Wicken Fen Management

Home page | News & information | Plants & animals | Search the site | Message board

Part A4 - WORK PROGRAMMES - WORK PROGRAMMES BY YEARS AND SEASONS

  A4.1      Annual tasks
  A4.2      Cycles of management
  A4.3      Year-by-year work plans

A4.1 Annual tasks

Page Index:

A4.1.1 Timetable

                              J  F  M  A  M  J  J  A  S  O  N  D
Reed harvest (cutting)        *  * (*)
Burning 1/3 conservation
  reed-bed (odd years only)   *  * (*)
Mere & surrounds (if req.)    *  * (*)
Bridge survey                       *
Field reclamation (if req.)         *  *
H & S inspection                    *                          *
Spring Peucedanum patches                 *
Spring litter                             *
Path mowing (incl Cpt 68)             (*) *  *  *  * (*)
Sedge cutting                             *  *  *
Brinking (I)                                 *
Summer litter (incl hay)                        *

Grazing fields (if req.)                        *  *
Brinking (II)                                      *
Reed spraying (if req.)                            *  *
Autumn litter                                         *  * (*)
Drove cutting                                         *  * (*)
Viola field                                           * (*)

Dykes & ditches (contractor)                             *  *
Autumn Peucedanum patches                                * (*)
Godwin plots                                            (*) *
Path repairs (if req.)                                      *  *
Tree work                                                      *
                              J  F  M  A  M  J  J  A  S  O  N  D

Maintenance of Ganges Hut     as needed
Maintenance of trails         as needed
Tree surgery etc.             as needed
Maintenance of machinery      as needed
Visitor reception             throughout, as needed
Education (Education Warden)  according to bookings

Notes:

( ) signifies only if necessary
Path mowing = the mowing of central strips
Drove cutting = general cutting of droves and those routes generally known as 'paths' i.e. narrow, sinuous, un-named routes.

A4.1.2 Summary descriptions

Page Index:

Reed harvest             cut, cart off for dressing/tying;
     (Jan-Feb)           burn unsuitable material of field;
                         cut back bushes as necessary.

Conservation reed-bed    1/3 to burn; coppice/remove bush
     (Jan-Feb)           growth in this area.

Mere & surrounds         burn out patches with bushes and
     (Jan-Feb)           coppice/remove

Field reclamation        cutting/clearing and bushing out
     (March-April)       as required.

Spring litter 
     (early May)         cut/clear prescribed areas.

Peucedanum               cut/clear as litter do not salvage
    (early May, October) any sedge.

Path mowing              use Kubota/Twose on all accessible
     (mid-May onwards)   routes; repeat at approx 3-week
                         intervals to August.

Sedge harvest            cut, tie, cart off; bush out/clear
     (mid-May onwards)   as needed prescribed areas.

Brinking (June, August)  cut as plan; see also drove clearance.

Summer litter            cut, windrow, lose (by baling if                                                                
      (July)             possible); clear encroaching scrub;                          
                         burn, if necessary, larger heaps.

Grazing fields           swipe/top rushes, thistles and pull
      (July-August)      ragwort as necessary.

Reed spraying            to keep Mere island headlands open.
      (August-Sept)

Autumn litter            cut, windrow, lose all material and                                                             
      (September)        burn larger heaps if necessary.

Viola field (Sept-Oct)   cut, scarify, remove (1/3 field)

Drove clearance          cut, lose full width of all droves
      (Sept-Oct)         (N.B. equivalent to brinking where                                                                                  
                         drove runs within 2m of a ditch)

Godwin Plots (Nov-Dec)   cut, clear, dump alongside.

Path repairs (Nov-Dec)   when fairly dry.

Ditches, dykes           contractor: slub prescribed lengths,                                                            
      (Nov-Feb)          dump material on bank specified.

