Fen Drayton Lakes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fen Drayton Lakes, Cambridgeshire |
|
|---|---|
Fen Drayton nature reserve
|
|
 Fen Drayton Lakes, Cambridgeshire
Location in Cambridgeshire
|
|
| Location | Cambridgeshire |
| Coordinates | 52°18′29″N 0°02′13″W / 52.308°N 0.037°W |
| Type | Lakes |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Surface area | 267 acres (1.08 km2) |
| Max. depth | 5 m (16 ft) |
Fen Drayton Lakes is a special place in Cambridgeshire, England. It's a big area with many lakes, ponds, and even a river. You can find it near the villages of Fen Drayton, Holywell, and Swavesey.
This amazing nature spot wasn't always here. It used to be a place where people dug up gravel. That work stopped in 1992. After that, the big holes filled with water. This created the beautiful lakes we see today. Now, it's a safe home for many animals, especially birds. It's like a big bird sanctuary!
- Fen Drayton Lakes
-
Ferry lagoon
-
Fen Drayton information display
-
RSPB bird hide
How the Lakes Formed
The lakes at Fen Drayton were made by accident! From 1953 to 1992, this area was a big gravel quarry. Workers dug out lots of gravel from the ground. When they stopped digging, the deep pits slowly filled up with water.
These water-filled pits became the lakes you see today. They are now a protected nature reserve. The RSPB helps look after it. There are 12 main bodies of water here. Some of the biggest are Drayton Fen (about 90 acres) and Ferry Lagoon (about 160 acres). Other lakes include Holywell Lake, Swavesey Lake, and Oxholme Lake. All these waters are right next to the River Great Ouse.
Amazing Bird Species
Fen Drayton Lakes is a paradise for birds! Since 1953, over 213 different kinds of birds have been seen here. About 65 of these species even build their nests and raise their young at the lakes every year.
You might spot some really cool birds if you visit. Look out for the barn owl hunting at dusk. You could also see a common crane or a cormorant. Big white birds like the great egret and little egret are often around. Fast birds like the red-footed falcon and hobby fly overhead.
Other interesting birds include the kingfisher with its bright blue feathers. You might also hear the Cetti's warbler singing. Keep an eye out for the unique bearded tit or a marsh harrier soaring. It's a fantastic place to watch all sorts of feathered friends!
Fishing for Big Fish
If you like fishing, Fen Drayton Lakes offers a special experience. You can fish in Drayton Fen, Ferry Lagoon, Holywell Lake, and Swavesey Lake. You need to be part of a fishing club (called a syndicate) to fish here.
The lakes are home to many types of fish. You can find large carp, bream, tench, and perch. Because the lakes can sometimes flood, the exact number of fish is a bit of a mystery.
However, Ferry Lagoon is famous for its huge bream! In 2005, a bream weighing over 19 pounds was caught there. Then, in 2009, an even bigger one, over 22 pounds, was caught. The current British record for bream was also caught at Ferry Lagoon in 2012. That fish weighed an amazing 22 pounds and 11 ounces! It shows just how big the fish can get in these lakes.
