• A1.1 - Statement of Present Use and Management
  
• A1.2 - Objectives of Ownership and Management
  
• A1.3 - Statement of Management Policy
  

A1.1 STATEMENT OF PRESENT USE AND MANAGEMENT

Wicken Fen was the first Nature Reserve to be acquired by The National Trust. Acquisition started in 1899 with 3.5 acres on the Sedge Fen, but the main period of acquisition, through purchase and donation, was between 1900 and 1930.

The total area now held amounts to 605 acres (243 hectares). The majority of the property is declared inalienable, to be preserved in perpetuity. The alienable property, held for investment, is located in Lode Lane (see Section C1).

The whole of the Fen, apart from the agricultural land, is within the S.S.S.I. The whole of the Trust's landholding, together with some adjoining land, is within the Wicken Fen Safeguarding Area, as designated in the East Cambridgeshire District Council Local Plan of 1991.

The Fen is managed by a Local Management Committee, which reports to the East Anglia Regional Office of the National Trust. The NT Land Agent, a representative of English Nature, the Head Warden and the Deputy Head Warden attend meetings of the Local Management Committee. New management practices and major projects not already covered by the Management Plan must be approved by the National Trust and English Nature.

The present uses of the Fen are as a Nature Reserve, as a site for public recreation, for education and research, and for farming. Possible clashes between nature conservation and public recreation have been avoided by control of access to parts of the Fen either at certain times of the year or at all times. Potential conflict between all these uses have been avoided by zoning, that is, dividing the Fen into areas in which one use has priority over others.

Management frequently involves the maintenance of a delicate balance between partially conflicting objectives; this is a major task of the Local Management Committee.

The main features of the Fen, and the main factors most closely affecting its management are described in Section C. The present state of the Fen is the product of management over a very long period; the maintenance of the present interest and diversity of the Fen depends on the continuation of this management. Loss of diversity caused by past neglect should be redressed by revival of traditional practices and by reintroductions, if appropriate.

A1.2 OBJECTIVES OF OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

1. To manage the property in accordance with the objectives of the National Trust and to comply with the National Trust Acts (see Bibliography).

2. Management must aim to conserve the features of plant and animal life, historic interest, archaeology, natural beauty, sense of place and quietude that make Wicken Fen unique. The continuation of the historic systems of management and the monitoring and maintenance of water and land levels are crucial to the maintenance of plant and animal diversity and of characteristic Fen communities, while buildings, landscape features and artefacts of social and historical significance should also be conserved.

3. To allow, or encourage to develop, a wide range of habitats characteristic of, or natural to, the area. Existing communities or populations should not be allowed to become so small that they are unlikely to be viable. When deciding which communities should be allowed to be present, account should be taken of whether or not the community concerned is known, or can reasonably be inferred to have been, present in historical time.

4. To provide facilities for education and research.

5. To help visitors enjoy the natural flora, fauna and history of the Fen by providing displays and other interpretative material.

6. To provide public access, with the provision to restrict this where essential for nature conservation objectives.

7. To promote public awareness of the Trust's aims, and to continue to foster good relations with the local community.

8. To foster the objectives of conservation regionally and nationally by contributing to public awareness of the value of nature reserves and to the sharing of information on and expertise in management.

9. To manage the property within its own financial resources.

A1.3 STATEMENT OF MANAGEMENT POLICY

1. The maintenance of historic and present diversity is vital to the continuing interest of the property.

2. The effective maintenance of water levels underlies the Fen's ecology and is crucial for the success of all other management practices. (Sections A2.9, C3.6)

3. The diversity of the Fen's flora, fauna and landscape is largely dependent on the maintenance of all stages in the succession from open water, through reedswamp, herbaceous vegetation (sedge and 'litter') and scrub (carr), to woodland. The representation of these different communities on the Fen depends on relative water and land levels, and on the continuation of traditional cropping practices.

4. Management for the production of traditional crops must be continued. The main traditional crops are sedge and litter. Other crops, such as reed and turf, may also be taken, for conservation or demonstration purposes (but see 10 below). Marketing of the crops will be pursued where possible.

5. The relatively small area of sedge should be maintained and, if possible, increased by upgrading of litter fields to sedge fields by cutting early in the year or not at all or by clearance of carr where much sedge is present. (Sections A2.1, A4.2.2, A6.1).

6. Diversity in the litter fields should be encouraged by a programme of cutting at different times of the year, and at different frequencies. (Sections A2.2, A4.2.1, A6.2).

7. Small-scale turf digging should be maintained for demonstration and to attempt to re-create former low pH habitats. (Sections A2.8, A4.2.7, A6.8).

8. Droves and paths have considerable natural history interest as well as utilitarian function. Management should therefore attempt to strike a balance between preserving their natural history interest and allowing access to Fen staff, machinery and visitors as appropriate. (Sections A2.3, A4.2.4, A6.3).

