Discover more at Wicken Fen
Find out when Wicken Fen is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
Inspire the students in your class with a day out in nature's outdoor classroom. Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve offers an amazing educational resource and an adventurous day out. Find out about bringing school groups to Wicken Fen, how to book and more.
Our team can provide activities for children of all ages, from Early Years Foundation Stage through to Key Stage 5. All our sessions are linked to the National Curriculum and can be adapted to the age of the children in your group. Please let us know the aims of your visit, so we can tailor the day to your needs. Options include:
Delve into the world of the tiny creatures that live in the nooks and crannies of Wicken Fen and look at their similarities and differences. Sessions include lots of hands-on sampling, working in pairs and small groups. This session includes:
Pond dipping
Minibeast hunting
Connect with the wild (an immersive and fun session, bringing us closer to nature).
Explore the historic Fen Cottage and walk in the footsteps of the Fen Tigers. Puzzle your way through the tools that local people used in the past to catch eels, shape wood, walk through water and much more. This session includes:
Fen Cottage
Fen Workshop
Connect with the wild (an immersive and fun session, bringing us closer to nature).
Students (Key Stage 4 or 5) use a range of sampling techniques to develop their understanding of relationships between organisms and their surrounding environment, looking at the distribution and abundance of plant species in contrasting parts of the reserve. This session includes:
Random quadrat sampling
Linear quadrat sampling
Pond sampling (feeding relationships, adaptations and competition).
Most schools come for a full-day visit (approximately 10am to 2pm). This gives us enough time for three activities (45–60 minutes each), plus an introduction and safety briefing and a morning and lunchtime break.
A half-day visit (at least 2½ hours) can incorporate two activities. We’ll aim to maximise activity time and adapt to the needs of your group.
School groups have exclusive use of our Education Area, which includes two large shelters that are essential when the weather turns. Facilities include:
Use of the Learning Centre (classroom), or outdoor shelter in the Education Area
Use of the toilets in the Learning Centre and in the car park
Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like the children to visit the shop. This way we can fit it into the timetable and arrange extra help for the visitor reception team.
To discuss a booking please contact the learning department on 01353 720274, or email wickenlearning@nationaltrust.org.uk.
School visits can be arranged on any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in term time between March and October.
Please note that we can only cater for one school group at a time. Summer term tends to be really busy, so please consider booking in March, April, September or October when you are likely to have more choice of dates.
We ask that you book at least a month in advance to give us time to process the paperwork and arrange volunteers to assist with the activities for your visit. Visits organised with less notice will be accepted at our discretion.
Schools can benefit from an Educational Group Membership, which is an annual membership giving free access to the whole school at all National Trust places.
Find out when Wicken Fen is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
Wicken Fen was the first nature reserve to be managed by the National Trust. Today it’s one of Europe's most important wetlands and home to over 9,000 species.
We’ve cared for Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve for over 125 years. Discover its history and how we continue to look after this very special place.
If outdoor activities and learning about nature sound like a good day out for your family, Wicken Fen is the right place for you. Discover everything you need to plan your family day out, from events and activities for kids to hiring bikes.