Wicken Fen Boardwalk Trail, Cambridgeshire
A short walk around Wicken's ancient Sedge Fen, a unique remnant of un-drained fenland. Offering the chance to see hen-harriers in winter; rare fen flowers in spring and summer, and amazing fenland sunsets year-round. Suitable for active families.
Tower Hide
Map
Start:
Wicken Fen Visitor Centre, grid ref: TL5651070686
1
Starting from Visitor Centre turn right onto the boardwalk trail, heading towards the wind pump.
Sunsets and hen harriers
As the sun dips lower in the sky you may be lucky and witness a magnificent fenland sunset. From late autumn and throughout the winter, look out for hen harriers, Britain's rarest bird of prey, flying low over the russet sedge as dusk approaches, looking for a safe place to roost overnight.
2
Follow the boardwalk in the direction of the wind pump. Before the advent of steam and diesel pumping engines, wind-pumps were the main method used to drain turf pits and fields.
Wooden wind pump
This wooden wind pump was originally located near Harrison's Drove on the edge of Adventurers' Fen, and was one of six used to drain the turf pits in the latter part of the nineteenth century, where it was used to drain peat workings. It was moved to its current location in 1956, and restored in the 1960s. Lord Fairhaven of nearby Anglesey Abbey paid for much of the restoration. Today it is the last working wooden wind pump in the fens.
3
From the wind pump continue on the boardwalk and then turn left through the carr, (a wet woodland consisting mainly of willow and alder, the name deriving from the old Norse kjarr, meaning a swamp), and then eventually crossing the vast open expanse of Sedge Fen.
Sedge Fen
Acres of russet-coloured sedge and reed gently sway in the breeze. Sedge Fen is one of the last remnants of undrained fen. It once formed part of the Great Fen basin, covering the lowlands of Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. Sedge has been harvested at Wicken continuously since 1419.
4
Take a moment to pop into the Boardwalk Hide, up the path to your right. From here you can look out over sedge fields, cut on a 4-year rotation, as well as beyond towards Verrall’s Fen in the distance. There is lots of information in the hide about the different types of habitat at the Fen. (In the summer, you can turn right along the grass path up to the Tower Hide).
Tower Hide
The Tower Hide was constructed in the mid 1950's and is one of nine bird hides located on the ancient Sedge Fen, Adventurer's and Baker's Fen. The surrounding area is very flat so the tower at 9 metres high gives excellent views.
5
When you get to the lode bank, you can turn right to look out across Wicken Lode junction with Monk’s Lode. You will be able to sense that the Sedge Fen where you are is higher ground than the land on the other side of the lodes, where drainage has resulted in the peat shrinking. Turn to the left to follow the Boardwalk back to the Visitor Centre.
End:
Wicken Fen Visitor Centre, grid ref: TL5651070686