C5.1 The Sedge Fen & St Edmund's Fen
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- Figure 26 shows the drainage system with directions of flow. Wicken Lode is probably of Roman origin (RCHM N-E Cambs.) while Monk's Lode is probably mediaeval in date (ibid.). Both these waterways are sinuous rather than straight and it is possible that they follow pre-existing natural watercourses. Howe's Bank was built between 1722 and 1742, and the ditch dug either then or in 1841. Spinney Bank already existed in 1685, and Drainers' Dyke dates from the first drainage efforts of the Adventurers; it was dug to carry water from the Spinney Bank area across the Fen to Wicken Lode (and still does so).
- Other ditches on the Sedge Fen are of uncertain date but were probably dug in the 17th century as internal boundary markers (Rowell, 1983). By 1886 they were derelict but were cleaned out in 1925-26 (Rowell, 1983).
- The Sedge Fen may have been partially drained in the 17th - 18th century but has probably never been dry enough for cultivation. By the beginning of the 20th century, it was so poorly drained that entomologists were recommended "never to visit Wicken without waders" ( Burrows, quoted by Rowell, 1983).
- The completion of the drainage works by the Adventurers in 1663 led to the subdivision of the common lands which now form the part of the Sedge Fen to the east of Drainers' Dyke. This subdivision was into 52 strips each of about 1.75 acres (0.71 ha) (Fig. 29). St Edmund's Fen was similarly divided, but into smaller units. The strips were subsequently managed by the commoners of Wicken for the production of sedge or litter. Three strips were dug for turf (peat) (Rowell, l983).
- The part of the Sedge Fen to the west of Drainers' Dyke was allotted to the Adventurers after drainage (Fig. 30) and was subsequently subdivided between several owners (Figs. 31, 32). It seems likely that the internal ditches here demarcate the various holdings (Rowell, 1983). Some of the parts were used for sedge harvesting; others were described as 'fen meadow' and may have been mown for litter. Between 1663 and 1850, about 40 acres, mainly at the western end of the Sedge Fen, was dug for turf and relict trenches still cover this area (Rowell, 1983).
- The idea that the Fen was used as a wash to receive excess flood water has been put forward in a number of places (e.g. Perring et al, 1964). There seems however, to be little evidence for this; local relative levels are against the idea. Rowell (l983) found no evidence of such use.
- Drainage of the Sedge Fen is no longer appropriate, indeed, measures have been taken to keep water in the Fen against the gravitational gradient towards the surrounding arable landscape. In 1987-8, Howe's Dyke was re-excavated, the bank strengthened and a 4 m deep trench excavated in the bank into which a polythene membrane was inserted. This bank has been adopted by the NRA as the 'north bank' of Wicken Lode. In 1988-9, Spinney Bank was treated in the same way.
- Other ditches on the Sedge Fen are of uncertain date but were probably dug in the 17th century as internal boundary markers (Rowell, 1983). By 1886 they were derelict but were cleaned out in 1925-26 (Rowell, 1983).
- From about 1860, Wicken Fen became an important site for the study of natural history, and particularly entomology, because other fens in the area were drained at this time and local natural historians turned their attention to the site (Rowell, 1983). There is a considerable amount of published information from that date on, culminating in the publication in 1923-32 of the collected volumes making up The Natural History of Wicken Fen (Gardiner, 1923-32). In the 1920s and 1930s it became an important site for the study of plant ecology, a science then in its infancy in this country. This interest has continued to the present day.
- After the initial acquisition of land early in the century, little was done by way of management other than to encourage the continuation of traditional cutting for sedge and litter. Additional droves (Gardiner's, Thomson's, Christy's and Verrall's) were cut in 1929, in some cases following the lines of earlier paths, and these have subsequently been widened. Some tree planting was carried out, including the row of Salix pentandra at the north-eastern corner of the fen.
- Godwin's experiments (1941) laid the foundations for an understanding of the effects of management on fen vegetation. The three principal types of vegetation on the Sedge Fen are perpetuated by the frequency of cutting:
Sedge, with abundant Cladium mariscus, is found in areas which are cut at intervals of 3-5 years;
Litter, in which various species are common, develops in sites which are cut more frequently;
Carr, a form of wet scrub woodland, develops where there is no cutting.
- In addition, the ditches and the paths support distinctive plant and animal communities, and also depend on cycles of management to maintain their diversity.
- The present management of all these vegetation types and the history of the development of the methods and their ecological background are described in detail in Part A of the Management Plan.
- After the initial acquisition of land early in the century, little was done by way of management other than to encourage the continuation of traditional cutting for sedge and litter. Additional droves (Gardiner's, Thomson's, Christy's and Verrall's) were cut in 1929, in some cases following the lines of earlier paths, and these have subsequently been widened. Some tree planting was carried out, including the row of Salix pentandra at the north-eastern corner of the fen.
