Fulbourn Fen facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Moat of the former Zouches Castle
|
|
| Area of Search | Cambridgeshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 27.3 hectares |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Fulbourn Fen is a special natural area in Cambridgeshire, England. It covers about 27.3 hectares, which is like 40 football fields! This amazing place is located east of the village of Fulbourn.
It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area because of its unique plants, animals, or geology. Fulbourn Fen is privately owned. The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire helps to look after it.
Contents
Fulbourn Fen: A Special Nature Spot
Fulbourn Fen is home to very old meadows. These meadows have never been heavily farmed. This is why they have so many different kinds of plants and animals. The soil here is a mix of calcareous loam and peat. Calcareous means it has a lot of chalk or limestone. Peat is made from old, decayed plants.
Plants and Animals at the Fen
In the drier parts of the fen, you can find beautiful wildflowers. These include cowslip and salad burnet. Cowslips have bright yellow flowers. Salad burnet has small, reddish-purple flowers.
The wetter areas of the fen have tall, marshy plants. This type of plant life is called fen vegetation. It creates a perfect home for many different creatures.
Exploring the Fen: Woods and Meadows
Fulbourn Fen is not just open land. It has several distinct areas. These include eight separate woods and five different meadows. Each area has its own special feel and unique wildlife.
The Woods of Fulbourn Fen
There are eight named woods within Fulbourn Fen:
- The Cringles - found in the north and north-east
- Moat Wood - located in the north-west
- Thackets Wood - situated to the west
- Ansett's Wood - in the south-west part
- Old Orchard - found in the south
- Hancock's Wood - right in the center
- Widow's Wood - in the south-east
- Old Orchard - also in the south
The Meadows of Fulbourn Fen
The fen also has five distinct meadows:
- Ox Meadow - located to the west
- Moat Meadow - in the north-west, near the old castle site
- Long Fen Pasture - found in the central area
- East Fen Pasture - situated to the east
- Four Acre - in the south-east
The Mystery of Zouches Manor
Within Fulbourn Fen, you can find the remains of an old manor house. This manor was once known as Zouches Manor. It was also called Dunmowes Manor later on. This manor was one of the Five Manors of Fulbourn.
A manor was a large country house with land. It was often owned by a lord or noble. Zouches Manor was built by a person named Alan la Zouche. He was an important figure, an Earl of Brittany. His family was also connected to Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire. The manor site still has a moat, which is a ditch filled with water. This moat would have protected the manor long ago.
How to Visit Fulbourn Fen
You can visit Fulbourn Fen by using a track. This track starts from Stonebridge Lane. It's a great place to explore nature and history!
