The Bungalow trail tells the story of the 2 The Rothschild effect Rothschilds, and how Woodwalton has survived as one of the last remaining As you walk along the paths, you might hear the calls of birds or catch a glimpse of colourful fragments of wild fen. insects. Almost 1,000 species of butterflies and moths have made a home here, alongside over 1 A lost world half of all the UK’s dragonfly species.

If you had visited a few hundred If it wasn’t for one years ago, the wild around you would have 4 man, none of this stretched for over 850,000 acres (1,350 square would exist. The Hon. miles). Nathanial Charles Rothschild, was a The mixture of reedbeds, fen meadows and water successful city banker provided one of the richest areas for wildlife in the with a passion for country. entomology (the study of insects). He saw that When were at the end of the 19th drained to create 3 Charles Rothschild century, Britain’s wild farmland, more than areas were disappearing 99% of these wild areas at an alarming rate. disappeared. Most fen The Large Copper became species could not extinct in Britain when He recognised that if nothing were done, survive on the new nearby Whittlesea Mere these wild places and the wildlife that was drained. farmland and many, Photo by Anne Doody 2 relied on them would such as the Large be lost forever. Copper butterfly, disappeared. Charles had both the vision and the Woodwalton Fen is one of the last fragments of financial resources wild fen to survive. Although it is relatively small, to make a The rare scarce chaser dragonfly at 514 acres, this reserve is home to over 5,000 1 difference. He species. Many are rare or endangered, and some bought up land to are found almost nowhere else in the country. create the first nature reserves in Britain: in 1899 Recognised nationally and internationally, this is a and the unique and beautiful place to explore. P second, here in Woodwalton Fen, in 1910. He also set up the Society for the Protection of 3 The bungalow on stilts The will connect Woodwalton and creating a huge area for wildlife and In front of you is the Rothschild Bungalow, which for people. There will be new walking and cycling is over 100 years old, built in 1911. Charles used routes, improved flood protection for surround- this building as a base for his field trips, ing farms and communities, and a landscape- including the study of scale reserve for wildlife. moths and other insects. Land restoration is already underway. You might On the far right, the see sheep or cattle grazing the wet meadows original concrete stilts ahead and to your right. show the marks of fen floods. In the 1960’s, Gordon Mason, Warden, Building on Charles Rothschild’s legacy, this part Woodwalton Fen was in the floods of 1947 of the lost fens is now being restored. made into a floodwater storage area to protect surrounding Discover more trails, news, photos and film on land in times of heavy rain. the Great Fen website, www.greatfen.org.uk or please get in touch with the team. Photo:Rothschild Charles infront the of Bungalow, c1920 It was hoped that this would help solve the problem of Woodwalton Fen drying out as the surrounding farmland continued to be drained. Great Fen team: Tel: 01487 710420 Explore History: 4 The future: a view over the Great Fen Email: [email protected] Wildlife Trust Countryside Centre, Chapel Road, Ramsey the Bungalow Trail Woodwalton Fen is currently too small and Heights, PE26 2RS. (usually staffed 9am-4pm Mon-Fri). WOODWALTON FEN isolated: species with small populations have re- NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE duced genetic diversity and risk being wiped out The National Nature Reserve is managed by by extreme weather or disease. When floodwater Natural England. Any enquiries directly re- is stored here it often comes at the wrong time of lating to the reserve please phone year for wildlife and it contains nitrates from 01487 812363 farms, which interfere with the fragile ecosystem. This trail guide is also available in The floodbank gives an excellent view of the audio and large print on the Great future. Look for Holme Fen’s treeline in the far Fen website and from the Great Fen distance to your right (north-west). team.

This trail is Heritage Lottery Funded

www.greatfen.org.uk