- The land in this area was acquired mainly between 1920 and 1930. In 1928, invitations to purchase two additional areas of 40 & 100 acres were declined, and the sale of the area owned between Reach and Burwell Lodes was mooted. The Committee was unable to afford to purchase Priory Farm in 1952.
- There has been much confusion over nomenclature in the area; this stems mainly from the fact that various areas have been referred to as 'Adventurers' Fen'. In particular, the 'Adventurers' Fen' of Ennion (1942, 1949) is the area between Burwell and Reach Lodes, and not the land known as such on the Trust property. Names will be used as follows:
Burwell Fen - the whole of Burwell Fen lying between Reach Lode and Wicken Lode Burwell Fen East - that part of Burwell Fen lying between Burwell Lode and Wicken Lode (including Monk's Lode and the New River) Burwell Fen West - that part of Burwell Fen lying between Burwell Lode and Reach Lode Charles Raven Reserve - Trust property in Burwell Fen East which is bounded by Burwell and Wicken Lodes and by waterproof banks Trust arable - Trust property in Burwell Fen East which is south and east of waterproof banks Adventurers' Fen - total Trust holdings in Burwell Fen East (i.e. Charles Raven Reserve + Trust arable Pout Hall Fen - Trust property in Burwell Fen West (see Fig. 33) - There has been much confusion over nomenclature in the area; this stems mainly from the fact that various areas have been referred to as 'Adventurers' Fen'. In particular, the 'Adventurers' Fen' of Ennion (1942, 1949) is the area between Burwell and Reach Lodes, and not the land known as such on the Trust property. Names will be used as follows:
- In Adventurers' Fen, drainage works started in 1651 and were completed in 1655-6, and the area was part of that allocated to the "Adventurers" as payment for the drainage of the fens. By the middle of the 18th century, Adventurers' Fen seems to have been agriculturally derelict and used mainly for turf digging. A temporary improvement followed the digging of a new drainage system in 1841; this same system allowed the draining of the land between Verrall's Fen and the Upware ridge; Howe's Dyke may date from this drainage episode (see above). Adventurers' Fen soon became derelict again, but turf digging continued till about 1920.
- Land-use on Burwell Fen in the early years of this century is described by Ennion (1942, 1949). In 1936, it was estimated that the Trust property could be classified as follows:
litter 75 acres; litter with extensive bush 75 acres; carr 40 acres; reed 20 acres; grazing land 40 acres (Thorpe 1936).The proportion of carr seems to have been greater by 1940 (Bloom, 1944).
- In 1941, Trust property in Burwell Fen East was requisiti oned by the War Agriculture Executive Committee. The drainage was improved by abandoning the existing drainage system and linking the area to the Swaffam Internal Drainage Board. This involved a reversal of flow in Commissioners' Drain. Ditches were deepened and widened, with the loss of many old boundaries, and the area put down to arable crops (Bloom, 1944). Arable cultivation of the present Charles Raven Reserve does not seem to have been very profitable (Bloom, 1944). It ceased in 1952, and the area was sown to grass (Committee Minutes).
- The area was returned to the Trust in 1952, and the northern part has since been managed as the Charles Raven Marshland Reserve (see below). It is mostly well-drained, with shallow flooding of some fields during the winter.
- Land-use on Burwell Fen in the early years of this century is described by Ennion (1942, 1949). In 1936, it was estimated that the Trust property could be classified as follows:
- 29.5 ha (73 acres) of Adventurers' Fen first let for cultivation on an agricultural tenancy.
early 1950s: some tree planting; the clump of Alder on Evans' Fen dates from this time.
1954-55: Mere dug, and a pipe installed which allowed water from Wicken Lode to be run into either the Mere or the Charles Raven Reserve.
1955 or 1956: One or two 'scrapes' bulldozed in present reed bed to create habitat for waders
1956: Management plan for whole reserve prepared and agreed. It was noted that management policy for Adventurers' Fen would need constant revision. Specific proposals included:
- 1. West Adventurers' Fen and land marginal to the Mere to be allowed to develop into a mosaic of grassland, mixed fen, and reedswamp under cattle grazing;
- 2. Rothschild's Lapwing, and Brett's and Trevelyan's Pieces, which had been sown to grass and let for grazing, to be kept as an ornithologically useful and desirable neutral 'fringe' to the reserve;
- 3. the Alder plantation on Evans' Fen to be extended (see 1976 below).
- It was suggest ed that if Adventurers' Fen could be kept sufficiently wet then various kinds of fen community free of bushes could be re-created. The problems posed by Commissioners' Drain (see below) and the desire to seal the reserve off from this, and the costs of such an exercise, were noted.
