Great Fen

26/05/2026

What a star! Did you catch Henry on tv yesterday? Did he inspire you to sign up for ?

🥳Well done to our junior ambassador Henry Day for a star turn on the BBC Breakfast sofa yesterday. He was in the studio to help promote 30 Days Wild which starts next week.

30 Days Wild is a chance to rewild yourself for June - sign up for a free pack and do one wild thing every day for a month wildlifebcn.org/30dayswild

🌿A new survey from the Wildlife Trusts has found that nearly half of UK adults spend just three hours or less outdoors a week. The survey of over 2,000 people found that 88% have positive memories of spending time outside as a child – but that 44% of adults spend only three hours or a less a week outdoors. This rose to 48% of 18 to 24-year-olds who were the most indoorsy generation.

26/05/2026

22/05/2026

Catherine Weightman has been balancing her time between working for the wildlife at home and the wildlife in the Great Fen. Read her new blog and be inspired by her award-winning wildlife garden! https://www.greatfen.org.uk/blog/guest-post/retirement-works-wildlife-home-and-fen

The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants

20/05/2026

It's World Bee Day! There are over 270 wild bee species in the UK, isn't that incredible? We adore their variety, from the tiny 6mm solitary scissor bees to giant buff-tailed bumblebee queens over 2cm long. In the Great Fen, our mosaic of habitats and wildflowers ensure homes and food for many species. From dead wood to bare soil, rodent holes to old building masonry, trimmed grass and wild meadows, bees are welcome here! Have you got a favourite bee?

18/05/2026

We've been delighted to welcome a variety of work experience students from local schools over the last month. Ethan and Evan from Abbey College kicked us off and have shared their experiences in a blog (link below). They gained insight into various conservation careers and tasks, supporting practical maintenance, surveying wildlife and learning about our precious peatlands. Thank you to our colleagues in the wider Trust for making them so welcome and to the students for all their help!

The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants

15/05/2026

We met a giant today in Holme Fen! Being the largest lowland silver birch woodland it was the perfect spot to meet this giant birch clubhorn sawfly (Cimbex femoratus). They’re the largest British sawfly and incredible to see up close. He did eventually fly off so wasn’t injured, maybe just cold!

The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants

15/05/2026

It's Mental Health Awareness Week and the Mental Health Foundation recommends that one of the best quick actions to boost your mental health is to head outside. If you haven't managed to do that today, could you allow yourself just five minutes to at least listen to nature? Our work experience students have recorded these clips for you at Woodwalton Fen NNR. We invite you to get comfortable, take a deep breath, relax, close your eyes if you wish, and just connect with nature...

The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants

13/05/2026

Don't miss this! Only 2 weeks away. An incredible opportunity for young people to spend the day with the amazing Brian Eversham, learning so much about how to become an ecologist!

🌿 Calling all future ecologists! 🌿

Passionate about wildlife and curious about how ecosystems work? Join our CEO Brian Eversham for a hands-on Introduction to Ecology workshop designed for young people aged 13+.

📍 Ramsey Heights, Great Fen
📅 Thursday 28 May 2026
⏰ 10am–4pm

Spend the day exploring habitats, learning why they matter, and discovering how ecologists monitor wildlife in a changing world. A brilliant opportunity for young nature lovers to build skills, knowledge and confidence outdoors. 🦋🌱

Book now here https://www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2026-05-28-ages-13-introduction-ecology-brian-eversham

Here is a great deep dive blog into the event from previous years https://www.greatfen.org.uk/blog/great-fen/ecologists-future

13/05/2026

A new era for New Decoy! 15 years since it first came into restoration, the next phase of New Decoy's evolution is complete. From arable farmland to grassland to new wetland habitat. Helen Bailey, Great Fen Project Officer, tells us more in her latest blog. (link in comments)

Our thanks too to EmorsgateSeeds for the special Great Fen grassland mix used here, and to AutoSpray Systems for their state-of-the-art drone technology used in the seeding!

Image: New channels at New Decoy - Helen Bailey

13/05/2026

On Saturday morning, we headed to the beautiful Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve to enjoy the Dawn Chorus on a guided walk. What an incredible way to start the day!