Wildlife Day - The Great Fen
Join us on an exploration of the wildlife and history of The Great Fen, a vast fenland landscape, home to one of the most ambitious conservation projects in the UK. We focus our time around Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve, one of only four remaining fragments of the ancient fens, and a core part of The Great Fen Project. The meres and ditches support a range of wintering wildfowl, along with Kingfisher, Water Rail, Bittern and Otters. Wet woodland occupies large areas of Woodwalton and should be alive with chattering flocks of wintering Fieldfare, Redwing, Siskin and Redpoll, whilst Marsh Harriers can be spotted quartering the reedbeds. There is a good chance to encounter Chinese Water Deer, a non-native, teddy-faced deer, now endangered in its native China, with a stronghold in the fens. As our day draws to an end, we will look for some of the most magical inhabitants of The Great Fen; Short-eared and Barn Owls hunting along fen edges.
Price: £50 (including VAT), payable by bank transfer. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept payment by card.
To book your place, please phone/email us to arrange payment: places are limited, and will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis.
On confirmation of the Wildlife Day, we will send you the details of the meeting place and time, and our leader’s contact details. Please make sure we have your mobile phone number.
Group transport is not provided. We may move between sites during the day (depending on recent sightings), in which case we will use our own vehicles to drive the short distance.
We will be walking for much of the day, and expect to cover up to six miles, although always at a gentle place. Paths are likely to be wet and muddy in places. Suitable footwear (walking shoes/boots) is essential, and you should also be prepared for inclement weather.
In line with current government advice, our group size will be limited to six, together with our leader. We will ask everyone to observe social distancing advice during the day, currently two metres between individuals from different households. Bird hides may not be open, but if they are, we would ask that everyone wears a face mask whilst using them.