Wicken Fen Vision - 10th Anniversary

Date: 1 May 2009
Where: Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire
Event: Wicken Fen Vision 10TH Anniversary Celebrations

The National Trust's Wicken Fen Vision, an ambitious 100 year project to create a landscape scale nature reserve covering 53 sq km from Wicken Fen to the outskirts of Cambridge celebrates its 10th anniversary on Friday 1st May.

A day of celebration is planned to mark the anniversary with free admission to the reserve and a host of free events and activities including guided walks, cycle rides, pond dipping and Victorian bug hunt.

Launched in 1999, the Wicken Fen Vision is the largest nature conservation project being undertaken in lowland Britain. Land acquired by the Trust is being managed for nature conservation creating of a mosaic of traditional fenland habitats and helping to protect many threatened and endangered species of wildlife whilst attracting new species to the area. The reserve will also create a 'green lung' for Cambridgeshire and the East of England significantly enhancing public access to the countryside for leisure, recreation, exercise and education.

During the first 10 years of the Wicken Fen Vision land under conservation management has more than doubled to 755 hectares with rare species such as otter and water vole returning to the reserve and Britain's rarest wetland bird, the Bittern breeding at Wicken Fen for the first time since the 1930's. The creation of new habitats is being achieved through control of the water table and the use of free roaming self sufficient herds of Konik ponies and Highland cattle.

Ends

Notes to Editors
1. Wicken Fen, is the National Trust's oldest and most famous nature reserve, originally acquired by the Trust in 1899 for £10.
2. Wicken Fen is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a National Nature Reserve, a Special Area for Conservation and an international Ramsar Wetland.
3. 8111 species have been recorded at Wicken Fen, making it the most species rich nature reserve in Britain.
4. The National Trust is Europe's biggest conservation organisation and looks after special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland for ever, for everyone. People and places are at the heart of everything it does. 3.5 million members, 50,000 volunteers, 500,000 school children, and millions of visitors, donors and supporters help the Trust look after its 300 historic houses and gardens, 700 miles of coastline and 250,000 hectares of open countryside. www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Further Information
For further information please contact: Howard Cooper, Communications Officer, Wicken Fen Tel 01353 720274 Mobile 07826 874133 or e-mail howard.cooper@nationaltrust.org.uk