Historically litter or marsh hay was cut at any time when the fen was dry enough to 'work'. Up until the mid-1990's much of the cut was baled and used as hay for bedding and fodder. However, marsh hay has a notoriously low nutrient content and during the 90's proved difficult to dispose of. Since then the material has been used to create specific habitats around the Sedge Fen. These habitats are vital for many species of invertebrate and provide ideal conditions for hibernating small mammals and reptiles.

As with many of the cutting rotations, litter cutting is now confined to the Sedge Fen and is carried out on a three year rotation. Cutting commences in early-mid August following on from the sedge harvest. This process, once carried out by hand, is now a good deal more mechanised. The use of tractor mounted cutting, turning and clearing equipment means that greater areas can be managed during the prescribed period. Even so only a small percentage of the tall herb fen (litter community) is managed in any one year. As has been mentioned the basic process of litter management is similar to hay. Once the vegetation has been cut it is left to dry. During the drying process the litter is turned at least once. This turning and drying process has important ecological benefits as it allows the seeds to be distributed. Once dried the material is cleared into what are often referred to as "Duffy Piles" (known at Wicken as Litter Heaps). It is these heaps that provide such a unique habitat for invertebrates and hibernation.