Soham Wet Horse Fen facts for kids
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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Area of Search | Cambridgeshire |
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Interest | Biological |
Area | 33.8 hectares |
Notification | 1984 |
Location map | Magic Map |
Soham Wet Horse Fen is a very special nature area located east of Soham, a town in Cambridgeshire, England. It's officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its unique plants and animals. This area covers about 33.8 hectares, which is roughly the size of 50 football fields!
A smaller part of this area, about 3.6 hectares, is called Soham Meadow. It's located in the north-west corner and is carefully looked after by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. This trust works hard to protect wildlife and natural places.
Contents
What Makes Soham Wet Horse Fen Special?
This amazing place is mostly a type of land called 'neutral grassland'. This means the soil isn't too acidic or too alkaline, which is perfect for many different kinds of plants and animals to grow. You can find a wide variety of living things here, including some that are quite rare!
Plants You Might See
In the wetter parts of Soham Wet Horse Fen, you can discover beautiful and unusual plants. Look out for the lovely green-winged orchids and the unique adder’s tongue fern. These plants thrive in the damp conditions.
In the drier areas, you'll find different kinds of wildflowers. Keep an eye out for bright yellow cowslips and the interesting stemless thistles. These plants add lots of color to the landscape.
Animals That Live Here
Soham Wet Horse Fen is also a great place for birds. One special bird that calls this place home is the snipe. These birds love the wet, grassy fields and come here to build their nests and raise their young. It's a safe and perfect spot for them to live.
Visiting Soham Meadow
If you'd like to explore this natural wonder, you can visit Soham Meadow. There's a public footpath that starts from the town of Soham, which leads directly to the meadow. It's a wonderful way to see the special plants and animals up close while enjoying the outdoors.