Wild Art on White Fen

A giant mystical 'water beast' is set to stalk White Fen, near Lode, Cambridgeshire, next week (18 August).

Visitors to White Fen should not be alarmed as the 'beast' is being created as part of a free wild art event organised by the National Trust on Tuesday 18th August from 1100 -1500. Visitors are invited to help landscape artist, Simon Richardson, create the mystical 'water beast' from natural materials such as straw, willow and mud.

Wicken Fen Learning Officer, Katie Fenton thought up the idea for the fun family activity set on White Fen, near Lode, bought by the National Trust in 2007 as part of the Wicken Fen Vision.

"The whole idea of the Wicken Fen Vision is to encourage people to escape to the countryside for leisure and recreation, hopefully this event will give families a great day out in the beautiful countryside and introduce them to one of the less visited areas of the Vision lands"

"People are welcome to stay for an hour or two or why not bring a picnic and stay the whole day. Everyone's invited to pitch in to help create a masterpiece. There's a chance people may get muddy so it would be a good idea to wear some old clothes".

White Fen can be accessed from Lode via Fen Road and White Fen Droveway, some parking is available on the day. Walkers and cyclists can access White Fen from the North via the Swaffham Bulbeck Lode Bridge, installed by the Trust as part of the development of the Wicken Fen Spine Route.

Katie is already looking ahead and is planning to create another sculpture at Wicken Fen during the autumn school half term holiday.

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Notes to Editors
1. The Wicken Fen Vision is an ambitious 100 year project by the National Trust to create a 53 sq km 'green lung' for Cambridgeshire and the East of England and will involve the Trust acquiring approximately 5300 hectares of farmland which will be managed for nature conservation. The Trust aims to re-establish a mosaic of fenland habitats helping to protect many threatened and endangered species of wildlife whilst attracting new species to the area. The reserve will also significantly enhance public access to the countryside for leisure, recreation, exercise and education.

2. Wicken Fen runs a full programme of activities and events throughout the year details of which may found on this web site.

3. 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. Over 3.6 million members and 52,000 volunteers help the Trust look after 300 historic houses and gardens, 1,100 kilometres of coastline and 250,000 hectares of open countryside. Find out more at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/