Lakenheath Fen RSPB reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RSPB Lakenheath Fen |
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Looking across the River Little Ouse
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| Created | 1995 |
| Operated by | RSPB |
| Public transit access | Lakenheath railway station |
Lakenheath Fen RSPB reserve is a special nature area. It's located right on the border between Norfolk and Suffolk in England. You can find it near the towns of Lakenheath and Hockwold cum Wilton. It's also close to Lakenheath railway station. This amazing place is managed by the RSPB. The RSPB is a charity that works to protect birds and their homes.
Creating a Wetland Haven
Until 1995, the land that is now Lakenheath Fen was mostly used for farming. It was a big area of fields where crops were grown. But then, the RSPB bought this land. They had a big plan: to turn it back into the natural wetlands it once was. This included creating reed beds and marshes. These are wet, grassy areas perfect for many kinds of wildlife.
To make this happen, the RSPB did a lot of work. They reshaped over 2 kilometers of ditches. They made their sides gently sloped. This design helps reeds grow easily. It also creates great feeding spots for birds. This was especially helpful for the rare great bittern. They also put in special gates called sluices. These sluices help control the water levels across the reserve. Plus, they dug more than 4 kilometers of new water channels. These channels help move water around the whole area.
Wildlife at Lakenheath Fen
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Even though Lakenheath Fen was created fairly recently, it has become a wonderful home for wildlife. The number of birds seen at the reserve has grown a lot. For example, the number of Eurasian reed warblers increased from just four pairs in 1995 to 355 pairs in 2002. Reed buntings also saw a big increase. Their numbers went from 6 pairs to 87 pairs during the same time.
In 2002, two pairs of western marsh harriers nested for the first time. They built their nests in the newly grown reeds. Other birds like great crested grebes and little grebes are now breeding on the small lakes, called meres. Water rails have also nested in the new reeds. Bearded tits have stayed at the reserve throughout the winter. So have bitterns.
One of the most exciting successes is the common crane. These large birds have been found breeding at Lakenheath Fen. This is believed to be the first time in 400 years that cranes have nested in this area! This shows how successful the RSPB's efforts have been in bringing back important wildlife.