Tree work                pollarding, removing one or more    (winter)                                                                  
                         branches each year from old pollards

A4.2 Cycles of management

Page Index:

A4.2.1 Litter

A4.2.2 Sedge

A4.2.3 Peucedanum areas in sedge and litter fields

A4.2.4 Droves and paths

A4.2.5 Reed-beds

A4.2.6 Dykes and ditches

A4.2.7 Turf-digging

EXCEPTIONAL YEARS: Every effort should be made to carry out tasks at the prescribed time, but weather conditions may occasionally make this impossible. Litter may be cut late, but the year pattern should be preserved. Sedge and Peucedanum must be cut near to the correct time, leaving for a year if necessary. Winter ditching may be delayed as late as Easter.

A4.2.1 Litter cutting cycles

Page Index:

Approximate areas are given in hectares. The different cycles are denoted as follows:

1 cut annually

2 cut biennially

3 cut twice in three years

4 cut on a four-year cycle
The cycles are summarised in Fig. 7 and in Section A4.2.1.4.

A4.2.1.1 Spring litter-cutting

Page Index:

Y e a r Cpt Area 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

10a 0.3 2 2 2 2 nr Godwin Plots (1/2) 10b 0.15 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Spinney Bank bays (x2) 13a 0.5 3 3 3 3 3 3 Christy's Drove/SFD 14a 0.3 3 3 3 3 3 ditto 14b 0.2 2 2 2 2 Thomsons/Gardiner's 15a 0.2 2 2 2 2 Oak tree on SFD 15b 0.1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Bomb Pond clearing (LH) 16a 0.6 2 2 2 2 Tower field/ Drainers'
16b 0.6 2 2 2 2 Tower field/Verrall's Drove 18a 0.35 2 2 2 2 Peat digging (W) 18b 0.35 2 2 2 2 Peat digging (E) 19 0.2 2 2 2 Thomson's/Gardiner's

A4.2.1.2 Summer litter-cutting

Page Index:

             
             Y e a r
Cpt   Area   92  93  94  95  96  97  98  99

04      ?     2       2       2       2      Barnes' Mere
05     1.1    2       2       2       2      opp. Birch Glade
10a    0.3    2       2       2       2      nr Godwin Plots(1/2)
10b    0.15   1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Spinney Bank bays(x2)
12a    2.0    3   3       3   3       3   3  Main field
13b    1.3        2       2       2       2  Main field
14c    3.3        2       2       2       2  Main field
15b    0.1    1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Bomb pond Clearing(RH)
18c    0.2    2       2       2       2      Lode bank (W)
18d    0.2        2       2       2       2  Lode bank (E)
18e    3.0    2       2       2       2      Lode bank (W)
19b    2.2    1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Entrance field(centre)
19c    0.6        2       2       2       2  ditto  (S)
19d    0.3    2       2       2       2      ditto (N)(part)
19e    0.3    3       3   3       3   3      ditto (Windpump)(part)
20     1.5    1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Gallop's Piece
22     2.3    1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Ganges Field
30a    2.5    1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Education Field(3 areas)
69a     ?     1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Brickpits (Kiln)

A4.2.1.3 Autumn litter-cutting

Page Index:

             Y e a r
Cpt   Area   92  93  94  95  96  97  98  99
03a   0.2         2       2       2       2  Cross Dyke (W)
03b   0.2     2       2       2       2      Cross Dyke (E)
10b   0.15    1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Spinney Bank Bays(x2)
10c   0.4     1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Sedge Fen Drove field
10d   0.25    3       3   3       3   3      Path to Spinney                                                                                                                                                       Bank

10e   0.15    1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Birch glade
11a   0.7     3   3       3   3       3   3  Bay Willows
11b   ?       1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Spinney Bank patch
12    0.2     1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  SFD/Drainers Dyke
21      ?     1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  North Field
30b     ?     1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Education triangle
69b     ?     1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Bog oak field
69c     ?     1   1   1   1   1   1   1   1  Bog oak bay

A4.2.1.4 Summary of litter field programme

Page Index:

* denotes areas cut in 'even' years
In each case, the two areas cut two years in three are cut out of phase with each other.

