Throughout the consultation period a number of recurring questions have been asked - set out below are the National Trust's response to a number of these questions.

How can you justify taking productive arable land out of production?

The question of taking arable land out of production particularly amongst the farming community can be very emotive. If the Vision blueprint is completely enacted it would involve around 56 sq km being withdrawn from arable production over a 100 year time period, a minute percentage of the approximate 60,000 sq km of arable farmland in the UK, and a fraction of the arable farmland lost annually to housing and other infrastructure projects.

The current practice of draining the land for cultivation is leading to the erosion of the peat soils, at a rate of approximately 1cm per annum. At this rate the peat will seriously depleted within 50 years, reducing the ability of the land to support productive agriculture.

It should also be noted that at present a significant amount of land within the Vision area is currently given over to turf and flower growing, not food production.

How many landowners are there in the Vision area - what if they don't wish to sell their land to the Trust?

At the last count there were approximately 120 individual landowners in the Vision area.

Land acquisition by the Trust is the result of a voluntary decision by the landowner to negotiate a sale and secondly the Trust being able to secure funds to purchase the land whether by public donation or grant. The Trust do not have powers of compulsory purchase nor does it seek them.

The Trust accepts that many landowners may not wish to sell their land either now or in the foreseeable future and in such instances would be keen to discuss potential land management and public access agreements with individual landowners.

Landowners who may be interested in discussing the sale of the property are asked to contact the Wicken Fen Vision Project Manager (Tel 01353 720274) in the first instance.

Can you afford to buy land in view of recent increases in agricultural land values?

In recent months there has been a dramatic increase in agricultural land values, principally driven by rising cereal prices. This will invariably have an impact on the Trust's ability to purchase land in the short term.

Land purchases would be at market value and it's possible that other potential purchasers maybe able to offer a premium.

Historically agriculture land values have gone through a series of booms and depressions and likewise the Trust is taking a long term view to land acquisition. At the outset it was always envisaged that the Vision would take approximately 100 years to reach completion.

Taking land out of production will reduce employment - what opportunities will there be for employment and new enterprises?

The anticipated increase in visitors to the Vision area will provide opportunities within local communities particularly in hospitality and leisure services. It is also expected that additional employment will be created by the Trust in areas such as visitor services, catering, land and property management, provision of cycle hire and camping facilities etc. The existing 1800 acres maintained by the Trust supports the full time employment of 12 employees and an equal number of part time / casual employees, significantly more employment than agriculture could provide.

A key element of the Vision is to ensure that it has a sustainable financial future and economic benefit to the local communities.

Increased numbers of visitors will create traffic and parking problems in villages surrounding the Vision area.

The Trust are aware of residents concerns that increased visitor numbers could lead to traffic congestion and parking difficulties in the villages surrounding the Vision area.

As a first step the Trust are seeking to engage transport consultants to assess predicted visitor flows, traffic management and options for sustainable transport.

Ideally we would like to see as many visitors as possible arriving by public transport or under their own steam walking, cycling or riding. However, in our highly mobile society we must understand that the private vehicle is often the preferred method or only practicable mode of transport for visitors especially those travelling greater distances and the Trust need to plan and cater for these visitors accordingly.

The Trust are particularly interested in the potential development of a community bus service linking the villages surrounding the Vision area. This would not only help visitors access various areas of the Nature reserve but also enhance access for local residents by linking with existing public transport links to improve access to Newmarket, Ely, Cambridge and beyond. Consideration is also being given to the use of existing park and ride facilities close to the Southern boundary of the Vision area where visitors could leave their vehicles and be transported into the vision area.

Why do you want to lower the Lodes and eventually have them abandoned?

The National Trust has not, nor is it advocating that the Lodes should be lowered, removed or abandoned and has sought to re-affirm this throughout the consultation process.

The Trust fully recognises that the Lodes are historical and cultural feature of the Fenland landscape, a habitat for wildlife, a means of transportation and a resource for leisure activities such as boating and fishing.

The Lodes are a central feature of drainage and flood management in the Fens and are managed by the Environment Agency. The Trust will work with the Agency to secure the long term future of the Lodes and to ensure that the planned re-wetting of land owned by the Trust will not undermine the stability of the Lode banks.

Is it safe to have herds of cattle and ponies roaming freely where there is public access?

The safety of the public visiting the reserve is of paramount importance and the Trust constantly reviews both the safety of the public and animals. We are also monitoring similar low density grazing projects in this country and in Europe.

The public are welcome to walk and ride in areas where the animals are grazing however we do request that visitors refrain from feeding or petting the animals. If the animals are blocking your path, please feel free to leave the path to move around them. In other parts of the county access through grazing livestock is common place and we hope over time people will become more familiar with them at Wicken.

In the event that you do experience problems with the animals please report the incident to the Grazing Warden at the Wicken Fen Visitor Centre or telephone 01353 720274

Cyclists, walkers and horse riders don't mix; can we have separate paths?

