About the event

With our partners in the Fens East Peat Partnership, we are celebrating World Peatlands Day with a range of events and activities for all ages.

Bogs and Beyond is our fascinating family event exploring our local peatlands and natural heritage. Visit the exhibition in our Ramsey Heights classroom to learn all about peatlands, their importance and how this area has transformed over time. There will be lots of crafts available, including making your own clay brick and edible peat pots. There will also be plenty of fun with our muddy outdoor activities, such as a peaty discovery trail, puddle games and an opportunity to make a wattle and daub wall, so bring your wellies!

Peatlands are wetlands that store vast amounts of carbon and play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate. They are also vital habitats for biodiversity, providing a home for unique plants and animals. This area was once 'wild fen', a landscape rich in wildlife, but has seen dramatic changes through an eventful history of drainage and farming.

The Ramsey Heights nature reserve is perfectly positioned to explore the history of the fens. In its previous life as a Victorian brickworks, peat was dug from local sites such as Woodwalton Fen and Lotting Fen to fuel the kilns. It is close to the remaining fragments of ancient fen peatland at Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen, and you can learn which wildlife thrives in these rare habitats, why they need to be protected and how you can help.

On the day:

We've staggered arrivals at 10.30am, 11.30am and 12.30pm and will guide you to the classroom exhibition first. We anticipate you'll enjoy around 3 hours on site in total. But if you're having fun and don't want to leave, there's no rush. The main gate will close at 4pm but cars can be moved to park outside them if you want to stay longer.

Refreshments will be available to purchase in the classroom. Feel free to bring your own, or even a picnic to enjoy outdoors.

Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult and supervised at all times.

Children will get muddy! Please bring a change of clothes and most importantly, welly boots.

Finding us:

Find us at The Wildlife Trust Countryside Centre, Chapel Road, Ramsey Heights, PE26 2RS. The What3Words location is https://what3words.com/revision.basically.film. Please park in the main car park (second entrance, through large gate). From the car park, head towards the Countryside Centre building where our team will meet you.

The nearest train station is Huntingdon, 12 miles away.

The 31 Stagecoach bus stops on Ugg Mere Court Road but please be aware that this route is a loop and does not return along the same stops.

Photographs:

A photographer may be present at the event and taking pictures for Wildlife Trust BCN use so please let us know if you'd rather not be included. Children will have an adult asked to complete a media consent form.

Event Terms and Conditions

Membership:

Enjoy discounts on many Wildlife Trust BCN and Great Fen events by becoming a member today!

"Joining your local Trust is one of the most important things you can do to make sure the species and habitats we love will be there for future generations to enjoy." - David Attenborough, President Emeritus of the Wildlife Trusts.

https://www.wildlifebcn.org/become-member

Celebrating our fen peatlands - A Fens East Peat Partnership collaboration

A fortnight of events - see the full itinerary here.