SPRING
Annual: 10b (X2), 15b (1/2)
Biennial: 10a (1/2)*, 14b, 15a*, 16a, 16b*, 18a, 18b*, 19a
2/3: 13a, 14a

SUMMER
Annual: 10b (X2), 15b (1/2), 19b, 20, 22, 30a (X3), 69a
Biennial: 04*, 05*, 10a (1/2)*, 13b, 14c, 18a*, 19c, 19d*
2/3: 12a, 19e

AUTUMN
Annual: 10b (X2), 10c, 10e, 11b, 12, 21, 30b, 69b, 69c
Biennial: 03a, 03b*
2/3: 12a, 19e

A4.2.1.5 The Godwin Plots

Page Index:

The Godwin Plots are a small additional area of litter, which is cut in November/December and which varies considerably from year to year (Fig. 8):


Year            92    93     94    95    96    97    98
Plot(s)         1   1+2+4   1+3   1+2    1  1+2+3+4  1

The first complete cycle of 12 years since the resumption of regular cutting will be completed in 1997.

A4.2.1.6 The Viola field (Cpt 02)

Page Index:

This field is currently being enlarged prior to adopting a 3- year rotation of autumn cutting to encourage Viola persicifolia.
All of the existing field was cut during the autumn to facilitate scrub clearance to enlarge the field and create three strips. The strips run longitudinally away from Malcarse Drain and are labelled from south to north, A, B, C (see map - Fig. 3 - in section A.3.1, Cpt 02).

Year            92    93     94    95    96    97    98
Strip           B&C    A      B     C     A     B     C  etc.

A4.2.2 Sedge cutting

Page Index:

The pattern of sedge harvesting is summarised in Fig. 9. In addition to the following areas, there are other areas in which it is possible to salvage sedge during cutting operations (e.g. Cpt 15) - see Section A3.2.

Year                     Compartment
               03   04   05  (12) (13) (14)  17   18

1992           *              *                   * (part)

1993                *    *         *

1994                                    *    

1995           *                                  * (all)

1996                *    *    *    *

1997                                    *    *

1998           *                                  *

1999                *    *    *    *

2000                                    *    *

( ) denotes patches of sedge, rather than sedge fields.

A4.2.3 Peucedanum areas in Sedge fields

Page Index:

From 1992, some small areas will be managed specifically to encourage Peucedanum palustre for the benefit of the Swallowtail butterfly, which is to be reintroduced in 1993. Cpts 05, 14 and 15 are to be cut in early May, and Cpt 19 in late September.

Cpt 05 - most westerly section, four strips A-D parallel to
Malcarse Drain and labelled from the west:

Year           92    93    94    95    96    97    98    99

Section              A     B     C     D     A     B     C  etc
Rest of field              *                       *

see Fig. 3 in Section A3

Cpt 14 - in the middle. Cleared late 1992. Two sections, labelled from the west, each cut on 4-year cycle, out of phase with each other:

Year           92    93    94    95    96    97    98    99

Section       A+B                A           B           A  etc
Rest of field        *           *           *           *

Cpt 15 - four sections, A-D from Gardiner's Drove to Sedge Fen Drove. One section to be cut per year from 1994, with each section on a 4-year cycle:

Year           92    93    94    95    96    97    98    99

Section       A+B   C+D    A     B     C     D     A     B  etc

Cpt 19 - four sections in a square block at southern end of biennial and 2/3-cut areas, labelled clockwise from NW corner, A,B,C,D:

Year           92    93    94    95    96    97    98    99
Sections       A     B     C     D     A     B     C     D  etc

see Fig. 4 in Section A3.

A4.2.4 Path mowing of Droves

Page Index:

The mowing cycles are summarised in Fig. 10. Note that drove cutting in autumn is equivalent to brinking where droves run alongside water-bodies, but carried out later in the year (see also A4.2.6).