9. Lodes and dykes have considerable natural history interest, part of which stems from patterns of management. A balance needs to be struck between the need to keep dykes open and the preservation of that natural history interest dependent on well-developed vegetation. This is best achieved by clearance at rather longer intervals than would be appropriate in agricultural land, by clearing only short stretches at a time, and by leaving some ditches to undergo succession to dryness. These waterways have reversed their role in that they are now seen as a way of getting water into the fen and keeping it wet, rather than as a way of draining it. (Sections A2.7, A4.2.6, A6.7).

10. Reed is a traditional crop in the Fens but not, on a large scale, at Wicken. Its harvesting conflicts to some extent with the natural history interest of the reed beds but it produces valuable income and maintains and demonstrates a traditional fenland activity. It should continue, subject to measures to safeguard the fauna of the reed-beds. (Sections A2.4, A4.2.5, A6.7).

11. Carr is a relatively recent phenomenon at Wicken. Clearance of carr to produce more extensive sedge and litter fields is desirable. Carr, however, is of considerable ornithological, entomological and botanical interest and its complete clearance, even if possible, is undesirable. 40-50% carr cover is a reasonable aim, with at least some of the residual area in large blocks. A range of ages of carr should be created and maintained. (Sections A2.5, A6.5).

12. Trees and woodland have developed largely because of past drying of the Fen. Recently, however, higher water levels appear to have caused the death of many trees. This process should be monitored. Trees should be managed with regard to their value to the landscape and nature conservation, but also with public safety in mind. Dead wood is a vital habitat for many species, including some rare ones, and should therefore be retained in some areas of the Fen. (Sections A2.6, A6.6).

13. The pools in the area of the old brickworks are of great interest to freshwater biologists and should be preserved from disturbance and pollution. (Sections A2.7, A6.7).

14. Adventurers' Fen has not yet realised its potential as a wetland reserve. The development of a management plan for Adventurers' Fen of the same order of completeness as for the remainder of the Fen is a subject to be addressed by the Management Committee in the near future. (Section C5.2).

15. Marginal areas of the Trust's land should be managed in a way that is sympathetic to the ecological and landscape characteristics of the S.S.S.I. and to provide an agricultural rental income where appropriate. They should be maintained, and, as opportunity allows, extended, to act as a buffer between the Fen and the surrounding land. (Section C5.3).

16. The Sedge Fen (excluding Verrall's Fen), and the part of Little Breed Fen south of Sedge Fen Drove, should be regarded as areas generally open to visitors when the state of the paths permits (Section A6.3, C7.1).

17. Verrall's Fen and St Edmund's Fen should be open to visitors at all times but this is not publicised and visitors are not specifically encouraged to go there (Section C7.1).

18. Those parts of the Charles Raven Reserve away from public footpaths and paths giving access to hides, should be closed to visitors, except by special permission, or in escorted groups. This is to minimise disturbance to birds.

19. The boardwalk is to be maintained and possibly extended, where appropriate, to prevent damage to paths in wet conditions and to provide convenient access for less able visitors. (Section A3.6, C6.8).

20. Interpretation of the points of interest of the Fen should make full use of trail guides, illustrated colour guides and other material. The displays in and around the William Thorpe Building and the Fen Cottage should be maintained (Section C7.3).

21. An education programme will be positively pursued at the Fen. Use by educational parties of the parts of the Fen to which there is general access should be encouraged, subject to suitable safeguards. Activities such as insect sweeping and pond-dipping should be confined to the area set aside for this adjacent to St Edmund's Fen (Section C7.2).

22. The Trust's properties in Lode Lane should be maintained in a fit condition and used for appropriate purposes. Artefacts and buildings of local social and historical significance should be conserved and displayed (Section C6.2, C7.3).

23. Research and monitoring of the flora, fauna, water quality and hydrological state of the Fen should be an integral part of active management. (Section A5).

24. The Fen's archives should be maintained (Section C9.3).

25. Wicken Fen was and is the habitat of several rare species. These should be conserved in the national interest. This involves specific management for certain surviving species (such as Viola persicifolia) and may involve the reintroduction of species which have become extinct locally in recent years, such as the Fen Ragwort (Senecio paludosus) and the Swallowtail and Large Copper butterflies. Re- introduction should be carried out only when research has shown that conditions are satisfactory for their release and survival. Management of these key species may sometimes require that specific practices be carried out in localised areas, and these may be allowed to override the normal prescription for the compartment, but each case should be considered individually. (Sections A2.10, A5, A6.10).

26. The landscape of Wicken Fen, which results from the traditional management of sedge, litter, lodes and ditches, and the presence of buildings, such as the Fen Cottage and Windpump, should be maintained and protected from all forms of pollution, including noise and visual intrusion. (Section C1, C5).

27. Equipment, workshop facilities and staffing levels are to be maintained, within the finance available to manage the reserve, and to realise the objectives and work programme outlined in the Management Plan (Section C8).

28. Financial management will be organised so as to secure sufficient resources and income (Part B).