An Update from Fen Drayton Lakes
One hundred years ago, the land that would become Fen Drayton Lakes was a series of floodplain meadows in the river valley of the Great Ouse. This began to change when low-scale sand and gravel extraction started to take place during the war years in the 1940s for local military and agricultural use. Commercial extraction began in the 1950s and for the next 40-odd years the site became a large, active quarry exporting material for construction around the region.
Nowadays, Fen Drayton Lakes is an RSPB nature reserve made up of a variety of habitats comprising open water, reedbed and wetland mixed with grassland, scrub, and woodland. A huge variety of wildlife is drawn to the area with over 1900 different species recorded on site to date, including 230 species of bird, 26 species of butterfly and almost 500 species of flowering plant.
As we head into the summer months, wildlife is all around, making it a fantastic time to visit. You’re never far from water and wildlife here; it surrounds you wherever you wander. Explore the woods and catch glimpses of secluded bays and pools. You won’t be able to miss majestic Mute Swans on the lakes, but you’ll need to look a little harder to see the many colourful insects. The riverside meadows are alive with nature – reeds rustling, birds warbling, grasshoppers chirping and bees buzzing.
Upcoming events at Fen Drayton Lakes
Wild(ish) Camping for Groups – A unique opportunity for groups to camp on site.
Wednesday Wander Guided Walk – Join our knowledgeable volunteers for a walk around the reserve.
Dusk Guided Walk – An evening guided walk to discover the birds, mammals and insects which are more active later in the day up until dusk.
Willow Weaving Workshop – Using willow harvested from the reserve, try your hand at making a woven garden obelisk using traditional methods.
Guided Canoe Trail – Slink through the reeds on our new water-based trail to discover one of the harder to view lakes from a new perspective.
To see further details and book for all the events mentioned, please visit:
events.rspb.org.uk/fendraytonlakes
Email: fendraytonlakes@rspb.org.uk
Upcoming events at Ouse Fen
Booming Bittern Guided Walk – An evening guided walk around the newest reedbeds where Bitterns are making their homes.
Reedbed Ramble – A guided walk around the newest part of the reserve to look at all the wildlife that is starting to colonise the site.
To see further details and book for all the events mentioned, please visit: events.rspb.org.uk/ousefen
Photo Credit: Ben Andrew
