Wicken Fen Nature Reserve

Wicken Fen was the first nature reserve owned by the National Trust. Today it is one of Europe's most important wetlands home to over 9000 species.

Wicken Fen is home to some of our rarest and most endangered species. Discover more about Wicken's amazing wildlife

Here's our guide to wildlife to look and listen out for when visiting Wicken Fen this spring.

Wicken Fen is one of the best locations in the country to spot dragonflies with 22 species breeding on the Fen. On a warm summers day thousands of these brightly coloured insects can be seen performing their aerobatic flying displays along the waterways. Wicken Fen is also home to the National Dragonfly Centre which is open at weekends throughout the summer.

In spring & summer you can see up to 20 species of butterflies at Wicken Fen. The best place to see them is on the Butterfly Trail just a short walk from the Visitor Centre.

It's possible to see some species of warbler all year round at Wicken, but the vast majority arrive in early spring and depart for warmer climes in late August or September. Here's a few species to look and listen out for when visiting the Fen.

Enjoy a short stroll or longer ramble at Wicken Fen. Explore the ancient Sedge Fen or head out to new areas of wetland habitat. We've produced a range of downloadable walks to help you plan your walking adventure.

Explore the Cambridgeshire Fens on two or three wheels. Enjoy an easy family ride, off-road adventure or take the Lodes Way to Anglesey Abbey. Cycle hire open daily, Easter to October (upon request at other times) 10am - 5pm.

Enjoy a peaceful cruise along beautiful Wicken Lode on our electric boat the 'Mayfly'. Trips operate Easter - October. Find out more about our Boat trips at Wicken Fen.

Enjoy a night under the stars at our remote wild campsite. Its very basic but great fun! Available for hire year round. Availability Information - The campsite is booked every Friday & Saturday until the end of September, and every night during the school summer holidays. There is good availability weekdays during June, early July and September.

Can you find the secret geocaches we've hidden on the nature reserve? Download the co-ordinates from www.geocaching.com or borrow a pre-loaded GPS receiver from the Visitor Centre or Cycle Hire building.

Duck your head and mind the low beams as you explore historic Fen Cottage. See how people lived and thrived earning their living from the fen in days gone bye. Cottage open March - October, Fenman's Workshop open daily.

Wicken's iconic windpump is the last working wooden windpump in the Fens. Once used to drain peat diggings on nearby Adventurers' Fen, this summer its sails can be seen turning on 25 June, 2 & 30 July and 6 & 13 August.

Wicken Fen has been under the care and protection of the National Trust for over 110 years. Discover more about we look after this very special place.

The Wicken Fen Vision is an ambitious project to create a landscape scale nature reserve creating new habitats for wildlife and humans.

Herds of free roaming Konik ponies and Highland cattle are creating new habits for wildlife at Wicken Fen. Find out more about how our team are caring for this nature reserve.

Thanks to public donations and grants from the Michael Marks Charitable Trust & Viridor Credits Environmental Company, we've built a 'bridge for nature' enabling wildlife and our herds of Konik ponies & Highland cattle to roam freely over the nature reserve.

Want to develop your career in countryside conservation? We're looking for a Ranger to join the Wicken team on a two year fixed term contract. Click for more details and to apply online. Closing date for applications 7 July 2017.

Relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Fen as you savour the tasty wholesome delights served in the Docky Hut cafe.

Our shop is packed with gifts, local crafts, books, maps, bird food &, feeders and tasty regional treats.

Written by our very own, Isabel Sedgwick, who has worked at Wicken for twenty years, our souvenir guide is a pictorial guide to the history of Wicken Fen, its habitats and amazing wildlife. Copies (£4.50) are available from the Visitor Centre.

Become a volunteer at Wicken Fen and join a family of multi-talented, diverse and friendly people. Please watch our short video to find out more about volunteering for the National Trust.

We've a great opportunity for a volunteer Learning & Community Assistant to help organize & run educational programmes for schools and family events. Interested? - then please click for more information & to apply online.

They're cute and and are creating new habitats for Wicken's amazing wildlife - now you can sponsor Wicken's Konik ponies from just £30

Every day come rain or shine our Grazing Rangers are out on the reserve checking on the health & welfare of our herds of konik ponies & Highland cattle. We're using our proceeds for this years NT Special Places raffle to buy them protective clothing. Please buy a ticket (or two) to help keep them warm & dry.