Map of UK Conservation Grazing Schemes

Woodwalton Fen NNR lies at the lowest and most westerly part of the East Anglian fens. The area was dug for peat until the 1920s after which scrub invaded most of the site. Areas of remaining acid peat support stands of purple moor-grass, with ling, bog myrtle, tormentil and saw sedge.

Flower-rich mixed fen covers a significant area of the reserve and is home to yellow flag, swamp meadow grass and great water dock. The site is also home to rare fen plants such as fen wood-rush and fen violet, and the 15 km of ditches on the site support the rare water violet and carnivorous bladderwort. It is grazed by Galloway cross beef cattle.

The site also forms one of the core areas for the Great Fen Project, one of the most exciting habitat restoration projects ever undertaken in Britain - will create a 3,700 hectare wetland between Huntingdon and Peterborough – see www.greatfen.org.uk