Woodwalton Fen facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
Gordon's Mere, Woodwalton Fen
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| Area of Search | Cambridgeshire |
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| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 209 hectares |
| Notification | 1985 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
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Designations
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| Official name: Woodwalton Fen | |
| Designated: | 12 September 1995 |
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| Reference #: | 753 |
Woodwalton Fen is a special natural area in Cambridgeshire, England. It covers about 209 hectares, which is like 500 football fields! This amazing place is protected because it's home to many rare plants and animals. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve. It's also a Ramsar site, which means it's a really important wetland for the whole world. Natural England helps look after this wonderful fen.
Contents
History of Woodwalton Fen
Woodwalton Fen is one of the very first nature reserves ever created in England. A man named Charles Rothschild bought this land in 1910. He wanted to give it to the National Trust, a group that protects special places.
However, the National Trust decided not to take it. So, Charles Rothschild kept it as his own private nature reserve. He even had a small house, called a bungalow, where he could stay when he visited.
In 2018, a new place called the Fen View Heritage Centre opened. It helps visitors learn all about the fen and its history.
Where is Woodwalton Fen Located?
This area used to be part of Great Britain's coastline, right next to the sea! Over time, the land changed.
Today, Woodwalton Fen is home to the lowest point in Britain. It's about 2.7 meters (nearly 9 feet) below sea level. That's pretty low!
Amazing Plants and Animals
Woodwalton Fen is a fantastic place for nature. It has many rare plants that are typical of the East Anglian Fens. These fens are special wetland areas.
You can find unique plants like fen wood-rush and fen violet here. The ditches, which are like small canals, are also full of interesting water plants. These include bladderwort and water violet.
Keeping the Fen Safe
Woodwalton Fen is a nature reserve, but it also has another important job. It helps store flood water during winter. This means it can get a lot of water from other areas.
Sometimes, this flood water brings problems. It can carry a lot of silt (fine dirt) and extra nutrients. Too much silt and nutrients can make it harder for the special plants and animals to thrive. People are working to keep the water clean and healthy for the fen.
Connecting with Other Fens: The Great Fen Project
Woodwalton Fen is part of a bigger protected area called the Fenland SAC. This area includes two other wild fenlands in Cambridgeshire: Wicken Fen and Chippenham Fen.
Woodwalton Fen is also a key part of the exciting Great Fen Project. This project aims to connect Woodwalton Fen with another fen called Holme Fen. They are doing this by bringing back natural habitats on land that used to be farms.
The Great Fen Project started in 2002. They bought 82 hectares of land, called Darlows Farm, to the north of Woodwalton Fen. The Cambridge Geological Society also designed the Fen Edge Trail. This trail follows what used to be the coastline of England!
How to Visit Woodwalton Fen
You can visit this wonderful nature reserve from Chapel Road. This road is in the village of Ramsey Heights.
