News from Wicken Fen
We recently welcomed Lois Baker as our new Community Officer. Lois will be working in and with local communities to enhance community participation in the Wicken Fen Vision and access to the Vision lands. Some of her initial projects including the publication of horse riding guides, expansion of our popular series of geocaches across the Vision lands and the formation of a healthy walking club. Lois has an MSC in Applied Ecology and Conservation from the University of East Anglia and previously worked as a Warden at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Weeting Heath Nature Reserve.
The Trust has joined forces with East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC), Lode Parish Council and the Woodland Trust to create a community woodland on White Fen, near Lode. The woodland is part of the ECDC Planting Parishes initiative to increase the level of tree cover in East Cambridgeshire (one of least wooded areas in England) by 5-10% by creating new woodlands for people to enjoy. The site will be planted with trees and shrubs that will provide food for wildlife and humans, including blackthorn for sloes, crab apples and cherries for jams and jellies, and hazel for a delicious source of nuts. The cost of the project is £8,000 and you can make a donation to the project online by visiting www.eastcambs.gov.uk/ environment/planting-parishes-lode £10 is enough to create 25 sq metres of woodland capable of capturing and storing 1 tonne of carbon in its lifetime. A community tree planting day is planned for early in the New Year.
We are delighted with the number of people using the recently opened Lodes Way. Around 120 cyclists a week are cycling the full route from Bottisham to Wicken and many more are undertaking shorter circular routes. So if you're lucky enough to get a bike for Christmas why not try it out on the Lodes Way. We have a number of events at the fen to help you get in the Christmas spirit Christmas Elves Wednesday 8 December, 10.30 -12 noon is a pre-school elf workshop to help Father Christmas get ready for Christmas - £5 (includes present). Make a Christmas Lantern, sing traditional carols and enjoy mulled wine and roasted chestnuts on our Lantern-Lit Christmas Carols and Chestnuts evening on Friday 10 December, 4.30-8.30pm (free admission). Father Christmas will also be in his secret grotto on the fen on Saturday and Sunday 11, 12, 18 and 19 December at 10.30, 11.15, 1pm, 1.45 and 2.30pm - £6.75 (includes present). Tickets are available from the Wicken Fen Visitor Centre on 01353 720274. Advance booking is recommended as spaces are limited on some events.
Don't forget the fen is open everyday (except Christmas Day) over the Festive season -so why not enjoy a wonderful wildlife walk to help burn off those extra Christmas calories.
Have a great Christmas