A4.2.5 Reed-beds

Page Index:

The cropping of the reed-beds on Adventurers' Fen and the burning rotation for the Conservation reed-bed are summarised in Fig. 11.

A4.2.6 Ditches and dykes

Page Index:

Ditches and dykes are here referred to by name but their numbers within the water-body numbering scheme are also given (see Fig. 2). In the following sections, each ditch is divided into short, numbered sections of 50-100 m; these are marked on the ground by wooden pegs.

This plan covers only the ditches on the Sedge Fen; Adventurers' Fen will be covered in due course.

A4.2.6.1 Prescriptions for individual ditches

Page Index:

New Dyke (70)

Total length: 250m (the excavated length); 4 lengths of 65m Rotation: 8 years

       WICKEN LODE                                     HOWE'S BANK

Slub:                  1      2      3      4

Clear out alternate sections every four years:

1991/2: sections 1 and 3

1995/6: sections 2 and 4

1999/0: sections 1 and 3 etc.
Spoil to be spread on eastern side.

Malcarse Drain (71)

Total length: 685 m; 12 lengths, the six to the north of

the bridge being 55 m, the six to the south, 60 m

Rotation: 12 years

WICKEN LODE                                         HOWE'S BANK

Slub:      1   2   3   4   5   6  :  7   8   9  10  11  12

Clear out every third section, every fourth year:

1991/2: total re-excavation

1995/6: sections 1, 4, 7 and 10

1999/0: sections 2, 5, 8 and 11

2003/4: sections 3, 6, 9 and 12

2007/8: sections 1, 4, 7 and 10 etc.
Spoil to be spread on the western side
'Brinked' on E side during clearance of drove in autumn.

North Dyke (72)

Total length: 425 m

Rotation: none; leave to undergo succession to dryness

Totally re-excavated 1991

Cross Dyke (73)

Total length: 440 m; 8 sections of 55 m

Rotation: 8 years

DRAINERS' DYKE                                  MALCARSE DRAIN

Slub:            1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8

Clear every other section every fourth year:

1991/2: sections 1, 3, 5 and 7

1995/6: sections 2, 4, 6 and 8

1999/0: sections 1, 3, 5 and 7 etc.
Spoil to be spread on northern side.
'Brinked' on S side during clearance of drove in autumn

Drainers' Dyke (75)

Total length: 880 m; 16 lengths of 55 m

Rotation: 4 years

    WICKEN LODE                                       SPINNEY BANK

Slub:      1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Brink:    O  E  O  E  O  E  O  E  O  E  O  E  O  E  O  E  O

Slub out half the sections every other year:

1992/3: odd numbered sections

1994/5: even numbered sections

1996/7: odd

1998/9: even etc.
Spoil to be spread on western side.

Windpump Ditch (78d)

Total length: 450 m in three distinct lengths:

i) Lode - windpump 2 sections of 65 m

ii) windpump - brickpits 2 sections of 95 m

iii) brickpits - Sedge Fen Drove (78e and 78f)

i) and ii) to be treated as ditches

iii) to be treated as brickpits

Rotation: 8 years

WICKEN LODE       65m   65m  WINDPUMP  95m   95m    BRICKPITS

Slub:             1     2              3     4
Brink:          O    E         O          E     O

Clear alternate sections every other year for first cycle, then every fourth section every other year:

1992/3: sections 1 and 3

1994/5: sections 2 and 4

1996/7: section 1

1998/9: section 3

2000/1: section 2

2002/3: section 4 etc.
Spoil to be spread on the northern bank.