The recently installed bridge over Swaffham Bulbeck Lode is a prime example of how the Trust seeks to meet the requirements of all visitors. The bridge has been designed with gentle access ramps and 1.8 metre high parapets to cater for cyclists and horse riders alike. A new bridleway and surfaced footpath running South from the bridge across Bottisham Fen to the White Fen Droveway has also been constructed.

The Trust will strive to meet the needs and requirements of all classes of user but it must be appreciated that it not always feasible or practical to provide separate facilities. Visitors are requested to show mutual respect and curtesey to other visitors.

The consultation has revealed that we need to work more effectively with various groups of users. Initially a series of drop-in sessions are planned at Wicken Fen Visitor Centre where individuals and groups can meet National Trust staff to discuss their concerns and wishes for the future. Eventually we hope to establish a User Forum with representatives from various user groups. Details of the drop-in sessions will be published in the Wicken Fen Newsletter and on the website.

The route of the Spine Route from Waterbeach needs to suit villagers as well as visitors - how can you achieve this?

The National Trust is currently in discussions with Waterbeach Parish Council over the route from Waterbeach Station to Bottisham Lock. A site meeting attended by Parish Councillors, National Trust and Sustrans representatives to discuss the route was held on 3 May. The proposed route will now be formally considered by the Parish Council. Details of the proposed route will be published in a forthcoming edition of the Wicken Fen Newsletter and online at www.wicken.org.uk

The Vision could be a fantastic business opportunity in the surrounding villages, but why are there no links from the Spine Route out to the villages?

The Spine Route is designed to provide a traffic free access route from Anglesey Abbey and Waterbeach to Wicken Fen in the North, whilst completing the gap in National Cycle Route 11 from Harlow to Cambridge, Ely and King's Lynn. The Spine Route will link into the existing network of footpaths and bridleways significantly improving access to and from surrounding villages. Consideration will be given to the development of new footpaths and bridleways including circular routes in order to improve access to the Vision area

Will there be places where dogs can be let of the lead?

Dogs are welcome at Wicken Fen although we do request owners keep their dogs on leads in the SSSI nature reserve. Throughout the wider Vision area visitors are welcome to let their dogs of the lead but are requested to keep their dogs under control and to respect wildlife and other visitors.

Why have you erected so many gates and how can we get keys?

In some areas fencing and gates have been installed to contain the Highland Cattle and Konik ponies used a part of the Trust's extensive grazing programme. To assist access by walkers and cyclists kissing gates (large enough to accommodate bikes) have been installed on footpaths. Where locked gates have been installed, Horse riders wishing to access the land can be issued with a key.

What is the National Trust doing to oppose the proposed Honey Hill Sewage works?

The Trust has objected to the County Councils proposals for locating the sewage works at Honey Hill. The site is directly alongside the site of the proposed Bridge of Reeds and would be detrimental to the setting of such a landmark structure. The Trust also expressed concerns about possible ground water contamination and odour on the prevailing wind towards Anglesey Abbey.

Will there be a charge to enter the Vision area?

Where the Trust provides facilities such as car parking, toilets, interpretation and catering facilities such as at Wicken Fen and Anglesey Abbey then entrance charges will be levied.

In the larger vision area where there are numerous public rights of way and open countryside access to which will remain free of charge.

Can you reconcile greater public access with preservation of wildlife?

A core principal of the Wicken Fen Vision is to create a landscape scale nature reserve of sufficient size to enable wildlife and visitors to co-exists happily side by side. The questions of sanctuary areas with restricted public access to protect endangered species or temporary restrictions during the breeding season may have to be considered in some instances.

Who is making the decisions about the future and how can we get involved?

Participation in the consultation process is an example how individual members of the public can help shape the Wicken Fen Vision. The proposed Users Forum is another example of how specified user groups can participate in shaping the Vision.

On a day to day basis, a Steering Committee of National Trust Staff under the direction of the Area Manager are responsible for the implementation of the Vision.

The project is overseen firstly by the Wicken Fen Local Committee who provides the National Trust with a wealth of knowledge and experience on scientific study and technical aspects of conservation management, and secondly by the Trust's East of England Regional Committee, whose vast experience and professional expertise is employed to oversee and scrutinise implementation of the Vision.

There is also widespread consultation with a wide range of public and statutory authorities ranging from Parish, District and County Councils, Environment Agency and Natural England, to name but a few.

Creating more wetland will create a haven for mosquitoes and potentially malaria.

There are over 30 species of mosquito in Britain and the vast majority don't bite humans. Although most water bodies will provide habitat for some species of mosquitoes the design of the wetland within the vision should ensure populations do not build up. Larger water bodies containing healthy ecosystems including fish and other predators that will eat the mosquito larvae and so prevent their populations from growing, or areas of shallow water which will dry out in the summer months before the mosquitoes build up.

Malaria is a disease of humans caused by a parasite that lives in the blood and mosquitoes are the carriers. If malaria is not present within the human population then mosquitoes will not have the opportunity to carry the disease between people. There would need to be a significant number of people with malaria in the area before there is enough of the parasite to cause an outbreak. This just won't happen because modern medicine will prevent people with malaria becoming carriers.

Do you intend to flood the whole area?