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.

At this event, Catherine Weightman from Natural England will lead a fascinating family walk at Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve taking a closer look at hidden peatland wildlife – bring your wellies and your cameras!

After the walk, it’s back to our Countryside Centre classroom to meet the Wildlife Trust’s Great Fen team for lots of fun crafts. Try making your own clay brick and edible peat pots and get stuck into our muddy outdoor activities such as a peaty discovery trail, puddle games, and wattle and daub wall making.

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:

• 10.15am - Meet at Woodwalton Fen entrance bridge.
• 10.30am -12pm - Guided walk around Woodwalton Fen.
• 12 - 3pm - Activities at the Countryside Centre.

The main gates will close after the event but cars can be moved to park outside them if you wish 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.

Woodwalton Fen has a large number of ticks and biting insects. Everyone should wear long trousers, tucked into socks, and closed-toe shoes/boots. Insect repellent is useful.

Finding us:

For the guided walk, find us at Woodwalton Fen NNR, Chapel Road, PE26 2RS. Please park at the far end of Chapel Road on the bank of the Great Raveley Drain and meet at the entrance bridge. The What3Words location for parking is https://what3words.com/represent.teaching.tradition.

For the post-walk activities, we'll be 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 field car park. From the car park, head towards the Countryside Centre building where our team will meet you.

The distance between both sites is half a mile, approximately a 12 minute walk.

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.