Woodwalton Fen
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 Gordon's Mere, Woodwalton Fen | |
  Location within Cambridgeshire | |
| Area of Search | Cambridgeshire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°27′00″N 0°10′59″W / 52.45°N 0.183°WCoordinates: 52°27′00″N 0°10′59″W / 52.45°N 0.183°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 209 hectares (520 acres) |
| Notification |
1985 |
Woodwalton Fen is a wetland in Cambridgeshire, England. One of the first nature reserves to be created in England, it was bought by Charles Rothschild in 1910.[1]
History
Rothschild intended to present the site to the National Trust, but they declined it, and it was kept initially as a private nature reserve with a bungalow for the owner to stay in.[2]
The site features a mosaic of habitats that are interlaced with stretches of tranquil waterway and footpaths. The Ramsar Convention celebrated Woodwalton as a 'particularly good example of a near natural wetland, which is characteristic of the biogeographical region'.
The site also supports 47 red data book species of invertebrates and two very rare plants. Fen violet is found in only two other places in Britain, whilst Fen woodrush is unique to the Great Fen in the UK. The total list of plants, insects, birds, and mammals runs into thousands.
Woodwalton Fen was designated a National Nature Reserve in 1954. It is leased to Natural England which manages the site. It is designated a Site of Special Scientific Importance and is of international importance being a Ramsar Site.[3]
Relationship with other East Anglian fens
It is part of a Special Area of Conservation, "Fenland" SAC, which includes two other fragments of wild fenland in Cambridgeshire: Wicken Fen (about 38 miles from Woodwalton) and Chippenham Fen.
As part of the Great Fen Project, Woodwalton Fen is being connected to Holme Fen via habitat restoration of land which has been under arable cultivation. The Great Fen Project started with the purchase of 82 hectares of land (Darlows Farm), to the North of Woodwalton Fen in 2002.[4]
Threats
As well as being a nature reserve, Woodwalton Fen is used to store winter flood water. There are issues relating to water quality. The flood water entering Woodwalton Fen has high silt and nutrient loads.
Woodwalton Marsh
Woodwalton Marsh is a nature reserve designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Local Wildlife Site in Cambridgeshire, England.[5] It is located north of the village of Wood Walton alongside the East Coast railway line.
The site is managed as by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire,[6] and has been assessed as being in favourable condition.[7]
The marsh is 1 ha in size. It is not to be confused with the larger, and internationally important, Woodwalton Fen. Woodwalton Fen is a National Nature Reserve acquired for preservation by Charles Rothschild.[8]
References
- ↑ Barnes, Simon (December 2015). "The best way to honour Charles Rothschild's legacy is to cherish Britain's wild places". The Guardian (theguardian.com). Retrieved 16 January 2016.
- ↑ "Naturalist's bungalow...". Hunts Post. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ↑ "Woodwalton Fen". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ↑ "Darlows Farm". Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ↑ Natural England
- ↑ Wildlife Trust: Woodwalton Marsh
- ↑ Site: WOODWALTON MARSH
- ↑ The best way to honour Charles Rothschild's legacy is to cherish Britain's wild places
External links
Media related to Woodwalton Fen at Wikimedia Commons