Gardiner's Dyke (91)

Total length: 960 m, in five lengths each with distinctive flora, divided by earth banks carrying the droves, and linked by culverts;

16 sections of 55 - 70 m

Rotation: 12 years

WINDPUMP                                          DRAINERS' DYKE

m       70 70  60 60  60 60 60 60 60 60  60 60 60  55  55  55
                  Thomson's         Christy's  Verrall's
Slub:   1  2 . 3  4 . 5  6  7  8  9  10 .11 12 13 .14  15  16
Brink: O  E  O   E   O  E  O  E  O  E   O  E  O   E   O   E   O

Slub every fourth section every fourth year:

1992/3: sections 1, 4*, 7, 10, 13 and 16

1996/7: sections 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14

2000/1: sections 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15

2004/5: sections 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16 etc.
Spoil to be spread on northern side.

Brink on south side; these sections are out of phase with the slubbing sections by half their length.

NB * Section 4 was not cleared in 92/93, after the discovery of Red Data Book water beetle species; pending further research, it may be slotted back into the rotation in a few years' time.

Thomson's Dyke (95)

Total length: 230 m

Rotation: none; leave to undergo succession to dryness

Totally re-excavated 1981
'Brinked' on E side during clearance of drove in autumn.

Sedge Fen Drove to Spinney Bank (78g)

Total length: 280 m (including the spur at right angles along Sedge Fen Drove);

four sections of 70 m.

Rotation: 8 years

SPINNEY BANK        1      2      3      4       SEDGE FEN DROVE

Slub:               1      2      3      4
Brink:          O      E      O      E       O

Clear all sections in 1992, widening the channel towards the northern bank; then clear alternate sections every four years:

1992/3: all sections

1996/7: sections 1 and 3

2000/1: sections 2 and 4 etc.
Spread spoil on northern bank.

A4.2.6.2 Summary of slubbing by years

See Fig. 12

        Drainers' New  Malc'se Cross  Gdner's Wind   SFD   TOTAL
        Dyke      Dyke Drain   Dyke   Dyke    -pump  to    FOR
                                              Ditch  SpBk  YEAR
        (75)    (70)   (71)   (72)    (91)    (78d)  (78g)

WINTER
91/2     .      125    685    220      .       .      .    1355*
92/3    440      .      .      .      365     160    280   1245
93/4     .       .      .      .       .       .      .       0
94/5    440      .      .      .       .      160     .     600
95/6     .      125    230    220      .       .      .     575
96/7    440      .      .      .      305      65    140    950
97/8     .       .      .      .       .       .      .       0
98/9    440      .      .      .       .       95     .     535
99/2000  .      125    230    220      .       .      .     575
2000/1  440      .      .      .      305      65    140    950
01/02    .       .      .      .       .       .      .       0
02/03   440      .      .      .       .       95     .     535
03/04    .      125    230    220      .       .      .     675
04/05   440      .      .      .      365      65    140   1010
05/06    .       .      .      .       .       .      .       0
06/07   440      .      .      .       .       95     .     535
07/08    .      125    230    220      .       .      .     625
08/09   440      .      .      .      305      65    140    950

* Includes 425 m re-excavation of North Dyke

A4.2.7 Turf-digging

Page Index:

The proposed plan for digging pits is shown in Fig. 13

A4.3 Year-by-year work plans

Page Index:

