Overview

Wicken Fen, Britain's first nature reserve, opened in 1899. Once, much of the land north of Cambridge was fen land, marshes of reed beds, peat bogs and islets. A lot of this was subsequently drained to provide high quality farmland, and Wicken Fen is now one of the last remaining pockets of wetland. Nature trails lead from the visitor center out into the reed beds, rich in rare wetland flora and fauna. Hides allow visitors to observe the wildlife unseen. A farm laborer's cottage built in the 30s and wind pump are monuments to those who tamed the once-wild landscape.