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The Great Fen

Rothchild's Bungalow in Woodwalton Fen NNR

Woodwalton Fen

Heritage Day event at Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom

The famous Holme Post

Pond dipping one of the inspiring schools programmes on offer.

Family event at Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom

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Over 5,000 years of stories begins here...

On the verge of extinction

The Fens, which stretched for hundreds of square miles, were once wild and wet. They were home to all sorts of wildlife, from beavers and otters, to butterflies and dragonflies, to water birds and wildflowers.

Over 99.9% of the original Fen wildlife area has been lost.

When the great wetland was drained for farming, much of the Fen wildlife could no longer survive on the land.

The Great Fen - one of the most exciting habitat restoration projects ever undertaken in Britain - will create a 3,700 hectare wetland between Huntingdon and Peterborough.

This will be achieved by obtaining land adjacent to two existing National Nature Reserves, Holme Fen and Woodwalton Fen. Connecting these two vitally important nature reserves will provide a haven for wildlife and create a massive green space for people, opening new opportunities for recreation, education and business.

Visit the Great Fen

Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom

Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom and Nature Reserve have been owned and managed as an educational resource by The Wildlife Trust for over 30 years. It is on the site of a brick and tile works, which operated using the local clay until the First World War. The firing trenches of the kiln remain and the fuel store is now a large classroom for school and community groups to visit all year round. It is also where the Great Fen team are based Mon to Fri 8:30am to 4:30pm and where information is available about the Great Fen.

The Nature Reserve is open to the public at all times. The Trust asks that dogs are kept on a lead and that visitors keep to the paths for the protection of wildlife and for their own safety. Toilet facilities are available during office hours.

Woodwalton Fen

One of Britain's oldest nature reserves. Mature reedbed, mixed fen, grassland, woodland and hawthorn scrub. Over 20kms of pathway with several meres and bird hides. Beautiful views and abundant wildlife can been seen throughout this internationally important site. There is an information board at the entrance and Rothschild's bungalow is a short walk along the path.The reserve is open to the public throughout the year. Parking is limited and along by the river bank. There are no toilet facilities available on the reserve.Benches and restplaces every 300 metres on trails.Paths are grassy, undulating, and can be muddy, particularly following wet weather.

Dogs

We regret that only assistance dogs are allowed at Woodwalton Fen to protect the special wildlife here.However, dogs under close control are welcome at Holme Fen and Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom.

Holme Fen

Close to the site of what was, several hundred years ago, Britain's largest lowland lake. Birch woodland, open bracken, grassland and remnants of a raised peat bog. Over 12kms of pathway with 3 meres and hides. The famous Holme Post is situated in the heart of the reserve.

Two roads pass through Holme Fen National Nature Nature reserve and car parking is available on both. The northerly of the two leaves the Yaxley-Holme road (heading eastwards) just ouside Holme village. The reserve lies on the other side of the railway crossing. The southerly of the two roads branches north from the A660 (Holme-Ramsey St. Marys road) about 1km east of Holme, on a bend. The wood is clearly visable from the main road.

Contacts and address

Wildlife Trust Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom,Chapel Road, Ramsey Heights, Cambridgeshire PE26 2RS

For more information, including access information,events and education visits please get in touch with the Great Fen team on 01487 710420, email info@greatfen.org.uk or visit www.greatfen.org.uk or www.wildlifebcnp.org.

Find us

By car:

The Countryside Classroom is accessed from Chapel Road at the southern end of Ramsey Heights, near Upwood. From Ramsey, take the B1040 towards Whittlesey. After 2.5 miles, where B1040 turns sharply right to Ramsey St. Mary’s, take a sharp left toward Ramsey Heights. The Countryside Classroom is signposted on right after 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Chapel Road and follow this narrow road to the reserve, about 0.5 mile down the road on the right. Go through the gate to the grassy meadow car park then walk up the track by the information board to the classroom building. From the A141 near Wyton, turn off for Broughton. Go through Little Raveley and Great Raveley. In Upwood, turn left for Ramsey Heights. Watch for the brown Woodwalton Fen NNR and Countryside Classroom sign and turn left. Follow the directions as above.

By public transport:

Buses between Peterborough and Ramsey pass through Ramsey Heights village. By public transport: Please visit http://www.travelineeastanglia.org.uk/ or phone 0870 608 2608 for further details. Ask for the stop nearest Chapel Road/the brown sign for Countryside Classroom and Woodwalton Fen NNR.

More about the Great Fen

This project is a partnership of the Environment Agency, Huntingdonshire District Council, Middle Level Commissioners, Natural England and the Wildlife Trust and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.