome, caught mid-action
On the day of the visit, joined by some members of the Young People’s Forum, we trekked back to the bungalow, this time with arms full of tables, chairs, and refreshments. Setting up everything seemed to go by so quickly, with us making a human conveyor belt and working together. Although, when it was time to set up the dome as a shelter from the boiling sun, we all struggled. Holding up these giant wires, spinning around like ballerinas, and trying to connect everything together was probably very entertaining for any spectators. Eventually, with some trial and error, we finally got it up. Taking it down though was the easiest thing ever. Typical!
Interns in front of the dome set up, glad that they managed to put everything up.
As a reward, the interns and YPF members headed off to North Hide. Watching over the field of reeds swaying in the wind, we spotted dragonflies whizzing around, warblers weaving through the reeds, and our bird highlight was definitely the rare majestic pigeons flying everywhere.
YPF and Interns posing on the stairs of Rothschild Bungalow, like an indie boyband.
After a quick lunch back at Ramsey Heights, we returned to wait at the bungalow. We were all filled with anxiety, bumbling with nervousness, and watching the clock, waiting for our turn. The day was formatted so the Duke would meet six groups of people spread up and down Woodwalton Fen. Each group represented different areas of the Great Fen so they could talk about their current and future work/ideas, such as survey and monitoring, or volunteer work. Our group represented the youth engagement and involvement…and we were last. I think, with the fact we were so nervous, having to wait felt like torture as we were working ourselves up over the meeting. We all ended up delirious, going crazy, saying the most random things.
Then the time came. We huddled together, preparing ourselves and making the final adjustments. All you could here was our nervous laughing and whispering. Fortunately, introducing ourselves to the Duke with a handshake and a brief talk about our work went fine, even after all that nervousness thinking we would mess up. We also asked for his signature in the Rothschild Bungalow guest book, first signed by our previous Royal Patron, HRH King Charles III, in his former role as the Prince of Wales!
The Duke of Gloucester signing the Rothschild bungalow guest book
The Duke of Gloucester meeting the interns and YPF.
A (female) purple emperor sitting peacefully on the Rothschild bungalow windows, shot by our YPF member Ionathon Poleg.
After the Duke headed off to his next adventure, everyone from the day crowded around the bungalow for refreshments and to chat. It was a great day overall. Hanging out with like-minded people our age and making jokes, the sun shining, and the wildlife whizzing around us really made the day. We even got to see some Purple Emperors sitting on the bungalow as for some reason they seem to love the new windows. Seeing their iridescent wings flutter in the sun really was the cherry on the cake for the day!
Interns at The Duke of Gloucester visit
YPF members at Woodwalton Fen after meeting the Duke of Gloucester
The new Royal Patron of the Great Fen, the Duke of Gloucester, speaking with Helene Leeming, WTBCN, Nicola Oldfield, Middle Level Commissioners, and Frances Shultz, Huntingdonshire District Council at a royal garden party.
Presidents and Patrons
Learn more about the supporters of the Great Fen
An artists impression, watercolour painted, of what Speechly's Farm will look like after restoration. Artist's credit: John Walsom
Peatland Progress
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Rothschild Bungalow - Sarah Smith