Fens of Eastern England: A Landscape Rich in Wildlife
The Fens is one of England’s most unique landscapes, an area of wetlands mostly found in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. The ancient peaty land covers around 600 square miles. not just wetlands, but rivers and drainage systems, in a low-lying region that offers a unique ecological habitat for birds and native wildlife.
Formed during the Ice Age (when glacial meltwaters creating extensive marshes), over centuries the clay land that holds water well, has created unique ecosystems. It not only supports migrating birds, otters and amphibians, but also many wading birds and rare plants.
Rich Peat Bogs and Fertile Land
Peat bogs shape much of the Fenland story. These deep, spongy soils formed over thousands of years, as plants died back and piled up in ancient wetlands. Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire both hold some of the country’s best remaining peat bogs.
This soil brings unmatched richness to Fenland farms, making the land some of the most productive in Britain. If you order food from an organic box scheme, the local produce is likely from this area of England.
Peat also stores carbon, and is home to rare plants. They help to prevent floods and are home to many endangered plants and wildlife. Yet being drained for centuries for farming, and being dug up to make garden compost, means they are not in danger.
Avoid buying peat compost to protect what’s left. Keeping what remains helps farmers grow healthy crops and lets wildlife survive.
If you garden alongside animals, read our post on pet-friendly gardens. Avoid fresh compost near pets (some composts like cocoa, pine or rubber are unsafe).
Wicken Fen: A National Treasure
Wicken Fen sits just north of Cambridge, and is one of England’s oldest nature reserves. Now managed by the National Trust, this patchwork of reeds, sedges and open pools shows what much of the Fens once looked like.
It’s a safe haven for water voles, dragonflies and wading birds. In spring and summer, youcan hear the piping of warblers, and watch marsh harriers on the reeds.
A Haven for Birds and Wildlife
The Fens are a magnet for birds. Vast open skies, tangled reed beds, and shallow floodplains make perfect habitats for waders like curlews, lapwings, and snipe.
Endangered curlews nest in fields and graze on the soft Fens ground, looking for food with their long beaks and making eerie calls. Bitterns hide in the reeds, and huge flocks of wildfowl arrive for the winter.
Tiny water voles have found refuge in Fenland ditches and dykes. Otters, too, have returned to Fenland rivers. Brown hares bound along field edges, and shy harvest mice cling to tall grasses.
Organic Food and Modern Farming
The Fens lead the way in organic and sustainable farming. Deep, black soil grows carrots, potatoes, onions, and organic salads that fill organic box schemes nationwide. These farmers use rotating crops, and leave corners wild for nature.
Food from these areas are often picked just hours before they arrive on local doorsteps. This gives quality food that also helps wildlife.
Cambridge Organic is England’s oldest organic veg box scheme, and hails from these parts. Nearly all produce is sourced from Cambridgeshire or East Anglia. Apart from bananas (they have to arrive by ship from abroad!)
Marine Creatures in Freshwater Habitats
Though it’s mostly freshwater these days, the Fens once stretched to the sea. Traces of saltwater life still linger. Eels migrate up from the coast to breed in narrow channels, and freshwater shrimps dart beneath the weeds.
Historic drainage works, like the ones in King’s Lynn, still let in a salty tinge, leaving some creeks brackish. It’s a reminder that the Fens were once a living marsh, salt and fresh meeting and mixing.
Fens for the Future
Fens for the Future is the place to find out more about The Fens, and learn about plans to establish a network of waterways and wetlands across it, which will support rare and beautiful wildlife, and create more sustainable agricultural land, for your organic box!