1956: Sheep gra zing prohibited, and the number of cattle allowed to graze East Adventurers' Fen limited to 50. The present commercial reed bed removed from the grazing area. It is not clear whether the first two restrictions were implemented.
1959: Reed harvesting began in Commercial reed bed
1961: A sluice was installed to allow the reed bed to be drained into Commissioners' Drain during the winter.
1966: Lt.Col. M itchell produced management proposals which included provision for increases in the area of open water and reed beds, management to create grazing areas for wildfowl, the creation of mud banks and shallowly flooded grazing land, and the construction of waterproof banks. These proposals were agreed, and gradually implemented in following years.
1969: Pond dug on Trevelyan's Piece, and scrape bulldozed near Mere.
1969: A waterproof bank linking Monk's Lode to Harrison's Drove was installed, paid for by appeal funds.
c1970: Conservation Reed Bed removed from the grazing tenancy.
1971: Ditches dug to south of Trevelyan's Piece, and to north of Brett's Piece. Large pond excavated in south-west corner of Charles Raven Reserve ('Sappers' Pond).
1973: First set of propo sals for the imposition of stricter terms on the grazing licence for the benefit of the ornithological interest of the area. Save for limitations imposed in 1956 (see above), this appears to have been the first attempt to control the timing of grazing and the use of fertilizers and herbicides.
1974: Erection of hide at north end of Mere proposed, and associated vegetation clearance agreed. (Done 1979-81).
1975: A waterproof bank installed between Harrison's Drove and Burwell Lode (Commissioners' Drain).
1976: Management pl an for whole reserve agreed. This included a section on the Charles Raven Reserve. It was envisaged that the existing management, which was governed by the 1966 plan, should continue, but that attempts should be made to reduce the abundance of Juncus (rushes) in some areas. The proposals for the planting of Evans' Fen were dropped.
1980-84: The use of Trust land in Burwell Fen East in 1980 and 1983 is shown approximately below. Minor variations occur
- because of different ways of dividing compartments from
- one another. Real differences are asterisked.
1980 1984 Arable 29.3 ha. 29.3 ha. Grassland 43.0 32.3* Banks (grazed) 5.5 6.4 Harrison's Drove 1.1 1.1 Reed - conservation 5.8 6.3 " - harvested 19.4 19.7 "Dry land" inside Mere 6.2 Mere Reed 14.0* Open water - Mere 3.5 3.4 " - Other 0.8 Mere Island 2.3 Scrub 0.6 1.0- Adventurers' Fen has thus been cultivated intermittently for the last 300 years. Most of the Charles Raven Reserve is now let on an annual grazing licence, with grazing by cattle and sheep.
- Some tree-planting seems to have been carried out on Adventurers' Fen but most of these trees were probably lost during the wartime drainage. A single Salix pentandra on Trevelyan's Piece might be a relic of this planting.
1990: Emergency flood storage reservoir scheme implemented (see below). Borrow Pit created from Sappers' Pond.
1992: Management plan for Charles Raven Reserve under review following the completion of waterproofing of the boundary banks and of the flood relief scheme. - 1. West Adventurers' Fen and land marginal to the Mere to be allowed to develop into a mosaic of grassland, mixed fen, and reedswamp under cattle grazing;
- The Charles Raven Reserve drains into Commissioners' Drain, where water stands about a metre below the soil surface in the Reserve. Water can be let into the reserve from Wicken Lode, and can either enter the Mere or its perimeter ditch, whence it passes under Harrison's Drove and into the reed field. Ditches in the reed field carry the water into a collecting ditch which discharges through a pipe into Commissioners' Drain. This pipe can be closed to give a measure of control of water levels. Water level management in the reed field is discussed in Part A of the Management Plan (A2.4, A6.4). Recently Commisssioners' Drain has been removed from the local drainage system, and the southern end will be closed by a sluice at the edge of the Reserve. Water spilled into the local drainage system will be metered and a charge levied against the Committee, but there will no longer be drainage rates
- A waterproof bank linking Monk's Lode to Harrison's Drove was installed in 1969. In 1975 a grant from the Nature Conservancy Council enabled a waterproof bank to be installed between Harrison's Drove and Burwell Lode (Commissioners' Drain). This has apparently changed the hydrological state of the area; a survey is being carried out in 1992.
- In 1990, it was agreed with Anglian Water (N.R.A.) that part of the Trust property on Adventurers' Fen could be used as an emergency flood storage reservoir (see C3.6). Commissioners' Drain was remade and a large borrow pit created by extraction of clay from the Sappers' Pond. A level grassed spillway from Wicken Lode onto Evans' Fen represents the lowest point in the entire Reach - Burwell - Wicken Lode system at 2.15 m A.O.D. An agreement between the Trust, the IDB and the NRA allows for the NRA to pay for any metered discharge into the IDB system should the spillway be overtopped.