1993 Reed harvest usual area Conservation reeds 1/3 to burn (hut end) Mere & surrounds if necessary Special clearance ? Spring litter 10b, 13a, 14a, 14b, 15b, 16a, 18a, 19a Spring Peucedanum 05A, 15C & D Path mowing from April/May (4 - 6X) Sedge harvest 04 patch, 05, 13 (patches) Brinking (I) 75 440m (1a,2b/3a, 4b/5a etc) 78d 225m (1a, 2b/3a, 4b) 78f 140m ( ditto ) 91 480m ( ditto ) W. Lode (c.1/2 of each section) Sp. Bank ( ditto ) Summer litter 10b, 12a, 13b, 14c, 15b, 18d, 19b(b), 19c(b), 20(b), 22(b),30a(b), 69a Grazing fields if necessary Brinking (II) as I Reed spraying if necessary Autumn litter 03a, 10b, 10c, 10e, 11a, 11b, 12, 21, 30b Viola field 02A Drove clearance all Autumn Peucedanum 19B Path repairs as required Godwin Plots 1, 2 & 4 Dykes & ditches 75 440m (1, 3, 5 & 7 etc) (contractor in winter 78d 160m (1 & 3) 1992/3) THERE IS NO 78f 280m all DITCHING IN 1993/4 91 365m (1, 4, 7, 10, 13 & 16) Trees Salix pentandra partial pollarding Development projects Workshops/piggeries; Cross Dyke culvert Monitoring butterflies; fox/Canada Goose numbers; tree distribution (spp. & size) 1994 Reed harvest as 1993 Conservation reeds ---- Mere & surrounds if not completed in 1993 Special clearance ? Spring litter 10a, 10b, 14a, 15a, 15b, 16b, 18b Spring Peucedanum 05B, 15A Path mowing as usual Sedge harvest 14 (patches), 17 Brinking (I) 75 440m (1b/2a, 3b/4a etc.) 78d 225m ( ditto ) 78f 140m ( ditto ) 91 480m ( ditto ) Wicken Lode banks Spinney Bank Summer litter 04, 05, 10a, 10b, 15b, 18c, 18e, 19b(b) 19d(b), 19e(b), 20(b), 22(b), 30a(b), 69a Grazing fields if necessary Brinking (II) as I Reed spraying if necessary Autumn litter 03b, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 11b, 12, 21, 30b, 69b, 69c Viola field B Drove clearance all Autumn Peucedanum 19c Path repairs as necessary Godwin Plots 1 & 3 Dykes & ditches 75 440m (2,4,6 etc.) (winter 1994/5) 78d 160m (2 & 4) Development/monitoring to be determined 1995 Reed harvest usual area Conservation reeds 1/3 to burn (centre) Mere & surrounds if necessary Special clearance ? Spring litter 10b, 13a, 14b, 15b, 16a, 18a, 19a Spring Peucedanum 05C, 14A, 15B Path mowing from April/May (4 - 6 X) Sedge harvest 03, 18 Brinking (I) 75 440m (1a, 2b/3a, 4b/5a etc.) 78d 225m ( ditto ) 78f 140m ( ditto ) 91 480m ( ditto ) Wicken Lode banks Spinney Bank Summer litter 10b, 12a, 13b, 14c, 15b, 18d, 19b(b), 19c(b), 19e(b), 20(b), 22(b), 30a(b), 69a Grazing fields if necessary Brinking (II) as I Reed spraying if necessary Autumn litter 03a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 11a, 11b, 12, 21, 30b, 69b, 69c

