Significant Public Support for National Trust's Wicken Fen Vision

The National Trust today declared significant public support for the Wicken Fen Vision with eight out of ten respondents supporting the National Trust's ideas for the future of the Wicken Fen Vision in a recent public consultation.

Conducted earlier this year the Wicken Fen Vision - Your Chance to Shape the Future consultation sought the public's view on the Trust's ambitious plan to create a new landscape scale nature reserve covering around 56 square kilometres between Cambridge and Wicken.

Launched in 1999, the Wicken Fen Vision is a 100 year Vision to provide a "green lung" for Cambridgeshire and the East of England. The creation of a mosaic of Fenland habitats will help protect and attract many threatened and endangered species of wildlife whilst also benefiting local residents and visitors by increasing access to the countryside for leisure, recreation and education. The reserve will also assist environmental protection through carbon management and flood risk alleviation.

Speaking on the results of the consultation Philip Broadbent-Yale, National Trust Area Manager said:

"We're very grateful for the time and trouble that people have taken to attend our public meetings and complete our survey. We're really pleased that more than eight out of ten responses support our ideas for the future of the Vision. We've listened and learnt a lot over the past few months about what local people and visitors want from the Vision. We will continue to develop the Vision with our partners to match the needs of people with those of wildlife".

A key element of the consultation was to determine what people like and dislike about the countryside. The opportunity to experience peace and quiet and the chance to get away from it all was the main attraction of the countryside. Too much traffic and litter was seen as a major problem when visiting the countryside. Access was also identified as a major issue with 30% of respondents saying that there were too few footpaths and open spaces and 25% saying they weren't sure where they could go in the countryside. The provision of well marked paths and trails was cited as the principle element that would improve people's enjoyment of the countryside.

The consultation has revealed that various user groups who use Wicken Fen and the Wider Vision lands have a vast array of needs and wishes for the future. In order to improve communication and build stronger relationships with various user groups and individuals a series of Drop-In sessions have been arranged for the autumn at Wicken Fen (see Notes to Editors for Drop-In meetings schedule).

Speaking on the Drop-In sessions, Chris Soans, Wicken Fen Property Manager said:

"The team at Wicken Fen are looking forward to meeting the vast range of people who regularly visit Wicken Fen and the wider vision lands. I hope as many people as possible will join as at one of the sessions to discuss opportunities, concerns and solutions and talk about what they'd like to see in the future".

The Wicken Fen Vision is being developed by the National Trust in association with a number of strategic partners including, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cambridge City Council, Department for Communities and Local Government, East of England Development Agency, Cambridgeshire Horizons, Greater Cambridge Partnership,Environment Agency, Natural England, Sustrans, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The Tubney Charitable Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund.

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Notes to Editors
Drop-In sessions will be held in the Wicken Fen Visitor Centre between 10am - 5pm on the following dates.