- A waterproof bank linking Monk's Lode to Harrison's Drove was installed in 1969. In 1975 a grant from the Nature Conservancy Council enabled a waterproof bank to be installed between Harrison's Drove and Burwell Lode (Commissioners' Drain). This has apparently changed the hydrological state of the area; a survey is being carried out in 1992.
- This is largely dependent on the results of the hydrological survey of 1992 and will be the subject of an Addendum to the Management Plan in 1993.
- Details of all licences and tenancies on the property are given in an Appendix, and a plan is given in Figure 20.
Arable Land
- Approximately 41 ha (101 acres) of the property is let under traditional agricultural tenancies. The majority of this is on Adventurers' Fen (30 ha; 74 acres). All the land has been drained. The soil is of good quality and stone-free, and is capable of producing reasonably high yields of wheat, carrots, sugar beet, potatoes, linseed etc. Rental returns are relatively high, although unlikely to rise significantly in real terms while farming profitability remains generally depressed. Also, because of the absence of buildings, the Landlord is seldom required to contribute to any improvement works.
- Rents are reviewed on a three-yearly cycle, and since all the land falls outside the SSSI boundary, no restrictions are placed on the tenants over choice of cropping and method of management.
Rough Pasture
- Approximately 39 ha (97 acres) of Adventurers' Fen (Charles Raven Reserve) is let on an annual grazing licence. The areas include Evan's Fen, Brett's Piece, Trevelyan's Piece, Rothschild's Lapwing, and a narrow strip along the south bank of Wicken Lode. Although the grazing provides a source of income, its main value lies in managing the grass and thus reducing the labour input necessary to control vegetation growth.
- The entire area let is within the SSSI boundary and no artificial sprays or fertilizers are applied. Much of the land is subject to waterlogging and controlled winter flooding, improving its ornithological interest and encouraging a wide diversity of plants and animals.
- Rents are reviewed annually, the licence period normally running from the beginning of May to the end of October each year, although the season may be extended as conditions allow.
- Approximately 41 ha (101 acres) of the property is let under traditional agricultural tenancies. The majority of this is on Adventurers' Fen (30 ha; 74 acres). All the land has been drained. The soil is of good quality and stone-free, and is capable of producing reasonably high yields of wheat, carrots, sugar beet, potatoes, linseed etc. Rental returns are relatively high, although unlikely to rise significantly in real terms while farming profitability remains generally depressed. Also, because of the absence of buildings, the Landlord is seldom required to contribute to any improvement works.
- In 1989, Cpt.68, on the north-east margin of the property, was planted with a 'conservation mix' of ash, oak, Alder and Grey Willow, with a patchy underplanting of hawthorn, Blackthorn, Alder Buckthorn and Guelder Rose. This attracted a grant under the Farm Woodlands Scheme.
- The purpose of the scheme is not to generate income, but to increase the number of trees in the marginal land adjoining the SSSI and to create glades as habitats for insects, particularly butterflies.
- As part of the revision of the management plan for the Charles Raven reserve, the re-establishment of osier beds is being considered. This would revive a traditional land-use and increase diversity on the reserve. The planting of hybrid Black Poplars on the Fen to provide sites for Golden Orioles has been discussed, but the Committee has rejected this proposal.
- The purpose of the scheme is not to generate income, but to increase the number of trees in the marginal land adjoining the SSSI and to create glades as habitats for insects, particularly butterflies.
- 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.
C5.1.1 Drainage and Land Use History
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C5.1.2 Natural History and Management History
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C5.2 Adventurers' Fen
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C5.2.1 Introduction
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C5.2.2 Drainage and Land Use History
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C5.2.3 The Charles Raven Reserve
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C5.2.3.1 History
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1936: Management scheme prepared and agreed. It was envisaged that the 75 acres of litter and bush, and the 40 acres of carr should be converted to litter (190 acres), reed (20 acres) and grazing (40 acres). There is no indication that these proposals were actually implemented.
1938: Committee minutes record approval of a scheme ' for the improvement of Adventurers' Fen as a bird reserve' but no details are to hand.
1945: Agreement with Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food envisaged that the present Charles Raven Reserve should be managed as a nature reserve and should contain a mere and rough grazing.
1952: Proposal that East Adventurers' Fen should be isolated by waterproof banks.
C5.2.3.2 Hydrology
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C5.2.3.3 Future Management
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C5.3 Farming and plantations
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C5.3.1 Farming
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C5.3.2 Plantations
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