Re-Thatching of Wicken Fen Tower Hide

The Tower Hide, an iconic feature of the Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, is set for a makeover next week (24-28 August).

The 30ft high hide which stands alongside Wicken Lode is set to be re-thatched by Master Thatchers Dodson Brothers of Peterborough, using sedge harvested from Wicken's Ancient Sedge Fen in summer 2008.

The sedge was harvested by teams of National Trust staff and volunteers. The annual harvesting of the Great Fen saw sedge at Wicken can be traced back to 1419.

One of the Wicken Fen Team who helped harvest the sedge was Visitor Services Manager, Isabel Sedgwick:

"It was hot tiring back breaking work and I have great admiration for the fen folk who for generations earned their living harvesting sedge on the fen. It's fantastic to see the outcome of all our hard work being put to such good use re-thatching the hide".

The Tower Hide is a firm favourite with visitors who like to climb the wooden staircases to discover the outstanding panoramic views over the Mere, Sedge Fen, Verrall's Fen and the wider Vision lands whilst providing an excellent elevated platform for viewing Wicken's wealth of resident and migratory wildlife.

The re-thatching of the Tower Hide is part of an ongoing programme to enhance Wicken Fen's bird watching facilities including the renovation of the East Mere Hide and the installation of a bird viewing platform on Tubney Fen, planned for later this year.

Funds for the conservation project have generously been donated by the St Albans National Trust Association and visitors to the fen who have purchased tickets for the National Trust's annual property draw, the proceeds of which support conservation work on the fen.

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. The Tower Hide was constructed in the mid 1950's and is one of nine birds hides located on the ancient Sedge Fen, Adventurer's and Baker's Fen.

2. The Great Fen saw sedge has been harvested at Wicken Fen from 1419, the crop being so valuable that local people resisted the draining of the fen. The sedge is harvested after three or four year's growth; more frequent cutting would weaken the sedge. The infrequent cutting regime allows a wide variety of other rare water dependent plants such as milk parsley and marsh pea to grow in the sedge fields.

3. Wicken Fen was purchased by the National Trust in 1899, the first nature reserve owned by the Trust. Find out more at www.wicken.org.uk

4. The National Trust is Europe's biggest conservation organisation and looks after special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland for ever, for everyone. People and places are at the heart of everything it does. Over 3.6 million members and 52,000 volunteers help the Trust look after 300 historic houses and gardens, 1,100 kilometres of coastline and 250,000 hectares of open countryside. Find out more at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

Further Information
For further information please contact: Howard Cooper, Communications Officer, Wicken Fen Tel 01353 720274 Mobile 07826 874133 or e-mail howard.cooper@nationaltrust.org.uk