Viola field C Drove clearance all Autumn Peucedanum 19D Path repairs as necessary Godwin Plots 1 & 2 Dykes & ditches 70 125m (2 & 4) (winter 1995/6) 71 230m (1, 4, 7 & 10) 73 220m (2, 4, 6 & 8) Trees Salix pentandra partial pollarding Development/monitoring to be determined 1996 Reed harvest usual area Conservation reeds --- Mere & surrounds --- Special clearance ? Spring litter 10a, 10b, 13a, 14a, 15a, 15b, 16b, 18b Spring Peucedanum 05D, 15C Path mowing as usual Sedge harvest 04 (patch), 05, 12 (patches), 13 (patches) Brinking (I) 75 440m (1b/2a, 3b/4a etc.) 78d 225m ( ditto ) 78f 140m ( ditto ) 91 480m ( ditto ) Wicken Lode banks Spinney Bank Summer litter 04, 05, 10a, 10b, 12a, 15b, 18c, 18e, 19b(b), 19d(b), 20(b), 22(b), 30a(b), 69a Grazing fields if necessary Brinking (II) as I Reed spraying --- Autumn litter 03b, 10b, 10c, 10e, 11a, 11b, 12, 21, 30b, 69b, 69c Viola field A Drove clearance all Autumn Peucedanum 19A Path repairs as necessary Godwin Plots 1 Dykes & ditches 75 440m (1, 3, 5 etc) (winter 1996/97) 78d 65m (1) 78f 140m (1 & 3) 91 305m (2, 5, 8, 11 & 14) Development/monitoring to be determined 1997 Reed harvest usual area Conservation reeds 1/3 to burn (Commissioners' Drain end) Mere & surrounds --- Special clearance ? Spring litter 10b, 14a, 14b, 15b, 16a, 18a, 19a Spring Peucedanum 05A, 14B, 15D Path mowing from April/May (4 - 6 X) Sedge harvest 14 (patches), 17 Brinking (I) 75 440m (1a, 2b/3a, 4b/5a etc.) 78d 225m ( ditto ) 78f 140m ( ditto ) 91 480m ( ditto ) Wicken Lode banks Spinney Bank Summer litter 10b, 13b, 14c, 18d, 19b(b), 19c(b), 19e(b) Grazing fields if necessary Brinking (II) as I Reed spraying --- Autumn litter 03a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 11b, 12, 21, 30b, 69b, 69c Viola field 02B Drove clearance all Autumn Peucedanum 19B Path repairs as necessary Godwin Plots 1, 2, 3 & 4 (cycle completed) Dykes & ditches none this year (winter 1997/8) Trees Salix pentandra? Development/monitoring to be determined 1998 Reed harvest usual area Conservation reeds --- Mere & surrounds --- Special clearance ? Spring litter 10a, 10b, 13a, 15a, 15b, 16b, 18b Spring Peucedanum 05B, 15A Path mowing as usual Sedge harvest 03, 18 Brinking (I) 75 440m (1b/2a, 3b/4a etc.) 78d 225m ( ditto ) 78f 140m ( ditto ) 91 480m ( ditto ) Wicken Lode Bank Spinney Bank Summer litter 04, 05, 10a, 10b, 12a, 15b, 18c, 18e, 19b(b), 19d(b), 19e(b), 20(b), 22(b), 30a(b), 69a Grazing fields if necessary Brinking (II) as I Reed spraying --- Autumn litter 03b, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 11a, 11b, 12, 21, 30b, 69b, 69c Viola field 02C Drove clearance all Autumn Peucedanum 19C Path repairs as necessary Godwin Plots 1 Dykes & ditches 75 440m (2, 4, 6 etc.) (winter 1998/9) 78d 65m (3) Development/monitoring to be determined 1999 Reed harvest usual area Conservation reeds 1/3 to burn (Hut end) Mere & surrounds --- Special clearance ? Spring litter 10b, 13a, 14a, 14b, 15b, 16a, 18a, 19a Spring Peucedanum 05C, 14A, 15B Path mowing from April/May (4 - 6 X) Sedge harvest 04 (patch), 05, 12 (patches), 13 (patches) Brinking (I) 75 440m (1a, 2b/3a, 4b etc.) 78d 225m ( ditto ) 78f 140m ( ditto ) 91 480m ( ditto ) Wicken Lode banks Spinney Bank Summer litter 10b, 12a, 13b, 14c, 15b, 18d, 19b(b), 19c(b) Grazing fields if necessary Brinking (II) as I Reed spraying if necessary Autumn litter 03a, 10b, 10c, 10e, 11a, 11b, 12, 21, 30b, 69b, 69c Viola field 02A Drove clearance all Autumn Peucedanum 19D Path repairs as necessary Godwin Plots 1 & 2 Dykes & ditches 70 125m (1 & 3) (winter 1999/2000) 71 230m (2, 5, 8 & 11) 73 220m (1, 3, 5 & 7) Development/monitoring to be determined

These Wicken Fen pages are supported by East Cambridgeshire On-Line News and English Nature.

Contact details for Wicken Fen are here. However, if you have any comment or questions regarding this Web site then you should contact ECOLN directly.